Sen. Moran Applauds Passage of FY2021 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Package

Statement

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) -- Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) -- today released the following statement applauding the passage of the FY2021 Appropriations package for CJS:

"This fiscally responsible and bipartisan bill provides necessary resources to help law enforcement keep our communities safe, support economic development and further scientific development. I am especially pleased this year's bill includes increased resources for the Department of Justice to support programs for state and local law enforcement in Kansas and across the nation, including training and community-based crime prevention. In addition, this legislation continues our support to NASA, STEM education and our nation's goal of returning American astronauts to the Moon. Thank you to Ranking Member Shaheen for working with me in a bipartisan manner to secure resources for these important federal programs and priorities that will allow the agencies within our jurisdiction to accomplish their missions and address the needs of our country."

Sen. Moran priorities included in the FY2021 CJS Appropriations Bill:

-Increased resources for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and United States Marshals Service.
-Support for DOJ's state and local law enforcement activities, including funding for the Violence Against Women Act, grant programs focused on improving police-community relations, juvenile justice programs to support children and youth and resources to help state and local partners combat the opioid and methamphetamine crises. These programs provide resources to Kansas entities like the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence and the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County.
-Increased support for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, which provide flexible grant funding for Kansas law enforcement departments across the state, from Kansas City to Garden City.
-A new DOJ grant program for small law enforcement agencies in rural areas, like many in Kansas. The grants will support improved training and technology, expanded community-based crime prevention programs and partnerships with victim service providers.
-Additional resources for the salaries and expenses of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and continued efforts to hire additional correctional officers at United States Penitentiary Leavenworth.
-Increased resources for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for human exploration activities related to U.S. Astronauts returning to the Moon, including resources for advanced aircraft composite and materials research and ongoing innovative research.
-Increased resources for NASA's Aeronautics research, including support for carbon/carbon material testing and high-rate composite aircraft manufacturing benefiting existing work of Wichita State University and Spirit AeroSystems.
NASA will also receive increased support for STEM Education Engagement programs to inspire the next generation of space exploration professionals, including $5 million for science museums and planetariums designed to support educational facilities like the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kan.
-Increased funding for plastics and polymer material research within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), benefiting Pittsburg State University's work in this field.
-Increased resources to the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support sustainable job growth and durability of regional economies throughout the U.S., especially in our rural communities.
-Robust funding dedicated to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for basic scientific research and development efforts among U.S. universities like the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University; businesses; and other research organizations, including increased support for the agency's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program.

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