Frank Wolf

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. We will look into this. We were led to believe by the FBI that they do not have this. The gentlewoman may be right. We will look into it and work with her to see that this does not take place.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that debate on this amendment and any amendments thereto conclude in 10 minutes and that the time be equally divided and controlled by the proponent and myself as the opponent.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank the gentlewoman for the amendment. I accept the amendment. I want the Record to show that the committee did the best it could to fund the Violence against Women. The bill provides $5.4 million over last year for these programs, and it is $500,000 over the President's request. I think the gentlewoman's amendment is good, and I accept it. I think we should adopt it. My only concern is where she takes the money from. She takes the money from the Justice Assistance Grant, the very place that we have had Members down here arguing that there is not enough. So if as we move through, I want to do this, if we can maybe look to see a different place, but I accept the amendment, and I want to thank the gentlewoman for it.

Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentlewoman from New York.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw that and would insert 20 rather than 15.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment and yield myself 5 minutes. My father, as I said in one of the other amendments, was a policeman. The fact is when I think of the name COPS, my dad used to tell me never to call policemen cops, and I even have a hard time saying the word cops, while I know it is the title of the bill. My father was a Philadelphia policeman for 20-some years. I rise in strong opposition to the amendment. I understand what the gentleman is trying to do, but perhaps the most important program we fund in this bill is the FBI and its efforts to protect the Nation from terrorist attacks. Thirty people from my congressional district died in the attack on the Pentagon. The first CIA person killed in Afghanistan was from my congressional district. This amendment cuts the FBI by $50 million while the threat of terrorism and espionage from countries, such as China, and the spread of gangs increases. And I would tell the gentleman that I met with a group of local law enforcement people around the country, and some were from Washington State, one police chief; and gangs are an important issue. We have a carve-out of $60 million in this bill with regard to gangs. We must provide the FBI, though, with the sufficient resources to combat these threats. This amendment would go the other way. The bill funds the FBI at the requested level when you account for the Administration's proposal to reduce the FBI's appropriation by $50 million and move it to OCDETF. The committee rejected this proposed transfer, as members on both sides asked us to do. If you combine the requested increase for the FBI salaries and expenses and requested reimbursement for the FBI under OCDETF, this bill is equal to the request. A reduction now of $50 million from the FBI will reduce the number of funded FBI agents by 365. Now, why would we want to reduce the FBI by 365 agents? According to the testimony of Director Mueller, there could be, and probably is, al Qaeda sleeper cells operating in the U.S. The committee heard testimony that Hamas and Hezbollah have operatives in the U.S. In fact, as I said to the Director: ``Are there Hezbollah operators in the United States?'' His answer was: ``Yes, there are Hezbollah.'' And keep in mind, Hezbollah are the ones who blew up the 241 Marines in Beirut. That group that blew up the American Embassy and the 241 marines in Beirut, that man who put that effort together, still walks the street. We know the dangers of Iran, and the Director says Hezbollah and Hamas are here, and we want to take 365 agents away. Time Magazine reports that more than 3,000 companies in the U.S. are suspected of collecting information for China. China is spying against our companies in the United States, and I urge all Members to get that FBI briefing. The Department of Justice estimates there are approximately 30,000 gangs with 800,000 members impacting 2,500 communities. This amendment would basically take away all of the money in the bill for gangs. If you happen to have been one of the Members who voted for the bill fighting gangs from several weeks ago, this money takes out all of the money for last year as well as this year. There is so much to deal with on the issue of gang and gang violence. It would also have a very negative impact on DEA. We heard earlier today about meth. This amendment cuts DEA by $12 million. The debate conflicts. It switches back and forth. We are not doing enough to combat drugs, do this, do that. And so now this amendment runs counter to all of the other things we have discussed. We take $12 million from DEA. The bill provides DEA with funding above the budget request in order to restore the proposed reductions to combat meth by fully funding mobile enforcement teams. Members said do not cut those teams because locally this is so important. This literally takes out those teams. They will not be there. The amendment hurts DEA's effort to combat meth, will result in a destruction of more lives in this deadly game. Members saw the pictures that the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) had. It also reduces the Broadcasting Board of Governors by $16 million. If we cannot broadcast into the Middle East, and into Afghanistan and into Iran and Iraq, we are in trouble. This is a bad amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to do so for the gentlewoman. I share her concerns about waste, fraud and abuse, and have also expressed my concerns to the SBA about this issue. In fact, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger) had expressed the same concern, too. I understand that the SBA is now collecting the information on, and essentially tracking, loan agents. Any potential fraud cases are immediately referred to the Inspector General, and perhaps we ought to put some language in saying they should be referred to the FBI for prosecution. I will assure the gentlewoman I will work with the SBA Administrator and the Inspector General, and also, if the gentlewoman would agree, the FBI, to assure that no fraud occurs in the small business loan program.