26–262 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 115–231 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES 

APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2018 

JULY 17, 2017.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. CULBERSON, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

MINORITY VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 3267] 

The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in 

explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for 

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal 

year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. 

INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT 

Page number 

Bill Report 

Title I—Department of Commerce ............................................................ 2 5 

Title II—Department of Justice ................................................................ 23 28 

Title III—Science ........................................................................................ 59 54 

Office of Science and Technology Policy ............................................ 59 54 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration ............................. 60 54 

National Science Foundation ............................................................. 68 68 

Title IV—Related Agencies ........................................................................ 72 73 

Commission on Civil Rights ............................................................... 72 73 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission .................................. 72 73 

International Trade Commission ....................................................... 73 73 

Legal Services Corporation ................................................................ 74 74 

Marine Mammal Commission ............................................................ 75 74 

Office of the United States Trade Representative ........................... 75 74 

State Justice Institute ........................................................................ 76 75 

Title V—General Provisions ...................................................................... 77 75 

House of Representatives Reporting Requirements ................................ ........ 79 

Minority Views ........................................................................................... ........ 125 

2 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL

The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee has jurisdiction over a diverse group of agencies responsible for combating gangs, violent crime, drug trafficking, financial 

fraud, terrorism, espionage, and cybercrime; enforcing trade laws; 

conducting periodic censuses; forecasting the weather; managing 

fisheries; exploring space; and advancing science. The activities of 

these agencies impact nearly every American and are integral to 

the operations of our government. 

The bill provides a total of $53,935,000,000 in discretionary 

budget authority for fiscal year 2018, which is $2,620,000,000 

below the fiscal year 2017 discretionary enacted level. 

Within the level of funds provided, the bill prioritizes funding for 

Federal law enforcement, national security, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) while freezing, reducing, 

or eliminating funding for non-critical activities. 

For the Department of Justice, the bill provides an increase of 

$318,864,000 from the current year and is $836,856,000 above the 

budget request. This includes an increase of $47,546,000 for the 

Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) salaries and expenses to 

enhance its efforts to combat violent crime, cybercrime, terrorism, 

and espionage. The bill also provides increases across the Federal 

law enforcement agencies to enhance immigration enforcement, 

combat violent crime and opioids trafficking. These increases include $64,500,000 for immigration courts, $22,252,000 for United 

States Attorneys, $87,546,000 for the United States Marshals Service, $9,000,000 for interagency drug task forces, $97,987,000 for the 

Drug Enforcement Administration, $35,176,000 for the Bureau of 

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and $61,448,000 for the 

operations of the Federal Prison System. 

For State and local law enforcement activities, the bill increases 

funds for Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecutions 

Programs, the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program and Byrne 

Justice Assistance Grants. The bill also continues support for priority programs such as Adam Walsh Act, NICS background checks, 

the DNA initiative, Reducing Sexual Assault Kit Backlogs, the Second Chance Act, the Missing and Exploited Children program, and 

fully funds the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. 

For NASA, the bill includes $19,871,834,000 which is an increase 

of $218,534,000 above fiscal year 2017. The Committee believes 

that additional investment is needed to maintain American leadership in space exploration and science, and for NASA to successfully 

execute all of its activities and missions. A bold space exploration 

program that engages the nation will inspire new generations of 

scientists and engineers and contribute to the economic success and 

space leadership of the country. The bill advances space exploration 

and ensures our nation remains the world’s leader in space exploration and technology, aeronautics research, and discovery in space 

and science. The bill provides for the continued development of the 

Orion crew vehicle, the Space Launch System, and Exploration 

Ground Systems that will one day send astronauts beyond low 

Earth orbit. The bill continues funding for critical scientific missions and technology programs. The Committee directs NASA to 

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follow the direction of the decadal surveys in prioritizing activities 

during fiscal year 2018 and in the future. 

For the National Science Foundation, the bill maintains funding 

for the Research and Related Activities appropriation at the fiscal 

year 2017 level. 

Within the Department of Commerce, the bill priorities the International Trade Administration’s enforcement and compliance activities and continuing preparations for the 2020 decennial census. 

Funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

prioritizes weather forecasting, ocean exploration, weather research, and fisheries management. 

In order to fund the priority programs described above, the bill 

recommends terminating 37 programs, resulting in savings of more 

than $623,644,000 from the fiscal year 2017 level and $347,000,000 

from the President’s request for these same programs. In addition, 

the bill recommends freezing or reducing 18 appropriation accounts 

in the Department of Commerce, 20 appropriation accounts in the 

Department of Justice, and 5 appropriation accounts in related 

agencies. 

OVERSIGHT AND BUDGET REVIEW

In furtherance of the Committee’s oversight responsibilities and 

to protect hard-earned taxpayer dollars, the Committee has included language that: • Withholds funds for information technology related to the 

2020 census until a comprehensive investment plan is provided 

to the Committee and the Government Accountability Office. • Caps total life-cycle costs for programs that have a record 

of poor performance, including weather satellites and the 

James Webb Space Telescope. • Prohibits funding for the National Technical Information 

Service to charge customers for a copy of a document generated 

by the Legislative Branch unless the customer is informed how 

to receive an electronic copy free online. • Requires monthly reporting on Immigration Judge performance. • Maintains limitations on the Department of Justice’s use 

of non-appropriated funds including the Working Capital Fund 

and the Assets Forfeiture Fund. • Requires quarterly reporting of unobligated balances. • Requires agencies procuring sensitive information technology systems to conduct supply chain risk assessments. 

• Requires contractors and grantees receiving more than 

$5,000,000 to certify that they are not delinquent on their Federal taxes. • Prohibits funds from being used to purchase first class and 

premium airline travel. • Limits the number of agency staff who can attend overseas 

conferences. • Requires agencies to track undisbursed grant balances. • Requires agencies to submit spending plans for the Committee’s review. 

• Requires agencies to notify the Committee of project cost 

overruns and mitigation plans. 

• Requires agency computer networks to block pornography. 

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Paper Reduction Efforts.—The Committee urges the Departments 

of Commerce and Justice, the National Science Foundation, and 

NASA to work with the Office of Management and Budget to reduce printing and reproduction costs and directs each agency to report to the Committee within 60 days of enactment of this Act on 

the steps it has taken to achieve this goal. The report should specifically identify how much funding each agency expects to save by 

implementing these measures. 

Performance Measures.—The Committee directs each of the agencies funded by this Act to comply with title 31 of the United States 

Code, including the development of their organizational priority 

goals and outcomes such as performance outcome measures, output 

measures, efficiency measures, and customer service measures. 

REPROGRAMMING PROCEDURES

Section 505 of the bill contains language concerning the reprogramming of funds between programs, projects, and activities. 

The Committee reminds the departments and agencies funded in 

this bill that the reprogramming process is based on comity between the Congress and the Executive Branch. This process is intended to provide departments and agencies sufficient flexibility to 

meet changing circumstances and emergent requirements not 

known at the time of congressional review of the budget while preserving congressional priorities and intent. In the absence of comity 

and respect for the prerogatives of the Appropriations Committees 

and the Congress in general, the Committee may opt to include 

specific program limitations and details in legislation and remove 

language providing the flexibility to reallocate funds. 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 except through legislative action. 

Each department and agency funded in this bill shall follow the 

directions set forth in this bill and the accompanying report, and 

shall not reallocate resources or reorganize activities except as provided herein. Reprogramming procedures shall apply to funds provided in this bill, unobligated balances from previous appropriations Acts that are available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal 

year 2018, and non-appropriated resources such as fee collections 

that are used to meet program requirements in fiscal year 2018. As 

specified in section 505, the Committee expects that the Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 

Agencies of the House and Senate will be notified by letter a minimum of 15 days prior to any reprogramming of funds that— 

(1) creates or initiates a new program, project, or activity; 

(2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; 

(3) increases funds or personnel by any means for any 

project or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted; 

(4) relocates an office or employees; 

(5) reorganizes or renames offices, programs, or activities; 

(6) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities 

presently performed by Federal employees; 

(7) augments existing programs, projects, or activities in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, or reduces by 

5 

10 percent funding for any program, project, or activity, or 

numbers of personnel by 10 percent; or 

(8) results from any general savings, including savings from 

a reduction in personnel, which would result in a change in existing programs, projects, or activities as approved by Congress. 

Any reprogramming request shall include any out-year budgetary 

impacts and a separate accounting of program or mission impacts 

on estimated carryover funds. The Committee further expects any 

department or agency funded in this bill that plans a reduction-inforce to notify the Committee by letter at least 30 days in advance 

of the date of any such planned personnel action. 

RELATIONSHIP WITH BUDGET AND COMPTROLLER OFFICES

Through the years the Appropriations Committee has channeled 

most of its inquiries and requests for information and assistance 

through the budget offices or comptroller organizations of the various departments, agencies, and commissions. Such relationships 

are necessary to accomplish the work of the Committee. While the 

Committee reserves the right to call upon all organizations in the 

departments, agencies and commissions for information and assistance, the primary contact between the Committee and these entities must be through the budget offices and comptroller organizations, or through a legislative affairs unit designated by the Committee to work on appropriations and budget matters. 

The workload generated in the budget process is large and growing; therefore, a positive, responsive relationship between the Committee and the budget and/or comptroller offices is essential for the 

Committee to fulfill the Constitutional appropriations responsibilities of Congress. 

TITLE I 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION

OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

The Committee recommends $480,000,000 in total resources for 

the programs of the International Trade Administration (ITA), 

which is $15,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and $24,500,000 above 

the request. This amount is offset by $13,000,000 in estimated fee 

collections, resulting in a direct appropriation of $467,000,000. 

Trade enforcement.—The recommendation funds Enforcement 

and Compliance at the requested level of $88,500,000. The Committee instructs the ITA to make the enforcement of antidumping 

and countervailing duties its highest priority, and recommends 

that the ITA focus specifically on expeditiously reducing case backlogs and thoroughly investigating the extent to which trade law 

evasion harms domestic industries. 

Global Markets.—The recommendation provides $309,000,000 for 

Global Markets. The recommendation does not adopt the proposal 

to reduce U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service staff or close overseas offices or U.S. Export Assistance Centers. The recommendation does not fund the SelectUSA initiative. 

6 

Industry and Analysis.—The recommendation provides 

$49,250,000 for Industry and Analysis. 

Executive Direction and Administration.—The recommendation 

provides $20,250,000 for Executive Direction and Administration. 

Business-to-Business Networks.—The Committee directs the ITA 

to conduct Business-to-Business Networks for industry clusters in 

Northern Mexico and Southern United States to promote regionally-driven economic development strategies that support advanced 

manufacturing and exports of American goods and services. 

BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY

OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

The Committee recommends $112,500,000 for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which is the same as fiscal year 2017. 

The recommendation prioritizes Export Enforcement. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

The Committee does not adopt the proposal to terminate the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and recommends 

$176,000,000 for the programs and administrative expenses of the 

EDA. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

The Committee provides $140,000,000 for the Economic Development Assistance Programs for grants to economically destressed 

areas. The bill provides $17,000,000 for the Regional Innovation 

Program. Additionally, within the funds provided, EDA shall 

prioritize Public Works. 

Assistance to coal mining communities.—The recommendation includes the enacted level to assist coal mining communities. The 

Committee appreciates that EDA has engaged and is collaborating 

with local leaders and stakeholders, along with other Federal agencies, to develop comprehensive strategies to promote economic 

growth in coal mining communities. The Committee expects this effort to continue. Within the funds provided, the Committee directs 

EDA to continue assisting communities that have yet to develop an 

economic development strategy to begin the planning process. For 

communities that have created economic development strategies, 

EDA shall continue providing assistance to implement the strategies, including the funding of economic development projects. EDA 

shall continue to report to the Committee on its efforts to assist 

coal communities and include a detailed description of how EDA 

and other Federal agencies have assisted coal mining communities 

to date and how the Federal government plans to assist them in 

the future. 

Regional Innovation Program.—The Committee encourages EDA 

to support the development of regional innovation clusters that 

focus on advanced wood products. The Committee supports university-based, high-tech business incubators. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $36,000,000 for EDA salaries and 

expenses. 

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MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The Committee recommends $34,000,000 for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which is equal to the enacted 

level. Within the funds provided, not less than $17,000,000 shall be 

awarded through cooperative agreements, external awards and 

grants. 

Report.—MBDA shall provide a report to the Committee within 

180 days of enactment of this Act on the state of minority-owned 

businesses, including an evaluation of their access to capital. 

BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $96,000,000 for the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which is $11,300,000 below fiscal year 2017 and 

$1,000,000 below the request. The recommendation adopts the reorganization proposal. 

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

The Committee recommends a total of $1,507,000,000 for the Bureau of the Census, which is $37,000,000 above fiscal year 2017 

and $10,000,000 above the request. 

CURRENT SURVEYS AND PROGRAMS

The Committee recommends $256,000,000 for the Current Surveys and Programs, which is $14,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 

and $10,000,000 above the request. 

Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).—Within the 

amounts provided, Census shall continue the level of effort for the 

SIPP at no less than the fiscal year 2017 level and shall conduct 

the 2018 panel such that it is comparable to wave 1 of the previous 

SIPP cycle. 

PERIODIC CENSUSES AND PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends a total of $1,251,000,000 for Periodic Censuses and Programs, which is $51,000,000 above the fiscal 

year 2017 level and the same as the request. The recommendation 

provides for a transfer of $2,580,000 to the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) for oversight of the Census 

Bureau. The recommended increase will support completion of research and the beginning of design, development, and testing for 

the 2020 Census. 

The Committee encourages the Census Bureau to reconsider its 

proposal to cancel two of the three census tests scheduled for 2018. 

Census risks.—The Committee is concerned that the 2020 Census 

is a Government Accountability Office (GAO) high-risk area. With 

limited time remaining until Census Day, the Census Bureau 

needs to: (1) ensure key innovations will function as planned; (2) 

strengthen the management and oversight of all IT programs, systems, and contractors supporting the decennial; and (3) develop reVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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liable cost estimates. Already, the Bureau is experiencing significant cost overruns in key programs. 

The Committee appreciates that Census leadership meets with 

GAO staff monthly to discuss the progress the Bureau is making 

toward the 2020 Census, including how it is addressing GAO’s open 

recommendations, and encourages these meetings to continue. To 

aid the Committee in its oversight function, the Bureau shall update the Committee quarterly on the status of implementing GAO 

recommendations regarding the 2020 Census. 

To help ensure the Census Bureau is on track to make and execute key decisions, deliver necessary IT systems, and manage risks, 

by September 30, 2017 the Census Bureau shall provide the Committee and GAO with: 

—A list of all operations and IT systems, functionality, or infrastructure still being considered for the 2020 Census; 

—A list of all operations and IT systems, functionality, or infrastructure being considered for the 2020 Census that will not 

be in the 2018 end-to-end test, as well as the current estimates 

of when they will be operationally tested, if at all; 

—A list of all operations and IT systems, functionality, or infrastructure where it is known that what or how it is being 

tested in the 2018 end-to-end test differs from what or how it 

will be used for the 2020 Census; 

—Plans to manage and mitigate each ‘‘red’’ program-level 

risk identified for either the 2020 Census or Census Enterprise 

Data Collection and Processing (CEDCaP) programs; 

—A spend plan for the 2018 end-to-end test, including quarter-by-quarter expected obligations; and 

—An updated life-cycle cost estimate for the 2020 Census. 

American Community Survey (ACS).—The Committee is very 

concerned about the burdensome nature of the ACS and directs 

Census to focus on its core, constitutionally mandated decennial 

Census activities. The Bureau shall continue to provide quarterly 

briefings to the Committee on efforts to ensure the necessity of all 

the questions on the ACS; on efforts to ensure that non-response 

follow-up is conducted in the least intrusive manner; and on congressional outreach conducted by the Respondent Advocate. 

2020 Census lifecycle cost.—The Committee is concerned that the 

Bureau’s lifecycle cost estimate for the 2020 Census did not reflect 

cost estimation best practices. The Committee understands that no 

guidance or standard methodology was used to account for risks in 

its cost estimate. The Committee also understands that documentation of the assumptions in the estimate is lacking. 

The Committee further understands that the Census Bureau 

does not believe the cost estimate provided in October 2015 reflects 

the current state of the program and that the Bureau plans to submit an updated cost estimate. The Committee directs the Bureau 

to submit this estimate expeditiously, as directed earlier in this 

section, and to ensure that it is accurate. 

CEDCaP.—The Committee supports the Bureau’s efforts to develop a more flexible, automated and secure enterprise architecture 

that will enable Census to realize economies of scale to support 

data collection efforts. The Bureau shall continue to provide quarterly briefings regarding the status of these efforts. Information in 

these briefings shall include, but not be limited to, the current sysVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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tem’s costs to maintain, the surveys supported, FTE associated 

with those systems, and the anticipated date that various IT systems will be retired and data merged onto the larger enterprise architecture. Census shall provide these reports concurrently to the 

OIG and GAO. 

The recommendation also continues bill language withholding 50 

percent of the funds for information technology related to 2020 census delivery, including the CEDCaP program, until the Secretary 

submits to the Committees on Appropriations and the GAO an expenditure plan for CEDCaP. 

Language assistance and data on small population groups.—The 

Committee is concerned about the availability of data on small population groups and the availability of language assistance for respondents to the Census surveys, including those who speak Asian 

languages, Pacific Islander languages, American Indian and Alaska 

Native languages, African languages, Spanish, and other languages. The Committee awaits a report directed in fiscal year 2017 

identifying the languages spoken by respondent populations most 

in need of language assistance, along with the availability of interviewers and materials for persons speaking these languages, and 

the steps the Bureau will take to reach these respondents and otherwise ensure the availability and accuracy of data for small population groups. The Bureau is directed to communicate this information on a regular basis to Census Telephone Centers and regional 

offices to address emerging needs. 

The Committee also directs Census to increase outreach activities to historically undercounted communities, including colonias. 

Puerto Rico and U.S. territories.—The Committee strongly urges 

the Census Bureau to include all citizens of the United States, including those in Puerto Rico and other offshore jurisdictions, in its 

estimates of U.S. resident population and other national statistics. 

The Committee also directs the Census Bureau to submit a report, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, on the 

feasibility of expanding all decennial Census surveys to Guam, 

American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Data-linkage infrastructure.—The Committee strongly supports 

the Census Bureau’s commitment to strengthening its data-linkage 

infrastructure to support high quality program evaluation on issues 

of importance to Federal, State, and local governments. The Committee encourages the Census Bureau to forge partnerships with 

research institutions and philanthropic organizations that can help 

develop and institutionalize more efficient processes for researchers 

to access and analyze linked data while protecting individual privacy. 

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $30,000,000 for the salaries and expenses of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is $2,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 

and $6,000,000 below the request. 

10 

Domestic and International Policies ................................................. $7,900,000 

Spectrum Management ...................................................................... $7,100,000 

Advanced Communications Research ............................................... $6,000,000 

Broadband Programs .......................................................................... $9,000,000 

Rural Broadband.—The Committee directs NTIA to continue coordinating with the Rural Utilities Service, the Federal Communications Commission, and other related Federal agencies to ensure 

that policies tied to one Federal program do not undermine the objectives and functionality of another. The Committee encourages 

NTIA to continue working with the rural communications industry 

to identify and pursue ways to continue broadband deployment and 

adoption. 

Outcome-Based Measures.—The Committee directs NTIA to include outcome-based goals and performance measures for its 

broadband adoption and availability work in its performance plan 

as soon as practicable. 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends $3,500,000,000 for the United 

States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), the full amount of fiscal year 2018 fee collections estimated by the Congressional Budget 

Office. This estimate is $270,000,000 above fiscal year 2017 collection estimates. The recommendation continues language making 

available any excess fee collections above the estimated level and 

the amounts appropriated in this Act. PTO shall provide monthly 

reports on its actual and projected fee collections and performance. 

PTO shall also provide additional operations reporting to the Committee on a quarterly basis, including data on application volumes 

and staffing status. 

Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund.—The recommendation 

includes bill language regarding excess fees deposited in the Patent 

and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund. The Committee reminds PTO 

that prior to obligating any of the funds in the Reserve Fund during fiscal year 2018, PTO shall submit to the Committee a reprogramming notification with a detailed spending plan describing 

the intended uses of funds. The Committee expects that any such 

reprogramming will describe how the expenditure of these reserve 

funds will improve patent quality, reduce the backlog of pending 

applications and appeals, improve the information technology infrastructure, or otherwise improve the efficiency and effectiveness of 

PTO. 

Patents End-2-End (PE2E).—PTO shall continue to provide quarterly reports to the Committee on the status of this information 

technology project, including the proposed retirement of legacy systems, cost savings associated with those retirements, and any efficiencies achieved in patent processing as a result of these investments. 

Addressing management failures.—While the Committee is encouraged by the PTO’s response to the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG’s) report, ‘‘Analysis of Patent Examiners’ Time and Attendance’’, the Committee remains concerned about PTO time and 

attendance abuses. The Committee expects to be kept informed of 

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PTO’s efforts to address outstanding OIG, GAO and National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) recommendations with quarterly reports. 

Patent quality.—The Committee looks forward to receiving the 

fiscal year 2017 required report on patent quality and notes that 

the fiscal year 2016 report on patent quality has yet to be submitted. Within 90 days of enactment of this Act, PTO shall submit 

an updated report to the Committee on the implementation of its 

patent quality initiative, steps taken to improve patent quality in 

fiscal year 2017, and planned actions for fiscal year 2018. 

Intellectual Property Attache ́s.—The Committee supports the important work of the Intellectual Property Attache ́ Program. 

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

The Committee recommends $865,000,000 for NIST, which is 

$87,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and $140,000,000 above the request. 

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends $660,000,000 for NIST’s scientific 

and technical programs, which is $30,000,000 below fiscal year 

2017 and $60,000,000 above the request. 

Laboratory programs.—The recommendation includes 

$599,000,000 for NIST Laboratory programs. The recommendation 

does not adopt the proposed reductions for: Advanced Networks, 

Connected Systems, and Data Science; Advanced Materials Manufacturing; Semiconductor and Microelectronic Measurements; Time 

and Fundamental Measurement Dissemination; Resilience and 

Structural Engineering; Biological Science and Health Measurements; Quantum Science; and User Facilities. 

Corporate services.—The recommendation includes $12,250,000 

for corporate services. 

Standards Coordination and Special Programs.—The recommendation includes $48,750,000 for standards coordination and 

special programs. The recommendation does not adopt the proposed 

reduction to Office of Special Programs Management and Program 

Coordination. Other requested reductions and terminations are 

adopted, including those requested for Urban Dome and Lab-toMarket. 

Disaster resiliency.—As part of its efforts to improve the resiliency of buildings, NIST’s Engineering Division is encouraged to 

partner with academic research institutions that have expertise in 

mitigating the effects of natural disasters to study and recommend 

best practices for resilient planning and construction. The Committee also urges NIST to study building standards and develop 

recommendations on how building standards for buildings, homes, 

and infrastructure could be improved (e.g. fortified structures and 

durability of materials) to enhance resiliency. 

Textile research.—The Committee recognizes the importance of 

the U.S. textile industry and encourages NIST to pursue advanced 

textile and apparel research and manufacturing activities. 

Football helmet safety.—The Committee is aware of scientific 

data that demonstrates a correlation between football-related colliVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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sions and concussions and other traumatic brain injuries that can 

lead to debilitating neural diseases such as dementia and chronic 

traumatic encephalopathy. The Committee encourages NIST to investigate an effective national testing standard to better determine 

scientifically the inadequacies of football helmets while exploring 

future product designs that can safely reduce the neural risk of 

playing football. A number of academic institutions have substantial capabilities and knowledge of these issues, and NIST should 

work cooperatively with the academic community to examine advanced helmets and equipment and in developing new testing 

standards to ensure player safety. 

Internet of Things (IoT) security.—The Committee is aware of the 

very real threat that vulnerabilities in IoT devices pose for individuals, business and government alike. The Committee encourages 

NIST to develop an IoT cybersecurity research initiative and partner, as appropriate, with academic entities and industry to address 

vulnerabilities of IoT devices. The initiative should seek to improve 

the sustainable security of IoT devices in consumer and industrial 

settings. It should account for human, technical and economic dimensions. 

The Committee also recognizes the importance of United States 

leadership in addressing security concerns for users and data within the IoT and commends NIST for its ongoing work in this area. 

In conjunction with this and other ongoing efforts related to cybersecurity, the Committee encourages NIST to continue strengthening its cybersecurity measurement science and standard-setting 

efforts related to the IoT, including, but not limited to, industryled best practices such as flexible connection points and network 

segmentation. 

Examining the 2013 NIST Cybersecurity Framework.—The Committee is aware of concerns about the lack of data supporting the 

effectiveness of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework implemented 

by Executive Order 13636 in 2013. The Committee supports the development of a model to evaluate the effectiveness of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and believes that such research could be 

used to identify cost-savings generated by implementation of the 

framework and incentivize businesses to voluntarily implement its 

recommendations. 

Nano-structured metals.—The Committee is aware that the use 

of nano-structured metals in manufacturing is being explored with 

increasing frequency. The Committee is aware of concerns that the 

current regulatory framework, focused on process based standards, 

restricts the introduction of these new materials even if they demonstrate significantly better performance. Therefore, the Committee 

directs NIST to review the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Interlaboratory Study (ILS) Program and conduct a 

study as to how the ASTM ILS Program could be used as a framework to develop statistically rigorous performance standards for 

nano-structured metals to be approved for use and report back to 

the Committee by April 1, 2018. 

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

The Committee recommends $105,000,000 for Industrial Technology Services, which is $48,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and 

$84,000,000 above the request. This amount includes $100,000,000 

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for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and 

$5,000,000 for the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. 

Program efficiencies.—The Committee is aware of efforts by MEP 

to examine ways to reduce administrative costs and provide more 

direct assistance to the centers. Accordingly, MEP shall provide to 

the Committee an updated report within 60 days of enactment of 

this Act detailing the amount of funds to be maintained at headquarters and the uses of those funds. NIST shall also provide the 

Committee with updates on the status of recompetition of the centers. 

CONSTRUCTION OF RESEARCH FACILITIES

The Committee recommends $100,000,000 for NIST construction, 

which is $9,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and $4,000,000 below 

the request. NIST shall continue to provide updates on the projects 

funded within this account, to include milestones and total amount 

of funding necessary for completion. 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

The Committee recommends a total of $4,965,659,000 in discretionary funds for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

Information technology security.—The Committee is concerned by 

the number of high-risk information technology vulnerabilities at 

NOAA. NOAA shall, within 180 days of enactment of this Act, report to the Committee on progress made in retiring high-risk 

vulnerabilities and plans to continue to improve information technology security. The Committee does not adopt the proposed reduction to IT security. 

NOAA Environmental Security Computing Center.—The Committee supports the NOAA Environmental Security Computing 

Center and expects it to be adequately funded within the amounts 

provided. 

Partnering with the private sector.—NOAA shall, to the extent 

practicable, purchase services from the private sector when such 

services are cost effective, reliable, and available. 

Extramural research.—The Committee continues to believe that 

NOAA benefits from collaboration with academia and the private 

sector through cooperative institutes and competitive research. 

These relationships build broad community engagement, leverage 

external funding for mission-oriented research, strengthen the 

science within NOAA, and advance scientific knowledge. 

Regional biosecurity plan for Micronesia and Hawaii.—The Committee looks forward to receiving the report required in the fiscal 

year 2017 appropriations Act, and requires an update on the actions planned to be taken in fiscal year 2018. 

Aquaculture.—Of the funds provided for aquaculture, the Committee includes up to $5,000,000 to improve shellfish survival and 

growth rates and to classify and preserve the natural genetic variation of shellfish. This work may be conducted in partnership with 

research institutes across the United States. 

Satellites.—Given the substantial cost to design, develop, and 

launch satellites and continued reliance on the data they gather, 

14 

NOAA shall ensure that all future satellite programs are maneuverable, and otherwise serviceable. 

OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends a total program level of $3,411,699,000 under this account for the coastal, fisheries, marine, 

weather, satellite, and other programs of NOAA. This total funding 

level includes $3,240,199,000 in direct appropriations, a transfer of 

$144,000,000 from balances in the ‘‘Promote and Develop Fishery 

Products and Research Pertaining to American Fisheries’’ account 

and $27,500,000 derived from recoveries of prior year obligations. 

The direct appropriation of $3,240,199,000 is $127,676,000 below 

fiscal year 2017 and $274,650,000 above the request. 

The following narrative descriptions and tables identify the specific activities and funding levels included in this Act. 

National Ocean Service.—The recommendation provides $462,646,000 for National Ocean Service, operations, research, and 

facilities. 

NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning .............................................................................................. $145,446 

Integrated Ocean Observing System Regional Observations .................................................................. 31,000

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

Navigation, Observations and Positioning ....................................................................................................... 201,446 

Coastal Science and Assessment 

Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and Restoration ..................................................................... 70,000 

Competitive External Research ................................................................................................................ 5,000 

Coastal Science and Assessment ..................................................................................................................... 75,000 

Ocean and Coastal Management and Services 

Coastal Zone Management and Services ................................................................................................ 39,600 

Coastal Zone Management Grants .......................................................................................................... 45,000 

Coral Reef Program ................................................................................................................................. 26,100 

Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas ................................................................................................ 52,000 

National Estuarine Research Reserve System ........................................................................................ 23,500 

Ocean and Coastal Management and Services ............................................................................................... 186,200 

Total, National Ocean Service, Operations, Research, and Facilities ............................................................. $462,646 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning.—The recommendation 

provides $201,446,000 for Navigation, Observations and Positioning. Within this amount, the Committee expects NOAA to 

prioritize its mission-critical responsibilities including mapping and 

charting, geodesy, tides, and current data activities. The Committee does not adopt the proposed termination of the Regional 

Geospatial Modeling Grant program or the proposed decrease for 

Hydrographic Research and Technology Development. 

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).—The recommendation includes $31,000,000 for IOOS regional observations. The 

15 

Committee supports ongoing efforts to examine ways to increase 

use of autonomous gliders, and encourages IOOS to procure additional autonomous gliders. 

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).—The Committee remains concerned about the continued prevalence of HABs and the effect of 

the related toxins. The Committee supports the ongoing work of 

the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science on HABs and encourages NOAA to prioritize research that strives to determine and 

mitigate the impact of HABs on human health and wellbeing as 

authorized by the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and 

Control Act. The Committee encourages NOAA to develop and leverage promising technologies to increase our understanding, monitoring, and prediction of the occurrence of HABs. 

Sanctuaries.—NOAA shall seek to competitively award not less than $3,500,000 for tele-presence technology to explore and create 

maps of the deep-water regions of the National Marine Sanctuaries. This research should seek to explore the oceanography, 

marine habitats, cultural sites and living and non-living marine resources of these sanctuaries to better understand their biology, geology and potential cultural resources. 

National Estuarine Research Reserves System (NERRS).—The 

Committee does not adopt the proposal to terminate the Federal 

funding of the NERRS and funds it at the enacted level. The 

NERRS is an important partnership between NOAA and the coastal States that is crucial for protecting and studying estuarine systems. 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).—The Committee recommends $848,025,000 for National Marine Fisheries Service operations, research, and facilities. The Committee does not adopt the 

proposed reductions to the National Catch Share Program. 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Protected Resources Science and Management 

Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles and Other Species ................................................................................. $108,500 

Species Recovery Grants .......................................................................................................................... 5,989 

Atlantic Salmon ....................................................................................................................................... 6,224 

Pacific Salmon ......................................................................................................................................... 63,000 

Protected Resources Science and Management ............................................................................................... 183,713 

Fisheries Science and Management 

Fisheries and Ecosystem Science Programs and Services ..................................................................... 141,323 

Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys and Assessments ........................................................................... 163,000 

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

Fisheries Management Programs and Services ...................................................................................... 117,000 

Aquaculture .............................................................................................................................................. 8,000 

Salmon Management Activities ............................................................................................................... 34,000 

Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions ...................................................................................... 34,000 

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

Fisheries Science and Management ................................................................................................................. 543,978 

Enforcement ...................................................................................................................................................... 69,000 

16 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE—Continued 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Habitat Conservation and Restoration ............................................................................................................. 51,334 

Total, National Marine Fisheries Service, Operations, Research, and Facilities ............................................. $848,025 

Protected Resources Science and Management.—The Committee 

recommends $183,713,000 for Protected Resources Science and 

Management programs. Within available resources, the Committee 

encourages NOAA to maintain marine mammal stranding grants. 

Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans.—Within the funds provided for Pacific Salmon, $5,000,000 is included to implement the 

Service’s comprehensive plan to address the backlog of Hatchery 

and Genetic Management Plans. The Committee remains concerned by the existing and growing backlog of these plans and encourages NOAA to continue contracting with the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, State Agencies, Tribes, and the Hatchery Scientific Review Group, as appropriate, to expedite approval. 

Stock assessments.—The Committee recognizes that NOAA fisheries stock assessments are the cornerstone of fishery conservation 

and management measurements, but the current stock assessment 

data inputs must be improved. The Committee continues to provide 

significant funding to NOAA for fishery surveys and other activities in support of stock assessments, yet problems persist with the 

frequency of surveys, adequacy of the data, and the use of independent research in developing stock assessments. NOAA shall 

continue to provide quarterly briefings to the Committee on its 

stock assessment program, to include, but not be limited to: its 

process for determining its yearly data collection efforts; specific 

costs for each survey; and protocols for ingesting fishery independent data. 

Gulf of Mexico stock assessments.—The Committee commends the 

Department and the Gulf States for, together, lengthening the Red 

Snapper season for recreational anglers across the Gulf. There is 

still, however, a need for improved data and a long-term management plan for Red Snapper. Within the amount provided for Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys and Assessments, $10,000,000 is 

provided to continue to improve the science and management of 

Red Snapper. This funding shall support ongoing efforts and competitive awards to continue to develop and implement agency-independent data, which shall be incorporated into NOAA stock assessments as expeditiously as possible. NMFS shall continue its effort 

to rebaseline and restructure its stock assessment analysis and to 

include all reef structures, both natural and artificial, in this effort. 

NMFS shall also quantify the level of Gulf Red Snapper data derived from artificial platforms and report back to the Committee 

not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act. Agency-independent data efforts may include data from academia and fishermen, including fishery data collected on artificial reefs, offshore oil 

platforms and other offshore fixed energy exploration infrastructure. Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, 

NOAA shall report to the Committee on its proposal for how this 

17 

funding will be spent, and progress made from reef fish funding 

provided in previous years. NMFS is directed to continue to improve its communications with stakeholders. 

Cobia.—The Committee recognizes that Cobia is an important 

recreational fishery and is concerned by the impacts on communities of the Federal closure of the Atlantic Cobia fishery. The 

Committee encourages NOAA to complete a stock assessment of 

this fishery as soon as possible. The Committee believes that stock 

data, assessment, and peer review workshops should consider peerreviewed research along with State-provided catch data. 

Fish Information Networks.—The Committee supports the Fish 

Information Networks, the State-Federal cooperative programs that 

coordinate data collection, data management, and informational 

management essential for accurate monitoring of commercial and 

recreational fishing impacts. Fish Information Networks shall be 

adequately funded within the level of funding provided for Fisheries Data, Collections, Surveys and Assessments. 

Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program 

(SEAMAP).—SEAMAP is designed to collect, manage, and disseminate fishery-independent data in the southeastern U.S. to better inform management decisions. The Committee supports SEAMAP, 

and encourages NOAA to ensure it has adequate resources to complete its mission. 

Highly Migratory Species.—The Committee encourages NOAA to 

competitively award studies of highly migratory fish species in the 

Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. These species could greatly benefit 

from improved, science-based management and conservation. 

Horseshoe crabs.—The Committee remains concerned about the 

inability to estimate the abundance of the Mid-Atlantic horseshoe 

crab population. Adequate data is required to ensure States and 

interstate managers can effectively manage the stock, which is important to the biomedical and commercial fishing industries, as 

well as to the ecology of the Mid-Atlantic region. The Committee 

directs NMFS to continue working to restore the horseshoe crab 

survey to generate the data necessary to ensure that the horseshoe 

crab stock remains on a sustainable path. 

Salmon Management.—Within the amounts provided for Salmon 

Management, $13,000,000 is available for the Pacific Salmon Treaty. 

Cooperative research.—The recommendation funds this activity 

at the enacted level. Cooperative research shall be used to support 

external, independent data collection and other research. The Committee expects that all funding provided shall be used for cooperative fisheries research and not for NOAA activities or administrative overhead costs. NOAA shall submit a report no later than 90 

days after enactment of this Act listing all cooperative research 

grants funded in fiscal year 2017, to include the amount, the fishery, the type of information collected, and the expected uses for 

that data. The Committee is concerned that cooperative research is 

not ingested into fishery stock assessments in a timely manner. 

The report shall address NOAA procedures and timeframes for 

making use of this independent fisheries research. 

Habitat Conservation and Restoration.—Within the amount provided, NOAA is encouraged to provide funding to implement the 

18 

recommendations contained in the Endangered Species Act Recovery Plan for Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals. 

Oyster restoration.—The Committee encourages NOAA to continue to work with competitively selected external partners to research and assess alternative substrates for oyster restoration. 

NOAA shall consider survivability as part of the oyster restoration 

program planning in the Chesapeake Bay. The Committee includes 

not less than $1,000,000 within Habitat Conservation and Restoration to support native oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. 

Partnerships.—The Committee encourages NOAA to continue 

partnering with States for monitoring fisheries harvest and research. NOAA’s cooperative agreements with universities with expertise in marine sciences, fisheries research and management remain important to NOAA and Federal and State stock assessments. 

Tribal support.—The Committee encourages NOAA to support 

mitigation and relocation efforts of coastal tribal communities that 

are seeking to mitigate the threat of severe weather storms and 

promote public safety. 

Fishery Disaster Assistance.—The Committee recognizes the severe economic hardships faced by rural fishing-dependent communities affected by the closures of commercial, recreational and Tribal fisheries due to unforeseen disasters. Therefore, the Committee 

directs NOAA to work with affected communities where an affirmative disaster determination has been issued, but no funding has 

been distributed, to expeditiously identify the extent of the economic impacts of the economic damages associated with such disasters. 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.—The Committee recommendation includes $448,773,000 for Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Research (OAR) operations, research, and facilities. Given continued resource constraints, it is incumbent on NOAA to ensure that 

its research programs support the operational mission of each 

NOAA line office and that research efforts are an integral component in meeting line office program goals and milestones. The recommendation accepts the proposed reductions for Climate Research, and includes $13,500,000 for the National Integrated 

Drought Information System (NIDIS) to support competitive research grants, maintain existing NIDIS activities, and develop and 

expand the Regional Drought Early Warning Information System. 

OFFICE OF OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Climate Research 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes ................................................................................................. $57,657 

Regional Climate Data and Information ................................................................................................. 31,928 

Climate Competitive Research, Sustained Observations and Regional Information ............................. 38,415 

Climate Research .............................................................................................................................................. 128,000 

Weather and Air Chemistry Research 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes ................................................................................................. 83,500 

U.S. Weather Research Program .............................................................................................................. 7,485 

Tornado Severe Storm Research/Phased Array Radar ............................................................................ 12,622 

19 

OFFICE OF OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH—Continued 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Joint Technology Transfer Initiative ......................................................................................................... 20,000 

Weather and Air Chemistry Research ............................................................................................................... 123,607 

Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes ................................................................................................. 28,059 

National Sea Grant College Program ...................................................................................................... 63,000 

Marine Aquaculture Program ................................................................................................................... 7,000 

Ocean Exploration and Research ............................................................................................................. 36,000 

Integrated Ocean Acidification ................................................................................................................ 10,107 

Sustained Ocean Observations and Monitoring ...................................................................................... 41,000 

Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research ...................................................................................................... 185,166 

High Performance Computing Initiatives ......................................................................................................... 12,000 

Total, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Operations, Research, and Facilities .......................... $448,773 

Weather and Air Chemistry Research.—The Committee includes 

$123,607,000, which is $9,849,000 above fiscal year 2017, for 

Weather and Air Chemistry Research, for the purposes authorized 

in the Weather Research Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–25). 

Joint Technology Transfer Initiative.—The recommendation includes $20,000,000 to expand the Joint Technology Transfer Initiative, as authorized in the Weather Research Forecasting Innovation 

Act of 2017. 

Severe weather studies.—The Southeastern United States commonly experiences devastating tornadoes under variables and conditions that differ considerably from conditions in other areas. The 

Committee commends progress made during the VORTEX–SE observing campaigns towards understanding the development of severe storms and tornadoes in the Southeastern United States. 

Given the success of this research, the Committee does not adopt 

the proposal to terminate this project and continues to fund it at 

the enacted level. OAR shall ensure this program continues to be 

an observationally based research program focused on high-impact 

weather events, including tornadoes and land-falling hurricanes, 

that are experienced in the Gulf States; includes research to better 

understand land-falling hurricanes and tornadoes, and how environmental factors that are characteristic of the Southeastern 

United States affect the formation, intensity and storm path of tornadoes for this region. 

Cooperative Institutes.—The Committee is concerned that the 

Gulf of Mexico is vulnerable to high impact severe weather and encourages NOAA to, with the Cooperative Institutes, research the 

impacts of severe weather and severe weather system landfall on 

the land and coasts, particularly as it relates to tornados and severe flooding. To continue to fulfill NOAA’s mission, NOAA should 

enhance its support of advanced monitoring and predictive modeling to explore deep water issues and their effect on the U.S. 

coastline. The Committee encourages NOAA to expand the role CoVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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operative Institutes play in fulfilling this role, and to consider how 

additional Cooperative Institutes, or consortia partners, could 

strengthen NOAA’s ability to support this monitoring and modeling. 

Labs and Cooperative Institutes.—The Committee supports collaboration between NOAA and external academic institutions that 

conduct scientific research for the conservation of corals and coral 

reef ecosystems within U.S. waters. The Committee recognizes that 

the science sponsored through such collaboration is important for 

management of these coral reefs and for the effective implementation of the National Coral Reef Action Strategy, especially with regard to the identification of local action strategies for addressing 

key threats in each of the jurisdictions that have coral reefs within 

its boundaries. 

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).—The Committee encourages NOAA to work with universities and the Department of 

Defense to increase and leverage the capacity of AUVs. The Committee does not adopt the proposed termination of the AUV testbed 

and provides an additional $1,000,000 above the enacted level for 

this purpose. 

Ocean Exploration and Research.—The Committee recommends 

$36,000,000 for Ocean Exploration and Research, of which the 

Committee encourages NOAA to use $4,000,000 to partner with 

non-government organizations, academic institutions, and other 

government agencies including the National Science Foundation, to 

fund ocean-going ships of exploration and support associated 

science through peer-reviewed processes for ocean exploration in 

unknown regions. 

Integrated Ocean Acidification Research.—The Committee encourages NOAA, in coordination with the Office of Science and 

Technology Policy, to implement a program to competitively award 

prizes under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 

1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) to stimulate innovation to advance the understanding, research, or monitoring of ocean acidification or its 

impacts or to develop management or adaptation options for responding to ocean acidification. In prize competitions, the Committee encourages NOAA to prioritize communities, environments, 

or industries that are currently in distress due to the impacts of 

ocean acidification. 

Lionfish.—The Committee encourages NOAA to award competitive grants to address lionfish in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of 

Mexico. 

National Weather Service (NWS).—The Committee recommends 

$973,000,000 for NWS operations, research, and facilities, which is 

$36,944,000 above the request, to maintain critical capabilities to 

provide weather forecasts and warnings. 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Observations ..................................................................................................................................................... $220,000 

Central Processing ............................................................................................................................................ 86,000 

Analyze, Forecast and Support ......................................................................................................................... 486,000 

21 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE—Continued 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Dissemination ................................................................................................................................................... 50,000 

Science and Technology Integration ................................................................................................................. 131,000 

Total, National Weather Service, Operations, Research, and Facilities .......................................................... $973,000 

Observations.—The recommendation includes $220,000,000 for 

observation activities. The Committee does not adopt the proposed 

reduction for the Tsunami Warning Centers, the Mesonet program, 

or the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) 

buoys. 

NEXRAD Coverage Report.—The Committee looks forward to receiving the findings of the NEXRAD gap study, and subsequent improvement plan, as required by the Committee in fiscal year 2017 

and by the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 

2017. 

Analyze, Forecast, and Support.—The recommendation includes 

$486,000,000 for analyze, forecast, and support activities. The analyze, forecast, and support program funds the operation of the 

Weather Forecast Offices, River Forecast Centers, the National 

Centers and the two Tsunami Warning Centers. The recommended 

level will support 24 × 7 weather surveillance, forecast and warning services, and operation of the service centers. The Committee 

does not adopt the proposed reduction of the Tsunami Warning 

Program. 

Science and Technology Integration.—The recommendation includes $131,000,000 for Science and Technology Integration activities. The Committee does not accept the proposed decreases for 

mid-range weather outlooks and numerical weather prediction 

modeling. 

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service 

(NESDIS).—The Committee recommends $236,749,000 for NESDIS 

operations, research, and facilities. The recommendation does not 

accept the proposed reduction to the regional centers. 

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Environmental Satellite Observing Systems 

Satellite and Product Operations ............................................................................................................ $131,480 

NSOF operations ....................................................................................................................................... 14,250 

Office of Satellite and Product Operations ...................................................................................................... 145,730 

Product Development, Readiness and Application ........................................................................................... 31,000 

Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs .................................................................................... 1,800 

Office of Space Commerce ...................................................................................................................... 1,200 

Group on Earth Observations .................................................................................................................. 500 

Environmental Satellite Observing Systems ..................................................................................................... 180,230 

22 

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE—Continued 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

National Centers for Environmental Information ............................................................................................. 56,519 

Total, National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, Operations, Research, and Facilities ................................................................................................................................................................ $236,749 

Office of Satellite and Product Operations.—The recommendation 

includes $145,730,000 for the Office of Satellite and Product Operations. This activity funds the command and control of NOAA’s 

operational satellites. This recommendation includes the proposed 

operational phase transfers for DSCOVR and Jason-3. 

Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA).—The 

Committee expects timely compliance with Title II of the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, Public Law 114–90, as 

well as adherence to timeframes currently required under statute 

and regulation. Additionally, the Committee expects CRSRA to fulfill the policy goal of the 2003 U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing 

Policy of maintaining the nation’s leadership in remote sensing 

space activities, by sustaining and enhancing the U.S. remote sensing industry. 

Mission Support.—The recommendation includes $227,660,000 

for Mission Support operations, research, and facilities. 

MISSION SUPPORT 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Mission Support 

Executive Leadership ............................................................................................................................... $27,000 

Mission Services and Management ......................................................................................................... 117,605 

IT Security ................................................................................................................................................ 10,050 

Payment to DOC Working Capital Fund .................................................................................................. 53,824 

Mission Support ................................................................................................................................................ 208,479 

Office of Education 

BWET Regional Programs ........................................................................................................................ 3,750 

Education Partnership Program/Minority Serving Institutions ................................................................ 14,431 

NOAA Education Program Base ............................................................................................................... 1,000 

Office of Education ........................................................................................................................................... 19,181 

Total, Mission Support, Operations, Research and Facilities .......................................................................... $227,660 

Management and administrative costs.—The Committee notes 

that in addition to Mission Services, each line office also includes 

its own ‘‘headquarters program support’’ costs. NOAA shall continue efforts to standardize the treatment of management and administrative costs in each line office in a manner that maximizes 

transparency and accountability, and reduces or eliminates unnecessary non-mission costs. 

Office of Education.—The Committee includes $19,181,000 for 

NOAA’s Office of Education. Of this amount, $14,431,000 is proVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
23 

vided to continue the Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions, and $3,750,000 is provided to continue 

the Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B–WET) regional programs. Within the amounts provided for the Education Program 

Base, $1,000,000 shall support all levels of Science, Technology, 

Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education engaging a diverse set of students in ocean-going expeditions with live interactive programming and telepresence technology. 

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.—The recommendation 

includes $214,846,000 for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, operations, research and facilities. 

OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS 

Operations, Research, and Facilities 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 

Marine Operations and Maintenance ...................................................................................................... $180,614 

Aviation Operations and Aircraft Services .............................................................................................. 34,232 

Total, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ............................................................................................. $214,846 

Unmanned Surface Vehicles.— The Committee supports the 

cross-NOAA pilots and evaluations of the operational value of unmanned surface vehicles to augment the NOAA observational suite. 

The Committee provides $2,000,000 for NOAA to assess the feasibility of operationalizing this technology through competitive 

awards, and requires a report on the execution of this feasibility 

and pilot study program not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act. 

PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends a total program level of 

$1,656,110,000 in direct obligations under this heading, of which 

$1,643,110,000 is appropriated from the general fund and 

$13,000,000 is derived from recoveries of prior year obligations. 

The following narrative descriptions and tables identify the specific activities and funding levels included in this Act. 

PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

National Ocean Service 

National Estuarine Research Reserve Construction ................................................................................ $1,700 

Marine Sanctuaries Construction ............................................................................................................ 2,000 

Total, National Ocean Service—PAC ................................................................................................................ 3,700 

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 

Research Supercomputing/CCRI ..................................................................................................... 26,000 

National Weather Service 

Observations ................................................................................................................................... 32,953 

Central Processing .......................................................................................................................... 66,761 

24 

PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION—Continued 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Dissemination ................................................................................................................................. 34,619 

Subtotal, National Weather Service, Systems Acquisition ...................................................................... 134,333 

Weather Forecast Office Construction ............................................................................................ 8,650 

Total, National Weather Service—PAC ............................................................................................................. 142,983 

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service 

GOES–R ........................................................................................................................................... 518,532 

Space Weather Follow-on ................................................................................................................ 8,545 

Polar Follow-on ............................................................................................................................... 50,000 

Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) ................................................................................................ 775,777 

CDARS ............................................................................................................................................. 500 

COSMIC 2/GNSS RO ........................................................................................................................ 6,100 

Satellite Ground Services ................................................................................................................ 57,325 

System Architecture and Advanced Planning ................................................................................ 4,929 

Projects, Planning, and Analysis .................................................................................................... 39,391 

Commercial Weather Data Pilot ..................................................................................................... 6,000 

Subtotal, NESDIS Systems Acquisition .................................................................................................... 1,467,099 

Satellite CDA Facility ...................................................................................................................... 2,450 

Total, NESDIS–PAC ............................................................................................................................................ 1,469,549 

Mission Support 

NOAA Construction ................................................................................................................................... 1,000 

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 

Fleet Capital Improvements and Technology Infusion ............................................................................ 12,878 

Total, OMAO–PAC .............................................................................................................................................. 12,878 

Total, Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction .......................................................................................... $1,656,110 

National Weather Service (NWS).—The recommendation includes 

$142,983,000 for NWS procurement, acquisitions and construction, 

$20,983,000 above the request. The funding provided above the request supports the original Automated Surface Observing System 

(ASOS) Service Life Extension Project (SLEP) timeline, to be completed by 2024, and the original NEXRAD SLEP timeline, to be 

completed by 2022. 

NWS Facilities.—The recommendation includes $8,650,000, as 

requested, to construct and provide for major repairs to Forecast 

Offices and other government-owned weather facilities, including 

Weather Forecast Offices, River Forecast Centers, Weather Service 

Offices, National Centers and Tsunami Warning Centers. 

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service.—The recommendation includes $1,469,549,000 for NESDIS 

procurement, acquisition and construction. The Committee recommendation continues to focus its limited resources on the Joint 

Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) programs, in light of their role in ensuring accurate and timely weather forecasts and warnings. 

Quarterly Reports.—The Committee continues to be concerned 

with the challenges with NOAA’s satellite programs, identified by 

the GAO, OIG, and the NESDIS Independent Review Team (IRT). 

25 

The Committee expects the Department of Commerce to ensure 

that these critical programs are proceeding within the cost estimates and meeting program milestones. The Committee expects to 

be notified promptly if any issues arise that could jeopardize the 

current launch schedules. The Department of Commerce and 

NOAA shall remain engaged in the overall management of JPSS, 

Polar Follow-On, and GOES. NOAA shall continue to provide quarterly briefings to the Committee on all NOAA satellite programs. 

These briefings shall include the status of obligations for each program, including spacecraft, launch, sensor, integration, and ground 

components, and proposed changes to the fly out charts. NOAA 

shall also include in these briefings updates on all of its operational 

satellite systems. 

Oversight.—The Committee reiterates its desire to ensure that 

OIG and GAO staff are permitted at NOAA’s monthly satellites 

meetings. To further aid the Committee in its oversight function, 

NOAA shall include biannual updates to the Committee regarding 

the status of implementing OIG, GAO, and IRT recommendations 

for NOAA’s satellite programs. 

Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS).—The recommendation includes $775,777,000 for JPSS, the requested amount. 

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite–R (GOES– 

R).—The recommendation includes $518,532,000 for the GOES–R 

program, as requested. The Committee commends NOAA on the 

successful launch of GOES–16 in November of 2016, which is already providing crisper, cleaner imagery five times faster than the 

previous GOES satellites, and will improve tornado warning lead 

times. 

Space Weather Follow-On.—The Committee notes the necessity 

of having the Federal government develop and implement a coherent space weather architecture and directs NOAA, in cooperation 

with other Federal agencies, to refine the Space Weather FollowOn concept and develop mission requirements for a cost-effective 

capable space system. 

Commercial satellite weather data.—The Committee is pleased 

that NOAA proposes to continue the Commercial Weather Data 

Pilot. The Committee provides $6,000,000 to ensure NOAA has the 

resources necessary to thoroughly assess commercial data opportunities. NOAA shall publish acceptance standards and verification 

procedures for commercial data as soon as practicable in each procurement process. 

Polar Follow-On (PFO).—The request proposes a dramatic and 

incipient re-plan of this program. Yet the request fails to assess the 

purported new mission design’s impacts on constellation availability, or to provide an updated gap analysis, or new annual or 

lifecycle cost estimates. In the absence of these assessments and estimates, the Committee recommends $50,000,000 for the Polar Follow-On program. The Committee will reassess this funding level, 

should NOAA provide a new program plan and schedule, to include 

constellation availability assessments, gap analysis and updated 

annual and lifecycle cost estimates. 

PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY

The Committee recommends $65,000,000 for Pacific Coastal 

Salmon Recovery, which is the same as fiscal year 2017. In addiVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
26 

tion, the accompanying bill includes language that requires all 

funds to be allocated based on scientific and merit principles and 

prohibits the availability of funds for marketing activities. Bill language is included requiring a 33 percent match for States. 

FISHERMEN’S CONTINGENCY FUND

The Committee recommends $350,000 for the Fishermen’s Contingency Fund, which is the same as fiscal year 2017. This Fund 

is available to compensate U.S. commercial fishermen for damage 

or loss caused by obstructions related to oil and gas exploration, 

and is derived from fees collected by the Secretary of the Interior. 

FISHERIES DISASTER ASSISTANCE

The bill provides $20,000,000 for Fisheries Disaster Assistance to 

address fisheries disasters declared by the Secretary of Commerce 

in 2017. This is $20,000,000 above both the requested and the enacted level. 

FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

The Committee recommends language under this heading limiting obligations of direct loans to $24,000,000 for Individual Fishing Quota loans and $100,000,000 for traditional direct loans. 

DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $58,000,000 for Departmental Management, and within this amount supports the proposed increase 

for the Investigations and Threats Management Division. 

Cybersecurity.—The Secretary is directed to submit quarterly reports to the Committee on the Department’s activities to improve 

its cybersecurity including updates on addressing the Inspector 

General’s cybersecurity concerns. 

Modernizing Economic Statistics in Puerto Rico.—The Committee 

urges the Department to continue its efforts to help the government of Puerto Rico to modernize its economic statistics programs, 

and directs the Department, through the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), to initiate efforts to calculate gross domestic product 

(GDP) for Puerto Rico, just as BEA currently does for every other 

U.S. jurisdiction. The Committee additionally urges the Department to work toward the inclusion of all U.S. territories—alongside 

the 50 states and the District of Columbia—in BEA’s national-level 

GDP estimates, which will require the territory-level GDP data to 

meet all of BEA’s quality standards. The Department shall report 

to the Committee on these efforts—both of which were recommended by the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth 

in Puerto Rico—within 90 days of enactment of this Act. 

Interstate Commerce.—The Committee has heard concerns about 

the Electronic Export Information (EEI) requirement located in 15 

CFR Part 30, which mandates reporting for certain goods shipped 

between the States and Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

The Committee urges the Department to work in coordination with 

the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as 

well as other Federal agencies and stakeholders, to identify alterVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
27 

native data sources that provide equivalent statistics on the shipments of goods among the territories and the States to achieve the 

same statistical objectives, while reducing the impact on commerce. 

RENOVATION AND MODERNIZATION

The recommendation includes $1,000,000 for the Department’s 

cost of the Herbert C. Hoover Building renovation and modernization which is $3,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and equal to the request. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Committee recommends $32,744,000 for the Office of Inspector General (OIG), which is equal to fiscal year 2017 and $744,000 

above the request. The recommendation also includes transfers of 

$2,580,000 from the Census Bureau, $1,302,000 from NOAA, and 

$2,000,000 from PTO for OIG oversight of those activities. 

The Committee expects the OIG to continue its oversight work 

on cybersecurity, satellite procurements, telework, patent quality, 

and the decennial census. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends the following general provisions for 

the Department of Commerce: 

Section 101 makes 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 the Department available 

for hire of passenger motor vehicles, for services, and for uniforms 

and allowances as authorized by law. 

Section 103 provides the authority to transfer funds between Department of Commerce appropriation accounts and requires notification to the Committee of certain actions. The Committee expects 

notifications for all capital asset disposals with an initial purchase 

price greater than $2,000,000. 

Section 104 extends congressional notification requirements for 

NOAA satellite programs. 

Section 105 provides for reimbursement for services within Department of Commerce buildings. 

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 the NOAA Administrator with the authority 

to avail NOAA of needed resources, with the consent of those supplying the resources, to carry out responsibilities of any statute administered by NOAA. 

Section 108 prohibits the National Technical Information Service 

from charging for certain activities. 

Section 109 authorizes NOAA to receive payments from other entities to defray some costs of permitting and regulatory activities. 

28 

TITLE II 

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $89,000,000 for Department of Justice, General Administration, Salaries and Expenses, which is 

$25,124,000 below fiscal year 2017 and $25,000,000 below the request. 

Combatting the Opioid and Heroin Epidemic.—The Department 

must give priority to stopping, investigating and detaining the 

criminals who profit from human misery caused by the epidemic in 

opioid and heroin abuse. This includes doctors who knowingly overprescribe, as well as manufacturers and distributors whose negligence or criminality contributes to this scourge. The bill fully 

funds grants at the authorized level under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. The bill also fully funds requested increases for Federal law enforcement to address opioid 

trafficking including increases for Drug Enforcement Administration operations and their diversion control program, Organized 

Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces to dismantle international drug cartels, and U.S. Attorneys to focus additional resources on opioids trafficking prosecutions. 

Spending plans and status of balances.—The Committee directs 

the Department to include with future congressional budgets a 

breakout of alternative, non-appropriated funding sources, as directed in the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations Act, by prior, current 

and budget years; for, respectively, actual, estimated, and requested amounts assumed in the proposed budget; and identifying 

funding by agency, purpose, and source of funding. In addition, annual spending plans required pursuant to section 532 shall include 

the details on non-appropriated funds as specified in the fiscal year 

2017 Appropriations Act. 

Gunshot detection technology.—The Committee is aware of developments in gunshot detection technology and surveillance, and encourages Federal law enforcement agencies and the Office of Justice Programs to work with State and local agencies to collect and 

analyze data from such systems to address gun crimes. 

Cyber-stalking and threat crimes.—The Committee is aware of 

concerns regarding increased instances of severe harassment, stalking, and threats transmitted in interstate commerce in violation of 

Federal law. Such targeted attacks against Internet users, particularly women, have resulted in the release of personal information, 

forced individuals to flee their homes, had a chilling effect on free 

expression, and limited access to economic opportunity. The Committee strongly urges the Department to intensify its efforts to 

combat this destructive abuse and expects to see increased investigation and prosecution of these crimes, and directs it to report 

within 180 days of enactment on specific steps it is taking to track, 

investigate, prosecute and ultimately reduce the incidence of such 

crime, to include an analysis of the role of the interstate telecommunications system in cybercrimes against individuals. 

29 

Conferences.—The Committee understands that OMB Memorandum M–12–12 called for agencies to reduce travel expenses 30 

percent compared to the fiscal year 2010 level, and limit conference 

spending. The Committee expects the Department to minimize conferences and limit conference expenses to those necessary to carry 

out the mission of the Department. The Committee expects the Department to make conference location decisions based on transparency, accountability and best value in the use of appropriated 

funds. 

Female genital mutilation.—The Committee expects the Department to implement provisions of section 1088 of Public Law 112– 

239, regarding female genital mutilation, and directs it to report no 

later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on the status of such 

implementation and resulting enforcement actions. 

Trafficking and transport of children.—The Committee directs 

the Attorney General to ensure that all task forces and working 

groups within the Innocence Lost National Initiative take actions 

to enhance capabilities of State and local law enforcement officers 

to detect, investigate and prosecute those who patronize or solicit 

children for sex; and that all Initiative-funded task forces and Department agencies increase efforts to deter and punish child labor 

trafficking. 

Identity theft.—The Committee remains concerned about the adverse effects of identity theft and related crimes on individuals, 

families, communities and our national economy, and is concerned 

about the level of the Department’s focus on these crimes. The 

Committee therefore directs the Department to undertake as soon 

as possible the strategic review on identity theft and fraud, conducted in cooperation with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 

as directed by the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations Act. In addition, 

the Committee directs the Department, with the FTC, to compile 

a comprehensive, updated report on identity theft and fraud issues, 

including the threats prevalent today, and submit that report at 

the time it submits its fiscal year 2019 budget request. The report 

should also include information on the status of prosecutions, hindrances to prosecuting cases, and any other relevant information 

related to Internal Revenue Service impersonation scams. 

Third-party settlement payments.—The Committee understands a 

multi-year congressional investigation revealed that in some cases 

the former Administration required settling defendants to donate 

money to third-party advocacy or activist groups. These payments 

occur entirely outside of the congressional appropriations and oversight process. Accordingly, section 540 prohibits the Department 

from entering into a civil settlement agreement in which a defendant is required to make a donation to a third-party that is not a 

victim of the defendant’s alleged unlawful activity. For the purposes of section 540, the term ‘‘donation’’ shall not be construed to 

prohibit any payment by a party to provide restitution for or otherwise remedy the actual harm, directly and proximately caused by 

the alleged conduct of the party, which is the basis for the agreement. The prohibition does not bar payments, upon invoice, to an 

organization or individual for services rendered to redress, mitigate 

or otherwise remediate the actual harm directly and proximately 

caused by a defendant’s allegedly unlawful conduct. The Committee 

applauds the policy change set forth in the Attorney General’s June 

30 

5, 2017 memorandum, ‘‘Prohibition on Settlement Payments to 

Third Parties’’. 

Sole sourcing of equipment and scientific instruments.—The Committee urges the Department to employ full and open competition 

in any procurement or upgrade of law enforcement equipment, to 

include scientific instruments and specialized communication 

equipment. 

Operation Choke Point.—The previous Administration’s Operation Choke Point was the subject of investigations by the House 

Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, and Oversight 

and Government Reform. The Committee understands and appreciates that the current Administration has no plans to continue Operation Choke Point. The Committee supports this decision and encourages the Department to work with relevant Federal regulators 

to issue a clear and public statement regarding current policy on 

issues surrounding Operation Choke Point. 

JUSTICE INFORMATION SHARING TECHNOLOGY

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends $30,941,000 for Justice Information 

Sharing Technology, which is $59,000 below fiscal year 2017 and 

the same as the request. The Committee supports the Department’s efforts to enhance its cybersecurity, and has therefore continued to include bill language providing the Department discretion 

and flexibility to transfer available Departmental funds to meet 

needs for IT transformation and cybersecurity, subject to the reprogramming procedures included in this Act. 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends $504,500,000 for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), of which $4,000,000 is from 

immigration examination fees. The recommendation is $64,500,000 

above fiscal year 2017 and $4,093,000 above the request. The recommendation will support a total of 449 Immigration Judge (IJ) 

teams, 65 more than funded in fiscal year 2017, which provided for 

10 additional IJ teams. Funding is provided above the request to 

annualize costs associated with the new teams funded in fiscal year 

2017 and continue enhancements provided in fiscal year 2017 for 

information technology and facilities. The recommendation sustains 

the current legal orientation program and related assistance, such 

as the information desk pilot. The recommendation does not include any funding to establish or fund a legal representation program. 

