Congressman Salazar's Funding Priorities for Commerce, Justice, Science

As a new member of the Appropriations Committee, I have new oversight responsibilities for the spending of federal dollars, as well as an increased role in the prioritization of federal spending.

For too long, the process of Congressional funding requests lacked transparency and accountability, leading some members of Congress to abuse it and the public trust. Since assuming the majority in 2007, Congressional Democrats have significantly reformed the process, including ensuring that every American can easily determine which member of Congress has submitted a requests.

Below you will find a list of my funding requests for the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill.

Colorado Meth Project
$1,000,000
Colorado Meth Project Inc.
11880 Upham Street, Suite F
Broomfield, CO 80020
Explanation: The Colorado Meth Project is a large-scale effort in prevention, aimed at significantly reducing first-time Meth use with a primary focus on teens and young adults.  A secondary objective of the Colorado Meth Project is to raise awareness of the scale, depth, and critical nature of the Meth problem in the state, while aiming to stem the destruction to individuals and the high costs to communities that result from Meth use.  Support of the Colorado Meth Project’s “Not Even Once” public messaging and outreach campaigns, including specific emphasis on efforts in the following counties:  Mesa, Montrose, Delta, Moffat, Pueblo and Alamosa.  Supporting Meth prevention programs that are producing measurable changes in attitudes and usage is a sound investment in the future of our state. 

Domestic Violence Prevention for Youth Pueblo
$400,000
YWCA Pueblo
801 North Santa Fe
Pueblo, CO 81003
Explanation: According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the health-related costs of intimate partner violence exceed $5.8 billion each year. Of this total, nearly $4.1 billion are for direct medical and mental health care services.  Children who grow up with violence are likely to repeat the behavior as a perpetrator or a victim in their adult lives.  The rate of domestic violence in Pueblo is 50% higher than it is nationally. There are 60,776 households in Pueblo County. There was a domestic violence report for one of every 23 of them in 2008.  Too many Pueblo children live in an environment of violence over which they have no control.  We must help children stay safe now, as well as work to end the cycle of violence in their lives as they mature.  The YWCAs' comprehensive programs help to end the cycle of violence.  The funding will help support 5 new jobs and maintain 4 current jobs.

Creating Health Communities and Violence Prevention for Southwest Colorado
$320,000
Violence Prevention Coalition of Southwest Colorado
1060 E. 2nd Ave.  Room 106
Durango, CO  81301
Explanation: Funding will provide essential support to increase the capacity of five partner agencies who address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking in rural Southwest Colorado. These 5 partner agencies have been collaborating for over twenty three years, and have an exemplary track record.  This funding will sustain/hire 16 people to continue community based culturally specific violence prevention strategies with a comprehensive multi-level approach.  This area has experienced the highest incidents of domestic violence of any rural area of the state.

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