94–908 PDF 

Calendar No. 120 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 114–66 

DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE AND JUSTICE, AND 

SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS 

BILL, 2016 

JUNE 16, 2015.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. SHELBY, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2578] 

The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred the bill 

(H.R. 2578) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year 

ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes, reports the 

same to the Senate with an amendment, and recommends that the 

bill as amended do pass. 

Total obligational authority, fiscal year 2016 

Total of bill as reported to the Senate 1 .................. $62,267,000,000 

Amount of 2015 appropriations ............................... 61,073,092,000 

Amount of 2016 budget estimate ............................ 65,768,653,000 

Amount of House allowance .................................... 62,473,836,000 

Bill as recommended to Senate compared to— 

2015 appropriations .......................................... ∂1,193,908,000 

2016 budget estimate ........................................ ¥3,501,653,000 

House allowance ................................................ ∂206,836,000 1This level does not include ¥$10,880,000,000 in adjustments that the Congressional Budget Office [CBO] scores to the bill. With these scorekeeping adjustments, 

the bill totals $51,068,000,000 in discretionary budget authority. 
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C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Purpose of the Bill ................................................................................................... 3 

Summary of the Bill ................................................................................................ 3 

Fighting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse ........................................................................ 4 

Reprogrammings, Reorganizations, and Relocations ............................................ 6 

Congressional Budget Justifications ...................................................................... 7 

Reporting Requirements ......................................................................................... 8 

Reductions-in-Force ................................................................................................. 8 

Appropriations Liaisons .......................................................................................... 8 

Title I: Department of Commerce ........................................................................... 9 

Title II: Department of Justice ............................................................................... 50 

Title III: Science ...................................................................................................... 93 

Office of Science and Technology Policy ......................................................... 93 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration .......................................... 94 

National Science Foundation ........................................................................... 108 

Title IV: Related Agencies ....................................................................................... 117 

Commission on Civil Rights ............................................................................. 117 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ................................................ 118 

International Trade Commission .................................................................... 119 

Legal Services Corporation .............................................................................. 119 

Marine Mammal Commission .......................................................................... 120 

State Justice Institute ...................................................................................... 121 

Title V: General Provisions ..................................................................................... 122 

Compliance With Paragraph 7, Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of the 

Senate ................................................................................................................... 125 

Compliance With Paragraph 7(c) Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the 

Senate ................................................................................................................... 129 

Compliance With Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the 

Senate ................................................................................................................... 129 

Budgetary Impact of Bill ......................................................................................... 131 

Comparative Statement of Budget Authority ........................................................ 132 
(3) 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The bill provides funding for: (1) the Department of Commerce 

[DOC]; (2) the Department of Justice [DOJ]; (3) several independent science agencies: the Office of Science and Technology Policy [OSTP], the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

[NASA], and the National Science Foundation [NSF]; and (4) several related commissions and agencies: the Commission on Civil 

Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC], 

the International Trade Commission [ITC], the Legal Services Corporation [LSC], the Marine Mammal Commission, and the State 

Justice Institute [SJI]. 

SUMMARY OF THE BILL

The total amount of discretionary budget authority recommended by the Committee for fiscal year 2016 is $51,068,000,000, which is 

$965,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and 

$984,653,000 below the budget request. When adjusting for spending with comparable scorekeeping adjustments, the funding provided in this bill is actually $3,501,653,000 below the request level. 

The Committee’s recommendation is consistent with the allocation for the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The Committee has made difficult but necessary 

decisions to craft a bill that meets strict fiscal limitations. Within 

these boundaries, the Committee has achieved a careful balance between the competing priorities of law enforcement, national security, economic development, scientific research, and space exploration. As a result, this bill represents responsible spending at a 

time when America is living within a constrained budget. 

The Committee recognizes that the administration’s budget requests for large programmatic increases, coupled with costly new 

initiatives, would continue to add financial pressure on existing 

core programs and operations throughout the bill. This is especially 

true for the Department of Commerce, which is responsible for a 

variety of activities critical to our Nation’s economic and scientific 

well-being, and also manages expensive, high-risk activities, including the build-up to the 2020 Decennial Census and efforts to 

launch the next generation of weather satellites. Strict oversight 

and fiscal responsibility are essential for the Department’s success 

in fiscal year 2016. 

This Committee remains supportive of science and innovation, 

and has worked to maintain a healthy funding level for the National Science Foundation while preserving a balanced and productive space program within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]. Despite persistent concerns about the administration’s fiscal priorities within the Nation’s space program, the 

Committee sees great opportunity for NASA to advance scientific 

knowledge and to boldly expand human exploration. This bill 
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makes it possible for NASA to achieve efficient and cost-effective 

operations for the agency’s science and exploration missions, many 

of which will reach critical stages of development during fiscal year 

2016. 

The constantly changing landscape of criminal activity at home 

and abroad tests the Department of Justice’s ability to deal with 

emerging threats. The Committee believes that our Federal law enforcement agencies must work together—particularly in tough 

budget environments—to focus limited resources in a manner that 

safeguards taxpayer dollars while preserving public safety. 

While funding for the Department of Justice is one of the Federal 

Government’s highest priorities, the Committee is concerned that 

even in the midst of the current fiscal climate, the administration 

has proposed new grant programs and initiatives that would further stretch the Department’s spending. The Committee believes 

that funding new initiatives will come at a cost to the Department 

of Justice’s core functions, particularly when funding for existing 

and effective grant programs is already in jeopardy. 

This bill follows the Concurrent Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2016 by providing $2,602,000,000 through the Crime Victims Fund 

[CVF], which is $241,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and $1,602,000,000 above the request. The Committee notes 

that this amount represents a 349-percent increase compared to 

the fiscal year 2014 level, and is $70,000,000 above the 

$2,532,000,000 3-year average of deposits in the CVF. 

Given the significant increase in CVF spending and the Commit- tee’s concern for fiscal oversight, this bill uses $379,000,000 from 

the CVF for victim-related discretionary grants in the Department 

of Justice’s State and local accounts. The Committee has previously 

avoided requests to fund victim-related discretionary grants out of 

this fund due to the low caps on CVF spending in prior fiscal years. 

However, current fiscal constraints, coupled with increased spending out of the CVF, makes supporting important victim programs 

with discretionary funding no longer tenable. As a result, overall 

funding for these entire grant programs, which are widely supported by many members of the Committee, remains close to the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted levels. 

FIGHTING WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE

The departments, agencies, boards, and commissions funded in 

this bill can and should continue to reduce operating expenses by 

placing greater scrutiny on overhead costs. Savings can and should 

be achieved by reducing non-essential travel, office supply, rent, 

and utility costs. The Committee also calls on departments, agencies, boards, and commissions funded in this bill to continue to 

achieve savings by lowering travel contractor costs related to air 

fares. The Committee continues longstanding restrictions on first 

class travel and includes provisions to improve travel reporting. 

The Committee has also reduced official reception and representation funds by 25 percent since fiscal year 2011. Modest representation funds are included for agency executives to provide necessary courtesies to our diplomatic partners and hold events to 

honor fallen officers, or to mark historic occasions such as space exploration missions or stunning discoveries. However, savings can 
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and should be achieved by reducing the costs of executive meetings, 

receptions, ceremonies, and conferences, and purchasing fewer promotional items such as t-shirts, hats, mugs, key chains, and other 

similar items. 

The Committee is concerned about the millions of taxpayer dollars spent on wasteful printing practices each year and the lack of 

clear printing policies within each of the agencies. While progress 

has been made to better utilize the cloud and digitalize records, little progress has been made to reform in-house printing practices. 

The Committee directs each agency to work with Office of Management and Budget to reduce printing and reproduction by 34 percent and report to the Committee within 60 days after enactment 

of this Act on what steps have been taken to reduce printing volume and costs. The report should specifically identify how much 

money each agency will be saving. 

The Committee is extremely concerned about the persistent pattern of cost overruns and schedule slippages on major projects and 

missions carried out by the agencies within this bill. In addition, 

reports have exposed a culture within many agencies that exhibits 

a lack of accountability and oversight of grant funding. Therefore, 

the Committee has continued six bill-wide provisions to ensure 

greater oversight and fiscal responsibility of taxpayer dollars. 

First, the bill requires each agency to notify the Committee immediately upon identification of program cost overruns greater 

than 10 percent. 

Second, the bill requires the Inspectors General of the Departments of Commerce and Justice, NASA, NSF, and the Legal Services Corporation to conduct reviews of grant and contract funds to 

ensure funds are being spent appropriately. 

Third, the bill requires each department, agency, board, and commission funded in this act to report spending on large conferences, 

with costs in excess of $100,000 each, to the Inspectors General for 

audit. 

Fourth, the bill prohibits each department, agency, board, and 

commission funded in this act from awarding grants and cooperative agreements to tax cheats and felons. 

Fifth, the bill requires all departments and agencies to link all 

contracts that provide award fees to successful acquisition outcomes, and prohibits funds to pay for award or incentive fees for 

contractors with below satisfactory performance. 

Finally, the Committee intends to continue to work with the Government Accountability Office [GAO] to review selected large-scale 

acquisition and construction projects. Specifically, the Committee 

directs ongoing GAO reviews of large NASA projects and separate 

reviews of the James Webb Space Telescope, with reports to the 

Committee on a biannual basis. Agencies shall provide access to all 

necessary data, as determined by the GAO, in order for the reviews 

to be completed and provided in a timely manner to the Committee. The Committee believes that these project status reports 

are valuable in identifying cost overrun and schedule slippage 

problems early so they can be addressed immediately. 
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REPROGRAMMINGS, REORGANIZATIONS, AND RELOCATIONS

Section 505 contained in the ‘‘General Provisions’’ of title V provides procedures for the reprogramming of funds. To reprogram is 

to change the use of funds from the specific purposes provided for 

in the act and the accompanying report or, in the absence of direction from the Committee, from the specific purposes provided for in 

the administration’s budget request. Each title of the bill has also 

traditionally included separate provisions that define permissible 

transfers of resources between appropriation accounts. These transfer authority provisions are also pursuant to section 505, and were 

initiated in the early 1990s to provide additional flexibility to the 

agencies under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction. 

The Committee expects each department and agency to closely 

follow the reprogramming procedures listed in section 505. These 

procedures apply to funds provided under this act, or provided 

under previous appropriations acts that remain available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2016, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury available to the agencies funded by this act. 

Section 505 requires that the Committee on Appropriations be notified by letter, at least 15 days prior to reprogramming of funds, 

whether permanent or temporary, in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, between programs, projects or activities. 

This provision is also applicable in cases where several activities 

are involved with each receiving less than $500,000. In addition, 

the Committee is to be notified of reprogramming actions which are 

less than these amounts if such actions would have the effect of: 

committing the agency to significant funding requirements in future years; increasing funds or personnel by any means for any 

program, project, or activity for which funds have been previously 

denied or restricted by Congress; creating new programs, offices, 

agencies or commissions or substantially augmenting existing programs, offices, agencies or commissions; relocating offices or employees; or reorganizing offices, programs, or activities. 

The Committee also expects that any items that are subject to 

interpretation will be reported. The Committee is concerned that, 

in some instances, the departments or agencies funded within this 

appropriations act are not adhering to the Committee’s reprogramming guidelines that are clearly set forth in this report and in section 505 of the accompanying bill. The Committee expects that each 

department and agency funded in the bill will follow these notification policies precisely and will not reallocate resources or reorganize activities prior to submitting the required notifications to the 

Committee. 

The reprogramming process is based on comity between the Appropriations Committee and the administration. The Commerce, 

Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill provides specific program guidance throughout this report and tables 

accompanying the bill. The process is intended to provide flexibility 

to meet changing circumstances and emergency requirements of 

agencies, if there is agreement between the executive branch and 

the Congress that such a change is warranted. Reprogramming 

procedures provide a means to agree on adjustments, if necessary, 

during a fiscal year, and to ensure that the Committee is kept ap-
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prised of instances where nonappropriated resources are used to 

meet program requirements, such as fee collections and unobligated balances that were not considered in the development of the 

appropriations legislation. 

In the absence of comity and respect for the prerogatives of the 

Appropriations Committees and Congress in general, the Committee will have no choice but to include specific program limitations and details legislatively. Under these circumstances, programs, projects, and activities become absolutes and the executive 

branch shall lose the ability to propose changes in the use of appropriated funds through the reprogramming process between programs, projects, and activities without seeking some form of legislative action. 

The Committee expects each executive branch department and 

agency to manage its programs, projects and activities within the 

levels appropriated. Reprogramming or transfer requests shall be 

submitted only in the case of an unforeseen emergency or situation 

that could not have been anticipated when formulating the budget 

request for the current fiscal year. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET JUSTIFICATIONS

The Committee directs that all departments and agencies funded 

within this bill shall submit all of their fiscal year 2017 budget justifications concurrently with the official submission of the administration’s budget to Congress. Further, all departments and agencies 

with classified programs funded within this act are directed to submit their classified budget justification documents to the Committee, through appropriate means, at the same time the unclassified budget justifications are transmitted. 

These justifications shall include a sufficient level of detailed 

data, exhibits, and explanatory statements to support the appropriations requests, including tables that outline each agency’s programs, projects, and activities for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. For 

example, when requesting an enhancement of resources, the justification should detail the existing program and what the new resources would buy. The Committee directs the chief financial officer 

of each department or agency funded in this act’s jurisdiction to ensure that adequate justification is given to each increase, decrease, 

staffing and function change proposed in the fiscal year 2017 budget, particularly within the departmental operations and management accounts. 

The Committee is concerned that many of the budget submissions are inadequate and necessitate multiple requests for additional information. At times, conflicting information is provided in 

justifications and other budget briefing documents in particular related to cybersecurity. This process is inefficient and unnecessarily 

delays access to information that is fundamental to the work of the 

Committee. The Committee expects that the fiscal year 2017 submissions will include sufficient detail to justify all programs, 

projects, and activities contained in each department, agency, or 

commission budget request. Budget justifications are prepared not 

for the use of the agencies but are the primary tool of the Committee to evaluate the resource requirements and proposals requested by the administration. 
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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Committee is frustrated by the inability of departments and 

agencies funded in this bill to complete and submit congressionally 

mandated reports on time. Reports are frequently submitted late, 

incomplete, or not at all. The Committee directs the departments 

and agencies funded in this bill to submit reports by their deadlines or to provide advance notification if there is sufficient reason 

why deadlines cannot be met, along with the expected date of submission. 

The Committee also recognizes that some reporting requirements 

from previous Appropriations bills may no longer be necessary for 

Committee oversight purposes. In the interest of reducing government waste and expediting responses to current report mandates, 

each department or agency is invited to submit a list of reporting 

requirements that it considers outdated or no longer relevant for 

the review of the Committees on Appropriations. Any list submitted for review shall be limited to reports required under Appropriations bills, and shall cite the original authority as well as a justification for eliminating each reporting requirement. 

REDUCTIONS-IN-FORCE

The Committee directs departments or agencies funded in the accompanying bill that are planning to conduct a reduction-in-force 

[RIF] to notify the Committee in writing 30 days in advance of the 

date of the proposed personnel action. 

APPROPRIATIONS LIAISONS

The Committee prefers to channel the majority of its inquiries 

and requests for information and assistance through the budget offices or comptroller offices of the departments and agencies which 

it oversees, but reserves the right to call upon any individual or organization in any agency under its jurisdiction. 
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TITLE I 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

The Committee recommends a total of $8,531,113,000 for the Department of Commerce [DOC]. The recommendation is $10,194,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $1,327,787,000 below 

the budget request. 

The Department of Commerce is responsible for a variety of activities critical to our Nation’s well-being, including economic development, intellectual property protection, standards and measurements, trade enforcement, weather forecasting, and fisheries management. Our Nation relies on the Department to maintain America’s competitiveness within today’s foreign markets while promoting and expanding international trade opportunities. The Department brings together a diverse set of bureaus, specialized experts, research laboratories, and applied technology programs to 

support and expand opportunities for growth in the private sector. 

Few departments have such potential to directly impact the 

strength and sustainability of our communities and local businesses. 

Strict oversight of the Department’s activities is a top priority for 

the Committee, as reflected in this act. This includes managing 

costs for the 2020 Decennial Census; ensuring that flagship weather satellites stay on budget and on schedule; prioritizing high-impact research and development for our Nation’s cybersecurity 

standards; and safeguarding protections for intellectual property to 

spur innovation and entrepreneurship. 

As head of the Department, the Secretary of Commerce oversees 

these important activities but is also responsible for managing the 

overall operations and addressing existing and emerging management challenges within DOC. The Committee views the Secretary 

as a partner in implementing the direction provided in this act and 

the accompanying report in order to provide strong and necessary 

oversight and hold the Department and its bureaus accountable for 

results. 

Spending Plans.—Under section 534 of this act, the Department 

is required to submit a spending plan within 45 days of the enactment of this act. That plan should describe the programs, projects, 

and activities of the Department so that the Committee receives 

detailed descriptions of how the Department intends to 

operationalize the funding provided in annual appropriations bills. 

The Committee expects a detailed accounting of each bureau’s 

spending, including reimbursable, fee-funded, or Working Capital 

Fund spending, particularly with regard to specific programs, 

projects, and activities described in the bill and accompanying report. The Department shall continue to work with the Committees 
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on Appropriations to ensure that its spending plans provide adequate information for continued oversight of the Department. 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION

OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $472,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 506,750,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 467,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 473,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $473,000,000 for the 

International Trade Administration [ITA]. The recommendation is 

$1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$33,750,000 below the budget request. 

Offsetting Fee Collections.—ITA shall identify and include an accurate assessment of expected fee collections and corresponding expenditures in the fiscal year 2016 spending plan and in the fiscal 

year 2017 budget request. 

Trade Enforcement.—The Committee provides up to $10,000,000 

for the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center [ITEC]. Given the 

experience and depth of knowledge of ITA’s Enforcement and Compliance business unit, the Committee believes ITEC should be directed from within ITA with USTR providing advisory assistance. 

In addition, not later than 60 days following enactment of this act, 

the Department shall provide a report to Congress regarding ITEC 

that shall include: the type of trade violations pursued; available 

remedies for each violation; and the role each agency plays in the 

trade enforcement process through ITEC. The Department is further directed to provide a detailed funding profile for ITEC as part 

of its fiscal year 2016 spending plan. 

New Shipper Fraud Enforcement.—The Committee provides the 

full request for ITA’s Enforcement and Compliance unit to combat 

fraudulent and evasive practices by dishonest new shippers seeking 

to avoid antidumping and countervailing duty [AD/CVD] rates. 

U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.—The U.S. and Foreign 

Commercial Service [US&FCS] provides significant value to U.S. 

businesses looking to expand overseas export opportunities. Given 

the export potential of emerging and developing economies in Asia 

and other foreign markets, expanding market access and export opportunities is critical for economic growth in the United States. 

Therefore, the Committee directs ITA to fund US&FCS, and its 

core mission of export promotion, at the highest possible level in 

fiscal year 2016, and at no less than the amount provided in fiscal 

year 2015. 

Sub-Saharan Africa.—In addition to offering unique export opportunities for U.S. businesses, increased trade activities in developing markets can help promote stability, security, and economic 

growth overseas that benefit U.S. security interests. While the 

Committee supports trade promotion activities in emerging markets, these activities should not be prioritized over trade promotion 

in developing markets, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The Committee encourages ITA to maintain, and when feasible, expand Foreign Commercial Service officers and support staff in developing markets overseas. 
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SelectUSA.—Up to $10,000,000 is provided for SelectUSA, except 

that none of the funds provided may be used to facilitate foreign 

direct investment in the United States unless a protocol to ensure 

that SelectUSA activities do not encourage such investments in the 

United States by state-owned entities is delivered to the Committee 

within 30 days of enactment of this act. 

China Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Activities.—The 

Committee provides no less than $16,400,000 for China AD/CVD 

enforcement and compliance activities. 

Duty Evasion and Circumvention.—The partnership between ITA 

and U.S. Customs and Border Protection is critical for AD/CVD enforcement. The Committee encourages ITA, working through its 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Liaison Unit, to increase efforts and advance methods to better investigate foreign imports 

suspected of evading or circumventing AD/CVD orders, including 

but not limited to lightweight thermal paper imports. In instances 

where an AD/CVD order exists, ITA shall share with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection information or product obtained under 

an Administrative Protective Order, as necessary, that relates to 

circumvention or evasion of AD/CVD orders. If ITA believes there 

are statutory limitations to sharing this information or product 

with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, ITA shall report to 

the Committee within 90 days after enactment of this act as to the 

specific impediments. 

Domestic Trade Coordination.—The Committee recognizes the 

important role that State and local governments play in promoting 

exports and urges ITA and the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee [TPCC] to support the application of best practices between 

Federal, State, and local governments in promoting exports. In recent years, the Committee has encouraged the TPCC to collaborate 

with State resource partners to identify ways to reduce overlap and 

improve coordination between Federal and State agencies, which 

could include establishment of a working group including regionally equitable and diverse representatives of State international 

trade resource centers and Federal agencies involved in export promotion. The Committee directs the TPCC to update the Committee 

on its progress in improving coordination of Federal, State, and 

local government export promotion services not later than 90 days 

after enactment of this act. 

Survey of International Air Travelers.—Within funds provided, 

ITA is encouraged to increase the sample size for the Survey for 

International Air Travelers. 

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $54,250,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 56,268,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 54,250,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 54,250,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $54,250,000 for the 

Office of the United States Trade Representative [USTR]. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and is 

$2,018,000 below the budget request. USTR is responsible for de-
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veloping and leading international negotiations for the United 

States on policies regarding international trade, direct investment, 

and commodities. Its areas of responsibility include all matters relating to the World Trade Organization; trade, commodity, and direct investment matters dealt with by certain international institutions; industrial, agricultural, and services trade policy; and traderelated protection of intellectual property and the environment. 

Increasing Efficiency.—The Committee notes that the Administration has again proposed to consolidate business and trade-related agencies, including USTR, with certain bureaus in the Department. To help advance these efforts and reduce fragmentation, 

the bill consolidates USTR into the Department. Not later than 180 

days after enactment of this act, the Committee directs the Department to provide a plan to Congress that would allow the United 

States Trade Representative to continue functioning as the chief 

trade negotiator for the United States following USTR’s consolidation into the Department. 

Healthcare Trade.—The Committee notes the growing importance of the broad healthcare industry to U.S. jobs, exports, and 

the economy. The Committee also recognizes the unique challenges 

facing this industry from foreign trade barriers and the challenges 

facing USTR in trying to expand access to life-saving U.S. products 

and services through trade agreements. The Committee supports 

the efforts of USTR to improve its management of these issues 

through the creation of a dedicated healthcare position at USTR to 

coordinate with its various functional and regional offices. 

Economy Act Transfers.—USTR is directed to continue isolating 

Economy Act payments as individual transfers, and to submit documentation of and justification for all Economy Act transfers, regardless of amount, to and from other Federal agencies, to the 

House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 15 

days before such transfers of sums are made. 

Travel.—USTR is directed to provide monthly travel reports detailing all trips outside of the United States, including the purposes 

and costs of such trips. Additionally, USTR shall continue to provide the Committee with quarterly reports outlining the status of 

ongoing trade negotiations, enforcement activities, and objectives 

achieved for existing trade agreements. 

BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY

OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $102,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 115,086,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 110,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 106,500,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $106,500,000 for the 

Bureau of Industry and Security [BIS]. The recommendation is 

$4,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $8,586,000 

below the budget request. 

BIS is the principal agency involved in the development, implementation, and enforcement of export controls for commercial technologies and for many military technologies as a result of the President’s export control reform initiative. The Export Enforcement Di-
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vision detects, prevents, investigates, and assists in the sanctioning 

of illegal exports of such items. 

Export Control Reform.—The Committee supports BIS’s work on 

export control reform and directs the Bureau to continue its exporter outreach program to educate companies of all sizes on the 

new regulatory requirements resulting from export control reform. 

In this effort, BIS should continue targeting small- and mediumsized businesses and working with State and local trade and export 

associations, in addition to working with national industry groups. 

BIS is further directed to keep the Committee apprised of these important outreach initiatives. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $250,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 273,028,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 250,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 250,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $250,000,000 for the 

Economic Development Administration [EDA]. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $23,028,000 

below the budget request. 

EDA provides grants to local governments and nonprofit agencies 

for public works, planning, and other projects designed to facilitate 

economic development. Funding amounts for the two appropriations accounts under this heading are displayed below. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $213,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 227,500,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 213,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 213,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $213,000,000 for Economic Development Assistance Programs. The recommendation is 

equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $14,500,000 below 

the budget request. Funding amounts provided by the Committee 

strongly support EDA’s core programs, particularly Public Works 

and Economic Adjustment Assistance. EDA is directed to focus on 

its core programs and mission to aid the most distressed communities across the country. The Committee expects EDA to use all 

available carryover and prior year recoveries to the maximum extent possible. EDA shall consider geographic equity in making all 

award decisions and shall ensure that rural projects are adequately 

represented among those selected for funding. Of the amounts provided, funds are to be distributed as follows. Any deviation of funds 

shall be subject to the procedures set forth in section 505 of this 

act: 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Public Works ......................................................................................................................................................... 100,000 

Economic Adjustment Assistance ........................................................................................................................ 48,000 

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms .............................................................................................................. 12,500 
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Regional Innovation Program ............................................................................................................................... 10,000 

Partnership Planning ........................................................................................................................................... 30,000 

Technical Assistance ............................................................................................................................................ 11,000 

Research and Evaluation ..................................................................................................................................... 1,500 

Total ........................................................................................................................................................ 213,000 

Economic Adjustment Assistance.—Within the amounts provided 

for Economic Adjustment Assistance, the Committee provides up to 

$10,000,000 for EDA to support activities to spur regional innovation through grants as authorized by the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 and provides up to $2,000,000 for 

innovative energy efficiency grants. Additionally, $3,000,000 shall 

be for grants made to States within the Appalachian Regional 

Commission (40 U.S.C. 14101 et seq.) and $3,000,000 shall be for 

grants made available to the Delta Regional Authority [DRA] (7 

U.S.C. 2009aa et seq.). The Committee supports EDA’s past collaborations with the DRA and encourages EDA to seek further opportunities to leverage and partner with DRA to better assist distressed communities, create jobs, and improve lives in the eightState Delta region. 

Regional Innovation Program.—The Committee provides $10,000,000 to EDA for grants under the Regional Innovation Program [RIP] as authorized under the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–235). RIP 

awards competitive grants to regional entities in support of innovation and entrepreneurship. EDA shall continue to ensure that RIP 

awards go to multiple grantees in multiple and diverse geographic 

areas. 

In addition, the Committee directs EDA to invest in universitybased, high-tech business incubators to encourage entrepreneurship and promote technology commercialization through business 

startups. EDA should prioritize funds for incubator projects where 

a State has made significant financial commitment to establishing 

an incubator program. Furthermore, within funds provided for RIP, $2,000,000 shall be 

for cluster grants to support nonprofit, job-creating, revolving, equity-based seed capital funds. 

Job Losses From Nuclear Power Plant Closures.—The Committee 

notes that recent closures of nuclear power plants throughout the 

United States have had a negative impact on the economic foundations of surrounding communities, and there is potential for additional plant closures in coming years. Research shows that the 

long-term economic impacts and job losses from nuclear power 

plant closures are substantial and difficult to address. The Committee encourages EDA to help identify and develop best practices 

to assist communities affected by nuclear power plant closures, including the coordination of economic development efforts across 

multiple States or Economic Development Districts. 

Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership Program 

[IMCP].—The Committee notes that no funding has been requested 
15 

and no funding is provided for the Investing in Manufacturing 

Communities Partnership Program [IMCP] for fiscal year 2016. 

The Committee remains concerned with the underlying premise of 

IMCP and the potential for negative impacts on communities not 

designated under the IMCP program. The Committee is still awaiting the report mandated in fiscal year 2015, in which the Department was directed to provide a plan to better utilize existing programs to assist various types of distressed communities across the 

country using a bottom-up, demand-driven approach to manufacturing investment. The Department is directed to deliver this report to the Committee without delay. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $37,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 45,528,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 37,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 37,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $37,000,000 for salaries and expenses. The recommendation is the same as the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level and $8,528,000 below the budget request. 

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $30,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 30,016,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 32,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 30,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $30,000,000 for the 

Minority Business Development Agency [MBDA]. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and is $16,000 

below the budget request. MBDA is the only Federal agency dedicated to promoting the growth of minority-owned firms and assists 

small, medium, and large minority business enterprises increase 

revenues and create jobs. 

ECONOMIC AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $100,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 113,849,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 100,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 100,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $100,000,000 for Economic and Statistical Analysis [ESA]. The recommendation is the 

same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $13,849,000 below 

the budget request. ESA conducts research to provide a better understanding of the U.S. economy, which helps Government make 

more informed policy decisions. Within the amounts provided, the 

Committee directs the agency to complete the scheduled move of its 

headquarters in fiscal year 2016. 
16 

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,088,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,499,974,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 991,700,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,128,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,128,000,000 for the Census Bureau. The recommendation is $40,000,000 above the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $371,974,000 below the budget 

request. 

The Committee approves the proposed realignment of Census 

programs found within the fiscal year 2016 budget request. Beginning with fiscal year 2016, the account structure will consist of the 

Current Surveys and Programs account and the Periodic Censuses 

and Programs account. 

CURRENT SURVEYS AND PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $248,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 277,873,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 261,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 266,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $266,000,000 for cur- rent surveys and programs. The recommendation is $18,000,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $11,873,000 below the 

budget request. This account provides for the salaries and expenses 

associated with the statistical programs of the Bureau of the Census, including measurement of the Nation’s economy and the demographic characteristics of the population. 

PERIODIC CENSUSES AND PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $840,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,222,101,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 730,700,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 862,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $862,000,000 for peri- odic censuses and programs. The recommendation is $22,000,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $360,101,000 below 

the budget request. 

This account provides for the constitutionally mandated Decennial Census as well as other cyclical programs. Additionally, individual surveys are conducted for other Federal agencies on a reimbursable basis. 

Oversight of Periodic Census Programs.—The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,551,000 for the Office of Inspector General [OIG] to continue oversight and audits of periodic censuses 

and to provide the Bureau and Congress with independent recommendations for improving operations, which will be useful for 

oversight of the 2020 Decennial Census. The Committee directs the 

Bureau to incorporate the OIG’s recommendations as it transitions 

into the 2020 Decennial Census. 

Monthly Status Reports.—The Census Bureau is directed to continue its dashboard monthly status reports to the Committee as it 

transitions into preparations for the 2020 Decennial Census. 

2020 Decennial Census.—Controlling costs for the 2020 Decennial Census remains a top oversight concern for the Committee. 
17 

The Bureau shall continue to bring down the cost of the 2020 Decennial Census to a level less than the 2010 Census with the goal 

of spending less than the 2000 Census, not adjusting for inflation. 

The Committee notes that the amount of funding provided in this 

bill for the 2020 Census is 34 percent above the amount that was 

appropriated in fiscal year 2006 for the 2010 Census. Such a comparison does not take into consideration the Bureau’s conscientious 

decision to conduct early planning and testing activities well ahead 

of the 2020 Census compared to when such activities began for the 

2010 Census. However, the contrast illustrates how mindful the 

Committee is of the Bureau’s budget profiles, and expects that the 

increased spending for testing early in this cycle result in significant cost savings over the entire course of the 2020 Census. The 

Census Bureau is directed to prioritize spending for activities that 

have the greatest potential to reduce cost and risk for the 2020 

Census. 

Administrative Records.—The Census Bureau plans to save 

money during the 2020 Decennial Census cycle by using existing 

records and data to reduce unnecessary and costly duplication and 

to conduct more efficient non-response follow up. The Bureau is directed to work with Federal, State, tribal, local, and other partners 

to obtain the necessary records. The Bureau shall report to the 

Committee and to the OIG within 90 days of enactment of this act 

on its current access and any additional administrative records 

necessary for the effective execution of the 2020 Census. 

Census Enterprise Data Collection and Processing.—The Committee recognizes the Bureau’s need to develop a more efficient and 

secure data processing system well in advance of the 2020 Census 

through the Census Enterprise Data Collection and Processing 

[CEDCaP] initiative. This initiative will create a single enterprise 

data system that can be scaled up for the Decennial Census and 

scaled down during years that require less data processing capacity 

while lowering the cost of maintaining, operating, and securing current systems. 

The Committee directs the Census Bureau to ensure that cost estimates and implementation timelines are maintained and that the 

new system is fully secured against cyber attacks and intrusions 

before it becomes operational. The Bureau is directed to cooperate 

with the OIG on all oversight activities for this system and shall 

brief the Committee on the development and implementation 

schedule for CEDCaP not less than 60 days after enactment of this 

act. 

American Community Survey [ACS].—The Committee supports 

the ACS and directs the Bureau to continue using the ACS as a 

testbed for innovative survey and data processing techniques that 

will help to save money and reduce risk during the 2020 Census 

cycle. The Committee also notes that ACS is often the primary or 

only source of data available to States, localities, and Federal agencies that need adequate information on a wide range of topics, including the needs of veterans, retirees, and families with school-age 

children in order to reliably serve those constituents. ACS is especially important to Americans who live in small towns and rural 

areas, as this survey provides the only reliable and consistent 

source of information about these communities. Additionally, the 
18 

Committee directs the Census Bureau to again provide an updated 

report to the Committee not later than 120 days after enactment 

of this act on efforts to evaluate and, where possible, to reduce 

questions included in the ACS, and the steps being taken by the 

ombudsman or ‘‘respondent advocate’’ position established by the 

Census Bureau in fiscal year 2013 to ensure that the ACS is conducted as efficiently and unobtrusively as possible. 

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $38,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 49,232,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 35,200,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 38,200,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $38,200,000 for the 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

[NTIA] salaries and expenses. The recommendation is the same as 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $11,032,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee retains language from previous years allowing 

the Secretary of Commerce to collect reimbursements from other 

Federal agencies for a portion of the cost resulting from the coordination of spectrum management, analysis, and operations. NTIA 

shall submit a report to the Committee no later than June 1, 2016, 

detailing the collection of reimbursements from other agencies. 

Broadband.—The Committee’s recommendation does not include 

any funding to make new broadband grant awards. However, the 

Committee supports the continued monitoring of existing 

broadband grants for financial oversight and accountability purposes, and directs NTIA to ensure that funds are used appropriately by recipients. 

The Committee directs the NTIA to continue assisting States and 

localities that have received broadband grant awards, including 

those for which the performance period has ended but whose grants 

have not been cancelled, that improve public safety networks. The 

Committee notes that doing so would prevent undue burden on 

State and local governments working in good faith in the public interest and would maximize pervious Federal investments in public 

safety infrastructure. The Committee intends to continue to explore 

further legislative action to assist the Administration in achieving 

these worthy goals. 

Spectrum Management.—The Committee directs NTIA to continue to evaluate options for repurposing spectrum for broadband 

in support of the President’s goal of making 500 MHz of spectrum 

available for wireless broadband use. NTIA shall also provide the 

Committee with quarterly updates on making 500 MHz of spectrum available for commercial mobile use, including the strategy 

for freeing up additional spectrum from Federal agencies. 

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 

[ICANN].—The Committee remains concerned that the Department 

of Commerce, through NTIA, has not been a strong advocate for 

American companies and consumers and urges greater participa-
19 

tion and advocacy within the Governmental Advisory Committee 

[GAC] and any other mechanisms within ICANN in which NTIA is 

a participant. The Committee strongly encourages NTIA to be an 

active supporter of the interests of the Nation within ICANN and 

to ensure that the principles of accountability, transparency, security, and stability of the Internet are maintained for consumers, 

businesses, and Government. 

Internet Governance.—The Committee understands NTIA’s plans 

to transition the agency’s technical stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority [IANA] and that NTIA is currently 

awaiting the delivery of a transition plan that it can evaluate. The 

current IANA contract expires at the end of September 2015, and 

at this time, NTIA is preparing to evaluate its option to extend 

that contract. This is being done with the expectation that a transition plan will not be put forward early enough to fully evaluate before the expiration of the current IANA contract. The Committee 

continues to be concerned about this process and supports the continued stewardship role of the United States over the domain name 

system in order to ensure the security of the .gov and .mil domains 

and to protect the freedom of speech and expression internationally. The Committee directs NTIA to continue quarterly reports to 

the Committee on all aspects of the transition process, and further 

directs NTIA to inform the Committee and the Senate Committee 

on Commerce, Science and Transportation, not less than 45 days 

in advance of any decision with respect to a successor contract. 

FirstNet.—The Committee is supportive of FirstNet’s funding 

agreement with the Department of Commerce’s Inspector General 

for the purposes of oversight and accountability of FirstNet through 

the end of fiscal year 2016. The Committee also continues to encourage FirstNet to consider using deployable technologies in locations and circumstances where they are more cost effective than alternative technologies. 

PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, PLANNING, AND

CONSTRUCTION

The Committee provides bill language allowing the NTIA to continue oversight and administration of previously awarded grants. 

