This
Statement of Administration Policy provides the Administration's views
on the Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Bill, FY 2002, as approved by the House Committee.
We
commend the Committee's efforts to fund agencies and programs at
the President's request and within the levels agreed to under the
budget resolution. For example, the Administration is pleased that
the Committee provided funding for embassy security, diplomatic
readiness, and State Department reform initiatives. The Administration
is also pleased that funding provided for the Departments of Commerce
and Justice is generally consistent with the President's request.
The Administration especially appreciates the Committee's support
for the President's proposals to reduce funding for the Advanced
Technology Program and Information Infrastructure Grants, the inclusion
of the proposed cruise ship inspection fee and increased airline
inspection fees, efforts to combat terrorism and fight cybercrime,
and funding for Project ChildSafe, Project Sentry, Drug Courts,
and the Southwest Border Prosecutor initiative at the President's
request.
While
the Administration supports the bill, we would like to take this
opportunity to share some concerns with the Committee's version
of the bill. We look forward to working with Congress to resolve
these issues as the bill moves forward.
Small
Business Administration (SBA)
We
support the Committee's assumption that the Small Business Investment
Company program will become self-sufficient through fee increases
as proposed by the Administration and will not, therefore, require
any appropriation. However, we are disappointed that the Committee's
mark does not make the same assumption about the 7(a) General Business
Loan program.
State
Department
While
the Administration appreciates the Committee's efforts to fund the
President's priorities, the bill provides less than the full funding
request in a number of areas. The Administration would appreciate
the opportunity to discuss the ramifications of these reductions
with the Committee.
The
Administration is concerned that the provision conditioning $100
million for the United Nations on a certification that the United
Nations is keeping within its 2000-2001 biennial budget may unduly
restrict the President's ability to conduct foreign policy. The
Administration is also concerned that the provision limiting spending
on machine-readable visa fee revenues would constrain a program
important to our border security and urges the Committee to remove
the limitation.
Earmarked
Projects
The
Administration is concerned about the level of earmarking in this
bill. The Justice portion of the bill contains at least $329 million
in earmarks for 220 projects, approximately $141 million more and
131 projects over the FY 2001 House-passed version of the bill.
The Committee also appears to have earmarked all the available funding
in several areas, including Byrne discretionary grants and the COPS
law enforcement technology program. The Committee's level of earmarked
funding diminishes each agency's ability to distribute these funds
based on merit.
Additional
Concerns: FCC/E-rate; Salmon Recovery, MARAD, EXOP Consolidation
The
Administration recommends inclusion of the language proposed in
the President's budget that would direct the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to modify the E-rate program to enable local education
administrators to utilize E-rate discounts to meet their specific
needs more effectively and to support student achievement more fully.
The Administration will provide additional information about this
proposal to the Committee to address any questions that it may have.
The
Administration appreciates the Committee's overall support for salmon
recovery efforts. However, we recommend that the $20 million provided
for the Pacific Salmon Recovery Fund be reallocated to Pacific Salmon
Treaty funding to support similar salmon habitat restoration activities
while at the same time ensuring that the United States meets its
treaty commitments.
The
Administration is disappointed that the Committee did not support
the President's proposal to transfer funding and management of the
Maritime Security Program (MSP) to the Department of Defense. MSP
supports U.S. national security, and the program would be more effectively
managed through the Department of Defense.
The
Administration is also disappointed that the Committee did not address
the proposed consolidated appropriation for the Executive Office
of the President (EXOP). This proposal would consolidate the current
18 separate EXOP appropriations, which includes the Office of the
U.S. Trade Representative, into one. It would enable the President
to manage his office effectively and align resources consistent
with his needs. It would also ensure that the EXOP has the ability
to achieve economies of scale in purchasing not now available.
Infringement
on Executive Authority
Section
610 of the bill would preclude the use of funds to maintain diplomatic
relations with Vietnam unless the President certified to Congress
that Vietnam has satisfied specific conditions mandated by Congress.
The provision is an unconstitutional condition on the exercise of
the President's power to control the recognition and non-recognition
of foreign governments, and the Committee is urged to delete the
provision.
|