PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1129 

Public Law 115–56 

115th Congress 

An Act 

Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, 

and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Continuing Appropriations Act, 

2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017’’. 

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

Sec. 3. References. 

DIVISION A—REINFORCING EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY IN 

DEVELOPMENT ACT 

DIVISION B—SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF 

REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2017 

DIVISION C—TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PUBLIC DEBT RELIEF 

DIVISION D—CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018 

SEC. 3. REFERENCES. 

Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘‘this 

Act’’ contained in any division of this Act shall be treated as 

referring only to the provisions of that division. 

DIVISION A—REINFORCING EDUCATION 

ACCOUNTABILITY IN DEVELOPMENT 

ACT 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reinforcing 

Education Accountability in Development Act’’ or the ‘‘READ Act’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

Sec. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education. 

Sec. 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education. 

Reinforcing 

Education 

Accountability in 

Development Act. 

22 USC 2151c 

note. 

1 USC 1 note. 

Continuing 

Appropriations 

Act, 2018 and 

Supplemental 

Appropriations 

for Disaster 

Relief 

Requirements 

Act, 2017. 

Sept. 8, 2017 

[H.R. 601] 

131 STAT. 1130 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight. 

Sec. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs. 

Sec. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

(a) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In this Act, 

the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 

(1) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 

(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 

(3) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and 

(4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. 

(b) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—In this Act, the terms ‘‘basic education’’, ‘‘marginalized children and vulnerable groups’’, ‘‘national 

education plan’’, ‘‘partner country’’, and ‘‘relevant Executive branch 

agencies and officials’’ have the meanings given such terms in 

section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added 

by section 3. 

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE, QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION. 

Section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 

2151c) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(c) ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE, QUALITY BASIC

EDUCATION.— 

‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

‘‘(A) BASIC EDUCATION.—The term ‘basic education’ 

includes— 

‘‘(i) measurable improvements in literacy, 

numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member 

of society and the workforce; 

‘‘(ii) workforce development, vocational training, 

and digital literacy informed by real market needs 

and opportunities and that results in measurable 

improvements in employment; 

‘‘(iii) programs and activities designed to demonstrably improve— 

‘‘(I) early childhood, preprimary education, primary education, and secondary education, which 

can be delivered in formal or nonformal education 

settings; and 

‘‘(II) learning for out-of-school youth and 

adults; and 

‘‘(iv) capacity building for teachers, administrators, 

counselors, and youth workers that results in measurable improvements in student literacy, numeracy, or 

employment. 

‘‘(B) COMMUNITIES OF LEARNING.—The term ‘communities of learning’ means a holistic approach to education 

and community engagement in which schools act as the 

primary resource center for delivery of a service to the 

community at large, leveraging and maximizing the impact 

of other development efforts and reducing duplication and 

waste. 

22 USC 2151c 

note. 

22 USC 2151c 

note. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1131 

‘‘(C) GENDER PARITY IN BASIC EDUCATION.—The term 

‘gender parity in basic education’ means that girls and 

boys have equal access to quality basic education. 

‘‘(D) MARGINALIZED CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE

GROUPS.—The term ‘marginalized children and vulnerable 

groups’ includes girls, children affected by or emerging 

from armed conflict or humanitarian crises, children with 

disabilities, children in remote or rural areas (including 

those who lack access to safe water and sanitation), religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, orphans and 

children affected by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, married 

adolescents, and victims of trafficking. 

‘‘(E) NATIONAL EDUCATION PLAN.—The term ‘national 

education plan’ means a comprehensive national education 

plan developed by partner country governments in consultation with other stakeholders as a means for widescale improvement of the country’s education system, 

including explicit, credible strategies informed by effective 

practices and standards to achieve quality universal basic 

education. 

‘‘(F) NONFORMAL EDUCATION.—The term ‘nonformal 

education’ means organized educational activities outside 

the established formal system, whether operating separately or as an important feature of a broader activity, 

that are intended to provide students with measurable 

improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills 

development that prepare an individual to be an active, 

productive member of society and the workforce. 

‘‘(G) PARTNER COUNTRY.—The term ‘partner country’ 

means a developing country that participates in or benefits 

from basic education programs under this subsection pursuant to the prioritization criteria described in paragraph 

(4), including level of need, opportunity for impact, and 

the availability of resources. 

‘‘(H) RELEVANT EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES AND OFFI- CIALS.—The term ‘relevant Executive branch agencies and 

officials’ means the Department of State, the United States 

Agency for International Development, the Department of 

the Treasury, the Department of Labor, the Department 

of Education, the Department of Agriculture, and the 

Department of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the 

Millennium Challenge Corporation, the National Security 

Advisor, and the Director of the Peace Corps. 

‘‘(I) SUSTAINABILITY.—The term ‘sustainability’ means, 

with respect to any basic education program that receives 

funding pursuant to this section, the ability of a service 

delivery system, community, partner, or beneficiary to 

maintain, over time, such basic education program without 

the use of foreign assistance. 