NTIA shall not use unobligated balances to award new grants. 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,458,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 3,272,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 3,272,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,272,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $3,272,000,000 for 

the United States Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO], which is 

$186,000,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request, to be derived from offsetting fee collections. 

USPTO examines patent applications, grants patent protection 

for qualified inventions, and disseminates technological information 

disclosed in patents. USPTO also examines trademark applications 
20 

and provides Federal registration to owners of qualified trademarks. 

Patent Fee Collections.—The Committee is concerned that patent 

fee collections have fallen significantly below projected amounts in 

recent years, while spending at USPTO continues to increase. The 

Committee appreciates that USPTO has fee reserve and operating 

reserve accounts to accommodate increased spending in fiscal year 

2016, and additionally appreciates that low collections may stem 

from efficiencies gained by reducing application appeals or from external factors beyond the agency’s control. However, the Committee 

remains concerned that the agency has not articulated a long-term 

plan for significantly reducing its costs and expenditures if patent 

fee collections remain low. Therefore, USPTO is directed to include 

such a plan in its fiscal year 2017 budget request. 

Budget Execution.—The Committee continues to allow USPTO 

full access to patent and trademark fees and provides language allowing USPTO to retain any revenue in excess of appropriated levels. 

Transfer to Office of Inspector General.—The Committee provides 

$2,000,000 for the Office of Inspector General [OIG] to continue 

oversight and audits of USPTO operations and budget transparency, and USPTO is directed to work with the Department of 

Commerce to implement all OIG recommendations. 

Reprogramming and Spend Plan.—USPTO shall follow the reprogramming procedures outlined in section 505 of this act before 

using excess fee collections to forward fund expenses beyond fiscal 

year 2016. Any deviations from the funding distribution provided 

for, including carryover balances, are subject to the standard reprogramming procedures set forth in section 505 of this act. 

USPTO is directed to provide, as part of the spending plan required in section 534 of this act, all carryover balances from previous fiscal years, and a description of any changes to the patent 

or trademark fee structure. Any changes from the spending plan 

shall also be subject to section 505 of this act. USPTO is directed 

to submit all reprogramming requests, spending plans, and budget 

justifications to the Committee through the Department of Commerce. 

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $863,900,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,119,661,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 855,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 893,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $893,000,000 for the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST]. The recommendation is $29,100,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and $226,661,000 below the budget request. Up to $9,000,000 

may be transferred from the Scientific and Technical Research and 

Services account to the Working Capital Fund. 

NIST’s mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and 

technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve 

our quality of life. 
21 

A description of each NIST account and the corresponding Committee recommendation follows in the subsequent three headings. 

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $675,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 754,661,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 675,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 684,700,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $684,700,000 for NIST research and services. The recommendation is $9,200,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $69,961,000 below the 

budget request. The Committee requests a detailed spending plan 

for NIST’s highest priority laboratory programs describing resources used for each program, project, or activity. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee supports the administration’s request for cybersecurity activities within NIST, which includes: 

$15,000,000 for the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence 

[NCCoE]; $16,500,000 for the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace [NSTIC], including further pilots; and 

$4,400,000 for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education 

in order to address the need for a well-trained cybersecurity workforce. In addition, the Committee provides no less than $72,700,000 

for cybersecurity research and development, an increase of 

$7,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 level for cryptographic standards. 

National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.—The Committee is 

encouraged by the work conducted to date by the NCCoE and the 

growing partnerships it is developing with private industry. The 

NCCoE is quickly becoming a premiere partnership through which 

the Federal Government, industry, and academia collaborate to 

solve daunting cybersecurity challenges. The Committee recommends that NIST continue to work in concert with its public, 

State, and county partners to encourage co-location of companies 

involved in NCCoE activities, which will encourage further innovation by leveraging the development of new applications, business 

use cases, and technology transfer among all stakeholders. 

In addition, the Committee directs NIST to integrate the NSTIC 

program into the umbrella of the NCCoE. The Committee feels 

strongly that housing NSTIC under the NCCoE will allow NIST to 

leverage existing programmatic assets, ensuring that each program’s objectives are accomplished. 

Retail Sector Cybersecurity.—The Committee commends the 

NCCoE’s move to create a specific initiative on cybersecurity tools 

to protect the retail sector and its customers. The Nation’s retail 

sector is increasingly vulnerable to and targeted by cyber attacks 

that seek both private customer data and valuable intellectual 

property. These intrusions threaten the growing e-commerce marketplace. Therefore, the Committee encourages the NCCoE to continue working to address this critical issue and expeditiously build 

use cases and tools in partnership with retailers and universities 

that have experience in this area. 

Cybersecurity Research and Grants.—The Committee encourages 

DOC to fund multidisciplinary programs of study and research that 

focus on tackling cybersecurity issues on a global scale. When es-
22 

tablishing criteria for external grant funding, consideration should 

only be given to institutions of higher education, including community colleges, designated by the National Security Agency as Centers of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance Education 

and Centers for Academic Excellence for Information Assurance 

Research. 

Centers of Excellence.—The Committee encourages NIST to propose funding to create an appropriate number of new centers of excellence in future fiscal years, including in such fields as regenerative medicine and advanced photonics. 

Disaster Resilient Buildings.—The Committee provides the full 

requested amount for Disaster Resilient Buildings and Infrastructure, of which up to $5,000,000 shall be distributed through competitive external awards to academic institutions to support the 

evaluation of potential technologies and architectural design criteria to aid the overall effort for science-based building codes to improve disaster resilience. 

Sports Safety Standards.—The Committee encourages NIST to 

investigate the development of new and better standards for testing sports equipment that is supported through independent research, governance, and industrial independence. Testing should 

replicate on-field impacts to produce data for ‘‘worst-practical-impact’’ conditions that can be incorporated into better standards. 

Such standards will lead to research and development of new safety equipment and state-of-the-art gear that significantly reduce 

athletic injuries. 

Urban Dome Program.—The Committee notes the value of 

NIST’s Urban Dome program and the importance of accurate measurement science for environmental monitoring and human health, 

as more than half the world’s population is living in urban areas, 

and this concentration is expected to intensify over the coming decades. The Committee has included an additional $2,000,000 above 

the fiscal year 2015 amount for the Office of Special Programs to 

maintain and expand the number of urban dome locations in fiscal 

year 2016. 

In fiscal year 2015, the Committee directed NIST to submit a 

plan within 60 days of enactment on the Urban Dome program, including: anticipated outcomes, inclusion of additional U.S. cities, 

ways the United States can enlist the support of international partners for comparable efforts in other countries, and any plan for 

transitioning research to operations. NIST is directed to submit 

this report as expeditiously as possible. 

Management Fees.—The Committee is concerned by recent news 

reports suggesting that certain Federal grant and cooperative 

agreement recipients have used management fees inappropriately 

by spending federally awarded funds on, for example, lobbying, alcohol, and entertainment. NIST is directed to ensure that all funding recipients understand and are in compliance with Office of 

Management and Budget guidance on appropriate uses of such 

funds. 
23 

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $138,100,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 306,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 130,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 145,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $145,000,000 for Industrial Technology Services. The recommendation is $6,900,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $161,000,000 below 

the budget request. Supporting the Nation’s manufacturers, especially small businesses, is critical to keeping America innovative in 

a global marketplace. The Committee’s recommendation provides 

$130,000,000 for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program and $15,000,000 for the Advanced Manufacturing 

Consortia [AMTech]. 

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program 

[MEP].—The Committee recommends $130,000,000 for MEP. The 

Committee supports MEP’s focus on strengthening the existing network of MEP centers and providing additional support to centers 

based on the documented performance of the center’s activities and 

the manufacturing capacity of the area served by the center. 

MEP Cost Share.—The Committee is aware of concerns regarding the MEP’s current cost-share structure. This matter is currently being considered by the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

and Transportation. Not later than 45 days after enactment of this 

act, NIST is directed to provide a report to the Committee and to 

the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 

detailing quantifiable metrics on total MEP center funding, including a breakdown of the type of contribution source across centers 

that have transitioned from the 50 percent Federal, 50 percent 

non-Federal cost-share to a lower cost-share held by the Federal 

Government. 

Metals-Based Additive Manufacturing.—Within funding amounts 

provided for AMTech, the Committee provides up to $5,000,000 for 

competitive external grants for academic institutions to support research, development, and workforce training to overcome barriers 

to high-volume additive manufacturing of metals. While the Committee is aware of recent breakthroughs in metals-based additive 

manufacturing, major technical barriers still exist to dramatically 

improving build rates that would enable commercial markets to 

benefit from high-volume, metals-based additive manufacturing. 

In addition, NIST is encouraged to support partnerships and research opportunities with academic institutions in the advanced 

manufacturing of plastics and polymers and to explore ways to further reduce inefficiencies in the polymer manufacturing and extrusion process. 

National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.—The Committee provides up to $5,000,000 within AMTech to fund NIST’s coordination role for existing NNMI institutes, as authorized by the 

Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014 

(Public Law 113–235), including those led by the Department of 

Defense and Department of Energy. However, no funds are provided for the Department to establish any NIST-led NNMI institutes in fiscal year 2016. 
24 

CONSTRUCTION OF RESEARCH FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $50,300,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 59,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 50,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 63,300,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $63,300,000 for construction of research facilities. The recommendation is $13,000,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $4,300,000 above the 

budget request. 

Building 245.—The Committee is disappointed that despite clear 

need and consistent urging from the Committee, no funding was requested to begin renovating Building 245, a 53-year-old radiation 

physics research laboratory that does not currently meet NIST’s research needs or safety requirements. NIST shall spend no less than 

$13,000,000 to begin design and renovation of Building 245 in fiscal year 2016. NIST shall use a design/build contract to ensure the 

fastest possible start to the project, and is also directed to request 

sufficient construction funds for Building 245 in the fiscal year 

2017 budget request. 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,440,973,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 5,974,689,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 5,169,261,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,381,567,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $5,381,567,000 for 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]. 

The recommendation is $59,406,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $593,122,000 below the budget request. 

OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,202,398,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 3,413,360,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 3,149,877,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,242,723,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $3,242,723,000 for 

NOAA’s operations, research, and facilities. The recommendation is 

$40,325,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$170,637,000 below the budget request. 

NOAA NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE

The Committee’s recommendation provides $497,370,000 for the 

National Ocean Service [NOS]. NOS programs provide scientific, 

technical, and management expertise to promote safe navigation; 

assess the health of coastal and marine resources; respond to natural and human-induced threats; and preserve coastal and ocean 

environments. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 
25 

NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning: 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning ................................................................................................ 149,000 

Hydrographic Survey Priorities/Contracts .................................................................................................. 25,000 

Integrated Ocean Observing System—Regional Observations ................................................................ 29,500 

Total, Navigation, Observations and Positioning ................................................................................. 203,500 

Coastal Science and Assessment: 

Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and Restoration ....................................................................... 72,600 

Competitive External Research ................................................................................................................. 9,000 

Total, Coastal Science and Assessment .............................................................................................. 81,600 

Ocean and Coastal Management and Services: 

Coastal Zone Management and Services ................................................................................................. 39,570 

Coastal Management Grants .................................................................................................................... 75,000 

Coral Reef Program ................................................................................................................................... 26,000 

National Estuarine Research Reserve System .......................................................................................... 23,000 

National Marine Sanctuaries .................................................................................................................... 48,700 

Total, Ocean and Coastal Management and Services ......................................................................... 212,270 

GRAND TOTAL NOS ................................................................................................................................ 497,370 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning.—The Committee supports the administration’s request for activities under Navigation, 

Observations and Positioning, including the full operational funding for NOAA’s Navigation Response Teams. In addition, not more 

than 5 percent of the funds available for the Hydrographic Surveys 

and Contracts program may be used for administrative expenses 

within NOAA. 

Not later than 270 days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall 

provide a report to the Committee containing full cost estimates for 

accomplishing the hydrographic, shoreline, geodetic, and tidal surveys in the territories of the United States that are located in the 

Arctic Ocean, as described in the February 15, 2013, edition of 

NOAA’s Arctic Nautical Charting Plan. Such a report shall include 

corresponding timelines for completing all initial surveys and a recommended long-term schedule for conducting periodic survey updates. NOAA is further directed to report within 45 days of enactment of this act on hydrographic activities planned for fiscal year 

2016, including: vessels to be utilized, areas to be surveyed, and remaining gaps in the arctic region. The Committee provides $6,000,000 within Navigation, Observations and Positioning to continue the competitive Geospatial Modeling Grants Program of which all funding shall be distributed externally. The Committee provides $5,500,000 for the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System [PORTS]. The Committee believes these 

operations, which exist as a partnership between NOAA and local 

port authorities, provide valuable information for safe vessel navigation and data for weather and coastal monitoring. The Committee encourages NOAA to request funding that reflects the program’s full costs, including operations and maintenance as author-
26 

ized by Hydrographic Services Improvement Act (Public Law 110– 

386) in future budget submissions. 

The Committee supports the requested level and intended use of 

funds for Hydrographic Research and Technology Development. 

The Committee provides an additional $2,000,000 for NOAA to designate joint ocean and coastal mapping centers in other areas of 

the country to be co-located with an institution of higher education 

as authorized by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 

2009 (Public Law 111–11). The Committee emphasizes that additional funding is provided for the designation of other joint ocean 

and coastal mapping centers and therefore should not affect current operations of any existing center. 

Integrated Ocean Observing System [IOOS].—The Committee 

supports NOAA’s request for the Integrated Ocean Observing System [IOOS] and for IOOS Regional Observations. Furthermore, the 

Committee encourages NOS to work more collaboratively with the 

National Weather Service [NWS] to prioritize buoy management, 

observations, and repair. 

For fiscal year 2016, the Committee supports NOAA’s Alliance 

for Coastal Technologies [ACT] given the program’s valuable expertise in marine sensor technology development. The Committee directs NOAA to maintain full funding for ACT within the National 

Ocean Service. 

Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and Restoration.—Within 

the funds provided for Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and 

Restoration, $2,000,000 shall be for operations and staffing of the 

Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center [DRC]. The DRC shall 

continue to serve as the Gulf Coast hub for NOAA’s emergency preparedness, response, and recovery operations. 

Marine Debris.—The Committee supports the requested level for 

NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. In addition to the ongoing efforts 

to fully address marine debris created by the 2011 Japanese tsunami in the Pacific, consideration should be given to marine debris 

projects in urban communities that include the removal of abandoned vessels and pilings that harm the ecosystem and hinder recreational fishing. 

Coastal Management Grants.—The Committee provides a total of 

$75,000,000 for Coastal Management Grants. This includes 

$70,000,000 for Coastal Zone Management Grants and $5,000,000 

for Regional Coastal Resilience Grants [RCRG]. Within funding for 

RCRG, NOAA is encouraged to prioritize projects that are coordinated with resilience efforts of State, Federal, tribal partners, nongovernmental organizations, and academia. However, NOAA may 

only award these funds to coastal State projects that have the expressed written support of the State’s Governor. 

Resource Management in the Pacific.—The Committee notes recent executive actions to expand the Federal role in Pacific resource management, including the expansion of the Pacific Remote 

Island Marine National Monument and the designation of a new 

National Estuarine Research Reserve System [NERRS] site in Hawai’i. However, to advance U.S. interests in the Pacific meaningfully, these administrative actions should be balanced with available funding and resources. Within 120 days of enactment of this 

act, NOAA is directed to provide a report detailing enforcement, re-
27 

search, and management requirements—along with estimated 

costs—for these new and proposed expansions to Federal jurisdiction, so that the Committee may properly assess their costs and 

benefits. 

National Estuarine Research Reserve System.—The Committee 

provides $23,000,000 for the National Estuarine Research Reserve 

System [NERRS], which is $1,700,000 above the President’s request and the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. NERRS 

sites provide mixed-use areas that are protected for long-term research, monitoring, education, and coastal stewardship. The program is a positive example of State and Federal partnership. However, the Committee is concerned that with an additional site being 

added to the system, NOAA has failed to request the funding needed to sufficiently maintain the program. The Committee directs 

NOAA to work with NERRS sites and with State and local partners to develop a strategic plan for NERRS and its resource needs. 

The plan should also describe how NERRS fits into NOAA’s science 

and resilience mission. 

NOAA NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

The Committee’s recommendation provides $830,572,000 for the 

National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS]. NMFS programs provide for the management and conservation of the Nation’s living 

marine resources and their environment, including fish stocks, marine mammals, and endangered species. The Committee adopts the 

revised budget structure proposed in the budget request, except 

that the Committee rejects NMFS’s proposal to consolidate Atlantic 

Salmon and Pacific Salmon into a single Project, Program, or Activity line. 

Committee recommendations are displayed in the following table: 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Protected Resources Science and Management: 

Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Other Species ................................................................................ 110,246 

Species Recovery Grants ......................................................................................................................... 6,000 

Atlantic Salmon ....................................................................................................................................... 6,163 

Pacific Salmon ........................................................................................................................................ 60,000 

Total, Protected Resources Science and Management ...................................................................... 182,409 

Fisheries Science and Management: 

Fisheries and Ecosystem Science Programs and Services ..................................................................... 134,489 

Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys and Assessments .......................................................................... 163,271 

Observers and Training ........................................................................................................................... 43,655 

Fisheries Management Programs and Services ...................................................................................... 114,545 

Aquaculture ............................................................................................................................................. 7,000 

Salmon Management Activities .............................................................................................................. 30,200 

Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions ...................................................................................... 33,470 

Interjurisdictional Fisheries Grants ......................................................................................................... 3,000 

Total, Fisheries Science and Management ........................................................................................ 529,630 

Enforcement: 

Enforcement ............................................................................................................................................ 67,049 
28 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Total, Enforcement .............................................................................................................................. 67,049 

Habitat Conservation and Restoration: 

Habitat Management and Restoration ................................................................................................... 51,484 

Total, Habitat Conservation and Restoration ..................................................................................... 51,484 

GRAND TOTAL NMFS ........................................................................................................................... 830,572 

Marine Mammal Protection.—The Committee supports NMFS’s 

mission under this activity to monitor, protect, and recover at-risk 

marine mammal species who were listed under the Endangered 

Species Act in 2005, but whose populations continue to decline. The 

Committee encourages NMFS to utilize funding for the protection 

and recovery of marine mammal species at risk due to factors such 

as limited prey species, water-borne toxin accumulation, and vessel 

and sound impacts. 

Species Recovery Grants.—The Committee provides $6,000,000 

for species recovery grants. NOAA is encouraged to seek efficiencies 

by aligning the program with the applicable Take Reduction Plans, 

as it currently does with the Community Based Restoration Program and Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund, with the objective 

of meeting management needs and measuring efficacy of regulatory 

actions taken to achieve species recovery. 

Prescott Grants.—The Committee rejects the administration’s 

proposal to reduce funding for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program and provides funding equal 

to the 2015 enacted amount for Prescott grants within the Marine 

Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Other Species account. 

Atlantic Salmon.—NOAA has identified major threats to Atlantic 

salmon, including interrelated effects of freshwater salmon habitat 

loss, lost prey buffering, and marine derived nutrients from declines of co-evolved diadromous species. Within the funds provided, 

the Committee directs NOAA to enable a broader use of funds for 

restoration of diadromous species and habitats that support salmon 

recovery by providing ecological functions critical to the Atlantic 

salmon life cycle. The Committee further directs NOAA to ensure 

that adequate resources continue to be provided for State agencies 

to effectively implement the recovery strategy. 

Pacific Salmon.—The Committee is concerned that NMFS is not 

allocating sufficient resources to the West Coast Region to fulfill 

the agency’s full range of Pacific salmon recovery and management 

requirements in a timely manner. The requirements affect not only 

the well-being of the species but also important natural resource 

management decisions in the region such as water allocations. The 

Committee directs NOAA to provide the funding necessary to support Pacific salmon research and management activities carried out 

by the West Coast Region, including, but not limited to: Endangered Species Act compliance, reviews and permitting; operational 

decision support; revisions of Pacific salmon biological opinions; 

drought mitigation; drought barriers; real-time monitoring; adapt-
29 

ive management programs; and passive integrated transponder 

tagging programs. 

Promote and Develop Fisheries Products and Research Funding 

Transfer.—The bill maintains the provision restricting the use of 

the Promote and Develop Fisheries Products and Research funds 

transferred from the Department of Agriculture to NOAA in a way 

that better meets the intended purpose of the transfer mandated 

by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act. None of the funds may be used for 

internal NOAA or Department of Commerce management but rather funds may only be used for activities that directly help U.S. fisheries and fishery communities. Specifically, these funds may only 

be used for: cooperative research; annual stock assessments; efforts 

to improve data collection, including catch monitoring and reporting for commercial, charter, and recreational fisheries; interjurisdictional fisheries grants; and Fisheries Information Networks. 

As part of the fiscal year 2016 spending plan, NOAA shall include a clear accounting of how the Promote and Develop transfer 

funds will be allocated based on the funding criteria described in 

this bill. 

The Committee further directs that not less than 10 percent of 

the total amount of the transferred funds shall be provided for the 

competitive Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant program. NOAA shall consult with each Regional Fishery Management Council and the Marine Fisheries Commissions to identify regional funding priorities. 

Prior to the expenditure of any of these funds, NOAA shall provide 

the Committee with a detailed spending plan describing which fisheries activities will be funded in each of the regions and how the 

plan incorporates regional priorities. 

Red Snapper Stock Assessments.—Within the amount provided 

for Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys, and Assessments, the Committee provides an increase of $5,000,000 for the development and 

implementation of agency-independent and alternative approaches 

to research and stock assessments of reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. The Committee is disappointed that NOAA has failed to implement procedures to adequately measure red snapper stocks in the 

northern Gulf—particularly in areas with physical structures such 

as offshore oil rigs and artificial reefs. NOAA is directed to begin 

incorporating fishery data collected on artificial reefs, offshore oil 

platforms, and any other offshore fixed energy exploration infrastructure directly into the agency’s stock assessments for reef fish 

in the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, not later than 60 days following enactment of this act, NOAA shall provide a report to the 

Committee detailing how new technologies and alternative approaches will be used to accurately assess fish populations surrounding such structures and how these data will be used for fishery management decisions in fiscal year 2016. 

In addition, if an increase is made to the acceptable biological 

catch for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the direction provided in this report for stock assessments, the Committee 

urges NOAA to consider allocating not less than 80 percent of any 

total above the historical high of 10 million pounds of quota to the 

recreational sector. While all sectors have faced challenges in the 

gulf red snapper fishery, the private boat recreational sector has 

been especially impacted. 
30 

Ecosystem Imbalance.—NOAA shall take into consideration any 

imbalance in the ecosystem that may be occurring between larger 

red snapper and other fish species before accepting amendments to 

existing regulations or implementing new regulations that directly 

affect red snapper quotas in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Epipelagic Apex Predators.—The Committee acknowledges growing evidence that yellowfin tuna and other epipelagic apex predators are aggregating at offshore oil platforms in a similar manner 

to their more traditional aggregation points. These offshore platforms may alter yellowfin or other epipelagic apex predator movements, diet, diseases, growth, age at maturity, and spawning. However, NOAA lacks fundamental data on how this new association 

may impact these important species. Within funding provided, 

NOAA shall examine the impact of offshore oil platforms on the biology of highly migratory species such as yellowfin tuna. 

Marine Recreational Information Program.—The Committee remains concerned about the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of 

recreational fisheries data collected and analyzed by NOAA’s fisheries science centers. The Committee notes that, on one side of the 

recreational fishing management equation, NMFS is taking steps 

to more accurately estimate the amount of fish caught through improvements to the Marine Recreational Information Program 

[MRIP]. However, this raises serious concerns for the Committee 

regarding the second half of the equation: if NMFS moves forward 

to improve estimations of total recreational catch without also significantly improving methods to estimate fish populations, including reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico, the results will be skewed— 

leading to even more harmful management decisions. Therefore, no 

funding is provided to implement the May 5, 2015, MRIP report titled ‘‘Transition Plan for the Fishing Effort Survey’’ until NMFS 

stock assessments are sufficiently advanced, including fully accounting for Gulf of Mexico reef fish inhabiting areas of artificial 

reefs and fixed offshore energy infrastructure. NMFS shall continue the development process and public outreach regarding 

MRIP’s transition plan. 

Salmon Management Activities.—Within the amount provided for 

Salmon Management activities, the Committee recommends 

$10,900,000 to enable States and tribal communities to implement 

necessary Pacific Salmon Treaty agreements. The Committee fully 

supports all other aspects of the budget request for Salmon Management activities that are essential to meeting these treaty obligations. The Committee also provides additional funding above the 

request to be used for the operation and maintenance of Mitchell 

Act hatcheries. The Committee also encourages NOAA to consider 

funding for activities to modernize and expand salmonid research, 

testing, and monitoring through use of genetic stock identification 

management techniques that improve the protection of federally 

protected and managed salmonids, including the use of near realtime data to minimize closures of commercial fisheries. 

Baseline Data for Gulf of Mexico.—The Committee directs NOAA 

to continue supporting baseline research for fisheries health in the 

Gulf of Mexico, including studies of pelagic species. NOAA is encouraged to increase and continue collaborations in the gulf to es-
31 

tablish an integrated and comprehensive ecosystem-level fisheries 

monitoring enterprise and sentinel species program. 

Charter Vessels.—To help improve the quality and abundance of 

fishery data used for stock assessments, the Committee continues 

to encourage NOAA to expand the agency’s activities in chartering 

commercial fishing vessels to serve as research and fishery survey 

vessels. Increasing these charter opportunities will enlarge the geographically diverse data collection for broad fish populations and 

enhance numerous ocean research programs. Other parts of NOAA, 

including the National Ocean Service and the Office of Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research line offices, are encouraged to charter commercial fishing vessels, when applicable, to augment ongoing survey and research activities. 

American Lobster.—The southern New England stock of American lobster continues to decline and is under increasing stress. Although the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission exercises 

primary regulatory responsibility for this fishery, portions of six 

out of seven management areas are in Federal waters. NMFS implements complementary regulations for the fishery in these areas, 

but a lack of data about the condition of this fishery still exists. To 

improve coordination and consistency, the Committee again directs 

NMFS to engage the industry in conducting surveys and research 

that complement activities undertaken by the States. NOAA has 

not yet submitted the progress report on this issue as directed by 

this Committee in fiscal year 2015, and is therefore directed to submit this report within 45 days of enactment of this act. 

Bycatch Reduction.—The development and implementation of 

practical bycatch solutions is a priority for U.S. and international 

fisheries management and protected species conservation. The 

Committee supports the requested amount for Reducing Bycatch, of 

which NMFS is directed to make $2,500,000 available for competitive grants to non-Federal researchers working with U.S. fishermen 

on the development of improved fishing practices and innovative 

gear technologies. 

At-Sea Monitoring.—The Committee recognizes NMFS’s responsibility to satisfy the observer coverage standards of the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology [SBRM], but is very concerned 

by the impacts of NMFS’s decision to fund such activities by decreasing funding for at-sea monitoring in fiscal year 2015. NMFS’s 

decision came as a surprise to fishermen and communities and will 

negatively disrupt the Northeast groundfish fishery in the middle 

of the season. Therefore, NMFS shall work with the New England 

Fishery Management Council to find a resolution to the disruption 

caused by this funding decision. The Committee reminds NMFS 

that future direction from this Committee and Congress should be 

treated as a priority and followed accordingly. 

Observers and Training.—Since fiscal year 2012, the Committee 

has directed NMFS to provide adequate funding for at-sea and 

dockside monitoring for all fisheries with approved catch share 

management plans, including those catch share management plans 

that impose observer coverage for new or expanded fishing opportunities. The Committee is aware that implementation of some management programs continues to present substantial financial challenges to the participants as well as to the economic sustainability 
32 

of fisheries and fishing communities. Given these ongoing problems, the Committee encourages NMFS to continue working with 

regional fishery programs to identify adequate support for at-sea 

and dockside monitoring for fisheries with approved catch share 

management plans. Recognizing the financial challenges facing 

participants, including those in the Northeast Multispecies fishery 

sector management program, the Committee also directs NMFS to 

work with the regional fishery programs on a transition plan to an 

at-sea and dockside monitoring program that is more cost effective, 

accurate, and commensurate with the ex-vessel value, including 

through the implementation of newer and more feasible monitoring 

regimens such as electronic monitoring capabilities. 

Electronic Monitoring and Reporting.—Within Fisheries Ecosystem Science Programs and Services, the Committee provides 

NMFS’s full request for Electronic Monitoring and Electronic Reporting [EM/ER] to support the development, testing, and installation of EM/ER technologies across the country. The Committee recognizes that advancements in EM/ER have the potential to cut 

costs and improve data collection for most U.S. fisheries. Within 

the funds provided for these activities, not less than $3,000,000 

shall be available, in accordance with 16 U.S.C. 3701, for collaborative partnerships that include non-Federal matching funds to implement cost-shared EM/ER programs that support fisheries conservation and management. During the development and implementation of electronic reporting and monitoring programs, NOAA 

shall consult directly with industry and work through the Fishery 

Management Councils (established under sections 1851 and 1852 of 

title 16) to develop appropriate cost-sharing arrangements that are 

commensurate with the ex-vessel value of the fishery. 

Furthermore, NMFS shall continue to work in fiscal year 2016 

with the charter for-hire recreational fishery in the Gulf of Mexico; 

the Northeast Multispecies/groundfish fishery fleet, including small 

vessels within that fleet; and any regional fishery fleet interested 

in implementing EM/ER technologies to better track information 

that is currently collected through the use of human observers. The 

Committee is aware that the New England Fishery Management 

Council has been working with NMFS to begin the transition to 

electronic monitoring systems. NMFS is directed to begin implementing these systems not later than May 1, 2016, which marks 

the start of the next fishing year. 

With respect to the ongoing evaluation of EM/ER technology on 

small fixed-gear boats, NMFS is directed to prioritize activities in 

fiscal year 2016 that utilize currently available technologies that 

contribute in the near term to improved fisheries management, including but not limited to catch or discard data. 

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated [IUU] Fishing.—The Committee provides the requested increase of $3,000,000 under Enforcement and Surveillance to combat IUU fishing. NOAA is encouraged to continue strengthening its efforts to detect and deter 

illegally harvested and improperly-documented seafood, including 

working with other U.S., international, and foreign agencies to ensure fair competition for our country’s domestic fishermen and safety for American consumers. 
33 

Marine Aquaculture.—In accordance with NOAA’s goal of 

prioritizing aquaculture research in an effort to bolster the United 

States aquaculture industry, increase seafood supply and security, 

and avoid the risk of losing U.S. investors to countries that have 

recognized aquaculture’s critical contributions, NOAA is encouraged to ensure that its aquaculture-focused resources, including 

those at Fisheries Science Centers, have the directive and ability 

to prioritize aquaculture research and related activities that promote a strong and viable aquaculture industry. 

Oyster Aquaculture.—Within the increased funds provided for 

NMFS Aquaculture, the Committee provides not less than 

$1,000,000 to support ongoing research in off-bottom oyster production in coastal areas, particularly those new to this method of production, including the Gulf of Mexico, and encourages NMFS to 

dedicate resources for further research in oyster genetics, disease, 

and economic modeling. 

Oyster Reef Restoration.—The Committee continues to encourage 

NOAA to work with its State and non-Federal partners to consider 

supporting oyster shell recycling programs as part of the agency’s 

competitive external funding opportunities for habitat restoration 

projects. 

Cooperative Research.—At a time when fishing opportunities are 

constrained by uncertainty in stock assessment and increased access to healthy stocks depends on better data, the Committee believes that maintenance of ongoing monitoring programs and surveys is critical. The Committee encourages NMFS to continue to 

prioritize long-time series surveys that are conducted cooperatively 

with industry and States. Furthermore, NOAA is encouraged to 

continue funding to support cooperative fisheries datasets, particularly in regions with inadequate coverage or those that complement 

and augment data provided by existing NOAA surveys. In particular, priority should be established for time series data that: incorporate cooperative research with commercial fishermen; are developed by Sea Grant universities; or are produced in cooperation 

with State and local management agencies. In addition, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center is directed to work collaboratively 

with the fishing industry to update the Northeast Cooperative Research Strategic Plan, including: the identification of science priorities; a process for greater involvement of fishermen in data collection; and better communication of how the results of cooperative 

fisheries research are used. 

Horseshoe Crab Survey.—The Committee is concerned that 

horseshoe crab surveys along the Atlantic Coast have not been adequately conducted in recent years due to lack of funding. Horseshoe 

crabs are critical to the ecology and economy of the Mid-Atlantic 

coastal region. They are a significant commercial bait fishery, provide a vital food source for migratory shore birds, and their unique 

blood (hemolymph) is used by the biomedical industry to test for 

bacterial contamination. The Committee encourages NMFS to use 

funding within the amount provided for expanding annual stock assessments to help restore this important survey for the Mid-Atlantic horseshoe crab population. 

Seafood Reporting.—The United States leads the world in responsibly managed fisheries and aquaculture, and the Committee 
34 

supports NOAA’s activities to inform consumers about our Nation’s 

sustainable fisheries through the agency’s FishWatch program. 

However, the Committee is concerned that the exclusive use or recognition of third-party certifications for seafood sustainability by 

the Department could have unintended consequences for various 

domestic fisheries. The Committee acknowledges that some U.S. 

fisheries voluntarily utilize third-party seafood sustainability certification schemes, but believes it is not the Department’s role to 

adopt such certification schemes when doing so could result in the 

Department arbitrarily influencing the U.S. domestic seafood market. The Committee believes support for third-party certifications is 

best presented in non-governmental forums. Therefore, the Committee directs the Department not to adopt, use, or promote any 

third-party certification scheme for seafood sustainability, but to 

instead continue providing consumers with independent and accountable information generated from within the Department. 

Habitat Conservation and Restoration.—Within the amount provided, NOAA is encouraged to include funding for the multi-year 

Habitat Blueprint Focus Area partnership agreements developed 

under the Habitat Blueprint initiative. The Committee encourages 

NOAA to include a broader, ecosystem-based management philosophy; expand criteria to include recreational species, managed commercial species, and forage species; and prioritize proposals that 

engage local communities. NOAA shall also continue to emphasize 

the value of partnerships when evaluating grant applications, and 

shall seek to maximize external funding for public-private partnerships, including those that prioritize direct community involvement 

and stewardship of local projects that support a range of benefits 

to coastal watershed communities. Furthermore, NOAA is encouraged to explore the establishment of a dedicated research and infrastructure program tasked with tackling urban coastal sustainability issues in communities with recent historical changes in 

coastal and offshore ecosystems. 

NOAA is encouraged to give priority to habitat restoration grants 

for river basins that are critical to the restoration of priority fisheries, especially restoration projects that support multistakeholder 

agreements, including settlements of litigation and conflict over 

water management, and particularly involving the settlement of 

tribal water rights. Furthermore, NOAA is encouraged to work 

with local communities and tribal governments so they can engage 

in collaborative management and restoration of fisheries. 

NOAA OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH

The Committee’s recommendation provides $436,042,000 for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research [OAR]. OAR programs provide the 

environmental research and technology needed to improve NOAA 

weather services, forecasts, climate predictions, and marine services. To accomplish these goals, OAR supports a network of scientists in its Federal research laboratories, universities, and joint 

institutes and partnership programs. 

Committee recommendations are displayed in the following table: 
35 

OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH OPERATIONS, RESEARCH AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Climate Research: 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes ............................................................................................... 60,000 

Regional Climate Data and Information .............................................................................................. 38,000 

Climate Competitive Research .............................................................................................................. 55,000 

Total, Climate Research ................................................................................................................... 153,000 

Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs: 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes ............................................................................................... 70,000 

U.S. Weather Research Program ........................................................................................................... 8,000 

Tornado Severe Storm Research/Phased Array Radar .......................................................................... 13,158 

Total, Weather and Air Chemistry Research .................................................................................... 91,158 

Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research: 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes ............................................................................................... 32,000 

National Sea Grant College Program .................................................................................................... 62,800 

Marine Aquaculture Research ............................................................................................................... 10,000 

Sustained Ocean Observations and Monitoring ................................................................................... 41,596 

Integrated Ocean Acidification ............................................................................................................. 11,000 

Ocean Exploration ................................................................................................................................. 22,344 

Total, Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research ........................................................................... 179,740 

High Performance Computing Initiatives ....................................................................................................... 12,144 

GRAND TOTAL OAR ............................................................................................................................ 436,042 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes.—The Committee recognizes the significant roles Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes 

play in fulfilling the mission requirements of NOAA. In order to 

strengthen the state of science within NOAA’s mission scope and 

create advantages in new scientific knowledge, NOAA must continue to support new technologies and improved services for coastal 

communities and the Nation. Therefore, the Committee provides 

$2,000,000 above the budget request for research activities involving watershed impacts on marine ecosystems, remote sensing, and 

long-term monitoring of oil spill impacts on marine ecosystem 

health, including in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The Committee 

also encourages NOAA to consider how additional cooperative institutes could strengthen NOAA’s ability to improve coastal sustainability and resilience and better prepare coastal communities to 

make smart land-use decisions. 

Climate Research.—The Committee provides the requested level 

for supporting and expanding the National Integrated Drought Information System, including the Regional Drought Early Warning 

Information System. 

