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GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS, MS.
JACKSON LEE, ON WHICH FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED AND
ON WHICH THE NOES PREVAILED BY
VOICE VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
FOURTH AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY MS. JACKSON LEE OF
TEXAS.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST
FOR RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE AND
BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS VOTE THE YEAS
ARE 150.
THE NAYS ARE 260.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MADAM CHAIR,
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE DO NOW
RISE.
THE QUESTION IS ON
RISE.
THE MOTION THAT THE COMMITTEE
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
ACCORDINGLY, THE COMMITTEE
RISES.
MAD
YAME CHAIRMAN.
-- MADAM CHAIRMAN.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF
THE UNION REPORTS THAT THE
COMMITTEE HAS HAD UNDER
H.R. 5325, AND HAS
COME TO NO RESOLUTION THEREON.
MR. SPEAKER.
WILL MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR SO
BE HEARD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA CAN
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, PURSUANT TO RULE
7-C, I HEREBY
ANNOUNCE MY INTENTION TO OFFER A
MOTION TO INSTRUCT ON H.R. 4348.
THE
GENTLEMAN MAY READ THE FORM OF
HIS MOTION.
SIR?
THE
GENTLEMAN MAY READ THE MOTION.
MR. BROUN OF GEORGIA
MOVES THAT THE MANAGERS ON THE
PART OF THE HOUSE AT THE
CONFERENCE ON THE DISAGREEMENT
OF THE VOTES ON THE TWO HOUSES
ON THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO THE
BILL H.R. 4348 BE INSTRUCTED TO
INSIST ON PROVISIONS THAT LIMIT
FUNDING OUT OF THE HIGHWAY TRUST
FUND, INCLUDING THE MASS TRANSIT
ACCOUNT, FOR FEDERAL AID, WHIE,
AND TRANSIT PROGRAMS TO AMOUNTS
THAT DO NOT EXCEED $37 MILLION,
$500 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR
2013.
THE
NOTICE WILL APPEAR IN THE
RECORD.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ALABAMA SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY
HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO
--
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 667
AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR DECLARES
THE HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF
THE UNION FOR CONSIDERATION OF
H.R. 5855.
THE CHAIR APPOINTS THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA, MS.
ROS-LEHTINEN, TO PRESIDE OVER
THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5855 WHICH
THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY TITLE.
A BILL OIK MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE,
THE BILL IS CONSIDERED AS READ
THE FIRST TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, MR.
ADERHOLT, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NORTH CAROLINA, MR. PRICE, WILL
EACH CONTROL 30 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM CHAIR, IT
WAS 68 YEARS AGO TODAY THAT MORE
THAN 9,000 ALLIED SOLDIERS WERE
KILLED OR WOUNDED ON D-DAY IN
NORMANDY, FRANCE.
THAT COURAGEOUS OPERATION AND
THE SACRIFICE OF SO MANY BRAVE
INDIVIDUALS SERVES AS A SOMEBERG
REMINDER THAT FREEDOM AND
SECURITY ARE NOT FREE.
IT IS WITH THIS SOLEMN
COMMITMENT TO BOTH FREEDOM AND
SECURITY THAT I RESPECTFULLY
TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE
THE F.Y. 2013 APPROPRIATION
BILLS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY.
SIMILAR TO OUR COMMITTEE'S WORK
OVER THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS,
THIS BILL DEMONSTRATES HOW WE
CAN SUFFICIENTLY FUND VITAL
SECURITY PROGRAMS WHILE ALSO AT
THE SAME TIME REDUCE
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING OVERALL.
THIS BILL DOES NOT REPRESENT A
CHOICE BETWEEN FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR NATION'S
SECURITY.
BOTH NATIONAL SECURITY
PRIORITIES -- BOTH OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY PRIORITIES AND THOSE
VIGOROUSLY ADDRESSED IN THIS
BILL BY FOCUSING ON FOUR KEY
PRIORITIES.
NUMBER ONE, FIRST FISCAL
DISCIPLINE.
THIS BILL REDUCES SPENDING BELOW
THE F.Y. 2012 ENACTED LEVEL.
SECOND, OVERSIGHT, THIS BILL
CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN THE
SUBCOMMITTEE'S LONG BIPARTISAN
ACCOUNTABILITY.
TRADITION OF STRICT
THIRD, SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE
OPERATIONS.
THIS BILL SUSTAINS AND ACTUALLY
INCREASES OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS
INCLUDING BORDER AND MARITIME
SECURITY, IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT, INVESTIGATIONS,
TARGETED AVIATION SECURITY
ACTIVITIES, DISASTER RELIEF, AND
ALSO CYBERSECURITY.
FOURTH, PREPAREDNESS AND
INNOVATION.
DESPITE THE BILL'S OVERALL
REDUCTION IN SPENDING,
INVESTMENTS IN PREPAREDNESS
GRANTS AND SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY ARE SUBSTANTIALLY
INCREASED ABOVE THE F.Y. 2012
LEVELS.
IN SUM, I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A
VERY STRONG BILL THAT
INCORPORATES CONSIDERABLE INPUT
FROM NEARLY 200 MEMBERS,
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE
AUTHORIZING COMMITTEES AND ALSO
ALONG WITH THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE WHICH MEETS OUR
NATION'S PRESSING NEEDS FOR BOTH
SECURITY AND FOR FISCAL
RESTRAINT.
I'D LIKE TO GO INTO A FEW
DETAILS ON FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND
SPENDING THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY
PROVIDES $39.1 BILLION IN BASE
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING WHICH IS
NEARLY A HALF BILLION DOLLARS
BELOW THE F.Y. 2012 ENACTED
LEVEL AND IT IS ALMOST $400
MILLION BELOW THE PRESIDENT'S
OWN REQUEST.
THERE ARE NO EARMARKS IN THIS
BILL OR THE ACCOMPANYING REPORT.
THE BILL CUTS THE DEPARTMENT'S
BUREAUCRATIC OVERHEAD AND
HEADQUARTERS FUNCTIONS BY NEARLY
18% BELOW THE REQUEST AND 17%
BELOW LAST YEAR'S LEVELS.
ALSO THE LITTLE SUBSTANTIALLY
REDUCES THE ADMINISTRATIVE
OVERHEAD THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY COMPONENT
AGENCIES, INCLUDING $61 MILLION
REDUCTION TO T.S.A.
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS, AND A
REALLOCATION OF T.S.A.'S
RESOURCES TO INCREASE PRIVATIZED
SCREENING AND K NINE ENFORCEMENT
TEAMS.
IS CUT OVERALL BY
SOME $422 MILLION BELOW LAST
YEAR'S LEVEL.
AS I NOTED, THIS BILL PUTS
PRIORITY FUNDING ON FRONTLINE
PERSONNEL SUCH AS BORDER PATROL,
C.B.P. OFFICERS, COAST GUARD
MILITARY PERSONNEL, AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENTS.
IT SUPPORTS THE LARGEST
IMMIGRATION DETENTION CAPACITY
IN THE HISTORY OF I.C.E., AND IT
SECURITY.
SUSTAINS HIGH RISK AVIATION
IT FULLY FUNDS THE KNOWN
REQUIREMENTS FOR DISASTER LEAF,
SUPPORTS LONG OVERDUE
INITIATIVES IN CYBERSECURITY,
AND ROBUSTLY SUPPORTS
INTELLIGENCE, WATCH LISTING,
THREAT TARGETING SYSTEMS,
PREPAREDNESS GRANTS, AND SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS,
INCLUDING THE NATIONAL AGROW
.
