John Culberson

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to oppose this amendment. ATF is doing a good job of protecting our Second Amendment rights, and this amendment would injure them severely. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment, remembering that, first and foremost, the appropriations annual operating budget of the United States represents only 30 cents out of every dollar spent by the Federal Government. I am keenly aware of how precious and hard-earned and scarce every dollar earned by our constituents is. We need to focus on the 70 percent: the automatic pilot programs, the looming insolvency of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. That is how we can really get our budget balanced. We have done our part on the Appropriations Committee to bring down annual spending every year, and the ATF, in particular, plays an important role in protecting America's Second Amendment rights. You must remember that the ATF is now under the direction of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who shares with us a passion for protecting Americans' Second Amendment rights. This amendment would cause serious damage to ATF's ability to end the backlogs. The ATF would not be able to speed up the processing of the National Firearms Act applications. The ATF would not be able to beef up the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, which is so vital to help police officers identify the source of the bullet used in a crime. This amendment would injure an agency that is doing good work today under the leadership of Attorney General Jeff Sessions to protect our Second Amendment rights. Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to oppose it. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), my colleague, the ranking member on the Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman withdrawing the amendment. I want to express my support for the work the Legal Services Corporation does. When we reach a budget agreement throughout the Congress for Legal Services, we will work with you in conference to help make sure they have the funds that they need to do their vital work to defend abused women, veterans, and members of the military who need assistance. They do important work. As soon as we find some extra room, I will work with you in conference to find them some extra support. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, we have, as you know, an extremely difficult budget year. Our constituent's hard-earned tax dollars are being stretched farther and thinner than ever, particularly in light of the disasters that struck Texas and southwest Louisiana and now Florida. We have, in our Commerce, Justice, Science bill, protected America's investment and basic research through the National Science Foundation and its main grant account, the Research and Related Activities account. We have funded the Research and Related Activities account at $672 million this year. We recognize that America's leadership in the world is grounded, in large part, on the innovations and discoveries that are made by unrestrained scientific research. I am a very strong supporter of the National Science Foundation's scientific research. And while we would like to see higher levels of funding for the National Science Foundation for NASA and for other science-related research in this bill, until the Congress comes to an overall budget agreement, Mr. Chairman, we simply do not have additional funds, and we must live within our means. The proposed offset that is offered by this amendment would seriously hinder program and financial oversight over the Department of Commerce and could result in professionals being let go. Further, with respect to the gentlewoman's statement, I believe it is important that we defer to the National Science Foundation to distribute any additional funds according to the highest priority needs identified by the scientific community and not designate them for a specific directorate. Should the gentlewoman's amendment pass, the funds will be added to the research and related activities account, in general. It will then be up to NSF to determine how those additional funds are spent according to the needs of the scientific community, that the offset is very damaging to the Department of Commerce and the important work they do, in fact, the constitutionally mandated work that they do, to provide for the decennial census of the United States. Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), my good friend and colleague.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I have no particular objection to the amendment other than I am concerned about the offset. We need to make sure the Department of Justice has all the resources they need in order to protect this country. I am concerned about taking it out of General Administration. However, I am prepared to let the amendment go. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague from Washington for his service to the people of Seattle, the people in his State, his service here, and for his devotion to this program. I absolutely recognize the importance of the COPS Hiring Program and what an important impact it has had on the safety of local communities. We are especially grateful to our first responders in southeast Texas, southwest Louisiana, and the people of Florida. I don't know what we would do without our first responders. Our police officers and firemen have done a magnificent job in the wake of these terrible storms that we have had. Given the staffing shortages and the current issues facing our law enforcement, the COPS program is especially important. As you know, the Senate has funded the COPS program in its bill, and I look forward to working with the gentleman to make sure the COPS program is funded in conference.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the en bloc amendment. It is made up of noncontroversial items that we have worked out with the minority, and I urge its adoption. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Lipinski. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my two amendments included in the en bloc package being considered for Division C of H.R. 3354 I want to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Serrano for their leadership on this division, and for including these amendments in the en bloc package. These bipartisan amendments, cosponsored by me and my friend Mr. LoBiondo of New Jersey, protect critical functions at the National Weather Service. The Weather Service is essential to so much of what we do. From its critical functions like helping us predict, prepare for, and ride out extreme weather events to its everyday functions like telling us whether or not to carry an umbrella, life without up-to-date weather information is hard to imagine. My first amendment (No. 89) directs the National Weather Service not to cut $1.2 million from the Climate Prediction Center. one of its National Centers for Environmental Protection The Service is further directed not to consolidate the functions of the Climate Prediction Center into the Weather Prediction Center. Keeping these two centers separate recognizes the essential and very different services each one provides. The medium- and long-term predictions offered by the Climate Prediction Center are used for planning by diverse industries including transportation, agriculture, energy, and public health. Its global datasets are used by the Department of Defense and the U.S. Agency for International Development to understand international phenomena like flood and drought that could impact food supplies and regional stability. My second amendment (No. 88) directs the National Weather Service not to cut $10.1 million from its budget for Information Technology Officers, and to maintain an on-site IT Officer at each Weather Forecast Office. These officers do software maintenance, technical systems upgrades, and develop software and data products to meet local office needs. According to the Weather Service's assessment of its performance during Hurricane Matthew (2016), ``[Weather Forecast Offices] were unanimous in their support of having a local [IT Officer] present to address issues before, during, and after hurricane season.'' In addition, a significant number of IT Officers are also trained, experienced meteorologists who can augment the forecasting staff during extreme weather. I think all of my colleagues can agree that supporting the National Weather Service is more important now than ever and I urge support for these amendments and for the en bloc package.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I wish to address the gentlewoman's comments, very briefly. I want to thank the gentlewoman for bringing this matter to the House's attention. Harmful algal blooms are an important issue, especially to the State of Florida. We know how dangerous they are and the terrible effect they have had on our friends in Florida, who are already suffering the effects of this hurricane. Our prayers and thoughts are with them. All of us in Houston understand the severity of the problem they face, and we are praying for them and look forward to helping them in any way we can. I will certainly continue to work with the gentlewoman on this issue that she brings to the House's attention. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert).