Multi-Function Phased Array Radar.—The Committee provides 

OAR’s full request for the Multi-Function Phased Array Radar 

[MPAR] and recognizes the importance of the program in developing and implementing the next generation weather and aircraft 

radar surveillance network. The Committee believes that consolidation of planning, research, and development strategies is necessary 

for the future success of the MPAR program and remains concerned with the uncertainty pertaining to cost sharing between the 
36 

FAA and NOAA. The Committee directs NOAA to maintain its 

leadership role for MPAR research and development and to establish an interagency committee, including the FAA and other stakeholders, to formulate key requirements for a comprehensive development and acquisition strategy. Not later than 45 days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall provide a plan detailing how such 

key requirements would be achieved. 

Vortex-Southeast [Vortex-SE].—The southeastern United States 

commonly experiences devastating tornadoes under variables and 

conditions that differ considerably from the Midwest where conditions for tornado research have historically been focused. Within 

funds provided for Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs, 

up to $5,000,000 is provided for OAR to collaborate with the National Science Foundation’s Vortex-SE initiative to better understand how environmental factors that are characteristic of the 

southeast United States affect the formation, intensity, and storm 

path of tornadoes for this region. 

Infrasonic Weather Monitoring Research.—Within funds provided 

for the U.S. Weather Research Program, the Committee provides 

up to $500,000 to support external research opportunities with academic institutions in infrasonic monitoring methods of violent 

weather. The Committee believes that advanced infrasound signal 

processing methodologies and studies, deployed through a network 

of infrasound arrays to detect tornadoes and hurricanes, have the 

potential to improve forecast accuracy. 

National Sea Grant College Program.—The Committee rejects 

NOAA’s requested decrease to the National Sea Grant Program 

base and elimination of STEM-related education activities within 

the program. Within funds provided, NOAA is encouraged to leverage resources and pursue partnerships with Sea Grant universities 

and other Federal agencies to carry out aquatic animal health monitoring and research. This effort contributes to Sea Grant’s and 

NOAA’s broader mission of providing services to enhance coastal 

community resilience. Further, NOAA is directed to continue its 

partnership with academic programs that provide legal expertise 

related to the missions of the program and NOAA. 

Fisheries-Related Research.—The Committee remains concerned 

about the negative impacts of the short recreational fishing season 

for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico. Additional data sources and assessment approaches would be beneficial and should be pursued by 

entities other than NOAA’s regulating line office, NMFS. Therefore, the Committee provides up to $5,000,000 within Sea Grant to 

research and develop alternative approaches to data collection and 

analysis, including a tagging pilot program focused on the recreational fishing sector. Reward tagging studies are commonly used 

to estimate fishing mortality of exploited stocks, are based in sound 

peer-reviewed science, and are straight-forward and easily understood by the general public. Furthermore, the Committee believes 

the tagging data will provide valuable independent estimates of 

recreational fishing mortality for comparison with NMFS stock assessments. 

Aquaculture Research.—The Committee provides $10,000,000 for 

marine aquaculture research. NOAA is directed to support marine 

aquaculture research and development in partnership with univer-
37 

sities. Similar research efforts have led to beneficial outcomes such 

as the development and commercialization of new technologies to 

meet the domestic demand for warm water marine seafood, including finfish, shrimp, and oysters. 

Ocean Exploration.—The Committee directs NOAA to use a portion of the funding provided for Ocean Exploration to make competitive external awards to institutions that have partnered with 

OAR’s Ocean Exploration program in the past. This includes those 

institutions with ocean-going assets, such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, to support new exploration missions, expeditions, 

and deep-sea research in the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, NOAA 

is encouraged to continue fundamental ocean exploration in which 

open source data are collected for the oceanographic community 

and private industries in real-time through telepresence technology. Another primary focus should be the continued exploration 

of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zones. As in the past, the program 

shall use ships and other ocean-going assets operated by academic 

and non-governmental institutions, provided that any data acquired are open-sourced. 

NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

The Committee’s recommendation provides $977,032,000 for the 

National Weather Service [NWS]. NWS programs provide timely 

and accurate meteorologic, hydrologic, and oceanographic warnings 

and forecasts to ensure the safety of the population, mitigate property losses, and improve the economic productivity of the Nation. 

NWS is also responsible for issuing operational climate forecasts 

for the United States. The Committee has made saving lives and 

livelihoods though accurate weather forecasting a priority. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Observations ..................................................................................................................................................... 206,376 

Central Processing ........................................................................................................................................... 92,871 

Analyze, Forecast, and Support ....................................................................................................................... 495,845 

Dissemination ................................................................................................................................................... 46,743 

Science and Technology Integration ................................................................................................................ 135,197 

GRAND TOTAL NWS ............................................................................................................................. 977,032 

Information Technology Officers.—While the Committee supports 

cost-savings and steps to improve efficiency, NWS’s proposal to consolidate Information Technology Officer positions at the agency’s 

regional weather forecast offices comes before a comprehensive review of NWS operations has been completed, and any move to consolidate these positions at this time would be premature. The Committee is pleased that NWS has awarded a contract for a comprehensive, third-party review of its long-term operations and 

workforce needs, and looks forward to the results of this assessment. If such a proposal is made in any future reprogramming or 

budget submission, NWS is directed to detail how such a consolida-
38 

tion would streamline system configurations, shore up existing 

cybersecurity vulnerabilities, contribute to the expedited rollout of 

the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, and achieve 

cost savings while resulting in no degradation of service to NWS 

or its State, local, and Federal partners. 

National Data Buoy Center [NDBC].—The Committee provides 

sufficient funding to maintain, at a minimum, NDBC operations at 

80 percent data availability. The Committee encourages NOAA to 

provide adequate funding to support maintenance and service of 

the Tropical Atmosphere/Ocean Array [TAO] and Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis [DART] array across the 

equatorial Pacific. In addition, not later than 180 days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall provide a report to the Committee detailing the resources necessary to properly maintain and operate 

the coastal weather buoy system in areas off Alaska and in the 

Arctic Ocean. The report shall include the identification of gaps in 

Arctic weather and sea ice observing networks in U.S. territories 

of the Arctic Ocean. The Committee directs NOAA to include a 

schedule to restore existing data buoy operability and its strategy 

to minimize outages in the future as part of the agency’s spending 

plan. 

National Water Center.—The Committee provides no less than 

$14,500,000 for operations and staffing of the newly opened National Water Center [NWC]. The NWC will serve as the first ever 

clearinghouse for research and operational forecasting of all waterrelated issues facing our Nation, including: severe floods, storm 

surge, drought, and water quality, among others. Given the importance of the NWC to better protect lives and property of our Nation’s citizens, NOAA is directed to expedite staffing and operations 

at the Center to achieve full operating capability as soon as possible. The Committee directs NOAA to provide a report no less 

than 45 days after enactment of this act with a staffing plan that 

includes an update on commitments from partner agencies and a 

timeline for accomplishing operational readiness in the first quarter of fiscal year 2016. 

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program [NTHMP].—The 

Committee rejects NOAA’s proposal to terminate funding for tsunami preparedness within the NTHMP, and instead instructs the 

Agency to maintain funding at the fiscal year 2015 level and to 

strengthen the NTHMP in accordance with the 2011 evaluation by 

the National Academy of Sciences. 

Report on Accuracy of Weather and Water Forecasts for Alaska.— 

Not later than 270 days after enactment of this act, NWS shall report to the Committee on the accuracy of weather and water forecasts for Alaska and U.S. territories in the Arctic region. The report shall include a comparison of the accuracy of weather and 

water forecasts for Alaska and the U.S. Arctic with the accuracy 

of weather and water forecasts for the contiguous 48 States of the 

United States, the root cause for any disparity, and what resources 

would be required to reduce such disparity. In addition, the report 

shall describe current limitations in delivering forecasts and information to support safe marine transportation and operations in the 

Arctic Ocean. 
39 

COASTAL Act Implementation.—Within funding provided for 

Science and Technology Integration, the Committee provides no 

less than $5,000,000 for the continued development and implementation of the COASTAL Act (Public Law 112–141), which was included in the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 

2012. The Committee supports NOAA’s work to assist homeowners 

impacted by destructive winds and storm surges associated with 

hurricanes and super-storms. The Committee directs NOAA to continue to leverage existing Federal assets, expertise, and partnerships in carrying out COASTAL Act activities. Furthermore, NOAA 

is directed to provide the Committee updates every 6 months on 

progress made and challenges related to implementation as well as 

any proposed solutions. 

National Mesonet Program.—The Committee provides $16,000,000 for the continuation and expansion of the National 

Mesonet Program and is encouraged by the Administration’s request to fund the program. Funds should be made available 

through a competitive weather data procurement that sustains coverage of areas currently included within the national mesonet, as 

well as an expansion of coverage in high risk areas. NOAA is also 

encouraged to add new observations such as coastal observations, 

boundary layer data, and total lightning data. NOAA should require that awardees provide mesonet data in formats that can be 

integrated by NWS for use in forecasts and severe weather alerts. 

NOAA should also encourage efforts to demonstrate the validity of 

mesonet observation data in increasing severe weather warning 

times and to demonstrate the economic benefit of Mesonet observations for various key sectors, such as commercial aviation and electric grid management. Of the funds provided, up to $500,000 may 

be used for Meterological Assimilation Data Ingest System 

[MADIS] activities, including transitioning MADIS from research 

to operations and enabling the distribution of Mesonet data 

through the Advanced Weather Interaction Processing System 

[AWIPS]. Up to $500,000 may be used for costs associated with the 

National Mesonet Program Office. The Committee views the national mesonet as an important component of any effort to effectively develop a ‘‘Weather-Ready Nation’’ and expects that future 

NOAA budget requests will continue to reflect it as a priority. 

NWS Office Relocations.—The Committee encourages NWS to colocate its local or regional facilities with universities, including 

land-grant research universities, particularly in States with emergency management offices that have forecast capabilities for atmospheric events and that place priority on developing more accurate 

and timely warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events. 

NWS should utilize funding provided for planning, design, and 

long-term co-location lease agreements wherever it is feasible. Furthermore, priority shall be given to areas most impacted by recent 

extreme weather events where current leases may be expiring. 

NOAA NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND

INFORMATION SERVICE

The Committee’s recommendation provides $189,086,000 for National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service 

[NESDIS] operations. NESDIS programs operate environmental 
40 

polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites and collect and archive 

global environmental data and information for distribution to users 

in commerce, industry, agriculture, science and engineering, the 

general public, and Federal, State, and local agencies. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, 

AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Environmental Satellite Observing Systems: 

Office of Satellite and Product Operations ............................................................................................ 102,000 

Product Development, Readiness & Application .................................................................................... 26,000 

Commercial Remote Sensing Licensing & Enforcement ........................................................................ 1,000 

Office of Space Commercialization ......................................................................................................... 600 

Group on Earth Observations [GEO] ....................................................................................................... 500 

Total, Environmental Satellite Observing Systems ............................................................................ 130,100 

National Environmental Information Office ..................................................................................................... 58,986 

GRAND TOTAL NESDIS ......................................................................................................................... 189,086 

National Environmental Information Office.—The Committee recommends $58,986,000 for the National Environmental Information 

Office [NEIO], which is a new office that consolidates several programs that were previously funded separately. While the Committee supports the updated budget structure for NESDIS, it is essential to ensure that key programs continue to receive adequate 

funding. Specifically, the Committee provides not less than the fiscal year 2015 enacted levels of $6,000,000 for the Regional Climate 

Services, $3,650,000 for Regional Climate Centers, and $4,567,000 

for Coastal Data Development. Within NEIO, the Committee encourages NOAA to fully support critical international partnerships, 

including the Global Climate Observing System. 

NOAA-WIDE PROGRAM SUPPORT

The Committee’s recommendation provides $460,285,000 for 

NOAA-wide program support. These programs provide for overall 

NOAA management, including staffing of the Under Secretary’s office and services to NOAA and DOC field offices through the regional Administrative Support Centers. These programs also support NOAA’s Education Office consistent with the recommendations of the Joint Ocean Commission. The facilities subactivity provides for repair and maintenance to existing facilities, facilities 

planning and design, and environmental compliance. The Office of 

Marine and Aviation Operations provides aircraft and marine data 

acquisition, repair, and maintenance of the existing fleet; planning 

of future modernization; and technical and management support 

for NOAA-wide activities through the NOAA Commissioned Officer 

Corps. 

Committee recommendations are displayed in the following table: 
41 

PROGRAM SUPPORT OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Corporate Services: 

Under Secretary and Associate Offices Base ......................................................................................... 27,000 

Facilities .................................................................................................................................................. 23,000 

NOAA Wide Corporate Services and Agency Management ..................................................................... 115,000 

DOC Accounting System .......................................................................................................................... 6,223 

IT Security ............................................................................................................................................... 8,300 

DOC Working Capital Fund ..................................................................................................................... 43,000 

Total, Corporate Services .................................................................................................................... 222,523 

NOAA Education Program ................................................................................................................................. 26,631 

Marine and Aircraft Operations ....................................................................................................................... 211,131 

GRAND TOTAL, PROGRAM SUPPORT ................................................................................................... 460,285 

Corporate Services.—Within the increased funds provided for 

Corporate Services, NOAA is directed to focus on restoring the 

functionality of its Workforce Management Office and Acquisition 

and Grant Services. 

Education.—Within the funds provided for NOAA’s Education 

Program, $5,000,000 is for competitive educational grants, which 

includes continued support for Environmental Literacy Grants and 

for improving geographic literacy; $14,431,000 is for the Educational Partnership Program with minority-serving institutions; 

and $7,200,000 is for Bay-Watershed Education and Training regional programs, which was touted by the Department of Education 

as a model program for how Federal and State agencies should collaborate on STEM education. Within funding for competitive educational grants, NOAA is encouraged to support not-for-profit facilities that promote educational, career, and private-sector opportunities in the field of ocean sciences. 

A full description of the Committee’s assessment and direction 

regarding the administration’s Co-STEM consolidation proposal is 

found in the Office of Science Technology and Policy portion of this 

report. For NOAA’s part, the Committee continues to encourage efforts to streamline STEM education programs across NOAA line offices that make sense and supports the internal consolidation of 

NOAA education programs. However, the Committee does not support the elimination of NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program or the Dr. 

Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. 

Outstanding Loan Balances.—The Committee encourages NOAA 

and its respective line offices to work with communities and businesses, on a case-by-case basis, to resolve outstanding balances in 

a manner that considers the borrower’s current financial ability but 

remains fair to American taxpayers. 

Management Fees.—The Committee is concerned by recent news 

reports suggesting that certain Federal grant and cooperative 

agreement recipients have used management fees inappropriately 

by spending federally awarded funds on, for example, lobbying, alcohol, and entertainment. NOAA is directed to ensure that all 

funding recipients understand and are in compliance with Office of 
42 

Management and Budget guidance on appropriate uses of such 

funds. 

Budget Justification Overhaul.—The Committee has included 

language directing NOAA to improve its Congressional Budget 

Submission for the past 5 years to no avail. The product remains 

difficult to use, and it is clear that there has been no concerted effort to make improvements. The amount and quality of information 

provided on programs and activities varies widely from one Line 

Office section to another with rigid adherence to an arbitrary format at the cost of common sense. Therefore, the Committee directs 

NOAA to undertake a thorough review and overhaul of its budget 

justification documents to ensure that the information provided to 

the Committee is comprehensive, succinct, and consistent. Not later 

than 90 days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall report to the 

Committee on the status of the justification review and overhaul so 

that the Committee may provide feedback. 

Marine and Aviation Operations.—Any decisions related to laying up any vessels, grounding any aircraft, or decommissioning any 

capital asset are subject to the standard reprogramming procedures 

set forth in section 505 of this act. Any changes from the spending 

plan shall also be subject to section 505 of this act. NOAA shall 

continue to provide the Committee with a monthly operational status of the fleet and aircraft. NOAA is further directed to provide 

the Committee with updated long-term management and acquisition plans for the fleet and aircraft within 60 days of enactment of 

this act. 

NOAA PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION, AND CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,179,225,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,498,679,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,960,034,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,079,494,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $2,079,494,000 for 

NOAA’s procurement, acquisition, and construction. The recommendation is $99,731,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and $419,185,000 below the budget request. 

Committee recommendations are displayed in the following table: 

PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

National Ocean Service: 

National Estuarine Research Reserve Construction ............................................................................... 1,700 

Marine Sanctuaries Construction/Acquisition ......................................................................................... 2,000 

Total National Ocean Service—PAC .................................................................................................. 3,700 

Ocean and Atmospheric Research: 

Research Super Computing .................................................................................................................... 20,079 

National Weather Service: 

Observations ............................................................................................................................................ 16,720 

Central Processing .................................................................................................................................. 64,261 

Dissemination .......................................................................................................................................... 45,684 
43 

PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

WFO Construction .................................................................................................................................... 8,650 

Total, National Weather Service—PAC .............................................................................................. 135,315 

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Services: 

Geostationary Systems [GOES–R] ........................................................................................................... 871,791 

Joint Polar Satellite System [JPSS] ......................................................................................................... 808,966 

Polar Follow-on ........................................................................................................................................ 135,000 

SIDAR ....................................................................................................................................................... 500 

DSCOVR ................................................................................................................................................... 3,200 

Jason–3 ................................................................................................................................................... 7,458 

COSMIC–2 ............................................................................................................................................... 10,100 

Satellite Ground Services ........................................................................................................................ 50,000 

System Architecture and Advanced Planning ......................................................................................... 3,929 

Projects, Planning, and Analysis ............................................................................................................ 25,228 

Satellite CDA Facility .............................................................................................................................. 2,228 

Total, NESDIS—PAC ........................................................................................................................... 1,918,400 

Program Support: 

Construction ............................................................................................................................................ 1,000 

Vessel Equip. and Tech Refresh ............................................................................................................. 11,700 

New Vessel Construction ......................................................................................................................... 2,300 

Total, Program Support—PAC ............................................................................................................ 15,000 

Unobligated balances from prior years ........................................................................................................... 13,000 

GRAND TOTAL, PAC ............................................................................................................................. 2,079,494 

National Estuarine Research Reserve Construction.—The Committee remains concerned about the increased costs and lack of 

transparency associated with certain third-party green building 

rating systems. The use of certain green building standards can arbitrarily discriminate against domestic building materials such as 

wood that could be locally sourced, thereby increasing costs to taxpayers without significant benefits in energy and water savings. 

The Committee again directs NOAA to use funding provided for 

National Estuarine Research Reserve Construction subject only to 

green building rating systems or standards that are voluntary consensus standards; have achieved American National Standard Institute [ANSI] Designation; or were developed by an ANSI Audited 

Designator, and take into consideration the environmental and economic benefits of building materials through lifecycle analysis. Not 

later than 90 days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall notify 

the Committee on any new, existing, or planned construction 

projects at NERRS sites that receive accreditation for energy savings from a third-party green building rating system. 

Weather Satellites.—The Committee provides full funding for the 

continued procurement and acquisition of the Joint Polar Satellite 

System [JPSS] and the Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite R-series [GOES–R], NOAA’s flagship weather satellite 

programs. NOAA is directed to prioritize satellite programs directly 

related to weather forecasting and that result in the greatest re-
44 

duction of risk to lives and property. Keeping JPSS and GOES–R 

programs on-budget and on-schedule is critical, as is maintaining 

their respective cost controls, particularly when NOAA’s satellite 

missions continue to dominate the agency’s annual budget requirements. The Committee reiterates its previous direction to NOAA to 

find savings from operating expenses and to reduce duplicative 

Government overhead shared with the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration [NASA]. 

Polar Follow-On.—The Committee provides $135,000,000 for the 

newly proposed Polar Follow-On mission. Ensuring a risk-averse 

and robust continuation of polar orbiting weather satellites is essential to avoid gaps in the data that is required for accurate 

weather forecasting. The Committee directs NOAA to have an 

Independent Cost Estimate [ICE] conducted for the Polar Followon program. Not later than 180 days following enactment of this 

act, NOAA shall provide detailed results from the ICE analysis to 

the Committee, including a comparison to the agency’s internal estimate of the program’s life-cycle cost. 

COSMIC–2.—The Committee provides $10,100,000 for the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate 2 [COSMIC–2] program, an increase of $3,300,000 over the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level, for the ground reception and processing of Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation 

[GNSS RO] satellite data, which will augment current data used 

for global weather forecasts and studies. However, no funding is 

provided for the procurement of a second set of radio occultation 

[RO] sensors that NOAA proposes to launch into polar orbit in 

2019. The Committee notes that the U.S. Air Force—NOAA’s partner on COSMIC–2—has not committed to providing launch services 

for a polar constellation of RO sensors. Furthermore, NOAA has 

not yet identified any other launch provider for this proposed polar 

constellation. The Committee encourages NOAA to explore all options for obtaining polar GNSS RO data, including through commercial data purchases. 

Space Weather Follow-On.—The Committee acknowledges the 

need to continue collecting space weather data in order to forecast 

and mitigate damage from solar geomagnetic storms. A coherent 

space weather architecture is necessary to predict and mitigate 

damage from threats to communications and electrical infrastructure. The Committee notes that the Administration’s request designates NOAA as the agency responsible for procuring and issuing 

alerts based on such data. While NASA’s heliophysics program has 

historically provided data in this domain, NASA’s program is designed for research rather than operational requirements and has 

limited ability to forecast space weather events. Therefore, not 

later than 120 days after enactment of this act, NOAA is directed 

to submit a report to the Committee detailing: space weather data 

needs for operational forecasting, various options for attaining such 

data, cost estimates for those options, and corresponding timelines. 

The report shall also analyze the potential impact of a space 

weather data gap after 2019. 

NOAA Satellite Reporting.—The Committee directs NOAA to provide quarterly programmatic and procurement status reports of all 

satellites actively flying and under development unless any re-
45 

programming, system failure, or other extraordinary circumstance 

warrants an immediate update. As part of the agency’s quarterly 

satellite briefing, NOAA shall include updates on preparations and 

enhancements neccessary to accommodate an increased volume of 

satellite data and shall compare initial cost estimates to actual expenditures. 

New Vessel Construction.—The Committee notes that despite repeated requests, the administration has failed to deliver a fleet recapitalization plan for NOAA showing a strategic timeline of when 

current ships should be retired and new vessel construction is 

needed. While the Committee supports an effort to modernize 

NOAA’s aging fleet, the Committee does not fully fund the agency’s 

fiscal year 2016 request to construct a new ocean-going survey vessel at this time. Instead, the Committee provides $2,300,000 to: 

support the NOAA and U.S. Navy program management team, 

fund the work necessary for preliminary design contracts, and 

maintain the project management support that is needed for a construction award for an ocean-going survey vessel. The Committee 

urges the administration to provide the Congress with an updated 

fleet management plan immediately. Furthermore, NOAA is directed to work with the U.S. Navy to explore options for new vessel 

construction in future fiscal years, including a schedule for meeting 

the requirements of the forthcoming fleet management plan and investigating more flexible financing mechanisms that will allow 

NOAA to distribute the costs of vessel construction across multiple 

years. 

PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $65,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 58,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 65,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 65,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $65,000,000 for the 

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. The recommendation is the 

same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $7,000,000 above 

the budget estimate. Funds are for conservation and restoration of 

Pacific salmon populations. State and local recipients of this funding will provide matching contributions of at least 33 percent of 

Federal funds. In addition, funds will be available to tribes without 

a matching requirement. 

FISHERMEN’S CONTINGENCY FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $350,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 350,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 350,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 350,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $350,000 for the 

Fishermen’s Contingency Fund. The recommendation is the same 

as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the President’s request. 
46 

FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ¥$6,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... ¥6,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... ¥6,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ¥6,000,000 

The Committee recommends that direct loans administered 

through this account for individual fishing quotas may not exceed 

$24,000,000. Traditional direct loans may not exceed $100,000,000, 

which is the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and budget 

request. 

OTHER 

DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $56,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 71,095,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 50,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 56,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $56,000,000 for Departmental Management Salaries and Expenses. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $15,095,000 

below the budget request. 

Within Departmental Management, the Salaries and Expenses 

account provides funding for the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and 

support staff. Responsibilities involve policy development and implementation affecting U.S. and international activities, as well as 

establishing internal goals for operations of the Department. 

Not less than 90 days after enactment of this act, the Department shall submit to the Committee a report detailing actions 

taken to cut costs and a detailed account of funds saved by such 

actions across the Department’s bureaus. 

BusinessUSA.—The Committee provides funding up to the 

amount provided in fiscal year 2015 for BusinessUSA. However, 

the Committee clarifies that BusinessUSA is an online tool and 

shared inter-agency call center designed to facilitate information 

sharing, improve services to the public, and reduce interagency 

redundancies. Funds provided shall not be used to expand staffing 

or open any offices. 

Business Application Solutions.—The Committee was supportive 

of previous funding requests for the Business Application Solutions 

[BAS] modernization project to consolidate and upgrade the systems used to manage finances, acquisitions, properties, and reporting requirements for the Department of Commerce. However, the 

Committee was disappointed to learn that two attempts to pilot a 

new system within the Department failed to move forward—particularly since the Department required an emergency reprogramming in fiscal year 2014 to allow NOAA to implement the new BAS 

system. Within 45 days of enactment of this act, the Committee directs the Department to provide a report detailing how previously 

appropriated funds for BAS were spent, including reprogrammed 

funds, in addition to specific steps the Department and the Office 

of Management and Budget are taking to expeditiously transition 
47 

to a new system. Furthermore, the Department will keep the Committee apprised of any progress or setbacks as they occur until the 

new system is fully operational. 

Small Business Innovation Research.—The Committee recognizes 

the importance of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] 

program and its previous success in facilitating commercial successes from federally funded research and development projects. 

The SBIR program encourages small domestic businesses to engage 

in Federal research and development and creates jobs in the smallest firms. The Committee therefore directs the Department of Commerce to place an increased focus on awarding SBIR grants to 

firms with fewer than 50 people. 

Unobligated Balances.—The Committee remains concerned about 

the amount of unobligated funding within the Department of Commerce. The Department is directed to report all unobligated balances to the Committee on a quarterly basis following enactment 

of this act. Furthermore, the Department shall inform the Committee in writing of the specific steps taken to address the Inspector General’s report of June 2013 regarding poor oversight and accounting of unobligated balances. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $30,596,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 35,190,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 32,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 30,596,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $30,596,000 for the 

Office of Inspector General [OIG]. The recommendation is equal to 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $4,594,000 below the budget 

request. 

In addition to funds provided under this heading, the Committee has recommended transfers to the OIG: $2,000,000 from the U.S. 

Patent and Trademark Office; $1,302,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and $1,551,000 from the 

Census Bureau for oversight and audits of those activities. The 

Committee directs the OIG to continue strict oversight activities for 

satellite procurements, cybersecurity, and the decennial census. 

Working Capital Fund Audits.—The Committee continues to direct the OIG to audit all of the working capital funds within the 

Department to evaluate the Department’s budgetary controls over 

all funds. The OIG shall assess: the controls in place to develop reimbursement formulas; the relationship of reimbursements to client services; the appropriateness of the level of fund balances; and 

compliance with appropriations law and direction. As part of this 

assessment, the Inspector General shall pay particular attention to 

the increasing amounts of funding needed to support the Department’s Office of General Counsel, including the justification and 

metrics for how such funding is being levied against each agency 

and, reciprocally, how the agencies account for the services they receive from the Office of General Counsel. 

Audits and Investigations.—The OIG serves a critical oversight 

role at the Department. The Committee believes that robust investigations and audits are essential to routing out waste, fraud and 

abuse, but that limiting inquiries only to individuals in the Depart-
48 

ment does not necessarily lead to comprehensive findings and recommendations. The Committee directs the OIG to modify its policies and procedures to ensure that investigations or reports include 

interviews with all parties to the project or program in question, 

including, but not limited to, contractors responsible for projects 

under review. The Committee cautions the OIG against issuing 

preliminary findings prior to interviewing a majority of the entities 

involved with the program or project under investigation, unless 

the OIG believes the findings are time sensitive or additional interviews are immaterial. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Section 101 makes Commerce Department funds available for advanced payments only upon certification of officials designated by 

the Secretary that such payments are considered to be in the public 

interest. 

Section 102 makes appropriations for salaries and expenses 

available for the hire of passenger motor vehicles, and for services, 

uniforms, and allowances as authorized by law. 

Section 103 provides the authority to transfer funds between Department of Commerce accounts. The provision makes transfers 

subject to the Committee’s standard reprogramming procedures. 

Section 104 extends congressional notification requirements for 

the NOAA satellite programs. 

Section 105 provides authority for the Secretary of Commerce to 

furnish certain services within the Herbert C. Hoover Building. 

Section 106 clarifies that grant recipients under the Department 

of Commerce may continue to deter child pornography, copyright 

infringement, or any other unlawful activity over their networks. 

Section 107 provides NOAA the authority to share resources with 

entities outside the agency. 

Section 108 specifies that none of the funds made available by 

this act, or any other appropriations act, can be used by the Department of Commerce to enforce or carry out activities under the 

Foreign Trade Zone regulation for uniform treatment (15 CFR 

400.43). 

Section 109 specifies that no funds made available by this act, 

or any other appropriations act, may be used by the Secretary of 

Commerce to manage fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, unless such 

management activities are in accordance with the State seaward 

boundaries set by this act for the purposes of fisheries management 

in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Section 110 requires that, before charging for congressional reports, the National Technical Information Service [NTIS] advise 

the public of free ways to receive or access these reports. For those 

reports that cannot be found free of charge or when a customer requires a mailed, hard copy, NTIS may only charge a de minimus 

copying and mailing fee. The Committee is concerned about outrageous fees the National Technical Information Service charges 

the public for hard copies of congressional reports and documents 

available for free online. 

Section 111 allows NOAA to be reimbursed by Federal and nonFederal entities for performing certain activities. 
49 

The Committee remains concerned that agreements for offsetting 

collections provided for under this section could result in a conflict 

of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, for the Department. The Department is directed to exercise caution and consider any unintended consequences that could result from such 

agreements, including, but not limited to, augmentation of appropriations, initiation of new programs not authorized by this act or 

any other act of Congress, and liabilities extending beyond the period of any such agreement. The Department shall provide to the 

Committee monthly updates on all offsetting fee collections, including each entity participating in the agreement, as well as the terms 

of and specific activities funded by the agreement. Additionally, estimates of anticipated fee collections shall be included in the Department’s annual spend plans. To further ensure the Committee 

maintains sufficient oversight for activities carried out under this 

section, language is included specifying that any offsetting collection would require the consent of each party subject to the agreement and all offsetting collections shall be subject to procedures set 

forth by section 505 of this act. 

Section 112 allows the Secretary of Commerce to waive the bond 

requirement for research vessel repair and construction contracts 

that would align Commerce’s authorities with those of other Federal agencies and address difficulties NOAA has experienced in obtaining competitive bids for ship repairs. 

Prior to exercising waiver authority under section 112 of this act, 

the Secretary of Commerce shall promulgate regulations specifying 

criteria under which waiver authority may be used, including the 

types of contracts eligible for consideration, surety alternatives, 

and acceptable risk profiles in order to protect the taxpayer and ensure that NOAA maximizes cost-savings. The Department is directed to notify the Committee not less than 15 days prior to any 

waiver issued under this section. In addition, the Department 

shall, not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 

act, prepare a report including the actual costs of repairing, rehabilitating, and replacing vessels in fiscal years 2012, 2013, 2014, 

2015, and annually thereafter, including an indication of those vessels for which NOAA waived the Miller Act. 

Section 113 provides authority for the programs of the Bureau of 

Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census to enter into cooperative 

agreements in order to assist in improving statistical methodology 

and research. 
(50) 

TITLE II 

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

The Committee recommends a total of $27,827,770,000 for the 

Department of Justice [DOJ]. The recommendation is $797,612,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 funding level and $1,412,710,000 below 

the budget request. The Committee’s recommendation emphasizes 

key priorities regarding funding for the Department’s critical ongoing missions and activities to protect the safety, security, and 

rights of our citizens. 

Human Trafficking.—The combat against human and sex trafficking, including the apprehension of perpetrators who use online 

classified Web sites to facilitate the sexual exploitation of children, 

crosses many jurisdictions within the Department. The Committee’s recommendation provides no less than the fiscal year 2015 enacted level for the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit [HTPU] in 

the Civil Rights Division to fight human trafficking and slavery. 

The Committee encourages the HTPU and the Anti-Trafficking Coordination Teams to continue working with victim service providers 

and non-governmental organizations to ensure victim needs are 

prioritized as part of the overall strategy to combat human trafficking, forced labor, and slavery in the United States. 

The HTPU is directed to report to the Committee not later than 

120 days following enactment of this act on: (1) the total number 

of human trafficking cases it pursued within the last 3 years for 

prosecution, disaggregated by type of trafficking, and including instances in which an online classified Web site is determined to be 

the conduit for exploiting trafficked persons, especially minors, and 

the actions being taken to shut down these sites; (2) the number 

of Assistant U.S. Attorneys who received training on human trafficking within the last 3 years; and (3) the number of Assistant 

U.S. Attorneys who received training on restitution for human trafficking victims within the last 3 years. 

The Committee directs the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys 

[EOUSA], in consultation with the U.S. Attorneys, to designate a 

point of contact in each U.S. Attorney’s office who shall serve as 

the coordinator for all activities within that office concerning 

human trafficking and slavery matters covered by the Trafficking 

Victims Protection Act. Designating a point of contact improves 

communication and coordination within each jurisdiction, including 

with victim service organizations, in order to better serve the victims of human trafficking, forced labor, and slavery. The Committee also directs the EOUSA, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, to develop a process to enable survivors with T-visas to obtain an expedited letter of support from 

the Department of Justice when their criminal case is closed. 
51 

The FBI also plays a critical role in investigating criminal organizations trafficking individuals within the United States. The 

Committee encourages the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] to 

work with appropriate non-governmental organizations and victim 

service providers to improve the training of FBI agents in the field 

to assist in the identification of human trafficking victims and provide appropriate referrals to victim service organizations. The Committee also encourages the FBI to seek: (1) Continued Presence 

[CP] for potential trafficking victims as soon as possible to assist 

in the prosecution of traffickers and aid in victim recovery, and (2) 

assistance for local and State law enforcement to understand the 

requirements of CP and promptly respond to any State or local requests by law enforcement for CP for potential victims of human 

trafficking. 

Intellectual Property Rights [IPR] Enforcement.—The Committee 

expects IPR enforcement to remain a priority for both the Criminal 

Division [CRM] and FBI. The international theft of intellectual 

property is responsible for the loss of hundreds of billions of dollars 

annually and reduces the incentive for innovation and creativity 

within the U.S. economy. The Committee directs the CRM and FBI 

to maintain dedicated positions to combat intellectual property 

crimes and fund IPR efforts at no less than fiscal year 2015 enacted levels. In addition, the FBI shall provide quarterly updates 

to the Committee detailing the activities of its dedicated agents investigating IPR cases. 

Heroin Working Group.—The problem of heroin use and 

overdoses in the United States shows no signs of abating anytime 

soon. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s May 

2015 National Heroin Threat Assessment, heroin seizures in the 

United States rose 81 percent from 2010 to 2014, from 6,032 

pounds to 11,054 pounds, with the average size of a heroin seizure 

more than doubling, from 1.8 pounds to 3.8 pounds during this 

same time period. 

As part of the explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 

113–235, the Committee directed the Department of Justice to convene a multi-agency working group to develop a coordinated response to help our communities grappling with the growing scourge 

of heroin. While the Committee was disappointed to learn that this 

group had yet to convene prior to the subcommittee’s hearing on 

the Department’s law enforcement agencies’ budgets on March 12, 

2015, it was pleased to hear that this working group held a kickoff meeting on April 28, 2015. The Committee directs the Department to submit the complete and final recommendations of the 

multi-disciplinary working group not later than 45 days after enactment of this act. 

Bakken Oil Region.—The Committee directs the Department of 

Justice to report within 90 days of enactment of this act on the Department’s continued presence and ongoing resource requirements 

in the Bakken oil region, including both law enforcement and prosecutorial components. The Department shall also include an updated analysis of crime trends in the region in its report. 

Sole Sourcing of Equipment and Scientific Instruments.—The 

Committee urges the Department to employ full and open competition in any effort to procure or upgrade law enforcement equipment 
52 

to include scientific instruments and specialized communication 

equipment, including radios. Requests for proposals should not include technical specifications or requirements for proprietary designs or features that restrict competition and may not meet the 

latest technological advances available. The Committee believes 

that multiple vendors ensure the best environment for competition 

that will ultimately best serve the needs of the Department’s law 

enforcement agencies. 