BIODEFENSE F.A.A. SILT.
IT RESPONSIBLY FUNDS MUCH
CUTTERS AND OF AIATION
ASSETS, THOSE ESSENTIAL TOOLS
THAT WILL KEEP OUR COASTLINES
SAFE AND SECURE OUR MARITIME
APPROACHES AGAINST THE PLAGUE
OF ILLEGAL DRUGS.
THIS BILL ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING
WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION
UTTERLY FAILED.
IT DEALS WITH THE SHORTFALL
DEPARTMENT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED
THAT WAS HANDED TO US BY THE
FEE COLLECTION AS WELL AS $110
MILLION SHORTFALL RESULTING
FROM O.M.B.'S FAILURE TO
COLLECTION.
PROPERLY ASSESS THE FEE
THE ADMINISTRATION MAY BE ABLE
TO RELY ON SOME OF THESE FEE
GIMMICKS IN THE PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET, BUT HERE IN THE HOUSE
AND IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE WE DO
NOT HAVE THAT LUXURY.
WITH RESPECT TO OVERSIGHT, OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE HAS A BIPARTISAN
TRADITION OF INSISTING UPON ALL
THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT IT
APPROPRIATES.
THEREFORE, THE BILL INCLUDES A
A
SPEND-PLAN REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS AND A FULL ACCOUNT
OF DISASTER RELIEF COSTS AND
INCLUDES BORDER PATROL STAFFING
CAPACITY.
LEVELS AND I.C.E. DETENTION
HOWEVER, I MUST NOTE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DID AN UNACCEPTABLY POOR JOB AT
COMPLYING WITH THE STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE ENACTED
IN F.Y. 2012.
THOSE FAILURES ARE ADDRESSED IN
THIS BILL, AND THE -- AND WE
ADDRESS THIS THROUGH SIZEABLE
CUTS AND WITHHOLDING TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
FURTHERMORE, THIS BILL HOLDS
THAT THE ADMINISTRATION --
HOLDS THE ADMINISTRATION'S FEET
TO THE FIRE.
IN ATTEMPTS TO WATER DOWN
ENFORCEMENT, THIS BILL DIRECTS
I.C.E. TO MAINTAIN 34,000
DETENTION BEDS AND CONTINUES
FUNDING FOR THE 287-G AND WORK
2012 LEVELS.
SITE ENFORCEMENT AT THE F.Y.
IT IS THE PREROGATIVE OF
CONGRESS TO SET SUCH
PRIORITIES, AND I STAND BY AT
THE DIRECTION IN THIS BILL.
OUR SUBCOMMITTEE IS SERIOUS
ABOUT COMPELLING THE DEPARTMENT
TO NOT ONLY ENFORCE THE LAW BUT
TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW AS WELL.
AND WE CANNOT TOLERATE FURTHER
FAILURES IN THIS REGARD.
FINALLY, ON PREPAREDNESS AND
INNOVATION, THE BILL INCREASES
PREPAREDNESS GRANTS BY NEARLY
17% AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAMS BY NEARLY 24% ABOVE
LAST YEAR'S LEVELS.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND OUR
AUTHORIZING MEMBERS HAVE
PROVIDED CONSIDERABLE INPUT ON
THESE PROGRAMS, AND I'M
COMMITTED TO LEVERAGING
TECHNOLOGY AND WELL-ADJUSTED
INVESTMENTS TO SUSTAIN OUR
NATION'S PREPAREDNESS AS WELL
AS FOR INNOVATION AND FOSTER AN
ENVIRONMENT FOR JOB GROWTH.
IN CLOSING IN MY COMMENTS THIS
AFTERNOON I'D LIKE TO THANK
RANKING MEMBER DAVID PRICE.
HE'S BEEN A STATESMAN AND A
REAL PARTNER DURING THIS
PROCESS AS WE HAVE MOVED THIS
BILL FORWARD OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS.
I DO WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS
DEDICATED PROFESSIONALISM AND
ALSO HIS DEDICATED STAFF THAT
HAVE ACTED IN A TREMENDOUSLY
PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND THEIR
INPUT AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT
THEY HAVE MADE TO THIS BILL.
LET ME RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE
MEMBERS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE AND ALSO MANY OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORIZING
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR INPUT AND
THEIR VITAL OVERSIGHT WORK OVER
THE PAST FEW MONTHS AS WELL AS
PRODUCING THIS BILL.
WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD IN
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE DEDICATED
STAFF FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY THAT I WORK
WITH ON A DAY-BY-DAY BASIS AS
WE MOVE THIS BILL FORWARD.
THE CLERK, BEN NICHOLSON, JEFF
ASHFORD, CHRIS MALLARD, KATHY,
MILES TAYLOR, CORNELL TEAGUE
AND JOE CROSHY, AS WELL AS IN
MY PERSONAL OFFICE WHO WORKED
ON THIS BILL, BRIAN AND MARK.
AND, OF COURSE, ON THE MINORITY
SIDE, STEPHANIE, WHO DID A
TREMENDOUS JOB IN A
PROFESSIONAL MANNER ON THE
MINORITY SIDE.
FINALLY, I DO WANT TO THANK THE
DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN AND THE
RANKING MEMBERS OF THE OVERALL
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE,
CHAIRMAN HAL ROGERS AND RANKING
MEMBER NORM DICKS.
AS MOVE AS WE HAD TO MAKE
DIFFICULT CHOICES AND TRADE OFF
AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE LEVEL, I
KNOW THEY HAD TO MAKE MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT CHOICES AS -- ACROSS
ALL 12 SUBCOMMITTEES.
I BELIEVE, MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS
BILL REFLECTS OUR BEST EFFORTS
TO ADDRESS OUR NATION'S MOST
URGENT NEEDS FOR SECURITY AND
ALSO TO ADDRESS FISCAL
DISCIPLINE.
I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN
THE HOUSE TO SUPPORT THIS
MEASURE, AND I WOULD RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL AND I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I AM GLAD WE ARE
DEBATING THE 2013 DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY
APPROPRIATIONS BILL IN AN OPEN
BILL.
I APPRECIATE MR. ALEDER HOLT
FOR INCLUDING INPUT FROM OUR
SIDE ALL ALONG THE WAY.
I AM GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF
THE FUNDING LEVELS PROVIDED IN
THE BILL.
THE FACT REMAINS, HOWEVER, THAT
OUR SUBCOMMITTEE WAS FORCED TO
ACCEPT A REDUCED ALLOCATION FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY WHEN REPUBLICANS
UNILATERALLY CAST ASIDE THE
SPENDING AGREEMENT WE REACHED
LAST AUGUST FORCING THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO
ABSORB $19 BILLION IN
REDUCTIONS BELOW THE BUDGET
CONTROL ACT LEVELS.
LARGELY BECAUSE THE MAJORITY
BROKE THAT AGREEMENT, D.H.S. IS
FUNDED AT 1% BELOW THE
REQUESTED LEVEL, CONTINUING A
DOWNWARD FUNDING TREND FOR THIS
AGENCY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
THE BILL DOES RETAIN THE
DISASTER CAP ADJUSTMENT
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET CONTROL
ACT AGREEMENT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, FORTUNATELY,
DESPITE THESE CIRCUMSTANCES,
THE BILL BEFORE US PROVIDES
ADEQUATE FUNDING, I BELIEVE,
FOR D.H.S. FRONT LINE EMPLOYEES
SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO CONDUCT
CRITICAL OPERATIONS ALONG OUR
BORDERS, TO PROTECT OUR
NATION'S AIRPORTS AND SEA
PORTS, TO DISRUPT THE LATEST
PLOTS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
AND OUR CITIZENS AND TO RESPOND
TO THE STATE OF NATURAL
DISASTERS OUR COUNTRY HAS
EXPERIENCED.