EOIR performance.—For several years, the Committee has been 

concerned with the slow pace of hiring and onboarding Immigration 

Judges and the unacceptable amount of time it takes to resolve immigration cases. The Committee understands that the Department 

is working to accelerate the hiring process and is deploying additional resources to those areas with the highest workload such as 

the Southwest Border. The Committee directs this continue and 

that the Department coordinate with the Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS) to develop metrics, practices, and pilot programs to 

31 

institute rapid court proceedings at holding facilities along the 

Southwest Border where individuals are detained for immigration 

violations to ensure their court appearance. The Committee continues its direction from fiscal year 2017 that the Department 

should establish a goal that the median days pending of detained 

cases be no longer than 60 days and the median length for nondetained cases be no longer than 365 days. The Committee directs 

EOIR to continue to provide monthly reports on performance, IJ 

hiring and visa overstays as specified in the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations Act. 

Bond-setting process.—In fiscal year 2017, the Committee required EOIR to report how immigration judges use ability to pay 

criteria in determining the amounts of bonds, and the process for 

appealing such bond decisions. The Committee looks forward to the 

timely submission of this report to better understand the policy 

and practices of immigration courts in setting detainee bonds. 

Court space.—The Committee continues to be concerned that 

EOIR is not using all available EOIR or DHS space. The Committee looks forward to the timely submission of the report required by the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations Act outlining the utilization of existing EOIR and DHS space and its plans to secure 

additional space to accommodate additional IJ teams and the assignment of IJ teams to the locations with the most caseload. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Committee recommends $95,583,000 for the Office of Inspector General (OIG), which is the same as fiscal year 2017 and 

$255,000 above the request. 

Profiling.—The Committee continues to hear concerns that Asian 

Americans and Pacific Islanders have been profiled by Department 

of Justice investigators and prosecutors on the basis of race and 

national origin, including in espionage and trade secret cases. The 

Committee expects OIG to assess whether there exists a pattern or 

practice of using race, national origin, and other civil rights classifications to target Federal employees and other Americans; report 

on any allegations of civil rights or civil liberties violations committed by Department employees in its semiannual reports to Congress as required by Section 1001 of the USA PATRIOT Act (Public 

Law 107–56); and if such patterns or practices are found to exist, 

to describe steps the Department has taken to address them. 

Controlled substances.—The Committee directs OIG to report not 

later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on the implementation of GAO recommendations from its May 2015 report, Controlled 

Substances: DEA Needs to Better Manage Its Quota Process and 

Improve Coordination with FDA (GAO–15–494T); specifically the 

recommendations to: establish controls, including periodic data 

checks, to ensure that the Year-End Reporting and Quota Management System (YERS/QMS) data accurately reflect both manufacturers’ quota submissions and DEA’s decisions; establish performance measures related to quotas; and establish better ways to monitor and analyze YERS/QMS data to assess DEA’s administration 

of the quota process. 

32 

UNITED STATES PAROLE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $13,000,000 for the United States 

Parole Commission. 

LEGAL ACTIVITIES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, GENERAL LEGAL ACTIVITIES

The Committee recommends $897,500,000 for General Legal Activities, which is the same as fiscal year 2017. The Committee supports the important work of INTERPOL Washington. 

Human trafficking.—The Civil Rights Division shall prioritize 

funding for the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and the Department’s Anti-Trafficking Coordination Teams to investigate and 

prosecute human traffickers. The Committee directs the Department to work with victim service providers and non-governmental 

organizations assisting trafficking victims in the United States. 

Deinstitutionalization.—The Committee notes the nationwide 

trends towards deinstitutionalization of patients with intellectual 

or developmental disabilities in favor of community-based settings. 

The Committee also notes that in Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), a majority of the Supreme Court held that the Americans with Disabilities 

Act does not condone or require removing individuals from institutional settings when they are unable to handle or benefit from a 

community-based setting, and that Federal law does not require 

the imposition of community-based treatment on patients who do 

not desire it. The Committee notes that the Department of Health 

and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2017 requires notification 

of affected individuals of their legal rights in this regard. 

Civil Rights Division, Voting Section.—The Committee looks forward to receiving the report required in the fiscal year 2017 appropriations Act about Section 203 cases investigated in fiscal year 

2017. When the fiscal year 2019 budget request is submitted, the 

Department of Justice shall submit to the Committee the following 

information about section 203 cases investigated in fiscal year 

2018, including: the number of cases, broken out by languages included; the number of such investigations opened and the number 

closed, by reason closed (e.g. not enough evidence of non-compliance; no evidence of non-compliance); the average number of investigations per attorney and the average length per investigation. 

VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION TRUST FUND

The recommendation includes $10,000,000 as a reimbursement 

from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund for costs of litigating cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 

1986 (Public Law 99–660). 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, ANTITRUST DIVISION

The Committee recommends $163,980,000 for salaries and expenses of the Antitrust Division. The recommended funding level is 

offset by $126,000,000 in estimated fee collections for a net direct 

appropriation of $37,980,000. 

33 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

The Committee recommends $2,057,252,000 for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices, which is $22,252,000 above fiscal year 2017 and the 

same as the request. Within this amount the Department is expected to support enhanced efforts to address drug trafficking, 

cybercrime and human trafficking. The Committee recommendation includes $1,527,297,000 for criminal litigation; $503,388,000 

for civil litigation; and $26,567,000 for legal education. The recommendation fully funds the requested enhancements for immigration enforcement, and for additional prosecutors to target violent 

crime and gang activity. 

Human trafficking.—The recommendation continues bill language requiring that each U.S. Attorney participate in human trafficking task forces, and the Department shall continue to submit 

semiannual reports on the performance of these task forces. 

Prosecuting immigration crime.—The Committee welcomes the 

Department’s adoption of a strong immigration criminal enforcement policy, as set forth in the Attorney General’s April 11, 2017, 

memorandum to Federal prosecutors. Such measures are essential 

to deter illegal entry, in particular by forcefully sanctioning the 

criminal activity associated with illegal immigration, alien smuggling and trafficking. The Committee looks forward to seeing real 

results from this approach, and therefore directs the Department 

to report not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 

Act on (1) prosecuting statistics, by District, to include the number 

and type of charging actions being used, as well as associated sentences imposed; and (2) the status of designating Border Security 

Coordinators and the impact Coordinators are having. 

Prescription drug abuse.—The growing, nationwide crisis of prescription drug abuse has led to rising fatalities, and addressing this 

issue remains a core Federal law enforcement mission. The Committee expects U.S. Attorneys to prioritize investigating and prosecuting criminals who profit from trafficking, to include pain clinics 

that serve as fronts for the illegal distribution of addictive painkillers and doctors who intentionally overprescribe them. 

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement.—The Committee 

expects the Department to continue to make IPR enforcement an 

investigative and prosecutorial priority for Federal prosecutors, to 

include thwarting a new wave of digital copyright piracy. 

Trafficking and money laundering enforcement.—The Committee 

expects the Department to continue to make drug trafficking and 

money laundering enforcement an investigative and prosecutorial 

priority for Federal prosecutors. 

UNITED STATES TRUSTEE SYSTEM FUND

The Committee recommends $225,000,000 for the United States 

Trustee Program. The recommended funding is offset by 

$135,000,000 in estimated fee collections for a net direct appropriation of $90,000,000. 

34 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, FOREIGN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT COMMISSION

The Committee recommends $2,374,000 for the Foreign Claims 

Settlement Commission, which is equal to the current level and 

$35,000 below the request. 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF WITNESSES

The Committee recommends $270,000,000, which is the same as 

fiscal year 2017 and the request, for fees and expenses of witnesses 

who appear on behalf of the Government in cases in which the 

United States is a party. This appropriation is considered mandatory for scorekeeping purposes. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee funds the Community Relations Service at 

$15,000,000. The recommendation supports funding for the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. 

ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND

The Committee recommends $20,514,000 for expenses authorized 

by subparagraphs (B), (F), and (G) of section 524(c)(1) of title 28, 

United States Code. This amount is same as the fiscal year 2017 

and $961,000 below the budget request. 

Section 523 rescinds $304,000,000 from the Assets Forfeiture 

Fund (Fund), as proposed in the budget request. The Department 

reports that Fund balances will be sufficient to allow the Department to rescind $304,000,000 with no delays in equitable sharing 

payments. The Committee directs the Department to refrain from 

suspending or delaying equitable sharing payments in fiscal year 

2018. 

Section 532 of the bill requires the Department to submit a 

spending plan for fiscal year 2018. The Committee directs the Department to include in this plan proposed spending from the Fund, 

to include estimates of: fund balances; equitable sharing payments; 

Joint Law Enforcement Operations obligations; and obligations by 

component. 

UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $1,255,000,000 for the salaries and 

expenses of the United States Marshals Service (USMS), which is 

$5,960,000 above fiscal year 2017 and $3,000,000 above the request. The recommendation fully funds the proposed enhancements 

for life and safety equipment for Deputy U.S. Marshals, additional 

Deputy U.S. Marshals to support enhanced border security and immigration enforcement, and to support the violent crime and gang 

initiatives. The Committee expects the USMS to continue and 

strengthen its fugitive apprehension support aircraft program. 

In addition, within recommended funding the Committee sustains $7,900,000 for the USMS to vet and provide notification of 

sex offenders traveling abroad, to include not less than $2,000,000 

for the USMS Targeting Center to provide a network for States to 

35 

furnish the Center comprehensive data on all registered sex offenders, address information gaps exploited by sex offenders traveling 

internationally, and afford local law enforcement officials real-time 

coordination to monitor sex offenders. 

The Committee has provided separate funding recommendations 

by decision unit as follows: 

Judicial and Courthouse Security ..................................................... $428,990,000 

Fugitive Apprehension ....................................................................... 482,423,000 

Prisoner Security and Transportation .............................................. 232,121,000 

Protection of Witnesses ...................................................................... 55,539,000 

Tactical Operations ............................................................................ 55,927,000 

Total, Salaries and Expenses ..................................................... $1,255,000,000 

CONSTRUCTION

The Committee recommends $10,000,000, which is the same as 

fiscal year 2017, for construction and related expenses in space controlled, occupied or used by USMS for prisoner holding and related 

support. 

FEDERAL PRISONER DETENTION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends $1,536,000,000 for Federal Prisoner 

Detention, which is $81,586,000 above fiscal year 2017 and the 

same as the request. The increase in funding is required to ensure 

the USMS can fully support anticipated housing, medical, and 

transportation cost increases of the USMS detainee population. 

With increased resources being dedicated to immigration violations 

and violent crimes, the detainee population is anticipated to increase. 

NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends $100,000,000 for the National Security Division (NSD), which is $4,000,000 above fiscal year 2017. 

This amount will help NSD address its growing national security 

and counterterrorism workload, including its Foreign Intelligence 

Surveillance Act responsibilities. 

INTERAGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT

INTERAGENCY CRIME AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT

The Committee recommends $526,000,000 for Interagency Crime 

and Drug Enforcement, which is $9,000,000 above fiscal year 2017 

and the same as the request. Funds are included under this heading to support interagency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement 

Task Forces (OCDETF), which target high-level drug trafficking organizations through coordinated, multi-jurisdictional investigations. 

Decision unit subtotals.—The recommendation includes 

$364,685,000 for investigations and $161,315,000 for prosecutions. 

The Committee expects OCDETF to enhance its investigative, inVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
36 

telligence and prosecutorial efforts through OCDETF-led activities, 

including the OCDETF Fusion Center, OCDETF Co-located Strike 

Forces and the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center, and direct collaboration with State and local law 

enforcement, United States Attorneys’ offices and the Criminal Division. The Committee expects OCDETF to focus additional resources on combatting opioid trafficking organizations. 

Full-Time Equivalents (FTE).—The Committee directs the Department to submit with its fiscal year 2019 budget request an updated report on FTE devoted to OCDETF cases at the level of detail provided in its September 9, 2015, report to the Committee. 

The report should include actual and projected investigative and 

prosecutorial FTE devoted to OCDETF cases for fiscal years 2017– 

2019, broken out by agency and funding source. 

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $8,814,747,000 for the salaries and 

expenses account of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 

which is $47,546,000 above fiscal year 2017 and $92,165,000 above 

the request. The increase reflects funding necessary to carry out 

FBI’s critical missions to counter terrorism, protect national security, and meet cyber threats. These include supporting work on the 

Next Generation Cyber program, IT Infrastructure, training and 

new technology challenges; confronting threats from foreign intelligence and insiders; addressing capacity constraints in data sharing that have impacts on the FBI’s ability to timely share vast 

quantities of forensic and other data; helping the FBI stop computer intrusions, investigate cybercrime, and improve cybersecurity; and ensuring it can carry out its render safe mission. 

The Committee recommendation is also intended to help ensure 

the FBI can meet the growing challenge from both home-grown and 

‘‘foreign fighters’’ and sustain growing workload for field operations, to include the need for physical surveillance. The Committee recommendation includes funding to enhance operational 

and information technology resources to address transnational organized crime. 

Finally, the recommendation supports the programs of the Criminal Justice Information Services Division, including but not limited 

to the Biometric Technology Center, Next Generation Identification, the National Crime Information Center, and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. 

The Committee directs the FBI to allocate its agent and support 

staff based on unique threats and workload of each of the FBI’s 

field offices to ensure that resources are effectively deployed to address the agency’s highest priorities. 

The Committee has provided separate funding recommendations 

by decision unit as follows: 

Intelligence .......................................................................................... $1,699,000,000 

Counterintelligence and National Security ...................................... 3,565,000,000 

Criminal Enterprise and Federal Crimes ......................................... 3,019,000,000 

Criminal Justice Services .................................................................. 531,747,000 

Total, Salaries and Expenses ..................................................... $8,814,747,000 

37 

Human trafficking investigations.—The additional resources in 

the bill will help the FBI combat sex trafficking and forced labor, 

to include boosting criminal investigations and working with victims of such crimes. The Committee supports FBI engagement with 

victim service providers on victim referrals and assistance, and 

with the Department of Homeland Security; improvements in FBI 

agent training in the identification of human trafficking; and the 

use of evidence-based approaches to improve human trafficking victim services and outcomes. The Committee strongly supports FBI 

leadership in its Innocence Lost initiative, to include Operation 

Cross Country, which has helped recover underage trafficking victims and led to hundreds of trafficker arrests. The Committee expects the FBI to identify potential victims of human sex trafficking 

and forced labor early in any FBI or FBI-led investigations, to provide informational materials and victim assistance referral as 

quickly as possible, and to improve its use of forensic interviews of 

victims. The FBI shall submit as soon as possible the report on Operation Cross Country required by the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations Act. 

Aviation modernization.—The Committee directs the FBI to provide as soon as possible the briefing on its aviation modernization 

program required by the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations Act. 

Integrated medical support for tactical operations.—The Committee understands that FBI tactical teams operating under the 

Critical Incident Response Group need to follow best practices for 

medical care, evacuation, training and contingency planning. The 

Committee directs the FBI to report not later than 90 days after 

enactment of this Act on whether it might benefit from possible collaboration with public academic medical centers. This report should 

also address ways in which such potential collaboration could both 

enhance FBI operations and develop best practices that could be 

shared with other Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies. 

Fingerprinting technology.—The Committee encourages the FBI 

to complete its process for inclusion of contactless fingerprint technology in the FBI Certified Products List for enrollment in the 

Criminal Justice Information Services database. 

National Domestic Communications Assistance Center 

(NDCAC).—The Committee supports continued funding for the 

NDCAC. The NDCAC is a hub for technical knowledge management, facilitating the sharing of solutions and know-how among 

law enforcement agencies, and strengthening law enforcement’s relationships with the communications industry. 

Intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement.—The Committee is 

aware that sophisticated, often transnational, criminal enterprises 

engage in a range of illegal activity connected to the theft of copyrighted content, and that computers can be infected by malware 

transmitted to consumers from content theft sites. Such malware 

in turn can result in theft of bank and credit card information, 

identity theft, and ransom activities. The Committee expects the 

FBI to prioritize the investigation of IPR cases, and coordinate with 

IPR units at the U.S. Attorneys and the Criminal Division. In addition, the FBI shall report not later than 120 days after enactment 

of this Act on its IPR investigation activities, particularly in the 

area of creative content theft. 

38 

Gang activity.—The Committee remains concerned about the rise 

in gang activity across the country. According to the National Gang 

Center, between 1996 and 2003, the nation saw a roughly 35 percent decrease in the overall number of gangs. But between 2003 

and 2012, the date of the most recent statistics from the NGC, 

those successes had been completely lost. Certain transnational 

criminal organizations, including Mara Salvatrucha, or MS–13, 

have been resurgent in recent years after a brief lull in criminal 

activity, and have expanded operations in various areas in the 

country ranging from California to Georgia, and from Virginia to 

New York. The Committee has funded fully the Administration’s 

requests to address violent crime, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations, to include funding a new violent and gun-related 

crime reduction task force and 230 new violent crime prosecutors. 

The Committee directs the FBI to continue to expand its task force 

activity, as well as its partnerships with State, local, and tribal law 

enforcement organizations, in order to undermine these organizations and reverse the criminal trends associated with their resurgence. 

Canine detection assets.—The Committee recognizes that the FBI 

has made substantial investments in deterring, detecting, and defeating terrorist or state-sponsored WMD threats in the U.S. The 

Committee has noted recent FBI and academic research that canine detection assets can assist in locating certain chemical and biological agents with greater mobility and accuracy than some currently deployed devices. The Committee supports further exploration of this unique capability. 

CONSTRUCTION

The Committee recommends $51,895,000, as requested, for the 

construction of FBI facilities and related activities. Funding in this 

account will facilitate and expedite work on current design and 

construction projects at Quantico, and secure work environment 

(SWE) building and modifications. 

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends total budget authority of 

$2,583,625,000 for Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) salaries and expenses, of which $419,574,000 is derived from fees deposited in the Diversion Control Fund, and $2,164,051,000 is provided by direct appropriation. The recommended appropriation is 

$61,075,000 above fiscal year 2017 and equal to the request. 

The Committee has provided separate funding recommendations 

by decision unit for salaries and expenses as follows: 

International Enforcement ................................................................ $470,514,000 

Domestic Enforcement ....................................................................... 1,689,922,000 

State and Local Assistance ................................................................ 3,615,000 

Total, Salaries and Expenses ..................................................... $2,164,051,000 

Diversion control.—The recommendation includes $419,574,000 

for the regulatory and enforcement activities of DEA’s Diversion 

Control Program. The Diversion Control Program is funded by fee 

collections. The recommendation provides a $36,912,000 increase to 

39 

enhance diversion control programs. This funding will support additional diversion investigators and tactical diversion squads; increase the number of drug take back efforts; expand training and 

outreach with partners and enhance enforcement and analysis of 

new synthetic substances. It will also create a pilot program to hire 

10 new Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to provide criminal and 

civil diversion prosecutorial support in ‘‘hot spots’’ across the country that experience the most significant opioid drug threats. 

Methamphetamine lab cleanup.—The funding recommendation 

for Community Oriented Policing Services includes $11,000,000 for 

transfer to DEA to assist State, local and tribal law enforcement 

agencies with the removal and disposal of hazardous materials at 

methamphetamine labs, including funds for training, technical assistance, purchase of equipment and a container program. 

Prescription drug and heroin abuse.—The Committee continues 

to regard with deep concern the rising harm of prescription drug 

abuse, and crisis levels of heroin abuse and overdoses. DEA reported in its 2016 National Drug Threat Assessment that drug poisoning deaths are at their highest ever recorded level, and since 

2009 annual deaths from drugs have outnumbered deaths by firearms, vehicle crashes, suicide, and homicide. The report also notes 

the continuing rise in smuggling across the borders and the continued role of international, especially Mexican, trafficking cartels in 

moving heroin and other drugs into U.S. communities, as well as 

the growing flow of fentanyl from China and Mexico. The Committee directs DEA to brief the Committee no later than 90 days 

after enactment of this Act on the number of heroin and prescription drug diversion investigations for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, 

and estimated for fiscal year 2018; the amounts and street value 

of drugs associated with such investigations; and prosecutions resulting from investigations. The Committee also encourages DEA 

to work with partner agencies, to include the Department of Health 

and Human Services, on outcome measures of success, such as reduction in the incidence and severity of abuse, which reflect the impact of multi-agency efforts. The recommendation includes requested funding increases of $15,000,000 in salaries and expenses 

for enhancement of heroin enforcement and investigations of 

transnational organized drug criminals, and $36,912,000 in Diversion Control for additional diversion enforcement, training, and 

prosecutors. 

Aviation program.—The DEA Aviation Division supports drug 

interdiction and eradication efforts with Intelligence, Surveillance, 

and Reconnaissance purposed aircraft, as well as fugitive and cargo 

transport aircraft. The Committee understands that more than a 

third of the Division’s fleet is over 25 years old, far beyond the industry standard. As a result, the Division has experienced unplanned maintenance costs, and reduced reliability and availability. 

DEA shall make aviation modernization a priority, and is directed 

to report not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on the 

current status of its aviation fleet, including maintenance costs and 

performance statistics; and current plans for fleet modernization 

and upgrades, to include aircraft and equipment. 

40 

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $1,293,776,000 for the salaries and 

expenses of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which is $35,176,000 above fiscal year 2017 and 

$20,000,000 above the request. ATF’s highest priority shall be to 

combat violent crime and promote public safety. 

The recommendation maintains current services, and fully funds 

the requested increases for violent crime reduction task forces and 

the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). An 

increase of not less than $10,000,000 above the request is for the 

activities of the National Firearms Act (NFA) Branch, Federal Firearms Licensing Center, Federal Explosives Licensing Center, Import Branch, and to develop and implement ATF’s next generation 

eForms system. 

Investigative Support Services.—The Committee is concerned 

about the ongoing backlog in processing firearms licensing applications within the 60 day timeframe as mandated under current statute. In addition, there is a need for additional resources to meet 

ongoing associated infrastructure requirements and improve the 

processing of import applications. The Committee is also concerned 

about ATF’s failure to prioritize improvement of eForms. This electronic filing process was created by ATF to reduce submission and 

processing times, as well as data entry processing backlogs. Unfortunately, despite the Committee’s encouragement to pursue improvements, the system remains antiquated and lacks the kind of 

innovation and user-friendly features expected. The Committee expects this increase in funding will provide additional resources focused on the aforementioned priorities, and directs ATF to report 

to the Committee in the expenditure plan required by this Act on 

how these funds will be allocated. 

NIBIN.—The Committee is encouraged by the promise of improved crime gun intelligence and information sharing, and expects 

funding provided in this bill will aid in interdicting crime guns and 

preventing gun trafficking through the NIBIN. The Committee encourages ATF to establish a NIBIN presence on the Southwest Border. 

Counter-improvised explosives devices.—The Committee supports 

the work of the National Center for Explosives Training and Research on countering advanced improvised explosive devices. 

FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends $7,070,248,000 for salaries and expenses of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), which is $61,448,000 above 

fiscal year 2017. 

Contract confinement.—The Committee views contract confinement as an effective tool to BOP meet low security facility requirements to alleviate overcrowding. The Committee is concerned that 

the Bureau remains crowded in its medium and high security institutions. Additionally, the Committee is concerned that the Bureau 

41 

continues to house low security inmates in more costly environments where cost savings could be realized by using available contract detention capacity. The Committee supports the policy set 

forth in the Attorney General’s February 21, 2017, memorandum 

on the use of private prisons, which acknowledged the importance 

of contract correctional facilities to meet the future needs of the 

Federal correctional system. The fiscal year 2017 Appropriations 

Act requires BOP to review the current classification of all inmates 

in their system and submit to the Committee a capacity realignment plan to ensure that inmates with lower security classifications (both U.S. citizens and criminal aliens) are in the most costeffective facilities. The Committee looks forward to the timely submission of this realignment plan. 

Medication assisted treatment.—The Committee encourages BOP 

to make abstinence-based relapse prevention treatment options 

available to inmates with a history of opioid dependence. 

Personal firearms.—The Committee recognizes the Bureau’s responsibility to control the use of firearms on BOP facilities. At the 

same time, it understands that BOP does not have a policy that 

would ensure officers who are legally authorized to carry a concealed firearm for self-protection can have an on-site, secure gun 

locker, or alternatively, lock weapons securely in their personal vehicles. The Committee encourages the Bureau to review this issue 

and implement a policy that enables officers to secure their personal firearms while on duty in a fashion that preserves security 

on Bureau sites but also facilitates officers’ legal right to keep and 

bear arms. 

HIV policy implementation.—The Committee directs BOP, within 

90 days of enactment of this Act, to submit a report that details 

its current policy for providing comprehensive HIV testing, treatment, and prevention for inmates within the Federal prison system, and an assessment of how it is implementing that policy, to 

include providing for transition of care for HIV/AIDS positive individuals leaving the Federal prison system. 

Mental health.—The Committee recognizes the vastly disproportionate rate of mental and behavioral health needs among the Federal prisoner population and BOP’s responsibility to provide constitutionally adequate care. The Committee supports BOP’s effort 

to implement its policies providing for such care and urges BOP to 

increase human and financial resources dedicated to mental and 

behavioral health programs and services and to report to the Committee not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on how 

these resources were deployed in fiscal year 2017. 

Educational programs.—The Committee supports the Department’s coordination and collaboration with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to provide educational programs for recently 

released and soon to be released criminal offenders to assist them 

in obtaining skills that will help them successfully transition back 

into their communities and reduce recidivism rates. 

Augmentation.—Overcrowding remains a serious threat to officer 

safety, particularly at high and medium security facilities. To meet 

staffing needs, the BOP has used a process called augmentation, 

whereby a non-custody employee is assigned custody responsibilities. The Committee directs the BOP to curtail its overreliance on 

augmentation and utilize full-time correctional staff where possible 

42 

before augmenting with other existing staff. BOP is further directed to submit quarterly reports to the Committee on the inmateto-correctional officer ratios at each facility. 

Contraband communication devices.—The Committee remains 

concerned about the rising use of contraband cellular phones and 

devices in BOP or BOP-contracted facilities. BOP must ensure that 

incarcerated individuals, who use these illicit devices, will no 

longer have access to the networks and spectrum to direct activities 

in or beyond the prison. The Committee directs the BOP to act 

upon the recommendations of its 2016 report on this subject and 

to take steps to thwart illegal inmate telecommunications and help 

protect officers and the public, while not interfering with the rights 

of law-abiding citizens to use the public airwaves. 

Re-entry performance reporting.—The Committee understands 

the difficulty and complexity of tracking inmates who re-offend 

across Federal, State and local jurisdictions to be an obstacle to 

routinely collecting information and conducting studies of such reoffending. Given, however, the availability of today’s integrated information systems and modern data technology, the Committee 

does not see why such challenges cannot be overcome. BOP is directed to report not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act 

on the specific challenges encountered in measuring the effectiveness of all its re-entry programs, and any additional tools or resources needed to comply with the reporting requirements of the 

Second Chance Act. 

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

The Committee recommends $95,000,000 for the construction, acquisition, modernization, maintenance, and repair of prison and detention facilities housing Federal inmates. 

The Committee directs the Bureau to move forward with ongoing 

facilities planning and associated new construction to meet projected capacity requirements as identified in the monthly status of 

construction reports to the Committees on Appropriations. BOP 

shall continue to provide monthly status of construction reports 

and notify the Committee of any changes reflected in those reports. 

LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, FEDERAL PRISON

INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

The Committee recommends a limitation on administrative expenses of $2,700,000 for Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated, 

which is the same as fiscal year 2017. 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

In total, the Committee recommends $2,266,300,000 for State 

and local law enforcement and crime prevention grant programs, 

including $2,174,300,000 in discretionary appropriations. 

Management and administrative expenses.—The Committee encourages grant offices to minimize administrative spending to 

maximize funding for grants or training and technical assistance. 

The Committee also directs the Department to ensure that the 

methodology for assessing management and administration costs is 

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43 

gram. The Committee notes that an across-the-board percentage 

assessment may not be the most appropriate solution. The Committee is aware that, in general, the Department’s grant offices for 

State and Local Law Enforcement Activities have authority to allocate certain expenses administratively to activities that are ancillary to the core purposes of the appropriation (e.g., peer review for 

a competitive program, training and technical assistance, and research and statistical activities). 

Office of Victims of Crime (OVC).—The recommendation provides 

$4,632,000,000 for the Crime Victims Fund. Within available resources, OVC may implement the office’s Vision 21, which seeks to 

bring better technology, planning, research and data into the crime 

victims services field. 

The recommendation includes language in section 510 allowing 

for tribal access to the Crime Victims Fund. The Committee expects the Department of Justice to consult with Indian tribal governments on the distribution of these funds. 

The Committee directs OVC to report to the Committee, not later 

than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, on the actions they 

are taking to ensure Crime Victims Fund resources are reaching 

communities most affected by violence. 

The Committee is aware that hospital-based violence intervention has shown effective results as a strategy in preventing injury 

recidivism for victims of violent injury, and encourages states to 

consider utilizing funding provided through the Crime Victims 

Fund to establish or expand hospital-based intervention programs. 

Tribal assistance.—The recommendation includes a flexible tribal 

set-aside under section 214. The Committee expects the Office of 

Justice Programs (OJP) to continue to consult closely with tribes 

to determine how tribal assistance funds will be allocated among 

grant programs that improve public safety in tribal communities, 

such as grants for detention facilities under section 20109 of subtitle A of title II of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–322), civil and criminal legal assistance as authorized by title I of Public Law 106–559, tribal 

courts, and alcohol and substance abuse reduction assistance programs. The Committee directs OJP to use such consultation to inform the allocation of funds it shall submit as part of its spending 

plan. The Committee notes that the recommendation includes additional grant funding for tribal law enforcement programs through 

the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). 

OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION

PROGRAMS

The Committee recommends $527,000,000 for OVW, which is 

$45,500,000 above fiscal year 2017 and $47,000,000 above the request. The recommendation does not divert funds from the Crime 

Victims Fund to pay for these discretionary programs. The recommendation also funds the victims of trafficking program under 

this heading. Funds are distributed as follows: 

44 

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION PROGRAMS 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

STOP Grants ...................................................................................................................................................... $215,000 

Transitional Housing Assistance ...................................................................................................................... 30,000 

Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women ................................................................................... 3,500 

Consolidated Youth-Oriented Program ............................................................................................................. 11,000 

Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies ................................................................................................................. 53,000 

Homicide Reduction Initiative .................................................................................................................. (4,000 ) 

Sexual Assault Victims Services ....................................................................................................................... 35,000 

Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement ................................................................................. 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 Resource Center on Workplace Responses ........................................................................................ 500 

Research on Violence Against Indian Women .................................................................................................. 1,000 

Indian Country-Sexual Assault Clearinghouse ................................................................................................. 500 

Tribal assistance .............................................................................................................................................. 4,000 

Victims of trafficking ........................................................................................................................................ 45,000 

Rape Survivor Child Custody Act ..................................................................................................................... 1,500 

TOTAL, Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs ................................................ $527,000 

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND STATISTICS

The Committee recommends $83,000,000 for Research, Evaluation and Statistics, which is $6,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and 

$28,000,000 below the request. Funds are distributed as follows: 

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND STATISTICS 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Bureau of Justice Statistics ............................................................................................................................. $44,500 

National Institute of Justice ............................................................................................................................. 38,500 

TOTAL, Research, Evaluation and Statistics ........................................................................................... $83,000 

Human trafficking research.—The Committee acknowledges the 

difficulty in estimating the prevalence of human trafficking, and 

the corresponding difficulty in gauging the effectiveness of the 

criminal justice system’s response to the problem. Research can 

play an invaluable role in understanding prevalence and effectiveness through improved data collection and analysis. The Committee encourages the National Institute of Justice to increase 

funding for research into human trafficking. 

Campus sexual assault.—The Committee supports the Department’s continued development and testing of a pilot campus climate survey. Preliminary results of the pilot suggest the vast majority of campus sexual assaults are not reported to authorities, do 

not come to the attention of university officials and, therefore, are 

not represented in official Federal statistics. The Committee encourages the Department to examine expanding the pilot survey 

and developing a cost-effective, standardized, and methodologically 

rigorous nationwide research program on campus sexual assault. 

