June 29, 2006

Mr. Speaker, I oppose the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2007 because I refuse to pretend that partially restoring the President’s reckless cuts to important programs is the best we can do.  We are administering death by a thousand cuts to the basic functions of government to finance tax breaks for millionaires and an open-ended war in Iraq.  And we’re going to borrow over $300 billion to do it.

In this bill, I find particularly objectionable the $563 million cut from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including a $47 million cut from the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund; the $20 million cut from economic development projects in distressed areas; and the $117 million cut for dues to the United Nations and other international organizations.  The bill robs from these and other critical programs to avoid eliminating assistance to state and local law enforcement, as requested by the President, although law enforcement still suffers a $150 million cut from last year.

I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting this bill to force the Bush Administration and Republican Congress to start making responsible choices with the American people’s money.