‘‘(2) POLICY.—In carrying out this section, it shall be the 

policy of the United States to work with partner countries, 

as appropriate, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations 

that represent teachers, students, and parents, to promote 

sustainable, quality basic education through programs and 

activities that— 

131 STAT. 1132 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

‘‘(A) take into consideration and help respond to the 

needs, capacities, and commitment of developing countries 

to achieve measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, 

and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and 

the workforce; 

‘‘(B) strengthen educational systems, promote communities of learning, as appropriate, expand access to safe 

learning environments, including by breaking down specific 

barriers to basic education for women and girls, ensure 

continuity of education, including in conflict settings, measurably improve teacher skills and learning outcomes, and 

support the engagement of parents in the education of 

their children to help partner countries ensure that all 

children, including marginalized children and other vulnerable groups, have access to and benefit from quality basic 

education; 

‘‘(C) promote education as a foundation for sustained 

economic growth and development within a comprehensive 

assistance strategy that places partner countries on a 

trajectory toward graduation from assistance provided 

under this section with clearly defined benchmarks of success that are used as requirements for related procurement 

vehicles, such as grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements; 

‘‘(D) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality 

of basic education programs in partner countries; and 

‘‘(E) promote United States values, especially respect 

for all persons and freedoms of religion, speech, and the 

press. 

‘‘(3) PRINCIPLES.—In carrying out the policy referred to 

in paragraph (2), the United States shall be guided by the 

following principles of aid effectiveness: 

‘‘(A) ALIGNMENT.—Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection shall be aligned with and advance United States 

foreign policy and economic interests. 

‘‘(B) COUNTRY OWNERSHIP.—To the greatest extent 

practicable, assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should 

be aligned with and support the national education plans 

and country development strategies of partner countries, 

including activities that are appropriate for and meet the 

needs of local and indigenous cultures. 

‘‘(C) COORDINATION.— 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Assistance provided under this 

section to support programs and activities under this 

subsection should be coordinated with and leverage 

the unique capabilities and resources of local and 

national governments in partner countries, other 

donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, 

and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, 

including faith-based organizations and organizations 

that represent teachers, students, and parents. 

‘‘(ii) MULTILATERAL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.— Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1133 

coordinated with and support proven multilateral education programs and financing mechanisms, which may 

include the Global Partnership for Education, that 

demonstrate commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, 

transparency, and accountability. 

‘‘(D) EFFICIENCY.—The President shall seek to improve 

the efficiency and effectiveness of assistance provided under 

this section to support programs and activities under this 

subsection by coordinating the related efforts of relevant 

Executive branch agencies and officials. 

‘‘(E) EFFECTIVENESS.—Programs and activities supported under this subsection— 

‘‘(i) shall be consistent with the policies and principles set forth in this subsection; 

‘‘(ii) shall be designed to achieve specific, measurable goals and objectives that are directly related to 

the provision of basic education (as defined in this 

section); and 

‘‘(iii) shall include appropriate targets, metrics, and 

indicators that— 

‘‘(I) move a country along the path to graduation from assistance provided under this subsection; and 

‘‘(II) can be applied with reasonable consistency across such programs and activities to 

measure progress and outcomes. 

‘‘(F) TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.—Programs 

and activities supported under this subsection shall be 

subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation, which may 

include impact evaluations, the results of which shall be 

made publically available in a fully searchable, electronic 

format. 

‘‘(4) PRIORITY AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—The President 

shall ensure that assistance provided under this section to 

support programs and activities under this subsection is aligned 

with the foreign policy and economic interests of the United 

States and, subject to such alignment, priority is given to 

developing countries in which— 

‘‘(A) there is the greatest need and opportunity to 

expand access to basic education and to improve learning 

outcomes, including for marginalized and vulnerable 

groups, particularly women and girls to ensure gender 

parity in basic education, or populations affected by conflict 

or crisis; 

‘‘(B) such assistance can produce a substantial, measurable impact on children and educational systems; and 

‘‘(C) there is the greatest opportunity to reduce childhood and adolescence exposure to or engagement in violent 

extremism or extremist ideologies.’’. 

SEC. 4. COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED UNITED STATES STRATEGY TO 

PROMOTE BASIC EDUCATION. 

(a) STRATEGY REQUIRED.—Not later than one year after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 

the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United 

States strategy to be carried out during the following five fiscal 

years to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— 

President. 

22 USC 2151c 

note. 

Deadline. 

President. 

President. 

131 STAT. 1134 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

(1) seeking to equitably expand access to basic education 

for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and 

(2) measurably improving the quality of basic education 

and learning outcomes. 

(b) REQUIREMENT TO CONSULT.—In developing the strategy 

required under subsection (a), the President shall consult with— 

(1) the appropriate congressional committees; 

(2) relevant Executive branch agencies and officials; 

(3) partner country governments; and 

(4) local and international nongovernmental organizations, 

including faith-based organizations and organizations representing students, teachers, and parents, and other development partners engaged in basic education assistance programs 

in developing countries. 

