June 12, 2019

Barbara Lee Statement on Fiscal Year 20 Department of Homeland Security and Financial Services and General Government Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In response to the House Appropriations Committee’s passage of the fiscal year Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, House Appropriations Committee Member Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement:    

“The fiscal year 2020 Homeland Security bill makes targeted investments in disaster relief, resources to meet the humanitarian needs of migrants, and programs proven to keep Americans safe. Importantly, this bill protect our communities by ensuring that no public funds can be used for public charge or for Trump’s immigration bans, including the Muslim Ban, the Asylum Ban, the Remain in Mexico Policy, and a prohibition ICE and CBP raids in sensitive locations. This bill will also prohibit misappropriation of funds for Trump’s border wall, provides no additional funding for Border Patrol Agents, Border Patrol checkpoints, or border barriers and prohibits funding transfers to ICE from removing sponsors of unaccompanied children based on information provided by the Office of Refugee Resettlement as part of the sponsor’s application to accept custody of the child.  

“Some of the notable increases help my district prepare for emergencies, including an increase of $25 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program and an increase of $10 million for the Transit Security Grant Program. These grants ensure that our nation’s first responders receive the funding that they need to protect our communities.    

“As we combat the manufactured crisis of child separations at the border, DHS has failed to provide accurate information on family separation despite multiple requests by Congress. I am happy to see our bill language address these issues by directing the Department of Homeland Security to publish on its website, the status on reuniting children with their parents.  

“This bill also includes important language prohibiting funding transfers to ICE Operations and Support for Enforcement and Removal Operations. This language ensures that we keep the Trump Administration accountable and that we stop the funding transfers into ICE accounts, which threaten our immigrant communities.  ICE has been responsible for some of the most heinous policies of the Trump Administration, including in my district, so I believe this language is a good first step.   

“When I traveled to Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, I saw the horrors of the Trump administration’s family detention jails. I saw children sleeping on concrete floors. It was cruel and inhumane, and with this bill, we will finally phase out family detention by the end of 2019.  

“More than that, this bill increases funding for Alternatives to Detention by $64 million, as well as $20 million for the proven Family Case Management Program (FCMP).   

“As a psychiatric social worker, I know how important high-quality, holistic case management is and these programs help ensure that we do not detain families indefinitely and that their children do not suffer from long term psychological trauma.   

“I am also proud to have passed an amendment with Congressman Price, Aguilar, and Pocan which would protect individuals with DACA and restrict funding for President Trump’s immigration bans. It also prohibit funds for ICE and CBP raids in sensitive locations and for an expansion of public charge.  

This bill, which reflects our commitment to protecting our communities while remaining true to the values that make America great and I look forward to moving this bill forward to the House Floor. 

Bill Summary: 

Notable Provisions – 

  • Prohibits construction of border barriers, except with funds appropriated for that purpose. 
       
  • Prohibits funding transfers to ICE Operations and Support for Enforcement and Removal Operations. 
       
  • Prohibits ICE from removing sponsors of unaccompanied children based on information provided by the Office of Refugee Resettlement as part of the sponsor’s application to accept custody of the child. 
  • Prohibits ICE from detention and removal of DACA  recipients 
  • Prohibits funding for Trump’s immigration bans and expansion of public charge 
  • Limits future detention facility contracts or renewals from having an indefinite period of availability. 
       
  • Provides authority for Coast Guard death gratuity payments in the absence of an annual appropriation. 
       
  • Ensures access by Members of Congress to detention facilities. 

 In response to the House Appropriations Committee’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, House Appropriations Committee Member Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement:    

“The bill includes significant funding increases to support critical functions and services in both the Executive and Judicial branches that are essential to the operation of the Federal Government. The bill also supports programs that assist and protect the public, such as shielding consumers from defective and dangerous products, assisting small businesses, investing in distressed communities, and ensuring the integrity of Federal elections. 

