Alan Mollohan

Mr. MOLLOHAN

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for the opportunity to stand up and speak about and in favor of the JASON Project. For those who might not know, the JASON Project is a powerful education program, as Mr. Langevin just described, promoting hands-on learning, science learning, that connects primarily fifth-grade and eighth-grade students and their teachers with great explorers, scientists, role models, cutting-edge research. This subcommittee, Mr. Chairman, held a number of hearings on science education. It's a topic of great concern for the subcommittee as we fund the National Science Foundation and NASA and NOAA, all agencies that have wonderful science programs, and they also have an education mission. So we sponsored these hearings to try to determine what is the best educational experience, how do we effectively promote science education among our youth, a challenge that is difficult to me. The subcommittee heard from Dr. Harold Pratt, former president of the National Science Teachers Association, and Bill Nye the Science Guy--if Members on the floor don't know who he is, their children certainly do--underscores the critical need for science education programs, such as the JASON Project, to attract America's youth to science disciplines and to better equip our teachers through professional development. Both of our witnesses agree that the struggle to attract and to retain students to science begins early, begins in elementary school, and that the preparation and education of science teachers is one of the most important elements in that recruitment. The JASON Program, which was founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic, has helped inspire and motivate more than 7 million students and teachers to become more proficient in science. And I can't think of a program that has a better return on investment than one that has reached so many and that has such a profound impact on America's innovation and competitiveness in the long run. It does one other thing, Mr. Chairman: It promotes the private-public partnerships that the gentleman, who is the author of the amendment, frequently alludes to. It's a wonderful program. It serves the Nation. And I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished Member from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I just wanted to mention to the gentleman from Arizona that I don't know if it's making him feel any better about the 12- percent increase in the bill, which he accurately notes, but approximately 7 percent of that--maybe a little more than 7 percent of that is the increase in Census, about $4 billion to prepare for the 2010 census. It's an unusual increase, and it is directly related to the census and would be a short-term funding increase for that. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I just wanted to tell the gentleman from Arizona that learning that makes us all feel, on this side of the aisle, better about waiting for him tonight.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. MOLLOHAN

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I thank the gentleman for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule. I think it is a fair rule and comprehensive. And, Mr. Speaker, I want to point out the effort that went into fashioning this bill, which was very exhaustive and very inclusive of all parties. During the review process, Mr. Speaker, for this bill, the fiscal year 2010 budget request for the Commerce, Justice and Science and Related Agencies Appropriation bill, the subcommittee had a total of 24 budget hearings. I understand that we didn't get the budget request until late this year, but we had budget hearings even before we got the request and budget hearings even after we got the request. The subcommittee received testimony from Members of Congress--many Members of Congress inputted this process early on before we marked up--and some 68 outside witnesses. This testimony was crucial to our fashioning the bill, and the thoughts and the concerns of those who contributed are incorporated in this bill. In addition, officials of the administration representing all of the Departments in the bill one way or another inputted the legislation by testimony or otherwise. And this year in particular, Mr. Speaker, the subcommittee focused on a series of hearings on investments for all facets of the scientific enterprise--climate science and mitigation--as well as prisoner reentry programs, recidivism reduction, and criminal justice reform. Mr. Speaker, we focused on some of those areas because we felt that in the past there had been neglect, and that we needed, for our economy and also for just appropriate operation of these agencies, that additional funding was needed. In brief, the bill totals $64.4 billion, which is an increase of $6.7 billion over last year, and it's $200 million below the President's request. The bill provides $30.6 billion for investments in science, technology, and innovation, an increase of $1 billion over comparable levels from last year. I think there is a consensus that investments in science technology and investments in innovation are comparable to economic development necessary for us as we prepare for the new economy, as we work our way out of the recession that we find ourselves in. Investments in the new economy are crucial, and this committee that funds science is at the center in the critical path of that effort. Within this level, the bill provides $6.9 billion for the National Science Foundation and $18.2 billion for NASA. For NIST, the bill provides $781 million, and NOAA is recommended at $4.6 billion. The committee's recommendation continues to provide the resources consistent with the doubling path identified.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. It also considers the science and research conducted at NOAA and NASA as critical to the Nation's science enterprise. Mr. Speaker, I commend the Rules Committee for fashioning a rule that recognizes, first, the welcoming input that this committee has had from our colleagues throughout the process. The minority has been fully a part of the process. We very much appreciate Mr. Wolf's contribution to the bill. Many of his thoughts--I can't think of one that's not incorporated in the legislation one way or another. He was a former chairman of this subcommittee, and therefore his contribution and his insight is particularly beneficial, and we appreciate that contribution. I support the rule, Mr. Speaker, and hope that our colleagues will as well.