(c) PUBLIC COMMENT.—The President shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy required under subsection 

(a). 

(d) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required under subsection (a)— 

(1) shall be developed and implemented consistent with 

the principles set forth in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3; and 

(2) shall seek— 

(A) to prioritize assistance provided under this subsection to countries that are partners of the United States 

and whose populations are most in need of improved basic 

education, as determined by indicators such as literacy 

and numeracy rates; 

(B) to build the capacity of relevant actors in partner 

countries, including in government and in civil society, 

to develop and implement national education plans that 

measurably improve basic education; 

(C) to identify and replicate successful interventions 

that improve access to and quality of basic education in 

conflict settings and in partner countries; 

(D) to project general levels of resources needed to 

achieve stated program objectives; 

(E) to develop means to track implementation in 

partner countries and ensure that such countries are 

expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting 

any relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms 

needed to achieve stated program objectives; 

(F) to leverage United States capabilities, including 

through technical assistance, training, and research; and 

(G) to improve coordination and reduce duplication 

among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, 

other donors, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental 

organizations, and governments in partner countries. 

SEC. 5. IMPROVING COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT. 

(a) SENIOR COORDINATOR OF UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL

BASIC EDUCATION ASSISTANCE.—There is established within the 

United States Agency for International Development a Senior 

Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Senior Coordinator’’). The 

Senior Coordinator shall be appointed by the President, shall be 

a current USAID employee serving in a career or noncareer position 

President. 

22 USC 2151c 

note. 

Establishment. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1135 

in the Senior Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant 

Administrator or higher, and shall serve concurrently as the Senior 

Coordinator. 

(b) DUTIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Senior Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all 

resources and activities of the United States Government 

relating to the promotion of international basic education programs and activities. 

(2) SPECIFIC DUTIES.—The Senior Coordinator shall— 

(A) facilitate program and policy coordination of international basic education programs and activities among 

relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, partner 

governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, 

and nongovernmental and civil society organizations; 

(B) develop and revise the strategy required under 

section 4; 

(C) monitor, evaluate, and report on activities undertaken pursuant to the strategy required under section 4; 

and 

(D) establish due diligence criteria for all recipients 

of funds provided by the United States to carry out activities under this Act and the amendments made by this 

Act. 

(c) OFFSET.—In order to eliminate duplication of effort and 

activities and to offset any costs incurred by the United States 

Agency for International Development in appointing the Senior 

Coordinator under subsection (a), the President shall, after consulting with appropriate congressional committees, eliminate a position within the United States Agency for International Development 

(unless otherwise authorized or required by law) that the President 

determines to be necessary to fully offset such costs and eliminate 

duplication. 

SEC. 6. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS. 

The President shall seek to ensure that programs carried out 

under the strategy required under section 4 shall— 

(1) apply rigorous monitoring and evaluation methodologies 

to determine if programs and activities provided under this 

subsection accomplish measurable improvements in literacy, 

numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an 

individual to be an active, productive member of society and 

the workforce; 

(2) include methodological guidance in the implementation 

plan and support systemic data collection using internationally 

comparable indicators, norms, and methodologies, to the extent 

practicable and appropriate; 

(3) disaggregate all data collected and reported by age, 

gender, marital status, disability, and location, to the extent 

practicable and appropriate; 

(4) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation to enable assessment of the sustainability 

and scalability of assistance programs; and 

(5) support the increased use and public availability of 

education data for improved decision making, program effectiveness, and monitoring of global progress. 

President. 

22 USC 2151c 

note. 

President. 

Consultation. 

Determination. 

131 STAT. 1136 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

SEC. 7. TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING TO CONGRESS. 

(a) ANNUAL REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGY.— 

Not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year during 

which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) is carried 

out, the President shall— 

(1) submit a report to the appropriate congressional 

committees that describes the implementation of such strategy; 

and 

(2) make the report described in paragraph (1) available 

to the public. 

(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report required under 

subsection (a) shall include— 

(1) a description of the efforts made by relevant Executive 

branch agencies and officials to implement the strategy developed pursuant to section 4, with a particular focus on the 

activities carried out under the strategy; 

(2) a description of the extent to which each partner country 

selected to receive assistance for basic education meets the 

priority criteria specified in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as added by section 3; and 

(3) a description of the progress achieved over the reporting 

period toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, and 

timeframes specified in the strategy developed pursuant to 

section 4 at the program level, as developed pursuant to monitoring and evaluation specified in section 6, with particular 

emphasis on whether there are demonstrable student improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development 

that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member 

of society and the workforce. 

DIVISION B—SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 

DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS 

The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money 

in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable 

corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several 

departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units 

of Government for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes, namely: 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

DISASTER RELIEF FUND

For an additional amount for ‘‘Disaster Relief Fund’’ for major 

disasters declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), 

$7,400,000,000, to remain available until expended: 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: Provided 

further, That the amount designated under this heading as an 

emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 

Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall 

be available only if the President subsequently so designates such 

amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. 

