Appropriations Committee Approves the Fiscal Year 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill
Washington,
Apr 26 -
The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. The bill funds the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other related agencies.
In total, the legislation contains $51.1 billion in funding. This is a reduction of $1.6 billion below last year’s level, and $731 million below the President’s request for these programs.
“The bill approved today makes responsible funding decisions to prioritize programs that fund our federal law enforcement to protect our people at home and abroad, programs which maintain the competitiveness of our businesses and industries, and scientific research to ensure America leads the world in innovation,” House Appropriations Chairman Rogers said.
“At the same time, this bill saves taxpayer dollars – it represents a funding level that is below what was spent in 2008 – by rooting out a number of extraneous or duplicative programs. These cuts were certainly not easy, but given the very real fiscal realities, they are necessary if we are to grow our economy and create an environment for job growth,” Rogers continued.
“This bill is a reduction of 3 percent below the current fiscal year and 1.4 percent below the President’s request. Since the beginning of the 112th Congress, this Subcommittee has cut $13.2 billion, reducing the total amount of this bill by 20% over three fiscal years,” CJS Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf said.
“This year, we have focused limited resources on the most critical areas –fighting crime and terrorism, including a new focus preventing and investigating cyber-attacks; and boosting U.S. competitiveness and job creation by investing in science, exports and manufacturing,” Wolf continued.
The following amendments were approved today by the Committee:
Rep. Wolf – The amendment makes technical changes to the bill and report, as well as adjustments and additions to various non-controversial language provisions. The amendment was approved on a voice vote.
Rep. Carter – The amendment prohibits funding for the Justice Department to implement a regulation that would impose new, unnecessary, and costly ADA rules related to permanent swimming pool lifts. The amendment passed on a voice vote.
Rep. Kingston – The amendment prohibits funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to implement, administer, or enforce a regulation that would make it more difficult for companies to defend against age discrimination lawsuits. The amendment passed on a voice vote.
Rep. Rehberg – The amendment prohibits funding for an unauthorized reporting and registration requirement —proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – on the sale of multiple rifles to the same person in various border-states. The amendment passed on a vote of 30-19.
Rep. Flake – The amendment adds report language encouraging the retention of graduate level science and technology students in the U.S. to maintain and encourage economic competitiveness. The amendment passed on voice vote.
The FY 2013 Commerce/Justice/Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill was approved by the Full Committee on a voice vote.
For the text of the legislation considered today by the Appropriations Committee, please visit:
http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/BILLS-112HR-SC-AP-FY13-CommerceJusticeScience.pdf
For the accompanying bill report, please visit:
http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/CJS-FY13-FULL_COMMITTEE_REPORT.pdf
A summary of the FY 2012 CJS bill can be found here:
http://appropriations.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=290672
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