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Bipartisan Business As Usual: U.S. Congressional Spending

In the midst of pre-scripted election narratives, bipartisan budgets are largely ignored, to the great disadvantage of the American public.  Below are some examples of how taxpayers are routinely robbed by out-of-control Congressional spending and how policies are coordinated, without any meaningful public oversight, by both Democrats and Republicans. The People deserve so much better than this!


 

RE: U.S. Budget & Policy Coordination –NOAA,Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Vaccines, 5G, Telecommunications, FCC, Fossil energy, pipelines, carbon capture, face masks, and more…

 


July 30, 2020 | U.S. Congressional Record – House  | Source |  Full Document_|

P.1_Congressional Record House July 30, 2020

 


 

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION SALARIES AND EXPENSES

“For necessary expenses, as provided for by law, of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), $45,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022: Provided, That, notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 1535(d), the Secretary of Commerce shall charge Federal agencies for costs incurred in spectrum management, analysis, operations, and related services, and such fees shall be retained and used as offsetting collections for costs of such spectrum services, to remain available until ex- pended: Provided further, That the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to retain and use as off- setting collections all funds transferred, or previously transferred, from other Government agencies for all costs incurred in telecommunications research, engineering, and related activities by the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences of NTIA, in furtherance of its assigned functions under this paragraph, and such funds received from other Government agencies shall remain available until expended.

PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION

For the administration of prior-year grants, recoveries and unobligated balances of funds previously appropriated are available for the administration of all open grants until their expiration…”

 


 

 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES

 

“SEC. 107. The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is authorized to use, with their consent, with reimbursement and subject to the limits of available appropriations, the land, services, equipment, personnel, and facilities of any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, or of any State, local government, Indian tribal government, Territory, or possession, or of any political subdivision thereof, or of any foreign government or international organization, for purposes related to carrying out the responsibilities of any statute administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”

 


 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE

ADMINISTRATION SCIENCE

“For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of science research and development activities, including research, development, operations, support, and services; maintenance and repair, facility plan- ning and design; space flight, spacecraft control, and communications activities; program management; personnel and related costs, including uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5, United States Code; travel expenses; purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; and pur- chase, lease, charter, maintenance, and operation of mission and administrative aircraft, $7,097,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022: Provided, That, $2,021,800,000 shall be for Earth Science; $2,713,400,000 shall be for Planetary Science; $1,306,200,000 shall be for Astrophysics; $423,000,000 shall be for the James Webb Space Telescope; and $633,100,000 shall be for Heliophysics: Provided further, That of the amounts provided, $403,500,000 is for an orbiter to meet the science goals for the Jupiter Europa mission as recommended in previous Planetary Science Decadal surveys…”

 


 

 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

For necessary expenses in carrying out the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), and Public Law 86–209 (42 U.S.C. 1880 et seq.); services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; maintenance and operation of aircraft and purchase of flight services for research support; acquisition of aircraft; and authorized travel; $6,967,123,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022, of which not to exceed $544,000,000 shall remain available until ex- pended for polar research and operations sup- port, and for reimbursement to other Federal agencies for operational and science support and logistical and other related activities for the United States Antarctic program: Provided, That receipts for scientific support services and materials furnished by the National Research Centers and other National Science Foundation supported research facilities may be credited to this appropriation.

MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION

For necessary expenses for the acquisition, construction, commissioning, and upgrading of major research equipment, facilities, and other such capital assets pursuant to the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), including authorized travel, $243,230,000, to remain available until expended.

 


 

FOSSIL ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

“For an additional amount for ‘‘Fossil Energy Research and Development’’, $1,250,000,000, to remain available until expended, of which—
(1) $750,000,000 shall be for a carbon capture and utilization technology commercialization program to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, cost, and environmental performance of fossil fuel-fired facilities, including the industrial sector, through front end engineering design, commercial demonstration of advanced carbon capture technology projects, commercial demonstration of direct air capture technology projects, and commercialization projects of large-scale carbon dioxide storage sites in saline geological formations, including activities exploring, categorizing, and developing storage sites and necessary pipeline infrastructure;

(2) not less than $239,500,000 shall be for demonstrations of negative emissions technologies; (3) $23,000,000 shall be for Joule 2 and Joule 3; (4) $25,000,000 shall be for the Computational