President. 

Supplemental 

Appropriations 

for Disaster 

Relief 

Requirements, 

2017. 

Public 

information. 

22 USC 2151c 

note. 

President. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1137 

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 

DISASTER LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For an additional amount for the ‘‘Disaster Loans Program 

Account’’ for the cost of direct loans authorized by section 7(b) 

of the Small Business Act, $450,000,000, to remain available until 

expended: Provided, That up to $225,000,000 may be transferred 

to and merged with ‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’ for administrative 

expenses to carry out the disaster loan program authorized by 

section 7(b) of the Small Business Act: Provided further, That 

none of the funds provided under this heading may be used for 

indirect administrative expenses: Provided further, That the amount 

provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget 

and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further, That 

the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget 

and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only 

if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. 

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

For an additional amount for ‘‘Community Development Fund’’, 

$7,400,000,000, to remain available until expended, for necessary 

expenses for activities authorized under title I of the Housing 

and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) 

related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most 

impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster 

declared in 2017 pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.): Provided, 

That funds shall be awarded directly to the State or unit of general 

local government at the discretion of the Secretary: Provided further, That as a condition of making any grant, the Secretary shall 

certify in advance that such grantee has in place proficient financial 

controls and procurement processes and has established adequate 

procedures to prevent any duplication of benefits as defined by 

section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155), to ensure timely expenditure of 

funds, to maintain comprehensive websites regarding all disaster 

recovery activities assisted with these funds, and to detect and 

prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds: Provided further, That 

prior to the obligation of funds a grantee shall submit a plan 

to the Secretary for approval detailing the proposed use of all 

funds, including criteria for eligibility and how the use of these 

funds will address long-term recovery and restoration of infrastructure and housing and economic revitalization in the most impacted 

and distressed areas: Provided further, That such funds may not 

Plan. 

Criteria. 

Grants. 

Certification. 

President. 

131 STAT. 1138 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

be used for activities reimbursable by, or for which funds are 

made available by, the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

or the Army Corps of Engineers: Provided further, That funds 

allocated under this heading shall not be considered relevant to 

the non-disaster formula allocations made pursuant to section 106 

of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 

5306): Provided further, That a State or subdivision thereof may 

use up to 5 percent of its allocation for administrative costs: Provided further, That in administering the funds under this heading, 

the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may waive, or 

specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute 

or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with 

the obligation by the Secretary or the use by the recipient of 

these funds (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment), if the Secretary finds that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative 

requirement and such waiver or alternative requirement would 

not be inconsistent with the overall purpose of title I of the Housing 

and Community Development Act of 1974: Provided further, That, 

notwithstanding the preceding proviso, recipients of funds provided 

under this heading that use such funds to supplement Federal 

assistance provided under section 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, or 502 

of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 

Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) may adopt, without review or public 

comment, any environmental review, approval, or permit performed 

by a Federal agency, and such adoption shall satisfy the responsibilities of the recipient with respect to such environmental review, 

approval or permit: Provided further, That, notwithstanding section 

104(g)(2) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 

(42 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2)), the Secretary may, upon receipt of a request 

for release of funds and certification, immediately approve the 

release of funds for an activity or project assisted under this heading 

if the recipient has adopted an environmental review, approval 

or permit under the preceding proviso or the activity or project 

is categorically excluded from review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.): Provided further, 

That the Secretary shall publish via notice in the Federal Register 

any waiver, or alternative requirement, to any statute or regulation 

that the Secretary administers pursuant to title I of the Housing 

and Community Development Act of 1974 no later than 5 days 

before the effective date of such waiver or alternative requirement: 

Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this 

heading, up to $10,000,000 may be transferred, in aggregate, to 

‘‘Department of Housing and Urban Development—Program Office 

Salaries and Expenses—Community Planning and Development’’ 

for necessary costs, including information technology costs, of 

administering and overseeing the obligation and expenditure of 

amounts under this heading: 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: Provided further, That 

the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget 

and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only 

if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. 

President. 

Notice. 

Federal Register, 

publication. 

Deadline. 

Waiver authority. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1139 

This division may be cited as the ‘‘Supplemental Appropriations 

for Disaster Relief Requirements, 2017’’. 

DIVISION C—TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PUBLIC DEBT 

LIMIT 

SEC. 101. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3101(b) of title 31, United 

States Code, shall not apply for the period beginning on the date 

of enactment of this Act and ending on December 8, 2017. 

