Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Animal fighting enforcement and other responsibilities
Requested amount: $90 million
Intended recipient and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: I support funding for USDA's OIG to focus on animal fighting cases. Congress first prohibited most interstate and foreign commerce of animals for fighting in 1976, tightened loopholes in the law in 2002, established felony penalties in 2007, and further strengthened the law as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. I also support the OIG's auditing and investigative work to improve compliance with the humane slaughter law and downed animal rules and the Horse Protection Act.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Program name: Animal Welfare
Requested amount: $22,333,000
Intended recipient and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: I support the President's request to enforce a ban on imports from foreign puppy mills where puppies are mass produced under inhumane conditions and forced to endure harsh long-distance transport. Animal Care currently has 115 inspectors (with 2 vacancies to be filled), compared to 64 inspectors at the end of the 1990s. An appropriation at the requested level would maintain FY10 funding with a modest increase to cover pay costs and help ensure that the agency can provide adequate oversight of the increasing number of licensed/registered facilities.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Program name: Citrus Health
Requested amount: $5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: Our nation's citrus industry is facing a crisis posed by the infestation of the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP). ACP is the vector for the devastating and incurable Huanglongbing (HLB) citrus disease, also known as citrus greening. It is important to continue vital citrus Greening/Huanglongbing (HLB) and Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) research to improve technologies for treatment and detection, methods of movement and containment, and means to control and eliminate this devastating citrus disease and disease vector.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Emergency Management Systems/Disaster Planning and Response for Animals
Requested amount: $1,017,000
Intended recipient and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: I support the Animal Care division's development of infrastructure to help prepare for and respond to animal issues in a disaster and incorporate lessons learned from previous disasters.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Program name: Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
Requested amount: $68 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: I support the President's FY2011 Budget request for $68,000,000 for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. EFNEP is a highly successful educational program that delivers "hands-on," practical lessons on food, nutrition and healthy lifestyles to limited resource families. National studies show that for every $1 invested in this Cooperative Extension program, up to $10.64 is saved in current and future healthcare costs for "at risk" populations.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD)
Requested amount: $1 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: The FARAD program is critical for maintaining consumer confidence in the food system and this computer-based decision support system designed to provide livestock and feed producers, veterinarians and regulators with practical information on ways to eliminate drug, pesticide and environmental contaminant residue problems in animal agriculture. Since no other program provides or duplicates the services of FARAD it is vital that our Veterinarians' have this tool when working with food animals.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Horse Protection Act
Requested amount: $900,000
Intended recipient and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: An appropriation at the requested level will help provide for additional inspectors, training, security (to address threats of violence against inspectors), and advanced detection equipment (thermography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry machines).
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Program name: Humane Slaughter--HMSA
Requested amount: $2 million
Intended recipient and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: I request that $2 million be allocated out of the $3 million in Humane Animal Tracking (HAT) funding for the purpose of hiring and training a mobile review team to conduct unscheduled audits and undercover surveillance focused on assessing compliance with humane handling rules of live animals as they arrive and are offloaded and handled in pens, chutes, and stunning areas.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Program name: Investigative & Enforcement Services
Requested amount: $14,213,000
Intended recipient and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: I support level funding for this division, which handles many important responsibilities, including the investigation of alleged violations of federal animal welfare laws and the initiation of appropriate enforcement actions. The volume of animal welfare cases is rising significantly as new facilities become licensed and registered.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Program name: Light Brown Apple Moth - Pest and Disease Management Programs - APHIS
Requested amount: $10 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: I support the President's 2011 request of $10 million to continue the efforts initiated with emergency funding to address the light brown apple moth. LBAM is of particular concern because it can damage a wide range of crops and other plants including California's prized cypress as well as redwoods, oaks and many other varieties commonly found in California's urban and suburban landscaping, public parks and natural environment. The list of agricultural crops that could be damaged by this pest includes grapes, citrus, stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, apricots) and many others. The complete "host list" contains well over 1,000 plant species and more than 250 fruits and vegetables.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Minor Use Animal Drug/NRSP-7 Special Research Grant