Cybersecurity.—Over the past year, the United States has witnessed serious data breaches in the private sector, including cyber 

intrusions at some of the Nation’s largest companies and financial 

institutions. These breaches have exposed personal data and financial information of millions of Americans, leaving individuals and 

businesses alike feeling vulnerable and violated. Other attacks, like 

the recent effort in April 2015 by Russia to hack White House 

emails, pose serious national security threats. The Department has 

several offices with cybersecurity responsibilities, including those 

within the FBI, the National Security Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys Offices [USAO]. At a minimum, the Committee directs the Department to maintain its cybersecurity posture at no less than the fiscal year 2015 level to defend and respond to current and emerging attacks that threaten its own infrastructure and activities. In other cases, such as with the USAO and 

the FBI, the Committee has specific direction to increase cyber-related investigations and to prosecute more cybercrimes. Throughout this title, the Committee’s recommendation for cybersecurityrelated activities for the department totals $754,881,000 for fiscal 

year 2016, which is an increase of $72,155,000, or 11 percent, 

above the fiscal year 2015 level. 

Strengthening Police-Community Relations.—Recent events in 

communities across the Nation have illustrated the important need 

for lasting collaborative relationships between local police and the 

public. To assist with strengthening this relationship, the Committee has dedicated resources totaling $98,254,370 across a variety of program areas. Strong partnerships between the police and 

the communities they protect reduce crime, ensure that citizens’ 

civil rights are protected, and improve officer safety. 

The Committee has provided set-asides within the Byrne-JAG 

program of $20,000,000 for body-worn cameras for police officers 

with the expectation that funding will go to jurisdictions whose officers have been trained in using this technology and have privacy 

and data retention policies already in place; $5,000,000 within the 

Smart Policing program to study the effectiveness of body cameras; 

and $15,000,000 for Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation, a community-oriented program that uses research and collaboration to reduce crime and restore vitality in troubled neighborhoods. A funding level of $22,000,000 is provided for the Justice Reinvestment 

Initiative, a data-driven approach to improving public safety in 

communities. 

Within the COPS Office, the Committee is setting aside 

$10,000,000 for the continuation of the Collaborative Reform 

Model, which assists local law enforcement agencies to identify 

problems and develop solutions to some of the most critical issues 
53 

facing law enforcement today, such as use of force, fair and impartial policing, and improved accountability. Another $10,000,000 is set aside for Community Policing Development [CPD] within the COPS Office. CPD funds are used to advance community policing in law enforcement agencies through 

training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, development of innovative policing strategies, and best practices that are 

national in scope. The Committee further directs that CPD provide 

up to $5,000,000 within this program for diversity and inclusion 

training to organizations with experience in training law enforcement personnel. The goal of this training is to improve community 

policing and create partnerships between police officers and the 

citizens they protect. 

The Committee is providing funding for departmental agencies 

that assist with training State and local law enforcement officers 

and help with mediating conflicts in communities. The Community 

Relations Service is fully funded by the Committee at their request 

level of $14,446,000, which will allow for the hiring of 10 Conciliation Specialists to deploy to areas across the United States to mediate, train and facilitate discussion between police departments and 

communities where tensions exist. The Committee is fully funding 

the FBI’s request of $1,808,370 for the National Academy, a professional development course for State, local and international law enforcement leaders that serves to improve the administration of justice and raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide. This funding will allow approximately 900 police 

officers to attend the National Academy to receive world class 

training on leadership and specific courses on use of force and factors which lead to racial bias. 

Federal Water Usage Violations.—The Committee is aware that 

the Department of Justice receives notifications from the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers [USACE] regarding violations of Federal 

water contracts involving the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa [ACT] 

river basin. How the Department responds to these notifications 

and subsequently enforces the law remains unclear. The Committee directs the Department to provide a report within 60 days 

of enactment of this act that includes: an audit of the contract violation notifications DOJ has received from USACE regarding the 

ACT river basin for the past 10 years; a record of how DOJ has 

handled these notifications in the past; and a comprehensive plan 

for how DOJ intends to enforce the law and respond to these contract violations now and in the future. 

Gang Violence.—The Committee recognizes the challenges posed 

by the increasing number of gang members and the violent crimes 

they commit in urban, suburban, and rural communities. The Committee understands that combating these gangs, continued and increased cooperation between Federal, State, and local law enforcement is required as well as support, coordination, and expertise 

from the Federal level. The Committee acknowledges the work currently being undertaken to fight gangs by the FBI Violent Safe 

Streets Task Forces, the Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA], 

the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement and Coordination Center [GangTECC], the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF], the U.S. Marshals Service [USMS], Bureau of Pris-
54 

ons [BOP], the U.S. Attorneys Offices [USAO], and other Federal 

agencies. The Committee urges these agencies to intensify current 

efforts, including supporting and prosecuting cases under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act [RICO], while enhancing coordination across the Federal Government and with 

State and local law enforcement in order to maximize the impact 

of limited personnel resources. The Committee’s recommendation 

includes $5,000,000 for the USMS for gang enforcement efforts 

within the Regional Fugitive Task Forces and $8,500,000 for the 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction Program within the Office 

of Justice Programs aimed at reducing gang violence. 

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty Reform.—The Committee maintains support for the Department’s reform to the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty [MLAT] process. The Department is directed to 

submit a detailed spending plan to the Committee including personnel hires and technology upgrades to improve the MLAT process 

within 45 days of enactment of this act. 

Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence.—The Committee 

maintains its direction that the National Institute of Standards 

and Technology [NIST] and the Department of Justice continue to 

collaborate on a Scientific Working Group [SWG] for digital evidence under the new NIST-run Organization for Scientific Area 

Committees. The Committee expects that members and expertise 

developed by the Justice-led digital evidence SWG continue to transition to the NIST-supported SWG and that NIST will continue to 

operate all SWGs in a consensus-driven manner that places value 

on input from a wide range of practitioners. 

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.—The Committee 

fully supports the goals of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights 

Crime Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–344) to investigate and prosecute previously unresolved civil rights era ‘‘cold case’’ murders 

suspected of having been racially motivated, through a partnership 

among the Civil Rights Division [CRT], the FBI, and the Community Relations Service [CRS], as well as with State and local grant 

resources. To continue supporting Emmett Till activities, the Committee urges the Department to: use such sums as may be necessary from within the budget base for the CRT’s Cold Case Initiative; for the FBI to pursue Emmett Till Act cold cases; and for the 

CRS to partner with law enforcement agencies and communities to 

help resolve conflicts resulting from the investigation of unsolved 

civil rights era cases. Additionally, the Committee directs the National Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and 

the Office for Victims of Crime to continue providing grants for cold 

case DNA investigations to aid State and local law enforcement 

agencies in their investigation and prosecution of unsolved civil 

rights cold cases. 

Working Capital Fund [WCF].—The Committee expects the Department to execute funding to the fullest extent possible without 

any carryover balances. The Committee directs DOJ to continue to 

use the WCF only as a repository for reimbursable funds from components and to obligate and execute that funding expeditiously. 

The DOJ shall provide a report to the Committee within 45 days 

after enactment of this act regarding balances in the WCF including carryover funds, the intended uses of those funds, and a spend-
55 

ing plan. The spending plan shall include collections and obligations for both reimbursable and appropriated funding. The Department is further directed to provide quarterly updates on the WCF 

to the Committee. 

Spending Plan.—In compliance with section 534 of this act, the 

Committee directs the Department of Justice to submit a spending 

plan, signed by the Attorney General, within 45 days of enactment 

of this act. 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $111,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 119,437,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 95,540,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 109,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $109,000,000 for General Administration salaries and expenses. The recommendation is 

$2,500,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$10,437,000 below the budget request. 

The General Administration account provides funding for senior 

policy officials responsible for departmental management and policy development. The specific offices funded by this account include: 

the immediate Office of the Attorney General; the immediate Office 

of the Deputy Attorney General; the immediate Office of the Associate Attorney General; Office of Legal Policy; Office of Public Affairs; Office of Legislative Affairs; Office of Professional Responsibility; Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison; and the Justice Management Division. 

Wildlife Trafficking.—The Committee notes the increase in the illegal trade in rhinoceros horns, elephant ivory, and illegally harvested timber, along with the large sums of money that these products command on the black market. There are indisputable linkages between these activities and the financing of armed 

insurgencies and groups that threaten the stability and development of African countries and pose a threat to U.S. security interests. The Committee directs the Attorney General to report on the 

specific steps being taken by the Department to further address 

wildlife trafficking and the illegal natural resources trade, as specifically outlined in Senate Report 113–181. 

Office of Tribal Justice [OTJ] and Coordination on Tribal 

Land.—The Committee supports the OTJ’s request to add one attorney position to help meet the responsibilities of assisting with 

issues in Indian Country. As the Department of Justice and Bureau of Indian Affairs [BIA] are responsible for supporting the tribal justice system, including tribal detention centers, the Committee 

strongly encourages OTJ to continue to focus on efforts with BIA 

to ensure that tribes are receiving sufficient resources to operate 

detention centers. 

Office of Legislative Affairs.—While the Committee primarily 

communicates with the Department through the Justice Management Division, it reserves the right to call upon any individual or 

organization within its jurisdiction for requests for information, including the Department’s Office of Legislative Affairs [OLA]. The 
56 

Committee notes that recent responses from OLA have been neither helpful nor timely, with some answers left completely void of 

any meaningful information whatsoever. The Committee has received similar feedback from other Senate offices about OLA’s performance, leading the Committee to question the efficacy of fully 

funding OLA’s budget. The Committee reminds DOJ that requests 

from the Congress to OLA should be treated as a priority for the 

Department and responded to both courteously and expeditiously. 

JUSTICE INFORMATION SHARING TECHNOLOGY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $25,842,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 37,440,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 25,842,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 25,842,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $25,842,000 for Justice Information Sharing Technology [JIST]. The recommendation 

is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $11,598,000 below 

the budget request. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee’s recommendation provides no 

less than $5,030,000 for cybersecurity so DOJ may continue to 

proactively defend against and respond to current and emerging 

cybersecurity threats and attacks against DOJ’s network infrastructure. 

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND APPEALS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $351,072,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 488,381,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 426,791,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 411,072,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $411,072,000 for Administrative Review and Appeals, of which $4,000,000 is a transfer 

from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [USCIS] Immigration Examiners Fee Account. The recommendation is 

$60,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$77,309,000 below the budget request. 

This account funds the Executive Office for Immigration Review 

[EOIR], including the Board of Immigration Appeals [BIA], immigration judges, and administrative law judges who decide through 

administrative hearings whether to admit or exclude aliens seeking 

to enter the country, and whether to deport or adjust the status of 

aliens whose status has been challenged. This account also funds 

the Office of the Pardon Attorney, which receives, investigates, and 

considers petitions for all forms of executive clemency. 

EOIR represents the Department’s frontline presence with respect to the application of immigration law. EOIR receives cases directly from Department of Homeland Security [DHS] enforcement 

personnel, in which the Federal Government is seeking the removal 

of immigrants who are in the United States without lawful status 

or who have committed some act, typically a criminal offense, that 

renders them removable. EOIR’s immigration court caseload continues to increase as a result of heightened border enforcement efforts. 
57 

The number of cases pending adjudication rose from approximately 229,000 at the end of fiscal year 2009 to 418,861 at the end 

of fiscal year 2014. By the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 

year 2015, the number of cases pending adjudication had risen to 

over 440,000. Additionally, the BIA receives more than 30,000 appeals per year, an extremely large volume for an appellate court. 

Court dockets are scheduled unacceptably far into the future, with 

most courts backlogged by at least 1 to 2 years, and some up to 

5 years. Such extensive delays result in the lengthy postponement 

of warranted deportations of those who have no claim for relief. At 

the same time, legitimate asylum seekers face significant challenges while waiting for their cases to be heard. 

Given these increasing caseload demands, the Committee’s recommendation includes a programmatic increase of $60,000,000 to 

add 55 new Immigration Judge Teams. This increase will allow 

EOIR to better coordinate with DHS enforcement efforts and to 

help adjudicate the rapidly growing caseload. While the need to expand our immigration courts is clear, the Committee remains seriously concerned with operational inefficiencies and management 

deficiencies that have yet to fully be addressed by EOIR’s headquarters, especially when considering the latency of hiring new 

judge teams. The Committee directs EOIR to provide the Committee with monthly reports on the status of the on-going judge 

hiring process that shall include: the current total number of immigration judges broken out by standard full-time judges, judges recalled from retirement, non-judges serving in temporary judge roles 

and judges in other employment statuses; the target number of 

new judge hires based on current available appropriations; the 

number of new judges currently being hired broken out by individuals being processed for employment, participating in training, and 

undergoing any other pre-employment activities; the target dates 

for when new judges will start working full-time; and the current 

running average time it takes to hire a new immigration judge. 

The Committee also is disappointed in EOIR’s ability to efficiently 

use its technology and staffing resources and expects EOIR to better utilize limited funding to address the voluminous pending caseload. 

Training for Immigration Judges.—The Committee directs that 

EOIR’s training for immigration judges should address how to adjudicate children’s cases, including forms of relief for children, how 

to elicit information from children, the impact of trauma on children, and other relevant child development issues. 

Legal Orientation Program [LOP].—The Committee’s recommendation maintains the fiscal year 2015 base funding for LOP, 

pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act 

of 2008 (Public Law 110–457), for custodians of unaccompanied, 

undocumented children to address the custodian’s responsibility for 

the child’s appearance at all immigration proceedings, and to protect the child from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking. 
58 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $88,577,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 93,709,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 93,709,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 89,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $89,000,000 for the 

Office of Inspector General [OIG]. The recommendation is $423,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $4,709,000 below the 

budget request. 

This account finances the activities of the OIG, including audits, 

inspections, investigations, and other reviews of programs and operations of the Department of Justice to promote efficiency and effectiveness, and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse, as 

well as violations of ethical standards arising from the conduct of 

Department employees in their numerous and diverse activities. 

Right to Access.—The Committee retains bill language providing 

the Inspector General access to documents and other materials at 

the Department of Justice, which may be necessary in the normal 

conduct of the Inspector General’s duties. The Committee asks the 

Inspector General to report on the effectiveness of this provision 

within 180 days of enactment of this act. 

Oversight of Crime Victims Fund Grants.—Section 510 of this act 

provides $10,000,000 for the OIG to continue its expanded audit 

functions of the Crime Victims Fund [CVF]. Recent adjustments to 

the CVF have dramatically increased allowable spending out of the 

fund by 349 percent from fiscal years 2014 to 2016. The Committee 

is concerned that the Department has not done enough to proportionately adjust its grant monitoring activities to reflect these significant CVF changes in order to avoid waste, fraud and abuse. The 

Committee’s direction in fiscal year 2016 to use a portion of the 

CVF funding on existing victim programs, which have current accountability metrics, will help with the Department’s grant oversight. However, the Committee directs the OIG to continue to increase its audit of CVF awards and assist the Department to ensure these important funds are used appropriately and effectively. 

UNITED STATES PAROLE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $13,308,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 13,547,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 13,308,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 13,308,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $13,308,000 for the 

United States Parole Commission. The recommendation is equal to 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $239,000 below the budget 

request. 
59 

LEGAL ACTIVITIES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, GENERAL LEGAL ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $885,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,037,386,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 882,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 885,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $885,000,000 for General Legal Activities salaries and expenses. The recommendation is 

equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $152,386,000 below 

the budget request. 

This appropriation funds the establishment of litigation policy, 

conduct of litigation, and various other legal responsibilities 

through the Office of the Solicitor General, the Tax Division, the 

Criminal Division [CRM], the Civil Division [CIV], the Environmental and Natural Resources Division, the Civil Rights Division 

[CRT], the Office of Legal Counsel, and INTERPOL Washington. 

INTERPOL Washington.—From within funds provided for General Legal Activities, the Committee directs the Department to provide $32,000,000 for INTERPOL Washington, equal to the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level. The Committee has provided no-year authority in the amount of $685,000 to ensure sufficient resources are 

available for INTERPOL Washington’s dues payments and help the 

Department better manage fluctuations in currency exchange rates. 

INTERPOL Washington’s command center [IOCC] operates 24 

hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, responding to requests for international criminal investigative and humanitarian 

assistance from more than 18,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies 

and their counterparts in 189 other INTERPOL-member countries. 

INTERPOL Washington’s responsibility to respond to increasing 

foreign and domestic requests places additional operational demands on the resources of this organization. 

Civil Rights.—The Committee provides a total of $158,000,000 to 

the CRT, equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, to continue 

its efforts to enforce civil rights laws; expand its capacity to prosecute and provide litigation support for human trafficking, hate 

crimes, and unsolved civil rights era crimes; carry out its responsibilities associated with the civil rights of institutionalized persons 

and the access rights of the disabled; investigate and prosecute police misconduct; and enhance the enforcement of fair housing and 

fair lending laws. 

Civil Rights Violations in State and Local Prisons and Jails.— 

The Committee continues to be concerned by reports of civil rights 

violations in State and local prisons and jails, and directs the CRT 

to increase efforts to investigate and address violations of the Civil 

Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act in State and local prisons 

and jails. The Committee directs the CRT to use such sums as necessary from amounts appropriated in fiscal year 2016 to address 

such issues in State and local prisons and jails. 

Human Rights Crimes.—The Committee remains concerned by 

the large number of suspected human rights violators from foreign 

countries who have found safe haven in the United States and directs the CRM to continue its efforts to investigate and prosecute 

serious human rights crimes, including genocide, torture, use or re-
60 

cruitment of child soldiers, and war crimes. For this purpose, the 

Committee’s recommendation supports continued funding for the 

CRM to investigate and prosecute individuals who violate Federal 

laws regarding serious human rights abuses. 

International Training.—The Committee remains concerned 

about the instability of budget and staffing challenges faced by the 

Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and 

Training [OPDAT] and International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program [ICITAP] programs under the current 

funding structure provided via the Department of State. While the 

Committee encourages the Departments of Justice and State to 

maintain open communications regarding programmatic and resource needs to truly execute their missions, OPDAT and ICITAP 

should ideally receive a transfer of funds from State within 90 days 

of enactment of this act. Should an immediate source of funding be 

needed ahead of a completed transfer of funds, the Committee suggests that the Department of Justice notify the Committee as soon 

as possible. 

THE NATIONAL CHILDHOOD VACCINE INJURY ACT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $7,833,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 9,358,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 8,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,358,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides a reimbursement of 

$9,358,000 for legal costs. The recommendation is $1,525,000 above 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and is equal to the budget request. 

This account covers the Department’s expenses associated with 

litigating cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 

1986 (Public Law 99–660). 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, ANTITRUST DIVISION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $162,246,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 164,977,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 162,246,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 162,246,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $162,246,000 for the 

Antitrust Division. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level and $2,731,000 below the budget request. This 

appropriation is offset by $124,000,000 in pre-merger filing fee collections, resulting in a direct appropriation of $38,246,000. 

UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,960,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,032,216,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,995,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,973,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,973,000,000 for 

the Executive Office for United States Attorneys [EOUSA] and the 

94 U.S. Attorneys [USAs] offices. The recommendation is 
61 

$13,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$59,216,000 below the budget request. 

As in past years, the Committee directs the USAs to focus their 

efforts on those crimes where the unique resources, expertise, or jurisdiction of the Federal Government can be most effective. 

Adam Walsh Act Implementation.—The Committee expects the 

EOUSA to continue to focus on investigations and prosecutions related to the sexual exploitation of children, as authorized by the 

Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 

109–248), and as part of Project Safe Childhood. The recommendation fully funds the budget request of $44,339,000 for this purpose 

in fiscal year 2016. 

Combating Financial and Mortgage Fraud.—The Committee’s 

recommendation fully funds the request of $346,579,000, to hold 

accountable criminals who perpetrate financial and mortgage 

fraud, deter future perpetrators of fraud, and recover monies stolen 

from U.S. taxpayers. The USAs conduct criminal investigations and 

prosecutions of mortgage and financial fraud, predatory lending, financial fraud, and market manipulation matters. 

Civil Rights Prosecutions.—The Committee’s recommendation 

provides the requested amount of $35,982,000 for increased civil 

rights enforcement that will advance both criminal and civil litigations. The new positions associated with this funding are expected 

to augment current activities in the Civil Rights Division, which 

would expand the capacity to pursue more sex and labor trafficking 

cases. 

Cybercrime.—As national and international cyber threats become 

increasingly sophisticated, our Federal prosecutors must become 

better versed in digital forensic evidence. The Committee’s recommendation supports the requested amount of $55,110,000 for 

cybercrime activities, which will increase the investigation and 

prosecution of cyberattacks and cyber intrusions, and provide the 

training on cybercrime and digital evidence needed for USAs to be 

able to analyze and present digital evidence across all types of 

criminal cases. 

National Advocacy Center.—While the Committee remains disappointed that a change in circumstances resulted in Project Palmetto not becoming a reality as envisioned, it commends the two 

parties for coming to a mutually amicable resolution. The Committee is also aware of the need to address outstanding administrative adjustment issues related to Palmetto and encourages the parties to quickly conclude those discussions. 

UNITED STATES TRUSTEE SYSTEM FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $225,908,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 228,107,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 225,908,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 225,908,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $225,908,000 for the 

U.S. Trustee System Fund. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $2,199,000 below the budget request. The appropriation is offset by $162,000,000 in fee collections. 

The U.S. Trustee Program, authorized by 28 U.S.C. 581 et seq., 

is the component of the Department with responsibility for pro-
62 

tecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case 

administration and litigation to enforce the bankruptcy laws. In fiscal year 2016, the U.S. Trustee Program will participate in an estimated 750,000 business and consumer bankruptcy case filings. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, FOREIGN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT COMMISSION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,326,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,374,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,326,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,374,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $2,374,000 for the 

Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. The recommendation is 

$48,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the 

budget request. 

The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission settles claims of 

American citizens arising from nationalization, expropriation, or 

other takings of their properties and interests by foreign governments. 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF WITNESSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $270,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 270,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 270,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 270,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $270,000,000 for fees 

and expenses of witnesses. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the budget request. 

This appropriation, which is considered mandatory for 

scorekeeping purposes, provides for fees and expenses of witnesses 

who appear on behalf of the Government in cases in which the 

United States is a party, including fact and expert witnesses. These 

funds are also used for mental competency examinations, and witness and informant protection. The Committee includes bill language prohibiting the Department from transferring funds out of 

this account. 

The Committee expects that no funds will be expended for expert 

witness services, including the payment of fees and expenses of expert witnesses, from any other DOJ accounts but Fees and Expenses of Witnesses. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $12,250,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 14,446,000 

House Allowance .................................................................................... 13,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 14,446,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $14,446,000 for the 

Community Relations Service [CRS]. The recommendation is 

$2,196,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request. 

The Community Relations Service, established by title X of the 

Civil Rights Act of 1964, provides assistance to communities and 

persons in the prevention and resolution of disagreements arising 

from discriminatory practices. 
63 

Hate Crimes Prevention.—Within the funds provided, the Committee provides $2,500,000 to handle the workload and responsibilities stemming from passage of the Matthew Shepard and James 

Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act [HCPA] (Public Law 111– 

84). The HCPA expanded the CRS’s mandate, requiring that it help 

communities prevent and respond to violent hate crimes committed 

on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, 

and disability, in addition to race, color, and national origin. This 

funding will maximize the CRS crisis response nationwide and enable CRS to fulfill both its original mandate and expanded mandate under the HCPA. 

ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $20,514,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 20,514,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... ........................... 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 20,514,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $20,514,000 for the 

Assets Forfeiture Fund [AFF]. The recommendation is equal to the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The AFF provides funds for qualifying expenses of Federal law 

enforcement agencies and their State or local partners. Funds for 

these activities are provided from receipts deposited into the AFF 

resulting from the seizure and liquidation of assets. Expenses related to the management and disposal of assets are also provided 

from the AFF by a permanent, indefinite appropriation. 

UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. 1 $2,800,107,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,699,995,000 

House Allowance .................................................................................... 2,289,081,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,659,214,000 

1 In addition to $1,700,107,000 in direct appropriations, this account was provided 

$1,100,000,000 from the Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund for a total operating amount of 

$2,800,107,000. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides a total of 

$2,659,214,000 for the United States Marshals Service [USMS]. 

The recommendation is $140,893,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level including offsetting funds from other accounts, and is 

$40,781,000 below the budget request. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,195,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,230,581,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,220,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,195,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,195,000,000 for 

USMS salaries and expenses. The recommendation is equal to the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $35,581,000 below the budget request. The core missions of the USMS include the apprehension of 

fugitives; protection of the Federal judiciary and witnesses; execution of warrants and court orders; and the custody and transportation of unsentenced prisoners. 
64 

Regional Fugitive Task Forces.—The Committee strongly supports the USMS’s Regional Fugitive Task Forces [RFTFs], an effective partnership with other Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies to apprehend violent fugitives, but the program has 

not added a new RFTF since 2008. The Committee directs the 

USMS to provide a report detailing the initial and out-year costs 

and resource needs, including space requirements, to stand up a 

new RFTF as well as available locations for an expansion not later 

than 90 days after enactment of this act. 

Gang Enforcement.—The Committee recognizes the need to reduce gang crime by apprehending violent fugitives. Within the 

amount provided in the budget request, the USMS shall dedicate 

no less than $5,000,000 to operate anti-gang investigative units 

within the RFTFs, including supporting the supervisory, operational, equipment, and training needs of these units, in order to 

target gangs of national significance. 

Sex Offender Apprehension.—The Adam Walsh Child Protection 

and Safety Act of 2006 [AWA] (Public Law 109–248) gives the 

USMS the authority to apprehend convicted sex offenders who fail 

to register as fugitives. The act also directs the USMS to assist jurisdictions in locating and apprehending these individuals. 

The USMS currently has on board 160 Deputy Marshals to assist 

States in locating and apprehending sex offenders who violate sex 

offender registration requirements. However, the USMS estimates 

it needs a dedicated force of at least 500 Deputy Marshals to expand AWA enforcement activities in districts across the country. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides not less than 

$56,103,000 to continue AWA enforcement. 

CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $9,800,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 15,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 11,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,800,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $9,800,000 for construction in space controlled, occupied, or utilized by the USMS in 

Federal courthouses and buildings, including but not limited to the 

creation, renovation, and expansion of prisoner movement areas, 

elevators, and other law enforcement and court security support 

space. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and $5,200,000 below the budget request. 

FEDERAL PRISONER DETENTION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. 1 $1,595,307,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,454,414,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,058,081,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,454,414,000 

1 In addition to $495,307,000 in direct appropriations, this account was provided 

$1,100,000,000 from the Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund for a total operating amount of 

$1,595,307,000. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,454,414,000 for 

Federal Prisoner Detention [FPD]. The recommendation is 

$140,893,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level including offsetting funds from other accounts and is equal to the budget request. 
65 

The Committee expects the USMS to anticipate the true funding 

needs for this account in order to avoid funding shortfalls and the 

need for emergency reprogrammings to avert deficiencies. The 

Committee directs the USMS to report to the Committee on a quarterly basis the current number of individuals in the detention system, the projected number of individuals, and the associated 

annualized costs. 

NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $93,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 96,596,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 95,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 93,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $93,000,000 for the 

National Security Division [NSD]. The recommendation is equal to 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $3,596,000 below the budget 

request. 

The NSD coordinates the Department’s national security and 

counterterrorism missions through law enforcement investigations 

and prosecutions, and handles counterespionage cases. The NSD 

works in coordination with the FBI, the Intelligence Community, 

and the U.S. Attorneys. Its primary function is to prevent acts of 

terrorism and espionage from being perpetrated in the United 

States by foreign powers. 

Combating Cyber Threats to National Security.—The Committee’s recommendation provides not less than $29,675,000 for 

cybersecurity activities within the NSD for investigative, prosecutorial, intelligence collection, and oversight abilities that support 

the Intelligence Community in identifying and disrupting cyber 

threats to national security. 

INTERAGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT

INTERAGENCY CRIME AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $507,194,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 519,301,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 510,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 507,194,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $507,194,000 for 

Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement. The recommendation is 

equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $12,107,000 below 

the budget request. 

The Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement account funds the 

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces [OCDETF], 

which is the centerpiece of the Department’s drug enforcement and 

counternarcotics efforts. The mission of the OCDETF is to ensure 

a coordinated, multi-agency, intelligence-based, and prosecutor-led 

approach to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling those drug 

trafficking and money laundering organizations primarily responsible for the Nation’s illicit drug supply and drug-related violence. 
66 

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $8,326,569,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 8,414,625,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 8,489,786,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 8,433,492,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $8,433,492,000 for 

the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] salaries and expenses. 

The recommendation is $106,923,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $18,867,000 above the budget request. 

Criminal Justice Information Services [CJIS].—The Committee 

recommends the full funding request for CJIS including fee collections. The recommendation maintains the substantial improvements to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System 

[NICS] made in recent fiscal years that have increased the capacity 

of the existing NICS system to perform background checks on prospective firearms buyers. 

Next Generation Cyber Initiative.—The FBI remains the only 

agency with the statutory authority, expertise, and ability to combine counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal investigatory resources to neutralize, mitigate, and disrupt illegal computersupported operations domestically. The Committee recommends 

continued funding for the Next Generation Cyber Initiative and 

supports the fiscal year 2016 increase of $10,300,000. The FBI has 

made significant efforts in recent years to strengthen its cyber capabilities with an emphasis on better preventing attacks before 

they occur while protecting privacy, confidentiality, and civil liberties. Additional funding in fiscal year 2016 will improve the collection and analysis of cyber data obtained by the FBI and the National Cyber Investigative Join Task Force [NCIJTF], while improving the information conduit to existing field operations and 

personnel to improve the quality of and speed with which data is 

collected. 

Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center [TEDAC].—TEDAC 

is designated by the U.S. Government as the single strategic level 

Improvised Explosive Devices [IED] exploitation center and repository, administered by the FBI, working closely with all of the Federal departments and agencies involved in the counter IED arena 

through the Joint Program Office for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices. The Committee views TEDAC as a critical resource 

in combating the global threat posed by terrorist use of explosives 

and in sharing IED threat information and intelligence. As such, 

the Committee’s recommendation restores the full $25,000,000 of 

operational funding to TEDAC, which the administration proposed 

to partially cut by $9,500,000 in fiscal year 2016. This funding will 

continue to strengthen the role of TEDAC as the U.S. Government’s strategic-level improvised explosive device exploitation center and provide the resources necessary to staff the new facility as 

it comes online. 

Hazardous Devices School [HDS].—HDS is the sole U.S. Government entity for accrediting and certifying U.S. public safety bomb 

squads and bomb technicians. With the IED threat rising in frequency and sophistication both domestically and abroad, expanding 
67 

and refining HDS facilities, staff, and training is critical to keep 

pace with these emerging threats. The Committee is aware that 

the FBI and the Department of the Army are undergoing a staffing 

transition at HDS to maintain the instruction and operations at 

the school, while providing an opportunity for HDS to function 

more effectively and efficiently. In order to ensure sufficient staffing levels, the Committee recommendation reinstates the 

$3,000,000 for the HDS staffing operations, which was eliminated 

in the administration’s fiscal year 2016 request. The Committee 

also provides: $700,000 for collocating the FBI’s Weapons of Mass 

Destruction Directorate training at HDS; $3,000,000 for training 

vehicles and render safe equipment; $500,000 for project management; and $1,700,000 to support Joint Duty Assignments with Department of Defense active duty instructors to ensure a TEDAC 

and HDS complementary and integrated whole-of-government approach to countering the IED threat. 

FBI Headquarters Consolidation.—The Committee expects the 

FBI and the General Services Administration [GSA] to continue to 

coordinate closely to move forward in a timely and transparent way 

with the full consolidation of FBI Headquarters. Consolidation is 

critical to making more efficient an FBI workforce that is currently 

dispersed between the J. Edgar Hoover building and approximately 

20 leased offices in the National Capital region. In addition to 

achieving full consolidation, the new FBI Headquarters facility 

must provide the operational work environment that is necessary 

for the FBI to be successful in performing its national security, intelligence, and criminal investigative missions. The Committee 

strongly encourages the FBI, GSA and the Administration to use 

all available financing authorities and options, including public-private partnerships, to ensure the goals of full consolidation and a 

work environment that is consistent with FBI operational requirements are achieved. 

Human Rights Violations.—The Committee directs the FBI to 

continue its efforts to investigate and support the DOJ’s criminal 

prosecution of serious human rights crimes committed by foreign 

nationals, including genocide, torture, use or recruitment of child 

soldiers, and war crimes. The Committee’s recommendation continues funding this effort at the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

Innocent Images National Initiative [IINI].—The Committee’s 

recommendation provides the $74,829,000 requested funding for 

the Innocent Images National Initiative, which allows the FBI to 

target and investigate sexual predators on the Internet. This funding will address the critical requirements for Federal law enforcement in targeting child sexual exploitation and child victimization. 

The Committee trusts that the budget request is sufficient to cover 

the current Innocent Images caseload. Should the threat of child 

predators on the Internet increase, however, the Committee expects 

that future budget requests for the FBI will include adequate resources dedicated to investigate those who prey on children online. 

Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.—The FBI’s Regional 

Computer Forensics Laboratory [RCFL] provides law enforcement 

with valuable forensics expertise and training opportunities devoted to the examination of digital evidence in support of criminal 

investigations, including terrorism, child pornography, and Internet 
68 

fraud. Currently, 15 regional offices are located irregularly 

throughout the United States, each serving various geographic 

sizes of law enforcement populations. The Committee notes that 

the southeastern region of the United States is particularly void of 

a RCFL presence, requiring law enforcement in that area to travel 

greater distance to receive assistance. The Committee directs the 

RCFL’s National Program Office, which is charged with facilitating 

the creation of new RCFL facilities, to report to the Committee 

within 120 days of enactment of this act with a recommendation 

for locating a RCFL in the southeastern United States that takes 

into consideration regional law enforcement agency relationships 

and leverages existing Federal facilities and expertise. 

Training State and Local Law Enforcement.—The Committee 

recognizes the importance of strengthening the trust between law 

enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, particularly 

in light of recent events around the country. In its longstanding 

commitment to training and supporting State and local law enforcement, the FBI can play an important part in the Federal Government’s efforts to help improve community and police relations. 

The Committee encourages the FBI to incorporate the relevant recommendations contained in the Interim Report of the President’s 

Task Force on 21st Century Policing into its instruction for State 

and local law enforcement. 

CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $110,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 68,982,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 57,982,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 108,982,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $108,982,000 for FBI 

construction. The recommendation is $1,018,000 below the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level and $40,000,000 above the budget request. 

Of the amount provided, $32,000,000 is for the operations and 

maintenance for Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center 

[TEDAC] operations facilities, transfer, build-out, and related costs, 

and $8,000,000 is provided for explosive range improvements and 

expansion for TEDAC and the Hazardous Devices School facility. 

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,400,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,463,123,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,422,459,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,404,834,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides total resources of 

$2,404,834,000 for the Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA], of 

which $371,514,000 is derived from the DEA’s Drug Diversion Control Fee Account. The recommendation is $4,834,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $58,289,000 below the budget request. 

The DEA’s mission is to enforce the controlled substances laws 

and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and 

civil justice system of the United States—or any other competent 
69 

jurisdiction—those organizations and principal members of organizations involved in the growing, manufacturing, or distribution of 

controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in 

the United States; and to support non-enforcement programs aimed 

at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the 

domestic and international markets. 

Diversion Control Program.—Full funding of $371,514,000 is provided for the Diversion Control Program, which is an increase of 

$4,834,000 from the fiscal year 2015 enacted level for expanded forensic support of diversion cases and is fully offset with fee collections. 

Drug Diversion at Veterans Health Administration Facilities.— The Committee is alarmed by the rates of prescription drug opioid 

abuse and related overdoses among veterans, as well as allegations 

of diversion of prescription opioids from Veterans Health Administration [VHA] facilities into the illicit drug market. The notion that 

VHA facilities are a source for the unauthorized distribution and 

use of opioids is extremely concerning. The Committee urges the 

DEA to maintain open communication with the VHA and treat investigations of drug diversion in VHA facilities as a priority. 

DEA shall report to the Committee within 90 days after the enactment of this act on its drug diversion investigations involving 

VHA facilities and to report on the status of investigations on a 

quarterly basis thereafter. The initial report shall include: the 

number of ongoing DEA drug diversion investigations into VHA facilities, the number of DEA drug diversion investigations into VHA 

facilities concluded in the prior year, an analysis of trends in DEA 

and VHA drug diversion investigations over the past 10 years, the 

number of investigations that resulted in indictments, a review of 

factors that may be leading to drug diversion including VHA prescription drug prescribing practices, and recommendations or best 

practices to prevent drug diversion from VHA facilities. 

Prescription Drug Abuse.—The Committee believes that prescription drug abuse continues to remain an urgent public health crisis. 

Of particular concern is the link between prescription opioid abuse 

and its connection to heroin use. The Committee urges the DEA to 

continue to combat prescription drug abuse and heroin use by fully 

utilizing all available resources, including the Diversion Control 

Program, and by facilitating inter-agency and inter-department cooperation. 

Locum Tenens Physicians.—The Committee urges the DEA, in 

conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to resolve 

any alleged regulatory issues concerning prescription privileges for 

locum tenens professionals to ensure veterans have access to needed high-quality local VA healthcare. 

Sensitive Investigative Units.—The Committee applauds the Drug 

Enforcement Administration’s work with Afghan vetted units. To 

protect U.S. interests in counternarcotics investigations and ensure 

they result in convictions and sentencing in Afghanistan, the Committee strongly encourages the DEA to continue supporting vetted 

units in Afghanistan to the greatest extent practicable. 

