Barbara Mikulski

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, what is the pending amendment?

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I vigorously and unabashedly oppose the Coburn amendment. It eliminates not only the dollars from the science program at the National Science Foundation, it specifically targets the $9 million cut in the area of funding for research by political scientists. The very first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for economics ever has received 28 awards from the National Science Foundation, the science program offered to political science professors. It shows what groundbreaking work can be done. This amendment is an attack on science. It is an attack on academia. We need full funding to keep America innovative, and I urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment. Mr. President, I yield back the remainder of our time, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I share the concerns of the Senator from Oklahoma about oversight at the Department of Commerce. That is why the bill already funds the inspector general at $25.8 million, the same as the President's request. There is an additional $6 million furnished through the stimulus. This amendment does cut the Hoover Building and it would only delay the renovations to meet basic health and safety standards. I oppose the amendment. The amendment would cause the CJS bill to exceed its allocation. Therefore, I make a point of order that the amendment violates section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I support every comment made by my ranking member. I believe this amendment will cause the CJS bill to exceed its allocation, therefore I make a point of order the amendment violates section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to make a point of order against the remaining amendments.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I make a point of order en bloc that amendments Nos. 2644, 2627, 2646, 2625, 2642, and 2632 are either not germane postcloture or violate rule XVI.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, not withstanding the order regarding the passage of H.R. 2847, I now ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 2647, as modified, be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Yes, I am aware of these two important initiatives I know from the COMPETES Act, which I was integrally involved in with the Senator, that one of the more important policy questions is what effect research and development has on gross domestic product. There are many estimates that it is substantial and it is an important question for Congress to consider.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Yes, I am aware of the initiative and it is important we understand how the recent prices increases for the energy we use affects the overall gross domestic product.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I thank Senator Bingaman. I will work with the House and Senate conferees to give these two important initiatives the consideration they deserve.

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. Certainly, I thank the Senator for his kind words. As the Senator noted, I am a strong supporter of the COPS Hiring Program. This year in particular, we faced difficult funding decisions and had to juggle a number of priorities because we were trying to make up for years of underinvestment in Justice Department programs. That is why our fiscal year 2010 CJS spending bill provides $100 million for the COPS Hiring Program to put an additional 500 cops on the beat, patrolling our streets and protecting our families. As we move forward to conference with the House, I expect to hear from Democratic members about the need to increase those funds. I intend to do my part in conference to see that this program remains a high priority in the conference report.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I agree that we need to do all we can to help our police officers to ensure they are not walking a thin blue line. Our cops need a full team to combat violence, protect families, and fight the crime that's destroying neighborhoods. The funding provided in the stimulus went a long way toward helping put cops back on the beat. It is clear that the demand and needs of local communities are high. The Senators tireless advocacy for his State's law enforcement is much appreciated. The Senator has made his point loud and clear, and I know we will continue to hear from him on the importance of the COPS Hiring Program as we move into conference.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 5, 2009, at 9:30 a.m.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 5, 2009, at 9 a.m. in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 5, 2009, at 2:30 p.m.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Employment Non-Discrimination Act: Ensuring Opportunity for All Americans'' on November 5, 2009. The hearing will commence at 10 a.m. in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 5, 2009, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Business Formation and Financial Crime: Finding a Legislative Solution.''

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 5, 2009, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 5, 2009 at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on VA and Indian Health Service Cooperation. The Committee will meet in room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building beginning at 10 a.m.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 5, 2009, at 3 p.m.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 5, 2009, at 2 p.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The First Line of Defense: Reducing Recidivism at the Local Level.''

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and Power be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate to conduct a hearing on November 5, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent, on behalf of Senator Durbin, that Richard Burkard, a detailee from the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, be granted the privilege of the floor during the consideration of the Commerce- Justice-Science Appropriations Act and any votes thereon.

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act. I am proud to sponsor this legislation along with Senator Cardin. African Americans have a rich history that must be cherished and remembered. This bill will honor African American leaders from across the country by helping to preserve their names, faces, and stories for generations to come. This legislation will provide continued Federal assistance to expand exhibits and educational programs at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and Justice Learning Center in Baltimore, MD. Some of the memorialized figures are household names, like: Frederick Douglass, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and President Barack Obama. Yet many more are unfamiliar, like the 22 African Americans who served in Congress in the 1800s. It is time we give these pioneers the recognition they deserve. Maryland is proud to be home to so many important figures in African American history. From the dark days of slavery through the civil rights movement, Marylanders have led the way. The brilliant Frederick Douglass was the voice of the voiceless in the struggle against slavery. The courageous Harriet Tubman delivered 300 slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. The great Thurgood Marshall, a man who was no stranger to the restriction of educational opportunity, successfully argued the Brown v. Board of Education case before the Supreme Court, and later became a Supreme Court Justice himself. These three amazing individuals were Marylanders. It is fitting that the national Great Blacks in Wax Museum and Justice Learning Center also calls Baltimore home. The museum and learning center is a popular and respected African American history museum. Approximately 300,000 people a year from around the country and the world visit the museum. Many are school children, who can see historical figures come to life in the museum's exhibits. Expansion will allow the museum to teach even more visitors about the important contributions of African Americans. Private donors have contributed too. Now it is time for the Federal Government to reaffirm its commitment.