Case Advances Ocean Science And Conservation Initiatives In His House Appropriations Committee's $82 Billion Commerce-Science-Justice FY22 Funding Measure

Press Release

Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies funding bill, one of the twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 (commencing October 1, 2021).

The FY 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill proposes to fund $82 billion in federal trade, economic development, justice, law enforcement and science programs.

"This bill addresses so many critical needs throughout our country, from economic development and assistance to fair trade enforcement, from world-leading scientific research and development in our oceans and atmosphere to advancing the next generations in STEM and pursuing the exploration of space, from support for state and local law enforcement to persistent violence against women and unsolved rape cases, from equal employment and civil rights enforcement to the basic right to legal counsel," said Case.
"In each and all of these areas Hawai'i has both unique needs and opportunities and an often world-leading role, and the federal programs this bill funds will address our needs, advance our roles and contribute to our economy and communities."
The CJS measure supports the Department of Commerce, including the International Trade Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and more.

The bill includes Case's requests, under Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF), to provide $415,000 for the Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District Site Restoration project and $200,000 for the Moku o Lo"e (Coconut Island) Marine Laboratory Refuge Eco-Friendly Sea Wall Research project.

Case said: "Utilizing the existing Hawaii Coral Restoration Nursery (HCRN) located at the State's Ānuenue Fisheries Research Center, the ($415,000) fund would be used to produce large living coral modules for outplanting in a concentrated area within the Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD) to enhance coastal resiliency for one of our state's major zones of economic activity and promote shallow-water marine tourism, relieving visitor pressure on the island's natural reef habitats."

The $200,000for the Moku o Lo"e Marine Laboratory Refuge Eco-Friendly Sea Wall Research project "supports a pilot investigation at our own world-class Hawai"i Institute of Marine Biology that examines the capacity of innovative blue-green design approaches to enhance native coral habitat and provide protection to critical coastal infrastructure in Hawai"i," said Case.
"CPF requests are submitted by individual Members and are for specific projects and purposes in our respective districts," explained Case. "CPF requests are only for state and local governments or non-profits organizations. These projects must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed, and they are subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office." Case's disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm.
Other programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:
· $4.5 million to support maintenance and repair of Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory where the famous Keeling Curve proving rapid climate change was developed;

· $61.5 million for Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument;

· $48 million for NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project;

· $38 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program;

· $146.5 million for protection, research and management of marine mammals, sea turtles and other species;

· $5 million for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grants;

· $275 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnerships program;

· $684 million for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and $451 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services;

· Report language directing the Economic Development Administration to assist local- and state-level public-private partnerships in advancing stakeholder-based frameworks that measure progress in sustainable development through open-data platforms, such as the Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard advanced by Hawai"i Green Growth;

· Report language directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to establish residential re-entry centers in federal court districts like Hawai"i that currently lack such facilities; and

· Report language directing the Minority Business Development Agency to provide at least $3 million in grants to Native American populations, including Native Hawaiians, for addressing barriers to economic development.

The measure also includes:

· $6.5 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

· $70 million for the Minority Business Development Agency;

· $36 billion for the Department of Justice, including $10.2 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and $891.2 million for the Executive Office for Immigration Review;

· $25 billion for NASA;

· $9.6 billion for the NSF;

· $445.9 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and

· $118.5 million for the International Trade Commission.

Case's Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.5 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills.

The CJS bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

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