Science and Engineering Center;
(5) $25,000,000 shall be for the Extreme Condition Reactive Fluids Lab;
(6) $25,000,000 shall be for the Materials and

Minerals Characterization Center;
(7) $25,000,000 shall be for the Combustion Development Facility;
(8) $25,000,000 shall be for the Direct Air Capture Center;
(9) $20,000,000 shall be for the Center for Data

Analytics and Machine Learning;
(10) $15,000,000 shall be for the Advanced

Alloy Development Facility;
(11) $15,000,000 shall be for the Carbon Utilization Center;
(12) $15,000,000 shall be for the Scale-up PhenomenaLaboratory;
(13) $10,000,000 shall be for Materials Engineering Manufacturing laboratory upgrades; (14) $9,500,000 shall be for NETL campus infrastructure utilities;
(15) $8,000,000 shall be for the Geological Environmental Science Center;
(16) $6,000,000 shall be for Cross Cutting Research and Innovation Center laboratory ren- ovations; and

(17) $4,000,000 shall be for demolition of excess and aging infrastructure:
Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency require- ment pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Con- trol Act of 1985.

NON-DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP
For an additional amount for ‘‘Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup’’, $200,000,000, to re-

main available until expended, of which—
(1) $50,500,000 shall be for the Moab Uranium

Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project;
(2) $48,000,000 shall be for the Energy Technology Engineering Center;
(3) $45,500,000 shall be for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; and
(4) $56,000,000 shall be for the West ValleyDemonstration Project:
Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.”

 

 


 

FCC

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

“SEC. 510. Section 302 of the Universal Service Antideficiency Temporary Suspension Act is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2020’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2021’’.

SEC. 511. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used by the Federal Communications Commission to modify, amend, or change its rules or regulations for universal service support payments to implement the February 27, 2004, recommendations of the Federal- State Joint Board on Universal Service regarding single connection or primary line restrictions on universal service support payments.

SEC. 512. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed rule entitled ‘‘Universal Service Contribution Methodology’’ published by the Federal Communications Commission in the Federal Register on June 13, 2019 (84 Fed. Reg. 27570).

SEC. 513. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Federal Communications Commission to establish or implement a 5G Fund for Rural America, or any similar Federal universal service support mechanism, as proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the matter of Establishing a 5G Fund for Rural America that was adopted by the Commission on April 23, 2020 (FCC 20–52), until the Commission completes the creation of the map that depicts the availability of mobile broadband internet access service required by section 802(c)(1)(C) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 642(c)(1)(C)).”

 


 

 

TITLE IX INFRASTRUCTURE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION SALARIES AND EXPENSES

“For an additional amount for ‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’, $40,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, for implementing title VIII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 641 et seq.), as added by the Broadband DATA Act (Public Law 116–130): Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to sec- tion 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

SECURE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

For the ‘‘Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program’’, as authorized by section 4 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Public Law 116–124; 47 U.S.C. 1603), $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS
For payments by the Federal Communications Commission to providers of broadband internet access service to expand availability of such service to unserved areas, underserved areas, and unserved anchor institutions, $60,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and

Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.”

 

 


 

 

VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION PROGRAM TRUST FUND

“For payments from the Vaccine Injury Com- pensation Program Trust Fund (the ‘‘Trust Fund’’), such sums as may be necessary for claims associated with vaccine-related injury or death with respect to vaccines administered after September 30, 1988, pursuant to subtitle 2 of title XXI of the PHS Act, to remain available until expended: Provided, That for necessary administrative expenses, not to exceed $10,200,000 shall be available from the Trust Fund to the Secretary.”

 


 

TITLE VI

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION CDC-WIDE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAM SUPPORT

