TheWeekInCongress.com
Week Ending July 9, 2004
HR 4754 making appropriations for the Depts. of Commerce, Justice and State, the Judiciary and related agencies for FY 2005.
BRIEF
The Department of Justice would gain the lion’s share of the funding at the committee recommended level of $20.6 billion. $1 billion more than 2004.
The Department of Commerce would take a $300 million dollar cut from 2004 and spend $5.8 billion. Largest tickets would be $320 million for Economic Development Assistance programs (US), $505 million for international trade agencies, $3.2 billion for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration including $784 million for the National Weather Service and $525 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
$5.2 billion would fund the Federal courts and related offices which is an increase of $391 million over 2004 spending
Dept. of State loses $80 million to spend $8.9 billion this year. Despite the cut in total spending, 110 new diplomatic positions would be created along with 63 foreign service positions dedicated to visas, public diplomacy and mission requirements in Sudan, Libya and Haiti. Embassy security would be increased by $147 million to spend $1.5 billion. 71 new security positions would be created. $610 million would be spent on radio broadcasts to the Middle East.
Related Agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Small Business Administration would spend $2.3 billion.
Sponsor: Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA-10th)
Vote: the House motion to recommit the bill to committee failed 194 to 223 (RC 345)
The bill passed the House 397 to 18 (RC 346) (July 8, 2004)
Cost to the taxpayers: About $40.5 billion. $2.2 billion less than last year.
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MORE SPENDING DETAILS BY TITLE
1. H.AMDT.632 provides $79 million for the Small Business
Administration's 7(a) loan program.
Sponsor: Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [R-IL-16] Agreed to by recorded vote:
281 - 137 (Roll no. 328).
2. H.AMDT.633 to increase the funding for the Civil Rights Commission
by $1 million and to reduce the funding for salaries and expenses for the
Department of Justice by a similar amount.
Sponsor: Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] By unanimous consent, the
Jackson-Lee (TX) amendment was withdrawn.
3. H.AMDT.634 to increase funding for the DNA analysis and backlog elimination program. Sponsor: Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] Failed by voice vote.
4. H.AMDT.635 to H.R.4754 Amendment provides funds to the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program to be used to issue the Public Safety Officer's Medal of Valor posthumously to the 414 public safety officers who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Sponsor: Rep Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7] Agreed to by voice vote.
5. H.AMDT.636 to make available $1,000,000 to enforce subsections (a)
and (b) of section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373).
Sponsor: Rep King, Steve [R-IA-5] By unanimous consent, the King (IA)
amendment was withdrawn.
6. H.AMDT.637 to increase funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. Sponsor: Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9] (Failed by recorded vote: 206 - 212 (Roll no. 330).
7. H.AMDT.638 to reduce funding for the Census Bureau by $173.8 million. Sponsor: Rep Hefley, Joel [R-CO-5] Failed by recorded vote: 71 - 342 (Roll no. 331).
8. H.AMDT.639 to reduce funding for the President's Manufacturing Council. Sponsor: Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10] Agreed to by recorded vote: 232 - 186 (Roll no. 332).
9. H.AMDT.640 to provide $25,000 for the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor to compile and publish a list of foreign government officials who order the use of, are involved in, or engage in torture. Sponsor: Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [R-PA-16] Agreed to by voice vote.
10. H.AMDT.641 to prohibit the use of funds in the bill for the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [R-TX-14] Failed by voice vote.
11. H.AMDT.642 to provide funding for the Small Business Administration's microloan program. Sponsor: Rep Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10] Agreed to by voice vote.
12. H.AMDT.643 to prohibit the use of funds in the bill by the Justice Department to prosecute doctors and their staff for prescribing and administering legal funds for pain relief or management. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [R-TX-14] Mr. Wolf raised a point of order against the Paul amendment (A012). Amendment constitutes legislation in an appropriations bill. The Chair sustained the point of order.
13. H.AMDT.644 to prohibit the use of funds in the bill to pay
expenses for any U.S. contribution to the United National Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [R-TX-14] Failed by recorded vote: 135 - 283 (Roll
no. 333).
14. H.AMDT.645 to prohibit the use of State Criminal Alien Assistance Program funds in the bill by state and local government who do no comply with provisions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act regarding receiving and providing information to the federal government on the citizenship or immigration status of an individual. Sponsor: Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6] By unanimous consent, the Tancredo amendment was withdrawn.
15. H.AMDT.646 to prohibit the use of funds in the bill to prevent the states of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Oregon, Vermont or Washington from imlementing state laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana. Sponsor: Rep Farr, Sam [D-CA-17] (Failed by recorded vote: 148 - 268 (Roll no. 334).
16. H.AMDT.647 to prohibit the use of funds to implement the Commerce Department's new restrictions on gift parcels to Cuba and the amount of personal baggage allowed for travellers to Cuba. Sponsor: Rep Flake, Jeff [R-AZ-6] Agreed to by recorded vote: 221 - 194 (Roll no. 329).
