Congressman John Carter (R-TX31) and the House of Representatives passed the FY15 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill last night by a vote of 321-87. The CJS Appropriations bill provides more relief to the victims of the 2009 Fort Hood attack, promotes American innovation and competitiveness through science research, and provides the fiscal resources needed to uphold our laws by funding the Department of Justice. 

“I have fought tirelessly for the past five years to help the victims and families of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting,” said Congressman Carter, member of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee. “I have introduced legislation to help the victims and have pursued every possible avenue to ensure they receive the reimbursements and military awards they deserve along with rightfully labeling the shooting a terrorist attack.  I want to thank Congressman Wolf for fighting alongside the Texas Delegation and introducing language into the CJS Appropriations bill to help bring these heroes the recognition they deserve.”

The language introduced to help the victims of the 2009 Fort Hood attack requires the Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime to provide all appropriate assistance and to report back on the details of that assistance. 

This legislation ensures fiscal responsibility in the Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other related agencies by providing $51.2 billion in discretionary spending, a decrease of $398 million from the FY14 level. This bill:

• Provides $28.1 billion for the Department of Justice including the FBI, BATFE,  DEA, state and local law enforcement and federal prison systems
• Provides $25.3 billion for science agencies with a focused funding in NASA
• Provides $8.4 billion for Department of Commerce with a focus on funding on scientific and technical research and weather forecasting programs.
• Provides $1.2 billion for state and local law enforcement agencies

In response to the Obama Administration’s attempt to discriminate against southwest businesses owners, Congressman Carter submitted an amendment adopted by the CJS committee that prohibits funding for burdensome and redundant reporting requirements regarding the sale of multiple rifles to the same person in the four border states.

“This amendment levels the playing field and treats all gun dealers with equal rights instead of letting the Obama Administration target specific states to limit their second amendment rights,” said Congressman Carter. “The right to keep and bear arms is one of the most important rights granted in the Constitution because our Founding Fathers intended it to be the means by which Americans can guarantee all other rights. I am not going to allow the Obama Administration to discriminate against Texas and other border states.”

The House of Representative passed the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill on Thursday, May 29^th by a vote of 321-87. The Senate has yet to take any action on its version of the bill.