45 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE

The Committee recommends $1,143,500,000 for State and Local 

Law Enforcement Assistance programs, which is $115,000,000 

below fiscal year 2017 and $276,000,000 above the request. Funds 

are distributed as follows: 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants ...................................................................................................... $500,000 

Officer Robert Wilson III VALOR Initiative ............................................................................................... (10,000 ) 

Domestic Radicalization Research .......................................................................................................... (4,000 ) 

Juvenile Indigent Defense ........................................................................................................................ (2,000 ) 

NamUS ..................................................................................................................................................... (2,400 ) 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction ................................................................................................. (10,000 ) 

Capital Litigation and Wrongful Conviction Review ............................................................................... (2,500 ) 

Prison Rape Prevention and Prosecution ................................................................................................ (15,500 ) 

White Collar Crime Prevention ................................................................................................................. (10,000 ) 

State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ........................................................................................................ 220,000 

Adam Walsh Act Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 20,000 

Bulletproof Vests Partnerships ......................................................................................................................... 22,500 

National Sex Offender Public Website .............................................................................................................. 1,000 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Initiative .......................................................... 73,000 

DNA Initiative .................................................................................................................................................... 125,000 

Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grants ......................................................................................................... (117,000 ) 

Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grants ........................................................................... (4,000 ) 

Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program Grants ...................................................................................... (4,000 ) 

CASA-Special Advocates ................................................................................................................................... 9,000 

Comprehensive School Safety Initiative ........................................................................................................... 45,000 

Emergency Law Enforcement Assistance ......................................................................................................... 10,000 

Opioid initiative ................................................................................................................................................ 118,000 

Drug Courts .............................................................................................................................................. (43,000 ) 

Veterans Treatment Courts ...................................................................................................................... (7,000 ) 

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment ................................................................................................ (12,000 ) 

Prescription Drug Monitoring ................................................................................................................... (14,000 ) 

Mentally Ill Offender Act .......................................................................................................................... (12,000 ) 

Other Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act activities ................................................................. (30,000 ) 

TOTAL, State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance ............................................................................ $1,143,500 

Opioid abuse.—The recommendation includes $118,000,000 for 

programs to reduce opioid abuse, which is the full amount authorized by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 

(CARA; Public Law 114–198). Within this amount is $43,000,000 

for drug courts; $7,000,000 for veterans treatment courts; 

$12,000,000 for Residential Substance Abuse Treatment; 

$14,000,000 for prescription drug monitoring; $12,000,000 for the 

Mentally Ill Offender Act; and $30,000,000 for other programs authorized by the bill. 

The Committee believes that communities must address opioid 

abuse through comprehensive strategies that incorporate enhanced 

enforcement, education and treatment. The Committee directs OJP 

to work with DEA, the Department of Health and Human Services, 

and the National Institute of Justice to develop, and help communities implement, best practices to address opioid abuse. 

The Committee believes that the Federal response to the opioid 

epidemic will be most effective if resources made available through 

CARA and related programs are directed to strategies that are 

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proaches that will be rigorously evaluated to learn their impact. In 

implementing new and existing programs that address the opioid 

epidemic, the Department is urged to utilize evidence-based policymaking principles, tools, and program designs such as those disseminated by the Evidence-Based Policymaking Collaborative. The 

Committee encourages the Department to collaborate with outside 

researchers and philanthropic organizations that focus on improving the use of rigorous research to inform policy. 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Initiative grants.—The recommendation includes $73,000,000 for 

grants to improve records in NICS. This initiative combines the 

National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) and the 

NICS Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP). The Committee 

directs that the grants made under the broader NCHIP authorities 

be made available only for efforts to improve records added to 

NICS. Additionally, the Department shall prioritize funding under 

NARIP authorities with the goal of making all States NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (NIAA) compliant. The Department also shall apply penalties to noncompliant States to the 

fullest extent of the law. 

The Committee understands that ATF is willing to provide technical assistance to all States seeking to establish programs that 

meet the NIAA requirements for NARIP grants. Even in the absence of funding exclusively for NARIP, the Committee directs the 

Department to continue these efforts. The Committee again urges 

OJP, ATF and FBI to assist States that are not currently eligible 

for NARIP grants in meeting the eligibility requirements. 

The Committee encourages OJP to provide technical assistance 

and training services for current and future NCHIP and NARIP 

grantees. 

The Committee also reiterates existing legal requirements that 

data in the NICS be deleted after a check is completed. 

Gun crime and gang violence.—The recommendation includes 

$10,000,000 for communities working with their local U.S. Attorneys to develop and implement gun crime and gang violence reduction programs. 

Gang violence.—The Committee recognizes the threat posed by 

foreign influenced gangs and the need for coordination among Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies to address this problem. Such gang activity has the potential to overwhelm local law 

enforcement resources in rural areas, particularly in communities 

with populations under 25,000. The Committee urges the Department to prioritize grant funding within existing State and local assistance programs targeted for reducing criminal gang activity in 

rural communities. 

The Committee also notes the effectiveness of regional gang task 

forces in addressing transnational gangs. The Committee urges the 

Department to prioritize grant funding within existing State and 

local assistance programs for reducing criminal gang activity using 

regional gang task forces. 

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program.—The recommendation includes $500,000,000 for the Byrne/ 

JAG program and consolidates the activities of the COPS Hiring 

program into the Byrne/JAG program. Funding under this formula 

program is authorized for law enforcement programs including 

47 

those that promote data interoperability between disparate law enforcement entities; prosecution and court programs; prevention and 

education programs; corrections programs; drug treatment and enforcement programs; planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and crime victim and witness programs, other 

than compensation. Within the amount provided, $4,000,000 is for 

research on domestic radicalization; $10,000,000 is for the Officer 

Robert Wilson III Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement 

and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) Initiative; $2,000,000 is for juvenile indigent defense; $2,400,000 is for 

the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUS); 

$10,000,000 is for competitive and evidence-based programs to reduce gun crime and gang violence; $2,500,000 is for the capital litigation and wrongful conviction review; $15,500,000 is for prison 

rape prevention and prosecution; and $10,000,000 is for white collar crime prevention grants. Excluding carveouts, the recommendation for Byrne/JAG is $109,000,000 above fiscal year 2017 and 

$184,100,000 above the request. 

The Committee is concerned by the impact on law enforcement 

of the growing epidemic of prescription drug and heroin abuse, and 

notes that funds within this account may be utilized for the implementation of medication-assisted treatment to maintain abstinence 

from all opioids and heroin. The Committee notes that Byrne/JAG 

funding can be used for law enforcement purposes, such as the hiring of law enforcement officers, including School Resource Officers 

or other ‘‘non-enforcement’’ officers. The Committee notes that 

Byrne/JAG funding can be used for pursuit technology and training 

to reduce deaths and injuries during high-risk vehicle events. The 

Committee recognizes the importance of de-escalation training and 

cultural sensitivity training and diversity in hiring in local law enforcement to ensure that law enforcement reflects the communities 

they serve. The Committee notes that Byrne/JAG funds may be 

used for these purposes, and encourages the Department to award 

funds for this purpose in Byrne/JAG and the Community Oriented 

Policing Services (COPS) Program. The Committee encourages the 

Byrne/JAG program to provide additional resources to those communities that are taking part in programs that seek to lower homicide rates through data and performance measurement analysis. 

The Committee advises that some Byrne/JAG funds be directed to 

provide newer, more efficient forensics testing tools for rural jurisdictions. The Committee requests additional consideration be given 

to applicants who seek to hire service-connected disabled veterans. 

Veterans.—The Committee is aware of national and State-level 

recruitment efforts to help veterans transition from military service 

to careers in civilian law enforcement. The Committee directs the 

Department to submit a report, not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, on the type of grants and programs that the Department provides to help train and assist veterans who are 

transitioning from military service to civilian law enforcement. 

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).—The Committee supports 

the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) ongoing efforts to improve 

the PREA audit program, in addition to restarting the State grant 

programs in fiscal year 2018. Facility audits are a key component 

in helping agencies move their sexual abuse prevention and response policies from written documents to everyday practices. BJA 

48 

has outlined a meaningful Quality Improvement Initiative and the 

Committee supports the Department providing the necessary resources to carry out this work. 

Officer Robert Wilson III Memorial VALOR Initiative.—The recommendation includes $10,000,000 for the VALOR initiative. The 

recommendation also includes $10,000,000 under the Community 

Oriented Policing Services header for active shooter response. 

State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP).—The recommendation includes $220,000,000 for SCAAP, which is 

$10,000,000 above fiscal year 2017. SCAAP provides grants that reimburse States and localities for the costs incurred in incarcerating 

undocumented criminal aliens. The President’s request proposed to 

terminate this program. 

Competitive grants.—The Committee urges the Department to 

prioritize improving forensic interview training for child abuse investigation and prosecution professionals. 

Forensics and cybercrime training.—The Committee is aware of 

a number of programs surrounding trafficking offenses, sex crimes 

and domestic violence that provide support to State and local law 

enforcement and prosecutors. The Committee encourages OJP to 

increase efforts to provide State and local prosecutors with training, particularly train the trainer, and trial experience in 

cybercrimes and digital evidence. 

The Committee is also encouraged by efforts to expand the ability of academic forensic technology programs to assist the Department in identifying online crime, hate and terror groups. 

DNA initiative.—The recommendation includes $125,000,000 for 

DNA-related and forensic programs and activities, an increase of 

$20,000,000 above the request and the same as the fiscal year 2017 

level. Within the funds provided, the Committee provides 

$4,000,000 each for Post-Conviction DNA Testing grants and Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program grants. The Committee expects that OJP will make funding for DNA analysis and capacity 

enhancement a priority to meet the purposes of the Debbie Smith 

DNA Backlog Grant Program. The Committee directs the Department to submit, as part of its spending plan, a plan for the use of 

all funds appropriated for DNA-related and forensic programs and 

a report on the alignment of appropriated funds with the authorized purposes of the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. 

Victims of trafficking grants.—In the OVW account, the recommendation includes $45,000,000 for human trafficking task force 

activities and for services for victims. These funds may also be used 

to develop, expand and strengthen assistance programs for child 

victims of sex and labor trafficking. The Committee notes that the 

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act established a Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund, which will provide additional resources for 

these programs. The Committee directs DOJ to support the victimcentered approach to recognizing and responding to human trafficking, especially across partnerships between Federal and local 

law enforcement agencies and victim service providers. The Department shall include a planned allocation of these funds in its spending plan. The Committee encourages the Department to increase 

the number of human trafficking task forces funded by this program to at least 40. 

49 

Preventing trafficking of girls.—The Committee encourages the 

Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Juvenile Justice and 

Delinquency Prevention to examine ways to assist nonprofits and 

other nongovernmental entities with a proven track record of administering successful prevention and early intervention programs 

for girls vulnerable to trafficking. 

Pre-trial risk assessment.—The Committee continues its support 

for Bureau of Justice Assistance programs widespread adoption of 

evidence-based screening and assessment tools across the criminal 

justice system and believes further improvements are needed at the 

earliest stage of the process, or the pretrial period, to make the system fairer and less costly. The Committee is encouraged by States’ 

development of Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) models and encourages OJP to examine if funding should be made available for 

grants to assist States in the development and implementation of 

RNR tools for determining pretrial detention, sentencing, probation 

or post-release supervision, prison classification systems, and offender re-entry. 

Immersive training.—The Committee recognizes the significant 

challenges of 21st century policing. The Committee directs the Department to study whether immersive, real-life scenario-based 

training improves law enforcement officer performance, increases 

police safety, and reduces use-of-force incidents, deadly force, and 

citizen complaints, and to report to the Committee not later than 

90 days after enactment of this Act. The Committee encourages the 

Department to use this study to inform the development of 

immersive, scenario-based law enforcement training curricula related to situational awareness and physical and mental responses 

to stress, threats, and crisis. The Committee requests that the Department devise a plan for pilot testing this immersive training 

and making it accessible to Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies. 

School safety.—The Committee encourages pilot grants funded 

through the Comprehensive School Safety Initiative consider employing an evidence-based school threat assessment and intervention program. 

Strategic Mobile and Response Teams.—The Committee encourages DOJ to investigate the opportunity to conduct pilot programs 

to implement Strategic Mobile and Response Teams (SMART) at 

the Southwest Border. Border Smart Pilot programs should combine the use of officers and technology, including ground sensors 

and drones. The pilot programs should have inter-agency partnership and multi layered security efforts, including marine, air and 

terrestrial components, with the goal of increasing border security 

while reducing cost. The Department should brief the Committee 

on its plans within 180 days. 

JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS

The Committee recommends $170,500,000 for Juvenile Justice 

programs, which is $76,500,000 below fiscal year 2017 and 

$59,000,000 below the request. Funds are distributed as follows: 

50 

JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Youth Mentoring Grants .................................................................................................................................... $75,000 

Victims of Child Abuse Programs .................................................................................................................... 21,000 

Missing and Exploited Children Programs ....................................................................................................... 72,500 

Training for Judicial Personnel ......................................................................................................................... 2,000 

TOTAL, Juvenile Justice ............................................................................................................................ $170,500 

Youth mentoring grants.—The recommendation includes 

$75,000,000 for youth mentoring grants, which is $5,000,000 below 

fiscal year 2017 and $17,000,000 above the request. 

The Committee recognizes the success of the Youth Mentoring 

program in the Office of Justice Programs. Through trusted one-toone mentoring relationships, in the community and in schools, 

Youth Mentoring grantees are able to provide needed attention and 

support to at-risk children. Mentoring relationships enhance a 

child’s overall well-being by improving their emotional, social, and 

educational development. 

Missing and exploited children programs.—The recommendation 

includes $72,500,000 for missing and exploited children programs, 

which is the same as fiscal year 2017 and $500,000 above the request. The Committee expects the Department to allocate no less 

than the current year level for task force grants, training and technical assistance, research and statistics, and administrative costs 

for the Internet Crimes Against Children program. The Committee 

expects the Department to allocate $1,000,000 to be used to hire 

and equip wounded, ill or injured veterans as digital forensic analysts or investigators to support child exploitation investigations. 

The Department is encouraged to support the development, refinement, and technological advancement of widely used tools, 

methods and technologies that address child sexual exploitation 

and trafficking. 

Partnerships with community organizations.—The Committee encourages the Office of Juvenile Justice Programs to examine ways 

to partner with community groups or nongovernmental entities 

that undertake initiatives to provide parents and guardians with 

inkless, in-home fingerpriting kits, which help families maintain 

current photos, fingerprints, and descriptions of their children, and 

such information can be vital for police during searches for missing 

children. 

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER BENEFITS

The Committee recommends a total of $108,300,000 for the Public Safety Officer Benefits program, which is $19,000,000 above fiscal year 2017 and the same as the request. Within the funds provided, $92,000,000 is for death benefits for survivors, an amount 

estimated by the Congressional Budget Office that is considered 

mandatory for scorekeeping purposes. Also within the total, 

$16,300,000 is recommended, as requested, for disability benefits 

for public safety officers who are permanently and totally disabled 

as a result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty, 

and for education benefits for the spouses and children of officers 

who are killed in the line of duty or who are permanently and toVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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tally disabled as a result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the 

line of duty. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The recommendation includes $234,000,000 for the COPS account. Funds are to be distributed as follows: 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES PROGRAMS 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Transfer to DEA for Methamphetamine Lab Cleanups .................................................................................... $11,000 

Police Act .......................................................................................................................................................... 10,000 

Community trust initiative ................................................................................................................................ 65,000 

Body worn camera partnership initiative ................................................................................................ (22,500 ) 

Justice Reinvestment Initiative ................................................................................................................ (25,000 ) 

Research and statistics on community trust ......................................................................................... (7,500 ) 

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program ............................................................................................ (10,000 ) 

Second Chance Act ........................................................................................................................................... 68,000 

Children of Incarcerated Parents Demo Grants ...................................................................................... (5,000 ) 

Girls in the juvenile justice system ........................................................................................................ (2,000 ) 

Community Teams to Reduce the Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Backlog ............................................................. 45,000 

Regional information sharing activities ........................................................................................................... 35,000 

TOTAL, Community Oriented Policing Services ........................................................................................ $234,000 

Methamphetamine lab cleanup.—The recommendation includes 

$11,000,000, which shall be transferred to DEA to assist State, 

local and tribal law enforcement agencies with the removal and disposal of hazardous materials at methamphetamine labs, including 

funds for training, technical assistance, the purchase of equipment, 

and a container program. 

Community trust initiative.—The recommendation includes 

$65,000,000 for a program to improve police-community relations. 

Included in this initiative is $10,000,000 for the Byrne Criminal 

Justice Innovation Program, $25,000,000 for justice reinvestment, 

$22,500,000 for a body-worn camera partnership initiative, and 

$7,500,000 for research and statistics on community trust. 

The body-worn camera partnership initiative includes pilot and 

demonstration grants for purchase of body-worn cameras for police. 

This initiative will also establish baseline procedures for the use of 

body-worn cameras, support State and local efforts regarding the 

use of such equipment, and provide necessary research into the use 

of this technology. The demonstration grants shall require a 1:1 

match by the grantee and shall not be used to pay for the ongoing 

costs or data storage costs associated with body-worn camera footage. The demonstration grants shall only be provided to States 

with laws governing the use of body-worn cameras and shall not 

interfere with State laws and requirements. The Bureau of Justice 

Assistance shall administer this initiative and provide periodic updates to the Committee regarding its implementation. 

As the Committee believes that improving police-community relations will require more than just equipment procurement, the recommendation provides $25,000,000 for the justice reinvestment iniVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
52 

tiative, which provides assistance to jurisdictions to implement 

data-driven strategies to improve public safety by reducing corrections spending and reinvesting those savings in efforts to decrease 

crime and strengthen neighborhoods. The Committee recognizes 

the tremendous potential of justice reinvestment efforts, noting 

that successful efforts in States, such as Texas, Kansas, North 

Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, which have saved millions of 

dollars and serve as models for criminal justice reform in the Nation. Funding may be used to provide technical assistance to States 

with existing reinvestment programs, expand the initiative to additional States, or provide additional funding for existing sites. 

The Committee believes that comprehensive, career-long leadership education for all local law enforcement officers remains critical 

to reducing crime and strengthening relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, and the Committee notes that funds in the community trust initiative can be 

used for leadership training programs that provide measurable improvements in local law enforcement officer performance, adaptive 

decision-making skills, civic involvement, and officer-community relations. 

Second Chance Act/offender reentry programs.—The recommendation includes $68,000,000 for Second Chance Act grants. 

Excluding carveouts, the recommendation is $15,500,000 above fiscal year 2017 and $40,500,000 above the request. 

The Committee remains concerned that despite a dramatic increase in corrections spending over the past two decades, recidivism and re-incarceration rates are largely unchanged. The Committee is aware that case studies of innovative, evidence-based 

practices provide strong indication that this pattern can be reversed. The Committee expects that Second Chance Act grants will 

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 

Committee expects DOJ to designate funds for proven, evidencedbased programs that will further the goal of maximizing public 

safety. 

To ensure the most effective use of Second Chance Act funds, the 

Committee encourages the prioritization of funding to communities 

where the largest populations of formerly incarcerated people return and requests a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics 

within 90 days of the enactment of this Act analyzing what the Bureau is doing to ensure funding is reaching these communities. 

Sexual assault kit backlog grants.—The recommendation includes 

$45,000,000 for grants to address the sexual assault kit (SAK) 

backlog. The Committee encourages stakeholders and local law enforcement to continue working with Federal law enforcement to resolve this important issue. The Committee also directs the Department to do everything in its power to bring perpetrators to justice. 

The Committee also encourages OJP to increase its efforts to ensure that strong research and program evaluations are undertaken 

utilizing independent evaluators with the experience and skills to 

provide necessary feedback and improve the efficiency of SAK processing. The Committee further encourages OJP to prioritize funding to underserved regions, such as Appalachia. 

53 

Human trafficking intelligence.—The Committee encourages programs funded under the regional information sharing activities to 

hire a criminal intelligence analysts for the purpose of compiling 

information, reports, and other intelligence on human trafficking 

into, out of, and within the borders of the United States. 

Active shooter response.—The recommendation includes 

$10,000,000 for the POLICE Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–199). The 

Committee notes the importance training partnerships that offer 

nationwide dynamic force-on-force scenario-based training. The 

Committee understands the training has been adopted by numerous States and agencies as their standard active shooter training 

and that the FBI has adopted this program as its national training 

standard for active shooter response. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

The Committee has included the following general provisions for 

the Department of Justice: 

Section 201 makes available additional reception and representation funding for the Attorney General from the amounts provided 

in this title. 

Section 202 prohibits the use of funds to pay for an abortion, except in the case of rape, incest, or to preserve the life of the mother. 

Section 203 prohibits the use of funds to require any person to 

perform or facilitate the performance of an abortion. 

Section 204 establishes the obligation of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to provide escort services to an inmate receiving an 

abortion outside of a Federal facility, except where this obligation 

conflicts with the preceding section. 

Section 205 establishes the Committee’s requirements and procedures for transfer proposals. 

Section 206 prohibits the use of certain funds for transporting 

prisoners classified as maximum or high security, other than to a 

facility certified by the Bureau of Prisons as appropriately secure. 

Section 207 prohibits the use of funds for the purchase or rental 

by Federal prisons of audiovisual equipment, services and materials used primarily for recreational purposes, except for those 

items and services needed for inmate training, religious, or educational purposes. 

Section 208 requires review by the Deputy Attorney General and 

the Department Investment Review Board prior to the obligation or 

expenditure of funds for major information technology projects. 

Section 209 requires the Department to follow reprogramming 

procedures for any deviation from the program amounts specified 

in this title or the accompanying report, or the reuse of deobligated 

funds provided in previous years. 

Section 210 prohibits the use of funds for A–76 competitions for 

work performed by employees of Federal Prison Industries, Inc. 

Section 211 prohibits U.S. Attorneys from holding additional responsibilities that exempt U.S. Attorneys from statutory residency 

requirements. 

Section 212 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, and permits up to 3 

percent of grant funds made available to that office to be used for 

54 

criminal justice research, evaluation and statistics by the National 

Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. 

Section 213 provides 7 percent of certain grant and reimbursement program funds made available to the Office of Justice Programs and Community Oriented Policing Services programs to be 

used for tribal criminal justice assistance. 

Section 214 waives the requirement that the Attorney General 

reserve certain funds from amounts provided for offender incarceration. 

Section 215 permanently 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 216 places limitations on the obligation of funds from certain Department of Justice accounts and funding sources. 

TITLE III 

SCIENCE 

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

The Committee recommends $5,544,000 for the Office of Science 

and Technology Policy (OSTP), which is $11,000 below fiscal year 

2017 and the same as the request. 

Public access to Federally funded research.—The Committee appreciates the progress that OSTP has made to increase access to 

the results of Federally funded scientific research. OSTP shall continue efforts to coordinate implementation of public access policies 

across Federal departments and agencies and identify additional 

opportunities to enhance access to the results of Federally funded 

research. OSTP shall continue to report, on an annual basis, on the 

progress of departments and agencies in implementing their public 

access plans, including relevant measures of progress, and on additional steps being taken to improve access to the results of Federally funded research. 

Patents.—The Committee awaits the report required in the fiscal 

year 2017 appropriations Act regarding approved patents and how 

Federal scientists who work at certain research laboratories may 

benefit from these successful patent applications. 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

The Committee recommends $19,871,834,000 for the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which is 

$218,534,000 above fiscal year 2017. The Committee applauds 

NASA’s June 2017 announcement of the outstanding astronaut 

candidates who were selected from a record 18,300 applications. 

Their achievements and NASA’s current astronaut corps continue 

to inspire the Nation. The level of interest in NASA human 

spaceflight programs and in all NASA missions continues to grow, 

and the funding recommendations described below support current 

and future human exploration programs, and the science, research 

and advanced manufacturing activities necessary to send humans 

safely beyond low Earth orbit and on to Mars. The funding in this 

55 

bill also provides NASA with a balanced portfolio to pursue robotic 

exploration of the solar system, realize advances in safe and efficient air travel, partner with industry, and engage with academia. 

National Space Council.—The Committee supports Executive 

Order 13803: Reviving the National Space Council. The National 

Space Council, to be managed within the White House, is in the 

national interest because space leadership and space exploration 

are essential to our character as a nation, to our economy, and to 

our national security. The Council will coordinate Federal agencies’ 

space activities. 

Program and project totals.The Committee’s program and project 

recommendations for NASA are included in the consolidated funding table below and in narrative direction throughout this report. 

The Committee reminds NASA that any deviations from the 

amounts included in the table below are subject to section 505 requirements of this Act. When executing its budget for fiscal year 

2018, NASA shall incorporate the funding levels established in 

both the table and the narrative direction. NASA is reminded that 

comity has existed between the Congress and the Executive Branch 

with respect to abiding by language included in this report and in 

the accompanying Appropriations Act. The Committee expects 

NASA to respect this long-standing practice. 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Science: 

Earth Science ........................................................................................................................................... $1,704,000 

Planetary Science ..................................................................................................................................... 2,120,900 

Astrophysics ............................................................................................................................................. 822,000 

James Webb Space Telescope ................................................................................................................. 533,700 

Heliophysics ............................................................................................................................................. 677,900 

Total, Science .................................................................................................................................................... 5,858,500 

Aeronautics: ...................................................................................................................................................... 660,000 

Space Technology: ............................................................................................................................................. 686,500 

Human Exploration and Operations: 

Orion Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle ........................................................................................................... 1,350,000 

Space Launch System (SLS) Vehicle Development ................................................................................. 2,150,000 

Exploration Ground Systems .................................................................................................................... 600,000 

Exploration R&D ....................................................................................................................................... 450,000 

Total, Human Exploration and Operations ....................................................................................................... 4,550,000 

Space Operations: ............................................................................................................................................. 4,676,634 

Education: 

NASA Space Grant ................................................................................................................................... 40,000 

Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research .................................................................... 18,000 

Minority University Research Education Program ................................................................................... 32,000 

Total, Education ................................................................................................................................................ 90,000 

Safety, Security and Mission Services: ............................................................................................................. 2,826,200 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: ...................................................................... 486,100 

56 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION—Continued 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Program Amount 

Office of Inspector General: .............................................................................................................................. 37,900 

Total, NASA ....................................................................................................................................................... $19,871,834 

SCIENCE

The Committee recommends $5,858,500,000 for Science, which is 

$93,600,000 above fiscal year 2017 and $146,700,000 above the request. 

Decadal surveys.—The Committee directs that the priorities outlined in the decadal surveys for Earth Science, Planetary Science, 

Astrophysics, and Heliophysics shall drive NASA mission priorities. 

Earth Science.—The recommendation includes $1,704,000,000 for 

Earth Science programs. The recommendation includes 

$175,800,000, as requested, for continued development of the 

Landsat-9 mission to support a 2020 launch and maintain data 

continuity. NASA shall keep the Committee informed of the status 

of this program. Also within amounts provided is $55,400,000, as 

requested, for the NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperature Radar mission. 

Earth Science Pathfinder Venture Class Missions.—The Committee is supportive of NASA’s Earth Science Pathfinder Venture 

Class Missions and includes the requested amount of $199,100,000 

for these activities. This program was established in response to 

decadal survey recommendations to provide flight opportunities for 

low cost earth science investigations that can be flown in five years 

or less. Within amounts provided, NASA is encouraged to acquire, 

where cost effective, space-based and airborne Earth remote sensing data from commercial partners. The Committee notes the recent award of the Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory mission 

from the second Earth Venture Mission announcement of opportunity. NASA shall keep the Committee informed regarding these 

activities. 

Planetary Science.—The recommendation includes $2,120,900,000 

for Planetary Science. One of the primary recommendations of the 

National Academies’ 2012 Decadal Survey for Planetary Science 

was for NASA to achieve a balanced program through a mix of Discovery, New Frontiers, and flagship missions and an appropriate 

balance among the many potential targets in the solar system. The 

Committee urges NASA, in subsequent budget requests, to ensure 

that it requests sufficient funds across its Discovery and New Frontiers programs to ensure a balanced cadence of missions. Further, 

the Committee expects NASA to request sufficient funds for Research and Analysis to ensure that data collected by NASA assets 

can be exploited by scientists and researchers. The recommendation includes $305,600,000 for Planetary Science Research, including $197,900,000 for Planetary Science Research and Analysis. Also 

included is $60,000,000 for NASA’s efforts to detect and monitor 

near Earth objects and for its asteroid impact and deflection assessment (AIDA) and double asteroid redirection test (DART) activities. Commensurate with this funding, NASA is urged to conduct research into directed energy as a means of asteroid deflecVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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tion. Further, the Committee encourages NASA to examine its use 

of NSF’s ground-based telescopes to fulfill its planetary protection 

mission to determine if additional funds are required. 

Near Earth Object Camera (NEOCam).—The Committee is supportive of the NEOCam mission, which follows a 2010 National 

Academy of Sciences report regarding space-based infrared survey 

telescopes required to discover asteroids that pose a hazard to 

Earth. NEOCam will also assist NASA in meeting the congressionally mandated directive to detect and characterize hazardous near 

Earth objects. The Committee understands that NEOCam has been 

approved for extended Phase A studies that are intended, in part, 

to review projected overall cost estimates. NASA shall provide a report no later than 120 days after enactment of this Act regarding 

estimated life cycle costs, including schedule and milestones toward 

a projected 2020 launch date. 

Discovery.—The recommendation includes $335,800,000 for the 

Discovery program. The current cost cap for these missions is 

$450,000,000 plus launch costs. The Discovery program currently 

has two operational spacecraft, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter 

and Dawn; one flight mission in development, the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport; 

and two newly selected missions, Lucy and Psyche, which are in 

formulation. 

New Frontiers.—The recommendation includes $90,000,000 for 

New Frontiers. The current cost cap for these missions is 

$1,000,000,000 plus launch costs. New Frontiers missions explore 

the solar system with frequent, medium-class spacecraft missions. 

The program includes three missions in operations: New Horizons, 

Juno, and OSIRIS–Rex. 

Juno.—Juno, a mission to Jupiter launched in 2011, is collecting 

data to help NASA understand the formation of planets and the 

origins of the solar system. While the Juno spacecraft is healthy 

and all instruments are fully operational, the Committee is aware 

that the original Juno flight plan may be modified and that NASA 

is examining options to determine if valuable science may be 

gained from continuing beyond the planned mission scope. NASA 

shall keep the Committee informed of this matter. Further, NASA 

shall keep the Committee informed of the overall progress and 

science gleaned from the Juno mission, especially risk reduction activities in advance of the Jupiter Europa Clipper and Lander missions. 

Mars Exploration.—The Committee remains supportive of 

NASA’s ongoing Mars missions gathering data about our nearest 

neighbor which may have once supported microbial life. These missions and the Mars 2020 mission will provide NASA and its partners with valuable data about future landing sites for the Mars 

2020 rover and eventually humans. The recommendation includes 

$646,700,000 for the Mars Exploration program, including 

$374,300,000 for the Mars 2020 mission that meets scientific objectives from the most recent Planetary Science decadal survey, including the sample return mission, and $62,000,000 to continue research and development of the Mars 2022 Orbiter. Funding for the 

Mars helicopter technology demonstration is included within the 

Planetary Technology program described below. NASA shall provide quarterly briefings on all aspects of the Mars program. 

58 

Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds.—The Committee appreciates 

that NASA has created an Ocean Worlds Exploration Program 

whose primary goal is to discover extant life using a mix of Discovery, New Frontiers and flagship class missions. The recommendation includes $527,900,000 for Outer Planets and Ocean 

Worlds, of which $495,000,000 is for the Jupiter Europa Clipper 

and Lander missions to fulfill the requirements of the most recent 

Planetary Science decadal survey. To support progress on these 

programs, NASA shall ensure that future funding requests are consistent with achieving a Europa Clipper launch no later than 2022 

and a Europa Lander launch no later than 2024, pending final mission configuration. NASA shall keep the Committee informed of the 

status of the Announcement of Opportunity for the Lander to ensure progress toward a 2024 launch. While the Committee remains 

very supportive of the Europa mission, the Committee also expects 

that this program will meet development milestones on time and 

within budget. 

Technology.—The recommendation includes $214,900,000 for 

Technology. Within these amounts, no less than $35,000,000 is for 

icy satellites surface technology and test-bed activities and no less 

than $12,000,000 is for the Mars helicopter technology demonstration mission that will be flown on the Mars 2020 mission. The recommendation also includes no less than $16,000,000, as requested, 

for NASA to continue its collaboration with the Department of Energy to produce plutonium-238 domestically for use as a source of 

energy in space missions. 

Impact craters.—Impact craters in the U.S. that are well preserved and accessible provide researchers and educators with the 

opportunity to expand our understanding of the Earth’s and the 

Solar System’s history and show students research in action as a 

part of their STEM education. NASA is encouraged to make funds 

available for external competitive funding to conduct further scientific investigation of well-preserved and easily accessible impact 

craters and provide education and outreach on Earth’s erosion 

processes and the scientific method of research. 