 “I am pleased that this bill includes language I proposed that nullifies President Trump’s proposed changes to the calculation of how we measure poverty in this country, which will have devastating impacts on families all across this country. Families struggling to make ends meet will gradually be stripped of SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Head Start, and more.  

“In addition, as the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Cannabis Caucus, I am pleased to see that this bill includes language that would prohibit any of the funds from being used to penalize financial institutions that provide financial services to an entity that participates in a business involving marijuana established by a state or local government. This is an important step toward facilitating services for the cannabis industry and remove additional obstacles that entrepreneurs of color already face in getting a foothold in the industry.”

“This bill also lifts the ban on the use of local funds in D.C. for abortion services.  As the Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chair and as someone who worked closely on this issue with Chairman Quigley in the past, the lifting of this ban is a critical step in ensuring that the 55,000 D.C. women of reproductive age enrolled in Medicaid have access to the abortion care that has previously been pushed out of their reach. 

“I am also pleased about the inclusion of $23 million for the Health Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), a program that provides critical loans and grants financing to attract grocery stores, food hubs, and other fresh food business entrepreneurs to underserved areas. The HFFI program also enables existing stores to expand so they can provide healthy foods to communities in need. In my Congressional district, this program has been used to fund health food activities at the Mandela Marketplace.”

“Finally, I applaud the inclusion of $300 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), an increase of $50 million over FY19 enacted levels. CDFIs are a lifeline for communities across the country –, especially underbanked communities. This increase will help expand the capacity of financial institutions to provide credit, capital, and financial services to underserved populations and communities around the country.” 

Bill Summary: 

Department of the Treasury – The bill provides a total of $13.56 billion in discretionary appropriations for the Department, including $400 million for IRS program integrity. This is $793.9 million above the 2019 enacted level and $484.4 million above the President’s budget request. Of this amount, the bill includes: 

  • $244.4 million for Departmental Offices Salaries and Expenses, $29.8 million above the 2019 enacted level and $11.6 million below the President’s budget request. Within this total, $40 million is for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, an increase of $25 million, to continue to support the Department’s enhanced enforcement efforts and other costs associated with the implementation of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018. 
      
  • $167.7 million for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, an increase of $8.7 million above the 2019 enacted level. 
      
  • $124.7 million for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, an increase of $6.9 million above the 2019 enacted level, to boost efforts to combat terrorist financing and money laundering. 
      
  • $119.6 million for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, rejecting the cuts proposed in the President’s budget. 
      
  • $300 million for Community Development Financial Institutions, an increase of $50 million above the 2019 enacted level and a rejection of the proposal in the President’s budget to eliminate the program entirely. The total amount includes first-time funding of $10 million for an initiative to increase the availability and affordability of small-dollar loans. 
      
  • $234.4 million for Inspectors General offices for the Treasury Department, rejecting the irresponsible four percent cut proposed in the President’s budget. Such a reduction would inhibit much needed oversight of Departmental policies and practices. 
      
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – The bill includes $12 billion for the IRS, an increase of $697.4 million above the 2019 enacted level and $166 million above the President’s request. Of this amount, the bill includes: 
      
  • $2.6 billion, an increase of $67 million, for Taxpayer Services. This total includes growth of at least eight percent for all three grant programs: Tax Counseling for the Elderly, Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics, and Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.    
      
  • $5.2 billion, an increase of $297 million, for Enforcement. 
      
  • $4 billion, an increase of $270 million, for Operations Support. 
      
  • $290 million, an increase of $140 million, for Business Systems Modernization. 

The bill also eliminates a provision blocking the IRS from issuing guidance related to political activity of 501(c)(4) organizations. 

Executive Office of the President – The bill includes a total of $741.8 million, an increase of $2.9 million above the 2019 enacted level and $411.4 million above the President’s budget request. 

  • White House – The bill matches the requested funding level for White House Offices, Executive Residence, and Repairs and Alterations. The bill also creates a new appropriation, as requested, for the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. 
      
  • Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) – The bill rejects the Administration’s proposed transfer or elimination of ONDCP grant programs and includes: 
      
    • $300 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, an increase of $20 million above 2019; and 
        
    • $100.5 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program, an increase of $500,000 above the 2019 enacted level. 

The Judiciary – The bill includes a total of $7.51 billion in discretionary appropriations, an increase of $258.3 million above the 2019 enacted level.  

  • Defender Services: $1.23 billion, an increase of $84 million above the 2019 enacted level, to support operations and expenses associated with panel attorney compensation. 
  • Court Security: $641 million, an increase of $34 million above the 2019 enacted level, to support security needs and protective services in courthouses, as identified by the U.S. Marshals Service. 

Additionally, the bill extends temporary judgeships in several districts. 

District of Columbia – The bill includes a total of $741.3 million, an increase of $15.6 million above the 2019 enacted level and $24.7 million above the President’s budget request. 

  • $40 million for D.C. Resident Tuition Support, reversing the elimination of the program proposed by the Administration. 
      
  • $5 million, an increase of $2 million, for HIV/AIDS Testing and Treatment to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia. 
      
  • $8 million, equal to the 2019 level, to fund infrastructure improvements for the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority. 

In addition, the bill removes objectionable policy riders previously carried that intrude on home rule in the District of Columbia: 

  • Eliminates a ban on the use of local funds for abortion services 
      
  • Eliminates a ban on the use of local funds to legalize marijuana 
      
  • Eliminates a ban on the use of funds for needle exchange programs 
      
  • Eliminates a provision appropriating local District funds 

Independent Agencies 

  • Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – The bill funds the CPSC at $135.5 million, which is $8.5 million above the 2019 enacted level and the budget request. Within the total, $1.3 million is provided for Virginia Graeme Baker Pool Safety grants. 
      
  • Election Assistance Commission (EAC) – The bill provides $600 million for Election Security Grants to augment state efforts to improve the security and integrity of elections for Federal office. In addition, $16.2 million is included for EAC operating expenses, an increase of $7 million above the 2019 enacted level and $4.2 million above the President’s budget request.  
      
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – The bill includes $349.7 million for the FTC, which is $40 million above the 2019 enacted level, to bolster antitrust and consumer protection work. 
      
  • General Services Administration Federal Buildings Fund (FBF) -- The bill includes $9.1 billion in spending authority for the FBF. The total funding level includes: 
      
    • $85 million for the Calexico, CA Land Port of Entry, 
        
    • $248 million for the San Luis, AZ Land Port of Entry, 
        
    • $848.9 million for Basic and Major Repairs, an increase of $185.7 million (20 percent) above the 2019 enacted level. 
        
  • National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) – The bill provides $354.7 for NARA operating expenses, which is $9.1 million above the request. Of this amount, $4.1 million is provided for implementation of the Civil Rights Cold Case Record Collections Act of 2018. In addition, the bill includes $7 million for the National Historical Publications & Records Commission Grants Program. 
      
  • Office of Personnel Management (OPM) –The bill includes $339 million, an increase of $43.4 million, for OPM. The bill rejects the Administration’s proposed merger of OPM with GSA. 
      
  • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – The bill includes $1.85 billion, an increase of $175 million, for SEC salaries and expenses. Language is included to direct the additional funds specifically to augment SEC’s enforcement, compliance, market oversight, and investor education and advocacy activities. 
      
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) – The bill provides a total of $995.8 million for SBA, $280.4 million above the 2019 enacted level and $228.7 million above the President’s budget request. Of this amount, the bill includes $281.8 million, an increase of $34 million, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs, including: 
      
    • $150 million for Small Business Development Centers 
        
    • $35 million for Microloan Technical Assistance 
        
    • $20 million for the State Trade Expansion Program 
        
    • $30 million for Women’s Business Centers 

In addition, the bill increases the authorized levels for SBA’s Business Loans Programs and supports a level of $30.5 billion for the 7(a) loan program and $8 billion for the 504/Certified Development Company program. 

The text of the bill is here. 

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