- 7 months ago
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee held a mark up of the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, And Related Agencies Bill.
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00:00when compared to the total effective spending of the fiscal year 2025 enacted level.
00:09Importantly, the bill makes strategic investments in several agencies
00:15while appropriately reducing others.
00:20Despite recent progress in the fight against fentanyl and other opioids,
00:25overdose deaths continue to plague our communities and our neighborhoods.
00:33As a result, this bill continues to ensure the DEA within the Department of Justice
00:41receives the funding it needs to combat illicit drug use and drug trafficking.
00:49Additionally, the Bureau of Prisons is also funded at a level that will continue
00:55to reform and enhance the nation's prison system.
01:01Moreover, the fiscal year 2026 bill strongly supports the men and women in blue
01:07that protect our families and neighborhoods
01:11by increasing funding for state and local law enforcement.
01:16From increased funding levels directed to the burn JAG program,
01:23to the COPS hiring program,
01:26the fiscal year 2026 legislation puts our law enforcement first.
01:33To ensure America is the leader in space exploration,
01:36the 26th CJS bill continues to maintain funding levels for NASA
01:43and its endeavor to return to the moon.
01:48With its site on Mars, NASA will not only lead the way to the next frontier,
01:55but it will also ensure America maintains a competitive advantage over China.
02:02The legislation also protects and reinforces constitutional rights,
02:09such as the Second Amendment,
02:11by reining in and refocusing the ATF.
02:16Under this bill, the law-abiding citizens will no longer feel the threatened,
02:40the heavy hand of the Biden-era Department of Justice.
02:45Additionally, flooding has inflicted much pain on the nation over the last few months.
02:53From my district in Kentucky to Texas,
02:57now is the time to ensure the National Weather Service
03:01is equipped with the funding it needs to warn and protect our citizens.
03:07This bill does just that by appropriately funding NOAA's weather units.
03:17Overall, the provisions and funding levels in the fiscal year 26 bill
03:21will protect our children, our families, our neighborhoods, and our country.
03:26I would like to thank all of the subcommittee members for their attention and participation
03:34in these budget hearings these past few months.
03:39The testimony that we received and corresponding answers to our questions
03:45directly impacted the drafting of this legislation.
03:49Importantly, I would like to thank Ranking Member Meng for her continued partnership over the last few months.
03:57I would also like to thank and acknowledge Chairman Cole for his vigorous leadership
04:05to the full committee and to the entire U.S. House when it comes to funding our government.
04:13Additionally, I would like to thank Ranking Member DeLauro for her tireless advocacy.
04:30And lastly, let me thank both the majority and minority staff
04:34for assisting with the development and production of this year's bill.
04:40I now recognize Ranking Member Meng for her opening remarks.
04:47Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
04:49I know that you and I share many of the same priorities.
04:54However, I must strongly oppose this appropriations bill
04:57that would abandon small businesses and hardworking Americans,
05:03weaken law enforcement, and surrender our nation's competitive edge.
05:07My hope is that we can work together to address my very significant concerns with the bill.
05:15As it stands, the $2.1 billion in cuts proposed today
05:19would be a betrayal of our fundamental responsibility
05:22to keep Americans safe and our economy strong.
05:26This bill does not fix the many problems caused by the administration's failures
05:31and Elon Musk's DOGE team this year.
05:34And in fact, it further exacerbates many of these problems.
05:39At a time when Americans are worried about gun violence, hate crimes, and the opioid epidemic,
05:45this bill delivers a devastating blow to the federal law enforcement agencies that protect them.
05:52For example, this bill slashes FBI funding by more than half a billion dollars,
05:59forcing the elimination of thousands of FBI special agents and analysts,
06:05public servants who work with our local police to solve murders,
06:09stop drug trafficking, prevent terrorism,
06:12and combat cyber crimes targeting ordinary Americans.
06:16The FBI's ability to catch criminals would be damaged,
06:21and public safety would be compromised as a result of this bill.
06:26This bill also decimates funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,
06:32which would lose more than 1,000 personnel who work with our state and local law enforcement
06:38to keep illegal guns off our streets, catch dangerous criminals, and prevent gun crimes.
06:45The bill further reduces funding for organized crime drug enforcement task forces,
06:52undermining our fight against the cartels and drug dealers that bring opioids into our communities,
06:58as well as for the Justice Department's National Security Division,
07:03which works to protect the U.S. against terrorism, espionage, and other threats to our national security.