The Committee directs the DEA to submit a report providing an 

assessment of the effectiveness of its Sensitive Investigative Units, 

which shall include an analysis of the costs and benefits of contin-
70 

ued expansion in Central America and West Africa, not later than 

90 days after enactment of this act. 

Cooperation with State and Local Forensic Crime Laboratory 

Community.—The Committee is aware of the important work that 

State and local forensic crime laboratories are doing to identify and 

combat the proliferation of new varieties of synthetic drugs known 

as ‘‘Spice.’’ These herbal mixtures typically contain chemical additives which are Schedule I controlled substances, but manufacturers are increasingly working to avoid legal restrictions by using 

substitute chemicals in their products. These evasion tactics require constant and vigilant cooperation between State and local forensic crime laboratories and the DEA in the effort to recognize, 

analyze and control the growing use of synthetic, or designer, 

cannabinoid compounds. The Committee encourages the DEA to 

collaborate and share any available resources with State and local 

forensic crime laboratories in these important efforts. 

National Drug Threat Assessment.—The Committee recognizes 

the need for strategies to limit the facilitation of illicit narcotics 

such as heroin and encourages the DEA to continue with their efforts to provide a National Drug Threat Assessment. The DEA 

should coordinate with the Office of National Drug Control Policy 

in order to work with the most current and reliable information. 

The National Drug Threat Assessment and other illegal narcotics 

information should be shared with State and local law enforcement 

agencies to meet the needs of individual communities. 

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,201,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,261,158,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,240,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,201,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,201,000,000 for 

the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF]. 

The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level 

and $60,158,000 below the budget request. 

The ATF reduces the criminal use of firearms and illegal firearms trafficking, and assists other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in reducing crime and violence. The ATF investigates bombing and arson incidents and assists with improving 

public safety by reducing the criminal misuse of and trafficking in 

explosives, combating acts of arson and arson-for-profit schemes, 

and removing safety hazards caused by improper and unsafe storage of explosive materials. 

Combating Gun Violence and Enforcing Existing Gun Laws.— 

The Committee’s recommendation maintains ATF’s ability to enforce existing firearms laws and perform regulatory oversight and 

training, including the National Integrated Ballistics Information 

Network [NIBIN]. This will enable the ATF to continue to collect, 

report, and share ballistic intelligence with Federal, State, local 

and tribal law enforcement partners to identify, target, and disrupt 

violent criminals, including serial shooters. Funds will support 

work with State and local law enforcement agencies and labora-
71 

tories to collect ballistic hit information to provide leads to Firearms Intelligence Groups for investigations and document successful prosecutions as a result of NIBIN. 

United States Bomb Data Center.—The Committee is encouraged 

by ATF’s recent announcement that it is permanently moving the 

U.S. Bomb Data Center [USBDC] to the National Center for Explosives Training and Research, which will effectively combine the 

three components of explosives research, training, and information 

sharing in one location. DOJ has designated the Bomb Arson 

Tracking System [BATS] repository maintained at the USBDC as 

the sole repository for explosives incidents, and has directed all 

DOJ components to use this system to document explosives-related 

incidents. The Committee believes that the USBDC will be more 

productive with regular input and analysis from multiple agencies. 

The Committee encourages ATF to work with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Bombing Prevention to 

make space available for any analysts or agents from those agencies who may be assigned to the USBDC to increase Federal collaboration on bomb information. 

United States-Mexico Firearms Trafficking.—The Committee continues to support the ATF’s efforts to combat weapon trafficking on 

the border. The ATF shall continue to provide the Committee with 

annual data on the total number of firearms recovered by the Government of Mexico, and of those, the number for which an ATF 

trace is attempted, the number successfully traced, and the number 

determined to have originated in the United States prior to being 

recovered in Mexico. 

National Center for Explosives Training and Research 

[NCETR].—ATF has increased the number of staff and course offerings at NCETR, including restarting the advanced fire investigation training course and providing additional advanced explosives 

disposal techniques courses for public safety bomb technicians, 

which the Committee directs ATF to maintain in fiscal year 2016. 

Given that NCETR serves as the Bureau’s Center of Excellence for 

arson and explosives training and expertise, the Committee directs 

ATF and the Department to provide a report not later than 120 

days after enactment of this act detailing plans for the future to 

enhance both staffing levels and course availability, including collocating the Bureau’s canine training operations for explosives and 

accelerant detection at NCETR. 

FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM

The Committee’s recommendation provides a total of 

$6,956,700,000 for the Federal Prison System, or the Bureau of 

Prisons [BOP]. The recommendation is $33,000,000 above the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level and $390,722,000 below the budget request. 
72 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $6,815,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 7,204,158,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 6,948,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 6,848,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $6,848,000,000 for BOP salaries and expenses. The recommendation is $33,000,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $356,158,000 below 

the budget request. 

Increasing Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions.— While overall overcrowding at Federal prisons has decreased and 

is expected to fall to 15 percent in 2016, medium and high security 

facilities have remained consistently overcrowded, creating unsafe 

environments for correctional officers and other BOP staff. The 

Committee supports the Bureau of Prison’s fiscal year 2016 request 

for an additional $32,000,000 to add one additional correctional officer for each housing unit at high security institutions. This increase in resources will allow all BOP high security institutions to 

have at least two correctional officers on duty in each housing unit 

for all three shifts. 

Alleviating Overcrowding at High Security Facilities.—The overcrowding rate at high-security prisons continues to remain high at 

52 percent with no indication of decreasing until new facilities are 

fully opened. The Committee supports BOP’s efforts to alleviate 

overcrowding at high-security facilities through the process of opening additional prisons. The Committee expects the BOP to adhere 

to the activation schedule included in the BOP’s budget submission 

regarding these prison facilities, including the new U.S. Penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois. The BOP shall notify the Committee of 

any deviations from this schedule. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment Pilot Expansion.—The Committee 

supports the request of an additional $1,000,000 for the Bureau of 

Prisons to increase the number of inmates participating in the 

medication-assisted treatment pilot program for individuals with 

heroin and opioid addiction. This voluntary pilot program will expand the number of inmates in the pilot from 10 to 200. The 

science supporting the use of medication as a critical component of 

opioid addiction, including heroin, treatment is clear in that it 

saves lives. 

International Prisoner Transfer Program.—The Committee is interested in the Department’s effective use and administration of 

the International Prisoner Transfer Program, which permits certain foreign national inmates from treaty nations to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home countries. While the BOP 

has made efforts to improve its utilization of this program after a 

2011 review by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General, the Committee is disappointed that the program remains significantly 

underused. Increasing the number of foreign national inmates 

transferred out of BOP facilities to their home countries could result in considerable cost savings. 

The BOP, in coordination with the Criminal Division, is directed 

to submit a report to the Committee not later than 90 days after 
73 

enactment of this act detailing how the International Prisoner 

Transfer Program is currently being administered, including: methods for educating eligible foreign national inmates about the program, the estimated number of currently eligible foreign national 

inmates compared to the number of applicants, the process for approving transfers, the number of prisoner transfers in the previous 

5 fiscal years, the corresponding countries to which prisoners were 

transferred, and the long-run cost savings this program has 

achieved for BOP along with projected cost savings if the program 

were operating at full capacity. 

Contraband Cell Phones and Communication Devices.—The Committee remains concerned about the use of contraband cell phones 

in facilities administered by, or under contract with, BOP. The Bureau should ensure that criminal networks will no longer be controlled by incarcerated individuals who use these illicit devices to 

direct network activities beyond the prison walls. The Committee 

requests that the BOP submit a report not later than 180 days 

after the enactment of this act detailing methods and procedures 

on how BOP can achieve a total communications blackout between 

incarcerated and free members of criminal networks. 

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $106,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 140,564,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 230,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 106,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $106,000,000 for the 

construction, modernization, maintenance, and repair of prison and 

detention facilities housing Federal prisoners. The recommendation 

is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $34,564,000 below 

the budget request. 

The Committee includes bill language in Title V—General Provisions stipulating that no BOP resources may be used for facilities 

to house detainees from the United States Naval Station, 

Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

Reporting.—The Committee believes that the consideration of 

any new facility or facility expansion should be based upon a longterm strategic plan which incorporates a robust capital planning 

process including leading capital planning practices as outlined in 

OMB and GAO guidance. The Committee directs the BOP to continue providing quarterly reports to the Committee on the progress 

of its efforts, including funding for new prison construction if merited in future requests. 

The Committee also directs the BOP to continue providing the 

Committee with the most recent monthly status of construction report, and to notify the Committee of any deviations from the construction and activation schedule identified in that report, including detailed explanations of the causes of delays and actions proposed to address them. 
74 

FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

(LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,700,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,700,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,700,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,700,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides a limitation on the administrative expenses of $2,700,000 for the Federal Prison Industries, Inc. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 

enacted level and the budget request. 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

In total, the Committee recommends $2,292,800,000 for State 

and local law enforcement and crime prevention grant programs, 

including: $1,841,800,000 in discretionary appropriations, 

$72,000,000 in mandatory appropriations, and $379,000,000 derived from funds provided under section 510 of this act. The total 

is $36,000,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$206,100,000 below the budget estimate. 

Management and Administration Expenses.—The Department 

shall, in preparing its fiscal year 2016 spending plan, assess management and administration [M&A] expenses compared to program 

funding. The Committee directs the Department to ensure that its 

assessment methodology is equitable and, for programs funded 

through the Crime Victims Fund, that the assessment reflects a 

fair representation of the share of each program devoted to common M&A costs. The Committee also directs grant offices to minimize administrative spending in order to maximize the amount of 

funding that can be used for grants or training and technical assistance. The Committee reiterates the direction provided in Public 

Law 113–76 that the Department shall detail, as part of its budget 

submission for fiscal year 2017 and future years, the actual costs 

for each grant office with respect to training, technical assistance, 

research and statistics, and peer review for the prior fiscal year, 

along with estimates of planned expenditures by each grant office 

in each of these categories for the current year and the budget 

year. 

Prudence in Budget Proposals for Grant Programs.—Many of the 

initiatives proposed by the Department come at the expense of effective existing grant programs which currently serve our communities, including State and local law enforcement, well. Such proposals put the Committee in an untenable position in a fiscal environment of limited funding resources. As virtually all of the new 

programs proposed for funding have never been authorized or previously vetted by Congress, the Committee is left to choose between 

well-established grant programs and new ideas which are untested. 

The Committee reminds the Department to work more closely with 

the appropriate congressional committees to seriously consider the 

modification or omission of existing outdated programs before new 

proposals and initiatives are unveiled. 

Grant Funding Set-Asides.—The Committee notes the significant 

number of reductions in grant funding allowable for various purposes, including training, technical assistance, research, evaluation 
75 

and statistics activities with set-asides ranging anywhere from 2 

percent to 10 percent of total grant funding provided. To that end, 

the Committee directs the Department to continue providing a 

comprehensive report concurrently with the spending plan that details the total amount provided for each grant program in this act, 

the specific reductions taken, the purpose for those reductions and 

the final use of those resources, including any transfers that may 

occur within the Office of Justice Programs, the Office on Violence 

Against Women, and the Community Oriented Policing Services. 

The Committee expects that the report will provide a complete 

analysis of the final amounts externally awarded and the amounts 

retained internally for other purposes. 

Grant Funds for Rural, High Poverty Areas.—The Committee is 

concerned about the needs of rural, high poverty areas, especially 

those communities with high crime rates. The Committee wants to 

ensure that the challenges encountered by the residents of these 

areas are being addressed through the equitable use of grant funding. The Committee reminds the Department to keep the unique 

needs of rural, high poverty communities in mind when making 

grant awards through the numerous programs funded under this 

act. 

Performance Partnership Pilots.—The bill includes language permitting OJP to participate, with other Federal agencies, in the Performance Partnership Pilot program authorized in division H of 

Public Law 113–76 and division G of Public Law 113–235. Performance Partnership Pilots take an evidence-based approach to better 

serve disconnected youth in our communities. The Committee supports innovative efforts to coordinate programs across the Federal 

Government that serve these young people. Nonetheless, the Department must remain accountable for the proper use and effectiveness of its grant funds. The proposal for these pilots states that 

outcome-focused criteria will be used as part of the evaluation process. In addition, jurisdictions receiving funding will be held accountable to a set of cross-agency, data-driven outcomes and interventions will be measured and rigorously evaluated using real-time 

performance and outcome data. 

The Department’s Office of Inspector General should continue to 

coordinate with the Inspectors General of other participating departments and agencies to ensure timely audits and oversight of 

these funds. 

One-Year Prison Rape Elimination Act [PREA] Exemption.—The 

Committee has included bill language providing a 1-year exemption 

from the penalties required under the PREA for the OVW’s Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors [STOP] Grants. 

Trauma-Informed Training.—The Committee encourages the Department’s grant making agencies to focus on efforts to provide specialized trauma-informed training in responding to, and investigating, sexual assault, including forensic interviewing and evidence-gathering techniques and trauma-informed investigative 

skills. The goal is to increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies whose officers may come into contact with survivors of sexual 

assault, including survivors of sexual assault on college campuses, 

and to help ensure law enforcement resources are made available 

in an appropriate and timely manner. 
76 

Submission of Officer Training Information.—The Committee directs the Department to devise a plan to assist State and local law 

enforcement agencies to improve training in use of force, identifying racial and ethnic bias, and conflict resolution, throughout the 

course of officers’ careers. As identified in the final report of the 

President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, the Committee 

urges the Department to administer the development of Field 

Training Program policies and look for ways to partner with national law enforcement organizations to promote consistent standards for high quality training and assessment. This partnership 

should result in the Department providing best practices, model 

policies, and a training toolkit for local law enforcement as well as 

free or reduced-cost courses for law enforcement agencies. The Department is directed to submit this plan within 45 days of enactment of this act. 

The Committee further directs the Department to require law enforcement agencies to submit information on training on use of 

force, racial and ethnic bias, de-escalation of conflict, and constructive engagement with the public that officers have received as part 

of the grant application submission for Byrne-JAG and COPS Hiring programs. This information will help both the Committee and 

Department assess the true level of training provided in the field, 

along with gaps in training that the Federal government may be 

able to fill. 

Improved Data Collection.—The Committee is concerned about 

insufficient and incomplete crime and arrest data submitted by 

States and law enforcement agencies to the FBI’s Criminal Justice 

Information Services Division [CJIS]. Since 1930, participating 

local, county, State, tribal, and Federal law enforcement agencies 

have voluntarily provided the FBI with a reliable set of crime statistics through the Uniform Crime Reporting [UCR] Program. The 

FBI’s CJIS, which administers the UCR program, periodically releases these crime statistics to the public, which helps local law enforcement and governments assess crime trends. While some UCR 

data is required to be submitted as part of the process to receive 

Byrne-JAG funding under 42 U.S.C. 3755, and further incorporated 

into guidelines issued by OJP to States, the submission of more detailed National Incident-Based Reporting System [NIBRS] data is 

currently voluntary. NIBRS captures detailed crime incident data 

like arrests and officer-involved shootings, information that is critical in aiding State and local law enforcement agencies as they 

work to keep our communities safe. Although submissions have 

steadily grown, NIBRS data is still not entered frequently enough 

to make generalizations about crime in the United States; therefore, the Committee urges law enforcement agencies receiving 

Byrne-JAG and COPS Hiring awards to submit NIBRS data to 

CJIS in a timely manner. 

As IT costs can be a barrier for agencies to transmit NIBRS data, 

the Committee directs the Department to derive a plan of action 

for helping law enforcement agencies submit NIBRS data to CJIS. 

The plan should include reasonable cost estimates for setting up IT 

systems to connect to CJIS as well as a timetable for getting law 

enforcement to submit this critical data. Should the Department 

need immediate resources to implement full participation of States’ 
77 

submission of NIBRS data, the Committee suggests the Department provide a reprogramming request. The Department is directed to submit this plan within 45 days of enactment of this act. 

OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION

PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $430,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 473,500,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 501,050,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1 479,000,000 

1Of the $479,000,000 provided in this heading, $234,000,000 is provided in direct appropriations and $245,000,000 is derived by transfer from amounts available for obligation in this Act 

from the Fund established by section 1402 of chapter XIV of title II of Public Law 98–473 (42 

U.S.C. 10601), notwithstanding section 1402(d) of such act of 1984. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $479,000,000 for OVW grants. The recommendation is $49,000,000 above the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level, and $5,500,000 above the budget request. 

Resources are provided to the OVW above the budget request to respond to the needs of all victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, including, but not limited to, 

Native women, immigrants, LGBT victims, college students, 

youths, and public housing residents. 

The table below displays the Committee’s recommendations for 

the programs under this office. 

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION PROGRAMS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee recommendation 

STOP Grants ....................................................................................................................................................... 215,000 

Transitional Housing Assistance ........................................................................................................................ 30,000 

National Institute of Justice Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women ....................................... 3,000 

Consolidated Youth Oriented Program ............................................................................................................... 11,000 

Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies .................................................................................................................. 51,000 

Homicide Reduction Initiative ................................................................................................................... (4,000 ) 

Sexual Assault Victims Services ........................................................................................................................ 35,000 

Rural Domestic Violence Assistance Grants ...................................................................................................... 35,000 

Violence on College Campuses .......................................................................................................................... 20,000 

Civil Legal Assistance ........................................................................................................................................ 45,000 

Elder Abuse Grant Program ............................................................................................................................... 5,000 

Family Civil Justice ............................................................................................................................................ 16,000 

Education and Training for Disabled Female Victims ...................................................................................... 6,000 

National Center on Workplace Responses ......................................................................................................... 500 

Research—Violence Against Indian Women ..................................................................................................... 1,000 

Sex Assault in Indian Country Clearinghouse ................................................................................................... 500 

Tribal Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction .................................................................................... 5,000 

Total ...................................................................................................................................................... 479,000 

STOP Grants.—Within the discretionary budget authority appropriated, $215,000,000 is for formula grants to the States. This is 

$22,000,000 above the budget request and $20,000,000 above the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level. The recommendation supports increasing access to comprehensive legal services for victims, providing short-term housing assistance and support services for do-
78 

mestic violence victims, and education and training to end violence 

against and abuse of women with disabilities. 

Sexual Assault Services Act [SASA].—The Committee’s recommendation provides $35,000,000, which is $8,000,000 above the 

budget request and $5,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level, to directly fund the needs of sexual assault victims. 

As part of VAWA 2005 and reauthorized by VAWA 2013, the 

Sexual Assault Services Program addresses considerable gaps in 

services to sexual assault victims. The Committee supports a dedicated stream of funding to provide a broad range of services to 

male, female, and child sexual assault victims and their families 

through the well-established and well-regarded system of community-based rape crisis centers throughout the United States, and 

maintains its strong commitment to ensuring that these rape crisis 

centers have access to technical assistance, training, and support. 

Grants to Encourage Arrests.—The Committee urges the Office 

on Violence Against Women to prioritize funding within the Grants 

to Encourage Arrests Program to support Family Justice Center 

models that are community-based, co-located multi-agency collaborations that provide integrated services to both domestic violence 

and child abuse victims. 

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS

The Office of Justice Programs [OJP] is responsible for providing 

leadership, coordination, and assistance to its Federal, State, local, 

and tribal partners to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of 

the U.S. justice system in preventing, controlling, and responding 

to crime. As most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in States, cities, and other localities, the Federal Government is effective in these areas only to 

the extent that it can enter into successful partnerships with these 

jurisdictions. Therefore, the OJP is tasked with administering 

grants; collecting statistical data and conducting analyses; identifying emerging criminal justice issues; developing and testing 

promising and innovative approaches to address these issues; evaluating program results; and disseminating these findings and other 

information to State, local, and tribal governments. The Committee 

directs the OJP to submit a quarterly report on grant programs 

that have not received a sufficient number of qualified applicants. 

Gang Prevention Grants and Crime Rates.—The Committee remains concerned about gang activity and violent crime throughout 

the country, noting that Federal partnership with law enforcement 

is essential—not only in our largest cities, but also in suburban 

and rural jurisdictions, where gang activity and violent crime rates 

can exceed national averages. To strengthen Federal partnership 

across all jurisdictions, the Committee directs the OJP to review 

the criteria by which the OJP awards discretionary grants relating 

to gang violence and prevention under the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Juvenile Justice Programs on a per capita basis of applicant cities and jurisdictions where gang activity 

and violent crime rates exceed national averages. The Committee 

encourages the OJP to report on the relative success rate of awards 

granted to applicant cities and jurisdictions with disproportionately 

high gang and violent crime activity, including the murder rates of 
79 

those cities and jurisdictions. The report should also consider the 

relative success rate of applicant cities and jurisdictions that have 

an established gang commission or community planning body, have 

completed the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention 

[OJJDP] gang assessment, and have consulted with or received 

technical assistance from the OJJDP National Gang Center regarding gang initiatives in the community. 

Legal Training.—Training of State and local prosecutors and defense attorneys is essential to the functioning of the criminal justice system and ensuring justice is served. The Committee encourages OJP to explore funding options, including Byrne-JAG, that 

support training for prosecutors and defense attorneys that provide 

a hands-on approach to topics such as criminal process, trial advocacy, ethics, and evidence. 

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND STATISTICS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $111,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 151,900,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... ........................... 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 117,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $117,000,000 for the 

Research, Evaluation and Statistics account. The recommendation 

is $6,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$34,900,000 below the budget request. 

Funding in this account provides assistance in the areas of research, evaluation, statistics, hate crimes, DNA and forensics, 

criminal background checks, and gun safety technology, among others. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND STATISTICS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee 

recommendation 

Bureau of Justice Statistics ........................................................................................................................... 41,000 

National Institute of Justice .......................................................................................................................... 36,000 

Regional Info Sharing Activities .................................................................................................................... 35,000 

Forensic Initiative ........................................................................................................................................... 5,000 

Transfer to NIST .................................................................................................................................... (4,000 ) 

Total .................................................................................................................................................. 117,000 

Spending Plans.—The Department shall submit to the Committee as part of its spending plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Activities a plan for the use of all funding administered 

by the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS], respectively, for approval by the Committee prior to 

the obligation of any such funds. 

National Institute of Justice [NIJ].—The Committee’s recommendation provides $36,000,000 for the NIJ, in addition to 

$4,000,000 transferred from the OVW for research and evaluation 

on violence against women and Indian women. The NIJ’s mission 

is to advance scientific research, development, and evaluation to 

advance the administration of justice and public safety. 
80 

Forensic Initiative.—The Committee provides $5,000,000 for a forensic initiative, of which $4,000,000 is provided by transfer to the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] to support 

Scientific Working Groups. The Department of Justice shall coordinate its forensic initiative activities with NIST. 

Building Digital Forensics Capabilities.—The Committee continues to stress the importance of training and equipping State and 

local law enforcement with the tools and expertise needed to investigate and prosecute electronic crime. As smartphones and the 

Internet have become fundamental parts of daily life, these technologies have also become a fundamental part of criminal acts and 

enterprises, from drug deals and murder hits ordered by text to 

ATM heists via laptops, to child pornography Web sites. 

Given that more than 95 percent of all criminal cases are investigated and prosecuted at the State and local levels, the Committee 

remains concerned that the ability of State and local law enforcement to investigate and effectively prosecute cases involving digital 

evidence- and computer-based crimes will diminish without the Department’s support of training and research. The Committee encourages the Department to prioritize State and local assistance for 

computer forensics tool development and digital evidence training 

for investigations surrounding drug, violent, and financial crimes, 

and crimes against children. 

Regional Information Sharing Activities.—The Committee recommends $35,000,000, an increase of $10,000,000 above the budget 

request and $5,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, to 

support activities that enable the sharing of nationwide criminal 

intelligence and other resources with State, local, and other law enforcement agencies and organizations. Such activities should address critical and chronic criminal threats, including gangs, terrorism, narcotics, weapons and officer safety or ‘‘event 

deconfliction,’’ and should reflect regional as well as national threat 

priorities. In addition, funds shall be available to support local-tolocal law enforcement data and information sharing efforts focused 

on solving routine crimes by sharing law enforcement information 

not categorized as criminal intelligence. All activities shall be consistent with national information-sharing standards and requirements as determined by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,241,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,142,300,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,141,900,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1 1,102,000,000 

1Of the $1,102,000,000 provided for State and local law enforcement assistance grants, 

$93,000,000 is provided under section 510 of this act. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,102,000,000 for 

State and local law enforcement assistance. The recommendation is 

$139,000,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and 

$40,300,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 
81 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee recommendation 

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants .................................................................................................... 382,000 

VALOR Initiative .................................................................................................................................... (15,000) 

Smart Policing ....................................................................................................................................... (10,000) 

Smart Prosecution ................................................................................................................................. (2,500) 

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program ......................................................................................... (15,000) 

Body-Worn Cameras .............................................................................................................................. (20,000) 

NamUS ................................................................................................................................................... (2,400) 

State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ..................................................................................................... 75,000 

Victims of Trafficking Grants ........................................................................................................................ [50,000 ] 

Drug Courts .................................................................................................................................................... 41,000 

Mentally Ill Offender Courts ........................................................................................................................... 10,000 

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment ....................................................................................................... 12,000 

Capital Litigation/Wrongful Prosecution Review ............................................................................................ 4,000 

Economic, High-Tech, and Cybercrime Prevention ........................................................................................ 13,000 

IP Enforcement ...................................................................................................................................... (2,500) 

John R. Justice Grant Program ...................................................................................................................... 3,000 

Adam Walsh Act Implementation .................................................................................................................. 20,000 

Children Exposed to Violence Initiative ......................................................................................................... [16,000 ] 

Bulletproof Vests Partnership ........................................................................................................................ 22,500 

Transfer to NIST/OLES ........................................................................................................................... (1,500) 

National Sex Offender Public Web site .......................................................................................................... 1,000 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction ....................................................................................................... 8,500 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System [NICS] Initiative ....................................................... 55,000 

NICS Improvements ............................................................................................................................... (12,000) 

Paul Coverdell Forensic Science .................................................................................................................... 15,000 

DNA Initiative ................................................................................................................................................. 125,000 

Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grants ....................................................................................................... (117,000) 

Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grants ........................................................................ (4,000) 

Sex Assault Exam Kits .......................................................................................................................... (4,000) 

Community-Based Sexual Assault Response Reform .................................................................................... 41,000 

Court-Appointed Special Advocates [CASA] ................................................................................................... [12,000 ] 

Second Chance Act ........................................................................................................................................ 68,000 

Smart Probation .................................................................................................................................... (6,000) 

Children of Incarcerated Parents Demo Grants ................................................................................... (5,000) 

Pay for Success ..................................................................................................................................... (7,500) 

Veterans Treatment Courts ............................................................................................................................ 5,000 

Prescription Drug Monitoring ......................................................................................................................... 7,000 

Justice Reinvestment Initiative ...................................................................................................................... 22,000 

Project HOPE .................................................................................................................................................. 4,000 

Vision 21 ........................................................................................................................................................ [15,000 ] 

Comprehensive School Safety Program ......................................................................................................... 75,000 

Total .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1,102,000,000 

1 Of the $1,102,000,000 provided for State and local law enforcement assistance grants, $93,000,000 is provided under section 510 of this 

act, and the applicable Committee recommendations are denoted in brackets. 

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.—The 

Committee recommends $382,000,000 for Edward Byrne Memorial 

Justice Assistance Grants [Byrne-JAG]. Funding is not available 

for luxury items, real estate, or construction projects. The Department should expect State, local, and tribal governments to target 

funding to programs and activities that conform with evidencebased strategic plans developed through broad stakeholder involvement. The Committee directs the Department to make technical assistance available to State, local, and tribal governments for the development or update of such plans. 

Training for Forensic Services.—The Committee is interested in 

solution-based approaches to train local law enforcement officers 

and utilize available technology to reduce court backlogs and pros-
82 

ecutions. To the extent appropriate, OJP should explore ways to 

provide resources for multi-jurisdictional forensic service providers, 

in collaboration with universities, to provide access to forensic expertise, assistance, and continuing education to law enforcement 

agencies. The Committee encourages OJP to remind awardees that 

these objectives could be met through the Byrne-JAG program. 

VALOR Initiative.—The Committee’s recommendation fully funds the budget request of $15,000,000 within Byrne-JAG for the Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement Officer Resilience and 

Survivability Initiative [VALOR]. This is a national training initiative that promotes a culture of safety within Federal, State, local, 

and tribal law enforcement agencies by training officers to respond 

to and react better in deadly situations, such as ambush attacks, 

while on duty. The Committee expects Federal law enforcement 

agencies to continue and expand on efforts to provide local police 

with information as to whether or not a suspect has a violent history, to the extent that transfer of such information is allowable 

and available via Federal law enforcement databases, in an effort 

to prevent officer deaths. 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System [NICS] Initiative Grants.—The Committee recommends funding the program at $55,000,000, equal to the budget request, to continue to improve 

the submission of State criminal and mental health records to 

NICS. This investment will strengthen the national background 

check system by assisting States in finding ways to make more 

records available in the NICS system, especially mental health 

records, thereby addressing gaps in Federal and State records currently available in NICS. Those gaps significantly hinder the ability of NICS to quickly confirm whether a prospective purchaser is 

prohibited from acquiring a firearm. 

Grants to Combat Human Trafficking.—Trafficking victims are 

subjected to physical, mental, and sexual abuse and need various 

types of assistance to begin healing and recovery, including counseling, housing, medical care, support groups, and legal assistance. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $50,000,000 from funds 

provided under section 510 of this act for services and task force 

activities for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals who are victims of trafficking, including not less than 

$15,000,000 for victim services for foreign national victims of trafficking. The OJP shall consult with stakeholder groups in determining the overall allocation of Victims of Trafficking funding and 

shall provide to the Committee a plan for the use of these funds 

as part of the Department’s fiscal year 2016 spending plan. 

The Committee notes that funding provided in this program may 

be used for victims of sex and labor trafficking who are minors, as 

authorized under VAWA 2013. Child trafficking victims require 

specialized care, and these resources can be used for items like residential care, emergency social services, mental health counseling, 

and legal services. 

Funding to assist State and local law enforcement in strengthening and expanding the investigation and prosecution of human 

trafficking and training law enforcement personnel on the identification of trafficking victims was authorized under VAWA 2013. 

The Committee recommends that funds be made available for 
83 

human trafficking task forces, particularly those that combat the 

sex trafficking of minors in High Intensity Child Prostitution areas 

identified by the FBI. Trafficking task forces can also use funding 

for innovative technological instruments to assist in the rescue of 

trafficking victims. 

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program.—Persistent crime 

and public safety problems, especially gang activity and youth violence, cannot be addressed solely by law enforcement. These issues 

require a comprehensive interagency approach that enables law enforcement, educators, social services agencies, and community organizations to address both public safety problems and their underlying causes. The Committee provides $15,000,000 within Byrne-JAG to support the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program, which provides demonstration grants in communities to support innovative, 

evidence-based approaches to fighting crime and improving public 

safety, as well as addressing its underlying problems. The OJP will 

coordinate with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other agencies to promote interagency collaboration and 

enable a wide range of new and existing partners to further stabilize neighborhoods that face the most severe violence and crime. 

This program builds upon the approach of supporting communities 

with strategies that combine law enforcement, community policing, 

prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood restoration. 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction.—Violent crime and 

homicide continue to exact a heavy toll on victims, families, and 

neighborhoods. The Committee’s recommendation provides 

$8,500,000, which is $3,500,000 above both the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the budget request, for competitive grants aimed at 

reducing homicides and gun-related violent crime in communities 

overwhelmed by gangs of national significance and illegally purchased and trafficked guns. Popularly known as the Project Safe 

Neighborhoods model, this funding shall be used to hire new Federal and State prosecutors, support investigators, provide investigative and litigation training, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop 

and promote community outreach efforts, as well as to support 

other gun and gang violence reduction strategies. 

Veterans Treatment Courts.—The Committee urges the Department to work in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide grant support for collaborative, rehabilitative approaches for continuing judicial supervision of offenders who are 

veterans. The Committee recommends not less than $5,000,000 for 

Veterans Treatment Courts and urges the Department to strengthen funding for existing Veterans Treatment Courts with successful 

track records to promote best practices. 

Bulletproof Vests.—Within the $22,500,000 provided for bulletproof vests, $1,500,000 is to be transferred directly to the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards [OLES] to continue supporting 

ballistic- and stab-resistant material compliance testing programs. 

The Committee expects the BJA to continue strengthening internal 

controls to manage the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program. Improving grantee accountability in the timely use of Federal funds 

to purchase body armor will help every police officer who needs a 

vest to get one, thus saving officers’ lives. 
84 

Second Chance Act/Offender Reentry Programs.—The recommendation provides $68,000,000 for Second Chance Act [SCA] 

grants. The Committee expects that SCA funding will support 

grants that foster the implementation of strategies that have been 

proven to reduce recidivism and ensure safe and successful reentry 

back to their communities of adults released from prisons and jails. 

The SCA supports activities such as employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, mentoring, family programming, 

and victim support. SCA grants will also support demonstration 

projects designed to test the impact of new strategies and frameworks. Within the amount provided, the Committee’s recommendation makes targeted investments in initiatives requested by the administration to test and replicate new models of improving criminal 

justice efficiencies and recidivism outcomes. 

The Department is directed to submit as part of its spending 

plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance a strategy 

for the use of all funds appropriated for Second Chance Act programs, including new initiatives requested by the Department that 

are funded in this recommendation. It is expected that such a 

strategy will designate funds for proven, evidence-based programs 

that will further the goal of maximizing public safety, as well as 

for promising new approaches and projects. 

Criminal Justice Reform and Recidivism Reduction.—The Committee provides $22,000,000 for a justice reinvestment initiative, 

which expands OJP’s investment in data-driven approaches to improve public safety, drive down corrections and related criminal 

justice spending, and reinvest savings in effective strategies that 

can reduce crime and recidivism and strengthen neighborhoods. 

The Committee supports the OJP’s steps to make justice reinvestment a national model for much-needed criminal justice reform. 

Funds may be used to provide technical assistance and competitive 

financial support to States, counties, cities, and tribes that are either currently engaged in justice reinvestment activities or are preparing to undertake such work. 

Coverdell National Forensic Science Grant Program.—The Committee rejects the budget request to eliminate the Coverdell National Forensic Science Grant Program and provides $15,000,000 to 

continue assistance of forensic sciences. 

DNA Backlog and Crime Lab Improvements.—The Committee is 

once again extremely disappointed that the Department’s budget 

request slashes funding by $20,000,000 for critical grant programs 

to help State and local agencies address their backlogs and test forensic evidence. The Committee continues its strong support for 

DNA backlog and crime lab improvements by recommending 

$125,000,000 to strengthen and improve Federal and State DNA 

collection and analysis systems that can be used to accelerate the 

prosecution of the guilty while simultaneously protecting the innocent from wrongful prosecution. Within funds provided, 

$117,000,000 is for Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Reduction grants, 

$4,000,000 is for Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing 

grants, and $4,000,000 is for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners 

grants. 

From within the funding provided for Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Reduction grants, the Committee expects the Department to 
85 

prioritize reducing rape kit backlogs, given that it is the primary 

reason why the Committee continues to provide robust funding for 

these grants. The Committee directs the Department to provide not 

less than 75 percent of the total grant amounts for direct testing 

activities to reduce the backlog. The Committee further directs 

DOJ to provide at least 5 percent of funds to law enforcement 

agencies to conduct audits of their backlogged rape kits and to 

prioritize testing in those cases in which the statute of limitations 

will soon expire, as authorized by the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting Act of 2013 (Public Law 113–4). 

The Committee expects that the OJP will make funding for DNA 

analysis and capacity enhancement a priority in order to meet the 

purposes of the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. The 

Committee directs the Department to submit to the Committee as 

part of its spending plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Activities a plan with respect to funds appropriated for DNA-related 

and forensic programs, including the alignment of appropriated 

funds with the authorized purposes of the Debbie Smith DNA 

Backlog Grant Program. 

Reducing the Rape Kit Backlog.—The Committee’s recommendation includes $41,000,000 to continue a competitive grant program 

started in fiscal year 2015 as part of the initiative to reduce the 

backlog of rape kits at law enforcement agencies. The NIJ shall 

provide competitively awarded grants with a comprehensive community-based approach to addressing the resolution of cases in the 

backlog. The Committee directs the NIJ to provide a report not 

later than 90 days after enactment of this act on its progress in developing a strategy and model to serve as best practices for discovering and testing kits, training law enforcement, and supporting 

victims throughout the process as required by Public Law 113–235. 

Comprehensive School Safety.—The Committee’s recommendation 

includes $75,000,000 to continue a competitive grant program as 

part of the comprehensive school safety initiative started in fiscal 

year 2014. The NIJ shall provide competitively awarded grants 

with strong research and evaluation components to local school districts and State educational agencies to support the implementation of school safety interventions under the existing construct. The 

Committee directs the NIJ to provide a report not later than 90 

days after enactment of this act, on its progress on continued development of a strategy and model for comprehensive school safety. 

