Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that the 1998 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill, which passed the House yesterday, contains funding for marine and fisheries programs and language to protect victims of domestic violence and promote workable solutions to deal with juvenile crime.
Domestic Violence. A key provision of the legislation includes language, originally introduced in the House by Rep. Pelosi, to require the Legal Services Corporation to use only the income of the client when determining the eligibility for services in cases of domestic violence only. "More than 4 million women each year are abused by their husbands or partners. Eligibility for legal services is now determined by household income, leaving open the frightening possibility that victims of domestic violence would be denied legal assistance because the abuser's income exceeded the threshold for household income requirements," Pelosi said.
Delancey Street Foundation's Comprehensive Action Plan for Juvenile Justice. The bill encourages the Department of Justice to consider funding this innovative program which pools public and private resources into an integrated partnership to prevent juvenile delinquency.
The Asia Foundation, which is headquartered in San Francisco, will receive $8 million. "For over 40 years The Asia Foundation has worked to support democratic and economic reforms in Asia and promote U.S. policy interests in the region," Pelosi said. The bill provides nearly $35 million for Radio Free Asia and Voice of America to expand broadcasts into China and Tibet. "We say that promoting democratic values is a cornerstone of our foreign policy. If indeed it is in the world, it must be also in China. Radio Free Asia is the mechanism for us to give some encouragement to those who take risks for freedom," said Pelosi.
The bill also contains funding for marine programs that are priorities for the state of California and the people of San Francisco.
$14 million for the National Marine Sanctuaries Program. The Cordell Bank and the Gulf of the Farallones off the coast of San Francisco are among the 12 national marine sanctuaries. "These are very important habitats worthy of the protection they receive under this program. These areas are home to 15 species of breeding seabirds and the breeding ground for one-fourth of the states harbor seals," Pelosi said.
$49.7 million for State Coastal Zone Management Program Grants. Coastal states can develop their own coastal management plans designed to balance development with the environmental needs of these areas.
The Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill was the last of the appropriations bills to be considered by the House of Representatives in the first session of the 105th Congress. The House is now in recess until January 27, 1998.