(b) SPECIAL RULE RELATING TO OBLIGATIONS ISSUED DURING

EXTENSION PERIOD.—Effective on December 9, 2017, the limitation 

in effect under section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code, 

shall be increased to the extent that— 

(1) the face amount of obligations issued under chapter 

31 of such title and the face amount of obligations whose 

principal and interest are guaranteed by the United States 

Government (except guaranteed obligations held by the Secretary of the Treasury) outstanding on December 9, 2017, 

exceeds 

(2) the face amount of such obligations outstanding on 

the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(c) RESTORING CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONAL

DEBT.— (1) EXTENSION LIMITED TO NECESSARY OBLIGATIONS.—An 

obligation shall not be taken into account under section 

101(b)(1) unless the issuance of such obligation was necessary 

to fund a commitment incurred pursuant to law by the Federal 

Government that required payment before December 9, 2017. 

(2) PROHIBITION ON CREATION OF CASH RESERVE DURING

EXTENSION PERIOD.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall not 

issue obligations during the period specified in section 101(a) 

for the purpose of increasing the cash balance above normal 

operating balances in anticipation of the expiration of such 

period. 

DIVISION D—CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018 

The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money 

in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable 

corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several 

departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units 

of Government for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes, namely: 

SEC. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate 

for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations Acts 

for fiscal year 2017 and under the authority and conditions provided 

in such Acts, for continuing projects or activities (including the 

costs of direct loans and loan guarantees) that are not otherwise 

specifically provided for in this Act, that were conducted in fiscal 

year 2017, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority 

were made available in the following appropriations Acts: 

(1) The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 

Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 

(division A of Public Law 115–31) and section 193 of Public 

Law 114–223, as amended by division A of Public Law 114– 

254. 

(2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies 

Appropriations Act, 2017 (division B of Public Law 115–31), 

except section 540. 

Continuing 

Appropriations 

Act, 2018. 

Effective date. 

Time period. 

31 USC 3101 

note. 

131 STAT. 1140 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

(3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 

(division C of Public Law 115–31). 

(4) The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division D of Public Law 115– 

31). 

(5) The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017 (division E of Public Law 115–31). 

(6) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations 

Act, 2017 (division F of Public Law 115–31), except section 

310. 

(7) The Department of the Interior, Environment, and 

Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division G of Public 

Law 115–31), except that the language under the heading 

‘‘FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund’’ in the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior shall be applied by adding 

at the end the following: ‘‘Provided further, That notwithstanding the first proviso under the heading and notwithstanding the FLAME Act of 2009, 43 U.S.C. 1748a(e), such 

funds shall be available to be transferred to and merged with 

other appropriations accounts to fully repay amounts previously 

transferred for wildfire suppression’’. 

(8) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 

and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 

(division H of Public Law 115–31) and sections 171, 194, and 

195 of Public Law 114–223, as amended by division A of Public 

Law 114–254. 

(9) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2017 (division I of Public Law 115–31) and section 175 of Public Law 

114–223, as amended by division A of Public Law 114–254. 

(10) The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and 

Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division A of Public 

Law 114–223), except for appropriations for fiscal year 2017 

in the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading 

‘‘Medical Community Care’’, and division L of Public Law 115– 

31. 

(11) The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and 

Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017 (division J of Public 

Law 115–31). 

(12) The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, 

and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division K of 

Public Law 115–31), except sections 420 and 421. 

(13) The Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (division B of Public Law 114–254). 

(b) The rate for operations provided by subsection (a) is hereby 

reduced by 0.6791 percent. 

SEC. 102. (a) No appropriation or funds made available or 

authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of 

Defense shall be used for: (1) the new production of items not 

funded for production in fiscal year 2017 or prior years; (2) the 

increase in production rates above those sustained with fiscal year 

2017 funds; or (3) the initiation, resumption, or continuation of 

any project, activity, operation, or organization (defined as any 

project, subproject, activity, budget activity, program element, and 

subprogram within a program element, and for any investment 

items defined as a P–1 line item in a budget activity within an 

appropriation account and an R–1 line item that includes a program 

element and subprogram element within an appropriation account) 

Rate reduction. 

Applicability. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1141 

for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during fiscal year 2017. 

(b) No appropriation or funds made available or authority 

granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense 

shall be used to initiate multi-year procurements utilizing advance 

procurement funding for economic order quantity procurement 

unless specifically appropriated later. 

SEC. 103. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be available 

to the extent and in the manner that would be provided by the 

pertinent appropriations Act. 

SEC. 104. Except as otherwise provided in section 102, no 

appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to initiate or resume any project 

or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were 

not available during fiscal year 2017. 

SEC. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant 

to this Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures incurred 

for any project or activity during the period for which funds or 

authority for such project or activity are available under this Act. 

SEC. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this Act or in the 

applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2018, appropriations 

and funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this 

Act shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs: 

(1) the enactment into law of an appropriation for any 

project or activity provided for in this Act; 

(2) the enactment into law of the applicable appropriations 

Act for fiscal year 2018 without any provision for such project 

or activity; or 

(3) December 8, 2017. 

SEC. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this Act shall be 

charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization 

whenever a bill in which such applicable appropriation, fund, or 

authorization is contained is enacted into law. 

