Members of Congress are asking their “cardinal” colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee for money to fund programs ranging from those authorized under the Violence Against Women Act to ones overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
One request came from Rep. Dan Donovan Jr., R-N.Y., who wants Congress to reimburse New York City’s and other local police departments for the cost of protecting President Trump and his family.
“The security burden on local police jurisdictions … between President Trump’s election and inauguration was unprecedented,” Donovan told the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee on Tuesday. “President Trump worked and resided at one of the busiest intersections in the world — an area through which thousands of vehicles and pedestrians pass every hour,” he continued, referring to Trump Tower.
The panel allocated $7 million for such purposes in the short-term measure funding the federal government approved in December. However, Donovan argues that is not enough. He claims it actually cost New York more than $25 million to protect Trump, his wife and children during that period and will cost it $4.5 million annually for the next four years.
Donovan made his plea during the House Appropriations Committee’s “members’ day,” which continues Wednesday at the subcommittees focused on homeland security and labor, education and health.
At the beginning of each new Congress, the panel’s 12 subcommittees — the chairmen of whom are known as “cardinals” because of the vast purse-string powers they wield and how their colleagues metaphorically have to kiss their rings to get money for pet projects — invite lawmakers to make pitches for their favorite programs. This year hearings began Feb. 15 and will continue through March 16.
Some requests are far more personal then others.
Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., recounted her history of abuse in making the case to continue allocating $568.5 million under VAWA and $2.95 billion from the Crime Victims Fund.
“I was sexually assaulted in my life long before there was a Violence Against Women Act — there were no calls you could make to anyone and before there was mandatory reporting,” told the Commerce, Justice, and State Subcommittee. “I was sexually assaulted as a child, sexually assaulted as a teenager, as a college student,” she said.
“This is very personal for me; it changes who you are,” Moore said. “I just don’t know any women who haven’t been beaten or raped or held hostage by their immigration status and that’s unfortunate.”
The list goes on in amounts large and small, for purposes specific and broad.
Rep. Brad Schneider is seeking an unspecified boost in funding for the Citizenship and Immigration Services to process applications from foreigners seeking asylum or refugee status. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., wants $550 million for a Coast Guard cutter. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., wants the $103 million the Justice Department doles out in grants to local agencies to combat opioid abuse to continue.
The appropriators listen, usually making non-committal responses such as: “Thank you for your input,” and: “Thank you very much for your comments.”
“The Appropriations Committee values the input and perspective of every member of Congress and the people they represent,” Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., said in opening the request floodgates. “It is my goal to involve all members in the appropriations process from the outset.”
The number of satisfied members could be greatly reduced this year as the hearings continue under the backdrop of Trump’s revelation that he intends to severely curtail non-defense spending in the 2018 budget.