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 504, as the designee of Chairman Frelinghuysen, I offer amendments en bloc No. 3 as part of consideration of division C of H.R. 3354. The list of amendments included in the en bloc, Mr. Chairman, is at the desk and has been agreed to by both sides.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the further consideration of H.R. 3354.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield to gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert), my good friend.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of Chairman Frelinghuysen, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chair, the bill also provides $19.9 billion for NASA, which is a $218 million increase, and the bill advances space exploration and ensures America will remain the world leader in space exploration and technology. The bill makes sure that the human spaceflight program is fully funded and that we will have Americans launched back into space on American-built rockets as soon as humanly possible. The bill does not adopt the proposed cut to the National Science Foundation, and we have continued to fund basic scientific research. We have included numerous oversight provisions, Mr. Chairman, to protect hard-earned taxpayer dollars, and we have also continued provisions included in previous year bills to protect our Second Amendment rights. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for the time and urge all Members to support the CJS bill.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to thank everyone here in the House for their kind words and their prayers and their support this morning for the Hurricane Harvey relief bill. I want to thank you in particular, Chairman Frelinghuysen, for your hard work, along with the Speaker, to get that legislation passed through the House in record time to get relief to the people of Texas and Lousiana, and know that we are praying for the people of Puerto Rico and Florida who are facing this terrible hurricane right now. Today, I am pleased to present the fiscal year 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. I want to particularly thank my ranking member, Jose Serrano, who has been a good partner to work with and for his support when it comes to science, and NASA has deeply appreciated it. His input has improved the bill significantly. I am also very grateful to Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey for their help in writing this bill, and the superb staff work on both sides of the aisle in putting it together. This Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill provides $54 billion in discretionary funding this year, which is $2.6 billion below fiscal year 2017. We have done our best to be good stewards of our constituents' hard- earned and very precious tax dollars. We fund critical programs in this bill while cutting or freezing lower priority programs. One of the main priorities of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill is to fund both Federal and local law enforcement agencies. Our bill provides the FBI with $8.8 billion, which is a $92 million increase over the budget request. The FBI has done a superb job in protecting this Nation against espionage, cybercrime, terrorism, and hate crimes. The threats against our security are real and evolving. We have done our best in this bill to make sure that the FBI has the resources it needs to continue to protect this great Nation. The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill also provides increases across all other Federal law enforcement agencies, Mr. Chairman, to enhance their capabilities, to combat illegal immigration, violent crime, and go after human and opioid traffickers. Unfortunately, Houston, Texas, is a center of human trafficking. And our legislation makes sure that all Federal agencies have the resources they need to combat these modern human slavers. We have provided funding for 65 new immigration judge teams to reduce the 500,000 immigration case backlog; we have got a $22 million increase in here, Mr. Chairman, for U.S. attorneys, an $88 million increase for U.S. marshals, a $98 million increase for the DEA, and a $35 million increase for ATF. We have also provided strong funding for priority State and local law enforcement programs that protect women and children and help support our local police officers. I am especially grateful, and I want to say a special thank you, to all of the first responders who saved so many lives in Houston and across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. Our first responders have been absolutely magnificent in helping protect the people of Texas, and I know they will be there for the people of Puerto Rico and Florida. Our legislation includes $527 million to fight human trafficking and protect women against violence. We have provided $72.5 million to help protect missing and exploited children. We have provided $500 million for the Byrne JAG program to help local law enforcement agencies and $220 million to help reimburse State and local agencies for housing criminal aliens.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Today, we are all Americans, arm in arm.

Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentlewoman yield?