Requested amount: $429,000
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: The President's FY2011 Budget requests $429,000 for the USDA Minor U se Animal Drug/NRSP-7 special research grant. This program identifies animal drug needs for minor species and minor uses in major species, generates and disseminates data for safe and effective therapeutic applications, and facilitates FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine approvals for drugs identified as a priority for minor species or minor use. UC is an active participant
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Organic Market and Production Data Initiatives (ODI)
Requested amount: $5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: Absence of this data inhibits organic producers and handlers in a number of ways, from business planning and credit, to fairness in crop insurance and disaster payments. This funding is a good use of taxpayer's funds because this information is readily available for conventional crops and it is imperative that organic growers have the same information.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Organic Minor Crop Specialist
Requested amount: $500,000
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: The organic minor crop specialist is developing ecologically-based soil and pest management strategies that enhance soil quality, nutrient cycling, and profitability, and reduce off-farm inputs in high-value, organic vegetable production systems.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Organic Standards
Requested amount: $10.1 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: The National Organic Program of the Agricultural Marketing Service (including the National Organic Standards Board, organic standards setting, certifier accreditation and enforcement) received an increasing authorization for appropriations in the 2008 Farm Bill.. The NOP has a large and growing number of important backlogged tasks.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Organic Transitions Program
Requested amount: $5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: The program will target particularly high-value research investigations. At current funding this program can only fund a small number of serious investigations. Our request for $5 million in funding seeks to enable a higher level of program performance and help reach the overall organic fair-share objective.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Pierce's Disease and the Invasive Species Research Program at the University of California
Requested amount: $3 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: This project will continue the Pierce's Disease special research program which funds competitively awarded research to find solutions to the devastating bacterial disease that threatens California's winegrape industry, as well as other grape varieties, citrus, almonds and tree fruit. Additionally, it expands the research to include other invasive species impacting California and the nation include pathogens (West Nile virus, Avian Influenza, Sudden Oak Death), insects (vine mealy bug, light brown apple moth), marine and fresh water species (green crab and quagga mussel), and weed species (yellow star thistle). Greater knowledge of these species, understanding of invasion biology parameters, and potential control and eradication strategies is critical for California and the U.S.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE)
Requested amount: $30 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: I support the President's 2011 request of $30 million for SARE. SARE is a farmer-driven, regionally-led, and outcomes-oriented competitive research grants program that complements the outcomes of the two dedicated organic research programs.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Verticillium Wilt Research
Requested amount: $700,000
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: Verticillium is caused by a soil-based fungus that produces microsclerotia, and can persist in the soil for extended periods (e.g. 10 to 15 years). Due to its ability to persist in the soil, along with the known hosts, Verticillium has the potential to devastate the lettuce industry. Verticillium wilt is a major threat to lettuce, celery, melon, and spinach production in most commercial fields.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Program name: Veterinary Student Loan Forgiveness
Requested amount: $5 million
Intended recipient and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: I support funding to address the critical shortage of veterinarians practicing in rural and inner-city areas, as well as in government positions at FSIS and APHIS.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Program name: Vine Mealy Bug
Requested amount: $1.2 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: The vine mealy bug, Planococcus ficus, is an exotic pest first found in the Coachella Valley, of Riverside County in 1994 and since has spread to an additional 15 counties. To meet this threat, a cooperative work group has been formed, including representatives of the grape industry, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the University of California, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and California County Agricultural Commissioners. This group has developed a program that includes public education; detection, monitoring and mapping surveys; research; and a control program implementation plan.
Legislation: FY11 Agriculture Appropriations

Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations

Program name: Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program
Requested amount: $10 million
Intended recipient and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: The Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program establishes a set of management measures for states to use in controlling polluted runoff from forestry, agriculture, urban areas, marinas shoreline and stream channel modification, and wetlands and vegetated shorelines. In California, the elimination of water quality funding in the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations undermines the state's efforts to stop pollution from entering California's coastal waters. Without funding, the state will be forced to cut staff positions and assistance to local governments and the farming community to reduce nonpoint water pollution.
Legislation: FY11 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Program name: Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program
Requested amount: $65 million
Intended recipient's name and address: NA/ Programmatic Request
Program description: The Drug Court program is the nation's most fiscally responsible and effective justice intervention for substance abusing offenders. In light of the economic realities currently facing this nation, it is even more important to focus on cost effective, evidence-based practices that stem the tide of drugs and crime. By utilizing criminal justice programs that reduce the demand for illegal drugs and the impact they have in our communities, we can provide relief to our nation's overloaded courts systems. The $88.8 million appropriated for Drug Courts in FY 2010 is a critical step toward the goal of $250 million needed to put a Drug Court within reach of every American who could benefit from Drug Courts. An appropriation of $125 million in FY11 will return $420 million in direct savings to taxpayers. To ensure maximum impact from the $125 million investment, I am requesting that the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program receives $65 million and that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment receives $60 million for their Drug Treatment Court initiative.
Legislation: FY11 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill

Program name: Fish Information Network
Requested amount: $23.7 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: The National Marine Fisheries Service's Fish Information Network provides valuable fisheries data collection and information management nationwide. Specifically, PACFIN is the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission's (PSMFC) comprehensive West Coast clearinghouse for harvest and distribution data for marine commercial fisheries containing commercial landings. Funding of the Fish Information Network is a good use of tax payer funds because a portion of the funding will go to PACFIN and the information from that database is used by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, four of the West Coast states (excepting Alaska) and the National Marine Fisheries Service in developing and implementing conservation and management plans for our important marine fisheries, including those our district.
Legislation: FY11 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Program name: Integrated Ocean Observing System Regional Observations
Requested amount: $53 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: Ocean observing systems are operated by various public and private research institutes nation wide in order to monitor the ocean environment. Integrating them will establish a more comprehensive and powerful system that will allow us to forecast changes in physical, ecological processes and marine populations; it will provide the scientific data needed to better manage and preserve our nation's largest natural resource.
Legislation: FY11 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Program name: National Catch Share Program
Requested amount: $54 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: The $54 million requested by the Administration for the National Catch Share Program is needed to adequately develop, implement, and manage catch shares in the coming year for struggling fisheries around the country. These programs are proven to help restore fishery resources, improve science, and enhance fishery economics with increased catch (as overfished stocks recover and science improves), increased efficiency of fishing operations, and higher dockside prices.
Legislation: FY11 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Program name: National Estuarine Research Reserve System
Requested amount: $33 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) focuses on estuaries, one of the most productive habitat types known, and is the only national monitoring program for national estuaries. This is a good use of tax payer funds because adequate funding will enable NERRS to meet the basic requirements of operating the growing number of reserve sites, as well as continue to enhance the three core NERRS programs: research, monitoring, and coastal training. Support of these programs will contribute to healthier estuaries by improving management of estuarine resources, including our own Elkhorn Slough.
Legislation: FY11 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Program name: National Marine Protected Areas Center
Requested amount: $5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A programmatic request
Program description: The National MPA Center's is a good use of tax payer funds because it facilitates the effective use of science, technology, training, and information in the planning, management, and evaluation of the nation's system of marine protected areas. This is accomplished through collaboration and partnerships with diverse public and private organizations concerned with sustainable marine conservation. With a significantly reduced operating budget since FY2005, the MPA Center is focused largely on the core goal of developing an effective national system of MPA's with an initial focus on the West Coast, including a number of sites along the coast of Central California.
Legislation: FY2011 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Program name: National Marine Sanctuaries Program, ORF Account
Requested amount: $60 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: The Operations, Research and Facilities account within the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is the essential budget line that allows the monitoring and management of our Nation's 14 National Marine Sanctuaries, in short, it is the money that allows the program to function. This program is good use of tax payer funds because of the importance of Sanctuaries and the resources they protect, such as fisheries, recreational sites, and critical habitats, to our nation, and especially to our district.
Legislation: FY11 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Program name: National Marine Sanctuaries Program, PAC Account
Requested amount: $20 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: The National Marine Sanctuary Program protects an area equivalent to the entire national park system and includes many important marine ecosystems. Marine sanctuaries strive to protect these ecologically and culturally important areas and to educate the public about the marine environment. About half of the area managed by the program is in California. Expanding the program's funding for construction would be a good use of taxpayer funds because it would allow the California sites to support the City of Santa Cruz's plan for a new sanctuary visitor center, as well as exhibits and facilities for other California marine sanctuaries.
Legislation: FY2011 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Program name: U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program
Requested amount: $6.6 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: The AMLR program is a good use of tax payer funds because it represents NOAA's only Antarctic biological program and has been monitoring there for a quarter of a century, generating an extensive data set; interrupting the research would represent a significant lost opportunity, as the continued long term dataset has implications outside the Antarctic, which itself could undergo profound changes to its ecosystem with even moderate changes to the climate. If we are able to understand the effects of climate change on Antarctic animals, we can model more complex ecosystems found elsewhere. Researchers at Moss Landing Marine Labs are actively involved in this program.
Legislation: FY11 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations

Defense Appropriations

Program name: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program - Ovarian Cancer
Requested amount: $30 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: Countless numbers of active duty personnel, nondeployed personnel, military retirees, veterans and their dependents affected by ovarian cancer receive military medical services. The DOD Ovarian Cancer Research Program funds research with the potential to accelerate the development and implementation of medical devices, drugs and treatments to treat ovarian cancer. Advances in the treatment and diagnosis of ovarian cancer through the DOD OCRP will not only enhance the health and well-being of uniformed service personnel, their families, and the veteran population, but also the civilian Americans they serve and protect
Legislation: FY11 Defense Appropriations

Program name: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program - Kidney Cancer
Requested amount: $150 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: The National Cancer Institute has found that the rate of usage of VA facilities by veterans diagnosed with kidney cancer increased by over 26%, double the amount of the general population. DOD research will help determine if there is any correlation with military service and work to find a cure.
Legislation: FY11 Defense Appropriations

Program name: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program - Breast Cancer
Requested amount: $150 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: The Breast Cancer Research Program has resulted in unprecedented progress toward the reliable prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer and has established itself as a model medical research program.
Legislation: FY11 Defense Appropriations

Program name: Environmental Security Technical Certification Program
Requested amount: $52,780,000
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: The goal of the program is to demonstrate and validate promising, innovative technologies that target he most urgent environmental needs of the DOD. Currently, over 70% of material identified as potential unexploded ordnance (UXO) is actually scrap metal, doubling or tripling the time and cost of site remediation. Additional investment will speed development and deployment of technology that will significantly reduce costs and environmental risks associated with environmental cleanup and munitions management.
Legislation: FY11 Defense Appropriations

Program name: Formerly Used Defense Sites
Requested amount: $392,700,000
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: Congress established the Defense Environmental Restoration Program - Formerly Used Defense Site Program (DERP-FUDS) in 1986 to remove hazardous material from former DOD properties and allow for safe reuse. Over two decades later, 2,600 properties nationwide require cleanup at an estimated cost of over $18 billion. At the current rates of funding the Department estimates it will finish cleaning these sites within the next 250 years. Additional funding will speed clean up and help eradicate this health and environmental liability for DOD, our constituents and communities in a more reasonable timeframe.
Legislation: FY11 Defense Appropriations