17. H.AMDT.648 to prohibit use of funds to pay any United States contribution to the United Nations or any affiliated agency of the United Nations. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [R-TX-14] Failed by recorded vote: 83 - 335 (Roll no. 335).
18. H.AMDT.649 to provide increased funding for the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Centers Program. Sponsor: Rep Millender-McDonald, Juanita [D-CA-37] (Agreed to by voice vote.
19. H.AMDT.650 to add a new section to the bill expressing a sense of Congress on the Federal Trade Commission. Sponsor: Rep Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] By unanimous consent, the Burgess amendment was withdrawn.
20. H.AMDT.651 to add a new section to the bill expressing a sense of the Congress that the Secretary of State should make a determination as to whether recent events in the Darfur region of Sudan constitute genocide. Sponsor: Rep Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10] Agreed to by voice vote.
21. H.AMDT.652 to add a new section to the bill prohibiting funds from being made available to make an application under section 501 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 for an order requiring the production of library circulation records, library patron lists, library Internet records, book sales records, or book customer lists. Sponsor: Rep Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] Failed by recorded vote: 210 - 210, 1 Present (Roll no. 339).
22. H.AMDT.653 provides that none of the funds in the bill may be used to promote or advocate the legalization of prostitution or sex trafficking, and that no funds may be given to any group or organization that does not have a policy that is explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking. Sponsor: Rep Akin, W. Todd [R-MO-2] Agreed to by recorded vote: 306 - 113 (Roll no. 340).
23. H.AMDT.654 to limit "sneak and peek" search warrants by narrowing the circumstances under which notice of the execution of the warrant is delayed to circumstances where the court finds reasonable cause to believe that providing immediate notification of the warrant "will endanger the life or physical safety of an individual, result in flight from prosecution, or result in the destruction of or tampering with the evidence sought under the warrant.". Sponsor: Rep Otter, C. L. (Butch) [R-ID-1] By unanimous consent, the Otter amendment was withdrawn.
24. H.AMDT.655 to provide funding for the Department of Justice to enforce section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 which forbids localities from preventing their police officers from reporting immigration information to the Federal Government. Sponsor: Rep King, Steve [R-IA-5] Failed by recorded vote: 139 - 278 (Roll no. 341).
25. H.AMDT.656 to reduce funding for United Nations contributions to
international organizations by $20 million.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Nick [R-MI-7] Failed by recorded vote: 129 - 291
(Roll no. 342).
26. H.AMDT.657 to prohibit the use of funds to detain for more than 30 days, or defend in court the detention of a U.S. citizen, apprehended on U.S. territory, solely because that citizen is classified as an enemy combatant; or to classify any person as an enemy combatant if that person is apprehended on United States territory. Sponsor: Rep Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27] Failed by voice vote.
27. H.AMDT.658 to limit the amount for the United States Court of Federal Claims to $7.5 million. Sponsor: Rep Hefley, Joel [R-CO-5] Failed by recorded vote: 67 - 347 (Roll no. 343).
28. H.AMDT.659 to prohibit use of funds to implement, litigate or defend the legality of, or enforce the regulations prescribed by the Comptroller of the Currency relating to the visitorial powers of the Comptroller of the Currency and relating to applicability and preemption of State law with respect to national bank operations. Sponsor: Rep Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27] By unanimous consent, the Sherman amendment was withdrawn.
29. H.AMDT.660 to cut total appropriations in the bill by 1% and would
leave it to the administration to determine which accounts are cut to achieve
the reduction.
Sponsor: Rep Hefley, Joel [R-CO-5] Failed by recorded vote: 81 - 327
(Roll no. 344).
30. H.AMDT.661 to H.R.4754 Section 214(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228) concerns "Record of Place of Birth as Israel for Passport Purposes". Sponsor: Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9] Agreed to by voice vote.
Return to Top
TITLE I--JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Return To Top
The bill would establish a new Intelligence Directorate at the FBI and the FBI Director would be given new authorities over retention, retirement and recruitment of personnel.
The bill also funds 1,000 new agents, analysts and support staff for intelligence and counterterrorism activities and additional funding to fight child prostitution and gang-related crimes.
US Marshals Service gets a $10 million increase.
The committee would provide an increase of $885.6 million over the Bush administration request for State and local law enforcement grants. The grant increase details are as follows:
+$125 million Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants program
+$325 million State Criminal Alien Assistance Program
+$113 million COPS enhancement grants
+$104.5 million juvenile justice accountability programs
+$40 million Meth Hot Spots
+$130 million law enforcement technologies.
New hires include 30 additional positions for the Intelligence Policy and Review Office and 16 positions for Security and Emergency Planning Staff.
Hiring diverse staff is supported and paying off student loans as a hiring incentive is included in the bill.
Native American Casinos would see increased Justice Department efforts to combat crime in those facilities.
Gangs will see an increased effort against any criminal activities through a $10 million increase in funding and $5 million for additional Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms special agents and $3 million for 25 additional US Attorneys along with $20 million in State and local Juvenile Justice grants.
TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND RELATED AGENCIES Return To Top
The Office of the US Trade Representative spends $41. 5 million. About the same as last year. The US is importing $124 billion more in goods than it is exporting resulting in a serious trade deficit. The Committee directs the USTR to use all mechanisms to address disruptions resulting from the unbalanced trade with the Peoples republic of China where the Deficit is around $50 billion.
The Committee requests a report from the USTR detailing all spending.
International Trade Commission would spend $61.7 million to carry out its’ responsibilities of conducting trade-related investigations and providing Congress and the President with advice on US international trade policy.
TITLE III—THE JUDICIARY Return To Top
Over $5.5 billion will run the Nation’s courts for 2005 which is an increae of $414.4 million over last year. Because the Judiciary collects fees, around $340 million in those fees offsets spending
To do its’ work the Supreme Court would receive $58.1 million. Additional staff members will be hired.
Getting access to what the Supreme Court actually does each day has become an issue and the Committee concluded that a daily digest would be cost prohibitive. The Court, however, is encouraged to pursue internet and audio releases of proceedings in ‘near real-time.’ The Committee requested a report from the Court on providing improved public access to proceedings.
Nearly $10 million will be spent on personnel and services relating to maintaining Supreme Court grounds and buildings.
TITLE IV—DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCIES Return To Top
Total spending for the Dept of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors to formulate and execute US foreign policy would be $9 billion. $297 million more than 2004. State, alone, would receive $8.4 billion or $278.3 million over 2004.
Diplomatic and Consular Programs would spend $4.2 billion including $658 million for worldwide security upgrades, $40 million for technology equipment replacement and $319 million for public diplomacy information programs internationally.
210 new position would be created worldwide.
Recognizing that opinion polls and foreign media content relating to the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq ‘reveal profound anti-American sentiments and often rejection of out policies’ the Committee sees the need for an $8 million increase in public diplomacy programs through the Dept of State. The report noted the American Corners program as a successful effort. The programs function from 286 American Embassies and consulates worldwide. A Persian Website to communicate with Iranians is seen as the template for similar efforts targeting India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Grants continue for 3,000 English language microscholarships to young people in Arab and Muslim regions. The program hopes that providing language training to ‘non-eleite’ audiences will open a window to the English-speaking world and help dispel misinformation and misunderstandings that breed resentment towards the US.
A new Office of International Stabilization and Reconstruction would be established as the central entity to plan and coordinate US Government civilian activities in pre and post-conflict environments and to react to complex contingencies. The new office would have at least 20 positions and would hope to improve operational response time in the areas of reconstruction, stabilization and humanitarian assistance. The effort would mobilize US experts from Federal, State and local levels as well as from private and non-profit sectors to respond to post-conflict emergencies.
Club drug intervention is an ongoing matter between State and the Government of Belgium and the Dutch and in the Netherlands.
Funding for the Office of International religious Freedom in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor will continue. The Office generally attempts to integrate religious freedom into US foreign policy. Religious freedom is an issue in China, Eritrea, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia. Sudan. Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan and Vietnam as Congress sees it.
Worldwide, US consulates would spend $658.7 million for security upgrades. The money would be spent on guards, equipment, armored vehicles, personnel training, and wireless communications. Particular consulates include Kabul, Afghanistan and Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Preventing and responding to chemical and biological agents would spend $18.4 million with an additional 71 security personnel staff positions including 6 special agents and 55 administrative support positions. Further, $4.5 million funds a five-year replacement cycle for armored vehicles.
Systems that support classified communications would spend $40 million this year.
Border security takes $836.5 million. $661.5 million comes through collection of Machine Readable Visa fees.
TIBET-The US is looking to a presence in Lhasa and intends to increase Tibetan language training for foreign service officers, promotion of religious freedom there.
THE ASIA FOUNDATION
$13 million is recommended to enhance this program of human rights, higher education, democratic governance, ethnic harmony, religious tolerance and legal reform in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia as well as other areas. The Asia Foundation is a private non-profit organization.
Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program. $500,000 for an exchange program with Arab and Muslim students and leaders who can learn more about the American way by visiting and studying here.
Israeli Arab Scholarship Program $375, 000 from a $4.9 million US donated endowment funds the effort to provide educational opportunity at US institutions for Arabs and Israelis.
East West Center gets $5 million
National Endowment for Democracy spending includes $5 million for Afghanistan, $3 million for Pakistan and $2 million for Egypt. The NED supports and promotes democracy where it does not exist. NED is a private non-profit corporation that encourages and strengthens democratic institutions and processes the private sector initiatives, training and other activities.
TITLE V—RELATED AGENCIES Return To Top
Antitrust Modernization Commission $1.2 million
Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. $499,000.
Commission on Civil Rights $9 million
Commission on International religious Freedom $3 million
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