I'M ALSO PLEASED THAT THE BILL
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES FUNDING
FOR CRITICAL GRANT PROGRAMS.
IN CONTRAST TO THE INADEQUATE
LEVELS.
IT REJECT THE ADMINISTRATION'S
POORLY ARTICULATED GRANT
NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED.
STRUCTURES, CHANGES THAT HAVE
SPECIFICALLY, I HIGHLIGHT
FUNDING FOR FEMA STATE AND
LOCAL GRANTS, $413 MILLION
ABOVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2012
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
LEVEL, AND BOTH FIRE GRANTS AND
PERFORMANCE GRANTS ARE FUNDED
AT THE LEVELS REQUESTED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION.
EQUALLY IMPORTANT, THE BILL
PROVIDES IMPROVED FUNDING FOR
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
EFFORTS.
THE BILL CONTAINS SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES FOR THE SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE TO FUND
ALL HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAMS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE THE BILL
APPEARS TO FULFILL THE
PRESIDENT'S REQUEST FOR SCIENCE
AND RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY, IT HAS
$75 MILLION FOR THE NATIONAL
BIOAND AGRO, IN EFFECT REDUCING
FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
NOW, I SUPPORT THE EVENTUALLY
CONSTRUCTION OF THIS FACILITY,
BUT I MUST QUESTION THE
INCLUSION OF $75 MILLION IN
LIMITED RESOURCES FOR A PROJECT
THAT THE PRESIDENT DID NOT
REQUEST, THAT REMAINS UNDER
REVIEW BY TWO NATIONAL ACADEMY
OF SCIENCE PANELS AND THAT HAS
UNOBLIGATED PRIOR YEAR
APPROPRIATIONS ALREADY THAT IT
COULD DRAW UPON.
THE BILL ALSO INCREASES FUNDING
FOR CRITICAL COAST GUARD AS
WELL AS AIR AND MARINE
ACQUISITIONS.
TO RECAPITALIZE AGING
EQUIPMENT, TO ENSURE THESE
EFFECTIVELY.
PERSONNEL COULD OPERATE MORE
IT PROVIDES A SUBSTANTIAL
INCREASE FOR CYBERSECURITY
PROTECTIVE EFFORTS, TO
CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR AND DETECT
INTRUSIONS TO OUR FEDERAL
AND CYBERATTACKS.
NETWORKS FROM FOREIGN ESPIONAGE
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE BILL DOES
CONTAIN SOME ILL-ADVISED
IMMIGRATION PROVISIONS.
UNNECESSARY AND WASTEFUL
STATUTORY FLOORS ARE SET FOR A
VARIETY OF PROGRAMS.
SUCH AS AN ARBITRARY MINIMUM OF
34,000 DETENTION BEDS.
A REQUIRED LEVEL OF SPENDING
FOR THE SERIOUSLY FLAWED 287-G
PROGRAM, AND AN INFLEXIBLE
AMOUNT FOR WORK SITE
ENFORCEMENT.
INCLUDING THESE TYPE OF
SPENDING FLORS AND MANDATES IN
-- FLOORS AND MANDATES IN FLOOR
LANGUAGE DOES NOT ANSWER THE
DECISIVE IMMIGRATION CHALLENGES
AND IS LIKELY TO WASTE TAXPAYER
DOLLARS FOR NO GOOD REASON.
I ALSO OBJECT TO THE THREE
ABORTION GENERAL PROVISIONS
THAT WERE ADDED IN FULL
COMMITTEE.
WE ALL KNOW, MR. CHAIRMAN,
ABORTION IS A POLITICALLY
CHARGED SUBJECT.
NUMEROUS RESTRICTIONS IN LAW
HAVE ALREADY CONDITIONED AND
QUALIFIED REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
IN PRACTICE.
AMONG THOSE ARE PROHIBITION ON
THE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ABORTION
PROCEDURES WHICH ARE
SPECIFICALLY APPLIED TO
IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS
ENFORCEMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY BY THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER
13535 ISSUED ON MARCH 24, 2010.
UNTIL NOW, OUR BILL HAS NEVER
TOUCHED ON THE TOPIC OF BORGES
-- ABORTION BECAUSE IT'S NOT
RELEVANT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY AND IT FALLS
FAR OUTSIDE THE LINES OF
JURISDICTION OF THIS
SUBCOMMITTEE.
SO THESE PROVISIONS ARE
REDUNDANT, THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH
NOTHING, THEY MAKE NO CHANGE
WHATSOEVER IN CURRENT LAW OR
PROCEDURES.
THEY SEEM DESIGNED MAINLY FOR
POLITICAL EFFECT, BUT I TELL
YOU, POLITICAL EFFECT CUTS BOTH
WAYS.
THESE ABORTION RIDERS, WHILE
THEY'RE DIVISIVE.
UNNECESSARY, ARE INFLAMMATORY.
THE FINAL BILL.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN
FINALLY, I ALSO STRONGLY
DISDEPRE WITH PROVISIONS THAT
-- DISAGREE WITH PROVISIONS
THAT WITHHOLD THE FOLLOWING --
62% THAT THE UNDERSECRETARY
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, 10% OF
ALL FUNDING FOR SALARIES AND
EXPENSES AT CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PROTECTION PERSONNEL.
37% FOR COAST GUARD
HEADQUARTERS DIRECTORATE UNTIL
THEY SUBMIT NUMEROUS REPORTS
REQUIRED BY STATUTE.
EVEN MORE EGREGIOUSLY, THESE
WITHHOLDINGS ARE COUPLED WITH A
PROVISION THAT PREVENTS THE
SECRETARY, THE DEPUTY
SECRETARY, THE COMMANDANT OF
OUR COAST GUARD AND THE VICE
COMMANDANT FROM USING THEIR
AIRCRAFT -- FROM USING THEIR
AIRCRAFT UNTIL CERTAIN KEY
REPORTS ARE RECEIVED BY THE
COMMITTEE.
EXCESSIVE.
THESE CONSTRAINTS ARE
THEY WILL PREVENT DEPARTMENT
EMPLOYEES, COAST GUARD
DOING THEIR JOBS.
LEADERSHIP FROM EFFECTIVELY
I SUPPORT EFFORTS TO HOLD THE
DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE, AND IN
FACT WE INCLUDED CAREFULLY
CALIBRATED AND TARGETED
WITHHOLDINGS IN THIS BILL WHEN
I WAS CHAIRMAN.
BUT EXCESSIVE AND UNREALISTIC
LIMITATIONS FRANKLY DETRACT
FROM THIS SUBCOMMITTEE'S
CREDIBILITY, AND THEY'RE LIKELY
TO BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL CLOSE BY
THANKING THE HARDWORKING
PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHICH HELPED
CRAFT THIS BILL AND ASSISTED
THE SUBCOMMITTEE IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER OVER THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK, AS THE
CHAIRMAN DID, BEN, KATHY, JEFF,
CHRIS, JOE, MILES AND CORNELL
ON THE MAJORITY SIDE AND, OF
COURSE, STEPHANIE ON OUR SIDE
OF THE AISLE.
