We cannot meet the needs of federal law enforcement, prosecute criminals, protect public safety, or invest sufficiently in scientific research and development with an allocation this low.
I thank Chairman Rogers, Chairman Wolf, and Ranking Member Fattah for their leadership.
The bill before us today provides good funding levels for a number of important efforts, such as Violence Against Women Act services, the National Weather Service, and the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Programs.
The mark includes $75 million for a Comprehensive School Safety Program, despite the fact that it was half of the request, to add school resource officers and improve security in our schools based on the needs of local communities. In addition, it would provide $55 million in grants to states to improve the records for the National Instant Background Check System.
However, Congress has yet to pass bipartisan, common-sense gun violence prevention measures. Seven months after the tragedy at Newtown, this mark preserves the status quo, as it retains the same gun riders as last year rather than work together to reduce the epidemic of violence and the prevalence of illegal guns.
Like most of the other subcommittees, this panel is faced with an inadequate allocation that is $4.7 billion, or 7.5%, below the President's request. Numerous vital efforts would not receive adequate resources. For example:
• While federal law enforcement is funded above post-sequestration levels, some special agents and attorneys who prevent, investigate, and prosecute acts of crime and terrorism will likely face furloughs under this allocation.
• The COPS Hiring Program is zeroed out. Had it been funded, the Administration's request would have provided grants to support the hiring of 8,310 officers.
• While the bill increases funding for the National Weather Service to predict and warn the public of severe weather events, reductions to components of NOAA, including Coastal Zone Management Grants, will make it more difficult for communities to prepare, mitigate, and recover from storms, leaving our shorelines and coasts more at risk.
We cannot meet the needs of federal law enforcement, prosecute criminals, or protect public safety with an allocation this low. Without first replacing the sequester, research by NASA and the National Science Foundation, efforts to study and combat climate change, and economic priorities such as the Minority Business Development Administration and Trade Adjustment Assistance will all be limited. It is my sincere hope that we can replace the sequester once and for all and improve this bill as the process moves forward.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