Economic, High-Tech, and Cybercrime Prevention.—The Committee recommends $13,000,000 to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of economic, high-tech, and Internet crimes. Given the importance of protecting our Nation’s new technologies, ideas, and products, the Committee includes the request of $2,500,000 for competitive grants that help State and local law enforcement tackle intellectual property [IP] thefts, such as counterfeiting and piracy. 

Flexible Tribal Assistance.—The Committee recommends funding 

tribal grant programs by permitting 7 percent of discretionary 

grant and reimbursement program funds made available to the 

OJP to be used for tribal criminal justice assistance, and continues 

to strongly support efforts to help tribes improve the capacity of 

their criminal justice systems. The OJP is expected to consult close-
86 

ly with tribal stakeholders in determining how tribal assistance 

funds will be awarded for detention facilities, courts, alcohol and 

substance abuse programs, civil and criminal legal assistance, and 

other priorities. The Committee directs the OJP to submit, as part 

of the Department’s spending plan for fiscal year 2016, a plan for 

the use of these funds that has been informed by such consultation. 

The Committee notes that the bill includes additional grant funding for tribal law enforcement programs through COPS and OVW. 

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.—The Committee directs 

the Bureau of Justice Assistance to assess the impact of establishing threshold enrollment and utilization rates for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and, where enrollment and utilization rates are below 100 percent, assess the feasibility of requiring 

benchmarks for improvements in enrollment and utilization as 

grant eligibility criteria. The Committee directs the Department to 

report, not later than 180 days after enactment of this act, on this 

assessment, including the potential of prioritizing funding based on 

the goal of optimizing prescriber and dispenser enrollment and utilization rates for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs by prescribers and dispensers as a ratio compared to the potential universe of prescribers and dispensers and controlled substance prescribing rates, respectively. 

Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services.—The Committee’s recommendation provides $15,000,000 under section 510 of this act for 

Vision 21. The Committee directs the Department to submit as 

part of its spending plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Activities a plan for the use of all funding administered by the Office 

for Victims of Crime [OVC] for Vision 21. 

The Committee supports Vision 21’s goals of funding initiatives 

that will address the need for more data-driven research and evaluation on victimization and services; holistic legal assistance for 

crime victims; resources to reach tribal and rural victims in areas 

where service providers do not exist; support of national emergency 

hotlines, online, and other programs that serve American crime victims at the national and international level; and capacity building 

to provide technology- and evidence-based training and technical 

assistance. 

JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $251,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 339,400,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 186,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1 294,500,000 

1Of the $294,500,000 provided for juvenile justice programs grants, $41,000,000 is provided 

under section 510 of this act. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $294,500,000 for juvenile justice programs. The recommendation is $43,000,000 above 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $44,900,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee strongly supports a comprehensive approach of 

substantial funding for a robust portfolio of programs that work to 

improve the lives of the youth in our communities. Title II State 

Formula and title V juvenile delinquency prevention grants are the 

backbone of programs assisting State and local agencies to prevent 
87 

juvenile delinquency and ensure that youth who are in contact with 

the juvenile justice system are treated fairly. Combined with other 

critical programs like youth mentoring, the Committee believes 

that a balanced level of programming is the way to best help atrisk and vulnerable youth and their families. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Part B—State Formula ...................................................................................................................................... 65,500 

Emergency Planning—Juvenile Detention Facilities ................................................................................ (500) 

Youth Mentoring Grants ..................................................................................................................................... 75,000 

Title V—Delinquency Prevention ....................................................................................................................... 40,000 

Tribal Youth ............................................................................................................................................... (10,000) 

Gang and Youth Violence Education and Prevention ............................................................................... (5,000) 

Victims of Child Abuse (VOCA) .......................................................................................................................... [20,000 ] 

Community-Based Violence Prevention .............................................................................................................. [18,000 ] 

Missing & Exploited Children Programs ............................................................................................................ 68,000 

Child Abuse Training for Judicial Personnel ..................................................................................................... [3,000 ] 

Children of Incarcerated Parents Web Portal .................................................................................................... 500 

Girls in the Justice System ................................................................................................................................ 2,000 

Juvenile Indigent Defense .................................................................................................................................. 2,500 

Total ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 294,500,000 

1 Of the $294,500,000 provided for juvenile justice programs grants, $41,000,000 is provided under section 510 of this act, and the appli- cable Committee recommendations are denoted in brackets. 

Any deviation from the above plan is subject to the reprogramming requirements of section 505 of this act. 

Part B: State Formula Grants.—The Committee provides 

$65,500,000 for grants to implement comprehensive State juvenile 

justice plans, including community-based prevention and intervention programs and activities for juvenile offenders. This amount is 

$10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$4,500,000 below the budget request. 

Within the amount provided, the Committee recommends 

$500,000 for competitive demonstration grants for State, local, and 

tribal juvenile justice detention facilities and systems to meet the 

needs of children and adolescents housed in detention facilities in 

preparation for, during, and after a disaster, as detailed in the 

2011 emergency planning guidance issued by the OJJDP. 

The Committee directs the OJP to submit as part of its spending 

plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Activities a plan for the 

administration of Part B State Formula Grants. The Committee expects this plan to include details pertaining to the formulas utilized 

in awarding grants under this heading. 

The Committee urges DOJ to encourage title II grant recipients 

to coordinate with their State education agencies to support continuity of education opportunities for adjudicated youth. 

Youth Mentoring Grants.—To support the critical work of national, regional, and local organizations in nurturing and mentoring at-risk children and youths, the Committee recommends 

$75,000,000 for competitive, peer-reviewed youth mentoring grants. 

Within 45 days of enactment of this act, the OJP is directed to pro-
88 

vide a report and spend plan to the Committee detailing the criteria and methodology that will be used to award these grants, as 

well as an explanation of any deviations from the criteria and Committee directions used in fiscal year 2015. The Committee expects 

that the OJJDP will take all steps necessary to ensure fairness and 

objectivity in the award of these and future competitive grants. 

Victims of Child Abuse Act.—The Committee’s recommendation 

provides $20,000,000 under section 510 of this act for the various 

programs authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act [VOCA] 

(Public Law 101–647) and directs the OJJDP to ensure that not 

less than 90 percent of the grants awarded are for the purposes of 

developing and maintaining child advocacy centers, including training and accreditation. Within the funds provided, $5,000,000 shall 

be for Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers [RCACs] Programs. 

The RCACs were established to provide information, consultation, 

training, and technical assistance to communities, and to help establish child-focused programs that facilitate and support coordination among agencies responding to child abuse. 

Missing and Exploited Children Programs.—The OJP works with 

law enforcement agencies to find missing children and to target 

and prosecute predatory child molesters and those who traffic in 

child pornography. The Committee recommends $68,000,000 for 

Missing and Exploited Children Programs and expects the Department to allocate no less than the current funding level for task 

force grants, training and technical assistance, research and statistics, and administrative costs for the Internet Crimes Against Children [ICAC] program. The Committee directs the OJP to provide 

a spending plan for the use of these funds as part of the Department’s spending plan for fiscal year 2016. 

The Committee supports efforts across the country to train child 

protection professionals, beginning with undergraduate and graduate curricula and following up with ongoing training for professionals in the field, including the development of State forensic 

interviewing courses. The Committee directs the OJJDP to provide 

training and technical assistance to improve forensic interview 

training for investigation and prosecution professionals, evidencebased community prevention programs for child protection professionals, and undergraduate and graduate curricula on the maltreatment and exploitation of children. 

Child Abuse Training for Judicial Personnel and Practitioners.— 

The Committee recognizes the effectiveness of child abuse training 

programs for judicial personnel and practitioners and provides 

$3,000,000 for grants to improve the judicial system’s handling of 

child abuse and neglect cases, enhance parental involvement, reduce the cost and population of foster care, and increase positive 

outcomes of child abuse victims. 

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS BENEFITS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $87,300,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 88,300,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 88,300,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 88,300,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $88,300,000 for public 

safety officers benefits. The recommendation is $1,000,000 above 
89 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget estimate. 

This program provides a one-time death benefit payment to eligible 

survivors of Federal, State, and local public safety officers whose 

death was the direct and proximate result of a traumatic injury 

sustained in the line of duty or certain eligible heart attacks or 

strokes. Within funds provided, $72,000,000 is for death benefits 

for survivors, an amount estimated by the Congressional Budget 

Office and considered mandatory for scorekeeping purposes. The Committee also recommends $16,300,000, as requested, for 

disability benefits for injured officers and education benefits for the 

families of officers who have been permanently disabled or killed 

in the line of duty. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $208,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 303,500,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 251,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 212,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $212,000,000 for community oriented policing services. The recommendation is 

$4,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$91,500,000 below the budget request. 

Local law enforcement is not only essential to ensuring the safety 

of the public but also plays a critical role in preventing and responding to terrorist threats. Since its creation, the Community 

Oriented Policing Services [COPS] Office has assisted State and 

local law enforcement agencies by providing grants, training, and 

technical assistance that not only ensure public safety from traditional crime, but also better enable law enforcement officers to address the growing threat from terrorist organizations. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee 

recommendation 

Methamphetamine Lab Cleanup (Transfer to DEA) ........................................................................................... 11,000 

COPS Hiring Grants ............................................................................................................................................ 187,000 

Transfer to Tribal Resources Grant Program ............................................................................................ (30,000 ) 

Community Policing Development/Training and Technical Assistance .................................................... (10,000 ) 

Collaborative Reform Model ...................................................................................................................... (10,000 ) 

Anti-Meth Task Forces ....................................................................................................................................... 7,000 

Anti-Heroin Task Forces ..................................................................................................................................... 7,000 

Total ...................................................................................................................................................... 212,000 

Any deviations from the above plan are subject to the reprogramming requirements of section 505. 

COPS Hiring Program.—The Committee recommends 

$187,000,000 for COPS Hiring grants to help State, local, or tribal 

law enforcement agencies to create and preserve police officer positions and to increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. As in the request, the grants will have an award 
90 

cap of $125,000 and require grantees to provide a 25 percent local 

match. 

Community Policing Development—Training and Technical Assistance.—The Committee’s recommendation provides $10,000,000 

within the COPS Hiring Program to provide Training and Technical Assistance to assist agencies with developing innovative community policing strategies through applied research and evaluation 

initiatives. Of these funds, the COPS Office is directed to provide 

up to $5,000,000 within this program for diversity and inclusion 

training to organizations with experience in training law enforcement personnel. The goal of this training is to improve community 

policing and create partnerships between police officers and the 

citizens they protect. 

Methamphetamine Hot Spots.—The Committee’s recommendation 

includes a $11,000,000 transfer to reimburse the DEA for assistance to State and local law enforcement for proper removal and 

disposal of hazardous materials at clandestine methamphetamine 

labs, and to initiate container programs. This is the level the DEA 

estimates will be sufficient in fiscal year 2016 to operate the full 

cleanup program for States to transition to container program 

cleanups, and to cover the costs of smaller methamphetamine 

cleanups in States where the problem is intermittent. 

Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces.—The Committee’s recommendation provides $7,000,000 for the COPS Office to make 

competitive grants to law enforcement agencies in States with high 

seizures of precursor chemicals, finished methamphetamine, laboratories, and laboratory dump seizures. These funds shall be utilized for investigative purposes to locate or investigate illicit activities such as precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine 

traffickers. 

Anti-Heroin Task Forces.—The Committee has repeatedly expressed its concern over the dramatic rise of heroin abuse and related crime in the United States. The need for additional resources 

and training to address these challenges is apparent, and the Committee created the anti-heroin program within the COPS Office in 

fiscal year 2015. Despite the plea for additional resources from law 

enforcement as well as the interest of the Committee, the Department eliminated this program as part of the fiscal year 2016 budget request. The Committee provides $7,000,000 for the COPS Office 

to make competitive grants to law enforcement agencies in States 

with high per capita levels of primary treatment admissions for 

both heroin and other opioids. These funds shall be utilized for 

drug enforcement, including investigations and activities related to 

the distribution of heroin or unlawful diversion and distribution of 

prescription opioids. Priority shall be given to those drug task 

forces, managed and operated by the State, serving a majority of 

counties in the State. 

School Resource Officers.—The placement of law enforcement officers in schools carries a risk that these officers will contribute to 

a ‘‘school-to-prison pipeline’’ process where students are arrested or 

cited for minor, non-violent behavioral violations and then sent to 

the juvenile court system. This pipeline wastes community resources and can lead to academic failure and greater recidivism 

rates for these students. The Committee directs that the COPS Of-
91 

fice continue to utilize requirements and procedures regarding a 

written memorandum of understanding and proper training for any 

COPS Hiring Grant funds used to hire school-based law enforcement officers. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

The Committee recommends the following general provisions: 

Section 201 limits the amount of funding the Attorney General 

can use for official reception and representation. 

Section 202 prohibits the use of funds in this title to pay for an 

abortion except where the life of the mother would be in danger. 

Section 203 prohibits the use of funds in this title to require a 

person to perform or facilitate an abortion. 

Section 204 requires female prisoners to be escorted when off 

prison grounds. 

Section 205 allows the Department of Justice, subject to the 

Committee’s reprogramming procedures, to transfer up to 5 percent 

between appropriations, but limits to 10 percent the amount that 

can be transferred into any one appropriation. 

Section 206 authorizes the Attorney General to terminate a personnel management demonstration project. 

Section 207 limits the placement of maximum or high security 

prisoners to appropriately secure facilities. 

Section 208 restricts Federal prisoner access to certain amenities. 

Section 209 requires review by the Deputy Attorney General and 

the Department’s Investigative Review Board prior to the obligation or expenditure of funds for major technology projects. 

Section 210 requires the Department to follow reprogramming 

procedures prior to any deviation from the program amounts specified in this title or the reuse of specified deobligated funds provided 

in previous years. 

Section 211 prohibits the use of funds for OMB Circular A–76 

competitions for work performed by employees of the Bureau of 

Prisons or of the Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated. 

Section 212 prohibits U.S. Attorneys from simultaneously holding 

multiple jobs outside of the scope of a U.S. Attorney’s professional 

duties. 

Section 213 permits up to 3 percent of grant and reimbursement 

program funds made available to the Office of Justice Programs to 

be used for training and technical assistance, permits up to 2 percent of grant and reimbursement program funds made available to 

that office to be transferred to the National Institute of Justice or 

the Bureau of Justice Statistics for criminal justice research and 

statistics, and permits up to 7 percent of discretionary grant and 

reimbursement program funds made available to OJP to be used 

for tribal criminal justice assistance. The Committee continues to 

strongly support efforts to help tribes improve the capacity of their 

criminal justice systems. 

Section 214 gives the Attorney General the authority to waive 

matching requirements for Second Chance Act adult and juvenile 

reentry demonstration projects; State, tribal and local reentry 

courts; and drug treatment programs. 
92 

Section 215 waives the requirement that the Attorney General 

reserve certain funds from amounts provided for offender incarceration. 

Section 216 prohibits funds, other than funds for the national instant criminal background check system established under the 

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, from being used to facilitate the transfer of an operable firearm to a known or suspected 

agent of a drug cartel where law enforcement personnel do not continuously monitor or control such firearm. 

Section 217 requires the Department to provide documents to the 

Inspector General that are necessary as part of audits and investigations. 

Section 218 exempts the penalties required by the Prison Rape 

Elimination Act on certain grant programs for 1 year. 

Section 219 permits the Department of Justice to participate in 

Performance Partnership Pilot collaboration programs. 
(93) 

TITLE III 

SCIENCE 

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,555,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 5,566,000 

House Allowance .................................................................................... 5,555,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,555,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $5,555,000 for the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The recommendation is the 

same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $11,000 below the 

budget request. 

The Office of Science and Technology Policy [OSTP] was created 

by the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and 

Priorities Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–282) and coordinates science 

and technology policy for the White House. OSTP provides scientific and technological information, analysis, and advice for the 

President and the executive branch; participates in the formulation, coordination, and implementation of national and international policies and programs that involve science and technology; 

maintains and promotes the health and vitality of the U.S. science 

and technology infrastructure; reviews and analyzes, with the Office of Management and Budget, the research and development 

budgets for all Federal agencies; and coordinates research and development efforts of the Federal Government to maximize the return on the public’s investment in science and technology and to 

ensure Federal resources are used efficiently and appropriately. 

Open Access to Federal Research.—The Committee has received 

reports by OSTP on the progress of all Federal agencies in developing and implementing policies to increase public access to federally funded scientific research. To date, OSTP and OMB have given 

approval to 14 departments and agencies’ public access plans, with 

13 of the 14 currently publically available and another to be made 

available in the near future. The Committee is pleased by the 

progress being made, but had previously instructed OSTP in fiscal 

year 2015 to have all relevant departments and agencies’ plans approved by the end of calendar year 2014 with implementation occurring by early calendar year 2015. Unfortunately, six departments and agencies have yet to have their plans receive final approval in order to move toward implementation. OSTP is directed 

to continue providing quarterly reports to the Committee in order 

to keep Congress apprised of the remaining progress that needs to 

be made in making federally funded research accessible to the public as expeditiously as possible. 

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education.— 

Within the fiscal year 2016 budget request, the administration has 
94 

again proposed a government-wide consolidation of STEM education programs. 

The Committee continues to support effective mission-oriented 

STEM education programs at NASA, NOAA, and NIST within this 

bill, and encourages OSTP to work with non-Federal education and 

outreach communities to present a proposal that supports efficiencies while garnering wider support. In seeking efficiencies for 

STEM programs, OSTP and its partners should be mindful of ensuring that scientists supported by the Federal Government are not 

absolved of responsibility to educate and train the next generation. 

OSTP should also take care to preserve effective training and education programs designed to directly fulfill the unique STEM-related mission needs of the agencies administering them. 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $18,010,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 18,529,100,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 18,529,100,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 18,289,500,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $18,289,500,000 for 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]. The 

recommendation is $279,300,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and $239,600,000 below the budget request. 

NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space 

Act of 1958 (Public Law 85–568) to conduct space and aeronautical 

research and development and to conduct flight activities for peaceful purposes. NASA’s unique mission of exploration, discovery, and 

innovation is intended to preserve the United States’ role as both 

a leader in world aviation and as the pre-eminent space-faring nation. It is NASA’s mission to: advance the human and robotic exploration, use and development of space; advance and communicate 

scientific knowledge and understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe; and research, develop, verify, and transfer 

advanced aeronautics and space technologies. 

For Science, the Committee’s recommendation strives to keep 

NASA’s near-term launches on track to continue progress in exploring our solar system and the universe, understanding the sun, and 

observing and protecting our planet. The Committee expects NASA 

to continue making progress on the recommendations of National 

Academies’ decadal surveys, now and in the future. 

The Committee believes this bill represents a solid path forward 

for human spaceflight that reaches beyond low-Earth orbit with affordable crew and launch vehicles; invests in the burgeoning domestic launch industry that is bringing cargo, and eventually crew, 

to the International Space Station [ISS]; and supports NASA 

science and technology programs. These elements should be viewed 

as complementary pieces of a balanced whole. 

NASA utilizes a broad variety of launch vehicles, from suborbital 

to heavy configurations, in order to successfully execute its missions. The Committee encourages NASA to choose those launch vehicles that prioritize their manifests such that NASA has a high 

confidence level that missions can be reliably launched on schedule. 

NASA is directed to continue providing the Committee with a quarterly launch schedule, by mission, that describes risks associated 
95 

with launch delays due to problems with the launch vehicle; impacts of launch delays to other missions in the launch queue, and 

a budget estimate of the anticipated carrying costs for missed 

launch windows. 

The Committee is supportive of NASA’s STEM education efforts 

that provide hands-on learning experiences at NASA centers for 

middle, high school, and college students, including space launch 

activities. These types of programs allow students to experience the 

full range of STEM related skills involved in designing, testing, 

and launching vehicles and payloads to deepen their interest in 

science and engineering fields. 

The Committee is counting on NASA to maintain focus on improving oversight and accountability throughout the agency. 

NASA’s acquisition management continues to be on the Government Accountability Office’s [GAO] ‘‘high risk’’ list. The Committee 

notes that NASA is making progress in strengthening financial 

management. GAO’s most recent assessment of NASA’s large-scale 

projects found the agency’s cost and schedule performance on major 

projects has improved since GAO’s first assessment in 2009. The 

average cost overrun is down from 4 percent to 3 percent, while average launch delays are down from 4 months to under 3 months. 

NASA is directed to cooperate fully and to provide timely program 

analysis, evaluation data, and relevant information to the GAO so 

that GAO can report to Congress shortly after the annual budget 

submission of the President and semiannually thereafter on the 

status of large-scale NASA programs, projects, and activities based 

on its review of this information. 

In addition, NASA is directed to include in its budget justification the reserve assumed by NASA to be necessary within the 

amount proposed for each directorate, theme, program, project, and 

activity, or, if the proposed funding level for a directorate, theme, 

program, project, or activity is based on confidence level budgeting, 

the confidence level assumed in the proposed funding level. 

This bill makes tough choices in order to afford a balanced space 

program. To do that, the Committee was informed by the priorities 

of the Senate as well as the administration. However, the Committee does not always agree with the administration. The Committee grants NASA flexibility to craft spending plans that manage 

funds appropriately and, where necessary, address funding shortfalls that were not foreseen by the Congress or the agency prior to 

passage of annual appropriations. However, that latitude should 

not be viewed as a license to disregard the Congress’ direction 

about where limited resources should be spent. The Federal funding priorities for NASA set forth in this bill should not be interpreted as a suggestion from the Committee; rather they should be 

interpreted like any other statutory requirement levied upon 

NASA. The Committee objects to NASA’s efforts in recent fiscal 

years to redirect funding away from priorities clearly set by the 

Congress in law. NASA’s continued use of section 505 of this bill 

in this manner will result in limited funding flexibility in the future. 

The Committee has chosen to articulate the funding levels of programs, where appropriate, in the form of tables and, if necessary, 

supplemented with explanatory report language. 
96 

SCIENCE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,244,700,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 5,288,600,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 5,237,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,295,000,000 

The Committee provides $5,295,000,000 for Science, which is $50,300,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$6,400,000 above the budget request. The Science account encompasses: Earth Science, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, the James 

Webb Space Telescope, Heliophysics, and Education. This funding 

seeks to answer fundamental questions concerning the ways in 

which Earth’s climate is changing; the comparison of Earth with 

other planets in the solar system and around other stars; the connections between the Sun and Earth; and the origin and evolution 

of planetary systems, the galaxy, and the universe, including the 

origin and distribution of life in the universe. These objectives are 

assisted by input from the scientific community through decadal 

surveys and are achieved through robotic flight missions, groundbased scientific research and data analysis, and the development of 

new technologies for future missions. NASA shall continue its 

progress toward implementing decadal surveys in Earth Science, 

Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics, including recommendations for large, flagship projects and small and medium 

sized missions. 

SCIENCE 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Earth Science ..................................................................................................................................................... 1,931,600 

Planetary Science ............................................................................................................................................... 1,321,000 

Astrophysics ....................................................................................................................................................... 730,600 

James Webb Space Telescope ............................................................................................................................ 620,000 

Heliophysics ........................................................................................................................................................ 649,800 

Education ........................................................................................................................................................... 42,000 

Total, Science ....................................................................................................................................... 5,295,000 

Earth Science.—The recommendation includes $1,931,600,000 for 

Earth Science, including $100,000,000 to continue formulation and 

development of Landsat-9 as a copy of Landsat-8. The Committee 

has not provided funding for an additional free flying thermal infrared instrument ahead of Landsat-9. Rather, NASA is directed to 

maintain a target launch date for Landsat-9 of 2020 so that the 

risk of losing the 16-day revisit cycle is minimized by having 

Landsat-9 on orbit before Landsat-7 fails. The recommendation also 

includes $75,000,000 for the Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and Ocean Ecosystem [PACE] mission. The Committee expects NASA to clarify 

the proposed cost baseline for PACE, including the treatment of 

science operations and the science definition team’s instrument recommendations. 

Planetary Science.—The Committee supports Planetary Science 

at $1,321,000,000, including the request level of $228,000,000 for 

the Mars 2020 Rover, $50,000,000 for Near Earth Object Observations within Planetary Science Research, and $189,700,000 for the 
97 

Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer. The recommendation also includes 

$7,000,000 for New Frontiers Future Missions, which is $5,000,000 

above the request, to enable NASA to accelerate the next New 

Frontiers Announcement of Opportunity to a date before February 

1, 2016. The Committee welcomes the rendezvous of New Horizons 

with Pluto scheduled for July 14, 2015, and encourages NASA to 

continue the momentum generated by this mission to carry over for 

future research on the outer planets, including Uranus. The Committee supports Advanced Sterling Radioisotope Generator research and development to enable planetary and other science research. 

Europa.—A mission to Europa represents one of the highest 

large mission priorities of the Planetary Science Decadal Survey, 

and NASA announced in May 2015 the selection of nine scientific 

instruments that will enable this mission. As one of these top priorities, Europa also presents NASA with an opportunity to capitalize 

on investments it has made in producing a heavy lift launch vehicle capability. The Committee believes that any ongoing planning 

for a Europa mission should seek to maximize the scientific return 

for this mission and also utilize the capabilities of NASA’s own 

heavy lift launch vehicle. The Committee directs NASA, in setting 

the baseline Europa mission highlighted in the decadal survey, to 

use the Space Launch System as the launch vehicle. 

Astrophysics.—Within funds provided to advance scientific 

knowledge of the origins of the universe, the Committee provides 

$98,300,000 for the Hubble Space Telescope and $85,200,000 for 

the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy [SOFIA], 

and $90,000,000 for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope 

[WFIRST]. 

Hubble Space Telescope.—2015 marked the 25th Anniversary of 

the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble has made more 

than 1,200,000 observations and has rewritten the astronomy textbooks, from revealing the age of the universe to discovering that 

the universe is expanding spurred on by dark energy. Astronomers 

using Hubble data have published more than 12,800 scientific papers, including research that led to a Nobel Prize in Physics. 

Hubble’s incredible scientific productivity would not have been possible without five repair missions that gave Hubble a new contact 

lens and, ultimately, new gyroscopes and more powerful instruments. Hubble’s productivity will live on well beyond the telescope 

because of its well-managed archives containing more than 100 

terabytes of data are free and available to the world on the Internet so researchers, teachers, and students around the world can access its observations, along with those of other telescopes including 

Spitzer and NASA’s next generation of telescopes, such as the 

James Webb Space Telescope. 

SOFIA.—The Committee includes the full budget request for 

SOFIA, a program that had been previously proposed for cancellation in fiscal year 2015 after operations began in May 2014. The 

Committee understands NASA is now proposing a Senior Review 

panel evaluation of the program’s scientific productivity in 2016, 3 

years ahead of schedule. Typically, a NASA program is given 4 to 

5 years to prove the merit of its science before undergoing a Senior 
98 

Review. Therefore, the Committee directs that any early Senior Review of SOFIA shall only be for the purposes of allowing SOFIA to 

undergo such a review in preparation for future evaluation and 

that the results of this review shall not be used to justify early cancellation. 

WFIRST Science Mission.—The Committee has provided funding 

for completion of pre-formulation and initiation of formulation of 

the WFIRST mission using the Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets, with the goal of completing Key Decision Point-A no later 

than January 15, 2016. The Committee has accelerated this key 

mission recommended by the decadal survey and expects it to 

achieve overlap and scientific synergy with Hubble and the James 

Webb Space Telescope, including linking science operations and the 

science archive. 

James Webb Space Telescope.—The Committee maintains strong 

support for the completion of the James Webb Space Telescope 

[JWST], and provides $620,000,000, the same as the budget request. JWST has reached a level of development where 100 percent 

of the telescope’s mass is now beyond Key Decision Point-C, a milestone that indicates that significant progress has been made towards its 2018 launch date. The bill maintains an overall development cost ceiling for JWST at $8,000,000,000, and the Committee 

intends to hold NASA and its contractors to that commitment. The 

Committee expects to be kept fully informed on issues relating to 

program and risk management, achievement of cost and schedule 

goals, and the program’s technical status. The Committee appreciates GAO’s continuing work to monitor JWST progress, costs, and 

schedule. 

Explorers.—Small- and medium-sized Explorer missions have 

been recognized by decadal surveys as missions that meet multiple 

goals of providing frequent flight opportunities; allowing students 

and Principal Investigators to gain hands on flight experience; responding rapidly to new developments in science; providing pathfinders for larger missions; and providing value when comparing 

science productivity to cost. The Committee continues its strong 

support of Astrophysics and Heliophysics Explorers and expects 

NASA to provide adequate resources within the amount provided 

to increase frequency of Explorer Announcements of Opportunity 

[AO]. Explorer AOs should occur at least every 3 years, and 

NASA’s goal should be to increase the frequency to every 2 years. 

Solar Probe Plus.—The Committee provides $230,400,000 for the 

Solar Probe Plus mission, the same as the budget request. The 

Committee strongly affirms its multiyear commitment to a 2018 

launch for the solar probe plus mission and fully expects that all 

future NASA budget submissions will adhere to a funding profile 

that guarantees a 2018 launch. 

Science Mission Directorate, Education.—Within Astrophysics, 

the request includes $20,000,000 for education funding within the 

Science Mission Directorate [SMD], which is $22,000,000 below the 

fiscal year 2015 level. For fiscal year 2016, the Committee provides 

no less than $42,000,000 for education as reflected in a more transparent single line within the SMD funding chart. This includes the 

$20,000,000 education funding included in the budget submission 

within the Astrophysics program. However, the Committee sup-
99 

ports the recommendation that the Astrophysics program administer this SMD-wide education funding. The Committee encourages 

NASA to prioritize funding for on-going education efforts linked directly to its science missions and to encourage SMD-funded investigators to be directly involved in outreach and education efforts. 

The Committee notes that the $42,000,000 is well below the authorized mandate that 1 percent of all NASA science funds are allocated to education-related efforts. Thus, this amount does not represent a cumulative total of all on-going and longstanding education activities that will be conducted throughout SMD in fiscal 

year 2016. 

AERONAUTICS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $651,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 571,400,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 600,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 524,700,000 

The Committee provides $524,700,000 for Aeronautics, which is 

$126,300,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$46,700,000 below the budget request. The Aeronautics account 

funds research in key areas related to the development of advanced 

aircraft technologies and systems, including those related to aircraft safety, environmental compatibility and fuel efficiency, and 

research that supports the Next Generation Air Transportation 

System in partnership with the Joint Planning and Development 

Office. 

The Committee recommendation supports the fiscal year 2015 

enacted level for the Advanced Composites Project within the Advanced Air Vehicles Program. 

Unmanned Aerial Systems.—The Committee notes that integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems [UAS] into the National Airspace 

System [NAS] remains a national priority with the potential to increase public safety and bring economic benefits to a wide range of 

industries. The Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] has designated six sites it will use to conduct research into safety standards and technology necessary to safely integrate UAS into the 

NAS. NASA Aeronautics research plays a critical role in the NAS, 

contributing capabilities that reduce technical barriers related to 

safety and operational challenges. The Committee supports UAS 

and its related activities, including the UAS traffic management 

program, as a key component to the NAS. NASA is directed to coordinate its UAS activities with FAA and to utilize the six FAA 

test sites to the greatest extent possible to ensure the safest and 

most efficient integration of these platforms into the NAS. As this 

effort moves forward, the Committee directs NASA, in cooperation 

with the FAA, to provide the Committee with a coordinated research plan for UAS integration, including testing, analysis and assessments. 

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $596,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 724,800,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 625,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 600,000,000 
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The Committee provides $600,000,000 for Space Technology, 

which is $4,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$124,800,000 below the budget request. The Space Technology Program funds basic research that can advance multi-purpose technologies to enable new approaches to NASA’s current missions. It 

includes NASA’s Small Business Innovative Research [SBIR] and 

Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] programs. 

Satellite Servicing/RESTORE–L.—The Committee recommends 

$150,000,000 for satellite servicing to continue the pathfinder mission [RESTORE–L] to refuel Landsat-7 or another U.S. Government-owned satellite in low-Earth orbit no later than 2019. The 

Committee has chosen to fund Satellite Servicing’s RESTORE–L 

mission within Space Technology. Pathfinder technologies were 

funded and proven on the International Space Station. The Committee recommendation includes funding for a full-scale, standalone demonstration which will benefit multiple NASA mission directorates and, therefore, is more appropriately funded within 

Space Technology. The mission shall be co-managed and led by the 

Science Mission Directorate. 

In allocating funding for RESTORE–L, NASA shall not include 

amounts carried over from previous fiscal years. The Committee 

has also included bill language for this initiative so it continues in 

a timely fashion and to avoid lingering drains on satellite servicing 

funds that have been diverted to other purposes in earlier years. 

Celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope 

demonstrated the value of repair, upgrades, and life extension for 

productive but expensive Government-owned space assets. Given 

constraints imposed by the Budget Control Act, satellite servicing 

offers a unique and valuable means to stagger the capital requirements for new satellites by significantly extending the useful life 

of existing ones. The funds set aside for the RESTORE–L Pathfinder mission should lead to the immediate funding of efforts to 

formulate a rapid mission, done in partnership with and overseen 

by NASA’s existing satellite servicing expertise. The Administrator 

shall furnish the Committee with a written schedule to accomplish 

the execution of RESTORE–L not later than 30 days after the enactment of this act. 

Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR].—The Committee 

recognizes the importance of the SBIR program and its previous 

success in commercialization of results from federally funded research and development projects. The SBIR program encourages 

domestic small businesses to engage in Federal research and development, and creates jobs. The Committee therefore directs NASA 

to place an increased focus on awarding SBIR awards to firms with 

fewer than 50 employees. 

Flight Opportunities.—Within the funds provided for Crosscutting Space Technology Development, the Committee provides 

$20,000,000 for Flight Opportunities. The Committee notes that 

NASA initiated a program during fiscal year 2015 to promote the 

development of nano-launch orbital capabilities within Flight Opportunities, and directs NASA to further pursue the design and development of an affordable system that can carry nanosatellites to 

low-Earth orbit from within the funds provided. 
101 

EXPLORATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,356,700,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,504,400,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 4,759,300,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1 3,831,200,000 

1For fiscal year 2016, the Exploration account does not include funds for Commercial Crew, 

which are now located under ISS Crew and Cargo transportation in the Space Operations account. 

The Committee provides $3,831,200,000 for Exploration, which is $525,500,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$673,200,000 below the budget request. The Exploration account 

funds the capabilities required to develop, demonstrate, and deploy 

the transportation, life support, and surface systems that will enable sustained human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and 

throughout the solar system. The Committee believes the Nation 

deserves a safe and robust human spaceflight program to explore 

beyond low-Earth orbit. 

EXPLORATION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Space Launch System ........................................................................................................................................ 1,900,000 

Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle ..................................................................................................................... 1,200,000 

Exploration Ground Systems .............................................................................................................................. 410,000 

Exploration Research and Development ............................................................................................................ 321,200 

TOTAL .................................................................................................................................................... 3,831,200 

The Space Launch System [SLS], Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle [Orion], and Exploration ground systems are all critical to the 

timely and successful initial launch of Exploration Mission-1 [EM– 

1]. To date, both SLS and Exploration ground systems have completed Key Decision Point-C reviews, and Orion is expected to complete its review in the third quarter of 2015. Once that point is 

reached, NASA intends to develop an integrated schedule by the 

end of calendar year 2015 that will solidify the schedule for EM– 

1, and provide the necessary guidance to ensure EM–1 is launched 

as early in 2018 as possible. 

The Committee continues to be disappointed that the funding requested by NASA for SLS and Orion once again bears little relation 

to necessary funding levels or to amounts provided in previous 

years. The lack of support for these programs indicates that NASA 

is allowing an artificially low development funding profile and inefficient decision processes to create unnecessary risks to the EM–1 

schedule. The Committee has repeatedly been compelled to provide 

appropriate funding to keep the human exploration program from 

incurring costly setbacks and to maintain development schedules. 

Continued insufficient funding proposals from NASA for all aspects 

of related to EM–1 and its crewed follow on test flight will only 

lead to cost escalation and unnecessary schedule delays that will 

then have to be addressed in future budget years. 

Space Launch System.—The Committee reiterates its unwavering support of the Space Launch System [SLS] and the ability for 

SLS to open the human exploration of space to a wide range of mis-
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sions. SLS is the heavy lift launch vehicle that will allow NASA to 

enable humans to explore space beyond low-Earth orbit. Its ability 

to be configured for lifting as much as 130 metric tons also enables 

a broad range of both human and scientific missions. From the goal 

of landing humans on Mars, to robotically visiting Europa and 

other celestial bodies, no other currently available or planned 

launch vehicle possesses the versatility that SLS will have to accomplish such a diverse range of NASA missions. 

SLS has successfully passed its Key Decision Point-C [KDP–C] 

milestone and the program is diligently working towards its first 

flight in 2018. While KDP–C defines a readiness date of November 

2018, the current progress of SLS will result in the vehicle being 

delivered ahead of its planned schedule. 

The Committee finds that the budgetary resources provided for 

SLS in the fiscal year 2016 budget request are insufficient and do 

not take into account the current management schedule for flight 

readiness, nor does the funding level present a path forward beyond EM–1. In February 2015, the U.S. Government Accountability 

Office [GAO] reported that NASA’s cost estimates for both SLS and 

Orion do not extend beyond the first flight of the combined system. 

GAO further reported that NASA’s budget estimates do not include 

the development costs for upper-stage development for SLS or production costs for the second test flight scheduled for 2021. GAO 

also stated that NASA’s funding requests do not meet SLS program 

requirements. While the Committee has chosen to correct the funding shortfalls in fiscal year 2016, NASA is directed to address these 

issues identified by GAO in future budget submissions. 

The Committee is concerned that NASA will attempt to take the 

Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage [ICPS] that will be used for 

EM–1 and create a human rated variant. In doing so, NASA would 

spend $150,000,000 to develop a human rated engine that would be 

used only once, before being replaced by the Exploration Upper 

Stage [EUS]. Such planning wastes valuable time and funding resources that should be used for developing the EUS from the beginning so that it will be available for all crewed SLS missions. 

To ensure proper funding, the Committee provides 

$1,900,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 for SLS, with no less than 

$100,000,000 provided for the direct development of the EUS to be 

used for EM–2. This funding level is necessary in order for the SLS 

to continue its progress towards a successful EM–1 launch as early 

as possible in 2018, to facilitate development of essential EUS propulsion hardware, and to begin the procurement process of long 

lead items for a crewed launch in 2021. 

Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle [Orion].—Orion is the Nation’s 

next human exploration vehicle designed to carry astronauts to 

deep space destinations, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew, and provide a safe return to Earth. In December 

2014, Orion completed a successful test flight that proved its development was on schedule and that the vehicle is capable of performing in the space and reentry environments it will encounter on 

deep space missions. Orion is an essential component of NASA’s 

human exploration goals that extend beyond low-Earth orbit. 

However, in the same report by GAO that cited issues with funding levels for SLS, GAO also concluded that NASA is not budgeting 
103 

for the production, operations, and sustainment costs associated 

with Orion beyond this first successful test flight. GAO has found 

that technical risks and budgetary uncertainty threaten Orion’s future success. Moreover, current NASA plans lack sufficient requests for funding needed to build and test systems essential for 

crew such as environmental control, life support, and critical displays. The Committee looks forward to a successful result for Orion’s KDP–C review and consistent with previous appropriations 

acts, has provided $1,200,000,000 for Orion which is $103,700,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 request to continue its progress toward 

a successful EM–1 flight as early in 2018 as possible. 

Joint Confidence Level [JCL].—To ensure that NASA follows its 

own guidance and does not require SLS and Orion to incur a higher risk profile than other major missions, the bill directs NASA to 

formulate a reliable and realistic JCL. In doing so, NASA shall provide the Committee with an annual budget profile based upon 

NASA’s own 70 percent JCL standard which is to be submitted 

concurrently with the annual budget submission. Any JCL that is 

less than 70 percent shall be justified and documented, and NASA 

shall still provide the Committee with the full cost estimates that 

would be needed to achieve a 70 percent JCL. 

Testing Infrastructure.—The Committee encourages NASA to develop plans to fully utilize NASA-owned rocket testing infrastructure for commercially developed launch vehicles to ensure that 

these vehicles are not only tested in the same manner as Government-developed launch vehicles but at the same facilities to ensure 

consistency in testing across all potential vehicles. 

Advanced Exploration Systems.—Within Exploration Research 

and Development, the Committee recommends the request level for 

Advanced Exploration Systems. The Committee encourages NASA 

to continue to develop and test technology for supporting human 

spaceflight, including habitat systems such as the Exploration Augmentation Module. 

SPACE OPERATIONS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,827,800,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,005,200,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 3,957,300,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1 4,756,400,000 

1For fiscal year 2016, the ISS Crew and Cargo transportation activity includes funds for Commercial Crew, which had previously been provided under the Exploration account. 

The Committee provides $4,756,400,000 for Space Operations, which is $928,600,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$751,200,000 above the budget request. The Space Operations account funds the International Space Station [ISS], and the supporting functions required to conduct operations in space. The ISS 

is a complex of research laboratories in low-Earth orbit in which 

American, Russian, Canadian, European, and Japanese astronauts 

are conducting unique scientific and technological investigations in 

a microgravity environment. 

Beginning in fiscal year 2016, the Committee has chosen to fund 

all activities related to the ISS within the same account to consolidate funding required for the supply and operation of this national 

asset and to allow the ISS to be managed as a whole program, 
104 

within the budgetary resources provided. This realignment and 

unification of ISS activities will allow NASA’s programs associated 

with operating the ISS, developing crew capabilities, and supporting human activity in low-Earth orbit, to be analyzed and evaluated in its entirety. This budgetary adjustment will only affect the 

structure of ISS-related funding and will not alter the many aspects of the ISS program, or its management structures that are 

currently in place within Human Exploration and Operations. 

International Space Station [ISS].—The Committee provides $3,951,600,000 for the ISS Program, which is comprised of: ISS Operations; ISS Research; and ISS Crew and Cargo Services. 

This Committee has consistently supported the construction and 

operation of the ISS on the premise that it would support worldclass science conducted by the United States, as well as our international partners. The Committee encourages NASA to work with 

its international partners to support the ISS through 2024, to 

maintain a high level of safety, and maximize the return of scientific research. In addition, the Committee considers astronaut 

safety its highest priority and NASA must ensure that safety 

standards for transportation are not compromised as NASA begins 

to replace its reliance on existing Russian capabilities with purchasing services from domestic crew transportation providers. 

ISS Crew and Cargo Transportation.—The Committee recommends $2,505,500,000 for ISS cargo resupply and crew transportation, including $900,000,000 for development milestone payments 

to U.S.-based ISS Crew providers, which had previously been accounted for within the Exploration account. 

The Committee notes that the initial rounds of development funding for ISS Crew capabilities represented a $1,900,000,000 investment prior to awarding another $6,800,000,000 in potential 

payments for two ISS Crew providers to finish development of their 

vehicles and conduct initial flights. At the end of this final round 

of vehicle development and testing of this capability, NASA will 

have paid a total of $8,700,000,000 to conduct a competition between several companies. This substantial investment from the 

Federal Government comes prior to NASA purchasing future crew 

services for the ISS from these domestic providers. 

It is incumbent that these funds are regularly reviewed given the 

significant sums being invested by NASA. To date, milestones intended to show progress in the development of the ISS Crew capability have already begun to be delayed. More technically challenging milestone completion dates are about to be reached or may 

be potentially postponed further. It is the intent of the Committee 

to continue to closely monitor and review progress of the ISS Crew 

capability through the quarterly reports that are provided by 

NASA. 

Furthermore, NASA issued a notice of intent on February 6, 

2015, to purchase another six seats from the Russians during the 

2018–2019 time period. While NASA appears to be protecting its 

access to ISS, the Committee notes NASA has consistently stated 

that domestically launched crew transportation capabilities will be 

ready during this time period so that the United States can end 

our reliance on such vehicles. Particularly concerning is that the 

notice of intent specifically states that ‘‘NASA needs to secure crew 
105 

transportation with a known reliable provider to ensure a continued U.S. presence aboard the ISS.’’ Such statements are deeply 

concerning and indicate that even NASA, which has continual insight and oversight of the ISS crew program, does not have confidence that even with significant financial and technical support, 

the availability of a reliable domestic ISS crew capability by 2017 

is guaranteed. 

The Committee has provided the requested amount for ISS Cargo 

in anticipation that during fiscal year 2016, the companies contracted to provide cargo services will be capable of delivering cargo 

to, and returning it from, the ISS, consistent with current agreements. 

21st Century Launch Complex Program.—The Committee provides $30,300,000 for the 21st Century Space Launch Complex, 

which is $7,000,000 above the request. The Committee is concerned 

about the ability of commercial space launch providers to plan for 

the future, given the preponderance of funding that is dedicated 

from the 21st Century Space Launch Complex to the facilities at 

Kennedy Space Center. The program’s authorized purposes include 

projects at all NASA-owned launch facilities. The Committee directs that any new Commercial Space Flight infrastructure investment proposals for the 21st Century Space Launch Complex program take into account the cargo mission needs also demonstrated 

at the Wallops Flight Facility [WFF], which is expected to complete 

repairs on the launch pad and return to flight in fiscal year 2016. 

There are now growing capacity issues at WFF that, if not resolved, could soon prevent the center from taking on small and 

large missions due to limitations associated with facilities related 

to spacecraft processing and fueling. Therefore, the Committee provides the increased funding to fill maintenance gaps at the WFF 

launch complex, and further directs NASA to take into consideration the full potential of all NASA-owned launch complexes. 

Space Communications.—The Committee recognizes and appreciates the complexities involved in sustaining NASA’s Near Earth, 

Space, and Deep Space communications networks and infrastructure that support NASA’s scientific and exploration activities. The 

Committee directs NASA to develop a plan, budget, and timeline 

for sustainment of the existing network and infrastructure upgrades within 180 days of enactment of this act. 

EDUCATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $119,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 88,900,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 119,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 108,000,000 

The Committee provides $108,000,000 for Education, which is 

$11,000,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$19,100,000 above the budget request. The Education account 

funds science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] 

education activities to educate and inspire our next generation of 

explorers and innovators. 
106 

EDUCATION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

NASA Space Grant ................................................................................................................................................ 40,000 

Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research ................................................................................ 18,000 

Minority University Research and Education Program ........................................................................................ 30,000 

STEM Education and Accountability Projects ...................................................................................................... 20,000 

TOTAL ........................................................................................................................................................... 108,000 

Space Grant.—The Committee provides $40,000,000 for Space 

Grant, and directs NASA to support an extension of the current 

Space Grant program, and to allocate the entire funding amount 

for consortia-led institutions in all 52 participating jurisdictions according to the percentage allocation provided to States in the current 5-year grant award. 

The Committee is supportive of independent evaluations to assess effectiveness of NASA programs, but cautions that NASA 

should not use the evaluation process to preemptively interrupt ongoing activities. 

STEM Education and Accountability Program.—The Committee 

provides up to $10,000,000 for the Competitive Program for 

Science, Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitors Centers within the STEM Education and Accountability Program [SEAP]. This 

competitive grant program creates interactive exhibits, professional 

development activities, and community-based programs to engage 

students, teachers, and the public in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,758,900,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,843,100,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,768,600,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,784,000,000 

The Committee provides $2,784,000,000 for Safety, Security, and Mission Services, which is $25,100,000 above the fiscal year 2015 

enacted level and $59,100,000 below the budget request. The Safety, Security, and Mission Services account funds agency management, including headquarters and each of the nine NASA field centers, as well as the design and execution of non-programmatic Construction of Facilities and Environmental Compliance and Restoration activities. 

Independent Verification and Validation [IV&V] Program.—Within the amounts provided for cross-agency support, the Committee 

recommends $39,100,000 for NASA’s IV&V Program. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee’s recommendation includes the 

full request for the Agency Information Technology [IT] Services to 

support shifting NASA’s IT model to one that enhances 

cybersecurity with strong governance and strong information security practices. 

National Center for Critical Information Processing and Storage.—The National Center for Critical Information Processing and 

Storage [NCCIPS], that is managed by NASA, was established to 

consolidate efforts across Federal agencies to store and secure data. 
107 

NCCPS is designed to be a shared service, multi-tenant Federal 

data facility and is currently utilized by NASA, the Department of 

Homeland Security and the U.S. Navy. The Committee encourages 

NASA to make agencies aware of NCCIPS capabilities in order to 

help the Federal Government reduce IT costs and more rapidly 

achieve IT modernization. The Committee urges NASA to offer 

NCCIPS to other agencies in order to take full financial advantage 

of this secure data facility, to help the Federal Government reduce 

IT costs, and to more rapidly achieve IT modernization. 

Management Fees.—The Committee is concerned by recent news 

reports suggesting that certain Federal grant and cooperative 

agreement recipients have used management fees inappropriately 

by spending federally awarded funds on, for example, lobbying, alcohol, and entertainment. NASA is directed to ensure that all funding recipients understand and are in compliance with Office of 

Management and Budget guidance on appropriate uses of such 

funds. 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $419,100,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 465,300,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 425,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 352,800,000 

The Committee provides $352,800,000 for Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration, which is $66,300,000 below 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $112,500,000 below the 

budget request. The Construction and Environmental Compliance 

and Remediation account provides for design and execution of programmatic, discrete and minor revitalization, construction of facilities projects, facility demolition projects, and environmental compliance and remediation activities. 

In order to maintain continuity within the projects for major construction, NASA shall prioritize available funding towards repairs, 

minor revitalization, and activities that have initiated demolition, 

site preparation, or construction activities during previous fiscal 

years, followed by projects that were deferred in previous budget 

requests and have since been requested again for funding in the 

fiscal year 2016 request. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $37,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 37,400,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 37,400,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 37,400,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $37,400,000 for the Office of Inspector General [OIG], which is $400,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the same as the budget request. 

The Office is responsible for promoting efficiency and preventing 

and detecting crime, fraud, waste, and mismanagement. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

The Committee includes bill language regarding the availability 

of funds for certain prizes and for Shuttle program closeout activities. In conjunction with the closeout activities, NASA shall provide 
108 

a report, not later than 45 days from enactment of this act, which 

includes a timeline that has been coordinated with the Defense 

Contract Audit Authority to conclude these activities as expeditiously as possible. 

The Committee also includes bill language regarding transfers of 

funds between accounts and the NASA spending plan for fiscal 

year 2016. 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $7,344,205,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 7,723,550,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 7,394,205,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 7,343,775,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $7,343,775,000 for 

the National Science Foundation [NSF]. The recommendation is 

$430,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $379,775,000 

below the budget request. 

The National Science Foundation was established as an independent agency by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 

(Public Law 81–507) and is authorized to support research and 

education programs that promote the progress of science and engineering in the United States. The Foundation supports research 

and education in all major scientific and engineering disciplines 

through grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other forms 

of assistance in all parts of the United States. The Foundation also 

supports unique domestic and international large-scale research facilities. 

RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,933,645,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 6,186,300,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 5,983,645,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,933,645,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $5,933,645,000. The 

recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level 

and $252,655,000 below the budget request. 

The Research and Related Activities [R&RA] appropriation funds 

scientific discovery, trains a dynamic workforce, and supports 

broadly accessible state-of-the-art tools and facilities. Research activities will contribute to the achievement of these outcomes 

through expansion of the knowledge base; integration of research 

and education; stimulation of knowledge transfer between academia and the public and private sectors; and international activities, and will bring the perspectives of many disciplines to bear on 

complex problems important to the Nation. The Foundation’s discipline-oriented R&RA account includes: Biological Sciences; Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Engineering; Geosciences; Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Social, Behavioral 

and Economic Sciences; Office of Cyberinfrastructure; Office of 

International Science and Engineering; Office of Polar Programs; 

Integrative Activities; and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. 

The Committee’s fiscal year 2016 recommendation renews its 

support for Federal long-term basic research that has the potential 
109 

to be transformative to our economy and our way of life in the context of a stagnant Federal budget. 

Scientific Facilities and Instrumentation.—A critical component 

of the Nation’s scientific enterprise is the infrastructure that supports researchers in discovery science. Investments to advance the 

frontiers of research and education in science and engineering are 

critical to the Nation’s innovation enterprise. The Committee encourages the National Science Foundation to fully fund its U.S. scientific research facilities and instruments to adequately support 

scientists and students engaged in ground-breaking research to 

maximize sustained investments in research. 

Astronomy.—U.S.-based astronomy facilities continue to make 

groundbreaking discoveries and maintain excellent world-class scientific research even as operating budgets have been continually 

constrained. This area of research is particularly important because NSF’s network of observatories and its individual investigators are significant resources to all astronomers, including those 

from U.S. colleges and universities that do not have dedicated observatories. The Committee encourages NSF to sustain support for 

the programs and scientific facilities funded by the Astronomical 

Sciences division, including the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. NSF is also directed to report to the Committee no later 

than 1 year after enactment of this act on a 5-year transition plan 

for the continued use of existing solar observatories. Additionally, 

NSF is expected to request sufficient funding to maintain operations at both new and existing observatories as additional facilities come online in future years. 

Super Computing Planning.—The National Research Council 

[NRC] is in the process of finalizing their report on advanced computing infrastructure. This report may be instructive in identifying 

priorities and approaches that NSF can take to modernize its highperformance computing infrastructure and associated software and 

applications in order to support scientific research and education. 

The Committee requests that NSF, upon reception of the NRC final 

report, provide the Committee with a response to the report and 

any plans to incorporate the recommendations into its approach for 

supercomputing over the next decade. 

Advanced Manufacturing.—The Committee recognizes the importance of domestic biomanufacturing to the U.S. economy and the 

considerable investments made by U.S. competitors in this field. As 

part of its Advanced Manufacturing initiative, the Committee encourages NSF to include not less than $15,000,000 for research in 

biomanufacturing to maintain and advance the U.S. global competitiveness in this area. 

Biennial Report by National Science Foundation on Arctic Research.—The National Science Foundation chairs the Arctic Research Commission [ARC] that is charged with submitting a biennial report to the Congress with recommendations of the Commission with respect to Federal activities in the Arctic. The Committee 

directs the ARC to have the biennial report provided to Congress 

explain in greater detail the ongoing Arctic activities and associated funding of each agency represented on the Interagency Arctic 

Research Policy Commission. 
110 

Industrial Innovation and Partnerships [IIP].—Demand for steel 

in the United States has led to this country becoming the number 

one net importer of steel. The Committee remains concerned about 

the U.S. industry’s manufacturing ability to meet our Nation’s steel 

needs and supports the National Science Foundation’s Industrial 

Innovation and Partnerships [IIP] program’s continued research 

into the steel industry and its capabilities. 

Mathematical Sciences Institutes.— The Committee recognizes 

the importance of the NSF Mathematical Sciences Institutes across 

the country, which provide important basic research across multiple fields. 

Technology Transfer.—The Committee urges the NSF, within 

current authority, to allow public and private nonprofit technology 

transfer organizations that facilitate or accelerate commercialization of technologies developed by one or more institutions of higher 

education to apply as principal investigators for grants that are focused on commercialization of technology. 

Vortex-SE.—The Committee understands that NSF and NOAA 

will conduct a week-long Vortex-SE Science Workshop in 2015 addressing the questions of tornadic activity as it pertains to the 

southeastern United States. As part of this workshop, a timeline 

for submission of potential designs and science plans will be developed to enable this important research campaign to proceed. The 

workshop will also develop preliminary science questions, identify 

emerging beneficial technologies, and initiate calls for smaller field 

programs and research that will inform the larger Vortex-SE campaign. The Committee expects to be updated, within 90 days of 

completion of the workshop, the progress made, and the preliminary research opportunities that will be pursued as the total program takes shape. As part of Vortex-SE, the Committee directs 

NSF to look beyond the traditional research disciplines and programs utilized in previous Vortex programs and to include and utilize the collaborative opportunities of the Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme Events [PREEVENTS] program for co-funding grants that enhance understanding of the fundamental natural 

processes and hazards of tornadoes in the southeast and to improve 

models of these seasonal extreme events. NSF shall also continue 

its coordinated efforts with NOAA to ensure that NSF’s funded research complements work funded through NOAA. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee’s recommendation includes the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level of $159,000,000 for cybersecurity research, including support for core computer science research at academic institutions. The discovery and innovation in cybersecurity 

supported by NSF will form the intellectual foundations for practical applications that make our information networks safer, more 

secure, and better able to predict, resist, repel, and recover from 

cyber attacks. 

Innovation Corps.—The Committee supports the NSF’s request 

to increase funding for the Innovation Corps [I–Corps] program to 

build on the initial successes of its innovative public-private partnership model. However, the Committee is concerned that of the 

over 577 I–Corps team, site, and node awards to date, only six have 

been made to HBCUs. Failing to include HBCUs does little to connect minority-serving institutions to local innovation ecosystems 
111 

that create new economic opportunities in all communities. The 

Committee directs NSF to make awards to public and private 

HBCUs and to find ways to encourage greater HBCU participation 

and success within the I–Corps program. 

HBCUs Excellence in Research.—HBCUs often lack the human 

capital and research infrastructure to effectively compete for Federal research funding. Currently, a very small number of HBCU research universities have achieved only modest success in winning 

Federal research dollars. 

With the Committee’s urging, NSF has developed some research 

experience programs through its Education and Human Resources 

directorate. However, NSF’s primary research directorates have a 

far more anemic track record in this area, and the Committee believes this must change in order to maximize America’s economic 

competitiveness. In fiscal year 2015, the Committee directed NSF 

to convene a high-level panel to devise a comprehensive strategy to 

accelerate significant competitive opportunities for HBCUs, enabling them to tap NSF’s core research directorates rather than its 

education and human resources program base. A report on this 

strategy, which should include measurable milestones, shall be 

submitted to the Committee and made publicly available on its 

Web site not later than 120 days after enactment of this act. Additionally, in fiscal year 2016, NSF shall initiate a pilot program setting aside up to $10,000,000 for research investment at both public 

and private HBCUs. If recommended by the Excellence in Research 

panel’s report, the Committee expects funding for this program to 

be included in NSF’s fiscal year 2017 budget request. 

Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability [SEES].— The Committee recognizes that the Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability [SEES] program is scheduled to sunset in 

fiscal year 2017, but encourages NSF to continue hazards and disaster research through activities associated with the Risk and Resiliency program and to continue research on sustainable chemistry, engineering, and materials within existing program areas. 

Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research 

[EPSCoR].—Within the amount provided, the Committee provides 

$159,690,000 for EPSCoR, an amount equal to the fiscal year 2015 

enacted level. 

Dyslexia.—The Committee encourages NSF to continue funding 

meritorious research on dyslexia and other learning disabilities 

through the Research on Disabilities Education program under the 

Education and Human Resources Directorate. Dyslexia related research grants are expected to fully meet NSF’s merit review standards and should have a goal of practical application. 

Ocean Science Infrastructure.—The Committee supports NSF’s 

plan and design for the fleet renewal of Regional Class Research 

Vessels [RCRV] and funds the continuance of this activity at not 

less than the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. The Committee directs 

NSF to diligently work towards submitting an RCRV proposal for 

consideration as a candidate for inclusion in a future budget request. 

Icebreakers.—The Committee supports the interagency process to 

develop requirements for a new polar-class icebreaker, recognizing 

the strategic importance of Arctic operations to our Nation’s future 
112 

security and prosperity and the critical support that such a vessel 

will provide to NSF’s research and logistics in Antarctica. NSF is 

encouraged to work with its interagency partners to support this 

effort. 

MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $200,760,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 200,310,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 200,030,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 200,310,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $200,310,000 for 

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction. The recommendation is $450,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level 

and equal to the budget request. 

The Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction appropriation supports the acquisition, procurement, construction, 

and commissioning of unique national research platforms and facilities as well as major research equipment. Projects supported by 

this appropriation will push the boundaries of technology and offer 

significant expansion of opportunities for the science and engineering community. Preliminary design and development activities, ongoing operations, and maintenance costs of the facilities are provided through the Research and Related Activities appropriation 

account. 

The Committee’s recommendation includes funding at the requested level: the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope; the National 

Ecological Observatory Network; and the Large Synoptic Survey 

Telescope. 

EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $866,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 962,570,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 866,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 866,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $866,000,000 for this 

account. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $96,570,000 below the budget request. 

The Education and Human Resources appropriation supports a 

comprehensive set of programs across all levels of education in 

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM]. The appropriation supports activities that unite school districts with institutions of higher learning to improve precollege education. Other 

precollege activities include the development of the next generation 

of STEM education leaders, instructional materials, and the STEM 

instructional workforce. Undergraduate activities support curriculum, laboratory, and instructional improvement; expand the 

STEM talent pool; attract STEM participants to teaching; augment 

advanced technological education at 2-year colleges; and develop 

dissemination tools. Graduate support is directed to research and 

teaching fellowships, internships, and instructional workforce improvement by linking precollege education systems with higher 

education. Programs also seek to broaden the participation of 

groups underrepresented in the STEM enterprise and promote informal science education. 
113 

Committee on STEM Education.—The Committee believes that 

NSF is well suited to handle undergraduate and graduate fellowships, internships, and specific grants similar to NSF’s current mission and, if there are general needs across Government, that NSF 

could similarly serve as a clearinghouse for such students. The 

Committee requests that NSF continue to work with OSTP on refining a plan for ways NSF could implement a broader program for 

graduate and undergraduate programs across the entire Federal 

Government, and to identify which programs across Government 

could benefit from such a program. 

Advanced Technological Education.—The Committee provides 

funding for Advanced Technological Education at not less than the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

Robert Noyce Scholarship Program.—The Committee provides the budget request level of $60,890,000 for the Robert Noyce Scholarship program. This program helps fill the critical need for STEM 

teachers in elementary and secondary schools by funding scholarships, stipends, and programmatic support to recruit and prepare 

STEM majors and professionals to become K–12 teachers. Scholarship and stipend recipients are required to complete 2 years of 

teaching in a high-need school district for each year of support. 

CyberCorps: Scholarships for Service.—The CyberCorps: Scholarships for Service program helps the Federal Government respond 

to threats to our information technology infrastructure by providing 

scholarships to train cybersecurity professionals. In return, scholarship recipients agree to serve in a Federal Government agency 

building the Government’s capacity to understand, respond to, and 

prevent cyber threats. More than 2,359 students have completed 

the program, which was initiated in fiscal year 2001, and over 93 

percent of students have been placed, serving more than 140 Federal agencies. The Committee provides the requested amount of 

$45,000,000 for the Federal Cyber Service: Scholarships for Service 

program, of which not less than $5,000,000 should be used to continue work with community colleges that have been designated as 

a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance 2–Year 

Education [CAE2Y] by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. 

Informal Science Education.—The Committee maintains its 

strong support for NSF’s informal science education program and 

supports the requested levels of $60,000,000 for Advancing Informal STEM Learning and $51,880,000 for STEM∂C Partnerships. 

The Committee encourages the NSF to coordinate and provide necessary support for investments in both in and out-of-school time 

STEM education programs across Federal agencies, including support for extracurricular STEM programs. 

Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings.—As part of the research funded through the DRL, the Committee recognizes the importance of out-of-school time STEM mentor-led engagement programs, including STEM networks, festivals, 

and competitions. Such programs are highly effective in filling the 

higher education STEM pipeline. The Committee urges NSF to 

focus on populations underrepresented in the STEM fields and encourages NSF to fund out-of-school time STEM engagement program activities. 
114 

Division on Human Resource Development.—The Committee continues its longstanding support for existing initiatives to broaden 

participation in STEM fields and recognizes these programs have 

various purposes and engage students in a different manner. The 

Committee notes that support for these programs has stagnated 

within NSF in spite of increases to the overall NSF budget. The 

Committee recommends $32,000,000 for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs] Undergraduate Program, 

$8,000,000 for the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, $46,000,000 for the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority 

Participation, $13,500,000 for the Tribal Colleges and Universities 

Program, and $24,000,000 for Centers for Research Excellence in 

Science and Technology. In proposal selection, the Committee encourages NSF to give priority to grant proposals that have demonstrated maturity, including previous partnerships with other 

Federal agencies. 

Life STEM.—The Committee believes that without targeted 

interventions at an early age, it will become increasingly difficult 

to guarantee a stable pipeline of minority applicants who can become candidates for degrees in STEM-related fields. NSF, with its 

longstanding efforts to examine the means to address STEM-related challenges through use of innovative intervention, has the 

ability to best create a pipeline for life and bioscience careers for 

minorities beginning in elementary school. 

For this reason, the Committee directs NSF to use up to $7,000,000 within existing programs targeting broadening participation, particularly at HBCUs, to create effective models of intervention to nurture students from elementary school through undergraduate studies with an emphasis on life sciences. NSF shall update the report previously provided to the Committee not later 

than 180 days from enactment of this act for these activities on the 

prospects for creating a mechanism for evaluating effective models 

of creating or retaining pipelines that would increase the numbers 

of underrepresented minorities in advanced science fields targeting 

minority serving institutions with an emphasis on life and biosciences, including medicine, that partner with elementary, middle 

and high schools near their institutions. 

Transformative Learning Initiative.—The Committee is aware of 

concerns from the business community that recent college graduates are often poorly prepared for the workforce, and specifically 

lack necessary critical thinking, reasoning, and problem solving 

skills. While this problem does not have a single source or solution, 

research suggests that teaching methods to increase the chances 

for students to experience a ‘‘transformative learning experience’’ 

can both improve subject knowledge and boost the critical thinking 

skills needed in today’s workplace. 

The Committee also notes that NSF has not yet submitted a report on this topic as directed in the fiscal year 2015 bill. Within 

45 days of enactment, NSF is directed to report to the Committee 

on a description of the agency’s existing research on transformative 

learning and professional development approaches, particularly 

within respect to undergraduate programs at urban universities 

and HCBUs. If NSF is not currently conducting any transformative 

learning research or education initiatives, then, as part of the re-
115 

port, NSF shall provide the Committee with a recommendation on 

establishing such an initiative, including scope and cost. 

Hispanic-Serving Institutions [HSI] Program.—Investment in 

STEM education is vital for American economic competitiveness, 

and Hispanic Americans are underrepresented in science and engineering disciplines. The Committee provides $5,000,000 as authorized under 42 U.S.C. 1862o–12 for NSF to implement a HispanicServing Institutions [HSI] Program that is designed to increase the 

recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of Hispanic students 

pursuing associate or baccalaureate degrees in STEM fields. 

AGENCY OPERATIONS AND AWARD MANAGEMENT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $325,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 354,840,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 325,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 325,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $325,000,000. The 

recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$29,840,000 below the budget request. 

The appropriation provides salaries and expenses, including staff 

salaries, benefits, travel, training, rent, advisory and assistance 

services, communications and utilities expenses, supplies, equipment, and other operating expenses necessary for management of 

the National Science Foundation’s research and education activities. 

The Committee reiterates its direction to NSF to find savings 

from operating expenses and future headquarters planning. 

The Committee reiterates its long-standing requirement that 

NSF submit reprogrammings when initiating new programs or activities of more than $500,000 or when reorganizing components. 

The Committee expects to be notified of reprogramming actions 

which involve less than the above-mentioned amount if such actions would have the effect of changing the agency’s funding requirements in future years, or if programs or projects specifically 

cited in the Committee’s reports are affected. 

The Committee is concerned by recent news reports suggesting 

that certain NSF grant and cooperative agreement recipients have 

used management fees inappropriately by spending federally 

awarded funds on, for example, lobbying, alcohol, and entertainment. NSF is directed to ensure that all funding recipients understand and are in compliance with Office of Management and Budget guidance on appropriate uses of such funds. 

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,370,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,370,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 4,370,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,370,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $4,370,000. The recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

equal to the budget request. 

The National Science Board is the governing body of NSF and is 

charged with serving as an independent adviser to the President 
116 

and Congress on policy matters related to science and engineering 

research and education. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $14,430,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 15,160,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 15,160,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 14,450,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $14,450,000. The rec- ommendation is $20,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level 

and $710,000 below the budget request. 

The Office of Inspector General appropriation provides audit and 

investigation functions to identify and correct deficiencies that 

could lead to instances of fraud, waste, or mismanagement. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

The bill includes one administrative provision to allow limited 

transfers of funds among accounts. 
(117) 

TITLE IV 

RELATED AGENCIES 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $9,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 9,413,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 9,200,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,200,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $9,200,000 for the 

salaries and expenses of the Commission on Civil Rights. The recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$213,000 below the budget request. 

State Advisory Committees [SAC].—The Committee is in agreement with the Commission on the extension of State Advisory 

Committee charters from 2 to 4 years in length. The SACs represent the eyes and ears on the ground for the Commission in their 

respective States. By increasing the length of a SAC’s charter, each 

SAC will have more time to conduct their work instead of having 

to regularly spend time preparing to have their charters renewed 

by the Commission. 

GAO findings.—The Committee has become increasingly concerned with the Commission’s ability to conduct its mission. A February 2015 GAO report titled, ‘‘U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: 

Management Improvements Are Needed to Better Achieve Its Mission’’, cited workforce planning and external communications as 

areas that must be addressed by the Commission. In particular, 

GAO cited the imbalance in funding provided for special assistants 

and the use of Commission letterhead by individual Commissioners 

for correspondence that was incorrectly interpreted as official communication. 

Use of Letterhead.—On multiple occasions the Commission has 

had to clarify, including in a letter to this Committee, that letters 

using Commission letterhead by individual Commissioners did not 

constitute the opinion of the Commission. In order to eliminate the 

confusion caused by the use of Commission letterhead, the Commission is directed to use letterhead only for items that reflect the 

views of the Commission. Individual Commissioners are not precluded from expressing their own opinions, but shall not use official 

letterhead as part of their communications, and if writing in their 

role as a Commissioner, shall clearly state that their opinion is 

their own and not that of the Commission. 

Workforce.—The Commission has proposed that special assistants assigned to work for individual Commissioners could be made 

available for other work at the Commission, but such a practice 

does not address the workforce issues identified by GAO. The Com-
118 

mission has staffing needs that require specialized education and 

skills that could not be replaced by part time use of special assistants. The use of special assistants would create additional challenges by blurring the lines between the confidential role they provide in assisting Commissioners and working on activities where 

the views of the Commissioner and special assistant are in conflict 

with the tasks to which they are asked to contribute. Inserting potential conflict could politicize what should be the nonpartisan execution of informing the Congress, Federal agencies, and the public 

on civil rights policy. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $364,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 373,112,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 364,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 364,500,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $364,500,000 for 

EEOC salaries and expenses. This recommendation is the same as 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $8,612,000 below the request. 

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC] is the 

leading Federal agency dedicated to eradicating employment discrimination in both the public and private sectors on the basis of 

race, color, national origin, sex, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, 

and family medical history or genetic information. The EEOC 

serves both U.S. public and private workplaces by helping provide 

a fair and inclusive workplace, which engenders employee satisfaction and commitment, and enhances employee retention, productivity, and profitability. 

This funding will support the EEOC’s obligations to investigate 

and prosecute charges of employment discrimination. The Committee notes that the EEOC has also undertaken reforms that 

should enable it to reduce its pending inventory of public and private sector charges and help prevent employment discrimination. 

Implementing Efficiencies and Cost Savings.—The EEOC should 

continue its efforts to leverage technology to increase productivity 

and streamline customer service. The Committee expects the 

EEOC to provide the Committee with an update to the Action 

Council Transformation Digital pilot program that was initiated in 

May of 2015 as well as a review of other activities proposed to be 

conducted by the Commission that will increase efficiencies and 

generate cost savings, which in turn may improve services provided 

to the public. 

Inventory Backlog reduction.—The EEOC has a private sector inventory of over 75,000 cases and a Federal sector hearing inventory 

over 17,000. Using appropriated funds for activities that do not directly resolve this backlog of existing and incoming claims denies 

cases with complainants the opportunity of a timely resolution. 

EEOC’s own budget submission states that justice delayed is justice denied. Therefore, the Committee directs the EEOC to 

prioritize its staffing and resources towards reducing the number 
119 

of current and outstanding unresolved private sector pending 

charges and public sector hearings. 

Public Comment on EEOC Guidance.—The Committee is concerned that as the EEOC conducts its business in protecting 

against employment discrimination, its guidance proposals can be 

adopted without the opportunity of public input prior to implementation and enforcement. Therefore, if requested by at least two 

Commissioners, the EEOC shall make any new guidance available 

for public comment in the Federal Register for not less than 30 

days prior to taking any potential action on proposed guidance. 

State and Local Enforcement Assistance.—The Committee recommends up to $29,500,000 to assist State and local enforcement 

agencies. This will ensure that EEOC provides adequate resources 

to its State partners. 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $84,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 131,500,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 86,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 84,500,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $84,500,000. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and is 

$47,000,000 below the budget request. 

The International Trade Commission [ITC] is an independent, 

quasi-judicial agency responsible for conducting trade-related investigations and providing Congress and the President with independent technical advice related to United States international 

trade policy. 

Lease Expiration.—No funding is provided for ITC to renovate 

and lease new office space in fiscal year 2016. The Committee notes 

that ITC has proposed to sign a new 15-year lease in order to 

achieve a 25 percent reduction in space, but that the best-case scenario involves no savings until year 13 of the 15-year lease. Furthermore, the Committee understands that the least expensive option over the proposed 15-year lease term is for ITC to remain in 

its current location without reducing its footprint. The Committee 

directs ITC to submit a list of alternative proposals, including cost 

breakdowns by year, no later than 90 days after enactment of this 

act. 

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

PAYMENT TO THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $375,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 452,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 300,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 385,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $385,000,000 for payment to the Legal Services Corporation [LSC]. The recommendation is $10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$67,000,000 below the budget request. 
120 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $353,000,000 for 

basic field programs, to be used for competitively awarded grants 

and contracts; $18,500,000 for management and administration; 

$4,000,000 for client self-help and information technology; 

$4,500,000 for the Office of the Inspector General [OIG]; $1,000,000 

for loan repayment assistance; and $4,000,000 for the LSC’s Pro 

Bono Innovation Fund. 