AND I WANT TO REITERATE MY
APPRECIATION TO THE CHAIRMAN
FOR HIS EFFORTS TO WORK WITH US
ON SO MANY ISSUES AND TO
SUSTAIN OUR FRONTLINE FEDERAL
HOMELAND SECURITY OPERATIONS.
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D
LIKE TO YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FULL
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY, MR.
ROGERS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KENTUCKY IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT,
FOR YIELDING THE TIME.
ANNIVERSARY BILL FOR THIS
MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS THE 10TH
SUBCOMMITTEE.
WE BEGAN WORK IN 2003, AND THE
FIRST THREE SPEAKERS THAT ARE
ON THE PLATFORM TODAY ARE THE
THREE CHAIRMEN OF THAT
SUBCOMMITTEE IN ITS 10 YEARS OF
HISTORY.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING THE
FIRST CHAIRMAN AND THEN WAS
FOLLOWED BY DAVID PRICE AS
CHAIRMAN AND NOW ROBERT
ADERHOLT.
SO WE HAVE, IF THERE IS ANY
ACCUMULATED WISDOM, WE POSSESS
A PORTION OF IT.
SO WE WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN
ADERHOLT AND RANKING MEMBER
PRICE FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON
THIS SUBCOMMITTEE.
THIS IS TRULY A BIPARTISAN,
NONPARTISAN SUBCOMMITTEE
BECAUSE THE NATION'S SECURITY
CANNOT BOW TO ANY PARTISAN
SPIRITS.
BUT I THINK AFTER THESE 10
YEARS WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE
COUNTRY IS INDEED SAFER THAN IT
WAS THEN.
WE'VE THWARTED THE -- THE
COUNTRY'S THWARTED SEVERAL
ATTEMPTS AT TERRORIST ATTACKS
IN OUR SKIES.
WE ELIMINATED THE WORLD'S MOST
HEINOUS TERRORIST, OSAMA BIN
LADEN, AND MORE RECENTLY THE
NUMBER TWO AL QAEDA LEADER IN
AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, BUT WE
FACE CONSTANT REMINDERS THAT
.
NEAR OVER.
THE WAR ON TERROR IS ANYTHING
OUR FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
AND WE CAN'T SKIMP ON OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY IF WE ANT WANT
TO STAY VIGILANT AND SAFE.
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING IN THIS
BILL TOTALS JUST OVER $39
IS A CUT OF $483
MILLION BELOW LAST YEAR, AND
$393 MILLION BELOW WHAT THE
PRESIDENT REQUESTED.
THE CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT AND HIS
SUBCOMMITTEE DRAFTED THIS BILL
WITH FOUR PRIORITIES IN MIND --
ONE, PUTTING SECURITY FIRST.
SECOND, ENCOURAGING STRONG
FISCAL DISCIPLINE.
THREE, MANDATING ROBUST
OVERSIGHT EFFORTS.
AND FOUR, BOOSTING THE RESEARCH
AND GRANT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT
AMERICAN JOBS, INNOVATION, AND
PREPAREDNESS.
TO SUPPORT AND ADDRESS VITAL
FRONTLINE OPERATIONS, THE BILL
MAKES SMART INCREASES OR HOLDS
CONSTANT PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE
INTELLIGENCE, TARGETING, OR THAT
ACT AS THE FIRST LINE OF
DEFENSE, AND RESPONSE.
THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING FUNDING
IMMIGRATION
DETENTION CAPACITY AND BORDER
PATROL AGENTS IN HISTORY.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE
BILL TOTALS LESS THAN IT DID
LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF
REDUCTIONS.
THOUGHTFUL, RESPONSIBLE
OUR LIMITED GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
MUST BE PUT TOWARDS PROGRAMS AND
AND TANGIBLE RESULTS.
SERVICES WITH PROVEN BENEFITS
THESE CUTS TARGETED PROGRAMS
WITH KNOWN INEFFICIENCIES,
PROGRAM DELAYS, EXCESSIVE
OVERHEAD COSTS, OR THOSE THAT
REQUIREMENTS.
SIMPLY HAD LOWER BUDGET
THE BILL ALSO RESCINDS EXCESS OR
UNSPENT PRIOR YEAR FUNDS.
NOW AS THE DEPARTMENT ENTERS ITS
10TH ANNIVERSARY, WE ARE
REMINDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT IN
ITS CURRENT FORM IS STILL,
QUOTE, UNDER CONSTRUCTION, END
QUOTE.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN SOME REAL
PROMISE MADE.
THE WAY
IT SPENDS TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND
ADMINISTERS ITS GRANT PROGRAMS.
THIS LEGISLATION I THINK TAKES
THE RIGHT STEPS TO DIRECT
SPENDING ACCORDINGLY, ENACTING
REFORMS, REQUIRING TOUGHER
OVERSIGHT, AND DEMANDING
JUSTIFICATIONS AND SPENDING
PLANS FROM PROGRAMS THAT DO NOT
HAVE A HISTORY OF WISE SPENDING
DECISIONS.
AGAIN I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN
ADERHOLT, RANKING MEMBER PRICE,
ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE, AND THE
HARDWORKING STAFF FOR ALL THE
MANY HOURS THAT THEY HAVE SPENT
DRAFTING THIS IMPORTANT BILL.
BUT THIS LEGISLATION IS PROOF
THAT WE CAN DO MORE WITH LESS.
A REDUCTION IN SPENDING COUPLED
WITH REFORMS TO ENCOURAGE
EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY
THAT WILL HELP US GET ON A
STRONGER FISCAL PATH.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A GOOD BILL,
MR. CHAIRMAN.
IT'S AS GOOD A BILL AS I HAVE
SEEN IN MY 10 YEARS ON THIS
SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND I WANT TO AGAIN CONGRATULATE
THOSE WHO HAD A HAND IN MAKING
IT POSSIBLE.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
YES ON THIS BILL, TO HELP
PREVENT FUTURE TERRORIST
ATTACKS, TO PROTECT AIR
PASSENGERS, AND KEEP OUR BORDER
SECURITY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO AN OUTSTANDING
MEMBER OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEE, THE
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK,
MRS. LOWEY.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN
ADERHOLT AND RANKING MEMBER
PRICE FOR THEIR BIPARTISAN WORK
ON THIS LEGISLATION.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2013 HOMELAND
SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL
WOULD MAKE SMART INVESTMENTS IN
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING
INCREASING FUNDS FOR A
CYBERSECURITY, FOCUSING HOMELAND
SECURITY DOLLARS AT COMMUNITIES
MOST AT THREAT OF TERROR
ATTACKS, AND PROVIDING OUR FIRST
PROTECT US.
RESPONDERS WITH THE RESOURCES TO
WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, WE MUST
PRIORITIZE ASSISTANCE TO THE
ATTACKED.
REGIONS MOST LIKELY TO BE
THAT IS WHY I'M SO PLEASED THAT
THIS BILL TAKES A STEP TOWARDS
RESTORING THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF
THE URBAN AREA SECURITY
INITIATIVE BY FOCUSING RESOURCES
ON THE 25 MOST AT-RISK CITIES
WHILE STILL PROVIDING FUNDING
FOR OTHER REGIONS THROUGH OTHER
PROGRAMS.
108 YEARS AFTER 9/11 THE THREAT
OF RADIOLOGICAL ATTACKS AND NEW
TERROR TARGET REMAINS.