Energy & Water Appropriations

Program name: Coastal Data Information Project
Requested amount: $5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0210, La Jolla CA 92093
Program description: The Coastal Data Information Project measures, models and forecasts waves on the east and west coasts of the United States, the Hawaiian Islands, the Caribbean and Guam. This funding will allow for expansion of wave buoy coverage to areas underserved or completely lacking this high-resolution, directional wave data. The data are disseminated in near real-time to National Weather Service and online. Based on CDIP information, sea state and surf warnings are issued for safety of life and property. Data provided serve as a baseline for sea level rise, and climate change adaptation.
Legislation: FY11 Energy and Water Appropriations

Interior Appropriations

Program name: Council on Environmental Quality FTE Ocean Position
Requested amount: $289,000
Intended recipient and address: N/A
Program Description: Our oceans and coasts, key drivers of the U.S. economy, are severely threatened. The impacts of climate change, pollution, and competing ocean uses make protection of these resources a pressing economic, environmental, and national security challenge. With a multitude of statutes and Federal, state and local authorities governing activities in the ocean, progress in protecting ocean and marine resources has suffered from a lack of effective coordination. In June of 2009 the President created the Ocean Policy Task Force led by CEQ to formulate policies and review Agency coordination to address these issues. In order to implement the recommendations of the Ocean Policy Task Force, CEQ will add one FTE to the Land and Water team to focus on Ocean issues. I express support for the FY 2011 budget estimate which reflects a net increase of $289,000 consisting of $250,000 to support two additional FTEs, and $39,000 for payroll inflation adjustments. The two additional FTEs will focus on two critical areas of the President’s environmental agenda: NEPA oversight, and protecting our oceans.
Legislation: FY 2011 Interior and Environment Appropriations  

Program name: National Endowment for the Humanities
Requested amount: $232.5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: Not applicable/Programmatic request
Program description: NEH is the single most important source of support for the humanities and plays a vital role in the preservation and promotion of our national identity. Many educational institutions and nonprofit associations use NEH grants to conserve and nurture America's heritage, bring the humanities to the community, and educate the next generation of Americans. We support a total funding level of $232.5 million, with $144 million for NEH National Programs and $60 million for the NEH Federal/State Partnership. This $65 million increase over the FY 2010 enacted level would help offset mounting economic pressures on the academic workforce and humanities institutions, as well as strengthen the nation's infrastructure for humanities education and research for the long-run.
Legislation: FY11 Interior Appropriation Bill

Labor, Health & Human Services, Education Appropriations

Program name: Drug Courts
Requested amount: $60 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: The Drug Court program is the nation's most fiscally responsible and effective justice intervention for substance abusing offenders. In light of the economic realities currently facing this nation, it is even more important to focus on cost effective, evidence-based practices that stem the tide of drugs and crime. By utilizing criminal justice programs that reduce the demand for illegal drugs and the impact they have in our communities, we can provide relief to our nation's overloaded courts systems. The $88.8 million appropriated for Drug Courts in FY 2010 is a critical step toward the goal of $250 million needed to put a Drug Court within reach of every American who could benefit from Drug Courts. An appropriation of $125 million in FY11 will return $420 million in direct savings to taxpayers. To ensure maximum impact from the $125 million investment, I am requesting that the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program receives $65 million and that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment receives $60 million for their Drug Treatment Court initiative.
Legislation: FY11 Labor, Health & Human Services, Education Appropriations Bill 

Program name: Family Planning
Requested amount: $76.5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: Title X is one of the nation's best and most cost-effective public health success stories, federal funding is insufficient to meet the enormous need for publicly supported contraceptive services. Without additional funding, Title X-funded health centers will be unable to both meet the increasing demand for health services and provide the quality preventive care that is their trademark.
Legislation: FY11 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations

Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations

Program name: BRAC 1990 Account
Requested amount: $500 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: According to the GAO (GAO-10-457T) there are 1492 BRAC sites awaiting clean up - sites that have not reached response complete status. There are another 440 BRAC sites that require long-term management to effectively remediate contamination. The estimated cost of clean up at these sites is in excess of $3 billion. Yet the funding to do so has remained relatively low proportional to the clean up need. I ask that the committee appropriate $500 million for this account, barely $3 million more than the appropriated amount last year.
Legislation: FY11 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act

State, Foreign Operations Appropriations

Program name: Colombia, Aerial Fumigation
Requested amount: $0
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: Aerial fumigation is expensive and has widely been proven to be an ineffective method to reduce coca cultivation.  While it damages farmland and crops, destroys livelihoods and weakens food security, it typically does little to reduce coca production. It is clear that U.S. coca eradication policy in Colombia creates negative feedbacks against the GoC and the credibility of the United States. Unless eradication is coupled with successful rural development it is counterproductive. I strongly urge the Committee to reorient our anti-narcotics policy in Colombia toward support for licit crop cultivation and rural economic development.
Legislation: FY11 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations

Program name: Colombia, Rural Development
Requested amount: $220 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: I respectfully request that $220 million for rural economic development and democracy and governance for Colombia under the "Development Assistance" account. I further request report the following report language: Not less than $30 million of funds made available for economic development or democracy and governance in Colombia under the "Economic Support Fund" or "Development Assistance" be directed specifically to benefit Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, in consultation community members. Improve U.S. Support for Judicial Reform, Rule of Law and Human Rights Violence in Colombia continues to decline, and respect for human rights and rule of law is on the upward swing. Notwithstanding this progress, we must still support institutions that strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law. I respectfully request that the Committee allocate no less $50 million for Rule of Law, Judicial, and Human Rights Programs in the bill, of which not less than $18 million is for the Office of the Attorney General with $6 million each for the Human Rights Unit, Justice and Peace Unit and the Witness/Victims Protection Program.
Legislation: FY11 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations

Program name: Colombia, Internally Displaced Persons and Refugee Assistance
Requested amount: $15 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: The greatest human suffering in the Western Hemisphere is largely invisible here in the United States. The vast humanitarian crisis in Colombia continued unabated in 2009, with more than 200,000 newly displaced from their homes and communities. United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) estimates at least 330,000 Colombians living as refugees in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela. At a minimum 135,000 Colombian refugees live in Ecuador. The Government of Ecuador and UNHCR have made significant progress, but lack of adequate funding means massive numbers of people go with no support as they flee violence. For the abovementioned reasons, I request the following report language: Not less than $15 million of the "Economic Support Fund" for Colombia be transferred to and merged with the "Migration and Refugee Assistance" with not less than $10 million available to assist Colombian refugees residing in Ecuador.
Legislation: FY11 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations

Program name: Dedicated Visa Processing Consular Officers
Requested amount: $0
Intended recipient's name and address: U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520
Program description: An insufficient number of consular officers available to conduct visa interviews and process visa applications prevent the U.S. from meeting its true potential to welcome millions of new visitors each year and grow this export for America. Targeting consular resources in emerging markets such as Brazil, China and India will lead to significant revenue and job growth for the U.S. In a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the State Department acknowledged "that long wait times may discourage legitimate travel to the U.S., potentially costing the country billions of dollars in economic benefits..." (GAO-07-847). A critical indicator of unmet demand is the wait times facing visa applicants who are willing to meet the requirement for an interview with a consular officer. For instance in China visa applicants are warned on the State Department's website that it could take months for a visa application to be fully processed. . I have requested the following report language to dedicate consular officers in these top emerging markets that will benefit the economy by bringing more international visitors to the U.S: "The Committee directs 100 of the 410 new Foreign Service Officers the State Department has requested be allocated to serve as consular officials in Brazil, China and India, countries with a significant travel growth potential."
Legislation: FY11 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations

Program name: Global Entry Enrollment
Requested amount: $5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Program description: Increased enrollment in the Global Entry program will allow CBP officers to concentrate their efforts on potentially higher-risk travelers and goods. This will allow all travelers a more efficient, streamlined entry system that is both quick and secure. Global Entry was launched on June 6, 2008. Currently, 20 airports participate in this program, and it has reduced passenger wait times by between 7 and 9 minutes. Despite this progress, enrollment in Global Entry has been much weaker than expected, especially in comparison to the perceived demand and experiences of other countries with similar programs. I have requested the following report language to increase Global Entry enrollment: "The Committee is disappointed that the Department of Homeland Security has not provided the requested report on expanding the Global Entry program. The Committee thinks this program is valuable and will streamline passenger screening at major airports, therefore, directs the department to allocate $5 million within existing funds for the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to increase enrollment in the Global Entry program beyond the airport environment and to negotiate Global Entry agreements with additional countries, not less than 90 days after enactment of this bill."
Legislation: FY11 Homeland Security Appropriations

Program name: House Democracy Assistance Commission
Requested amount: $2 million 
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: The House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) is a bipartisan commission authorized and established by the House of Representatives to work directly with partner legislatures in new and developing democracies to build and strengthen democratic institutions and legislative capacity. 
Legislation: FY11 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations

Program name: International Military Education and Training
Requested amount: $125 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: Research on the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program demonstrate that IMET encourages positive mil-to-mil relationships, promotes interoperability between the U.S. and other militaries, exposes foreign civilian and military officials to democratic values and improves human right protection.
Legislation: FY11 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations

Program name: United State Peace Corps
Requested amount: $465 million
Intended recipient's name and address: N/A Programmatic Request
Program description: Peace Corps is a vital component of our "smart power" toolbox. It is one of America's most effective and enduring foreign policy initiatives. Peace Corps volunteers foster development while helping to build good will and relationships with people around the world.  Operating in more than 70 countries and looking to open and expand programs in 15 to 20 more, Peace Corps is poised for excellence.In 2008, just fewer than 13,000 Americans applied to serve in the Peace Corps. The number of applicants rose to above 15,000 in 2009. More mid-career professionals and people with advanced degrees are applying. Nevertheless, Peace Corps will able to place just over 4,000 in 2010. Last year, 90 Members signed a letter asking for a $110 million increase. The Committee fully funded that request in the FY10 House bill.  This year, 124 Members have signed a letter asking for a $65 million funding increase. I am confident that the Committee can again make this request a reality.
Legislation: FY11 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations

Program name: Visa Interview Videoconferencing Pilot
Requested amount: $5 million
Intended recipient's name and address: U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520
Program description: In geographically large countries, such as Brazil and China, a lack of access to U.S. Consular Offices creates a major deterrent to travel to the United States for millions of international visitors. Using secure, remote videoconferencing technology to conduct visa interviews will enable U.S. Consulates to expand access to visa services to millions of potential visitors without reducing the level of security for visa interviews and without the cost of opening additional offices. Tourism is one of the few industries in America that produces a trade surplus; in 2008 that was nearly $30 billon. I have requested the following report language to provide a videoconferencing pilot program in Brazil and China to make the visa application process more efficient while increasing international travel to the United States and growing our trade surplus: "The Committee thinks this pilot is valuable and could streamline visa screening process in countries with great distances between consulates like Brazil and China. Therefore, the committee directs the department to allocate $5 million within existing funds for the Diplomatic and Consular Programs to conduct a 2-year pilot program for the processing of tourist visas using secure remote videoconferencing technology as a method for conducting visa interviews of applicants. The committee also directs the department to provide, not later than 1 year after initiating the pilot program and again not later than 3 months after the conclusion of the pilot, a report on the program's efficacy of using secure remote videoconferencing technology as a method for conducting visa interviews of applicants, including any effect on the interviewer's ability to determine an applicant's credibility and uncover fraud, and shall include recommendations on whether or not the pilot program should be continued, broadened, or modified."
Legislation: FY11 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations