MEASURE PROVIDES A MASSIVE 11.6% INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR’S LEVEL

Washington, Jun 18, 2009 - “While millions of Americans worry about making ends meet, the House Leadership put forward a funding bill that increases spending by 11.6 percent,” said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Sixth). “Nearly every program would receive an increase from last year; there was no attempt to prioritize to save taxpayer dollars. In addition, the minority was shut out of crafting this measure; the three amendments I prepared were dismissed along with 78 other amendment.”

The House today approved H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which provides $64.3 billion. Added Stearns, “ This measure includes $4.2 billion for the Census Bureau, an increase of 135 percent; more than $2 billion for Global Climate Change Research, $100 million more than the President requested; a 12.8-percent increase for the Legal Services Corporation; and $5 million to renovate the headquarters of the Department of Commerce. Furthermore, the measure restricts future competitive sourcing performed by employees of the Bureau of Prisons or of Federal Prison Industries, prohibiting federal employees from having to compete with the private sector on non-government functions such as food service and lawn maintenance.”