House Approves Funding for NASA,
Departments of State, Justice and Commerce
Dreier Amendment to Bill Increases SCAAP Funding by $50 million

June 16, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve a comprehensive bill funding the La Canada Flintridge-based Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), law enforcement and international diplomacy efforts. The bill also included an amendment sponsored by Congressman Dreier that increased the funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program by $50 million. The Science, Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce (SSJC) and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, H.R. 2862, was approved today with broad bipartisan support, 418-7.

“Congress is stepping up to the plate with this bill, supporting important law enforcement efforts nationwide,” Dreier said. “It also offers strong support to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and their many important programs. I’m particularly pleased with the increase in SCAAP funding included in this bill. Our state deals with the problem of incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens more than any other. It’s critical that the federal government recognize its responsibility to states and localities as they deal with this problem. Passage of this bill is an important step in the process. I hope the Senate approves an equally strong number in their own appropriations process.”

The bill includes $5.8 billion for the FBI, $1.7 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and $2.6 billion for assistance to state and local law enforcement for crime fighting initiatives. Included within that allocation is funding for SCAAP, which reimburses state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens. This program is especially important to California, which bears a disproportionately high cost of jailing criminal aliens. Since SCAAP’s inception in 1994, California has received $1.9 billion, representing 44 percent of total SCAAP funding. The underlying bill included $355 million for SCAAP funding. With passage of Dreier’s amendment, that amount has been increased to $405 million. That is a $100 million increase over the amount approved last year.

The bill also includes $1.4 billion for the programs of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, including $119 million for the JPL-managed Space Interferometry Mission, a $10 million increase over the President’s request. Dreier expressed his support for the JPL programs and their innovative contributions to the Southern California community.