WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to protect public safety in Rhode Island and nationwide and spur economic development and innovation, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, today helped advance the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill with a total of $71.734 billion in discretionary funding.  The measure was approved by the full committee on a vote of 28-1.

Senator Reed says the bipartisan spending plan includes federal funding that state and local police departments depend on and offers a sharp rebuke to former President Donald Trump’s calls to defund the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Reed notes that while this is a positive step forward, the U.S. Senate still has a lot of work to do to prevent House Republican leaders from enacting steep cuts to federal law enforcement and justice programs. 

House Republicans appropriators are seeking a 28.8 percent cut to discretionary funding for DOJ and other federal agencies funded by the Commerce-Justice-Science section of the appropriations law.  Other federal departments that face deep cuts under the House Republican blueprint include the FBI, Commerce Department; National Science Foundation, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), among other federal agencies and programs.

Reed, who serves on the Appropriations CJS Subcommittee, is warning against putting needed law enforcement funds on the chopping block.  He says it would be short-sighted and wrong for House Republicans to enact spiteful cuts and try to defund ongoing FBI and DOJ investigations.

“Congress needs to invest in improving public safety, preventing crime, and bringing criminals to justice.  I am concerned that if House Republicans go along with Trump’s calls to defund the FBI and Department of Justice then it could lead to a rise in crime and lawlessness in communities nationwide.  Senate appropriators are working on a constructive, bipartisan basis to responsibly fund the federal government.  I urge House Appropriators to do the same,” said Senator Reed, who noted that DOJ programs such as the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant program; the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant program provides Rhode Island with federal funding to support local police, drug treatment, forensic science, and prosecution of criminals, as well as to combat gun violence and cross-border fentanyl trafficking.

Overall, the CJS Appropriations bill advanced by the Committee today includes $37.956 billion for DOJ to help keep Americans safe, uphold the rule of law, and invest in lifesaving DOJ grant programs.

The U.S. Department of Commerce receives $11.1 billion to promote and support American businesses and exports, spur economic development nationwide, maintain current-generation and build next-generation weather satellites that let Americans know about severe weather, create cybersecurity standards, promote economic development nationwide, enable sustainable management of ocean resources, conduct periodic censuses, and more.  It also includes $11 billion to fully implement the CHIPS and Sciences Act.

To continue promoting American competitiveness through scientific discovery, the bill provides $9.5 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is funded at $25 billion to explore the solar system, understand climate change, promote innovation and sustainability in aeronautics, and protect our planet.

“This bipartisan bill makes key investments in public safety, economic development, and scientific research.  It includes critical funding for law enforcement and cybersecurity, as well as NSF funding that can advance scientific research and the next generation of commercial breakthroughs.  It will help implement the historic CHIPS and Science Act to boost American-made computer chip production,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of the CJS Subcommittee.  “This bill will help protect the American people and wisely invests in innovation and economic growth.”

A summary of the CJS Appropriations bill can be found here.  It also includes several earmarks Senator Reed requested, totaling nearly $9.175 million, including:

•             $1.2 million for RI Department of Corrections Vehicles

•             $1.15 million for URI’s Marine Geological Laboratory

•             $1.01 million for the Cumberland Police Department to purchase updated Communications Equipment

•             $1 million for the South Kingstown Police Department to acquire a Mobile Command Vehicle

•             $1 million to the Providence Resilience Partnership to Perform a Climate Change Risk Assessment

•             $600,000 for URI STEEP (Superfund Research)

•             $570,000 for Police Equipment in Warwick

•             $500,000 for the RI Department of Corrections Job Training Programs

•             $430,000 for the Narragansett Indian Tribe’s Afterschool Fitness Initiative

•             $420,000 for Justice Assistance’s Habitat for Justice Program

•             $350,000 to CCRI to Create Workforce Pathways for Currently or Formerly Incarcerated Persons

•             $280,000 for Police Vehicles in Tiverton

•             $225,000 for Providence Police to acquire a Forensic Evidence Collection Vehicle

•             $220,000 for Day One’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program

•             $220,000 to the YMCA of Greater Providence to Establish a Police/Community Engagement Program

Now that the CJS appropriations bill has been approved at the committee level, it must pass the full U.S. Senate and be reconciled with a version making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives.  After identical appropriations bills are approved by both the House and the Senate, they may be sent to the President's desk to be signed into law.  The Senate Appropriations Committee continues to work on the remaining ten appropriations bills.