SEC. 108. Appropriations made and funds made available by 

or authority granted pursuant to this Act may be used without 

regard to the time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United States Code, 

but nothing in this Act may be construed to waive any other 

provision of law governing the apportionment of funds. 

SEC. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 

except section 106, for those programs that would otherwise have 

high initial rates of operation or complete distribution of appropriations at the beginning of fiscal year 2018 because of distributions 

of funding to States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, such 

high initial rates of operation or complete distribution shall not 

be made, and no grants shall be awarded for such programs funded 

by this Act that would impinge on final funding prerogatives. 

SEC. 110. This Act shall be implemented so that only the 

most limited funding action of that permitted in the Act shall 

be taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and activities. 

SEC. 111. (a) For entitlements and other mandatory payments 

whose budget authority was provided in appropriations Acts for 

fiscal year 2017, and for activities under the Food and Nutrition 

Act of 2008, activities shall be continued at the rate to maintain 

Expiration date. 

Contracts. 

131 STAT. 1142 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

program levels under current law, under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 

2017, to be continued through the date specified in section 106(3). 

(b) Notwithstanding section 106, obligations for mandatory payments due on or about the first day of any month that begins 

after October 2017 but not later than 30 days after the date specified 

in section 106(3) may continue to be made, and funds shall be 

available for such payments. 

SEC. 112. Amounts made available under section 101 for civilian 

personnel compensation and benefits in each department and 

agency may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary 

to avoid furloughs within such department or agency, consistent 

with the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017, except 

that such authority provided under this section shall not be used 

until after the department or agency has taken all necessary actions 

to reduce or defer non-personnel-related administrative expenses. 

SEC. 113. Funds appropriated by this Act may be obligated 

and expended notwithstanding section 10 of Public Law 91–672 

(22 U.S.C. 2412), section 15 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2680), section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (22 U.S.C. 

6212), and section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 

(50 U.S.C. 3094(a)(1)). 

SEC. 114. (a) Each amount incorporated by reference in this 

Act that was previously designated by the Congress for Overseas 

Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced 

Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or as being 

for disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act is 

designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/ 

Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement pursuant 

to section 251(b)(2)(A) of such Act or as being for disaster relief 

pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act, respectively. 

(b) The reduction in section 101(b) of this Act shall not apply 

to— 

(1) amounts designated under subsection (a) of this section; 

(2) amounts made available by section 101(a) by reference 

to the second paragraph under the heading ‘‘Social Security 

Administration—Limitation on Administrative Expenses’’ in 

division H of Public Law 115–31; or 

(3) amounts made available by section 101(a) by reference 

to the paragraph under the heading ‘‘Centers for Medicare 

and Medicaid Services—Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control 

Account’’ in division H of Public Law 115–31. 

(c) Section 6 of Public Law 115–31 shall apply to amounts 

designated in subsection (a) for Overseas Contingency Operations/ 

Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement. 

SEC. 115. During the period covered by this Act, discretionary 

amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2018 that were provided in 

advance by appropriations Acts shall be available in the amounts 

provided in such Acts, reduced by the percentage in section 101(b). 

SEC. 116. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided 

for ‘‘Department of Agriculture—Domestic Food Programs—Food 

and Nutrition Service—Commodity Assistance Program’’ at a rate 

for operations of $317,139,000, of which $238,120,000 shall be for 

the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. 

Applicability. 

Time period. 

Continuation. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1143 

SEC. 117. The final proviso in section 715 of division A of 

Public Law 115–31 shall be applied during the period covered 

by this Act by adding ‘‘from amounts first made available for 

fiscal year 2018’’ after ‘‘unobligated balances’’ and as if the following 

were struck from such proviso: ‘‘the carryover amounts authorized 

in the first proviso of this section for section 32 and’’. 

SEC. 118. Amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Department of Commerce—Bureau of the Census—Periodic Censuses and 

Programs’’ may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain the schedule and deliver the required data 

according to statutory deadlines in the 2020 Decennial Census 

Program. 

SEC. 119. Section 1215(f)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112–81; 10 U.S.C. 113 

note), as most recently amended by section 1223 of the National 

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114– 

328), shall be applied by substituting ‘‘2018’’ for ‘‘2017’’ through 

the earlier of the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act or 

the date of the enactment of an Act authorizing appropriations 

for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the Department of 

Defense. 

SEC. 120. (a) Funds made available by section 101 for ‘‘Department of Energy—Energy Programs—Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund’’ may be apportioned up 

to the rate for operations necessary to avoid disruption of continuing 

projects or activities funded in this appropriation. 

(b) The Secretary of Energy shall notify the Committees on 

Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 

not later than 3 days after each use of the authority provided 

in subsection (a). 

SEC. 121. Section 104(c) of the Reclamation States Emergency 

Drought Relief Act of 1991 (43 U.S.C. 2214(c)) shall be applied 

by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) for ‘‘September 

30, 2017’’. 

SEC. 122. (a) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso 

under the heading ‘‘Power Marketing Administrations—Operation 

and Maintenance, Southeastern Power Administration’’ in division 

D of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting 

‘‘$51,000,000’’ for ‘‘$60,760,000’’. 

(b) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso under the 

heading ‘‘Power Marketing Administrations—Operation and 

Maintenance, Southwestern Power Administration’’ in division D 

of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting ‘‘$10,000,000’’ 

for ‘‘$73,000,000’’. 

(c) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso under the 

heading ‘‘Power Marketing Administrations—Construction, 

Rehabilitation, Operation and Maintenance, Western Area Power 

Administration’’ in division D of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied 

by substituting ‘‘$179,000,000’’ for ‘‘$367,009,000’’. 

SEC. 123. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 

except section 106, the District of Columbia may expend local funds 

under the heading ‘‘District of Columbia Funds’’ for such programs 

and activities under the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 

2017 (title IV of division E of Public Law 115–31) at the rate 

set forth under ‘‘Part A—Summary of Expenses’’ as included in 

the Fiscal Year 2018 Local Budget Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22– 

99), as modified as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Applicability. 

Applicability. 

Notification. 

Deadline. 

Applicability. 

Applicability. 

131 STAT. 1144 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

SEC. 124. (a) Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for ‘‘General Services Administration—Allowances and Office 

Staff for Former Presidents’’ to carry out the provisions of the 

Act of August 25, 1958 (3 U.S.C. 102 note), at a rate for operations 

of $4,754,000. 

(b) Notwithstanding section 101, no funds are provided by 

this Act for ‘‘General Services Administration—Expenses, Presidential Transition’’ and ‘‘Executive Office of the President and 

Funds Appropriated to the President—Presidential Transition 

Administrative Support’’. 

(c) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first 

proviso under the heading ‘‘District of Columbia—Federal Payment 

for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of 

Columbia’’ in division E of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied 

by substituting ‘‘$14,900,000’’ for ‘‘$34,895,000’’ and the first proviso 

under that heading shall not apply during the period covered by 

this Act. 

(d) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first 

proviso under the heading ‘‘National Archives and Records Administration—Operating Expenses’’ in division E of Public Law 115– 

31 shall be applied by substituting ‘‘$375,784,000’’ for 

‘‘$380,634,000’’. 

(e) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first 

proviso under the heading ‘‘Department of the Interior—National 

Park Service—Operation of the National Park System’’ in division 

G of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting 

‘‘$2,420,818,000’’ for ‘‘$2,425,018,000’’. 

SEC. 125. Amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Department of Homeland Security—Office of the Secretary and Executive 

Management—Operations and Support’’, ‘‘Department of Homeland 

Security—Management Directorate—Operations and Support’’, and 

‘‘Department of Homeland Security—Intelligence, Analysis, and 

Operations Coordination—Operations and Support’’ may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to carry out activities 

previously funded under ‘‘Department of Homeland Security— 

Working Capital Fund’’, consistent with the fiscal year 2018 President’s Budget. 

SEC. 126. Amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection—Operations and Support’’, ‘‘U.S. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement—Operations and Support’’, 

‘‘Transportation Security Administration—Operations and Support’’, 

and ‘‘United States Secret Service—Operations and Support’’ 

accounts of the Department of Homeland Security may be apportioned at a rate for operations necessary to maintain not less 

than the number of staff achieved on September 30, 2017. 

SEC. 127. The authority provided by section 831 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391) shall continue in effect 

through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act. 

SEC. 128. Section 404 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 

of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 124 Stat. 2950), as amended, shall 

be applied in subsection (b) by substituting the date specified in 

section 106(3) for ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

SEC. 129. Amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Department of Homeland Security—Federal Emergency Management 

Agency—Disaster Relief Fund’’ may be apportioned up to the rate 

Applicability. 

Continuation. 

Applicability. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1145 

for operations necessary to carry out response and recovery activities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 

SEC. 130. Sections 1309(a) and 1319 of the National Flood 

Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4016(a) and 4026) shall be applied 

by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act 

for ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

SEC. 131. Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) is amended by striking ‘‘September 

30, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2019’’. 

SEC. 132. The authority provided by subsection (m)(3) of section 

8162 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 (40 

U.S.C. 8903 note; Public Law 106–79) shall continue in effect 

through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act. 

SEC. 133. In addition to the amounts otherwise provided by 

section 101, an additional amount is provided for ‘‘Environmental 

Protection Agency—Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation 

Program Account’’ for administrative expenses to carry out the 

direct and guaranteed loan programs, notwithstanding section 5033 

of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, 

at a rate for operations of $3,000,000. 

SEC. 134. (a) The following sections of the Federal Insecticide, 

Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act shall continue in effect through 

the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution— 

(1) subparagraphs (C) through (E) of section 4(i)(1) (7 

U.S.C. 136a–1(i)(1)(C)–(E)); 

(2) section 4(k)(3) (7 U.S.C. 136a–1(k)(3)); 

(3) section 4(k)(4) (7 U.S.C. 136a-1(k)(4)); and 

(4) section 33(c)(3)(B) (7 U.S.C. 136w–8(c)(3)(B)). 

(b)(1) Section 4(i)(1)(I) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 

and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136a–1(i)(1)(I)) shall be applied by 

substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

(2) Notwithstanding section 33(m)(2) of the Federal Insecticide, 

Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136w–8(m)(2)), section 

33(m)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 136w–8(m)(1)) shall be applied by 

substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

(c) Section 408(m)(3) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 

Act (21 U.S.C. 346a(m)(3)) shall be applied by substituting the 

date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

SEC. 135. Section 114(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

(20 U.S.C. 1011c(f)) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

SEC. 136. The second proviso under the heading ‘‘Department 

of Health and Human Services—Administration for Children and 

Families—Children and Families Services Programs’’ in title II 

of division H of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied during the 

period covered by this Act as if the following were struck from 

such proviso: ‘‘, of which $80,000,000 shall be available for a cost 

of living adjustment notwithstanding section 640(a)(3)(A) of such 

Act’’. 

SEC. 137. The proviso at the end of paragraph (1) under the 

heading ‘‘Department of Labor—Employment and Training 

Administration—State Unemployment Insurance and Employment 

Service Operations’’ in title I of division G of Public Law 113– 

Applicability. 

Applicability. 

Applicability. 

Continuation. 

Applicability. 

Continuation. 

Applicability. 

131 STAT. 1146 PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 

235 shall be applied through the date specified in section 106(3) 

of this Act by substituting ‘‘seven’’ for ‘‘six’’. 

SEC. 138. In making Federal financial assistance, the National 

Institutes of Health shall continue through the date specified in 

section 106(3) of this Act to apply the provisions relating to indirect 

costs in part 75 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, including 

with respect to the approval of deviations from negotiated rates, 

to the same extent and in the same manner as the National 

Institutes of Health applied such provisions in the third quarter 

of fiscal year 2017. None of the funds appropriated in this Act 

may be used to develop or implement a modified approach to 

such provisions, or to intentionally or substantially expand the 

fiscal effect of the approval of such deviations from negotiated 

rates beyond the proportional effect of such approvals in such 

quarter. 

SEC. 139. (a) Section 529 of division H of Public Law 115– 

31 shall be applied by substituting ‘‘prior to the beginning of fiscal 

year 2018 under section 2104(n)(2)’’ for ‘‘from the appropriation 

to the Fund for the first semiannual allotment period for fiscal 

year 2017 under section 2104(n)(2)(A)(ii)’’; and 

(b) section 532 of division H of Public Law 115–31 shall be 

applied by substituting ‘‘2,652,000,000’’ for ‘‘1,132,000,000’’. 

SEC. 140. Notwithstanding 2 U.S.C. 4577, amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Legislative Branch—Senate—Salaries, Officers and Employees—Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper’’ may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary 

to maintain current Senate cybersecurity capabilities. 

SEC. 141. (a) The remaining unobligated balances of funds 

made available under the heading ‘‘Department of Veterans 

Affairs—Departmental Administration—Construction, Major 

Projects’’ in division A of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act 

of 2013 and Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (Public 

Law 113–2) are hereby rescinded: Provided, That the amounts 

rescinded pursuant to this section that were previously designated 

by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 

251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Congress as an emergency 

requirement pursuant to that section of that Act. 

(b) In addition to the amount otherwise provided by section 

101 for ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs—Departmental Administration—Construction, Major Projects’’, there is appropriated for 

an additional amount for fiscal year 2017, to remain available 

until September 30, 2022, an amount equal to the unobligated 

balances rescinded pursuant to subsection (a), for renovations and 

repairs as a consequence of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy: 

Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such 

funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and 

design and major medical facility construction not otherwise authorized by law: 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. 

(c) Each amount designated in this section by the Congress 

as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 

of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 

shall be available (or rescinded, if applicable) only if the President 

President. 

Expiration date. 

Rescissions. 

Applicability. 

Continuation. 

Applicability. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–56—SEPT. 8, 2017 131 STAT. 1147 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 601: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 

Jan. 24, considered and passed House. 

Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Sept. 6, House concurred in certain Senate amendments, in another with an 

amendment, pursuant to H. Res. 502. Senate considered concurring in 

House amendment with an amendment. 

Sept. 7, Senate considered and concurred in House amendment with an 

amendment. 

Sept. 8, House concurred in Senate amendment. 

Æ 

subsequently so designates all such amounts and transmits such 

designations to the Congress. 

(d) This section shall become effective immediately upon enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 142. Sections 579(a)(1) and (b) of the Multifamily Assisted 

Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (42 U.S.C. 1437f 

note) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 

106(3) for ‘‘October 1, 2017’’. 

This division may be cited as the ‘‘Continuing Appropriations 

Act, 2018’’. 

Approved September 8, 2017. 

Applicability. 

Effective date.