Asteroid resources.—The Committee remains supportive of government and commercial space missions to the Moon, Mars, and 

other locations in the Solar System. Recognizing that the identification, extraction, and utilization of natural resources found on asteroids are foundational to facilitating long-term missions, the Committee directs NASA, in cooperation with the domestic commercial 

space industry, to conduct an assessment and submit a report within 180 days of enactment of this Act on the utilization of asteroidbased natural resources to support U.S. government and commercial space exploration missions and timeframes for when such resource extraction could possibly occur. This report also shall evaluate the status of U.S. development of commercial asteroid resource 

exploration activities, as well as international entities. 

Astrophysics.—The recommendation includes $822,000,000, 

which is $72,000,000 above the enacted level and $5,300,000 above 

the request, for Astrophysics. The recommendation includes 

$74,100,000, the requested amount, for Astrophysics Research and 

Analysis. The Committee remains supportive of university-led research into protoplanetary discs and nebulae. 

59 

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).—The 

recommendation includes $85,200,000, the fiscal year 2017 level, 

for SOFIA, a state-of-the-art far-infrared observatory with a 

planned 20-year life cycle. NASA shall issue a call for fourth generation instrument proposals and select step 1 instrument proposals on or before September 30, 2018. NASA shall keep the Committee informed of the status of these activities. In addition, NASA 

is encouraged to undertake at least 100 SOFIA science mission 

flights during fiscal year 2018, including both Northern and Southern hemisphere missions, as determined by science community demand through competitively-selected proposals. When determining 

future observation cycles, NASA shall not undertake any actions 

leading to the premature shutdown of the SOFIA program without 

the participation of international partners, as appropriate, in any 

scientific reviews and formulation of recommendations. Consistent 

with the approach NASA has taken with the Great Observatories, 

NASA shall not undertake any changes that would be disruptive to 

the SOFIA program and the management of its operations. 

Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST).—The recommendation includes $126,600,000, the requested amount, for 

WFIRST. The Committee is concerned about potential cost growth 

in this program and directs NASA to brief it on the results of an 

independent, external review that NASA initiated in April 2017 to 

address the scope of WFIRST to ensure it will provide compelling 

scientific capability with an affordable cost and a reliable schedule. 

NASA shall brief the Committee on the results of this independent 

examination. The Committee expects that NASA will ensure that 

the cost growth experienced by James Webb Space Telescope is not 

repeated in this program. Within amounts provided for WFIRST, 

$20,000,000 is for continued development of the Starshade technology demonstration effort. The Committee expects WFIRST to accommodate the Starshade technology demonstration mission. The 

Starshade, in tandem with WFIRST, will enable NASA to identify 

the nearest Earth-like planet around the nearest star, and thereby 

identify a target or multiple targets for the interstellar mission discussed later in this report. 

Astrophysics observatories.—The Committee commends NASA for 

providing the science community with observations of astrophysical 

objects conducted simultaneously over a broad range of wavelengths. In anticipation of the forthcoming decadal survey, NASA 

shall provide a report within 180 days of the enactment of this Act 

that summarizes NASA’s plans for maintaining U.S. leadership in 

obtaining astrophysical observations in the x-ray and gamma-ray 

wavelengths following the completion of the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope missions. 

Astrophysics probe missions.—NASA shall seek input from the 

National Academy of Sciences and the academic and scientific community regarding the need for, and benefits of, establishing a competitive, principle investigator-led astrophysics program to bridge 

the gap between Explorer and less-frequent Flagship missions. 

NASA shall provide an interim report on these matters within 180 

days of enactment of this Act, with a final report to be submitted 

no later than one year after enactment of this Act. 

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).—The recommendation includes $533,700,000 for JWST, which is the same as the request 

60 

and $35,700,000 below fiscal year 2017. NASA shall provide the 

Committee with quarterly briefings on JWST’s technical status, 

budget and schedule performance, including program integration 

and tests that must be completed prior to its October 2018 launch. 

NASA shall brief the Committee within 180 days of enactment of 

this Act regarding the future funding profile of the Astrophysics 

portfolio as JWST concludes development. 

Heliophysics.—The recommendation includes $677,900,000 for 

Heliophysics, which is the same as the request. 

Education and Public Outreach (EPO).—The recommendation includes $44,000,000 for Science Mission Directorate (SMD)-wide 

EPO activities. NASA shall, in the fiscal year 2018 spending plan, 

allocate these funds proportionally among the SMD divisions, resulting in a dedicated budget line for each division’s EPO activities. 

AERONAUTICS

The Committee recommends $660,000,000 for Aeronautics, which 

is the same as fiscal year 2017 and $36,000,000 above the request. 

Funds provided above the request are to ensure that NASA has the 

infrastructure necessary to support the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator. 

Low Boom Flight Demonstrator.—Within amounts provided for Aeronautics, $79,200,000 is included as requested to continue development of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator. NASA shall request sufficient funds in subsequent budgets to build and fly the 

Low Boom Flight Demonstrator as proposed and ensure that related infrastructure facilities are sufficient to support this demonstration project. Finally, NASA shall ensure that research resulting from the Flight Demonstrator is shared with the private sector 

for use in commercial aviation applications. 

Hypersonic Technology Project.—NASA is encouraged to continue 

its fundamental hypersonic research, including its Hypersonic 

Technology Project which supports collaboration with other Federal 

partners to leverage flight test data to support research and reduce 

risk. 

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) safety.—The recommendation 

includes no less than $118,700,000 for the Airspace Operations and 

Safety Program and directs NASA to help ensure the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace system. NASA shall brief the 

Committee on the status of these efforts no later than 90 days after 

enactment of this Act. 

Air traffic safety.—NASA is encouraged to coordinate with the 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and leverage the six test 

ranges established under section 332 of the FAA Modernization 

and Reform Act (Public Law 112–95) to research solutions for sense 

and avoid, command and control, ground control station standards 

and human factors, airworthiness, lost link procedures, and interoperability within the air traffic control system. 

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

The Committee recommends $686,500,000 for Space Technology, 

which is the same as the fiscal year 2017 enacted level and 

$7,900,000 above the request. 

Nuclear thermal propulsion technology.—It is estimated that a 

nuclear thermal propulsion system may reduce the round-trip tranVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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sit time to Mars by as much as 20 percent and may therefore be 

beneficial to human space travel. Of the funds provided, no less 

than $35,000,000 shall be for ongoing nuclear propulsion activities. 

NASA shall provide a report within 120 days of enactment of this 

Act regarding the status of its nuclear thermal propulsion activities 

and include as part of this report yearly funding required and associated milestones that must be met in order to conduct a nuclear 

thermal demonstration project by 2020. This report shall include 

amounts spent to date, estimated life cycle costs, and cost and transit time comparisons with chemical propulsion systems. Finally, 

this report shall describe how NASA could integrate nuclear thermal propulsion into the deep space gateway concept or use in 

broader applications such as interstellar travel. 

Small launch technology platform.—Within the Flight Opportunities Program, NASA shall continue to partner with commercial industry to advance technologies for sub-orbital and orbital launch 

vehicles for small payloads, with the aim to increase affordability 

of those technologies and to allow for more frequent access to relevant launch environments, including low-Earth orbit. 

Additive manufacturing.—The Committee continues to be supportive of NASA’s collaborative research into additive manufacturing technology for use in rocket engines and other structures 

and includes no less than $25,000,000 for these activities. 

Next generation space propulsion.—The Committee encourages 

NASA, in collaboration with academia and the private sector, to establish a research and technology development effort for next generation space propulsion technologies. This effort should pursue advances in Earth-to-orbit propulsion systems, in-space propulsion 

systems, and propulsion systems for planetary ascent/descent vehicles. The Committee expects that this technology research and development effort will advance technologies needed for nuclear thermal propulsion systems that also may be applicable to interstellar 

travel. 

Interstellar mission.—The Committee directs NASA to ensure 

that the United States is the first nation to launch an interstellar 

mission to the nearest Earth-like planet that shows evidence of extant life. The Committee expects that as NASA develops a roadmap 

for humanity’s first interstellar mission, NASA will stay true to its 

heritage by being bold and pushing the limits of science, engineering and technology without being constrained by short-term budget 

concerns. The Committee looks forward to receiving, no later than 

May, 2018, a technology assessment report from NASA, as required 

by the fiscal year 2017 appropriations Act, that includes a draft 

conceptual roadmap for developing an interstellar propulsion system that will achieve at least .10 of the speed of light, and that will 

launch no later than July 20, 2069, the 100th anniversary of the 

Apollo 11 moon landing. 

Current NASA propulsion investments include advancements in 

chemical, solar electric, and nuclear thermal propulsion. However, 

even in their ultimate theoretically achievable implementations, 

none of these could approach cruise velocities of one-tenth the 

speed of light (0.1c), nor could any other fission-based approach (including nuclear electric or pulsed fission). In developing the propulsion technology assessment report, NASA should examine concepts 

that include, but are not limited to: (1) fusion-based propulsion (inVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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cluding antimatter-catalyzed fusion and the Bussard interstellar 

ramjet); (2) matter-antimatter annihilation reaction propulsion; (3) 

beamed energy propulsion coupled with photon sails; (4) ion or 

plasma propulsion; (5) superconducting magnetic sails; (6) and immense ‘sails’ that capture solar photons or solar wind. At the 

present time, none of these are beyond technology readiness level 

(TRL) 1 or 2. The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) 

program is currently funding concept studies of directed energy 

propulsion for wafer-sized spacecraft that in principle could achieve 

velocities exceeding 0.1c and an electric sail that intercepts solar 

wind protons. Over the past few years NIAC has also funded mission-level concept studies of two fusion-based propulsion concepts. 

The interstellar propulsion technology assessment report and draft 

conceptual roadmap submitted by NASA to this Committee shall 

include updates on relevant concept studies funded by NIAC and 

shall include an overview of potential advance propulsion concepts 

for such an interstellar mission, including technical challenges, 

technology readiness level assessments, risks, and potential nearterm milestones and funding requirements. 

The Committee also directs NASA to accelerate work on 

Starshade and WFIRST to ensure that WFIRST is Starshade compatible, and that Starshade will launch and be capable of working 

with WFIRST to identify the nearest Earth-like planet that shows 

evidence of extant life. The Committee directs NASA to include a 

section in the interstellar propulsion technology report which details NASA’s plan to make WFIRST Starshade compatible and 

what size, design and funding requirements are necessary for 

Starshade and WFIRST to resolve the planet from the star and 

spectrographically analyze the atmosphere of rocky Earth-like 

planets in the habitable zones of stable, long-lived stars out to a 

distance of 10 parsecs. NASA is encouraged to collaborate with the 

National Academies of Sciences to create a permanent Decadal 

Survey for Exoplanet Exploration for the next decade and beyond, 

and NASA is directed to follow the recommendations of this new 

Exoplanet Exploration Decadal Survey in developing America’s 

long-term plans for systematic interstellar exploration missions to 

Earth-like planets harboring life in our galactic neighborhood. 

Restore–L.—Given the substantial cost to design, develop, and 

launch satellites and continued reliance on the data they gather, 

NASA shall ensure that all future satellites, including those in formulation, should be maneuverable, re-fuelable and otherwise serviceable. The Committee strongly supports Restore–L and expects 

NASA to continue developing satellite servicing capabilities in collaboration with its public and private sector and academic partners. 

EXPLORATION

The Committee recommends $4,550,000,000 for Exploration, 

which is $226,000,000 above fiscal year 2017. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall continue its review of NASA’s 

human exploration programs, specifically the Space Launch System 

(SLS) program, the Orion program, and Exploration Ground Systems, including integration and software development issues that 

cut across these programs. GAO shall provide periodic updates to 

the Committee. 

63 

Human spaceflight safety.—The Committee reiterates that nothing in this report or accompanying Act shall be construed as directing NASA to proceed with any human spaceflight unless or until 

NASA has concluded that the mission meets safety requirements. 

Schedule slips and cost.—GAO’s April 2017 report, NASA Human 

Space Exploration: Delay Likely for First Exploration Mission, 

noted that the ‘‘Orion program—Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle 

(Orion), Space Launch System (SLS), and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS)—are making progress on their respective systems, but 

the EM–1 launch date is likely unachievable as technical challenges continue to cause schedule delays.’’ NASA has since announced that it is moving the target launch date for Exploration 

Mission (EM)–1 from November 2018 to sometime in 2019. The 

Committee is concerned with schedule slips and expects NASA and 

its commercial partners to examine aggressively all aspects of the 

program and report to the Committee regarding efforts to ensure 

that EM–1 does not shift again. NASA shall submit a report within 

120 days of enactment of this Act that provides the remaining milestones for Orion, SLS, and Exploration Ground Systems and integration activities in advance of EM–1 and those that must occur 

prior to EM–2. Further, while the Committee remains supportive 

of NASA’s efforts to build an exploration system that is capable of 

sending humans and science payloads into deep space, it is imperative that NASA and its commercial partners thoroughly examine 

production costs with the goal of reducing costs for EM–1 and future missions. Toward that end, NASA shall submit a report within 

one year of enactment of this Act that provides estimated yearly 

costs of launching SLS with Orion or science payloads as envisioned in the deep space gateway concept. 

Orion.—The recommendation includes $1,350,000,000 for Orion. 

GAO, in its May 2017 assessment, noted the late delivery of the 

European Service Module (ESM). NASA shall keep the Committee 

informed of the status of activities related to Orion and the ESM. 

Space Launch System.—The recommendation includes 

$2,150,000,000 for SLS, including not less than $300,000,000 for 

continued work on the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS). NASA shall 

provide a report within 120 days of enactment of this Act describing investments to date on the EUS, a spend plan with milestones 

for the funds provided in fiscal year 2018, and funds necessary to 

complete EUS for use on EM–2 and to develop EUS for use on subsequent SLS launches. This report shall also include an analysis 

regarding the most efficient and cost-effective means of procuring 

EUSs for use on future SLS flights. In addition, NASA shall continue submitting quarterly reports on SLS spending by major program element, as first required in the statement accompanying 

Public Law 112–55. Finally, the Committee expects NASA to continue the ongoing collaboration between the SLS program and the 

Europa science mission to ensure that integration activities, including development of the payload fairing, continue in preparation for 

the 2022 launch of the Europa Clipper mission. NASA shall keep 

the Committee informed of these activities. To the maximum extent 

possible, NASA shall ensure that all vehicle development leverages 

existing investments; promotes efficiency through commonality of 

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designs or other costly changes affecting future SLS vehicle configurations. 

Exploration Ground Systems (EGS).—The recommendation includes $600,000,000 for EGS. This amount, which is $171,000,000 

above the fiscal year 2017 level, will enable NASA to continue upgrades required to support EM–1, EM–2, and subsequent human 

exploration and science missions. 

Integrated launch readiness.—The recommendation includes no 

less than $66,600,000, as requested, for SLS, Orion and EGS integration activities. These funds will address coordination issues 

among the three programs and ensure that they are progressing in 

tandem toward EM–1, EM–2, and future missions, including the 

Europa mission. The Committee is concerned that insufficient time 

is being allotted to fully integrate SLS and Orion hardware and 

software with EGS. NASA shall provide a report within 90 days of 

enactment of this Act describing the integration activities and 

timeframes for those activities that need to occur prior to EM–1. 

Exploration Research and Development (R&D).—The recommendation includes $450,000,000 for Exploration R&D. 

Human Research Program.—The recommendation includes 

$200,000,000 for the Human Research Program. The Committee reiterates its support of NASA’s collaboration with academia to research ways to ameliorate the impacts of space travel on humans. 

NASA shall submit a report within 180 days of enactment of this 

Act describing the activities and accomplishments of the newly established NASA Translational Research Institute and include a 

status report on the 27 proposals selected by NASA in 2016 to support astronaut health on long-duration space exploration missions. 

Commensurate with NASA’s deep space gateway concept, NASA 

shall outline in its response the key health risks that must be overcome, required risk reduction activities, associated milestones and 

funding necessary in order to realize safe long duration human 

spaceflight into deep space. 

Advanced Exploration Systems.—The recommendation includes 

$250,000,000 for Advanced Exploration Systems. The Committee 

urges NASA to continue its work with the private sector and academia to develop exploration capabilities such as advanced propulsion, habitats and landers that may be used with Orion and SLS, 

and are necessary to enable space and human exploration to the 

Moon, Mars, and other deep space destinations. 

Space-based manufacturing.—The Committee recommendation 

includes no less than $25,000,000 to support NASA’s ongoing 

space-based additive manufacturing activities to support human, 

robotic, and science exploration missions, enable on-orbit resupply 

and repair, and develop commercial and government satellite onorbit manufacturing activities. 

Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships 

(NextSTEP).—The recommendation includes up to $150,000,000 for 

ongoing development of deep space habitation systems that can be 

deployed and demonstrated in low-Earth orbit by 2020. NASA shall 

provide a report no later than 180 days after enactment of this Act 

regarding the status of the expandable module currently operating 

on the International Space Station (ISS) as well as the status of 

all activity currently underway in this program, including progress 

of the NextSTEP–2 Broad Agency Announcement issued in April 

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2016 to develop habitation prototypes and study alternative architecture concepts. 

Lunar lander demonstration.—The Committee remains supportive of NASA’s ongoing Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST) initiative with the private sector to develop robotic lunar landers that can be integrated 

with U.S. commercial launch capabilities to deliver payloads to the 

lunar surface and provides up to $30,000,000 for these activities. 

NASA shall provide a report within 120 days of enactment of this 

Act regarding the current status of this program. 

Commercial space.—The Committee is encouraged by the growth 

of the U.S. commercial space industry and applauds NASA’s efforts 

to maximize the benefits of Federal resources through the use of 

public/private partnerships. Wherever practicable, the Committee 

encourages NASA to prioritize partnerships with U.S.-based companies providing exploration mission capabilities. 

SPACE OPERATIONS

The Committee recommends $4,676,634,000 for Space Operations. 

International Space Station.—The Committee continues to encourage NASA to implement cost savings measures to slow and reduce the ISS operations budget while maximizing research opportunities. In particular, the Committee is concerned that NASA is not 

maximizing human research opportunities on the ISS that will contribute to advances for improved human health on Earth and during deep space exploration missions. 

Commercial Crew.—According to GAO’s February 2017 report, 

NASA Commercial Crew program: Schedule Pressure Increases as 

Contractors Delay Key Events, while both SpaceX and Boeing have 

made progress developing their crew transportation systems, neither company will meet their original 2017 certification dates. The 

Committee remains concerned by continued slips in the program 

and expects NASA to continue submitting quarterly reports on the 

status of the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability and Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contracts. NASA also shall 

provide an assessment no later than December 2018, regarding the 

ability of the contractors to meet remaining program milestones 

and time frames for safely launching astronauts from the United 

States to the ISS. 

Space and Flight Support.—The recommendation includes no 

less than the fiscal year 2017 levels to modernize and upgrade both 

the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) and Kennedy Space Center 

(KSC) launch and range complexes. The Committee supports maintaining launch sites serving the ISS at both the WFF and KSC to 

ensure uninterrupted domestic cargo access to the ISS. 

Commercial cargo.—NASA shall continue to provide quarterly 

updates on the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)–1 and CRS– 

2 contracts and associated milestones. The Committee looks forward to the forthcoming Inspector General (IG) report on the commercial cargo program. 

Venture Class Launch Services.—The recommendation includes 

up to $25,000,000 to support NASA’s Venture Class Launch Services initiative, which contracts for CubeSat satellites to foster a 

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loads. NASA shall keep the Committee informed of the two demonstration launches planned for 2018 as well as future efforts to 

maximize this program that will lower costs and increase access to 

space. 

EDUCATION

The Committee recommends $90,000,000 for Education, which is 

$10,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and $52,700,000 above the request. The Committee understands that the Office of Education is 

undergoing a series of internal reviews and assessments; NASA 

shall brief the Committee when these assessments are concluded. 

The Committee expects NASA to continue implementing the programs below and to ensure that overhead costs to support these 

programs do not exceed five percent. 

National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program.—The 

recommendation includes $40,000,000 for the Space Grant program. This amount shall be allocated to State consortia for competitively awarded grants in support of local, regional, and national 

STEM needs. 

Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research 

(EPSCoR).—The recommendation includes $18,000,000 for 

EPSCoR. 

Minority University Research Education Program (MUREP).— 

The recommendation includes $32,000,000 for the MUREP program. 

SAFETY, SECURITY AND MISSION SERVICES

The Committee recommends $2,826,200,000 for Safety, Security 

and Mission Services, which is $57,600,000 above fiscal year 2017. 

University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs).—The Committee 

believes that NASA should pursue additional partnerships with 

academia under the UARC model. UARCs, which are designed to 

ensure the development of essential engineering and advanced 

technology capabilities free from real or perceived interest, are expected to be at the forefront of science and innovation and conduct 

research that can lead to revolutionary and game changing capabilities. UARCs would enable NASA to establish a sustainable path 

for infusing advanced technology and science, leverage innovations 

spurred by the commercial space industry, and continue to recruit 

and maintain a highly skilled workforce. NASA shall examine its 

current UARC activities and provide a report to the Committee 

within 180 days of enactment of this Act on how NASA may look 

to establish additional such partnerships. 

Security.—NASA shall continue to submit quarterly reports on 

the agency’s progress in implementing the corrective actions recommended by the National Academy of Public Administration, the 

GAO and the NASA IG with respect to security compliance protocols and foreign national access management. NASA shall also include in these reports its progress in meeting the Aerospace Safety 

Advisory Panel 2016 report recommendation that ‘‘. . . NASA 

make it a matter of policy that priority is given to obtaining the 

appropriate level of security clearance for all personnel essential to 

implementing the Enterprise Protection Program’’ . . . Finally, the 

Committee looks forward to receiving an independent assessment 

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of NASA’s implementation of various security enhancements as directed in House Report 114–605. 

Bilateral activities.—The recommendation maintains bill language directing that NASA, in consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall confirm or otherwise certify that NASA 

bilateral activities with China are in compliance with section 529 

of this bill. 

Cybersecurity.—The recommendation includes up to $72,800,000, 

as requested, for cybersecurity to accelerate personal identity 

verification compliance, improve the detection and response to malicious activity, and to develop and deploy information technology 

portfolio tools and processes. NASA shall provide a report to the 

Committee within 180 days of enactment of this Act that addresses 

the deficiencies included in the NASA IG Final Memorandum, Federal Information Security Modernization Act: Fiscal Year 2016 

Evaluation (IG–17–002; A–16–009–00) and other relevant GAO and 

IG reports on cybersecurity and include as part of this report timeframes for addressing each of the deficiencies noted. 

GAO assessments of large-scale projects.—NASA shall continue to 

cooperate fully and provide timely information to the GAO so that 

it may fulfill its congressional mandate to report on the status of 

large-scale projects at NASA. Such information includes, but is not 

limited to, copies of preliminary cost estimates; access to online 

agency applications, databases, and web portals; and access to contractor and agency personnel. These assessments shall include any 

technology demonstration activities or communications and tracking services and related infrastructure refreshment activities which 

have life cycle costs that exceed $250,000,000. 

Cost breach reporting.—NASA shall submit to the Committee any 

notifications and reports on cost overruns required by section 103 

of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005, Public Law 109–155. 

Property disposal.—The Committee notes that it is awaiting a report required by the fiscal year 2017 appropriations Act regarding 

the sale or disposal of real and personal property. 

Working Capital Fund (WCF) reporting.—NASA shall continue to 

submit quarterly reports to the Committee on the expenditures and 

unobligated balances of NASA’s WCF. 

Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V).—The recommendation includes no less than the fiscal year 2017 operating 

level for the IV&V program. If necessary, NASA shall fund additional IV&V activities from within the mission directorates that 

make use of IV&V services. 

Quality control.—Given the results of the March 29, 2017, NASA 

IG audit, NASA’s Parts Quality Control Process, which found that 

NASA Centers generally manage their parts quality and supplier 

assessment data unilaterally rather than collaborating through a 

comprehensive, integrated, Agency-wide parts and supplier information system, the Committee encourages NASA to examine the 

need for a quality management policy, to include the need to require contractors and suppliers to adopt electronic quality management platforms. 

68 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

The Committee recommends $486,100,000 for Construction and 

Environmental Compliance and Restoration, which is $125,400,000 

above fiscal year 2017. 

Reimbursable agreements.—NASA shall submit a report within 

120 days of enactment of this Act that lists reimbursements each 

NASA Center has received from government or private sector partners since fiscal year 2015. 

Long-term infrastructure plan.—NASA shall provide a report 

within 120 days of enactment of this Act that includes a list of 

maintenance and repair projects for each NASA Center, as well as 

new construction projects planned for those Centers satisfactorily 

implementing repair-by-replacement facility master plans. For 

these potential new construction projects, NASA shall note the intended construction standard, e.g. LEED level, and include separate costs associated with construction and expected savings as a 

result of new building construction. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Committee recommends $37,900,000 for the Office of Inspector General, which is the same as fiscal year 2017. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The Committee has included the following administrative provisions for NASA: 

The bill includes a provision that makes funds for any announced 

prize available without fiscal year limitation until the prize is 

claimed or the offer is withdrawn. 

The bill includes a provision that establishes terms and conditions for the transfer of funds. 

The bill includes a provision that requires NASA to submit its 

agency spending plan at the activity level and subjects both the 

spending plan and specified changes to that plan to reprogramming 

procedures under section 505 of this Act. 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The Committee commends the National Science Foundation 

(NSF) and its academic partners for the January 2017, detection of 

gravitational waves from the merger of two black holes some 3 billion light years away from Earth using the twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors. The Committee supports infrastructure investments such as these that expand our understanding of the universe and inspire students to 

pursue careers in the sciences. The Committee recognizes that current and future large scientific facilities represent an enormous investment of Federal resources that must be administered wisely. 

Within amounts provided, NSF shall allocate no less than fiscal 

year 2017 levels to support its existing research laboratories, observational networks, and other research infrastructure assets, including the astronomy assets, the current academic research fleet including global class vessels with unique seismic capabilities, Federally funded research and development centers, and the national 

69 

high performance computing centers, so they may provide the support needed for cutting edge research. 

RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

The Committee recommends $6,033,645,000 for Research and Related Activities, which is equal to fiscal year 2017 and 

$671,995,000 above the request. 

The Committee does not adopt the Administration’s proposal to 

reduce Research and Related Activities. The Committee believes 

that strategic investments in the physical science areas are vitally 

important for the United States to remain the global leader in innovation, productivity, economic growth, and good-paying jobs for 

the future. 

Ocean Exploration.—NSF is encouraged to expand support for 

the National Deep Submergence Facility’s remotely-operated vehicle operations for open sourced telepresence discovery-based research and education expeditions. 

Neuroscience research.—The Committee continues to support 

funding for neuroscience research. 

Fire research.—The Committee recognizes the significant impact 

that fire has on numerous industries in the United States, including the aerospace, manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Improving the scientific understanding of fire will support key industries 

as well as improve our ability to safeguard property and lives. The 

Committee encourages NSF to examine its current portfolio of fire 

research to ensure that it is adequately addressing this area. 

Abstracts and the national interest.—The Committee underscores 

the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (Public Law 

114–329), which directs NSF to issue and periodically update, as 

appropriate, policy guidance for both Foundation staff and other 

Foundation merit review process participants on the importance of 

transparency and accountability to the outcomes made through the 

merit review process. Further, this law directs that each public notice of a Foundation-funded research project justify the expenditure 

of Federal funds by describing how the project reflects the statutory mission of the Foundation, as established in the National 

Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.); addresses 

the Foundation’s intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria; 

and clearly identifies the research goals of the project in a manner 

that can be easily understood by both technical and non-technical 

audiences. Further, this legislation directs NSF to apply a broader 

impacts review criterion to identify and demonstrate project support of the following goals: increasing the economic competitiveness 

of the United States; advancing of the health and welfare of the 

American public; supporting the national defense of the United 

States; enhancing partnerships between academia and industry in 

the United States; developing an American STEM workforce that 

is globally competitive through improved pre-kindergarten through 

grade 12 STEM education and teacher development, and improved 

undergraduate STEM education and instruction; improving public 

scientific literacy and engagement with science and technology in 

the United States; or expanding participation of women and individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM. 

70 

Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research 

(EPSCoR).—Within amounts provided, $170,690,000 is for 

EPSCoR. 

Astronomy assets.—The Committee underscores that a critical 

component of the nation’s scientific enterprise is the infrastructure 

that supports researchers in discovery science, including planetary 

protection. Investments to advance the frontiers of research and 

education in science and engineering are critical to the nation’s innovation enterprise. U.S.-based astronomy facilities continue to 

make groundbreaking discoveries and maintain excellent worldclass scientific research. The Committee expects NSF to sustain 

support for the programs and scientific facilities funded by the Astronomical Sciences Division at no less than the fiscal year 2017 

levels to maintain full scientific and educational operations. NSF 

shall not implement any final divestment of infrastructure tied to 

the findings of its 2012 Astronomical Sciences Portfolio Review 

without first reporting such actions to the Committee. Further, any 

such actions shall be carried out in accordance with relevant reprogramming requirements and new language directing Committee 

notification prior to disposal of assets. The Committee is aware 

that NSF is working with Federal, academic and private sector 

partners to develop plans to share future operations and maintenance costs of NSF astronomical infrastructure. NSF shall keep the 

Committee informed of these activities. 

Computer Information Science and Engineering (CISE).—The 

Committee supports CISE efforts to work with the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings within Education and Human Resources to build on current efforts to support 

computer science education in Pre-K–12 classrooms. 

International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).—The recommendation provides $48,000,000, as requested, for the IODP. 

The Committee notes that in addition to this funding, the IODP 

program derives funding from international and/or industry partners to maximize operation time on the JOIDES Resolution ocean 

research vessel. The Committee supports the goal of operating five 

research missions a year on the JOIDES Resolution. 

Marine seismic research.—NSF-funded marine research vessels 

with unique seismic capabilities are used by the academic community to provide images of the Earth’s structure miles below the 

seafloor and support a variety of important undersea research efforts. The Committee encourages NSF and its academic partners to 

ensure that the academic marine geology and geophysics community can continue to have access to NSF-funded marine seismic research vessel capabilities. 

Indirect costs.—In testimony delivered in May 2017, Preliminary 

Observations on Indirect Costs for Research (GAO–17–576T), GAO 

provided its preliminary review of trends in indirect costs for NSF’s 

research and education awards and its process for setting indirect 

cost rates. The Committee directs NSF to address GAO’s preliminary findings from its interim assessment as well as any recommendations that are made in GAO’s final report and provide a 

report within 120 days of enactment of this Act on NSF’s progress 

in implementing any GAO recommendations regarding indirect 

costs for research; the reasons for the increase in indirect costs as 

a percentage of annual award funding since 2010; and the variation 

71 

in budgeted indirect costs across different types of NSF research 

and education awards. 

MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION

The Committee recommends $77,800,000 for Major Research 

Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC). 

Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).—The recommendation 

includes $57,800,000, the requested amount, for LSST. LSST, 

which was ranked as the top large ground-based astronomy project 

by the National Research Council 2010 Decadal Survey, will 

produce the deepest, widest-field sky image ever, and issue alerts 

for moving and transient objects within 60 seconds of discovery. 

NSF shall provide quarterly briefings to the Committee on the status of LSST, to include updates on resolution of issues identified 

by the NSF IG. 

Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST).—The recommendation 

includes the requested amount of $20,000,000 for DKIST, which 

when complete will be the most powerful solar observatory. NSF 

shall provide quarterly briefings to the Committee on the status of 

DKIST, to include updates on resolution of issues identified by the 

NSF IG. 

Antarctic program.—The recommendation fully funds the requested amount for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization for 

Science program which follows recommendations for increased efficiencies included in the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel 

report, More and Better Science in Antarctica through Increased 

Logistical Effectiveness. 

EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES

The Committee recommends $880,000,000 for Education and 

Human Resources (EHR), which is the same as fiscal year 2017 

and $119,450,000 above the request. 

STEM-focused K–12 schools.—The Committee notes that prior 

National Research Council and National Science Board reports 

have encouraged education researchers and policymakers to give 

increased consideration to STEM-focused K–12 schools as an effective means of increasing STEM literacy. With those reports in 

mind, the Committee encourages NSF to work within its existing 

programs to promote opportunities for collaboration between universities or non-profit research institutions and STEM-focused 

schools serving K–12 students. 

Advanced Technological Education (ATE).—The recommendation 

provides no less than the fiscal year 2017 level for the ATE program. 

STEM education.—NSF shall continue to award competitive, 

merit-reviewed grants to support STEM education as authorized by 

the STEM Education Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–59). 

