Chair DeLauro Statement at Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

2021-07-15 15:44

Statement

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at the Committee's markup of the fiscal year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill:Thank you to Chairman Cartwright, to Ranking Member Aderholt, and to the subcommittee, the front office and the personal office staff for your work during this process.

As we begin a new chapter in our nation's history following the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud of the work you have all done to produce a bill that invests in the American people and builds the architecture of the future.

The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill before us meets this moment for the families and communities we represent. For far too long the American economy has left the vulnerable, middle class, and small businesses behind. And the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have left many hard-working Americans struggling to get by. That is why I am proud that this bill supports small businesses, including manufacturers, and creates good-paying jobs.

As we work to stimulate our economy and create jobs, we must also ensure that our communities are safe. With strong funding for local law enforcement, this bill demonstrates our respect for police officers - who are facing a challenging environment - by giving them the resources they need. And it fosters confidence in our law enforcement, building bridges with the communities they serve, by providing better training and independent investigations for police misconduct.

No matter how much we support our law enforcement, we cannot fully ensure their safety, or our communities' safety, without addressing the deadly epidemic of gun violence. I am proud that this bill takes big steps forward in the fight against gun violence by providing strong funding for background checks and other enforcement tools. With this funding, we are working to stop the carnage that is happening far too often in every corner of our nation.

As we work toward keeping our streets safe, this bill helps ensure the safety of vulnerable individuals who are suffering behind closed doors. With strong increases for Violence Against Women Act prevention and prosecution programs, this bill addresses the scourge of gender-based violence. And it funds a national effort to ensure justice for sexual assault survivors by reducing the backlog of unprocessed rape kits.

Along with these investments to address gender-based violence, this bill provides funding for civil rights enforcement, hate crimes investigations, and efforts to address domestic violent extremism. These investments honor our commitment to vulnerable individuals and communities and helps to ensure all Americans are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

Finally, as we work to protect our citizens and keep violence and hate out of our communities, we must also work to protect our environment and keep the threat of climate change at bay. By providing robust funding for climate resilience and research at NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Science Foundation, this legislation reflects our commitment to building a brighter, cleaner future for all.

With that, I would once again like to thank Chairman Cartwright and Ranking Member Aderholt. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

117th Congress