Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (112th Congress)
Rep. Frank Wolf's (R-VA) prepared statement at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science regarding the final report of the William H. Webster Commission on the FBI, Counterterrorism Intelligence, and the events at Fort Hood, Texas on November 5, 2009:
Today's hearing is on the Final Report of the William H. Webster Commission on the FBI, Counterterrorism Intelligence, and the Events at Fort Hood, Texas. I would like to welcome the witness, Mark Giuliano, the FBI's Executive Assistant Director for National Security. Thank you for your appearance today.
I am pleased to begin the consideration of H.R. 5326, making appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. The bill provides funding for programs whose impacts range from the safety of people in their homes and communities to the farthest reaches of space.
The bill before the House today reflects a delicate balancing of needs and requirements. We have drafted what I consider to be a responsible bill for FY 2013 spending levels for the departments and agencies under the subcommittee's jurisdiction. We've had to carefully prioritize the funding in this bill and have had to make hard choices about how to spend scarce revenue.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of HR 5326, the Fiscal Year 2013 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill.
The bill before you today – the first for FY13 – marks one of the earliest starts to the Appropriations process in recent memory – which is a good sign for moving these 12 bills before our September 30 deadline. I look forward to an open and transparent process as we consider each of the bills, staying faithful to our commitment to smart, reduced levels of spending to help do our part in controlling the federal deficit.
Today, the Subcommittee will mark up the fiscal year 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
The fiscal situation facing the Nation requires significant and difficult spending reductions. The need for reductions was reflected in the Budget Resolution that passed the House, and in the allocation we have been given pending adoption by the Full Committee.
There are a number of areas in this bill that, under different circumstances, many would prefer to fund at different levels. However, the bill in front of the Subcommittee today is a strong bill with strategic investments in national security, job creation and science.
I thank the Chairman for yielding, and I congratulate him on completing the FY13 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriation Bill. Mr. Wolf, Mr. Fattah and staff on both sides have worked tirelessly to bring this important legislation before the subcommittee today.
Unquestionably the fiscal situation confronting our nation is of the utmost importance to our national and economic security. The alarming trajectory of federal spending in the last three years is simply unsustainable if we are to grow our economy and create jobs. And perhaps nowhere in the Congress have we made more meaningful progress in reversing these startling trends than here in the Appropriations Committee. This bill is no exception, representing our commitment to restoring austerity, restraint and thoughtfulness to the appropriations process.