“For an additional amount for ‘‘CDC-Wide Activities and Program Support’’, $9,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, for public health and emergency preparedness and response, domestically or internationally: Provided, That of the amount made available under this heading, $2,000,000,000 shall be for public health emergency preparedness cooperative agreements under section 319C–1 of the PHS Act: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $1,000,000,000 shall be for epidemiology and laboratory capac- ity cooperative agreements under section 2821 of the PHS: Provided further, That funds made available in the preceding proviso may be used for construction, alteration, or renovation of non-federally owned facilities, or the purchase of equipment: Provided further, That all construction, alteration, or renovation work, carried out in whole or in part with funds appropriated under this heading in this Act, shall be subject to the requirements of section 1621(b)(1)(I) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 300s- 1(b)(1)(I)): Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading for specified programs, not less than $150,000,000 shall be al- located to Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to Tribes: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $1,000,000,000 shall be for global disease detection and emergency response: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $4,000,000,000 shall be for a vaccination campaign, including preparedness, operations, and distribution, and a comprehensive campaign to achieve coverage goals, and for an enhanced influenza vaccination campaign, including purchase of vaccine as necessary to increase coverage: Provided further, That the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall provide a briefing to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate at least one week prior to obligating funds made available in the preceding proviso on the CDC’s plans for vaccination campaigns in fiscal year 2021: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $400,000,000 shall be for public health data surveillance and analytics infrastructure modernization: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $200,000,000 shall be for activities to support public health workforce development, including the Epidemic Intelligence Service fellowship program: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $400,000,000 shall be transferred to and merged with amounts in the Infectious Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund, established by section 231 of Division B of Public Law 115–245: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.”

 

 


 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND

“For an additional amount for ‘‘Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund’’, $4,500,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, for the development of necessary countermeasures and vaccines, prioritizing plat- form-based technologies with U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities, the purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and necessary medical supplies, as well as initial advance manufacturing and novel dispensing: Provided, That funds made available under this heading may be used to develop and demonstrate innovations and enhancements to manufacturing platforms to support such capabilities: Provided further, That products purchased with funds appropriated under this heading may, at the discretion of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, be deposited in the Strategic National Stockpile under section 319F–2 of the PHS Act: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be transferred to, and merged with, the fund authorized by section 319F–4, the Covered Countermeasure Process Fund, of the PHS Act: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $3,500,000,000 shall be available to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for necessary expenses of advanced research, development, manufacturing, production, and purchase of vaccines and therapeutics: Provided further, That the Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority shall provide a briefing to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate at least one week prior to obligating funds made available in the preceding proviso on the Department’s plans to produce a sufficient supply of vaccine for the U.S. population: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $500,000,000 shall be available to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for the construction, renovation, or equipping of U.S.-based next generation manufacturing facilities, other than facilities owned by the United States Government: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $500,000,000 shall be available to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to promote innovation in anti- bacterial research and development: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be used for grants for the rent, lease, purchase, acquisition, construction, alteration, or renovation of non-federally owned facilities to improve preparedness and response capability at the State and local levels: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be used for the construction, alteration, renovation or equipping of non-federally owned facilities for the production of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and medicines and other items purchased under section 319F–2(a) of the PHS Act where the Secretary determines that such use is necessary to assure sufficient domestic production of such supplies: Provided further, That all construction, alteration, or renovation work, carried out in whole or in part with funds made available under this heading, shall be subject to the requirements of section 1621(b)(1)(I) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 300s- 1(b)(1)(I)): Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY FUND
For an additional amount for ‘‘Public Health Emergency Fund’’, $5,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be deposited into the Public Health Emergency Fund, as estab- lished under section 319(b) of the Public Health Service Act: Provided, That products purchased with funds appropriated under this heading may, at the discretion of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, be deposited in the Stra- tegic National Stockpile under section 319F-2 of the Public Health Service Act: Provided further, That the Secretary of Health and Human Serv- ices (or the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response on behalf of the Secretary) shall provide a briefing to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate at least one week prior to obligating funds made available under this heading on the Department’s plans for obligating emergency funds: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.”

 

 


 

 

Federal Aviation Research

RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, AND DEVELOPMENT

“For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for research, engineering, and development, as authorized under part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, including construction of experimental facilities and acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant, $192,665,000, to be derived from the general fund and to remain available until September 30, 2023: Provided, That there may be credited to this appropriation as offsetting collections, funds received from States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources, which shall be available for expenses incurred for research, engineering, and development…”

 

 


 

 

Unmanned Aircraft System 

“(b) During the current fiscal year, applicable appropriations to the Department and its operating administrations shall be available for the purchase, maintenance, operation, and deployment of unmanned aircraft systems that advance the missions of the Department of Transportation or an operating administration of the Department of Transportation.

(c) Any unmanned aircraft system purchased, procured, or contracted for by the Department prior to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed authorized by Congress as if this pro- vision was in effect when the system was purchased, procured, or contracted for.

SEC. 181. Appropriations contained in this Act for the Department of Transportation shall be available for services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for an Executive Level IV.

