John Joseph Moakley: “This year's Treasury, Postal appropriations conference report provides $13.44 billion, which is slightly more than last…”

“This year's Treasury, Postal appropriations conference report provides $13.44 billion, which is slightly more than last year's bill. This conference report will provide substantial funding for Federal law enforcement, the Customs Service, the United States Mint, the Secret Service, the General Services Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. It is money that is much needed and will, to a large extent, be put to very good use. It also fully funds the Office of the National Drug Control Czar, which is so critical to curbing the tide of illegal drugs that is still endangering our country's economy and our constituents' safety. Today's conference report also fixes the problem with pay for Federal fire fighters. And without this language, Mr. Speaker, Federal fire fighters would continue to be paid much less than their municipal and civil service counterparts. After watching Federal, local and State fire fighters battling the huge fires of Florida and elsewhere, to the point of exhaustion, I can say without hesitation, Mr. Speaker, these people do deserve a raise.”