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I would, definitely.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) for purposes of a colloquy.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I agree with the gentleman from New York that the State Department's American Corners Program is important for several reasons. It encourages the opening flow of ideas, which we desperately need at this time. It teaches people about America, which we also desperately need. And it increases global literacy. The fundamental function of the American Corners Program is to make information about our country available to foreign publics at large. Access to the American Corners collection is free and open to all interested citizens of the host country, and I think it is particularly important to countries that are closed. I am happy to work with the gentleman from New York to ensure strong support for this program going forward.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Yes, I do agree with the gentleman that this funding for ongoing research and capital improvements to these laboratories is important. To date, no new funding has been requested by the administration, and plans for such a fence have not been finalized. The committee understands this project may be considered for future budget requests to the Congress. Also, I tell the gentleman that I would be glad to set up a meeting with the new director of NIST and others to kind of meet in our offices and see how we can resolve this to the gentleman's satisfaction.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Spedker, the editorial page of The Richmond Times- Dispatch of Richmond, Virginia, recently carried the names of all the service men and women from Virginia who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom from September 11, 2001, through May 29, 2005. I submit for the Record a copy of the editorial, titled, ``In Memoriam.'' Words cannot express the appreciation of a grateful nation to the families of these brave men and women. In Memoriam Virginians who have died in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in America's defense since September 11, 2001--listed in the order of their death. R.I.P.: Marine Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr., 31, of Richmond. Marine Sgt. Michael V. Lalush, 23, of Troutville. Army Capt. James F. Adamouski, 29, of Springfield. Air Force Maj. William R. Watkins, III, 37, of Danville. Army 1st Lt. Jeffrey J. Kaylor, 24, of Clifton. Marine Lance Cpl. David Edward Owens, Jr., 20, of Winchester. Army Pvt. Jason L. Deibler, 20, of Coeburn. Army Sgt. Michael E. Dooley, 23, of Pulaski. Army Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler, 40, of Alexandria. Army Capt. John R. Teal, 31, of Mechanicsville. Army 1st Lt. Joshua C. Hurley, 24, of Clifton Forge. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael J. Gray, 32, of Richmond. Army Spc. Frank K. Rivers, Jr., 23, of Woodbridge. Army Pfc. Andrew L. Tuazon, 21, of Chesapeake. Army 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd, 22, of Culpeper. Marine Pfc; Michael M. Carey, 20, of Prince George. Army Spc. Leslie D. Jackson, 18, of Richmond. Army Capt. Humayun S.M. Khan, 27, of Bristow. Army Spc. Jeremy M. Dimaranan, 29, of Virginia Beach. Army Staff Sgt. Gregory V. Pennington, 36, of Glade Spring. Army Staff Sgt. Robert K. McGee, 38, of Martinsville. Marine Sgt. Krisna Nachampassak, 27, of Burke. Army Staff Sgt. Craig W. Cherry, 39, of Winchester. Marine Lance Cpl. Tavon L. Hubbard, 24, of Reston. Marine Staff Sgt. John R. Howard, 26, of Covington. Army 1st Lt. Timothy E. Price, 25, of Midlothian. Army Spc. Clarence Adams, 28, of Richmond. Marine 1st Lt. Alexander E. Wetherbee, 27, of Fairfax. Marine Lance Cpl. Brian A. Medina, 20, of Woodbridge. Marine Lance Cpl. Demarkus D. Brown, 22, of Martinsville. Marine Cpl. Bradley T. Arms, 20, of Charlottesvil1e. Army Sgt. Jack Bryant, Jr., 23, of Dale City. Army Chief Warrant Officer Travis W. Grogan, 31, of Virginia Beach. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Javier Obleas-Prado Pena, 36, of Falls Church. Marine Cpl. Binh N. Le, of Alexandria. Army Capt. Mark N. Stubenhofer, 30, of Springfield. Navy Chief Joel Egan Baldwin, 37, of Arlington. Army Sgt. David A. Ruhren, 20, of Stafford. Army Spc. Nicholas C. Mason, 20, of King George. Army Sgt. Maj. Robert D. Odell, 38, of Manassas. Army Staff Sgt. Nathaniel J. Nyren, 31, of Reston. Marine Sgt. Dayton D. Patterson, 26, of Sedley. Marine Lance Cpl. Darrell J. Schumann, 25, of Hampton. Marine Cpl. Christopher L. Weaver, 24, of Fredericksburg. Marine Lance Cpl. Karl R. Linn, 20, of Chesterfield. Marine Cpl. Jonathan W. Bowling, 23, of Patrick. Marine Lance Cpl. Jason C. Redifer, 19, of Stuarts Draft. Army Staff Sgt. Kristopher L. Shepherd, 26, of Lynchburg. Army Pfc. Lee A. Lewis, Jr., 28, of Norfolk. Marine Lance Cpl. Tenzin Dengkhim, 19, of Falls Church. Army Pfc. Pendleton L. Sykes, II, 25, of Chesapeake. Marine Capt. James C. Edge, 31, of Virginia Beach. Army Sgt. Tromaine K. Toy, Sr., 24, of Eastville. Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas C. Kirven, 21, of Richmond. Marine Lance Cpl. Jourdan L. Grez, 24, of Harrisonburg. Army Pfc. Kyle M. Hemauer, 21, of Manassas.