Tom Latham: “Woman, I rise to oppose the gentleman's amendment. This is a minor 1.3 percent increase over the prior year with all of…”

“Woman, I rise to oppose the gentleman's amendment. This is a minor 1.3 percent increase over the prior year with all of the increase going to uncontrollable costs, such as additional compensable workday, rent and IT maintenance costs. Further, we've already rejected $66 million of funds for new activities requested in the President's budget. This is also one mode where we shouldn't cut funds. The FTA staffing has increased only 19.7 percent over the last 20 years, yet FTA funding has increased by 129 percent, and the number of grants that FTA administers and oversees has increased 118 percent. I'm not sure cutting S&E funding is the right thing to do in an agency that oversees this much of the Federal funds. We're talking about 0.0005 percent, the full-time equivalent for every thousand dollars that the grants are doled out. I thank the gentleman for his interest in reducing spending. I would say we've already cut $66 million, and I will oppose any effort to reduce FDA's oversightability. Again, I would ask for a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.”