Appropriations Committee Approves the Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill
The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill, which provides annual funding for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other related agencies.
In total, the legislation contains $50.2 billion in funding. This is a reduction of $3.1 billion or 6% below last year’s level, and $7.4 billion or 13% below the President’s request for these programs. This amount is also 3% below the pre-stimulus, pre-bailout level of 2008.
“This important bill funds a wide range of programs that deal with everything from trade to law enforcement to scientific research. But faced with record-high deficits, we have to rein in spending and prioritize what is most important – what would have the greatest benefits for American taxpayers and businesses to promote economic growth and job creation. Most of these cuts were not easy – but they were certainly not made carelessly,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said.
“This bill represents our best take on matching needs with scarce resources. It achieves our spending reduction goals while at the same time investing in core priorities like national security and American competitiveness, and contains critical investments in export promotion, manufacturing and a number of new job creation initiatives,” CJS Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf said.
For the text of the legislation considered today by the Appropriations Committee, please visit:
/UploadedFiles/CJSFY12_SUBC_xml.pdf
For the accompanying bill report, please visit: /UploadedFiles/CJS_REPORT.pdf
Summaries of amendments adopted at the Full Committee markup:
Wolf (R-VA) The manager’s amendment makes technical and non-controversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment passed on a voice vote.
Carter (R-TX) The amendment prohibits the ATF from denying the importation of certain shotguns, which can already be sold legally in the U.S. if they are made domestically. The amendment passed on a vote of 28-19.
McCollum (D-MN) The amendment prohibits the government from entering into contracts or agreements with any corporation that was convicted of a Federal felony criminal violation within the preceding 24 months. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
McCollum (D-MN) The amendment prohibits the government from entering into contracts or agreements with corporations with unpaid Federal tax liabilities that have not entered into payment agreements to remedy the liability. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rehberg (R-MT) The amendment prohibits the ATF from requiring licensed firearm dealers to report to the ATF on the multiple sales of rifles. The amendment passed on a vote of 25-16.
Kingston (R-GA) The amendment inserts report language requiring NOAA to work with the National Research Council to expand the scope of a study on the impacts of pesticides on salmon populations in the Pacific. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Farr (D-CA) The amendment reduces funding across the bill by $48 million, and adds this amount to NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities programs. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Honda (D-CA) The amendment rescinds an additional $1 million from the Department of Justice Working Capital Fund and the Assets Forfeiture Fund, and adds the funds to grants for wrongful conviction review. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Flake (R-AZ) The amendment adds report language reiterating an underlying bill provision that fees collected by the Patent Trade Office (PTO) are to be used only by PTO. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Austria (R-OH) The amendment adds report language directing NASA to provide reports on the execution of its Space Shuttle orbiter disposition plan. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Final Passage The legislation was approved by the Committee on a voice vote.