Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2003
Commerce, Justice, and State Spending Bill
July 18, 2002

Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a $43.5 billion fiscal year 2003 funding measure for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State. The legislation includes $141 million for the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act, legislation authored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), and Sam Brownback (R-KS) to better secure our nation's borders and entry and exit system.

"I am pleased that the Appropriations Committee has provided much needed funding to assist Federal and state agencies in implementing critical homeland security measures, including those in the recently enacted Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act," Senator Feinstein said.

While the bill also includes new funding for the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Naturalization Service inspectors, it does not include funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) reimburse States and local governments for the costs associated with incarcerating illegal criminal aliens.

Funding authorization for SCAAP was established as part of the 1994 Crime Act. Last year, state and local counties received $565 million in federal funds for the program. This year, however, the Bush Administration sought to eliminate funds for the program. The Administration's proposed cuts come at a time when state and county governments face more than $13 billion in incarceration costs.

"I believe it would be a terrible mistake to eliminate funding for the SCAAP program," Senator Feinstein said. "The bottom line is that the control of illegal immigration is a Federal responsibility, but more and more of this burden is shifting to our State and local governments. When the Federal government fails to control the nation's borders, local taxpayers should not have to foot the bill. I will do all I can to ensure that the SCAAP program receives the funding that it deserves."

The following are a number of California and national priorities that were included in the legislation:

Department of Justice

  • $2 million - City-Wide Public Safety Radio System, Oceanside, California. These funds will aid Oceanside's 30-year old public safety radio system;
  • $2 million - Rural Agriculture Crime Prevention Program, Tulare County;
  • $500,000 - Family Violence Program Expansion, Los Angeles Police Department;
  • $1.25 million - Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE), San Francisco. SAGE is a human rights organization for survivors of prostitution, sexual exploitation, violence, abuse and trauma. The funds will be used for expansion of technical training;
  • $2 million - Tools for Tolerance Program, Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles. This program brings together teams of criminal justice professionals from the same jurisdiction to combat hate crimes collaboratively;

    •

Department of Commerce

  • $500,000 -- Central California Ozone Study. These funds will help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve its meteorological forecasting ability;
  • $2 million -- Morro Bay Dunes Program. These funds will be used to acquire property in Los Osos adjacent to Montana Oro State Park as part of the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program;
  • $2 million - Wetlands Restoration Program, Los Cerritos, California;

###