Governance and Management.—The LSC must continue its governance and management improvement efforts in order to further 

restore the credibility of the organization and direct additional 

funds into legal aid, where they are desperately needed. The Committee expects the Inspector General of the LSC to continue conducting annual audits of LSC grantees to ensure that funds are not 

being used in contravention of the restrictions by which LSC grantees are required to abide. 

Pro Bono Innovation Fund.—The Committee’s recommendation 

provides full funding of $4,000,000 to continue the Pro Bono Innovation Fund. This fund will support innovative projects that promote and enhance pro bono initiatives throughout the Nation, as 

well as leverage Federal dollars to increase free legal aid for lowincome Americans by engaging private attorneys. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION—LEGAL SERVICE CORPORATION

The Committee’s recommendation continues the administrative 

provisions contained in the fiscal year 1998 appropriations act 

(Public Law 105–119) regarding operation of this program to provide basic legal services to disadvantaged individuals and the restrictions on the use of LSC funds. 

LSC funds cannot be used to engage in litigation and related activities with respect to a variety of matters including: (1) redistricting; (2) class action suits; (3) representation of illegal aliens; (4) 

political activities; (5) abortion; (6) prisoner litigation; (7) welfare 

reform; (8) representation of charged drug dealers during eviction 

proceedings; and (9) solicitation of clients. The exception to the restrictions occurs in a case where there is imminent threat of physical harm to the client or prospective client. 

MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,340,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 3,431,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 3,340,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,431,000 

The Committee recommendation provides $3,431,000. The recommendation is $91,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level 

and is the same as the budget request. 

The Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific 

Advisors on Marine Mammals provide oversight and recommend 

actions on domestic and international topics to advance policies and 

provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Commission 

provides precise, up-to-date scientific information to Congress on 

issues related to the safety of marine mammals. 
121 

STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,121,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 5,121,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 5,121,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,121,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $5,121,000 for the 

State Justice Institute. The recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the budget request. 

The Institute was created in 1984 to further the development 

and adoption of improved judicial administration in State courts. 
(122) 

TITLE V 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

The Committee recommends the following general provisions for 

the departments, agencies and commissions funded in the accompanying act. Similar provisions were included in the fiscal year 

2015 act. 

Section 501 prohibits the use of appropriations for certain publicity and propaganda purposes. 

Section 502 prohibits any appropriations contained in this act 

from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal 

year unless expressly provided. 

Section 503 limits funds for certain consulting purposes. 

Section 504 provides that, should any provision of the act be held 

to be invalid, the remainder of the act would not be affected. 

Section 505 stipulates the policy and procedures by which funding available to the agencies funded under this act may be reprogrammed for other purposes. 

Section 506 provides for a penalty for persons found to have 

falsely mislabeled products. 

Section 507 requires agencies to provide quarterly reports to the 

Appropriations Committees regarding unobligated balances. 

Section 508 requires agencies and departments funded in this act 

to absorb any necessary costs related to downsizing or consolidation 

within the amounts provided to the agency or department. 

Section 509 limits funds for the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products. 

Section 510 stipulates obligation of receipts and the use of certain funds for victim services available under the Crime Victims 

Fund. 

Section 511 prohibits the use of Department of Justice funds for 

programs that discriminate against, denigrate, or otherwise undermine the religious beliefs of students participating in such programs. 

Section 512 limits transfers of funds between agencies. 

Section 513 provides that funding for E-government initiatives 

are subject to reprogramming guidelines established by this act. 

Section 514 requires the Inspectors General of the Departments 

of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Legal Services Corporation to conduct reviews of activities funded in this act; 

prohibits the use of funds for certain banquets and conferences; 

and requires certifications regarding conflicts of interest. 

Section 515 prohibits funds for information technology acquisitions unless the acquiring department or agency has assessed the 

supply chain risk of the technology. 
123 

Section 516 prohibits the use of funds to support or justify the 

use of torture. 

Section 517 limits funds pertaining to certain activities related to 

the export of firearms. 

Section 518 limits funds to process permits to import certain 

products. 

Section 519 prohibits funds for activities that seek to include certain language in new trade agreements. 

Section 520 prohibits funds to authorize a national security letter 

in contravention of the statutes authorizing the FBI to issue national security letters. 

Section 521 requires notification to the Committees in the event 

of cost overruns. 

Section 522 authorizes funds appropriated for intelligence activities for the Department of Justice during fiscal year 2016 until the 

enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 

2016. 

Section 523 prohibits contracts or grant awards in excess of $5,000,000 unless the prospective contractor or grantee has certified in writing that he or she has filed all Federal tax returns, 

has not been convicted of a criminal offense under the IRS Code 

of 1986, and has no unpaid Federal tax assessment. 

Section 524 specifies rescissions of prior appropriations. 

Section 525 prohibits the use of funds to purchase first class or 

premium airline travel in contravention of current regulations and 

improves reporting. 

Section 526 prohibits the use of funds to pay for the attendance 

of more than 50 employees at any single conference outside the 

United States and limits the cost of any such conference incurred 

by an agency. 

Section 527 prohibits the use of funds in a manner that is inconsistent with the principal negotiating objective of the United States 

with respect to trade remedy laws. 

Section 528 prohibits the use of funds in this act for the transfer 

or release of certain individuals detained at Naval Station, 

Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba, to or within the United States, its territories or possessions. 

Section 529 prohibits the use of funds in this act to construct, acquire, or modify any facility in the United States, its territories, or 

possessions to house certain individuals who, as of June 24, 2009, 

were located at Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or control of the 

Department of Defense. 

Section 530 requires, when practicable, the use of ‘‘Energy Star’’ 

or ‘‘Federal Energy Management Program’’ designated light bulbs. 

Section 531 requires agencies funded in this act to report on 

undisbursed balances. 

Section 532 prohibits funds made available by this act from being 

used to deny the importation of certain shotgun models. 

Section 533 prohibits the use of funds to establish or maintain 

a computer network that does not block pornography, except for 

law enforcement purposes. 

Section 534 requires the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
124 

tion and the National Science Foundation to submit spending plans 

to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees within 45 

days of enactment of this act. 

Section 535 requires agencies to report conference spending to 

the Inspectors General. 

Section 536 prohibits the use of funds to implement the Arms 

Trade Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification 

for the Treaty. 

Section 537 requires all departments and agencies funded within 

this act to link all contracts that provide award fees to successful 

acquisition outcomes. 

Section 538 prohibits funds to pay for award or incentive fees for 

contractors with below satisfactory performance or performance 

that fails to meet the basic requirements of the contract. 

Section 539 prohibits funds made available by this act from being 

used for contract, memorandum of understanding, cooperative 

agreement, grant, or loan activities if the proposed recipient has 

been convicted of a felony criminal violation. 

Section 540 prohibits funds made available by this act from being 

used for contract, memorandum of understanding, cooperative 

agreement, grant, or loan activities if the proposed recipient has 

unpaid Federal tax liabilities. 

Section 541 prohibits the use of funds by the Department of Justice or the Drug Enforcement Administration in contravention of a 

certain section of the Agricultural Act of 2014. 

Section 542 prohibits the Department of Justice from preventing 

certain States from implementing State laws regarding the use of 

medical marijuana. 
(125) 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Rule XVI, paragraph 7 requires that every report on a general 

appropriation bill filed by the Committee must identify items of appropriation not made to carry out the provisions of an existing law, 

a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously passed by 

the Senate during that session. 

The Committee recommends funding for the following programs 

or activities that currently lack an authorization for fiscal year 

2016, either in whole or in part, and therefore fall under this rule: 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW—FISCAL YEAR 2016 

Agency/program Last year of 

authorization 

Department of Commerce: 

International Trade Administration: 

Export Promotion ................................................................................................................................ 1996 

Bureau of Industry and Security: 

Export Administration ......................................................................................................................... 2001 

Economic Development Administration: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2008 

Economic Development Assistance Programs: 

Public Works and Economic Development ................................................................................ 2008 

Trade Adjustment Assistance ................................................................................................... 2015 

Bureau of the Census: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2014 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 1993 

National Institute of Standards and Technology: 

Scientific and Technical Research and Services .............................................................................. 2013 

Industrial Technology Services ........................................................................................................... 2013 

Construction of Research Facilities ................................................................................................... 2013 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 

Operations, Research, and Facilities: 

National Ocean Service: 

Coral Reef Conservation .................................................................................................. 2009 

Hydrographic Services ...................................................................................................... 2007

Coastal Zone Management .............................................................................................. 1999 

Marine Protection, Research, Preservation & Sanctuaries .............................................. 2005 

National Marine Fisheries Service: 

Endangered Species Act Amendment .............................................................................. 1992 

Marine Mammal Protection .............................................................................................. 1999 

NOAA Marine Fisheries Program ...................................................................................... 2000 

Interjurisdictional Fisheries .............................................................................................. 2012

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management ........................................... 2012 

Estuary Restoration .......................................................................................................... 2012 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research: 

National Sea Grant College Program ............................................................................... 2008 

Procurement, Acquisition and Construction: 

National Ocean Service: 

Marine Protection, Research, Preservation & Sanctuaries .............................................. 2005 

Department of Justice: 

General Administration: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Justice Information Sharing Technology ............................................................................................ 2009 
126 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW—FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

Agency/program Last year of 

authorization 

Administrative Review & Appeals: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Office of Inspector General: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

U.S. Parole Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Legal Activities: 

General Legal Activities: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

Antitrust Division: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

U.S. Attorneys: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

Foreign Claims Settlement Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

Fees and Expenses of Witnesses ....................................................................................................... 2009 

Community Relations Service: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

Assets Forfeiture Fund Current Budget Authority .............................................................................. 2009 

U.S. Marshals Service ................................................................................................................................. 2009 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... N/A 

Federal Prison Detention .................................................................................................................... N/A 

Construction ....................................................................................................................................... N/A 

National Security Division: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... N/A 

Interagency Law Enforcement: 

Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement ........................................................................................ 2009 

Federal Bureau of Investigation ................................................................................................................. 2009 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... N/A 

Construction ....................................................................................................................................... N/A 

Drug Enforcement Administration: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Federal Prison System ................................................................................................................................. 2009 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... N/A 

Buildings and Facilities ..................................................................................................................... N/A 

Office on Violence Against Women Programs: 

National Institute of Justice Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women ....................... N/A 

Consolidated Youth Oriented Program ............................................................................................... N/A 

Homicide Reduction Initiative ................................................................................................... N/A 

Research—Violence Against Indian Women ..................................................................................... 2015

Sexual Assault in Indian Country Clearinghouse .............................................................................. N/A

Office of Justice Programs: 

Research, Evaluation, and Statistics: 

National Institute of Justice ..................................................................................................... 1995 

Bureau of Justice Statistics ...................................................................................................... 1995 

Regional Information Sharing Activities ................................................................................... 2003 

Forensic Sciences ...................................................................................................................... N/A 

Forensic Science Advisory Committee .............................................................................. N/A 

State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance: 

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants ........................................................................................ 2012 

Body-Worn Camera Partnership ................................................................................................ N/A

VALOR Initiative ........................................................................................................................ N/A 

Smart Policing ........................................................................................................................... N/A 

Smart Prosecution ..................................................................................................................... N/A 

John R. Justice Grant Program .......................................................................................................... 2014 

Byrne Competitive Grants .................................................................................................................. N/A 

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program ...................................................................................... N/A 

Adam Walsh Act ................................................................................................................................. 2009 

Children Exposed to Violence Initiative ............................................................................................. N/A 

State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ......................................................................................... 2011 

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment ........................................................................................... 2000 
127 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW—FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

Agency/program Last year of 

authorization 

Mentally Ill Offender Act .................................................................................................................... 2014 

Drug Courts ........................................................................................................................................ 2008 

Capital Litigation (and Wrongful Prosecution review) ...................................................................... 2009 

Economic, High Tech and Cybercrime Prevention ............................................................................. N/A 

Second Chance Act/Offender Reentry ................................................................................................ 2010 

Smart Probation ........................................................................................................................ N/A 

Children of Incarcerated Parents Demo Grants ....................................................................... N/A 

Pay for Success (Discretionary) ................................................................................................ N/A 

Pay for Success (Permanent Supportive Housing Model) ........................................................ N/A 

Coverdell Forensic Science Grants ..................................................................................................... 2009 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction ........................................................................................... N/A 

Bulletproof Vests ................................................................................................................................ 2012 

NIST/OLES Transfer ................................................................................................................... N/A 

National Sex Offender Website .......................................................................................................... N/A 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) ........................................................... N/A 

Criminal Records Upgrade (NCHIP) ................................................................................................... 2007 

DNA Initiative: 

Post-Conviction DNA Testing .................................................................................................... N/A 

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners .............................................................................................. N/A; 2009 

Veterans Treatment Courts Program ................................................................................................. N/A 

Rape Kit Backlog ............................................................................................................................... N/A 

Justice Reinvestment Initiative .......................................................................................................... N/A 

Project HOPE Opportunity Probation with Enforcement ..................................................................... N/A 

Vision 21 ............................................................................................................................................ N/A 

Comprehensive School Safety Initiative ............................................................................................. N/A 

Juvenile Justice Programs: 

Part B—State Formula ...................................................................................................................... 2007 

Emergency Planning in Juvenile Justice Facilities ................................................................... N/A 

Part G—Youth Mentoring .................................................................................................................. N/A; 2007 

Title V—Local Delinquency Prevention Incentive Grants .................................................................. 2008 

Tribal Youth ............................................................................................................................... N/A 

Gang/Youth Violence Education and Prevention ...................................................................... N/A 

Victims of Child Abuse Act ................................................................................................................ 2005 

Community-Based Violence Prevention Initiatives ............................................................................ N/A 

Training for Judicial Personnel .......................................................................................................... N/A 

Missing and Exploited Children Programs ........................................................................................ 2004; 2018; 

2018 

Competitive Grants for Girls in the Justice System .......................................................................... N/A

Children of Incarcerated Parents Web Portal .................................................................................... N/A 

COPS Programs: 

COPS Hiring Program ......................................................................................................................... 2009 

Transfer to DEA for Methamphetamine Clean-Up ............................................................................. N/A 

Comprehensive School Safety Program ............................................................................................. N/A 

Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces .................................................................................................. N/A 

Anti-Heroin Task Forces ..................................................................................................................... N/A 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration: 

Science ........................................................................................................................................................ 2013 

Aeronautics .................................................................................................................................................. 2013 

Exploration ................................................................................................................................................... 2013 

Space Operations ........................................................................................................................................ 2013 

Education .................................................................................................................................................... 2013 

Safety, Security and Mission Services ........................................................................................................ 2013; N/A 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration ................................................................. 2013 

Office of the Inspector General .................................................................................................................. 2013 

National Science Foundation ............................................................................................................................... 2013 

Related Agencies: 

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2000 

Commission on Civil Rights: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 1995 

International Trade Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2004 

Payment to the Legal Services Corporation: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 1980 
128 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW—FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

Agency/program Last year of 

authorization 

Marine Mammal Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 1999 

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2004 

State Justice Institute: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2008 

1 NOAA authorizations are spread across over 60 separate statutory authorities. In many cases, the authorizations do not match exactly to 

specific programs. 
(129) 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on June 11, 2015, the 

Committee ordered favorably reported a bill (H.R. 2578) making 

appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 

Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 

30, 2016, and for other purposes, provided, that the bill be subject 

to further amendment and that the bill be consistent with its budget allocation, by a recorded vote of 27–3, a quorum being present. 

The vote was as follows: 

Yeas Nays 

Chairman Cochran Mrs. Murray 

Mr. McConnell Mr. Reed 

Mr. Shelby Mr. Tester 

Mr. Alexander 

Ms. Collins 

Ms. Murkowski 

Mr. Graham 

Mr. Kirk 

Mr. Blunt 

Mr. Moran 

Mr. Hoeven 

Mr. Boozman 

Mrs. Capito 

Mr. Cassidy 

Mr. Lankford 

Mr. Daines 

Ms. Mikulski 

Mr. Leahy 

Mrs. Feinstein 

Mr. Durbin 

Mr. Udall 

Mrs. Shaheen 

Mr. Merkley 

Mr. Coons 

Mr. Schatz 

Ms. Baldwin 

Mr. Murphy 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Paragraph 12 of the rule XXVI requires that Committee reports 

on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute or 

part of any statute include ‘‘(a) the text of the statute or part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a comparative print of 

that part of the bill or joint resolution making the amendment and 
130 

of the statute or part thereof proposed to be amended, showing by 

stricken-through type and italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical devices the omissions and insertions which 

would be made by the bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form 

recommended by the Committee.’’ 

In compliance with this rule, the following changes in existing 

law proposed to be made by this bill are shown as follows: existing 

law to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets; new matter is 

printed in italics; and existing law in which no change is proposed 

is shown in roman. 

TRADE ACT OF 1974, PUBLIC LAW 93–617 

TITLE I—NEGOTIATING AND OTHER 

AUTHORITY 

CHAPTER 4—OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE 

REPRESENTATIVE 

SEC. 141. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR TRADE NEGOTIATIONS. 

(a) There is established within the øExecutive Office of the 

President¿ Department of Commerce the Office of the United States 

Trade Representative (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 

‘‘Office’’). 
131 

BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL 

PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 

308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93–344, AS AMENDED 

[In millions of dollars] 

Budget authority Outlays 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee 

allocation for 2016: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: 

Mandatory .................................................................... 319 319 320 1 320 

Discretionary ................................................................ 51,068 51,068 62,387 1 62,377 

Security ............................................................... 5,068 5,068 NA NA 

Nonsecurity ......................................................... 46,000 46,000 NA NA 

Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism ...................................................................... ...................... ...................... ...................... ......................

Projections of outlays associated with the recommendation: 

2016 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 2 40,864 

2017 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 13,303 

2018 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 3,474 

2019 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... ¥120 

2020 and future years ................................................ ...................... ...................... ...................... 4,755 

Financial assistance to State and local governments for 

2016 ................................................................................. NA ¥8,277 NA 364 

1 Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

2 Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

NA: Not applicable. 
132 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2015 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

Operations and administration .............................................................................. 472,000 506,750 467,000 473,000 ∂1,000 ¥33,750 ∂6,000 Offsetting fee collections ....................................................................................... ¥10,000 ¥10,000 ¥10,000 ¥10,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Direct appropriation .................................................................................. 462,000 496,750 457,000 463,000 ∂1,000 ¥33,750 ∂6,000 

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 54,250 56,268 54,250 54,250 .......................... ¥2,018 ..........................

Bureau of Industry and Security 

Operations and administration .............................................................................. 66,500 79,086 74,000 70,500 ∂4,000 ¥8,586 ¥3,500 

Defense function ........................................................................................... 36,000 36,000 36,000 36,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, Bureau of Industry and Security .................................................... 102,500 115,086 110,000 106,500 ∂4,000 ¥8,586 ¥3,500 

Economic Development Administration 

Economic development assistance programs ........................................................ 213,000 227,500 213,000 213,000 .......................... ¥14,500 ..........................Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 37,000 45,528 37,000 37,000 .......................... ¥8,528 ..........................

Total, Economic Development Administration .......................................... 250,000 273,028 250,000 250,000 .......................... ¥23,028 ..........................

Minority Business Development Agency 

Minority business development .............................................................................. 30,000 30,016 32,000 30,000 .......................... ¥16 ¥2,000 

Economic and Statistical Analysis 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 100,000 113,849 100,000 100,000 .......................... ¥13,849 ..........................
133 

Bureau of the Census 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 248,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥248,000 .......................... ..........................Current surveys and programs .............................................................................. .......................... 277,873 261,000 266,000 ∂266,000 ¥11,873 ∂5,000 Periodic censuses and programs (old structure) .................................................. 840,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥840,000 .......................... ..........................Periodic censuses and programs (new structure) ................................................. .......................... 1,222,101 730,700 862,000 ∂862,000 ¥360,101 ∂131,300 

Total, Bureau of the Census .................................................................... 1,088,000 1,499,974 991,700 1,128,000 ∂40,000 ¥371,974 ∂136,300 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 38,200 49,232 35,200 38,200 .......................... ¥11,032 ∂3,000 

United States Patent and Trademark Office 

Salaries and expenses, current year fee funding ................................................. 3,458,000 3,272,000 3,272,000 3,272,000 ¥186,000 .......................... ..........................Offsetting fee collections ....................................................................................... ¥3,458,000 ¥3,272,000 ¥3,272,000 ¥3,272,000 ∂186,000 .......................... ..........................

Total, United States Patent and Trademark Office ................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ..........................

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Scientific and technical research and services .................................................... 675,500 754,661 675,000 684,700 ∂9,200 ¥69,961 ∂9,700 Industrial technology services ............................................................................... 138,100 306,000 130,000 145,000 ∂6,900 ¥161,000 ∂15,000 

Manufacturing extension partnerships ......................................................... (130,000 ) (141,000 ) (130,000 ) (130,000 ) .......................... (¥11,000 ) ..........................Advanced manufacturing technology consortia ............................................ (8,100 ) (15,000 ) .......................... (15,000 ) (∂6,900 ) .......................... (∂15,000 ) Manufacturing innovation institutes coordination ....................................... .......................... (150,000 ) .......................... .......................... .......................... (¥150,000 ) ..........................

Construction of research facilities ........................................................................ 50,300 59,000 50,000 63,300 ∂13,000 ∂4,300 ∂13,300 Working Capital Fund (by transfer) ....................................................................... (2,000 ) (2,000 ) (2,000 ) (2,000 ) .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, National Institute of Standards and Technology ........................... 863,900 1,119,661 855,000 893,000 ∂29,100 ¥226,661 ∂38,000 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Operations, research, and facilities ...................................................................... 3,202,398 3,413,360 3,149,877 3,242,723 ∂40,325 ¥170,637 ∂92,846 

(By transfer) .................................................................................................. (116,000 ) (130,164 ) (130,164 ) (130,164 ) (∂14,164 ) .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 3,202,398 3,413,360 3,149,877 3,242,723 ∂40,325 ¥170,637 ∂92,846 

Procurement, acquisition and construction ........................................................... 2,179,225 2,498,679 1,960,034 2,079,494 ¥99,731 ¥419,185 ∂119,460 Pacific coastal salmon recovery ............................................................................ 65,000 58,000 65,000 65,000 .......................... ∂7,000 ..........................Fishermen’s Contingency Fund .............................................................................. 350 350 350 350 .......................... .......................... ..........................Fisheries Finance Program Account ....................................................................... ¥6,000 ¥6,000 ¥6,000 ¥6,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................
134 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2015 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

Pacific groundfish fishing capacity reduction loan .............................................. .......................... 10,300 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥10,300 ..........................

Total, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ....................... 5,440,973 5,974,689 5,169,261 5,381,567 ¥59,406 ¥593,122 ∂212,306 

Departmental Management 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 56,000 71,095 50,000 56,000 .......................... ¥15,095 ∂6,000 Renovation and modernization .............................................................................. 4,500 24,062 3,989 .......................... ¥4,500 ¥24,062 ¥3,989 Office of Inspector General .................................................................................... 30,596 35,190 32,000 30,596 .......................... ¥4,594 ¥1,404 

Total, Departmental Management ............................................................ 91,096 130,347 85,989 86,596 ¥4,500 ¥43,751 ∂607 Total, title I, Department of Commerce ................................................... 8,520,919 9,858,900 8,140,400 8,531,113 ∂10,194 ¥1,327,787 ∂390,713 

(By transfer) .................................................................................... 118,000 132,164 132,164 132,164 ∂14,164 .......................... ..........................

TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

General Administration 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 111,500 119,437 95,540 109,000 ¥2,500 ¥10,437 ∂13,460 Justice information sharing technology ................................................................. 25,842 37,440 25,842 25,842 .......................... ¥11,598 ..........................

Total, General Administration ................................................................... 137,342 156,877 121,382 134,842 ¥2,500 ¥22,035 ∂13,460 

Administrative review and appeals ....................................................................... 351,072 488,381 426,791 411,072 ∂60,000 ¥77,309 ¥15,719 

Transfer from immigration examinations fee account ................................. ¥4,000 ¥4,000 ¥4,000 ¥4,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Direct appropriation ............................................................................. 347,072 484,381 422,791 407,072 ∂60,000 ¥77,309 ¥15,719 

Office of Inspector General .................................................................................... 88,577 93,709 93,709 89,000 ∂423 ¥4,709 ¥4,709 
135 

United States Parole Commission 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 13,308 13,547 13,308 13,308 .......................... ¥239 ..........................

Legal Activities 

Salaries and expenses, general legal activities .................................................... 885,000 1,037,386 882,000 885,000 .......................... ¥152,386 ∂3,000 Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund .............................................................. 7,833 9,358 8,000 9,358 ∂1,525 .......................... ∂1,358 Salaries and expenses, Antitrust Division ............................................................. 162,246 164,977 162,246 162,246 .......................... ¥2,731 ..........................

Offsetting fee collections—current year ...................................................... ¥100,000 ¥124,000 ¥124,000 ¥124,000 ¥24,000 .......................... ..........................

Direct appropriation ............................................................................. 62,246 40,977 38,246 38,246 ¥24,000 ¥2,731 ..........................

Salaries and expenses, United States Attorneys ................................................... 1,960,000 2,032,216 1,995,000 1,973,000 ∂13,000 ¥59,216 ¥22,000 United States Trustee System Fund ...................................................................... 225,908 228,107 225,908 225,908 .......................... ¥2,199 ..........................

Offsetting fee collections .............................................................................. ¥225,908 ¥162,000 ¥162,000 ¥162,000 ∂63,908 .......................... ..........................

Direct appropriation ............................................................................. .......................... 66,107 63,908 63,908 ∂63,908 ¥2,199 ..........................

Salaries and expenses, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission ......................... 2,326 2,374 2,326 2,374 ∂48 .......................... ∂48 Fees and expenses of witnesses ........................................................................... 270,000 270,000 270,000 270,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................Salaries and expenses, Community Relations Service .......................................... 12,250 14,446 13,000 14,446 ∂2,196 .......................... ∂1,446 Assets Forfeiture Fund ........................................................................................... 20,514 20,514 .......................... 20,514 .......................... .......................... ∂20,514 

Total, Legal Activities ............................................................................... 3,220,169 3,493,378 3,272,480 3,276,846 ∂56,677 ¥216,532 ∂4,366 

United States Marshals Service 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 1,195,000 1,230,581 1,220,000 1,195,000 .......................... ¥35,581 ¥25,000 Construction ........................................................................................................... 9,800 15,000 11,000 9,800 .......................... ¥5,200 ¥1,200 Federal prisoner detention ..................................................................................... 495,307 1,454,414 1,058,081 1,454,414 ∂959,107 .......................... ∂396,333 

Total, United States Marshals Service ..................................................... 1,700,107 2,699,995 2,289,081 2,659,214 ∂959,107 ¥40,781 ∂370,133 

National Security Division 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 93,000 96,596 95,000 93,000 .......................... ¥3,596 ¥2,000 

Interagency Law Enforcement 

Interagency crime and drug enforcement ............................................................. 507,194 519,301 510,000 507,194 .......................... ¥12,107 ¥2,806 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 3,378,089 3,413,813 3,444,306 3,421,468 ∂43,379 ∂7,655 ¥22,838 
136 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2015 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

Counterintelligence and national security .................................................... 4,948,480 5,000,812 5,045,480 5,012,024 ∂63,544 ∂11,212 ¥33,456 

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 8,326,569 8,414,625 8,489,786 8,433,492 ∂106,923 ∂18,867 ¥56,294 

Construction ........................................................................................................... 110,000 68,982 57,982 108,982 ¥1,018 ∂40,000 ∂51,000 

Total, Federal Bureau of Investigation ..................................................... 8,436,569 8,483,607 8,547,768 8,542,474 ∂105,905 ∂58,867 ¥5,294 

Drug Enforcement Administration 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 2,400,000 2,463,123 2,422,459 2,404,834 ∂4,834 ¥58,289 ¥17,625 

Diversion control fund ................................................................................... ¥366,680 ¥371,514 ¥371,514 ¥371,514 ¥4,834 .......................... ..........................

Total, Drug Enforcement Administration .................................................. 2,033,320 2,091,609 2,050,945 2,033,320 .......................... ¥58,289 ¥17,625 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 1,201,000 1,261,158 1,240,000 1,201,000 .......................... ¥60,158 ¥39,000 

Federal Prison System 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 6,815,000 7,204,158 6,948,500 6,848,000 ∂33,000 ¥356,158 ¥100,500 Buildings and facilities ......................................................................................... 106,000 140,564 230,000 106,000 .......................... ¥34,564 ¥124,000 Limitation on administrative expenses, Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated .................................................................................................................. 2,700 2,700 2,700 2,700 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, Federal Prison System .................................................................... 6,923,700 7,347,422 7,181,200 6,956,700 ∂33,000 ¥390,722 ¥224,500 

State and Local Law Enforcement Activities 

Office on Violence Against Women: 

Prevention and prosecution programs .......................................................... 430,000 473,500 501,050 234,000 ¥196,000 ¥239,500 ¥267,050 
137 

Office of Justice Programs: 

Research, evaluation and statistics ............................................................. 111,000 151,900 .......................... 117,000 ∂6,000 ¥34,900 ∂117,000 State and local law enforcement assistance ............................................... 1,241,000 1,142,300 1,141,900 1,009,000 ¥232,000 ¥133,300 ¥132,900 Juvenile justice programs ............................................................................. 251,500 339,400 186,500 253,500 ∂2,000 ¥85,900 ∂67,000 Public safety officer benefits: 

Death benefits ...................................................................................... 71,000 72,000 72,000 72,000 ∂1,000 .......................... ..........................Disability and education benefits ........................................................ 16,300 16,300 16,300 16,300 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Subtotal ........................................................................................... 87,300 88,300 88,300 88,300 ∂1,000 .......................... ..........................Total, Office of Justice Programs .................................................... 1,690,800 1,721,900 1,416,700 1,467,800 ¥223,000 ¥254,100 ∂51,100 

Community Oriented Policing Services: 

COPS programs ............................................................................................. 208,000 303,500 251,500 212,000 ∂4,000 ¥91,500 ¥39,500 

Total, State and Local Law Enforcement Activities ................................. 2,328,800 2,498,900 2,169,250 1,913,800 ¥415,000 ¥585,100 ¥255,450 Total, title II, Department of Justice ........................................................ 27,030,158 29,240,480 28,006,914 27,827,770 ∂797,612 ¥1,412,710 ¥179,144 

TITLE III—SCIENCE 

Office of Science and Technology Policy ............................................................... 5,555 5,566 5,555 5,555 .......................... ¥11 ..........................

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Science ................................................................................................................... 5,244,700 5,288,600 5,237,500 5,295,000 ∂50,300 ∂6,400 ∂57,500 Aeronautics ............................................................................................................. 651,000 571,400 600,000 524,700 ¥126,300 ¥46,700 ¥75,300 Space technology ................................................................................................... 596,000 724,800 625,000 600,000 ∂4,000 ¥124,800 ¥25,000 Exploration .............................................................................................................. 4,356,700 4,504,400 4,759,300 3,831,200 ¥525,500 ¥673,200 ¥928,100 Space operations .................................................................................................... 3,827,800 4,005,200 3,957,300 4,756,400 ∂928,600 ∂751,200 ∂799,100 Education ............................................................................................................... 119,000 88,900 119,000 108,000 ¥11,000 ∂19,100 ¥11,000 Safety, security and mission services ................................................................... 2,758,900 2,843,100 2,768,600 2,784,000 ∂25,100 ¥59,100 ∂15,400 Construction and environmental compliance and restoration .............................. 419,100 465,300 425,000 352,800 ¥66,300 ¥112,500 ¥72,200 Office of Inspector General .................................................................................... 37,000 37,400 37,400 37,400 ∂400 .......................... ..........................

Total, National Aeronautics and Space Administration ........................... 18,010,200 18,529,100 18,529,100 18,289,500 ∂279,300 ¥239,600 ¥239,600 

National Science Foundation 

Research and related activities ............................................................................. 5,866,125 6,118,780 5,916,125 5,866,125 .......................... ¥252,655 ¥50,000 
138 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2015 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

Defense function ........................................................................................... 67,520 67,520 67,520 67,520 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 5,933,645 6,186,300 5,983,645 5,933,645 .......................... ¥252,655 ¥50,000 

Major research equipment and facilities construction ......................................... 200,760 200,310 200,030 200,310 ¥450 .......................... ∂280 Education and human resources ........................................................................... 866,000 962,570 866,000 866,000 .......................... ¥96,570 ..........................Agency operations and award management ......................................................... 325,000 354,840 325,000 325,000 .......................... ¥29,840 ..........................Office of the National Science Board .................................................................... 4,370 4,370 4,370 4,370 .......................... .......................... ..........................Office of Inspector General .................................................................................... 14,430 15,160 15,160 14,450 ∂20 ¥710 ¥710 

Total, National Science Foundation .......................................................... 7,344,205 7,723,550 7,394,205 7,343,775 ¥430 ¥379,775 ¥50,430 Total, title III, Science .............................................................................. 25,359,960 26,258,216 25,928,860 25,638,830 ∂278,870 ¥619,386 ¥290,030 

TITLE IV—RELATED AGENCIES 

Commission on Civil Rights 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 9,200 9,413 9,200 9,200 .......................... ¥213 ..........................

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 364,500 373,112 364,500 364,500 .......................... ¥8,612 ..........................

International Trade Commission 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 84,500 131,500 86,500 84,500 .......................... ¥47,000 ¥2,000 

Legal Services Corporation 

Payment to the Legal Services Corporation .......................................................... 375,000 452,000 300,000 385,000 ∂10,000 ¥67,000 ∂85,000 

Marine Mammal Commission 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 3,340 3,431 3,340 3,431 ∂91 .......................... ∂91 
139 

State Justice Institute 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 5,121 5,121 5,121 5,121 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, title IV, Related Agencies ............................................................... 841,661 974,577 768,661 851,752 ∂10,091 ¥122,825 ∂83,091 

TITLE V—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

DOC Departmental Management, Franchise Fund (rescission) ............................. ¥2,906 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂2,906 .......................... ..........................DOC, National Technical Information Service (rescission) .................................... .......................... .......................... ¥10,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂10,000 DOC, Economic development assistance programs (rescission) ........................... ¥5,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂5,000 .......................... ..........................DOJ, Working Capital Fund (rescission) ................................................................ ¥99,000 ¥55,000 ¥100,000 ¥55,000 ∂44,000 .......................... ∂45,000 DOJ, Tactical law enforcement wireless communications (rescission) ................. ¥2,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂2,000 .......................... ..........................DOJ, Detention trustee (rescission) ........................................................................ ¥23,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂23,000 .......................... ..........................DOJ, Assets Forfeiture Fund (rescission) ............................................................... ¥193,000 ¥304,000 .......................... ¥362,945 ¥169,945 ¥58,945 ¥362,945 FBI, Salaries and expenses, nondefense (rescission) ........................................... .......................... ¥49,000 ¥49,000 ¥32,456 ¥32,456 ∂16,544 ∂16,544 FBI, Salaries and expenses, defense (rescission) ................................................. .......................... ¥71,000 ¥71,000 ¥47,544 ¥47,544 ∂23,456 ∂23,456 DOJ, Salaries and expenses, general legal activities (rescission) ........................ ¥10,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂10,000 .......................... ..........................DOJ, Salaries and expenses, Antitrust Division (rescission) ................................. ¥6,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂6,000 .......................... ..........................DOJ, Salaries and expenses, U.S. Attorneys (rescission) ...................................... ¥9,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂9,000 .......................... ..........................Federal prisoner detention (rescission) ................................................................. ¥188,000 ¥69,500 ¥69,500 ¥69,500 ∂118,500 .......................... ..........................DOJ, ATF, Salaries and expenses (rescission) ....................................................... ¥3,200 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂3,200 .......................... ..........................Violence against women prevention and prosecution programs (rescission) ....... ¥16,000 ¥5,020 ¥15,000 ¥5,020 ∂10,980 .......................... ∂9,980 Office of Justice programs (rescission) ................................................................. ¥82,500 .......................... ¥40,000 .......................... ∂82,500 .......................... ∂40,000 COPS (rescission) ................................................................................................... ¥40,000 ¥10,000 ¥20,000 ¥10,000 ∂30,000 .......................... ∂10,000 

Total, title V, General Provisions .............................................................. ¥679,606 ¥563,520 ¥374,500 ¥582,465 ∂97,141 ¥18,945 ¥207,965 Grand total ............................................................................................... 61,073,092 65,768,653 62,470,335 62,267,000 ∂1,193,908 ¥3,501,653 ¥203,335 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (61,752,698 ) (66,332,173 ) (62,844,835 ) (62,849,465 ) (∂1,096,767 ) (¥3,482,708 ) (∂4,630 ) Rescissions ...................................................................................... (¥679,606 ) (¥563,520 ) (¥374,500 ) (¥582,465 ) (∂97,141 ) (¥18,945 ) (¥207,965 ) 

(By transfer) ............................................................................................. 118,000 132,164 132,164 132,164 ∂14,164 .......................... ..........................

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