Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 - Continued
Floor Speech
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Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I recognize the concerns of the Senator from Oklahoma. His amendment has good intentions by seeking to find ways to reduce duplication for all Department of Justice, DOJ, grants to State and local governments and nonprofit organizations. I agree with the Senator from Oklahoma that we need to pinch every penny.
However, as chairwoman of both the Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, CJS, I must oppose the amendment. It directs the Justice Department to develop and implement a plan that eliminates, consolidates or streamlines seemingly similar existing grant programs to find at least $780 million in savings. Then, regardless of whether or not duplication in grant programs is identified, $780 million would be automatically rescinded for deficit reduction, unless DOJ chooses to redirect a portion for DNA backlog reduction grants.
I oppose this amendment for two reasons. First, the fiscal year 2013 Senate CJS bill already rescinds over $61 million from DOJ grants, coming on top of $93 million rescinded in the fiscal year 2012 enacted bill. The Justice Department's grant components are already struggling to meet those mandatory rescissions. In order to meet an additional $780 million, this amendment would give the Department enormous power to unilaterally terminate programs with no input from Congress.
Second, Justice grants have already been slashed, and are likely to take more cuts in the coming months and years. Since fiscal year 2010, DOJ grants have been cut by more than $1.5 billion, a 41 percent reduction, from $3.6 billion in fiscal year 2010 to $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2012, shifting the burden of crime fighting to State and local governments where budgets are also stressed. Should sequestration kick in, grants will be cut by at least $110 million, or another 5 percent reduction. This amendment would cut another $780 million from programs like Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, COPS Hiring, youth mentoring, bulletproof vests, and the Violence Against Women Act. Altogether, this would be an astounding cut of $2.4 billion, or 64 percent, since fiscal year 2010.
The Senator from Oklahoma and I agree that we need to be strong sentries over taxpayers' funds. I have encouraged the Attorney General to follow GAO's recommendations, and he has responded by directing the Department to assess and consolidate grant programs when possible in order to prevent unnecessary duplication. But the Coburn amendment implements sweeping cuts, which will impact every Justice grant program. It will hurt our law enforcement and community partners at home, who are already struggling with limited tools to keep our families and neighborhoods safe and help victims of crime.
I oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to vote no.
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