Broadening participation programs.—To broaden the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM education programs 

and, ultimately, the STEM workforce, the recommendation provides no less than $35,000,000 for the Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities Undergraduate Program; $46,000,000 for the 

Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation; $36,530,000 for 

the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program; and $14,000,000 

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couraged to coordinate with youth-serving institutions focused on 

underserved populations. In addition, over the past several years, 

this Committee has encouraged NSF to create a program within 

EHR to focus on Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). Such a program was authorized by section 7033 of the America COMPETES 

Act (Public Law 110–69). The Committee reminds NSF that language was included in Public Law 115–31, the fiscal year 2017 appropriations Act, directing NSF to establish such an HSI program 

at no less than $15,000,000. The Committee provides the same 

level of funding for fiscal year 2018 and encourages NSF to use this 

program to build capacity at institutions of higher education that 

typically do not receive high levels of NSF funding. NSF shall provide a report on this program no later than 120 days after enactment of this Act that demonstrates such an investment no later 

than September 30, 2018. 

Innovation Corps.—The recommendation includes no less than 

the fiscal year 2017 level for the NSF Innovation Corps program 

to support new and existing I-Corps Teams, Sites, and Nodes. 

Cybersecurity Research.—The Committee encourages NSF to 

form partnerships with Hispanic Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities with respect to cybersecurity 

research. 

AGENCY OPERATIONS AND AWARD MANAGEMENT

The Committee recommends $328,510,000 for Agency Operations 

and Award Management, which is $1,490,000 below fiscal year 

2017 and the same as the request. 

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

The Committee recommends $4,370,000, which is the same as 

fiscal year 2017 and the same as the request, for the National 

Science Board. 

Infrastructure.—The Committee is supportive of recent actions to 

lower the MREFC threshold but encourages the National Science 

Board to consider further changes that would bridge the gap between the Major Research Instrumentation program and the 

MREFC account while also developing processes appropriate for 

mid-scale infrastructure, cyberinfrastructure, and instrument upgrades to be funded through the MREFC account. The Board shall, 

in collaboration with the National Academies, examine these requirements and report to the Committee within 180 days after enactment of this Act regarding its recommendations on how to address this matter within the confines of a restricted funding environment. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Committee recommends $15,200,000 for the Office of Inspector General, which is the same as fiscal year 2017. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The bill includes a provision that establishes thresholds for the 

transfer of funds. 

73 

The bill includes a new provision regarding notification prior to 

acquisition or disposal of certain assets. 

TITLE IV 

RELATED AGENCIES 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $9,183,000 for the Commission on 

Civil Rights, which is $17,000 below fiscal year 2017 and the same 

as the request. 

Prioritizing completion of the report titled ‘A Quiet Crisis’.—The 

Committee expects the Commission to prioritize updating their 

2003 report entitled ‘‘A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet 

Needs in Indian Country’’. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $363,807,000 for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which is $693,000 below 

fiscal year 2017 and the same as the request. 

Backlog reduction.—The Committee expects the EEOC to 

prioritize inventory reduction rather than allocate resources for 

systematic changes in which no complaint was filed by an actual/ 

former employee or applicant. EEOC shall provide an annual report on the backlog, to include data on the number and pendency 

of charges, on any changes to EEOC’s priority charge handling procedures, and the effect of such changes on inventory reduction. 

Conciliation.—The Committee is concerned with the EEOC’s pursuit of litigation absent good faith conciliation efforts. The Committee directs the EEOC to engage in such efforts before undertaking litigation. 

State and Local Enforcement Assistance.—The Committee recommends up to $29,500,000 to assist State and local enforcement 

agencies. The Committee continues to believe that none of these 

funds should be used for tester programs. 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $92,500,000 for the International 

Trade Commission (ITC), which is $1,000,000 above fiscal year 

2017 and $4,885,000 above the request. 

Cybersecurity.—ITC handles sensitive and proprietary data and 

therefore is a potential target for cyber attacks. The Committee expects ITC to prioritize efforts to improve its cybersecurity posture. 

The Committee also encourages ITC to work with other relevant 

Federal agencies to inform its actions. 

74 

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

PAYMENT TO THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

The Committee recommends $300,000,000 for the Legal Services 

Corporation (LSC), which is $85,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and 

$267,000,000 above the request. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION—LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

The bill continues restrictions on the uses of LSC funding. None 

of the funds appropriated in this Act to the LSC shall be expended 

for any purpose prohibited or limited by, or contrary to any of the 

provisions of, sections 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, and 506 of Public 

Law 105–119, and all funds appropriated in this Act to the LSC 

shall be subject to the same terms and conditions set forth in such 

sections, except that all references in sections 502 and 503 to 1997 

and 1998 shall be deemed to refer instead to 2017 and 2018, respectively. 

Unauthorized uses of funds.—The Inspector General (IG) of the 

LSC is encouraged to conduct annual audits of LSC grantees to ensure that funds are not used in contravention of the restrictions on 

engaging in political activities, representing illegal immigrants, or 

any of the other restrictions by which LSC grantees are required 

to abide. The Committee recommends the removal of funds from 

any LSC grantee determined by the IG to have engaged in unauthorized activity. 

MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $3,431,000 for the Marine Mammal 

Commission, which is the same as fiscal year 2017 and $982,000 

above the request. 

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

The Committee recommends $68,000,000 for the Office of the 

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), which is $6,000,000 above fiscal 

year 2017 and $10,400,000 above the request. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $53,000,000 for the salaries and expenses of USTR, which is $9,000,000 below fiscal year 2017 and 

$4,600,000 below the request. 

China.—The Committee expects that USTR will coordinate and 

implement a comprehensive and vigorous strategy to address the 

United States’ trade imbalance with China. Within the amounts 

provided, the USTR is encouraged to maintain staff who can translate trade documents that USTR receives from China. The Committee believes that USTR should have its own translators on staff 

given the challenges associated with enforcing existing U.S. trade 

laws with China. 

U.S.-India bilateral trade and investment.—The Committee notes 

the importance of U.S.-India bilateral trade and investment. However, the Committee is concerned that India, while striving to improve its economic growth, has been enacting a series of policies to 

75 

increase domestic manufacturing and protect domestic industries 

and agricultural production that discriminate against U.S. exports 

and investment. The Committee is concerned about the standards 

of intellectual property protection and forced localization measures, 

as well as the unfair treatment by India of U.S. exports of American-produced boric acid, the illegal rebranding and smuggling of 

U.S.-grown almonds into India, and a whole host of other market 

access issues. The Committee understands the Trade Representative has raised these unfair barriers to trade multiple times with 

the Indian government and supports the efforts of USTR to resolve 

these issues. 

Free trade agreements.—The Committee directs USTR to continue to pursue free trade agreements with additional countries 

and trading blocs to continue advancing trade to and from the 

United States. 

TRADE ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends $15,000,000, which is to be derived 

from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund, for trade enforcement activities authorized by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. No funds were requested from this Fund. 

STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Committee recommends $5,111,000 for the State Justice Institute, which is $10,000 less than fiscal year 2017 and same as the 

request. 

TITLE V 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

Section 501 prohibits the use of funds for publicity or propaganda 

purposes unless expressly authorized by law. 

Section 502 prohibits any appropriation contained in this Act 

from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal 

year unless expressly authorized. 

Section 503 provides that the expenditure of any appropriation 

contained in this Act for any consulting service through procurement contracts shall be limited to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law or 

under existing Executive order issued pursuant to existing law. 

Section 504 provides that if any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held 

invalid, the remainder of the Act and the application of other provisions shall not be affected. 

Section 505 prohibits a reprogramming of funds that: (1) creates 

or initiates a new program, project, or activity; (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel by any 

76 

means for any project or activity for which funds have been denied 

or restricted; (4) relocates an office or employees; (5) reorganizes or 

renames offices, programs, or activities; (6) contracts out or 

privatizes any function or activity presently performed by Federal 

employees; (7) augments funds for existing programs, projects, or 

activities in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, or 

reduces by 10 percent funding for any program, project, or activity, 

or numbers of personnel by 10 percent; or (8) results from any general savings, including savings from a reduction in personnel, 

which would result in a change in existing programs, activities, or 

projects as approved by Congress, unless the House and Senate 

Committees on Appropriations are notified 15 days in advance of 

such reprogramming of funds. 

Section 506 provides that if it is determined that any person intentionally affixes a ‘‘Made in America’’ label to any product that 

was not made in America that person shall not be eligible to receive any contract or subcontract made with funds made available 

in this Act. The section further provides that to the extent practicable, with respect to purchases of promotional items, funds made 

available under this Act shall be used to purchase items manufactured, produced, or assembled in the United States or its territories 

or possessions. 

Section 507 requires quarterly reporting to Congress on the status of balances of appropriations. 

Section 508 provides that any costs incurred by a department or 

agency funded under this Act resulting from, or to prevent, personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions in this Act, 

or, for the Department of Commerce, from actions taken for the 

care and protection of loan collateral or grant property, shall be absorbed within the budgetary resources available to the department 

or agency, and provides transfer authority between appropriation 

accounts to carry out this provision, subject to reprogramming procedures. 

Section 509 prohibits funds made available in this Act from being 

used to promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products 

or to seek the reduction or removal of foreign restrictions on the 

marketing of tobacco products, except for restrictions which are not 

applied equally to all tobacco or tobacco products of the same type. 

This provision is not intended to impact routine international trade 

services to all U.S. citizens, including the processing of applications 

to establish foreign trade zones. 

Section 510 limits the obligation of receipts deposited into the 

Crime Victims Fund to $4,632,000,000 during fiscal year 2018. The 

language also provides for a tribal set-aside. 

Section 511 prohibits the use of Department of Justice funds for 

programs that discriminate against or denigrate the religious or 

moral beliefs of students participating in such programs. This provision was requested by the President and has been included in the 

bill since 1999. 

Section 512 prohibits the transfer of funds made available in this 

Act to any department, agency or instrumentality of the United 

States Government, except for transfers made by, or pursuant to 

authorities provided in, this Act or any other appropriations Act. 

77 

Section 513 provides that funds provided in this Act for E Government Initiatives shall be subject to the procedures set forth in 

section 505 of this Act. 

Section 514 prohibits funds for acquisition of certain information 

systems unless the acquiring department or agency has reviewed 

and assessed certain risks. Any acquisition of such an information 

system is contingent upon the development of a risk mitigation 

strategy and a determination that the acquisition is in the national 

interest. Each department or agency covered by this section shall 

consult with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other 

relevant agencies when reviewing supply chain risks and making 

a determination that the acquisition is in the national interest. 

Each department or agency covered by this section is directed to 

ensure it is following the criteria established by the FBI and the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology when acquiring or 

renewing certain information systems. Each department or agency 

covered under this section shall submit a quarterly report to the 

Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate describing 

reviews and assessments of risk made pursuant to this section and 

any associated findings or determinations. 

Section 515 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to support or justify the use of torture by any official or contract 

employee of the United States Government. 

Section 516 permanently prohibits the use of funds to require 

certain export licenses. 

Section 517 permanently prohibits the use of funds to deny certain import applications regarding ‘‘curios or relics’’ firearms, parts, 

or ammunition. 

Section 518 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to include certain language in trade agreements. 

Section 519 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to authorize or issue a national security letter (NSL) in contravention of certain laws authorizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation to issue NSLs. 

Section 520 requires congressional notification regarding any 

project within the Departments of Commerce or Justice, the National Science Foundation or the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration totaling more than $75,000,000 that has cost increases of 10 percent or more. 

Section 521 deems funds for intelligence or intelligence related 

activities as authorized by Congress during fiscal year 2018 until 

the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 

2018. 

Section 522 prohibits contracts or grant awards in excess of $5,000,000 unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies 

that the organization has filed all Federal tax returns, has not 

been convicted of a criminal offense under the Internal Revenue 

Code of 1986, and has no unpaid Federal tax assessment. 

(RESCISSIONS)

Section 523 provides for rescissions of unobligated balances from 

the Departments of Commerce and Justice. 

Section 524 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

for the purchase of first class or premium air travel in contravention of certain Federal travel regulations. 

78 

Section 525 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to pay for the attendance of more than 50 department or agency 

employees, who are stationed in the United States, at any single 

conference outside the United States, unless the conference is a law 

enforcement training or operational event where the majority of 

Federal attendees are law enforcement personnel stationed outside 

the United States. 

Section 526 prohibits the use of funds in this or any other Act 

for the transfer or release of certain individuals detained at United 

States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to or within the 

United States, its territories, or possessions. 

Section 527 prohibits the use of funds in this or any other 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 United States Naval Station, 

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or control of the Department of Defense. 

Section 528 requires tracking and reporting of undisbursed balances in expired grant accounts. 

Section 529 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) or 

the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to engage in bilateral activities with China or a Chinese-owned company unless 

the activities are authorized by subsequent legislation or NASA or 

OSTP after consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation 

have made a certification pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this 

section. 

Section 530 permanently prohibits funds from being used to deny 

the importation of shotgun models if no application for the importation of such models, in the same configuration, had been denied 

prior to January 1, 2011, on the basis that the shotgun was not 

particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes. 

Section 531 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to establish or maintain a computer network that does not block 

pornography, except for law enforcement or victim assistance purposes. 

Section 532 requires each department and agency funded in the 

bill to submit spending plans. 

Section 533 prohibits funds made available by this Act to implement the Arms Trade Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification. 

Section 534 requires a quarterly report from the Department of 

Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 

and the National Science Foundation on official travel to China. 

Section 535 requires not less than 10 percent of the funds provided for certain programs be provided to persistent poverty counties. 

Section 536 prohibits funds to approve the registration, renewal, 

or maintenance of the registration of a mark, trade mark, trade 

name, or commercial name when the mark, trade mark, trade 

name, or commercial name was unlawfully confiscated in Cuba. 

Section 537 prohibits funds from being used to require a person 

licensed under section 923 of title 18, United States Code, to report 

information to the Department of Justice regarding the sale of multiple rifles or shotguns to the same person. 

79 

Section 538 allows States to bring a civil action against the 

United States to restore the sovereignty reserved to the States by 

the Constitution. 

Section 539 prohibits funds to move a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives facility. 

Section 540 prohibits funds to enter into a civil settlement agreement on behalf of the United States that includes certain donations. 

Section 541 prohibits funds for implementing or enforcing the 

designation of critical habitat for Atlantic Sturgeon in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

Section 542 prohibits funds for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for collection of information as set forth in the 

notice published July 14, 2016. 

SPENDING REDUCTION ACCOUNT

Section 543 establishes a Spending Reduction Account. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 

The following materials are submitted in accordance with various 

requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives: 

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES

80 


Insert graphic folio 94 here HR231.001

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 1 

Date: Julyl3, 2017 

Measure: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2018 

Motion by: Mr. Serrano 

Description of Motion: To prohibit funds for the Department of Justice for litigation or appraisal expenses 

related to the acquisition of land, including through the exercise of eminent domain, by the Department of 

Homeland Security related to a wall or fence along the border with Mexico. 

Results: Defeated 21 yeas to 31 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Bishop 

Ms. Clark 

Mr. Cuellar 

Ms. DeLauro 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms. Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Paean 

Mr. Price 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Serrano 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr. Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cartwright 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Jenkins 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rogers 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Yoder 

Mr. Young 
81 


Insert graphic folio 95 here HR231.002

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule X Ill of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 2 

Date: July 13, 2017 

Measure: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2018 

Motion by: Mrs. Lowey 

Description of Motion: To authorize the Attorney General to deny transfers of firearms to persons if he 

determines, when considering the totality of circumstances, that there is a reasonable suspicion the person is or 

has been engaged in conduct related to terrorism; to invoke a remedial and judicial review process for such 

persons after denial; and to require notification to the Attorney General of attempts to purchase firearms by 

individuals who are, or have been within the last 5 years, the subject of a terrorism investigation. 

Results: Defeated 20 yeas to 32 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Ms. DeLauro 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms. Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Pocan 

Mr. Price 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Serrano 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr.Amodei 

Mr. Bishop 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Cuellar 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Jenkins 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rogers 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Yoder 

Mr. Young 
82 


Insert graphic folio 96 here HR231.003

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIll of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 3 

Date: July 13, 2017 

Measure: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2018 

Motion by: Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Description of Motion: To prohibit funds to issue, renew, or maintain a security clearance for an individual in 

the Executive Office of the President who is under a criminal investigation for aiding a foreign government. 

Results: Defeated 22 yeas to 30 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Bishop 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Mr. Cuellar 

Ms. DeLaura 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms.Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Pocan 

Mr. Price 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Serrano 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr. Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Jenkins 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rogers 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Yoder 

Mr. Young 
83 


Insert graphic folio 97 here HR231.004

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 4 

Date: July !3,2017 

Measure: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 20 18 

Motion by: Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Description of Motion: To prohibit funds to be used to issue, renew, or maintain a security clearance for an 

individual in the Executive Office of the President who deliberately fails to disclose in Standard Form 86 a 

meeting with a foreign national if such disclosure is required for such form. 

Results: Defeated 22 yeas to 30 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Bishop 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Mr. Cuellar 

Ms. DeLaura 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms. Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Paean 

Mr. Price 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Serrano 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr.Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Jenkins 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rogers 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Yoder 

Mr. Young 
84 


Insert graphic folio 98 here HR231.005

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 5 

Date: July 13, 2017 

Measure: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2018 

Motion by: Dr. Harris 

Description of Motion: To prohibit Equal Employment Opportunity Commission funds for the collection of 

information as set forth in a notice published on July 14,2016. 

Results: Adopted 29 yeas to 20 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr.Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Jenkins 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rogers 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Yoder 

Mr. Young 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Bishop 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Mr. Cuellar 

Ms. DeLauro 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms. Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Pocan 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Serrano 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 
85 


Insert graphic folio 99 here HR231.006

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule Xlll of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 6 

Date: July 13, 2017 

Measure: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2018 

Motion by: Mr. Serrano 

Description of Motion: To increase funding for various accounts in the bill. 

Results: Defeated 22 yeas to 30 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Bishop 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Mr. Cuellar 

Ms. DeLauro 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms.Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Pocan 

Mr. Price 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Serrano 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr. Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Jenkins 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rogers 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Yoder 

Mr. Young 
86 


Insert graphic folio 100 here HR231.007

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule X Ill of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 7 

Date: July 13,2017 

Measure: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 20 18 

Motion by: Mrs. Lowey 

Description of Motion: To prohibit funds to deliberately obstruct, hinder, frustrate, impede, or prevent any 

investigative work conducted by either Robert S. Mueller Ill or the Office of the Special Counsel related to a 

specific investigation. 

Results: Defeated 23 yeas to 29 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Bishop 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Mr. Cuellar 

Ms. DeLaura 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms. Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Paean 

Mr. Price 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Serrano 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Mr. Yoder 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr.Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Jenkins 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rogers 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Young 
87 


Insert graphic folio 101 here HR231.008

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 8 

Date: July 13, 2017 

Measure: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2018 

Motion by: Mr. Rogers 

Description of Motion: To report the bill to the House, as amended. 

Results: Adopted 31 yeas to 21 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr.Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Cuellar 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Jenkins 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rogers 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Young 

Mr. Yoder 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Bishop 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Ms. DeLauro 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms. Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Pocan 

Mr. Price 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Serrano 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 
88 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is a statement of general performance goals and objectives for which this measure authorizes funding: The Committee on Appropriations considers program performance, including a program’s success in developing and attaining 

outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing funding recommendations. 

RESCISSION OF FUNDS

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following table is submitted describing the 

rescissions recommended in the accompanying bill: 

Department of Commerce 

Economic Development Assistance Programs ........................... $47,000,000 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Operations, Research, and Facilities .............................................. 20,000,000 

Department of Justice 

Working Capital Fund ................................................................ 409,834,000 

Legal Activities, Assets Forfeiture Fund ................................... 304,000,000 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fees ...................................... 195,000,000 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Salaries and Expenses ........ 53,365,000 

State and Local Law Enforcement 

Assistance Office on Violence Against Women, Violence 

Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs 17,500,000 

Office of Justice Programs ................................................... 60,000,000 

Community Oriented Policing Services .............................. 17,500,000 

TRANSFERS OF FUNDS

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is submitted describing the transfers of funds provided in the accompanying bill: 

In title I, under Bureau of the Census, Periodic Censuses and 

Programs, language is included to transfer funds to the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General. 

Under U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Salaries and Expenses, language is included to transfer funds to the Civil Service 

Retirement and Disability Fund, the Federal Employees Health 

Benefit Fund, the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Fund, 

and the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General. 

Under National Institute of Standards and Technology, Scientific 

and Technical Research and Services, language is included allowing for transfers to the Working Capital Fund. 

Under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Operations, Research, and Facilities, language is included to transfer 

funds from the Promote and Develop Fishery Products and Research Pertaining to American Fisheries fund. 

Under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction, language is included to 

transfer funds to the Department of Commerce, Office of the Inspector General. 

Under Renovation and Modernization, language is included allowing for the transfer of funds. 

Section 103 provides for the transfer of funds between Department of Commerce appropriations in certain circumstances. 

89 

In title II, under General Administration, Justice Information 

Sharing Technology, language is included allowing for the transfer 

of funds. 

Under General Administration, Executive Office for Immigration 

Review, language is included to transfer funds to the Executive Office for Immigration Review from fees deposited in the Immigration 

Examinations Fee account. 

Under Legal Activities, Salaries and Expenses, Community Relations Service, language is included allowing for the transfer of 

funds in certain circumstances. 

Under United States Marshals Service, Federal Prisoner Detention, language is included transferring available unobligated balances from General Administration, Detention Trustee to this account. 

Under National Security Division, Salaries and Expenses, language is included allowing for the transfer of funds in certain circumstances. 

Under Federal Prison System, Salaries and Expenses, language 

is included to allow the transfer of funds to the Department of 

Health and Human Services. 

Under State and Local Law Enforcement Activities, Office on Violence Against Women, Violence Against Women Prevention and 

Prosecution Programs, language is included to allow the transfer of 

funds in certain circumstances. 

Under State and Local Law Enforcement Activities, Public Safety 

Officer Benefits, language is included to allow the transfer of funds 

in certain circumstances. 

Under State and Local Law Enforcement Activities, Community 

Oriented Policing Services, Community Oriented Policing Services 

Programs, language is included transferring funds to the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Section 205 provides language for the transfer of funds between 

Department of Justice appropriations in certain circumstances. 

Section 212 provides language for the transfer of funds between 

certain grant funds and the National Institute of Justice and the 

Bureau of Justice Statistics. 

Section 213 provides language for the transfer of funds between 

certain grant funds for tribal criminal justice assistance. 

In title III, under National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Administrative Provisions, language is included allowing for 

the transfer of funds among appropriations. 

Under National Science Foundation, Administrative Provisions, 

language is included allowing for the transfer of funds among appropriations. 

Under United States Trade Representative, Trade Enforcement 

Trust Fund, language is included providing for the transfer of 

funds. 

Under General Provisions, Section 508 provides for the transfer 

of funds in certain circumstances, and Section 523 provides for 

transfers into the Department of Justice Working Capital Fund. 

90 

DISCLOSURE OF EARMARKS AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED

SPENDING ITEMS

Neither the bill nor the report contain any Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 

clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMPLIANCE WITH RULE XIII, CL. 3(e) (RAMSEYER RULE) 

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee notes that the accompanying bill does not propose to repeal or amend a statute or part 

thereof. 

CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted 

describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill which 

directly or indirectly change the application of existing law. 

Language is included for a number of accounts placing limitations on representation and reception allowances in order to restrict the amount of money that would otherwise be spent on these 

activities. The bill also provides that a number of appropriations 

shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year. 

While these provisions are not specifically authorized for all of the 

items, it is deemed desirable to include such language for certain 

programs in order to provide for orderly administration and effective use of funds. 

In title I, Department of Commerce, under International Trade 

Administration, Operations and Administration, language is included providing that funds may be used for engaging in trade promotion activities abroad, including expenses of grants and cooperative agreements, for the purposes of promoting exports of U.S. 

firms. Language is also provided allowing for full medical coverage 

for dependent members of immediate families of employees stationed overseas and employees temporarily posted overseas; travel 

and transportation of employees of the International Trade Administration; employment of Americans and aliens by contract for services; rental of space abroad and expenses of alteration, repair, or 

improvement; purchase or construction of temporary demountable 

exhibition structures for use abroad; and payment of tort claims. In 

addition, language is included regarding official representation expenses abroad, purchase of passenger motor vehicles for official use 

abroad, obtaining insurance on official motor vehicles, and rental 

of tie lines. Language is also recommended deriving a portion of 

available funds from fees. Furthermore, language is included designating funding for China antidumping and countervailing duty enforcement and compliance activities. Moreover, language is included providing for two-year availability of funds. Finally, language is included regarding the contributions under the Mutual 

Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. 

Under Bureau of Industry and Security, Operations and Administration, the language provides for no-year availability of funds. 

Language is included regarding the costs associated with the performance of export administration field activities both domestically 

and abroad; full medical coverage for dependent members of immeVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
91 

diate families of employees stationed overseas; employment of 

Americans and aliens by contract for services abroad; payment of 

tort claims; official representation expenses abroad; awards of compensation to informers; and purchase of passenger motor vehicles 

for official use and motor vehicles for law enforcement use without 

regard to any price limitation established by law. In addition, language is included regarding the Mutual Educational and Cultural 

Exchange Act of 1961. Finally, language is recommended providing 

that payments and contributions collected and accepted for materials or services may be retained for use in covering the cost of 

those activities and other communications. 

Under Economic Development Administration, Economic Development Assistance Programs, the language provides for no-year 

availability of funds. 

Also, under Salaries and Expenses, language is included regarding the monitoring of approved projects. 

Under Minority Business Development Agency, Minority Business Development, language is included making funds available for 

fostering, promoting, and developing minority business enterprises, 

including expenses of grants, contracts and other agreements. 

Under Bureau of Economic Analysis, Salaries and Expenses, language is included providing for two-year availability of funds. 

Under Bureau of the Census, Current Surveys and Programs, 

language is included providing that funds may be used for collecting, compiling, analyzing, preparing and publishing statistics 

and for promotion, outreach and marketing activities. Language is 

also included requiring the collection of certain data in a certain 

survey. 

Also, under Periodic Censuses and Programs, language is included providing two-year availability of funds. Language is also 

included providing that funds may be used for collecting, compiling, 

analyzing, preparing and publishing statistics and for promotion, 

outreach and marketing activities. In addition, language is included providing for a transfer to the ‘‘Office of Inspector General’’ 

account for activities associated with carrying out investigations 

and audits related to the Bureau of the Census. Finally, language 

is included withholding funds for certain Census information technology projects until the Bureau submits an expenditure plan. 

Under National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Salaries and Expenses, language is included permitting the Secretary of Commerce to charge Federal agencies for 

costs in spectrum management, analysis, operations, and related 

services; and to use such collections in telecommunications research. The language also allows the Secretary to retain and use 

as offsetting collections all funds transferred, or previously transferred for telecommunications research, engineering and activities 

by the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences of NTIA. Finally, 

language is included providing that funds so transferred shall remain available until expended. 

Also, under Public Telecommunications Facilities, Planning and 

Construction, language is included allowing recoveries and unobligated balances of funds previously appropriated to be available for 

the administration of all open grants until their expiration. 

Under United States Patent and Trademark Office, Salaries and 

Expenses, language is included providing that appropriated funds 

92 

be reduced as offsetting collections are assessed and collected. Language is including making funds available until expended and providing that funds received in excess of appropriations be deposited 

in a Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve fund, to be available until 

expended pursuant to the Director submitting a spending plan subject to section 505 of this Act, after which the funds shall be transferred to the Salaries and Expenses account. In addition, language 

is included limiting representation expenses. Language is also included regarding basic pay and certain retirement benefits. Additional language is included regarding USPTO’s financial statements. Furthermore, language is included providing that fees and 

surcharges charged are available to USPTO pursuant to section 

42(c) of title 35, United States Code. Finally, the language provides 

that an amount be transferred to the Office of Inspector General 

(OIG). 

Under National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 

Scientific and Technical Research and Services, language is included providing for no-year availability of funds. In addition, language is included allowing transfers to the Working Capital Fund. 

Language is included limiting funds for official reception and representation expenses. Finally, language is included allowing NIST 

to provide local transportation for a certain fellowship program. 

Also, under Industrial Technology Services, language is included 

providing no-year availability of funds. The language also designates an amount for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

and the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. 

In addition, under Construction of Research Facilities, language 

is included providing for no-year availability of funds. Language is 

also included regarding the submission of certain materials in support of construction budget requests. 

Under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA), Operations, Research, and Facilities, language is included 

allowing for two-year availability for funds, except for cooperative 

enforcement funds, which are available for three years. Language 

is also included allowing maintenance, operation, and hire of aircraft and vessels; grants, contracts, or other payments to nonprofit 

organizations for the purposes of conducting activities pursuant to 

cooperative agreements; and relocation of facilities. Language is included allowing fees and donations received by a particular office 

to be retained and used for expenses related to certain activities. 

In addition, language is included that provides that certain funds 

be derived from various sources and restricting their use to certain 

activities. Moreover, language is included specifying that deviations 

from amounts included in the report accompanying the Act shall be 

subject to section 505 of this Act. Finally, language is included providing for retired pay expenses. 

Also, under Procurement, Acquisition and Construction, language 

is included providing for three-year availability for funds, except 

for construction funds, which are available until expended. Language is also included providing that certain funds be derived from 

various sources. In addition, language is included specifying that 

deviations from amounts included in the report accompanying the 

Act shall be subject to section 505 of this Act. Language is included 

regarding the submission of certain materials in support of conVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
93 

struction budget requests. Language is included transferring an 

amount to the OIG. 

In addition, under Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery, language is 

included providing for two-year availability of funds. Language is 

also included allowing the Secretary of Commerce to issue grants 

to specific States and Federally recognized tribes for conservation 

projects for listed endangered or threatened salmon and steelhead 

populations, populations at risk to be so listed, and for maintaining 

populations necessary for the exercise of tribal treaty fishing 

rights, and for conservation of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead 

habitat, to be allocated under scientific and merit principles and 

not available for marketing activities; and requiring a State match. 

Furthermore, under Fishermen’s Contingency Fund, language is 

included providing for the appropriation of funds to be derived from 

receipts collected pursuant to Title IV of Public Law 95–372 and 

provides that these funds are available until expended. 

Moreover, under Fisheries Finance Program Account, language is 

included placing limitations on individual fishing quota loans and 

traditional direct loans. 

Under Departmental Management, Salaries and Expenses, language is included limiting funds for official reception and representation expenses. 

Under Renovation and Modernization, language is included making funds available until expended for renovations of a certain 

building and allowing funding to be transferred into the account in 

certain circumstances. 

Under Department of Commerce, General Provisions, the following general provisions that fall within the rule are recommended: 

Section 101 makes 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 the Department available 

for hire of passenger motor vehicles, for services, and for uniforms 

and allowances as authorized by law. 

Section 103 provides the authority to transfer funds between Department of Commerce appropriation accounts and requiring notification to the Committee of certain actions. 

Section 104 extends Congressional notification requirements for 

NOAA satellite programs and includes life cycle cost amounts for 

certain satellites. 

Section 105 provides for reimbursement for services within Department of Commerce buildings. 

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 the Administrator with the authority to 

avail NOAA of needed resources, with the consent of those supplying the resources, to carry out responsibilities of any statute administered by NOAA. 

Section 108 prohibits the National Technical Information Service 

from charging customers for certain publications, except under certain conditions and requires charges be limited to recovering costs. 

Section 109 authorizes NOAA to receive payments from other entities to defray some costs of permitting and regulatory activities. 

94 

In title II, Department of Justice, under General Administration, 

Salaries and Expenses, language is included providing for an 

amount for security and construction of Department of Justice facilities, which shall remain available until expended. 

Also, under Justice Information Sharing Technology, language is 

included providing that funds be available until expended. Language is also included allowing transfers up to a certain amount 

to this account for information technology initiatives, and that 

these funds to be transferred subject to requirements in this Act 

and shall be available until expended an amount for security and 

construction of Department of Justice facilities, which shall remain 

available until expended. 

In addition, under Executive Office for Immigration Review, language is included providing that an amount shall be derived by 

transfer from the Executive Office for Immigration Review fees deposited in the ‘‘Immigration Examinations Fee’’ account. Language 

is also included making an amount available until expended for 

certain purposes. 