07:09The bill also leaves women and children more vulnerable to violence
07:14by sharply decreasing funding for juvenile justice and Violence Against Women Act grants.
07:21It zeroes out community violence intervention and prevention grants,
07:25as well as hate crime prevention and prosecution grants.
07:29And the Justice Department's Community Relations Service,
07:32which for more than 60 years has worked honorably to help mediate
07:38and end community conflicts across our country, is eliminated.
07:43The Justice Department's Office of Inspector General,
07:47whose work to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse at the department
07:51should have strong bipartisan support,
07:55is also cut by 30% in this bill.
07:58This cut opens the door to even more fraud and corruption.
08:04I believe that all of this is the wrong approach for the CJS Appropriations Bill.
08:09We should be investing more, not less, in the safety and security of the American people.
08:15We should also be doing more to address the high cost of living.
08:19But this bill sharply cuts funding for the agencies and programs that create jobs,
08:25boost American small businesses, and advance our economy.
08:30Economic Development Administration grants are cut by 36%,
08:34abandoning rural and distressed communities
08:37that are desperately in need of economic help and well-paying jobs.
08:42The bill slashes funding for the Minority Business Development Agency,
08:46taking away opportunities from American entrepreneurs.
08:49It cuts funding for the International Trade Administration by more than 30%,
08:54weakening the federal government's ability to help American businesses expand exports
09:01and fight unfair trade practices.
09:04Moreover, the Legal Services Corporation,
09:07which provides basic civil legal assistance to the poorest American families,
09:12seniors, and veterans, is cut by nearly half.
09:15Under this funding level, nearly 3 million fewer people will receive help with legal problems,
09:22including over 8,000 in my district alone.
09:26This bill abandons our most vulnerable constituents who can't afford a lawyer when they're facing eviction,
09:33seeking safety from domestic violence or denied benefits they've earned.
09:39Perhaps most short-sighted of all,
09:42this bill disinvested in the scientific research that drives American innovation,
09:48technological leadership, and economic competitiveness.
09:52This bill cuts the National Science Foundation by more than $2 billion
09:57and ends STEM education programs altogether,
10:02abandoning the next generation of scientists and engineers
10:06who will shape whether America continues to be a leader
10:10or becomes just a follower in the global economy.
10:15As other countries are racing forward in space exploration and climate science,
10:20this bill would cause the U.S. to fall behind
10:23by cutting NASA's science account by over $1.3 billion.
10:26The bill also makes huge cuts to the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
10:32which has helped American industry overcome technical challenges,
10:37innovate manufacturing, and work on the cutting edge of technologies like quantum and AI.
10:43I disagree with this bill's approach.
10:45As I have said repeatedly,
10:47I think that we should be doubling down on the investments in science
10:51that grow our American economy
10:54and incentivize advancements that improve life for all Americans.
10:59I thank the chairman and also want to thank the staff on the majority and the minority
11:04and also on my individual office team.
11:07I appreciate the hard work that the chairman and everyone has put into this bill,
11:11but because of all these shortcomings and more,
11:14I must urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
11:18I ask my colleagues to work together in a real bipartisan manner
11:22to produce a bill that invests in safety, economic opportunity, and scientific greatness.
11:28I don't believe these are partisan values,
11:31and they should be our shared goals as Americans.
11:35Thank you, and I yield back.
11:37I now recognize the distinguished chairman of the full committee, Mr. Cole, for his remarks.
11:43Thank you, Chairman Rogers, and thank you to Ranking Member Manning.
11:49Excuse me.
11:50This is my third one of these today, back-to-back,
11:52so I apologize to my friend from New York,
11:55and certainly to my friend, Ranking Member of the full committee,
11:59DeLauro, and to all the members of the subcommittees
12:01for your participation in this process.
12:05From the front lines of U.S. law enforcement and economic trade
12:08all the way up to space exploration,
12:11the Commerce Justice Science Subcommittees
12:14oversees agencies consequential to our country.
12:17The fiscal year 2026 bill before us today brings savings to taxpayers
12:22and protects the constitutional rights of America.
12:25It writes wrongs of the Biden-era politicization and overreach
12:30at the Department of Justice
12:32and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
12:36Importantly, the bill makes critical investments to confront fentanyl
12:40and the deadly scourge of addiction that has stolen far too many lives.
12:45We robustly support local law enforcement
12:47and their work to protect our communities.
12:49Finally, the legislation appropriately funds
12:53the advancement of space exploration at NASA.
12:56It also confronts China's efforts to steal U.S. technology and innovation.
13:02The fiscal year 2026 Commerce Justice Science Appropriations Bill
13:06is a product that reflects making needed decisions
13:10to rein in spending while safeguarding our nation and American citizens.
13:14I'd like to thank Chairman Rogers for his thoughtful approach to this bill
13:18and to the ranking member.
13:20I look forward to this bill's advancement
13:23through the appropriations process.
13:25And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
13:29And I recognize the distinguished ranking member of the committee,
13:33Ms. Delauro, for her remarks.
13:36Thank you very much for yielding.
13:38It's a pleasure to be here with you today.
13:39I'm very proud to serve with Chairman Rogers,
13:42Chairman Cole, Ranking Member Meng,
13:44and all of the subcommittee members.
13:46And I also want to share my appreciation for the subcommittee staff
13:50from both sides of the aisle.
13:51And in particular, I want to call out Bob Bonner, Nora Faye,
13:55Faye Cobb, Jamie Wise for their work.
14:00I oppose the bill before us today,
14:02which defunds federal law enforcement
14:05and threatens public safety,
14:07continues Republican senseless attacks
14:09on America's scientific supremacy,
14:13promotes waste, fraud, and abuse,
14:15and hurts the middle class and working class
14:18in our country today.
14:21We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
14:25President Trump promised to lower costs on day one,
14:28but instead, he and the Republicans
14:30are making the cost-of-living crisis even worse.
14:33The big, ugly bill is handing massive tax breaks
14:38to billionaires and the biggest corporations
14:40while Americans continue to struggle
14:43with the cost of basic necessities.
14:46And while President Trump brags about the money,
14:49he is siphoning out of Americans' pockets
14:51and from small businesses
14:53through his chaotic and senseless trade tariff agenda.
14:59Today, we are considering another House Republican bill
15:02which will raise costs for struggling American families,
15:05gut support for rural communities,
15:08undermine our efforts to ensure our trading partners
15:11play by the rules.
15:14We are holding this markup
15:15in a completely unprecedented time,
15:18with Congress's authority being challenged
15:20by a lawless administration.
15:23Since taking office,
15:25President Trump's administration
15:26has stolen resources appropriated by Congress
15:30for programs and services
15:32across the federal government,
15:34including several in this bill
15:36that help to lower costs
15:38for middle-class and working families,
15:40keep America safe
15:41and our economy fair,
15:44ensure America is at the forefront
15:46of scientific innovation and discovery.
15:49President Trump has frozen programs
15:51that provide seniors, veterans, rural families,
15:54and people with disabilities
15:55with the skills and tools that they need
15:58to access the Internet,
16:00as well as emergency funding
16:02to help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
16:07NOAA,
16:08procure weather radars and satellites
16:10that help create life-saving forecasts.
16:14Over $4.5 billion
16:15in the Department of Justice grant money,
16:18including COPS grants,
16:19Office of Violence Against Women grants,
16:21has been frozen,
16:23stolen from the communities
16:24that are counting on this funding
16:25to approve their own law enforcement capabilities,
16:29funding that supports re-entry initiatives
16:31and violence prevention
16:33that helps prevent hate crimes,
16:36provide services for crime victims,
16:37and support underserved communities.
16:41Stealing this funding
16:42makes the American people less safer
16:44and more likely to become victims of crime.
16:47They have fired hundreds of scientists,
16:51including scientists who monitor extreme weather
16:53and who advance our scientific goals in space.
17:00Why on earth are we forfeiting America's scientific supremacy?
17:08What would you do differently
17:09if you were America's adversary
17:12and wanted to undermine everything
17:15that made us a superpower?
17:16They have turned the Department of Justice
17:19into the President's personal law firm,
17:23wielding law enforcement power
17:25to silence and intimidate critics
17:28of the administration and its agenda
17:30and to protect President Trump's criminal allies.
17:35For all of these frozen and terminated programs
17:38that Congress enacted and appropriated funding,
17:43we appropriated funding.
17:44It is the law of the land.
17:46They are substituting Congress's decisions
17:49and judgments with their own,
17:52turning Article I of the Constitution on its head.
17:56These cuts are not numbers on a page.
17:58They are not only felt in Washington, D.C.
18:01They affect all of our constituents.
18:04At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA,
18:08the Trump administration has dismissed national weather service forecasters
18:13and other critical employees endangering American communities.
18:18As a result of funding and employee cuts within NOAA,
18:22we have fewer forecasters,
18:25fewer weather balloon launches,
18:27and less reliable weather data
18:29and forecasts that a family's businesses and state and local governments rely on to stay safe and to stay open.
18:38And Connecticut, with the National Weather Service, has been critical for saving lives through everything from wildfires to visits to blizzards to floods.
18:50Bill Turner, Connecticut's state emergency management director, said, and I quote,
18:56It's a very fragile house of cards right now, and we need them to continue.
19:02It could be catastrophic in a lot of ways for our states if they go down the path of stopping the National Weather Service and their functionality, end quote.
19:15Weather forecasts are not waste, fraud, and abuse.
19:18And I ask my colleagues, did anyone come to your town halls and complain that the Weather Service has too many meteorologists,
19:29too many people issuing advisories, watches, and warnings on severe storms?
19:35I don't think so.
19:36I know the chairman of the full committee has worked to impress upon the administration the importance of weather monitoring institutions in Oklahoma,
19:45but National Weather Service offices are needed across our country.
19:49We cannot leave critical weather monitoring capabilities to the benevolence of the president.
19:55That is why funding is appropriated by the Congress, not the administration.
20:00Unfortunately, this bill doubles down on Republicans' pro-billionaire, pro-corporations, anti-science, and anti-rule of law agenda.
20:09This bill turns its back on the Republicans' promises to rural communities underfunding programs to create jobs and revive economically distressed communities, especially in rural America.
20:23While the president declares a trade war against our allies and biggest trading partners that will raise prices,
20:30this bill cuts funding for the International Trade Administration by nearly 30%, severely hindering our government's ability to fight other countries' unfair trade practices and help Americans' businesses expand their access to international markets.
20:48This bill makes families, women, children, and all of our communities less safe.
20:54They slashed funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Explosives,
21:04limiting federal efforts to help state and local law enforcement combat gun violence, drug trafficking, and organized crime.
21:14By slashing these legal services, violence against women, juvenile justice grants, community violence intervention prevention grants, hate crimes prevention grants, and other resources that prevent violence.
21:29And why on earth does this bill slashed the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General by 30%?
21:38What are you afraid of?
21:39What might be uncovered in Pam Bondi's Department of Justice?
21:44Does this administration want to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, or not?
21:49Our government's Inspector Generals are absolutely critical, nonpartisan offices that help Congress and the American people
21:57eliminate and prevent fraud and corruption, and why this administration has directly undermined
22:04and even removed over a dozen of these officers across our government.
22:10Americans expect few things about their country, a fair economy, safety for their families, and respect for the rule of law,
22:20consequences for corruption.
22:22This bill fails to deliver on every one of those fronts.
22:26Americans cannot keep up with the ever-increasing cost of living, but instead of working with Democrats
22:34to make investments that can help lower their costs, keep Americans safe, and our economy fair,
22:40Republicans have put forward a bill that favors billionaires and corporations,
22:46a bill that does not fight waste, fraud, and abuse, but embraces it.
22:51I cannot support this bill, and I yield back.
22:56Do any other members wish to make opening remarks?
23:04Mr. Morelli is recognized for five minutes.
23:18Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Meng, Chairman Cole, and Ranking Member DeLauro.
23:27As we work to craft the fiscal year 26 budget for agencies under the Commerce, Justice, and Science jurisdiction,
23:34I feel obligated to speak plainly not just about what's in this bill, but what we've endured in trying to get answers about it.
23:42The most important responsibility we have on this committee is operationalizing Congress's power of the person.
23:49With it, the obligation to engage directly with agency leaders to understand how they intend to use taxpayer dollars to serve the American people.
23:59That's why budget hearings are not just a formality, they are essential.
24:03They give the committee, and through us, all of Congress, the opportunity to evaluate whether agencies are living up to their missions
24:10and whether their funding requests reflect real priorities.
24:14So when we sat down with the U.S. Attorney General to discuss the Department of Justice's budget, I expected a serious conversation.
24:21Instead, frankly, I'm very disappointed, we were met with deflection.
24:25I know, for me personally, I ask straightforward questions about the scope of presidential pardons,
24:31about the safety of members of Congress who face increasing threats, how this affects not only
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24:58Thank you, Mr. Judge Carl, thank you for a wonderful chance for the Ведьman
25:03I'll risk my encouraging list.
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