WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today applauded the Senate Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan approval  of the annual spending bill that funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as several of the nation’s key science programs.  The full Appropriations Committee voted 21-9 to advance the fiscal year 2014 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill, which includes $52.2 billion in discretionary budget authority for fiscal year 2014, an increase of $2.16 billion above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. 

Senator Reed, a member of the CJS Subcommittee who helped craft the bill, says it contains important funding to help Rhode Island create jobs, improve public safety, reduce gun violence, strengthen cyber security, improve weather forecasts and warnings, and support our fishermen.

“The bipartisan CJS bill is a smart investment in keeping our communities safe, boosting innovation, and growing economic opportunities.  I am pleased we were able to get strong bipartisan support in committee and I hope the full Senate will work together to pass this bill and strengthen our economy,” said Reed.

Highlights of the bill that Senator Reed supported include:

JOBS, RESEARCH, & INNOVATION

  • $7.4 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF), an increase of $186 million over fiscal year 2013. The increase will provide 510 more competitive grants in fiscal year 2014.  This includes $163.5 million for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Research (EPSCoR).  The report also directs NSF to fund the Academic Fleet, which includes URI Graduate School of Oceanography’s research vessel Endeavor, at no less than the 2012 level
  • $948 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), $141 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. This funding enables a set of initiatives that will catalyze innovations, develop measurements, and provide technical resources to promote the global competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and aspiring start-ups. This includes $153 million for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), as well as funding for Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech), which will help manufacturers accelerate development and adoption of cutting edge manufacturing technologies for making new, globally competitive products.
  • $18 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and their research partners at universities to continue science, aeronautics, technology, and human space flight breakthroughs.  This includes $18 million in funding for the NASA EPSCoR program and $40 million of NASA space grants.
  • $276 million for the Economic Development Assistance (EDA), $56 million above fiscal year 2013.  The bill includes $100 million for public works projects, $25 million for the Regional Innovation Program to help more than 250 communities plan regional strategies for long-term growth, leverage billions in private investment, and generate thousands of jobs.  Since 2009, EDA has invested in approximately $34 million in funding project in Rhode Island, including more than $3 million this year to repair the pier at the Port of Galilee.  The measure also includes $15.8 million to in Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms programs, which helps U.S. companies that are affected by overseas competition.
  • $500 million for the International Trade Administration (ITA), $27 million more than the fiscal year 2013 enacted level, to help U.S. farmers, manufacturers, and service providers sell their products overseas. The bill also supports the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center to aggressively tackle unfair trade practices hurting American businesses.

PUBLIC SAFETY

 

  • $8.4 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), $368 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. This increase in funding will allow the FBI to conduct 1,500 more terrorism, cyber intrusion, and violent crime investigations.  This includes a $100 million increase in funds for the FBI to double capacity of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to ensure the FBI has the capacity to manage existing requirements to perform necessary background checks on prospective firearms purchasers.
  • $2.4 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), $68 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level, to target and dismantle criminal narcotics activities and regulate and combat prescription drug abuse.
  • $1.23 billion for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), $100 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level, to reduce violent crime and enforce federal firearms and explosives laws.
  • $2.8 billion for the U.S. Marshals Service, $63 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level, to apprehend dangerous fugitives, protect the Federal courts and the judiciary, and transport prisoners for court proceedings.
  • $2 billion for the U.S. Attorneys, $79 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level, to prosecute cases in international and domestic terrorism, mortgage fraud and financial crime, human trafficking, child exploitation, firearms and violent crime, gangs and organized crime, and complex fraud committed in health care, identity theft, public corruption, and drug enforcement.
  • $417 million for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs to help prevent domestic violence and hold offenders accountable.
  • $394 million for COPS grants and $385 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants to help local law enforcement put more cops on the beat and ensure police officers have the resources they need to protect our communities.
  • $279 million for juvenile justice and mentoring grants.
  • $129 million for research and evaluation initiatives on the best prevention and intervention strategies, including $35 million to Delinquency Prevention Grants, of which $5 million goes to Gang and Youth Violence Education and Prevention.
  • $50 million for states to improve the quality of criminal and mental health records so interstate background checks are more effective.
  • $150 million through the COPS Office to allow communities to hire school safety personnel, conduct school safety assessments, and fill gaps in school safety plans.
  • $15 million to help train local police how to respond to active shooter situations.
  • $2 million to encourage developments in innovative gun safety technology.

WEATHER & OCEANS: $5.6 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  • $150 million for fisheries disaster funding could provide millions of dollars to support Rhode Island's groundfishing fleet.
  • $29.1 million for Ocean Exploration, including the Okeanos Explorer home-ported at Quonset Point and the Ocean Exploration office at URI.
  • $72 million for the national Sea Grant Program, including Rhode Island Sea Grant.
  • $5 million for research on the climate impact on Northeast fisheries.
  • $2.5 million for Interjurisdictional Fisheries funding, which helps states with critical stock assessments, including Rhode Island’s monitoring of lobster stocks.
  • $47 million for Habitat Conservation and Restoration, including $20 million in Community-based restoration initiatives.
  • $22 million for the National Estuarine Reserve Program, which includes Narragansett Bay Research Reserve headquartered on Prudence Island.
  • $6.7 million for aquaculture research.
  • $12 million for fisheries cooperative research.
  • $66.1 million for Coastal Zone Management grants, which provide critical operating funds to state regulatory agencies like the RI Coastal Resources Management Council.
  • $5 million of Regional Ocean Partnership Grants, which supports regional ocean planning activities.
  • $34.5 million for Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) – Regional Observations.
  • $27.9 million for NOAA Education Programs, including $14 million in educational partnership funding and $7.2 million for Bay Watershed Education and Training regional programs.  The  Committee also rejected the consolidation of several education and fellowship programs, which was proposed by the Administration.
  • Approximately $1 billion for the National Weather Service and $1.9 billion for critical satellites.

CYBER SECURITY

  • $668 million for the Department of Justice to strengthen cybersecurity and help NIST build partnerships that will better protect critical infrastructure. Includes $15 million in funds for the government and the private sector to collaborate through the $15 million National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. Also, the NSF is funding merit-reviewed, next generation cyber research like new techniques for building networks that are secure from the start with $157 million for cybersecurity R&D.

Now that the bill has been approved by the full Appropriations Committee it must be passed by the full U.S. Senate.  It must then be reconciled with the version passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.