Moreover, under Office of Inspector General, language is in- cluded providing for not to exceed $10,000 to meet unforeseen 

emergencies of a confidential character. 

Under United States Parole Commission, Salaries and Expenses, 

language is included providing that upon the expiration of a term 

of office of a Commissioner, the Commissioner may continue to act 

until a successor has been appointed. 

Under Legal Activities, Salaries and Expenses, General Legal Activities, language is included providing not to exceed a certain 

amount for expenses of collecting evidence, to be expended under 

the direction of, and to be accounted for solely under the certificate 

of, the Attorney General. Language is also included providing for 

the administration of pardons and clemency petitions. Language is 

also included providing for rental of space in the District of Columbia. Language is included making an amount available until expended for litigation support contracts. In addition, language is included making certain funds available to INTERPOL available 

until expended. Also, language is included limiting the amount of 

funds for official representation and reception expenses available to 

INTERPOL Washington. Furthermore, language is included providing funds to the Civil Rights Division for expenses associated 

with election monitoring, authority to reimburse the Office of Personnel Management for such expenses, and availability of such 

funds until expended. Finally, language is included for expenses associated with processing cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. 

Also, under Salaries and Expenses, Antitrust Division, language 

is included providing for no-year availability of funds and the use 

of offsetting collections. The language also provides that fees collected for premerger notification filings, regardless of the year of 

collection, shall be retained and used for necessary expenses in this 

appropriation, and shall remain available until expended. 

In addition, under Salaries and Expenses, United States Attorneys, language is included regarding inter-governmental and cooperative agreements and limiting funds for official reception and 

representation expenses. Language is also included extending the 

availability of certain funds. Finally, language is included requiring 

95 

each United States Attorney to establish or participate in a task 

force on human trafficking. 

Furthermore, under United States Trustee System Fund, language is included regarding refunds due depositors. Language is 

also included providing for the extended availability of certain 

funds and the use of offsetting collections. 

Moreover, under Fees and Expenses of Witnesses, language is included regarding contracts for the procurement and supervision of 

expert witnesses. In addition, language is included regarding funds 

for construction of buildings for safesites, armored and other vehicles, and telecommunication equipment. The language also provides 

for no-year availability of funds. In addition, language is included 

providing no funds may be transferred pursuant to section 205 of 

this Act. 

And under Salaries and Expenses, Community Relations Service, 

language is included regarding the transfer of funds for conflict resolution and violence prevention activities, which shall be subject to 

the provisions of section 505 of this Act. 

Under United States Marshals Service, Salaries and Expenses, 

language is included limiting official reception and representation 

expenses, and providing for no-year availability for part of the appropriation. 

Also, under Construction, language is included providing for noyear availability of funds. 

In addition, under Federal Prisoner Detention, language is included providing for no-year availability of funds. Language is also 

included providing that the United States Marshals Service shall 

be responsible for managing the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System. In addition, language is included limiting the 

amount of funds considered ‘‘funds appropriated for State and local 

law enforcement assistance’’. Finally, language is included transferring to this account unobligated balances from funds appropriated 

in prior years to the Detention Trustee. 

Under National Security Division, Salaries and Expenses, language is included providing for the no-year availability of funds for 

IT systems. Language is also included providing that upon a determination by the Attorney General that emergent circumstances require additional funding for the activities of the National Security 

Division, the Attorney General may transfer such amounts to this 

heading from available appropriations for the current fiscal year 

for the Department of Justice, as may be necessary to respond to 

such circumstances. The language provides such a transfer be 

treated as a reprogramming under section 505 of this Act. 

Under Interagency Law Enforcement, Interagency Crime and 

Drug Enforcement, language is included providing for no-year 

availability for some of the funds. Language is also included regarding authorities under which funds may be used. 

Under Federal Bureau of Investigation, Salaries and Expenses, 

language is included providing for no-year availability of certain 

funds. Language is included providing for a limitation on representational expenses. 

Under Construction, language is included specifying the purpose 

of the appropriation and making it available until expended. 

Under Drug Enforcement Administration, Salaries and Expenses, 

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gencies of a confidential character. Language is also included allowing conduct of drug education and training programs, including 

travel and related expenses for participants in such programs and 

the distribution of items of token value that promote the goals of 

such programs. In addition, language is included providing for noyear availability of certain funds. Finally, language is included providing for a limitation on representational expenses. 

Under Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Salaries and Expenses, language is included allowing training of State 

and local law enforcement agencies with or without reimbursement, including training in connection with the training and acquisition of canines for explosives and fire accelerants detection, and 

allowing provision of laboratory assistance to State and local law 

enforcement agencies, with or without reimbursement. Language is 

also included limiting official reception and representation expenses. In addition, language is included providing funds for the 

payment of attorneys’ fees. Additional language is included prohibiting expenses to investigate or act upon applications for relief from 

Federal firearms disabilities under section 925(c) of title 18, United 

States Code. Language is further included regarding expenses to 

investigate applications filed by corporations for relief from section 

925(c) of title 18, United States Code. In addition, language is included providing for no-year availability of certain funds. Moreover, 

language is included that prohibits funds to transfer the functions, 

missions or activities of ATF to other agencies or departments. 

Under Federal Prison System, Salaries and Expenses, language 

is included that provides for the transfer to the Department of 

Health and Human Services funds necessary for medical relief for 

inmates. Language is also included that provides authority to the 

Director to enter into contracts to furnish health care. In addition, 

language is included placing a limitation on funds for reception and 

representation expenses. Furthermore, language is included extending the availability of certain funds. Finally, language is included providing authority for the Federal Prison System to accept 

donated property and services. 

Also, in Building and Facilities, language is included providing 

for no-year availability of funds. Language is also included stating 

labor of prisoners may be used for work under this heading. 

Additionally, under Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated, language is included authorizing Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated, to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and 

borrowing authority available, and in accord with the law, and to 

make such contracts and commitments, without regard to fiscal 

year limitations, as may be necessary in carrying out the program 

set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for such corporation. 

Furthermore, under Limitation on Administrative Expenses, Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated, language is included making 

available funds for its administrative expenses, and for certain 

services, to be computed on an accrual basis to be determined in 

accordance with the corporation’s current prescribed accounting 

system, and such amounts shall be exclusive of depreciation, payment of claims, and expenditures which such accounting system requires to be capitalized or charged to cost of commodities acquired 

or produced, including selling and shipping expenses, and expenses 

97 

in connection with acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance, improvement, protection, or disposition of facilities and 

other property belonging to the corporation or in which it has an 

interest. 

Under State and Local Law Enforcement Activities, Office on Violence Against Women, Violence Against Women Prevention and 

Prosecution Programs, language is included making funds available 

until expended. Language is also included placing a limitation on 

funds to be made available for expenses related to evaluation, 

training, and technical assistance. In addition, language is included 

providing for specific appropriations for various programs within 

the Office on Violence Against Women. Furthermore, language is 

included making available certain unobligated balances for specified programs. The language also applies certain conditions to specified grants. It provides for certain funds to be transferred to ‘‘Research, Evaluation and Statistics’’ for administration by the Office 

of Justice Programs. 

Under Office of Justice Programs, Research, Evaluation and Statistics, language is included to provide for no-year availability of 

funds. Language is also included to provide for specific appropriations for various programs within the Office of Justice Programs. 

Also, under State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, language is included to provide for no-year availability of funds. Language is also included regarding an Officer Robert Wilson III Memorial Initiative on Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement 

Officer Resilience and Survivability Initiative, domestic 

radicalization research, juvenile indigent defense, a National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Violent Gang and Gun 

Crime Reduction, Capital Litigation and Wrongful Conviction Review, Prison Rape Prevention and Prosecution, Economic, Hightech, White Collar and Cybercrime Prevention, and the application 

of certain sections and special rules. In addition, language is included regarding Federal immigration and other detainees housed 

in State and local detention facilities. Furthermore, language is included regarding local government use of funds to increase the 

number of law enforcement officers. Language is also included regarding DNA training and education for law enforcement, correctional personnel, and court officers. Finally, the language specifies 

appropriations for various programs within the Office of Justice 

Programs. 

In addition, under Juvenile Justice Programs, language is included providing for no-year availability of funds. Language is also 

included waiving a provision of law with respect to funding for 

missing and exploited children programs. Finally, the language delineates certain amounts for various programs under this heading. 

Furthermore, under Public Safety Officer Benefits, language is 

included providing for no-year availability of funds. Language is 

also included providing for the transfers of funds in emergent circumstances, which shall be subject to the provisions of section 505 

of this Act. 

Under Community Oriented Policing Services, Community Oriented Policing Services Programs, language is included providing 

for no-year availability of funds. Language is also included requiring that balances available through deobligations only be available 

through reprogramming. In addition, language is included regardVerDate Sep 11 2014 13:23 Jul 18, 2017 Jkt 026262 PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR231.XXX HR231
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ing transfers of funds for anti-methamphetamine activities. There 

is further language regarding certain time limitations under the 

Second Chance Act. Finally, the language delineates certain 

amounts for various programs under this heading. 

Under Department of Justice, General Provisions, the following 

general provisions that fall within the rule are recommended: 

Section 201 makes available additional reception and representation funding for the Attorney General from the amounts provided 

in this title. 

Section 202 prohibits the use of funds to pay for an abortion, except in the case of incest, rape or to preserve the life of the mother. 

Section 203 prohibits the use of funds to require any person to 

perform or facilitate the performance of an abortion. 

Section 204 establishes the obligation of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to provide escort services to an inmate receiving an 

abortion outside of a Federal facility, except where this obligation 

conflicts with the preceding section. 

Section 205 establishes the Committee’s requirements and procedures for transfer proposals. 

Section 206 prohibits the use of certain funds for transporting 

prisoners classified as maximum or high security, other than to a 

facility certified by the Bureau of Prisons as appropriately secure. 

Section 207 prohibits the use of funds for the purchase or rental 

by Federal prisons of audiovisual equipment, services and materials used primarily for recreational purposes, except for those 

items and services needed for inmate training, religious, or educational purposes. 

Section 208 requires review by the Deputy Attorney General and 

the Department Investment Review Board prior to the obligation or 

expenditure of funds for major information technology projects. 

Section 209 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 210 prohibits the use of funds for A–76 competitions for 

work performed by employees of Federal Prison Industries, Inc. 

Section 211 prohibits U.S. Attorneys from holding dual or additional responsibilities that exempt U.S. Attorneys from statutory 

residency requirements. 

Section 212 permits up to 3 percent of grant and reimbursement 

program funds made available to OJP to be used for training and 

technical assistance and permits up to 3 percent of grant or reimbursement funds made available to that office to be used for criminal justice research, evaluation and statistics. 

Section 213 provides 7 percent of certain grant and reimbursement program funds made available to OJP and Community Oriented Policing Services programs to be used for tribal criminal justice assistance. 

Section 214 waives the requirement that the Attorney General 

reserve certain funds from amounts provided for offender incarceration. 

Section 215 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 

99 

agent of a drug cartel where law enforcement personnel do not continuously monitor or control such firearm. This language is made 

permanent. 

Section 216 places limitation on the obligation of funds from certain Department of Justice accounts and funding sources. 

In title III, Science, under Office of Science and Technology Policy, language is included providing that certain funds be available 

for reception and representation expenses, and rental of conference 

rooms. 

Under National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science, 

language is included providing for the two year availability of 

funds. Language is also included regarding a limitation on formulation and development costs of a certain program with an associated 

notification requirement and language is also included concerning 

a planetary science mission. 

Also, under Aeronautics, language is included providing for the 

two year availability of funds. 

In addition, under Space Technology, language is included providing for the two year availability of funds. 

Under Exploration, language is included providing for the multiyear availability of funds. Language is also included that delineates 

amounts for program components. Language is also included describing certain reports and requiring the inclusion of estimates in 

future budget requests. 

In Space Operations, language is included providing for the 

multi-year availability of funds. 

Additionally, under Education, language is included providing for 

the multi-year availability of funds. Language is also included delineating amounts for program components. 

Under Safety, Security and Mission Services, language is included providing for the multi-year availability of funds. Language 

is also included to limit official reception and representation expenses. 

Under Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration, language is included providing for the multi-year availability 

of funds. Language is also included restricting receipts and expenditures made pursuant to enhanced use lease arrangements and requiring the inclusion of estimates in future budget requests. 

Under Office of Inspector General, language is included providing 

for the multi-year availability of certain funds. 

In the Administrative Provisions, language is included regarding: 

availability of funds for announced prizes; limitations on transfers 

of funds among NASA accounts; and the submission of a spending 

plan. 

Under National Science Foundation, Research and Related Activities, language is included that provides for the multi-year availability of funds. Language is also included that governs funding 

availability for polar research and operation support. In addition, 

language is included providing that certain receipts may be credited to this appropriation. 

Also, under Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction, language is included providing for no-year availability of 

funds. 

In addition, under Education and Human Resources, language is 

included providing for the multi-year availability of funds. 

100 

Furthermore, under Agency Operations and Award Management, 

language is included regarding contracts for maintenance and operation of facilities and other services. Language is also included limiting representation expenses. 

Under Office of the National Science Board, language is included 

limiting funds for official reception and representation. 

Under Office of Inspector General, language is included providing 

for the multi-year availability of certain funds. 

Under Administrative Provision, language is included regarding 

transfers of funds. Also language is included requiring the Director 

to submit notification of certain activities 30 days in advance. 

In title IV, Related Agencies, under Commission on Civil Rights, 

Salaries and Expenses, language is included prohibiting expenses 

to employ in excess of a specific level of full-time individuals or to 

reimburse Commissioners for certain billable days. Language is 

also included prohibiting certain unauthorized activities. 

Under Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Salaries and 

Expenses, language is included designating an amount for payments to State and local enforcement agencies. Language is also included limiting funds for official reception and representation expenses. Finally, language is included authorizing the Chair to accept donations or gifts to carry out the work of the Commission. 

Under International Trade Commission, Salaries and Expenses, 

language is included limiting funds for official reception and representation expenses. Language is also included providing for noyear availability of funds. 

Under Legal Services Corporation, Payment to the Legal Services 

Corporation, language is included regarding pay for officers and 

employees. Language is also included delineating amounts for specific programs and regarding authorities to transfer funds. In addition, language is included designating the Legal Services Corporation as an agency of the Federal Government for the purposes of 

reprogramming. 

Under Administrative Provision, Legal Services Corporation, language is included that prohibits the use of funds for certain activities. 

Under Office of the United States Trade Representative, Salaries 

and Expenses, language is included providing for the no-year availability of some funds. Language is also included limiting funds for 

official reception and representation expenses. 

Also, under Trade Enforcement Trust Fund, language is included 

regarding certain notifications. 

Under State Justice Institute, Salaries and Expenses, language 

is included limiting funds for reception and representation expenses. Language is also included providing for multi-year availability of certain funds. In addition, language is included designating the State Justice Institute as an agency of the Federal Government for the purposes of reprogramming. 

In title V, General Provisions, the following general provisions 

that fall within the rule are recommended: 

Section 501 prohibits the use of funds for publicity or propaganda 

purposes unless expressly authorized by law. 

Section 502 prohibits any appropriation contained in this Act 

from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal 

year unless expressly authorized. 

101 

Section 503 provides that the expenditure of any appropriation 

contained in this Act for any consulting service through procurement contracts shall be limited to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law or 

under existing Executive order issued pursuant to existing law. 

Section 504 provides that if any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held 

invalid, the remainder of the Act and the application of other provisions shall not be affected. 

Section 505 specifies procedures for the reprogramming of funds. 

Section 506 provides that if it is determined that any person intentionally affixes a ‘‘Made in America’’ label to any product that 

was not made in America that person shall not be eligible to receive any contract or subcontract made with funds made available 

in this Act. The section further provides that to the extent practicable, with respect to purchases of promotional items, funds made 

available under this Act shall be used to purchase items manufactured, produced, or assembled in the United States or its territories 

or possessions. 

Section 507 requires quarterly reporting to Congress on the status of balances of appropriations. 

Section 508 provides that any costs incurred by a department or 

agency funded under this Act resulting from, or to prevent, personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions in this Act, 

or, for the Department of Commerce, from actions taken for the 

care and protection of loan collateral or grant property, shall be absorbed within the budgetary resources available to the department 

or agency, and provides transfer authority between appropriation 

accounts to carry out this provision, subject to reprogramming procedures. 

Section 509 prohibits funds made available in this Act from being 

used to promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products 

or to seek the reduction or removal of foreign restrictions on the 

marketing of tobacco products, except for restrictions which are not 

applied equally to all tobacco or tobacco products of the same type. 

Section 510 limits the obligation of receipts deposited into the 

Crime Victims Fund to $4,632,000,000 during fiscal year 2018. The 

language also provides for a tribal set-aside. 

Section 511 prohibits the use of Department of Justice funds for 

programs that discriminate against or denigrate the religious or 

moral beliefs of students participating in such programs. 

Section 512 prohibits the transfer of funds made available in this 

Act to any department, agency or instrumentality of the United 

States Government, except for transfers made by, or pursuant to 

authorities provided in, this Act or any other appropriations Act. 

Section 513 provides that funds provided in this Act for E Government Initiatives shall be subject to the procedures set forth in 

section 505 of this Act. 

Section 514 prohibits funds for acquisition of certain information 

systems unless the acquiring department or agency has reviewed 

and assessed certain risks. 

Section 515 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to support or justify the use of torture by any official or contract 

employee of the United States Government. 

102 

Section 516 permanently prohibits the use of funds to require 

certain export licenses. 

Section 517 permanently prohibits the use of funds to deny certain import applications regarding ‘‘curios or relics’’ firearms, parts, 

or ammunition. 

Section 518 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to include certain language in trade agreements. 

Section 519 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to authorize or issue a national security letter (NSL) in contravention of certain laws authorizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation to issue NSLs. 

Section 520 requires congressional notification regarding any 

project within the Departments of Commerce or Justice, the National Science Foundation or the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration totaling more than $75,000,000 that has cost increases of 10 percent or more. 

Section 521 deems funds for intelligence or intelligence related 

activities as authorized by Congress during fiscal year 2018 until 

the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 

2018. 

Section 522 prohibits contracts or grant awards in excess of $5,000,000 unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies 

that the organization has filed all Federal tax returns, has not 

been convicted of a criminal offense under the Internal Revenue 

Code of 1986, and has no unpaid Federal tax assessment. 

Section 523 provides for rescissions of unobligated balances from 

the Departments of Commerce and Justice and for certain transfers. 

Section 524 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

for the purchase of first class or premium air travel in contravention of certain Federal travel regulations. 

Section 525 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to pay for the attendance of more than 50 department or agency 

employees, who are stationed in the United States, at any single 

conference outside the United States, unless the conference is a law 

enforcement training or operational event where the majority of 

Federal attendees are law enforcement personnel stationed outside 

the United States. 

Section 526 prohibits the use of funds in this or any other Act 

for the transfer or release of certain individuals detained at United 

States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to or within the 

United States, its territories, or possessions. 

Section 527 prohibits the use of funds in this or any other 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 United States Naval Station, 

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or control of the Department of Defense. 

Section 528 requires tracking and reporting of undisbursed balances in expired grant accounts. 

Section 529 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

by NASA or the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to 

engage in bilateral activities with China or a Chinese-owned company unless the activities are authorized by subsequent legislation 

or NASA or OSTP after consultation with the Federal Bureau of 

103 

Investigation have made a certification pursuant to subsections (c) 

and (d) of this section. 

Section 530 permanently prohibits funds from being used to deny 

the importation of shotgun models if no application for the importation of such models, in the same configuration, had been denied 

prior to January 1, 2011, on the basis that the shotgun was not 

particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes. 

Section 531 prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act 

to establish or maintain a computer network that does not block 

pornography, except for law enforcement or victim assistance purposes. 

Section 532 requires each department and agency funded in the 

bill to submit spending plans. 

Section 533 prohibits funds made available by this Act to implement the Arms Trade Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification. 

Section 534 requires a quarterly report from the Department of 

Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 

and the National Science Foundation on official travel to China. 

Section 535 requires not less than 10 percent of the funds provided for certain programs be provided to persistent poverty counties. 

Section 536 prohibits funds to approve the registration, renewal, 

or maintenance of the registration of a mark, trade mark, trade 

name, or commercial name when the mark, trade mark, trade 

name, or commercial name was unlawfully confiscated in Cuba. 

Section 537 prohibits funds from being used to require a person 

licensed under section 923 of title 18, United States Code, to report 

information to the Department of Justice regarding the sale of multiple rifles or shotguns to the same person. 

Section 538 allows States to bring a civil action against the 

United States to restore the sovereignty reserved to the States by 

the Constitution. 

Section 539 prohibits funds to move a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives facility. 

Section 540 prohibits funds to enter into a civil settlement agreement on behalf of the United States that includes certain donations. 

Section 541 prohibts funds for implementing or enforcing the designation of critical habitat for Atlantic Sturgeon in the Chesapeake 

Bay watershed. 

Section 542 prohibits funds for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for collection of information as set forth in the 

notice published July 14, 2016. 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW

The Committee, in a number of instances, has found it necessary 

to recommend funding for ongoing activities and programs for 

which authorizations have not been enacted to date. Pursuant to 

clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law for the period concerned: 

104 

UNAUTHORIZED APPROPRIATIONS 

Fiscal Year 2018 

(dollars in thousands) 

Program Last year of au- thorization Authorization level in last year of authorization Appropriations in last year of authorization Appropriations in this bill 

Department of Commerce: 

International Trade Administration 

Operations and Administration 

Export Promotion Activities .................................................................................................................. 1996 such sums 264,885 *

Bureau of Industry and Security 

Operations and Administration ..................................................................................................................... 1994 such sums 34,747 112,500 

Economic Development Administration 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 2008 such sums 30,832 36,000 Economic Development Assistance Programs .............................................................................................. various 140,000 

Public Works and Economic Development Act Programs .................................................................... 2008 500,000 349,100 (130,000 ) 

Minority Business Development Agency 

Minority Business Development .................................................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a 34,000 

Bureau of Economic Analysis 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a 96,000 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 1993 17,900 18,493 30,000 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Scientific and Technical Research and Services ......................................................................................... 2013 676,700 609,514 660,000 Industrial technology services ...................................................................................................................... 2013 241,709 140,316 105,000 

Manufacturing extension partnerships ................................................................................................ 2013 (165,100 ) (126,088 ) (100,000 ) 

Construction of research facilities ............................................................................................................... 2013 121,300 58,874 100,000 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Operations, Research and Facilities 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research .................................................................................................... 1993 1,589,081 202,172 ‡, ΔΔ

National Ocean Service ........................................................................................................................ 1993 121,183 150,864 462,646 

Coral Reef Conservation ............................................................................................................. 2004 (16,000 ) (16,000 ) (26,100 ) Costal Zone Management ........................................................................................................... 1999 (55,300 ) (52,700 ) (84,600 ) Marine Protection, Research, Preservation & Sanctuaries ......................................................... 2005 (40,000 ) (57,958 ) (52,000 ) 

National Marine Fisheries Services ...................................................................................................... various ‡

Endangered Species Act Activities ............................................................................................. 1992 6,750 ‡ ‡Marine Mammal Protection Act Activities .................................................................................. 1999 34,768 ‡ ‡

NOAA Marine Fisheries Program Activities ................................................................................. 2000 110,470 ‡ ‡

105 

Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act Grants ...................................................................................... 2012 2,500 1,157 3,000 

National Weather Service 

Operations and research activities ............................................................................................. 1993 395,822 † †

Public warning and forecast systems ........................................................................................ 1993 132,034 †, § †, §

NESDIS 

Satellite observing systems activities (NESDIS) ......................................................................... 1993 336,000 †, § †, §Data and information services activities ................................................................................... 1993 39,596 10,300 †, §

Mission Support 

Executive Direction and Administrative Activities ...................................................................... 1993 75,750 25,000 208,479 Marine Services ........................................................................................................................... 1993 68,518 61,200 180,614 Aircraft Services .......................................................................................................................... 1993 10,336 9,500 34,232 

Procurement, Acquisition and Construction 

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 

Fleet modernization and replacement ........................................................................................ 1997 such sums 8,000 12,878 

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery ................................................................................................................. 2009 90,000 80,000 65,000 Fisheries Disaster Assistance ....................................................................................................................... 2013 such sums n/a 20,000 

Departmental Management 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a 58,000 Renovation and Modernization ...................................................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a 1,000 Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a 32,744 

Department of Justice: 

General Administration 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 2009 181,561 105,805 89,000 Justice Information Sharing Technology ....................................................................................................... 2009 204,152 80,000 30,941 Executive Office for Immigration Review ...................................................................................................... 2009¶ n/a n/a 504,500 

Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................... 2009 81,922 80,681 95,853 

United States Parole Commission 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 2009 12,711 12,570 13,000 

Legal Activities 

Salaries and Expenses, General Legal Activities ......................................................................................... 2009 764,526 805,655 897,500 Salaries and Expenses, Antitrust Division .................................................................................................... 2009 162,488 157,788 163,980 Salaries and Expenses, United States Attorneys .......................................................................................... 2009 1,829,194 1,851,336 2,057,252 Salaries and Expenses, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission ................................................................ 2009 1,429 1,823 2,374 Fees and Expenses of Witnesses .................................................................................................................. 2009 203,755 168,300 270,000 Salaries and Expenses, Community Relations Service ................................................................................. 2009 10,977 9,873 15,000 

United States Marshals Service ............................................................................................................................. 2009 900,178 954,000 2,801,000 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. Δ (960,000 ) (1,255,000 ) 

Construction .................................................................................................................................................. Δ (4,000 ) (10,000 ) 

Federal Prison Detention# ............................................................................................................................. 2009 1,858,509 1,355,319 (1,536,000 ) 

106 

UNAUTHORIZED APPROPRIATIONS—Continued 

Fiscal Year 2018 

(dollars in thousands) 

Program Last year of au- thorization Authorization level in last year of authorization Appropriations in last year of authorization Appropriations in this bill 

National Security Division 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a 100,000 

Interagency Law Enforcement 

Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement ................................................................................................... 2009 744,593 515,000 526,000 

Federal Bureau of Investigation ............................................................................................................................ 2009 6,480,608 7,301,191 8,866,642 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. Δ (7,182,700 ) (8,814,747 ) 

Construction .................................................................................................................................................. Δ (153,491 ) (51,895 ) 

Drug Enforcement Administration 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 2009 1,930,462 1,959,084 2,164,051 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 2009 1,038,939 1,078,215 1,293,776 

Federal Prison System ............................................................................................................................................ 2009 5,698,292 6,171,561 7,167,948 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. Δ (5,600,792 ) (7,070,248 ) Buildings and Facilities ................................................................................................................................ Δ (575,807 ) (95,000 ) 

Office on Violence Against Women 

Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs 

Research and Evaluation on Violence against Women ....................................................................... n/a n/a n/a 3,500 Family Civil Justice .............................................................................................................................. various 16,000 

Court Training and Improvements Program ............................................................................... 2011 5,000 **

Safe Havens Program ................................................................................................................. 2011 20,000 **

Consolidated Youth-oriented Program ................................................................................................. various 11,000 

Engaging Men and Youth in Prevention ..................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a ††

Grants to Assist Children and Youth Exposed to Violence ........................................................ n/a n/a n/a ††

Supporting Teens Through Education Program .......................................................................... 2011 5,000 ** ††

Services to Advocate and Respond to Youth ............................................................................. n/a n/a n/a ††

Research on Violence Against Indian Women ..................................................................................... 2015 1,000 940 1,000 Indian Country—Sexual Assault Clearinghouse .................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a 500 Tribal assistance .................................................................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a 4,000 Victims of Trafficking .......................................................................................................................... 2017 45,000 11,000 45,000 

Office of Justice Programs 

Research, Evaluation and Statistics 

Bureau of Justice Statistics ................................................................................................................. 1995 33,000 32,335 44,500 

107 

National Institute of Justice ................................................................................................................ 1995 33,000 58,879 38,500 

State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance 

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants .......................................................................................... 2012 1,095,000 470,000 500,000 

Officer Robert Wilson III VALOR Initiative .................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a (10,000 ) Domestic Radicalization Research .............................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a (4,000 ) Juvenile Indigent Defense ........................................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a (2,000 ) NamUS ......................................................................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a (2,400 ) Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction .................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a (10,000 ) Prison Rape Prevention and Prosecution .................................................................................... 2010 40,000 15,000 (15,500 ) White Collar Crime Prevention .................................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a (10,000 ) 

State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ........................................................................................... 2011 950,000 ** 220,000 

Adam Walsh Act Implementation ........................................................................................................ 2009 such sums 18,000 20,000 National Sex Offender Public Website ................................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a 1,000 NICS Initiative ...................................................................................................................................... various 73,000 

NICS Act Record Improvement Program ..................................................................................... 2013 125,000 12,000 *

National Criminal History Improvement Program ....................................................................... 2013 62,500 6,000 *

Comprehensive School Safety Initiative ............................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a 45,000 Emergency Law Enforcement Assistance ............................................................................................. 2016 20,000 n/a 10,000 

Juvenile Justice Programs 

Youth Mentoring Grants ....................................................................................................................... 2007 such sums §§ 75,000 

Missing and Exploited Children Programs .......................................................................................... various 72,500 

AMBER Alert grants .................................................................................................................... 2004 * * *

Community Oriented Policing Services 

Transfer to DEA for Methamphetamine Lab Cleanups ........................................................................ n/a n/a n/a 11,000 Community trust initiative ................................................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a 65,000 

Body-worn Camera Partnership .................................................................................................. n/a n/a n/a (22,500 ) Justice Reinvestment Initiative ................................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a (25,000 ) Research and statistics on community trust ............................................................................. n/a n/a n/a (7,500 ) Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program ............................................................................... n/a n/a n/a (15,000 ) 

Second Chance Act/Offender Reentry .................................................................................................. 2010 55,000 100,000 68,000 

Children of Incarcerated Parents Demo Grants ......................................................................... n/a n/a n/a (5,000 ) Girls in the juvenile justice system ............................................................................................ n/a n/a n/a (2,000 ) 

Community Teams to Reduce the Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Backlog ................................................. n/a n/a n/a 45,000 Regional information sharing activities .............................................................................................. 2003 100,000 29,000 35,000 

Science: 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Science .......................................................................................................................................................... 2017 5,500,000 5,764,900 5,858,500 Aeronautics .................................................................................................................................................... 2017 640,000 660,000 660,000 Space Technology .......................................................................................................................................... 2017 686,000 686,500 686,500 Exploration ..................................................................................................................................................... 2017 4,330,000 4,324,000 4,550,000 

108 

UNAUTHORIZED APPROPRIATIONS—Continued 

Fiscal Year 2018 

(dollars in thousands) 

Program Last year of au- thorization Authorization level in last year of authorization Appropriations in last year of authorization Appropriations in this bill 

Space Operations .......................................................................................................................................... 2017 5,023,000 4,950,700 4,676,634 Education ...................................................................................................................................................... 2017 115,000 100,000 90,000 Safety, Security and Mission Services .......................................................................................................... 2017 2,788,600 2,768,600 2,826,200 Construction and Environmental Compliance and Remediation .................................................................. 2017 388,000 360,700 486,100 Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................... 2017 37,400 37,900 37,900 

National Science Foundation 

Research and Related Activities ................................................................................................................... 2013 6,637,849 5,870,974 6,033,645¶¶

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction .............................................................................. 2013 236,764 192,488 77,800 Education and Human Resources ................................................................................................................. 2013 1,041,762 878,799 880,000 Agency Operations and Award Management ................................................................................................ 2013 363,670 293,780 328,510 Office of the National Science Board ........................................................................................................... 2013 4,906 4,357 4,370 Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................... 2013 15,049 13,933 15,200 

Related Agencies: 

Commission on Civil Rights 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 1995 9,500 8,904 9,183 

International Trade Commission 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 2004 57,240 58,295 92,500 

Legal Services Corporation 

Payment to the Legal Services Corporation ................................................................................................. 1980 205,000 300,000 300,000 

Marine Mammal Commission 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 1999 1,750 1,240 3,431 

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 2004 33,108 41,552 53,000 

State Justice Institute 

Salaries and Expenses .................................................................................................................................. 2008 7,000 3,760 5,111 

* The recommendation does not provide a specific amount for this program. † The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (P.L. 102–567) provides authorizations for general categories of activities, rather than specific programs. Since a program 

may cut across several authorizations, it is impossible to determine the exact amount of unauthorized appropriations. ‡ Authorization covers multiple lines in the NOAA control table. 