Mr. MOLLOHAN

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in regard to H.R. 2847, the legislation appropriating funds for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for 2010. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume in general debate. Mr. Chairman, if this is June, it must be appropriations season, and today I'm pleased to present to the House the first of the appropriations bills for fiscal year 2010, H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriation bill. While the summer may be hot and humid, as is typical in the Nation's Capital, with the assistance of this body, our days and nights need not be long for the House to fully consider this and the other 11 appropriations bills in regular order, or so we hope. I want to thank the ranking member of this subcommittee with most sincerity for his assistance, help, counsel, and guidance in the development of this bill. Mr. Frank Wolf of Virginia was chairman of this committee for a number of years, served on it for a great number of years. We served on it together. He brings to this bill a lot of experience and knowledge and that is really helpful as you work up an appropriation bill, and I appreciate, Frank, very much your assistance on the bill and the credibility and knowledge you bring to it. I also want to thank publicly and personally the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Obey, for his assistance in developing this bill. Mr. Obey's courtesy and the assistance of the front office has been very much appreciated, and we also appreciate, Mr. Chairman, the allocation that you've given us for this bill that's allowed us to do what we are allowed to do, however short the allocation may be. I would also like to sincerely recognize the staff: the excellent work of the clerk, John Blazey, and the leadership he's provided to the rest of the staff, and all of them have done excellent work, which I appreciate: Adrienne Simonson, Dixon Butler, Diana Simpson, Darek Newby, Tracey LaTurner, Scott Sammis, all with the subcommittee; Mike Ringler and John Martens on the minority staff. And then on my personal staff, Sally Moorhead and Julie Aaronson. It's a lot of work putting together one of these appropriation bills, as anybody who's been involved with it or close to it understands, and they have worked long hours diligently with great competence to move this bill forward, and I most sincerely thank them for the efforts. We couldn't do this without them. Mr. Chairman, in brief summary, this bill totals $64.4 billion, an increase of $6.7 billion over last year, but it is $200 million below the President's budget request. The bill provides $30.6 billion for investments in science, technology, and innovation, an increase of $1 billion over comparable levels from last year. Within this level, the bill provides $6.9 billion for the National Science Foundation and $18.2 billion for NASA. For NIST, the bill provides $781.1 million. For NOAA, it's recommended at $4.6 billion. The committee's recommendation continues to provide resources consistent with the doubling path identified for NSF and NIST in the COMPETES Act. It also considers the science and research conducted at NOAA and at NASA as critical to the Nation's science enterprise just as that performed by NSF and NIST. For law enforcement and other agencies of the Department of Justice, the bill provides a total of $27.7 billion. Full funding of $7.9 billion for the FBI, $2 billion for the DEA, and $1.1 billion for ATF. For the Bureau of Prisons, the bill provides $6.2 billion to address longstanding critical shortages in corrections' staffing and education, in addition to drug treatment. For State and local law enforcement activities, the bill provides a total of more than $3.4 billion, restoring, in large part, reductions proposed by the administration. For programs funded through the Office of Violence Against Women, the bill provides an increase of $11 million, including a $10 million increase for STOP Formula Grants, and a $1 million increase for Sexual Assault Victims Services. I want to be clear that while the funding table in the report for the Office of Violence Against Women may appear in the report to show a funding decrease, that is only because the bill moves a number of programs to the Office of Justice programs which actually administers those programs. So, let me repeat, the bill increases funding for the Office of Violence Against Women by $11 million. The bill provides a full funding of $298 million for the COPS hiring program. In other areas within the Justice Department, the bill provides $325 million--an increase of $41 million over the fiscal year 2009 level--for the Adam Walsh Act. With respect to border security, the bill provides $1.5 billion, a 30 percent increase over fiscal year 2009. These funds will be used to address firearms and narcotics trafficking between the United States and Mexico, an issue on which every Member of this body has concerns, and we're pleased to provide these increases. For the Second Chance Act, the bill includes a total of $114 million to develop and implement evidence-based strategies and programs at the Federal and State levels to reduce recidivism and the future costs of incarceration. I want to particularly compliment the authorizing committee for the good job that they have done with the Second Chance Act and other legislation they are considering. We are looking forward and appreciate the opportunity to cooperate with them on the funding side. A significant initiative across the Department of Justice is increased investments in law enforcement and prosecution efforts in Indian Country, for which the bill provides approximately $155 million, and that is an increase of $65 million over fiscal 2009. For SCAAP, which the President proposed to eliminate, Mr. Chairman, the bill includes $300 million. With respect to the Department of Commerce, $4.6 billion is slated for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an increase of $129 million above the request. The bill provides $7.4 million for Census, the same level as the budget request. For NASA, the bill provides a total of $18.2 billion, an increase of $420 million over last year's level. Investments have been made in Earth science to further the decadal surveys. The recommendation, however, acknowledges, and this is important for Members to consider and take note of, that the administration has established a blue ribbon panel, Mr. Chairman, led by Dr. Norm Augustine, to review the current vision for human spaceflight. Funds are provided