YORK'S STATUS AS THE NUMBER ONE
THAT IS WHY I'M SO PLEASED THAT
THIS BILL WOULD MAINTAIN 22
CITY.
MILLION TO SUPPORT SECURING THIS
WHICH SEEKS TO PREVENT THE
SMUGGLING OF ILLICIT NUCLEAR
MATERIAL INTO MANHATTAN.
I'M ALSO PLEASED THAT ASSISTANCE
TO FIREFIGHTER AND SAFER GRANTS
WILL BE ADEQUATELY FUNDED AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE FACED
DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISION,
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF,
LEAVING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH
INADEQUATE PROTECTION.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD FUND
FIREFIGHTER HIRING GRANTS AND
EXTEND THE SAFER WAIVER TO ALLOW
COMMUNITIES TO RETAIN OR REHIRE
LAID OFF FIREFIGHTERS.
I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED,
HOWEVER, THAT REPUBLICANS
NEEDLESSLY INJECTED DIVISIVE
SOCIAL ISSUES INTO THE BILL.
I SERVED ON THIS SUBCOMMITTEE,
OR THE AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE,
FOR NEARLY A DECADE, IN THAT
TIME I MET WITH THE FIRST
RESPONDERS, I.C.E. AGENTS,
BORDER PATROL, AND MANY OTHER
PERSONNEL.
NOT ONCE HAVE THEY SAID THAT
WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
MAKES OUR COUNTRY LESS SECURE.
NOT ONE.
AND LAYING DOWN THIS BILL WITH
IDEOLOGICAL RIDERS IS A
DISSERVICE TO ALL FIRST
RESPONDERS.
IN CLOSING, AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR ITS
INVESTMENTS IN HOMELAND SECURITY
AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND HOPE
THAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL NOT
BE USED AS A VEHICLE FOR
IDEOLOGICAL POLICY RIDERS ON THE
FLOOR.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLELADY YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
HOMELAND SECURITY AUTHORIZING
COMMITTEE, MR. PETER KING, FOR
THREE MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTES.
NEW YORK IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE
MR. CHAIRMAN, I THANK
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE FOR
YIELDING.
LET ME AT THE VERY OUTSET THANK
YOU FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND
COOPERATION IN WORKING THROUGH
SUCH A DIFFICULT BILL AT A BIFF
TIME IN OUR HISTORY.
WE ARE FACED WITH A SEVERE
TERRORIST THREAT AND RESTRAINTS.
RELUCTANTLY VOTED AGAINST THE
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
BILL, BUT I WANT TO COMMEND
CHAIRMAN ROGERS AND CHAIRMAN
ADERHOLT FOR WORKING TO RESOLVE
THE GOOD FAITH DIFFERENCES WE
HAD AND ALSO, FOR INSTANCE, IN
AREAS SUCH AS STATE AND LOCAL
GRANTS, INCREASE THEM BY $350
MILLION, TO INCREASE BY 50% THE
AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE HIGHEST
RISK AREAS IN OUR COUNTRY.
PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE URBAN AREA
SECURITY INITIATIVE, STATE
HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM, PORT
SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY ALL WAS ADDRESSED IN
THIS BILL.
NOTHING AS MUCH AS WE WANT, BUT
CONSIDERING THE REALITIES WE
FACE AS A NATION, CHAIRMAN
ROGERS AND CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT
HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
COME INTERESTING A DISTRICT
WHICH LOST SO MANY PEOPLE ON
SEPTEMBER 11 AND STILL FACES
THREATS AND WHERE WE EVERY DAY
QUITE FRANKLY ANALYZING TERROR
THREAT REPORTS, THIS FUNDING IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY
TO THE NYPD WHICH DOES SUCH AN
OUTSTANDING JOB IN SPITE OF THE
GRATUITOUS, MINDLESS, SHAMELESS
ATTACKS MADE UPON IT BY THOSE IN
THE MEDIA AND OTHERS IN ELECTED
OFFICE AS WELL.
THIS FUNDING IS EXTREMELY VITAL.
ALSO ESPECIALLY THE SECURE THE
CITIES PROGRAM WHICH WILL
PROTECT NOT JUST NEW YORK BUT
PROVIDE A TEMPLATE TO PROTECT
URBAN AREAS AGAINST DIRTY BOMB
ATTACKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
LET ME FOCUS ON THE ISSUE OF THE
TWIC PROGRAM.
AND THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE
HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE
SHEAR.
THIS IS AN ISSUE OF BIPARTISAN
CONCERN TO OUR COMMITTEE.
THE FACT THAT WE STILL HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLELE TO PERFECT A TORT
SYSTEM AND THERE'S BEEN BURDEN
SOME POLLS ON OUR WORKERS AS FAR
AS TIME CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED ON
THEM, FUNDING THEY HAVE TO
SPEND, AND THIS IS A REAL BURDEN
THAT'S BEEN ON THEM.
THE HOMELAND SECURITY
COMMITTEE, WE PASSED BY VOICE
VOTE THE BILL WHICH ATTEMPTS TO
ALLEVIATE THIS BURDEN ON THE
PORT WORKER.
WHAT IT DOES IS EXTENDS THE
LATER THIS YEAR UNTIL A
VALIDITY CURRENTLY SET TO EXPIRE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FINALLY RERELEASES THE TWIC
RULE.
TRUCK RIDERS WHO NEED TO OBTAIN
A TWIC SHOULD NO VM TO HAVE THE
BURDEN OF THE GOVERNMENT GETTING
THE JOB DONE.
I BELIEVE THIS PROVIDES
GUARD AND C.S.A.
SUFFICIENT MOTIVATION TO COAST
I CAN ASSURE YOU ON BEHALF OF
MYSELF, AND THE RANKING MEMBER
OF THE COMMITTEE AS WELL, WE
WILL WORK TOGETHER, OUR
COMMITTEE WILL WORK AND
APPROPRIATION THE COMMITTEE AND
WITH THE DEPARTMENT AS WE TRY TO
RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
AGAIN, I THANK CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT
FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, THE JOB THAT
HE HAS DONE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO A LEADING
MEMBER OF OUR FULL
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, MS.
KAPTUR.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK RANKING MEMBER PRICE FOR
YIELDING THIS TIME.
AS WELL AS CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT AND
FULL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ROGERS
FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION AND ACCEPTING AND
INCLUDING THE BUY AMERICAN
HARD AND REQUESTED.
LANGUAGE THAT WE WORKED SO VERY
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY NEEDS TO RAISE ITS
CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF BUYING AMERICAN
AMERICA.
AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO JOBS IN
OUR LANGUAGE FURTHER CLARIFIES
WHAT HAS LONG BEEN THE INTENT OF
CONGRESS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY MUST COMPLY
WITH THE BARRY AMENDMENT AND BUY
U.S.-MADE PRODUCTS.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL PROVISION
FOR THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND OUR
MANUFACTURERS.
CONGRESS HAS ALREADY VOTED TO
EXPLICITLY DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO COMPLY
WITH THE BARRY AMENDMENT, AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY IS EITHER MUSCLE BOUND
OR BEEN DRAGGING ITS FEET, BUT
SOMEHOW THEY ARE NOT HEARING US
FOR SOME ODD REASON.
ALSO, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY'S AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED AN AMENDMENT
COMPLIANCE.
THAT WOULD ENSURE PERMANENT
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY, ONE OF THE LARGEST
DEPARTMENTS IN OUR GOVERNMENT,
SHOULD BE THE LEADER IN HOMELAND
SECURITY, STARTING WITH
PROCUREMENT.
