Washington, DC –Yesterday, Congressman Al Green voted to approve the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill that invests in two of our nation’s top priorities – protecting Americans at home, as well as spurring scientific research and innovation. The measure, which passed by a 259-157 vote, would provide a total of $64.4 billion in discretionary spending to the departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as NASA and science programs.
The bill also provides needed funding for numerous critical projects in Texas’ Ninth Congressional District and the remainder of the Houston area. As a supporter of transparency, Congressman Green disclosed the specific project requests that he submitted for inclusion in the Commerce-Science-Justice Appropriation bill. Over $860,000 of projects included in the bill bear Congressman Green’s name as the sole sponsor or one of multiple Congressional sponsors.
These projects are:
• $250,000 Men Aspiring Leaders through Education, Inc., (M.A.L.E.) Reentry Program.
• $100,000 City of Stafford Emergency Operations Center Emergency Management Equipment.
• $400,000 Houston Works Juvenile Justice Initiative
• $110,000 Harris County Constable Precinct Six, Gang Identification and Enforcement Unit
Congressman Green said, “I am proud to have helped secure funding for these important projects. It is critical that the Ninth Congressional District and the entire Houston metropolitan area receive these funds so that we can continue to grow our region’s economy and improve quality of life for our constituents. I look forward to working with individuals throughout our community to ensure that these funds are used expeditiously and efficiently. These crucial investments will go far towards educating and training our future workforce as well as securing the public safety of the Houston metropolitan area.”
The bill also includes the following key investments:
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS): $802 million to support local law enforcement agencies with personnel, technology and training grants. This includes $298 million for COPS Hiring Grants. When combined with $1 billion provided in the Recovery Act, this will enable the hiring of more than 7,000 police officers.
Office on Violence Against Women: $400 million to prevent and prosecute violence against women and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including an increase of $10 million for STOP formula grants and an increase of $1 million for Sexual Assault Victims Services.
Office of Justice Programs: $2.2 billion for grants to state and local organizations to fight and prevent crime, including Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, drug courts, and programs for at-risk youth and missing or abused children.
Second Chance Act Offender Reentry Programs: $100 million for demonstration programs and other activities to reduce recidivism and the future costs of incarceration.
Drug Enforcement Administration: $2 billion to combat drugs with 128 new positions to stop the flow of illegal drugs across the Southwest border and to investigate, disrupt and dismantle major Mexican drug cartels.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms: $1.1 billion to reduce violent crime and enforce federal firearms and explosives laws, including an additional 92 positions to combat firearms trafficking along the Southwest border.
Department-wide Southwest Border Initiative: $1.5 billion for activities to combat violence, stop the flow of illegal weapons and drug trafficking, bring dangerous criminals to justice, and improve law enforcement capabilities along the Southwest border.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration: $18.2 billion for scientific discovery, national security, and space exploration. NASA received $1 billion in the Recovery Act. The bill funds the next generation of human space flight at 2009 levels pending the recommendations of the Augustine panel.
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