SEC. 182. (a) No recipient of amounts made available by this Act shall disseminate personal information (as defined in section 2725(3) of title 18, United States Code) obtained by a State de- partment of motor vehicles in connection with a motor vehicle record as defined in section 2725(1) of title 18, United States Code, except as pro- vided in section 2721 of title 18, United States Code, for a use permitted under section 2721 of title 18, United States Code.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Sec- retary shall not withhold amounts made avail- able by this Act for any grantee if a State is in noncompliance with this provision.”

 

 


 

 

Face Masks

“SEC. 420. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used in contravention of section 2635.702 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 421. (a) For the duration of the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) related to the pandemic of SARS–CoV–2 or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19), an air carrier operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall—

(1) require each passenger and cabin crewmember to wear a mask or protective face covering while on board an aircraft of the air carrier;

(2) require each flight crewmember to wear a mask or protective face covering while on board an aircraft but outside the flight deck;

(3) submit to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration a proposal to permit flight crew members of the air carrier to wear a mask or protective face covering while at their stations in the flight deck, including a safety risk assessment with respect to such proposal;

(4) provide flight and cabin crewmembers, airport customer service agents, and other employees whose job responsibilities involve interaction with passengers with masks or protective face coverings, gloves, and hand sanitizer and wipes with sufficient alcohol content;

(5) ensure aircraft, including the cockpit and cabin, operated by such carrier are cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized after each use in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance;

(6) ensure enclosed facilities owned, operated, or used by such air carrier, including facilities used for flight or cabin crewmember training or performance of indoor maintenance, repair, or overhaul work, are cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized frequently in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance;

(7) provide air carrier employees whose job responsibilities involve cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing aircraft or enclosed facilities described in paragraphs (5) and (6) with masks or protective face coverings and gloves, and ensure that each contractor of the air carrier provides employees of such contractor with such materials; and

(8) establish guidelines, or adhere to applicable guidelines, for notifying employees of a confirmed COVID–19 diagnosis of an employee of such air carrier and for identifying other air carrier employees whom such employee contacted in the 48-hour period before the employee developed symptoms.

(b)(1) IN GENERAL.—For the duration of the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) related to the pandemic of SARS– CoV–2 or coronavirus disease (COVID–19), Amtrak shall—

(A) require each passenger and employee of Amtrak, including engineers, conductors, and onboard service workers, to wear a mask or other protective face covering while onboard an Amtrak train;

(B) take such actions as are reasonable to ensure passenger compliance with the requirement under subparagraph (A);

(C) provide masks or protective face coverings, gloves, and hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes with sufficient alcohol content to—

(i) conductors, engineers, and onboard service workers..”

 

 


 

 

U.S.-Israel Vaccines

“Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. PAPPAS).

Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, American doctors, scientists, and researchers aren’t alone in racing to unlock treatments, vaccines, and other lifesaving developments in the fight against COVID–19.

Their counterparts in Israel are making groundbreaking advancements as well.

Just days ago, an Israeli study indicated that low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of contracting COVID. Israeli scientists are developing six different vaccine candidates and more than a dozen different treatment options for the deadly lung inflammation caused by COVID–19.

That is why I am asking my col- leagues to support this bipartisan amendment which will fund a new part- nership between the U.S. and Israel to bring leading researchers together to defeat this devastating disease.

By passing this amendment, we can deepen our expertise in the develop- ment of drugs, vaccines, AI solutions, respiratory assist devices, diagnostic tests, telemedicine, and more to help save American lives.

America can’t go it alone in this fight. We are stronger when we join forces with countries that share our values to confront our shared chal- lenges.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this provision.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I support the en bloc amendment, and I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”

 


 

 

Senate passed S. 2381, S. 2638. and S. 4346.

 

 

Link To Source _Full Document_

 

 


 

 

House Report: 116-442 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021

Link

 

 


 

 

Kamala Harris Standing with Trump, Bipartisan Congress for the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalizing ties with the State of Israel ; Jewish Voices For Peace: “We’re Not Buying It: Stop All Israeli Land Grabs, Stop All Israeli Rights Violations ; “UAE and Israel deal is neither a peace treaty nor will it end the Palestine conflict”

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Over the Years: How Pelosi, Soros, & Co. Maintain Systemic Corruption In D.C.

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