STRENGTHENING AMERICAN
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THEY
PROCURED IN A YEAR?
I KNOW THEY BUY A LOT OF U.S.
MADE FLAGS, OR AT LEAST THEY
SHOULD, BUT VESSELS, OUR COAST
GUARD'S FULL ARRAY OF EQUIPMENT,
SECURITY SYSTEMS, WEAPONS,
ON.
UNIFORMS, THE LIST GOES ON AND
SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY MAKE AN
DIRECTED?
EFFORT TO DO WHAT CONGRESS
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE FINE WORK OF THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NORTH CAROLINA, CONGRESSMAN
LARRY KISSELL, FOR HIS
CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE OF BUYING AMERICAN AND I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
REPRESENTATIVE KATHY HOCHUL, WHO
IN HER FIRST TERM HAS BEEN A
STEADFAST LEADER FOR BUYING
AMERICAN AS ESSENTIAL FOR U.S.
JOB CREATION.
I WANT TO THANK THE FULL
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR COMMITMENT
TO THIS ISSUE AND WE WOULD LIKE
TO INVITE THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY TO THE
AMERICAN TABLE.
DEPARTMENT OF KEY FENCE --
LET'S FOLLOW SUIT WITH THE
DEFENSE AND OTHER MAJOR
DEPARTMENTS OF OUR GOVERNMENT,
LET'S BUY AMERICAN AND HELP TO
CONTRIBUTE PROCUREMENT OF GOODS
AND SERVICES MADE RIGHT HERE IN
THE U.S.A.
CAN MAKE IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S THE BEST INVESTMENT THAT WE
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO
YIELD MY REMAINING TIME TO THE
RANKING MEMBER AND I THANK YOU
ADERHOLT FOR INCLUDING THIS
SO VERY MUCH, ALONG WITH MR.
LANGUAGE IN THE BILL.
LET US HOPE THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY IS LISTENING
AND PAYS ATTENTION TO THE LAW.
THE GENTLELADY YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THE HARDWORKING
CHAIRMAN OF THE ENERGY AND WATER
SUBCOMMITTEE WHO HAS ALSO BEEN
ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK WITH HIS
LEGISLATION, MR. FRELINGHUYSEN,
FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
MR. CHAIRMAN,
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN
FOR YIELDING AND I RISE IN
SUPPORT OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
OUR NATION LIVES WITH THE MEMORY
OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, EACH AND
EVERY DAY.
WE CAN NEVER TAKE BACK THE
EVENTS OF THAT DAY, NOR THE
THOUSANDS OF LIVES, INCLUDING
700 FROM NEW JERSEY, THAT WERE
LOST.
LIKE MR. KING, I'D LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS LEGISLATION
INCLUDES CRITICAL FUNDING FOR
GRANTS.
INVESTMENTS IN FIRST RESPONDER
THE BILL INCLUDES $1.7 BILLION
FOR DEPARTMENT STATE AND LOCAL
GRANT PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE
HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM,
WHAT WE CALL UWASI, URBAN AREA
SECURITY INITIATIVE, BOTH OF
WHICH HAVE BEEN GREATLY
BENEFITING NEW JERSEY AND THE
NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA FOR
THE LAST 10 YEARS.
THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES $650
MILLION IN FIREFIGHTER GRANTS,
$350 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY
.
MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS.
IT INCLUDES LANGUAGE TO IMPROVE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYERS'
DOLLARS ARE WELL SPENT.
LASTLY, I THINK ALL OF US WOULD
RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH WE DEPEND ON
HARD WORK AND DEDICATION,
TIRELESS WORK OF SO MANY
HOMELAND SECURITY
PROFESSIONALS, EMERGENCY SQUAD,
FIRE AND POLICE THAT DO THE JOB
AND SOME OF WHOM HAVE PAID THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
RESERVES.
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M
PRIVILEGED TO YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE OUTSTANDING RANKING
MEMBER OF THE AUTHORIZING
COMMITTEE, MR. THOMPSON.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MISSISSIPPI IS RECOGNIZED FOR
TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER, AND I THANK
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA FOR ALLOWING ME THE
TIME.
I HAVE A NUMBER OF THOUGHTS ON
THE UNDERLYING BILL BEFORE US
TODAY THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT THE TWICC PROGRAM.
THE AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS IMPROVED TO
HELP THE TWICC HOLDERS FROM
BEING FORCED BY T.S.A. TO PAY
FOR NEW IDENTIFICATION CARDS
BEGINNING IN OCTOBER OF THIS
YEAR GIVEN THE PROGRAM IS NOT
FULLY IMPLEMENTED AND THE
DEPARTMENT HAS NOT EVEN ISSUED
A RULE FOR BIOMETRIC READERS.
THE TWICC PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON
PROTECTING THE MARITIME
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND
VESSELS BY REQUIRING MARITIME
WORKERS AND OTHER WORKERS WHO
NEED UNESCORTED ACCESS TO
SECURE PORT FACILITIES TO
OBTAIN A BIOMETRIC
IDENTITYIFICATION CARD.
AFTER INITIAL DELAYS, --
AFTER INITIAL DELAYS, ALL
IDENTIFICATION CARD.
MARITIME WORKERS WERE SUPPOSED
TO HAVE CARDS BY APRIL OF 2009.
THE COST TO WORKERS FOR THESE
CARDS IS $132.50 PER
CREDENTIAL.
TO DATE, OVER 2.1 MILLION
LONGSHOREMEN, TRUCKERS,
MERCHANT MARINERS, RAIL AND
VESSEL CREWMEMBERS HAVE
UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE HOMELAND
SECURITY AND SECURITY
BACKGROUND CHECKS TO SECURE
THESE CARDS.
EVEN THEY OBTAINED TWICS TO
CONTINUE WORKING IN OUR PORTS,
T.S.A. IS MORE THAN TWO YEARS
LATE IN STARTING THE READING
PIE LOTS.
OUR COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TOLD
EVEN UNDER THE BEST
CIRCUMSTANCES REGULATIONS ARE
NOT GOING TO BE ISSUED UNTIL
MORE THAN FIVE YEARS BEYOND THE
DATE REQUIRED IN STATUTE.
YET CONGRESS OR THE
ADMINISTRATION, STARTING
OCTOBER, 2012, WORKERS WILL
HAVE TO RENEW THE CARDS THEY
WERE ISSUED.
I ASK FOR 30 SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 30 SECONDS.
THE POINT I'D
LIKE TO MAKE, MR. SPEAKER, IS
2.1 WORKERS HAVE T. TWIC CARDS.
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN,
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO RENEW
THESE CARDS UNLESS WE ACT.
I APPRECIATE THIS LEGISLATION
ACKNOWLEDGING THEY HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING FOR THOSE WORKERS OR
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN
THEY HAVE TO RENEW A CARD WHICH
IS AT THIS POINT AT BEST A
FLASH CARD IS NOT REALLY WORKER
IDENTIFICATION CARD.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I AT THIS TIME LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
IOWA, MR. LATHAM, WHO IS THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPORTATION
AND HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
IOWA IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I LIKE TO THANK THE
CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT, THANK YOU
FOR THE TIME.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
H.R. 5855, THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY
APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2013, AND I COMMEND THE
CHAIRMAN AND THE RANKING
THE STAFF FOR DOING A
REALLY EXCELLENT JOB OF
CRAFTING A BILL THAT BOTH
STRENGTHENS OUR SECURITY AND
REDUCES GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
I AM PLEASED THE COMMITTEE
ADOPTED AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT
WHICH I CO-SPONSORED WHICH
WOULD WAIVE FEDERAL GRANT
REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW THE
RETENTION OF FIREFIGHTERS HIRED
IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
PROVISION FOR MAINTAINING THE
RESPONSE CAPABILITIES
THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
FACT THAT DESPITE SPENDING
REDUCTIONS ELSEWHERE IN THE
BILL, WE WILL FULLY FUND FEMA'S
STATED REQUIREMENTS FOR
DISASTER RELIEF, INCLUDING
FLOOD-RELATED GRANTS.