§ This authorization provides for both procurement and operations activities, but does not provide a breakdown for each. ¶ The authorization authorizes funding for the ‘‘Administrative Review and Appeals’’ account, which encompassed the activities of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Office of Pardon Attorney. 

The recommendation seperates these into different accounts. Δ Authorization does not provide amounts for specific accounts within this agency. 

109 

# This was formerly the ‘‘General Administration, Detention Trustee’’ account. ** The authorization for this program expired in FY2011. Since the government was funded by a full-year continuing resolution, the Committee did not provide a specific appropriation for this program. †† These programs have been combined into the Consolidated Youth-oriented Program. ‡‡ The recommendation includes an overall amount for tribal assistance but does not specify amounts for each particular program. §§ The authorization for this program expired in FY2007. Since the government was funded by a full-year continuing resolution, the Committee did not provide a specific appropriation for this program. ¶¶ Within the Research and Related Activities account, funding for Dyslexia and windstorm research are authorized. ΔΔ The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (P.L. 115–25) authorized Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs. Other programs are unauthorized. 

110 

COMPARISON WITH THE BUDGET RESOLUTION

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974, the following table compares the levels of new 

budget authority and outlays provided in the bill with the appropriate allocations made under section 302(b) of the Budget Act: 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES 

[In millions of dollars] 

302(b) allocation This bill 

Budget Authority Outlays Budget Authority Outlays 

General purpose discretionary ........................ 53,935 64,382 53,935 64,357 * 

Mandatory ....................................................... 339 350 339 350 * 

* Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII and section 308(a)(1)(B) of 

the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table contains 

five-year outlay projections associated with the budget authority 

provided in the accompanying bill, as provided to the Committee by 

the Congressional Budget Office: 

[In millions of dollars] 

Projection of outlays associated with the recommendation: 

2018 ......................................................................................................................................................... 41,940 * 

2019 ......................................................................................................................................................... 13,325 

2020 ......................................................................................................................................................... 3,588 

2021 ......................................................................................................................................................... 1,257 

2022 and future years ............................................................................................................................. 3,990 

* Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII and section 308(a)(1)(C) of 

the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Congressional Budget 

Office has provided the following estimates of new budget authority 

and outlays provided by the accompanying bill for financial assistance to State and local governments: 

[In millions of dollars] 

Budget Authority Outlays 

Financial assistance to State and local governments for 2018 ................................................ ¥7,541 ¥194 * 

* Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

PROGRAM DUPLICATION

No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a program of 

the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the 

Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 

21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

111 

DIRECTED RULE MAKING

The bill does not direct any rule making. 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) 

AUTHORITY

The following table provides a detailed summary, for each department and agency, comparing the amounts recommended in the 

bill with fiscal year 2017 enacted amounts and budget estimates 

presented for fiscal year 2018: 


Insert graphic folio 130 here HR231.009

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

TITLE I - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

Operations and administration .................... . 

Offsetting fee collections ........................... . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

495,000 

-12,000 

FY 2018 

Request 

455,500 

13,000 

Bill 

480,000 

13,000 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

-15,000 

-1 ,000 

-------------- --------------

__________ .,. ___ 

--------------

Direct appropriation ... 

Bureau of Industry and Security 

Operations and administration ...................... . 

Defense function ................................. . 

Total, Bureau of Industry and Security ....... . 

Economic Development Administration 

Economic Development Assistance Programs .......... . 

Salaries and expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. . 

483,000 

76,500 

36,000 

112,500 

237,000 

39,000 

442,500 

75,500 

38,000 

113,500 

---

30,000 

467,000 

74,500 

38,000 

112,500 

140,000 

36,000 

-16,000 

-2,000 

+2,000 

-97,000 

-3,000 

B

+

+

+1

-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------

Total, Economic Development Administration ..... . 276,000 30,000 176,000 -100,000 +1

Minority Business Development Agency 

Minority Business Development ..................... . 34,000 6,000 34,000 +

Insert graphic folio 131 here HR231.010

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2016 

(Amounts in thousands) 

Bureau of Economic Analysis 

Salaries and expenses .................... . 

Bureau of the Census 

Current Surveys and Programs ......................... . 

Periodic censuses and programs ....................... . 

Total, Bureau of the Census ................ . 

National Telecommunications and Information 

Administration 

Salaries and expenses ..... 

United States Patent and Trademark Office 

Salaries and expenses, current year fee funding ....... Offsetting fee collections ............................ 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

107,300 

270,000 

1,200,000 

1,470,000 

32,000 

3,230,000 

-3,230,000 

FY 2016 

Request 

97,000 

246,000 

1,251,000 

1,497,000 

36,000 

3,500,000 

-3,500,000 

Bill 

96,000 

256,000 

1,251,000 

1,507,000 

30,000 

3,500,000 

-3,500,000 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

-11,300 

-14,000 

+51 ,000 

+37,000 

-2,000 

+270,000 

-270,000 

B

+

+

w~~-w~~~-~~- w ~w~~~-~M--~ ~- ~~~~~---~~---* 

-~w------~----

~------

Total, United States Patent and Trademark Office 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Scientific and Technical Research and Services ........ 690,000 600,000 660,000 -30,000 +

(transfer out) .................................... (-9,000) ( -9. 000) (-9,000) 

Insert graphic folio 132 here HR231.011

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

Industrial Technology Services ....................... . 

Adjustment for prior year recoveries ............. . 

Manufacturing extension partnerships ............. . 

National Network for Manufacturing Innovation .... . 

Construction of research facilities .................. . 

Working Capital Fund (by transfer) ............... . 

Total, National Institute of Standards and 

Technology ................................... . 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Operations, Research, and Facilities ................. . 

(by transfer) .................................... . 

Promote and Develop Fund (transfer out) .......... . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

153,000 

( -2' 000) 

(130' 000) 

(25,000) 

109,000 

(9,000) 

952,000 

3,367,875 

(130, 164) 

( -130,164) 

FY 2018 

Request 

21,000 

(6,000) 

(15,000) 

104,000 

(9,000) 

725,000 

2,965,549 

(144,000) 

(-144,000) 

Bill 

105,000 

(100,000) 

(5,000) 

100,000 

(9,000) 

865,000 

3,240,199 

(144,000) 

(-144,000) 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

-48,000 

(+2,000) 

( -30 '000) 

( -20' 000) 

-9,000 

-87,000 

-127,676 

(+13,836) 

(-13,836) 

B

+

(+

( -

+1

+2

_..,. ____________ 

-------------- --------·----- -------------- -------

Subtotal ............. . 3,367,875 2,965,549 3,240,199 -127,676 +2

Procurement, Acquisition and Construction ............ . 2,242,610 1,807,801 1,643,110 -599,500 -1

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery ...................... . 65,000 --- 65,000 --- +

Fishermen's Contingency Fund ......................... . 350 349 350 --- 

Fisheries Finance Program Account ................... . -410 -3,000 -3,000 -2,590 Fisheries Disaster Assistance ........................ . 20,000 +20,000 +

--------- ---------- --

------------

.. 

--------------

...... _____

Total, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration ........................ . 5,675,425 4, 770,699 4,965,659 -709,766 +1

Insert graphic folio 133 here HR231.012

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

Departmental Management 

Salaries and expenses ........................ . 

Renovation and Modernization ..................... . 

Office of Inspector General ......................... . 

Total, Departmental Management ................. . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

58,000 

4,000 

32,744 

94,744 

FY 2018 

Request 

63,000 

1,000 

32,000 

96,000 

Bi 11 

58,000 

1 ,000 

32,744 

91,744 

Bill vs. B

Enacted 

-3,000 

-3,000 

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

Total, title I, Department of Commerce ......... . 

(by transfer) .................................. . 

(transfer out) ................................. . 

TITLE II - DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

General Administration 

Salaries and expenses ................................ . 

Justice Information Sharing Technology ....... . 

Total, General Administration .......... . 

Administrative review and appeals .................... . 

Executive Office for Immigration Review .............. . 

Transfer from immigration examinations fee account 

Direct appropriation ......................... . 

9' 236' 969 

139' 164 

-139,164 

7,813,699 

153,000 

-153,000 

8,344,903 

153,000 

-153,000 

-892,066 

+13,836 

-13,836 

+5

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

114,124 114,000 89,000 -25' 124 

31,000 30,941 30,941 -59 

-------------- -------------- -------------- ---------·----

145,124 

440,000 

-4,000 

436,000 

144,941 

505,367 

-4,000 

501,367 

119,941 

504,500 

-4,000 

500,500 

-25' 183 

+64,500 

+64,500 

-

-

-5

+5

Insert graphic folio 134 here HR231.013

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

Office of Inspector General .......................... . 

United States Parole Commission 

Salaries and expenses ........................ . 

Legal Activities 

Salaries and expenses, general legal activities ... . 

Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund .............. . 

Salaries and expenses, Antitrust Division ............ . 

Offsetting fee collections - current year ........ . 

Direct appropriation ......................... . 

Salaries and expenses, United States Attorneys ....... . 

United States Trustee System Fund .................... . 

Offsetting fee collections ................. . 

New fees (Sec. 218) (legislative proposal) ....... . 

Direct appropriation ...................... . 

Salaries and expenses, Foreign Claims Settlement 

Commission ......................................... . 

Fees and expenses of witnesses ....................... . 

Salaries and expenses, Community Relations Service ... . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

95,583 

13,308 

897,500 

10,000 

164,977 

-125,000 

39' 977 

2,035,000 

225,908 

-163,000 

62,908 

2,374 

270,000 

15,500 

FY 2018 

Request 

95,328 

13,283 

899,000 

9,340 

164,663 

-126,000 

38,663 

2,057,252 

225,479 

-135,000 

-150,000 

-59,521 

2,409 

270,000 

14,419 

Bi 11 

95,583 

13,000 

897,500 

10,000 

163,980 

-126.000 

37.980 

2,057,252 

225,000 

-135.000 

90,000 

2,374 

270,000 

15,000 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

-308 

-997 

-1 '000 

-1 ,997 

+22,252 

-908 

+28,000 

+27,092 

-500 

B

+1

+1

Insert graphic folio 135 here HR231.014

Assets Forfeiture Fund. 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

. ' ...... '.' ... ' . . . . '. ' ... '.'. 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

20,514 

FY 2018 

Request 

21,475 

Bill 

20,514 

Bill vs. B

Enacted 

--- 

~------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------

Total, Legal Activities ......................... 3,353,773 3,253,037 3,400,620 +46,847 +1

United States Marshals Service 

Salaries and expenses ................................. 1,249,040 1,252,000 1,255,000 +5,960 

Construction .......................................... 10' 000 14' 971 10,000 --- 

Federal Prisoner Detention ....................... .... 1 '454 '414 1,536,000 1 '536' 000 +81 ,586 

-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------

Total , United States Marshals Service ........... 2' 713' 454 2,802,971 2,801,000 +87,546 

National Security Division 

Salaries and expenses ...................... , ....... 96,000 101 '031 100' 000 +4,000 

Interagency Law Enforcement 

Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement ................ 517,000 526,000 526,000 +9,000 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Salaries and expenses ........................ ...... 3,556,853 3,538,751 3' 576' 143 +19,290 +

Counterintelligence and national security ... .... 5,210,348 5,183,831 5,238,604 +28,256 +

-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------

Subtotal, Salaries and expenses ........... 8,767,201 8,722,582 8,814,747 +47,546 +

Insert graphic folio 136 here HR231.015

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

Construction ............................. . 

Transfer from available balances of Working 

Capital Fund ............................. . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

420' 178 

-181,000 

FY 2018 

Request 

51,895 

---

Bill 

51,895 

---

Bill vs. B

Enacted 

-368,283 

+181,000 ~~~-~ ~--~~--~ w--~~~----~--~ - w -- - ----- - -- ---- ----- -- ----

Subtotal, Construction ..................... . 239' 178 51,895 51' 895 -187,283 

-- -- --- - -·- -------- ----

.. 

- --- -- ---

Total, Federal Bureau of Investigation .. 9,006,379 8,774,477 8,866,642 -139,737 +

Drug Enforcement Administration 

Salaries and expenses ...................... . 2' 485' 638 2,583,625 2,583,625 +97,987 

Diversion control fund ......................... . -382,662 -419,574 -419,574 -36,912 

-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------

Total, Drug Enforcement Administration ....... . 2' 102' 976 2,164,051 2' 164' 051 +61,075 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 

Salaries and expenses ................. . 1,258,600 1 '273' 776 1 '293' 776 +35 ,176 +

Federal Prison System 

Salaries and expenses ................................ . 7,008,800 7,085,248 7,070,248 +61 ,448 -

Buildings and facilities ............................. . 130,000 113,000 95,000 -35,000 -

Limitation on administrative expenses, Federal Prison 

Industries, Incorporated ...... , .... , ............... . 2,700 2,695 2,700 --- 

-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------

Total, Federal Prison System ................... . 7' 141 '500 7,200,943 7' 167' 948 +26,448 -

Insert graphic folio 137 here HR231.016

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

ANO BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

State and Local Law Enforcement Activities 

Office on Violence Against Women: 

Prevention and prosecution programs ...... . 

(by transfer) .................................. . 

Crime Victims Fund (transfer out) ................ . 

Office of Justice Programs: 

Research, evaluation and statistics ............ . 

State and local law enforcement assistance ....... . 

Edward Byrne Memorial Grants (P.L. 114-254, 

DivA, Sec. 154) ........................... . 

(by transfer). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. , , , , ... . 

Crime Victims Fund (transfer out) ................ . 

Juvenile justice programs ........................ . 

(by transfer) .............................. .. 

Crime Victims Fund (transfer out) ................ . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

155,500 

(326,000) 

(-326,000) 

89,000 

1,258,500 

7,000 

247,000 

FY 2018 

Request 

35,000 

(445,000) 

(-445,000) 

111,000 

867,500 

(73,000) 

(-73,000) 

137,500 

(92,000) 

(-92,000) 

Bi 11 

527,000 

83,000 

1,143,500 

170' 500 

Bill vs. B

Enacted 

+371 ,500 +4

(-326,000) (-4

(+326,000) (+4

-6,000 -

-115,000 +2

-7,000 

( -

(+

-76,500 +

( -

(+

Insert graphic folio 138 here HR231.017

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

Public safety officer benefits: 

Death benefits ..................... . 

Disability and education benefits ........ . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

73,000 

16,300 

FY 2018 

Request 

92,000 

16,300 

Bill 

92,000 

16,300 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

+19,000 

-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

Subtotal ................................. . 89,300 108,300 108,300 +19,000 

-------------- -------------- --------------

------------~- Total, Office of Justice Programs ... 1,690,800 1,224,300 1 '505' 300 -185,500 

Community Oriented Policing Services: 

COPS programs ......................... . 221,500 218,000 234,000 +12,500 

Total , State and Local Law Enforcement 

Activities ........................... . 2,067,800 1.477,300 2,266,300 +198,500 

B

+2

+

+7

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

Total, title II, Department of Justice ......... . 28,947,497 28,328,505 29,315,361 +367,864 +9

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

TITLE III - SCIENCE 

Office of Science and Technology Policy .......... . 5,555 5,544 5,544 ·11 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Science .......... . 5' 764' 900 5, 711,800 5,858,500 +93,600 +1

Aeronautics ...................................... . 660,000 624,000 660,000 --- +

Space Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ . 686,500 678,600 686,500 --- 

Exploration ...................................... . 4,324,000 3,934,097 4,550,000 +226,000 +6

Space Operations ..................................... . 4,950,700 4,740,803 4,676,634 -274,066 -

Insert graphic folio 139 here HR231.018

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL} AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands} 

Education ......................................... . 

Safety, Security and Mission Services .............. . 

Construction and environmental compliance and 

restoration .............................. . 

Office of Inspector General .................. . 

Total, National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration .................... . 

National Science Foundation 

Research and related activities ...................... . 

Defense function ...................... . 

Subtotal ............................... . 

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction 

Education and Human Resources ........................ . 

Agency Operations and Award Management ............... . 

Office of the National Science Board ................. . 

Office of Inspector General .......................... . 

Total, National Science Foundation ............. . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

100,000 

2,768,600 

360,700 

37,900 

- - M W M 

19,653,300 

5,966,125 

67,520 

6,033,645 

209,000 

880,000 

330,000 

4,370 

15 '200 

7,472,215 

FY 2018 

Request 

37' 300 

2,830,200 

496' 100 

39,300 

Bill 

90,000 

2,826,200 

486,100 

37,900 

- ~-- ---- -- ---- --- _.,H-~ 19,092,200 

5,290,650 

71,000 

5,361,650 

182,800 

760,550 

328,510 

4,370 

15' 008 

6,652,888 

19,871,834 

5,962,645 

71.000 

6.033,645 

77,800 

880,000 

328,510 

4,370 

15,200 

7,339,525 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

-10,000 

+57,600 

+125,400 

--- ~-~---- ---

+218,534 

-3,480 

+3,480 

-131,200 

-1 ,490 

-132,690 

B

+

-

~- ~---

+7

+6

+6

-1

+1

+6

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

Total, title III, Science ...................... . 27,131,070 25,750,632 27,216,903 +85,833 +1 ,4

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

Insert graphic folio 140 here HR231.019

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

TITLE IV - RELATED AGENCIES 

Commission on Civil Rights 

Salaries and expenses .......................... . 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

Salaries and expenses ......... . 

International Trade Commission 

Salaries and expenses .......................... . 

Legal Services Corporation 

Payment to the Legal Services Corporation ..... 

Marine Mammal Commission 

Salaries and expenses .................... . 

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 

Salaries and expenses ....................... . 

Trade Enforcement Trust Fund (non-add) ....... . 

Trade Enforcement Trust Fund ......................... . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

9.200 

364,500 

91,500 

385,000 

3,431 

62,000 

(15,000) 

FY 2018 

Request 

9' 183 

363,807 

87,615 

33,000 

2,449 

57,600 

Bi 11 

9' 183 

363,807 

92,500 

300,000 

3,431 

53,000 

15,000 

Bi 1l vs. 

Enacted 

-17 

-693 

+1 ,000 

-85,000 

-9,000 

(-15,000) 

+15,000 

B

+2

+

Insert graphic folio 141 here HR231.020

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 201B 

(Amounts in thousands) 

State Justice Institute 

Salaries and expenses ....................... . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

5. 121 

FY 2018 

Request 

5,111 

Bill 

5,111 

Bill VS 

Enacted 

-10 

B

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

Total, title IV, Related Agencies .............. . 

TITLE V - GENERAL PROVISIONS 

DOC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

Operations, Research and Facilities (rescission) .... 

DOC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

Procurement Acquisition and Construction 

(reset sst on).......... . .......................... . 

Economic Development Assistance Programs (rescission). DOJ. Working Capital Fund (reset ssion) ............... . 

DOJ, Assets Forfeiture Fund (reset sst on, temporary) .. . DOJ, Assets Forfeiture Fund (rescission, permanent) .. . 

FBI. Salaries and Expenses: 

(Fees) nondefense (rescission) ................... . 

(Fees) defense (rescission) ...................... . 

Nondefense (rescission) .......................... . 

Defense (rescission) ............................. . 

Federal Prisoner Detention (rescission) ......... . 

DOJ. Drug Enforcement Administration (rescission) ..... 

DOJ, Federal Prison System, Buildings and Facilities 

(rescission) ....................................... . 

920,752 558,765 842,032 -78,720 +2

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

-18,000 -20,000 -2,000 -

-5,000 +5,000 

-10,000 -47,000 -47,000 -37,000 

-300,000 -144,768 -409,834 -109,834 -2

-302,000 --- +302,000 

-201 ,196 -304,000 -304,000 -102' 804 

-56,798 -79,111 -79' 111 -22,313 

-83,202 -115,889 -115' 889 -32,687 

-20,934 -21 ,650 -716 -

-30,666 -31,715 -1 ,049 -

-24,000 +24,000 

-12.092 +12,092 

-3,400 -444,000 +3,400 +4

Insert graphic folio 142 here HR231.021

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 2017 

AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2018 

(Amounts in thousands) 

Violence against women prevention and prosecution 

programs (rescission) .............................. . 

Office of Justice programs (rescission) ........... . 

Crime Victims Fund (rescission) ................... . 

COPS (rescission) .................................... . 

NASA Emergency Repairs (emergency) ................... . 

Emergency Law Enforcement Assistance ................. . 

FY 2017 

Enacted 

-10,000 

-50,000 

-15,000 

109,000 

15,000 

FY 2018 

Request 

-15,000 

-40,000 

-1,310,000 

-10,000 

Bill 

-17,500 

-60,000 

-17,500 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

-7,500 

-10,000 

-2,500 

-109 '000 

-15,000 

B

-

+1 ,3

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

Total, title V, General Provisions ............. . -1,018,288 -2,509,768 1,124,199 -105,911 +1 ,3

============== ============== ============== ============== =======

Grand total ........................................... 65,218,000 59,941,833 64,595,000 -623,000 +4,6

Appropriations .................................... (66,251,288) (62,451 ,601) (65,719,199) (-532,089) (+3,2

Rescissions ....................................... ( -1 ' 1 42' 288) (-2,509,768) (-1 ,124,199) (+18,089) (+1 ,3

Emergency appropriations .......................... (109,000) --- --- {-109,000) 

(by transfer) ........................................ 465,164 763,000 153,000 -312,164 -6

(transfer out) ........................................ -465,164 -763,000 -153,000 +312,164 +6
(125) 

MINORITY VIEWS OF REP. NITA M. LOWEY AND REP. JOSE ́

E. SERRANO 

We commend Chairman Culberson for his efforts in assembling 

the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) bill. 

However, we remain deeply concerned about this year’s overall appropriations process and are resolutely opposed to the direction it 

appears to be headed. One feature of this flawed process is that the 

allocation for CJS is a programmatic cut of more than half a billion 

dollars below fiscal year 2017. 

The agencies and programs funded under the CJS bill play key 

roles in securing our nation, promoting economic development, and 

ensuring our leadership in scientific endeavors. Yet the unacceptably low allocation has resulted in far too many critical priorities 

underfunded, many quite substantially, which would hurt hardworking American families. The bill also lacks necessary oversight 

over the Trump Administration and contains several harmful riders. 

Before we detail our concerns, we do want to point out some of 

the positive investments this bill makes. The Committee bill rejects 

several of the Administration’s worst proposals, including its proposed cuts to National Science Foundation research, the Minority 

Business Development Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Sea Grant program. Increases 

are included for Federal law enforcement and immigration judges. 

The bill also largely rejects cuts to the educational efforts of both 

the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (NASA), which help inspire and train our 

next generation of scientists. An increase is also provided for trade 

enforcement activities at the International Trade Administration. 

However, we are deeply concerned that the bill cuts funding for 

so many other critical programs and public investments: 

For instance, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is cut by $85 

million below 2017. LSC grants help local providers assist veterans, domestic violence victims, the elderly, and many others to 

assert their rights. The LSC plays a crucial role in ensuring that 

our legal and constitutional rights are available to all Americans, 

not just those who can afford it. We want to work together to increase the finding for LSC as this process moves forward. 

Programs that conduct crucial climate change research are also 

reduced in this bill. There is a 19 percent cut to NOAA climate research, and NASA’s Earth Science program is cut by $217 million 

below current levels, and by $50.1 million below even what the 

Trump Administration requested. Such funding cuts would jeopardize our ability to improve the scientific understanding of our 

planet and its changes. This, in turn, would undermine our ability 

to protect the health and safety of our communities. 

126 

Elsewhere in NOAA, we are pleased the bill provides adequate 

funding levels for near-term weather satellites and for operating 

expenses of the National Weather Service, though we are disappointed that the bill approves of the Trump Administration proposal to cut and consolidate information technology support personnel based at local weather forecast offices. Furthermore, the bill 

severely cuts funding for the Polar Follow-on future weather satellite program, which if well-funded could serve as an important insurance policy against future gaps in weather satellite data. This 

is vitally important, as NOAA’s polar orbiting weather satellites do 

not have on-orbit backups as does the GOES weather satellite system. 

Furthermore, the Committee bill contains a significant cut to 

NOAA’s overall operations, research, and facilities budget, including the elimination of the Regional Coastal Resilience Grant program and a very damaging cut to the Coastal Zone Management 

Grants program. These programs fund important work in coastal 

and Great Lakes areas, ensuring that states and communities are 

prepared to face challenges such as restoring coastal infrastructure 

and addressing problems like erosion, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and marine debris. 

The Justice Department is also underfunded in a number of critical areas. While we appreciate the increase provided for Byrne 

Justice Assistance Grants, overall DOJ grants are cut by more 

than $167 million below the comparable FY 2017 level. The bill 

eliminates funding for hiring in the COPS program, which supports 

important police reform and public safety initiatives. We are also 

troubled by the proposed elimination of two crucial juvenile justice 

grant programs, the State Formula Grants and Delinquency Prevention Incentive Grants. These grant eliminations, among others 

unfunded in the bill, would harm efforts to reduce crime, promote 

police-community relations, and prevent recidivism. 

The Census Bureau is also inadequately funded. Although the 

Periodic Censuses and Programs account is given the requested 

amount in FY 2018, the Trump Administration is proposing to 

greatly scale back the important 2020 Census planning and testing 

tools that are needed now to prevent higher costs in the next few 

years. Without this crucial testing now, in 2020 the initial response 

rates will drop and costs will rise. In addition, scaling back early 

testing greatly increases the risk of information technology failures 

like those in the last decennial census, which would cause significant future cost overruns. The appropriations bill must not rubberstamp this penny-wise and pound-foolish approach; significantly 

more money is needed in the short-term for 2020 Census preparation. In addition, while we appreciate that the bill rejects the 

Trump Administration’s proposal to scale back the Survey of Income and Program Participation, we are concerned that the bill 

contains other survey budget cuts proposed by the Administration 

that will reduce the quality and reliability of certain surveys, such 

as the Small Area Health Insurance Estimates. 

President Trump also proposed ending Federal support for Economic Development Administration programs and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. While the Committee bill 

maintained the programs, huge cuts to both would greatly reduce 

127 

the tens of thousands of jobs created or retained each year throughout the country. 

While the trade enforcement activities of the International Trade 

Administration (ITA) are provided an increase, the bill cuts funding for ITA overall, including completely eliminating the SelectUSA 

program. This program, initiated in the Obama Administration, is 

aimed at creating more American jobs by attracting and facilitating 

foreign direct investment. 

Lastly, we are also troubled that this bill allows several of the 

Administration’s immigration enforcement priorities to go forward, 

including additional attorneys for criminal immigration prosecution 

efforts. At best, this is an unwise choice. Fifty-two percent of criminal prosecutions at DOJ are already immigration related—further 

efforts in this area will intrude upon the other important missions 

of the Department. 

IRRESPONSIBLE GUN RIDERS

We continue to be extremely troubled by the inclusion of gun-related riders, including one that would effectively prevent the enforcement of an existing requirement that Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in four southwest border states report to the National 

Tracing Center on the sale of certain kinds of semi-automatic rifles 

favored by the Mexican drug cartels. This reporting requirement is 

narrow and targeted, applying only to the four southwest border 

states (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California), and only when 

a dealer sells two or more qualifying long guns to a single individual within five business days. Qualifying guns are rifles that (1) 

are semi-automatic; (2) are greater than .22 caliber; and (3) can 

hold a detachable magazine. It does not apply to shotguns or the 

vast majority of rifles regularly used for hunting purposes. 

This reporting requirement is identical to one that has existed 

for decades for handguns, and in no way does it hinder the ability 

of any law-abiding person to purchase as many rifles as he or she 

desires. It is not an undue burden on FFLs, with the time to complete a multiple sales form estimated at 12 minutes and an estimated annual cost in employee time of only $16. 

This very limited reporting requirement has proven to be an important tool for Federal law enforcement in the effort to uncover illegal trafficking operations intended to supply semiautomatic 

weapons to violent drug gangs across the border. According to the 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), these 

multiple sales reports have thus far led to more than 300 defendants recommended for prosecution, including both alleged straw 

purchasers and others farther up the firearms trafficking chain. 

Also according to ATF, the reporting requirement is forcing firearms traffickers to change tactics, making straw purchases more 

difficult and serving as a deterrent for many people who might 

have engaged in straw purchasing in the past. 

This is not about restricting gun ownership or compiling a registry of long gun owners. Information that does not become part of 

a trafficking investigation is purged from ATF records within two 

years. This is a law enforcement response to the evidence from successful tracings of weapons recovered in Mexico. These tracings 

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show that a large number of these weapons were initially sold by 

licensed gun dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas. 

In 2013, a unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 

Fifth Circuit affirmed an earlier court finding that Federal law 

‘‘unambiguously authorizes’’ this reporting requirement. This Committee simply has no business tying the hands of law enforcement 

agencies as they attempt to rein in crime. 

OTHER IRRESPONSIBLE RIDERS

We are concerned about other inappropriate riders that do not 

belong in this bill, including a rider that places restrictions on the 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)’s ability to issue trademarks to Cuban nationals, even in cases in which a specific license 

from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control 

has been issued. Aside from meddling in foreign policy and harming our diplomatic efforts with Cuba, the provision would create a 

significant administrative burden on PTO, setting an impossible 

standard that PTO itself reports it cannot meet. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

We are disappointed that the majority rejected a number of 

amendments made by our side in order to improve the bill. The 

Committee did not adopt the Serrano Amendment, which would 

have increased funding in a number of critical areas mentioned 

above. The investments are necessary for these programs to effectively help American citizens and businesses. 

We are also disappointed that the Committee did not adopt the 

Lowey Amendment to allow the Department of Justice to block the 

sales of firearms to persons known or suspected to be engaged in 

conduct related to terrorism. Currently, Federal law prohibits nine 

categories of dangerous people from purchasing or owning firearms. 

However, Federal law does not allow the Attorney General the discretion to block a firearms purchase to an individual on a terror 

watch list. There have been consequences. For example, on November 5, 2009, at Fort Hood 13 people were shot and killed and 30 

others wounded by Nidal Hasan, who passed a background check 

and bought a handgun even though he was under investigation by 

the FBI for links to terrorism. Allowing the Attorney General the 

discretion to block these purchases is a commonsense approach 

that should be widely supported. 

We are pleased that the amendment to provide additional funding in DOJ grants and the Crime Victims Fund for tribal purposes 

was adopted. The Federal Government has provided significant 

support to criminal justice and victim services programs across the 

country. However, as is too often the case, Indian Country has 

largely been left out of this effort. 

Unfortunately, a number of problematic amendments were 

adopted in Committee as well. A troubling Republican amendment 

was adopted prohibiting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from moving forward with a policy change aimed at collecting gender and race information from employers. This data, 

combined with other information available to the agency, would 

help fill a significant void in the information we need to ensure 

that American workers are paid fairly for their hard work, and it 

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would help employers evaluate their own pay practices so that they 

can prevent pay discrimination in their workplaces. 

The Committee also adopted an amendment that would undermine the Endangered Species Act with respect to certain endangered fish in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This is a bad precedent that does not belong on an appropriations bill. 

Lastly, we are troubled that the Majority rejected a number of 

amendments to ensure accountability in the Executive Branch and 

to prevent further interference in the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election (and related matters). For instance, 

we are disappointed that two amendments were not adopted that 

would have prevented individuals employed by the White House 

from holding security clearances if they are under criminal investigation by Federal law enforcement or if they have deliberately 

omitted a required disclosure of a meeting with a foreign national 

on their Standard Form 86. 

Similarly, the Committee did not adopt the Lowey Amendment 

to prohibit the use of funds to obstruct, hinder, frustrate, impede, 

or prevent any investigative work conducted by Special Counsel 

Robert S. Mueller. It is imperative that Special Counsel Mueller’s 

investigation be conducted completely free of meddling from the 

White House, the Department of Justice, or anyone else. The 

Lowey amendment would have made it clear that it is unlawful for 

employees of the Department of Justice or any other Federal entity 

to meddle in an investigation that is critical for Americans’ confidence in our democracy and the institutions of our government. 

CONCLUSION

In spite of all our concerns, we would like to reiterate our appreciation for Chairman Culberson’s work with us on a number of 

issues. Within the constraints facing the bill, it funds several of the 

Minority’s priorities. However, the shortcomings in this and other 

appropriations bills are many and very real. We simply cannot support the CJS appropriations bill in its current form. In addition to 

our desire to rid the bill of its harmful riders, it is our firm hope 

that we will establish a bipartisan budget framework to increase 

funding for domestic investments, including those funded in this 

bill to help better secure our communities, create jobs, and support 

scientific research that is vital to our economy and quality of life. 

NITA M. LOWEY. 

JOSE ́ E. SERRANO. 

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