in this bill to continue investments in human spaceflight at the level of last year. Reductions from the budget request should not be viewed by this body as any diminution of certainly my support or the committee's support in NASA's human spaceflight activities. Rather, it is a deferral. It is a deferral taken without prejudice. It is a pause. It is a timeout. Call it what you will, it is an opportunity for the President to establish his vision for human space exploration, looking at the Augustine report when it becomes available in August, and then for his administration to consider what their vision will be, and then, most importantly, certainly for our committee, Mr. Chairman, to come forward with a realistic future funding scheme for the human space exploration program. We hope it is a vision worthy of the program, and we look forward to realistic funding levels, which we have never had, or haven't had for many, many years, for human spaceflight. It is also important to note that the total funding contained in this bill for NASA is an increase of $421 million over the fiscal year 2009 level, and, moreover, some $1 billion was provided in the Recovery Act for NASA activities. Lastly, the bill provides $440 million for the Legal Services Administration. Appropriations for Legal Services increased by almost $90 million over the last couple of years, with which we are very pleased. It is still underfunded compared to base years in the nineties. This is indicative of the rising need for legal support for the poor, particularly because of mortgage fraud and the home crisis. The bill continues the existing limitations, Mr. Chairman, on the use of these funds, except that it lifts the current restrictions on attorney's fees. Mr. Chairman, that is a brief summary of the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) for those kind comments about our Bureau of Prisons hearings. I would like to comment he was the leader with regard to prison reform and has been for a great number of years. Based upon those hearings, he is the one that contacted the State Council of Governments to encourage them to follow up with their proceedings in the fall. Thank you, Mr. Wolf. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the full committee, Mr. Obey.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, let me thank my colleague, Congressman Culberson, who is a fine member of our subcommittee, and who brings particular expertise. As I often say, I aspire to know as much about the sciences as he does and he makes significant contributions to our committee. I thank him for his passion to our committee, and also to our Nation's space programs. I share the sentiments the gentleman just expressed. I should note that the bill before the House today does not cut human spaceflight programs in fiscal year 2010; rather, the bill level funds ongoing activities until such time as the Augustine Commission completes its review, and the Obama administration commits to the next generation of human spaceflight.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I appreciate the work of both my colleagues from Texas. I appreciate and agree with the sentiments that they've expressed here today. I just wish I could have expressed them as eloquently as my colleague and committee member, Mr. Culberson, particularly as he alludes to the Civil War. I can think of no comparison to match it. But the sentiment I agree with.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I thank the gentleman for his comments, and look forward to working with him on this issue. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I thank the gentleman. I appreciate his rising on this important issue, and I appreciate his leadership in supporting increased funding for the Bureau of Prisons. BOP funding has simply not kept pace, Mr. Chairman, with the rising prison population and the aging BOP infrastructure. The Bureau of Prisons prisoner population is currently 37 percent above the rated capacity for BOP facilities, and the prisoner-to-staff ratio is an appalling 4.9-1. We must begin to turn that around, and this bill takes a big step in that direction. This committee has had this concern for a number of years and has been working diligently to increase this funding. The bill provides an increase of $481.5 million above the fiscal year 2009 level for the Bureau of Prisons salaries and expenses, which is $97.4 million above the administration's request. We added that $97.4 million to help restore the BOP's base budget, which has been progressively hollowed out in recent years by inadequate budget requests. These additional funds will enable the Bureau of Prisons to hire additional correctional officers and activate two newly constructed prisons.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I yield another 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Kosmas).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I would be glad to enter into a colloquy with the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. The gentlewoman is correct. That is the committee's position.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield another 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I thank the gentlewoman.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Griffith).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Let me just say that I appreciate my colleague's comments this afternoon. Mr. Chairman, let me first note that the bill before the House today does not actually cut human spaceflight programs in fiscal year 2010. Rather, the bill level funds ongoing activities until such time as the Augustine Commission completes its review and the Obama administration commits to the next generation of human spaceflight. In fact, the total in the bill before the House today provides an increase of over $420 million over the fiscal year 2009-enacted level across all NASA activities and programs. We're talking only about the human spaceflight program here. I believe that the Augustine panel is well-positioned to make an informed review of planned U.S. human spaceflight activities and alternatives to ensure that the Nation is undertaking efforts that are safe, innovative, affordable, and sustainable in the years following the completion of space shuttle manifests and its retirement. When that panel provides its information, its informed judgment, to us and to our new President and when we have had an opportunity to embrace the Nation's next human spaceflight program and to budget accordingly, we look forward to moving forward.