CONGRESS HAS LONG RECOGNIZED
THE FEDERAL ROLE AND DISASTER
RELIEF AND PREVENTION EFFORTS
SINCE THE FIRST DISASTER RELIEF
BILL WAS PASSED IN 1803.
THE FUNDING CONTAINED IN THE
BILL TODAY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
IT CONTINUES THE MOVE AWAY FROM
AD HOC DISASTER LEGISLATION AND
TOWARD INCLUDING RELIEF IN
MITIGATION FUNDING IN OUR
REGULAR APPROPRIATIONS.
THIS ASSISTANCE IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE SAFETY NET
FOR COMMUNITIES AT RISK FOR
NATURAL DISASTERS THROUGHOUT
THE SUMMER OF -- THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER OF 2011, I SAW DAMAGE
ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER IN
WESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN IOWA
AND SPOKE WITH IOWANS WHOSE
DISASTER.
LIVES WERE DISRUPTED BY THAT
THE FLOOD TOOK A BREATHTAKING
TOLL OF NEARBY COMMUNITIES.
HAZARD MITIGATION AND OTHER
DISASTER ASSISTANCE FUNDING IS
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO HELP
FLOODING.
THEM REBOUND FROM THIS TRAGIC
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
WOULD URGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE TO SUPPORT FINAL PASSAGE
OF THIS H.R. 558 -- 5855 AND I
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
RESERVES.
CAROLINA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
YEAH, AT THIS
TIME I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
LOBIONDO, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZING
SUBCOMMITTEE AND I'D LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE HIM FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I RISE TODAY IN VERY STRONG
SUPPORT OF H.R. 5855.
EARLIER THIS YEAR THE PRESIDENT
REQUESTED TO CUT FUNDING FOR
THE COAST GUARD MORE THAN 4%
BELOW THE CURRENT LEVEL.
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN OVER
A DECADE THAT A PRESIDENT HAS
PROPOSED TO REDUCE FUNDING FOR
IN HIS BUDGET, THE PERFECT
THE COAST GUARD.
PROPOSED TO SLASH THE NUMBER OF
SERVICE MEMBERS BY MORE THAN
1,000, WHICH WOULD TAKE
RECENTLY UPGRADED HELICOPTERS
OUT OF SERVICE AND EXACERBATE
THE CONTROL BOAT MISSION --
RETIRING VESSELS BEFORE THEIR
REPLACEMENT ARRIVES.
THE PRESIDENT PROPOSED TO SLASH
BUDGET BY MORE THAN $270
MILLION OR 19% BEFORE THE F.Y.
2012 ENACTED LEVEL.
THE REQUEST PROPOSE TO
TERMINATE OR DELAY THE SEVERAL
CRITICALLY REPLACEMENT ASSETS
AND TO GENERATE HOUSING FOR THE
FAMILIES.
SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR
THE CUTS WERE SIMPLY
UNACCEPTABLE AND MYSELF AND I
THINK A LARGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS
WERE GRATEFUL CONCERNED.
AS CHAIRMAN -- WERE GRAVELY
CONCERNED.
AS CHAIRMAN, I KNOW HOW
CRITICAL IT IS FOR NOT TO
REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF THE
1990'S WHEN CUTS OF THE
ACQUISITIONS BUDGET LEFT IT
ENTIRELY UNPREPARED TO MEET THE
9/11 -- POST-9/11 MISSION
DEMAND.
FORTUNATELY, THE BILL BEFORE US
TODAY REJECTS THE DRACONIAN --
30 SECONDS, PLEASE.
YIELD 30 SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 30 SECONDS.
FORTUNATELY, THE
BILL BEFORE US REJECTS THE
DRACONIAN CUTS AND ENSURES THAT
THE COAST GUARD CARRIES OUT ITS
CRITICAL MISSIONS.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK
CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT AND RANKING
MEMBER PRICE AND THEIR STAFF
FOR RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL
MISSION NEEDS OF THE COAST
GUARD AND ACCOMMODATING THOSE
AMERICA.
NEEDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF
I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT
THE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVE THE BALANCE.
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA.
AT THIS TIME I
RECOGNIZE THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF
THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELAND
SECURITY, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTE.
TEXAS, MR. CARTER, FOR ONE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTE.
TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
H.R. 5855, THE 2013 HOMELAND
SECURITY APPROPRIATION MEASURE.
AS A MEMBER OF THE HOMELAND
SECURITY APPROPRIATION
SUBCOMMITTEE, I BELIEVE THAT
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF
CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT WE HAVE
EXERCISED THE MUCH-NEEDED
OVERSIGHT THAT THE DEPARTMENT
-- OF THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH
HEARINGS.
THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR'S
THIS BILL, ALONG WITH THE
ACCOMPANYING REPORT, CONTINUES
TO ENSURE THAT CONGRESS IS KEPT
INFORMED OF HOW THE VALUABLE
TAXPAYER DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT
BY REQUIRING NUMEROUS REPORTS
AND BRIEFINGS OF D.H.S.
THIS BILL FUNDS FRONT LINE
SECURITY OPERATIONS AT THEIR
HIGHEST LEVEL IN HISTORY.
ENSURING THAT OUR BORDER PATROL
AGENTS AND I.C.E. OFFICERS HAVE
THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO
SECURE OUR BORED -- OUR
BORDERS.
I'M GLAD THAT THERE WILL BE
COOPERATION BETWEEN FEDERAL
AGENTS AND NONGOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP COMBAT
THE HEINOUS CRIME OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, ALSO KNOWN AS
MODERN DAY SLAVERY.
AGAIN, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THIS CRITICAL MEASURE,
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
RESERVES.
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVE.
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO
PENNSYLVANIA, A HARDWORKING
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MEMBER OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEE ON
FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES.
HOMELAND SECURITY, MR. DENT,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
1 1/2 MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
ACT OF 2013, AND I WANT TO
RANKING MEMBER PRICE FOR THEIR
THANK CHAIRMAN ADERHOLT AND
LEADERSHIP ON THIS
SUBCOMMITTEE.
H.R. 585 IS A FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE MEASURE AND TOTALS
$39 BILLION IN DISCRETIONARY
FUNDING FOR D.H.S., A DECREASE
CURRENT LEVELS.
OF ABOUT $484 MILLION BELOW
IT ENSURES ADEQUATE FUNDING IS
NEEDED WHILE WEEDING OUT
UNNECESSARY SPENDING.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE CRITICAL
ASPECTS OF THIS BILL.
FIRST, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE PROVIDE $.8 BILLION FOR FEMA
FIRST RESPONDER GRANTS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE ASSISTANCE TO
FIRE GRANTS AND EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS
WILL RECEIVE $670 MILLION,
EQUAL THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST.
FURTHERMORE, I'M PLEASED TO
NOTE AN AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. PRICE, MRS. LOWEY, MR.
COMMITTEE MARKUP TO FOSTER
LATHAM AND I DURING THE FULL
FLEXIBILITY FOR LOCAL
DEPARTMENTS IN UTILIZING FIRE
GRANTS, THE FUNDS THAT WERE
ADOPTED IN THIS MEASURE.
AS FOR BORDER PROTECTION, THE
BILL CONTAINS $10.2 BILLION FOR
U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PROTECTION, SUPPORTING THE
LARGEST TOTALS AND OFFICERS IN
HISTORY.
SIMILARLY, THE U.S. CUSTOMS
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
RECEIVED $5.4 BILLION.
SUPPORTING THE VISA SECURITY
PROGRAM AS WELL AS 34,000
I.C.E. DETENTION BED SPACES,
OUR HIGHEST CAPACITY TO DATE.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE
PROVISIONS IN THE BILL I WANT
TO TOUCH ON THIS AFTERNOON.
H.R. 5855 HAS BEEN CRAFTED AS A
SMART AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
FUNDING BILL FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT PASSAGE.
ALSO JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE
LEADERSHIP OF CHAIRMAN ROGERS
AND RANKING MEMBER DICKS FOR
MEASURE AS WELL.
THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
AT THIS TIME I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
RESERVES.
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY
COLLEAGUE FROM ALABAMA, MR.
ROGERS, WHO WAS THE MEB ON THE
AUTHORIZING HOMELAND SECURITY
COMMITTEE AND FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION SUBCOMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE THAT HE BE RECOGNIZED
FOR A MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. ROGERS OF
ALABAMA IS RECOGNIZED FOR A
MINUTE AND A HALF.
I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL AND URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN FAVOR
OF IT.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE CHAIRMAN
BILL.
FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS
HE HELPS PROTEST US FROM
TERRORIST ATTACKS, FUNDS VITAL
PROGRAMS AND GRANTS.
IT DOES SO IN A FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE MANNER BY SPENDING
ALMOST $500 MILLION LESS THAN
LAST YEAR.
THE BILL PROTECTS OUR BORDERS
AND PRIORITIZES IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT.
IT PROVIDES CRITICAL GRANT
FUNDING FOR OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS, OUR HEROES ON THE
FRONT LINE OF THE -- IT TAKES
ON TRANSPORTATION SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION'S BUREAUCRATIC
MESS.
IT CUTS $61 MILLION FROM T.S.A.
MANAGERIAL OVERHEAD.
IT CAPS SCREENING PERSONNEL AT
$47 MILLION.
IMPORTANTLY, IT DOES NOT
INCREASE ANY FEES THAT WOULD
FALL ON THE TRAVELING PUBLIC,
WHICH WOULD THREATEN JOBS IN
THE OF AIATION INDUSTRY.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND OF CHAIRMAN
ADERHOLT'S DEDICATION AND
LEADERSHIP ON THESE ISSUES.
I ALSO KNOW OF HIS COMMITMENT
TO REDUCING WASTEFUL SPENDING
AND RESTORING FISCAL SANITY IN
WASHINGTON.
AGAIN, I COMMEND MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE FROM ALABAMA, HIS
FINE STAFF ON THEIR HARD WORK
AND DEDICATION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THIS BILL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALABAMA RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, DOES
THE MAJORITY HAVE ANY MORE
SPEAKERS?
DOES THE MAJORITY HAVE MORE
SPEAKERS?
WE ARE FINISHED
WITH OUR SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME.
ALL RIGHT.
THEN MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL
CONCLUDE BY, AGAIN, COMMENDING
THE CHAIRMAN AND OUR WHOLE
SUBCOMMITTEE.
WE HAVE A GOOD SUBCOMMITTEE, A
GOOD ACTIVE GROUP OF MEMBERS,
AND VIRTUALLY ALL HAD POSITIVE
INPUT INTO THIS LEGISLATION.
I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT IN
WHICH THE CHAIRMAN HAS MADE AN
HONEST EFFORT TO ACCOMMODATE
CONSTRUCTIVE INPUT FROM ALL
SOURCES.
THERE IS MUCH TO COMMEND ABOUT
THIS BILL, STARTING WITH THE
SUPPORT OF FRONT LINE
OPERATIONS BUT ALSO SOME
IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE FUNDING
SITUATION WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS
YEAR WITH RESPECT TO STATE AND
LOCAL FEMA GRANTS, FOR EXAMPLE,
SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS.
THERE ARE FUNDING SHORTFALLS IN
THIS BILL WITH RESPECT TO THE
HEADQUARTERS NEEDS OF ST.
ELIZABETH'S, WHICH AFFECT A
CERTAIN ADMINISTRATE -- WITH
RESPECT TO CERTAIN
ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS WE COULD
NAME.
BUT UNDER THE -- BUT UNDER THE
CONSTRAINTS OF THE BUDGET
ALLOCATIONS, THERE IS A GOOD
BALANCE IN THIS BILL, I THINK,
AND ONE THAT WE -- THAT HAS
REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF
ACCOMMODATION AND A GREAT DEAL
OF HARD WORK.
I'VE ALREADY SAID I THINK THERE
ARE SOME EXTRANEOUS ELEMENTS IN
THIS BILL THAT ARE NOT SO
CONSTRUCTIVE.
THE IMMIGRATION PROVISION THE
ABORTION PROVISION, AND SOME
EXCESSIVE WITHHOLDING
PROVISIONS.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT IN THE
DEBATE TO COME THAT WE WILL NOT
COMPOUND THAT PROBLEM.
WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE
AMENDMENTS.
DEALING WITH DOZENS OF
WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH
ADDITIONAL RIDER PROPOSALS,
ILL-ADVISED FOR THE MOST PART.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH
PERHAPS SOME TO TEMPERATURING
SPENDING PROVISIONS THAT WILL
CANNIBALIZE THOSE FRONT OFFICE
EXPENSES OR THE SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY EXPENSES OR OTHER
ACCOUNTS IN THIS BILL.
FOR THE SAKE OF AMENDMENTS THAT
MAY SOUND GOOD BUT REALLY WILL
UPSET, COULD UPSET SOME OF THE
DELICATE BALANCES THAT THIS
BILL HAS STRUCK.
SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE -- I
HOPE AND BELIEVE, PROBABLY A
LENGTHY AND ALSO CONSTRUCTIVE
PROCESS OF DISCUSSION AND
AMENDMENT UNDER THE OPEN RULE
AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THE
END RESULT OF THAT PROCESS WILL
BE A BILL THAT CAN CLAIM BROAD
SUPPORT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FEW
HOURS OF -- UNTIL THAT PROCESS
BEGINS BUT WITH THE CHAIRMAN, I
LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING ON WITH
THIS AND AT THE END OF THE WEEK
HAVING A HOMELAND SECURITY
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALABAMA IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN MY
HOPING COMMENTS, I DO BELIEF
THIS IS A GOOD BILL, IT
REFLECTS OUR BEST EFFORTS TO
TRY TO ADDRESS OUR NATION'S
MOST URGENT NEEDS.
FIRST OF ALL SECURITY AND
SECOND OF ALL, FISCAL
DISCIPLINE.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE IMPORTANT IN
THIS AGE IN WHICH WE LIVE.
I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THIS MEASURE AS IT
MOVES TO THE FLOOR.
AT THIS TIME, I YIELD BACK THE
REMAINDER OF THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS