Press Releases

FY 2016 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act

Highlights and Key Points

The 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill fails to protect the safety and security of hardworking Americans, proposing massive cuts to critical community policing services, law enforcement grants, and priorities important to coastal communities. Further, the bill expands ideological policy riders benefiting special interests to undermine gun safety laws.

2015 enacted: $50.1 billion

2016 President's request: $52.0 billion

2016 House bill: $51.4 billion

Someone once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We don't need this wisdom to understand the 2016 appropriations process is going off the rails by repeating past mistakes.

This week, the House plans to consider appropriations bills funding national investments in roads, bridges and rail; affordable housing; and federal law enforcement and criminal justice. These bills represent some of the most critical priorities facing our nation, yet funding levels proposed by the majority would diminish our nation's capacity to build and grow.

The 2016 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill would keep MRA and committee budgets flat and prohibit a pay raise for Members of Congress. While a veto threat is not expected, controversial amendments could be made in order.

Highlights and Key Points

2015 Enacted: $3.341 billion
2016 President's request: $3.513 billion
2016 Mark: $3.341 billion
*Excludes Senate items

The 2015 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill would provide:

Before I make my statement, I'd like to take a moment to congratulate Chairman Culberson on his first CJS bill, as well as Ranking Member Fattah and full committee Chairman Rogers, for their efforts.

The House Republican "Work Harder for Less" budget resolution was opposed by every member on my side of the aisle in part because it makes it impossible to provide the funding necessary in the twelve appropriations bills to grow our economy and give hardworking Americans opportunity to succeed. Democrats much preferred the approach taken by the President, calling for an end to the sequester and more reasonable and realistic budgeting that could help families afford college, a home, and a secure retirement.

The Republican bill to fund transportation and housing priorities drastically short-changes job-creating investments critical to hardworking American families, like roads, bridges, and rail systems and access to safe and affordable housing. At the same time, it includes special interest giveaways for the trucking industry and other policy riders that make our roads less safe and our rail system less competitive and meddles foolishly in foreign policy.

2016 mark: $55.3 billion

2016 budget request: $65.0 billion

2015 enacted level: $53.8 billion

*The President's 2016 budget request proposes to fund some transportation accounts via mandatory – rather than discretionary – funding.

Transportation

Appropriations Democrats, led by Philadelphia Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Rep. David Price (D-NC), Ranking Democrat of the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Subcommittee, and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat of the Appropriations Committee, today offered an amendment during full Committee markup of the 2016 T-HUD bill to provide Amtrak the full $2.45 billion in funding requested in President Obama's budget.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'd like to congratulate Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Price in their new roles as chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee, and I thank them and full committee Chairman Rogers for their work.

Last night we saw yet another terrible train incident, with an Amtrak train derailing north of Philadelphia, killing at least six people. Throughout today's markup, I hope we can keep the accident in mind to serve as a reminder of the importance of safety programs funded in the bill.

Mr. Chairman, before we move onto the bill before us, I want to begin by offering my heartfelt sympathy and support to the passengers and families affected by Amtrak train 188 last night. The devastation is massive and the images, many of which were captured by our former colleague Patrick Murphy, are horrifying. As investigators continue to piece together the series of events that unfolded, this Committee must be committed to provide whatever assistance necessary to ensure safety aboard passenger rail systems.