Top House Democrat for Commerce, Justice, Science Spending Says Bill Will Advance Essential National Missions

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2011  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When the House takes up the multi-agency "minibus" Appropriations legislation later today, Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science subcommittee (CJS), says Members will be voting to carry out many of the nation's most important missions.

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"One of the most promising elements in this bill is the first ever national initiative in neuroscience research calling for the establishment of  an interagency working group to improve Federal investments in such research at the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Veterans Administration," said Fattah.

"I am pleased the bill reflects increased efforts to aid America's manufacturers and give a boost to the 'Make It In America' agenda," Fattah said. "And the investment we make in America's most precious commodity - its youth - by funding mentoring programs is a very positive step and will certainly improve their life chances and life circumstances."

Fattah continued: "I am extremely disappointed that The Legal Services Corporation is funded at just $348 million.  While this is a significant improvement over the House bill, which recommended only $300 million for LSC, it is considerably less than we should be providing to ensure access to justice for low income Americans. They deserve better particularly during the continuing economic challenges we face."

The "minibus" combines three appropriations measures to fund Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, Science; and Transportation-HUD through Sept. 30, 2012.

Here are highlights in the commerce, justice and science appropriations:

Commerce Department - the bill provides $7.6 billion for numerous investments in innovation and job creation:

• The Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program is funded at $128.4 million to continue its very successful work to strengthen the competitiveness of American small businesses by helping them identify and adopt new technologies.
• Funding is provided for several new Economic Development Administration efforts aimed at strengthening our nation's economic security through:
  • loans to small and medium-sized manufacturers to develop innovative products or manufacturing processes;
  • grants and loans to develop regional innovation clusters and science and research parks;
  • funding for strategies to bring back to America jobs that had previously been off shored.  
  • An additional $200 million in emergency supplemental funding is provided to EDA to help bring jobs back to communities that have been ravaged by this year's natural disasters.
• $456 million for the International Trade Administration to help fund part of the President's National Export Initiative, aimed at boosting American exports and creating additional jobs here at home.
• Census Bureau collects $888 million which will allow the crucial 2012 Economic Census to go forward.  This effort is vitally important for ensuring the accuracy of the Nation's Gross Domestic Product estimates.  
• Funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides $924 million for the Joint Polar Satellite System, critical for the nation's future weather forecasting capability because it will minimize weather data gaps.  
• $31.5 million for NOAA's Education Program, including $14.3 million for its work in connection with Minority Serving Institutions.  

The Justice Department receives $27.4 billion, with all federal law enforcement agencies seeing an increase in funding. 

• The U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms receive significant increases – a combined $4.1 billion - allowing the agencies to avoid layoffs.
• The FBI picks up $1.1 billion permitting new initiatives in national security, surveillance, violent crime and cyber security.
• Community Oriented Policing (COPS) is provided $198.5 million, including $166 million for COPS Hiring, despite a recommendation from the House that the COPS office be eliminated.
• Youth Mentoring Programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Clubs receive $78 million.  These funds will help to improve the life chances of young people across this nation.

The National Science Foundation will receive $7 billion, an increase of $173 million.

• The Neuroscience Research Initiative calls on the National Science and Technology Council to establish an interagency working group to help coordinate, focus and enhance Federal investments in neuroscience research at the NSF, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration and other agencies.  
• The bill protects important STEM education programs, including the Noyce Scholarship Program, the Math and Science Partnership Program, the HBCU-Undergraduate Program and the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Program. Funding for these programs is $266 million.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is funded at $17.8 billion. 

• $529.6 million for the James Webb Telescope, scheduled to launch in 2018, which will be 100 times more powerful than the Hubble telescope and will greatly advance our knowledge about the universe and its origins.  
• Space Technology, a new account receives $575 million to support the development of new technologies for NASA's future spaceflight missions.
• Commercial Crew which was slated to be zeroed out receives $406 million a $94 million increase from the House bill.  Funds for this effort will help develop a mature commercial spaceflight industry in this country, creating jobs and eventually ending our country's reliance on international partners for access to the space station.
• Funding for the Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP) increases from $27 million to $30 million. MUREP, under NASA's Office of Education, strives to ensure that underrepresented students are given the opportunity to participate in the agency's education and research projects as they pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects.

Independent Agencies:

• The Legal Services Corporation, which provides legal assistance to those unable to afford it, is funded at $348 million, a reduction of $48 million from the previous year. 

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah