99–837 PDF 

Calendar No. 432 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 114–239 

DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE AND JUSTICE, SCIENCE, 

AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2017 

APRIL 21, 2016.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. SHELBY, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 2837] 

The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 2837) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 

Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 

30, 2017, and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass. 

Total obligational authority, fiscal year 2017 

Total of bill as reported to the Senate 1 .................. $65,469,000,000 

Amount of 2016 appropriations ............................... 65,121,000,000 

Amount of 2017 budget estimate ............................ 65,652,349,000 

Bill as recommended to Senate compared to— 

2016 appropriations .......................................... +348,000,000 

2017 budget estimate ........................................ ¥183,349,000 1This level does not include ¥$8,864,000,000 in adjustments that the Congressional Budget Office [CBO] scores to the bill. With these scorekeeping adjustments, 

the bill totals $56,285,000,000 in discretionary budget authority. 
(2) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Title II: Department of Justice ............................................................................... 53 

Title III: Science ...................................................................................................... 98 

Office of Science and Technology Policy ......................................................... 98 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration .......................................... 99 

National Science Foundation ........................................................................... 112 

Title IV: Related Agencies ....................................................................................... 121 

Commission on Civil Rights ............................................................................. 121 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ................................................ 121 

International Trade Commission .................................................................... 122 

Legal Services Corporation .............................................................................. 123 

Marine Mammal Commission .......................................................................... 124 

Office of the United States Trade Representative ......................................... 124 

State Justice Institute ...................................................................................... 125 

Title V: General Provisions ..................................................................................... 126 

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

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

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

Senate ................................................................................................................... 132 

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

Senate ................................................................................................................... 133 

Budgetary Impact of Bill ......................................................................................... 133 

Comparative Statement of Budget Authority ........................................................ 133 
(3) 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

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

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

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

Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC], 

the International Trade Commission [ITC], the Legal Services Corporation [LSC], the Marine Mammal Commission, the Office of the 

United States Trade Representative, and the State Justice Institute [SJI]. 

SUMMARY OF THE BILL

The total amount of discretionary budget authority recommended by the Committee for fiscal year 2017 is $56,285,000,000, which is 

$563,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

The Committee’s recommendation is consistent with the allocation for the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Within these boundaries, the Committee has 

achieved a careful balance between the competing priorities of law 

enforcement, national security, economic development, scientific research, and space exploration. As a result, this bill represents responsible spending that adheres to congressional budget agreements and provisions. 

The Committee notes that the administration’s budget requests 

for large programmatic increases, coupled with large amounts of 

unsubstantiated non-discretionary funding, continue to add financial pressure on existing core programs and operations throughout 

the bill. This remains true for the Department of Commerce, which 

is responsible for a variety of activities critical to our Nation’s economic and scientific well-being, and also manages expensive, highrisk activities, including the build-up to the 2020 Decennial Census 

and efforts to launch the next generation of weather satellites. 

Strict oversight and fiscal responsibility are essential for the Department’s success in fiscal year 2017. 

This Committee remains supportive of science and innovation, 

and has maintained a healthy funding level for NSF while preserving a balanced and productive space program within the 

NASA. Ignoring the proposed funding cuts, this bill makes it possible for NASA to achieve efficient and cost-effective operations for 

the agency’s science and exploration missions, many of which will 

reach critical stages of development during fiscal year 2017. 

The constantly changing landscape of criminal activity at home 

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

emerging threats. The Committee believes that our Federal law enforcement agencies must work together—particularly in tough 
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budget environments—to focus limited resources in a manner that 

safeguards taxpayer dollars while preserving public safety. This 

bill provides either the full budget request or at least 1.5 percent 

increases to our Federal law enforcement agencies and United 

States Attorneys, and maintains strong funding for our State and 

local justice grants. The bill provides $2,957,000,000 to victims and victim services through the Crime Victims Fund [CVF], which is $85,000,000 

below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $957,000,000 above 

the request. The Committee notes that the current estimates of the 

fund’s annual collections are expected to decrease in fiscal year 

2017. Even so, in order to maintain a comparable level of services 

for victims from fiscal year 2016 to 2017, the Committee has ensured that the amount disbursed to States is $2,578,000,000, which 

matches the 3-year average of deposits into the CVF, a metric for 

CVF spending that has been called for by the Senate Budget Committee. 

Balancing the Committee’s consistent support for increased CVF 

spending with the Committee’s concerns for fiscal oversight, this 

bill offsets $379,000,000 from the CVF for victim-related discretionary grants in the DOJ’s State and local accounts, which is the 

same as the fiscal year 2016 level and direction. The stagnant fiscal climate, coupled with high spending out of the CVF and increased demand to provide higher funding for grant programs, 

makes supporting important victim-related programs with discretionary funding unsustainable. As a result of this offset, overall 

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

fiscal year 2016 enacted levels in this bill. 

FIGHTING WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE

The departments, agencies, boards, and commissions funded in 

this bill can and should continue to reduce operating expenses by 

placing greater scrutiny on overhead costs. Savings can and should 

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

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

achieve savings by lowering travel contractor costs related to air 

fares. The Committee continues longstanding restrictions on first 

class travel. 

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

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

reports have exposed a culture within many agencies that exhibits 

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

the Committee has continued bill-wide provisions to ensure greater 

oversight and fiscal responsibility of taxpayer dollars. 

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

than 10 percent. 

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

ensure funds are being spent appropriately. This bill increases 
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funding above the fiscal year 2016 level for each of these offices so 

that the Inspectors General may conduct further investigations and 

audits. For projects with persistent accountability issues, such as 

the decennial census and weather satellites, special funding is provided for additional Inspector General scrutiny. 

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

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

contractors with below satisfactory performance. 

Fourth, the bill requires all departments and agencies funded in 

this act to provide full access to documents and data for their respective Inspectors General to conduct investigations and audits. 

The Committee also supports long-standing provisions that were 

once solely included in this bill but have since become governmentwide provisions. These include: requiring each department, agency, 

board, and commission funded in this act to report spending on 

large conferences with costs in excess of $100,000 to the Inspectors 

General for audit; and prohibiting funds from being used for contracts, memoranda of understanding, cooperative agreements, 

grants, or loan activities if the proposed recipient has unpaid Federal tax liabilities or was convicted of a felony criminal violation. 

Finally, the Committee intends to continue to work with the Government Accountability Office [GAO] to expand the review of selected large-scale acquisition and construction projects. Specifically, 

the Committee directs ongoing GAO reviews of large NASA projects 

and separate reviews of the James Webb Space Telescope, with reports to the Committee on a biannual basis. In this report, the 

Committee also directs GAO to review major research equipment 

and facilities construction at the National Science Foundation. 

Agencies shall provide access to all necessary data, as determined by the GAO, in order for these reviews to be completed and 

provided in a timely manner to the Committee. The Committee believes that these project status reports are valuable in identifying 

cost overrun and schedule slippage problems early so they can be 

addressed immediately and has used information in the reviews to 

develop this recommendation. 

Representation Funds.—The Committee has reduced official reception and representation funds by 25 percent since fiscal year 

2011, and has denied all fiscal year 2017 budget requests to establish new reception funds for accounts in this bill. Modest representation funds are included for agency executives to provide necessary courtesies to our diplomatic partners and hold events to 

honor fallen officers, or to mark historic occasions such as space exploration missions or significant discoveries. However, savings can 

and should be achieved by reducing the costs of executive meetings, 

receptions, ceremonies, and conferences, and by purchasing fewer 

promotional items such as T-shirts, hats, mugs, key chains, and 

other similar items. 

Federal Vehicle Fleet Management.—The General Services Administration [GSA] issues guidance on Federal fleet management, 

but the Federal vehicle fleet is decentralized, with each agency 

maintaining flexibility to manage vehicle utilization as appropriate. 

A January 2016, GAO report that audited five Federal agencies, including NASA, found discrepancies related to poor vehicle utiliza-
6 

tion rates and a lack of documentation justifying the agency’s need 

for several vehicles. In order to provide better transparency and accountability of funding for Federal vehicles, the Committee directs 

agencies funded in this bill to conduct an annual review of fleet utilization during the third quarter of each fiscal year and provide 

their corresponding Offices of Inspectors General [OIGs] with supporting documentation on the method used for determining optimal 

fleet inventories and justification for any deviation from GSA’s Federal Property Management Regulations. OIGs shall be responsible 

for conducting annual audits of fleet management practices and 

make the subsequent results for non-law enforcement sensitive 

agencies publicly available. 

Reducing Duplication and Improving Efficiencies.—Over the last 

6 years, the Government Accountability Office [GAO] has published 

duplication reports that have exposed 200 areas of potential duplication and overlap, revealing more than 1,100 potentially duplicative Federal programs that cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars 

every year. GAO has noted that the Nation has achieved roughly 

$10,000,000,000 in savings based on these reports, but many more 

efficiencies may be realized. The Committee directs each agency 

funded in this bill to report to the Committee, within 1 year of enactment of this act, on all efforts made to address the duplication 

identified by the annual GAO reports along with identifying substantive challenges and legal barriers to implementing GAO’s recommendations, along with suggested legislative recommendations 

that could help the agency to further reduce duplication. 

REPROGRAMMINGS, REORGANIZATIONS, AND RELOCATIONS

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

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

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

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

traditionally included separate provisions that define permissible 

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

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

agencies under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction. 

The Committee expects each department and agency to closely 

follow the reprogramming procedures listed in section 505. These 

procedures apply to funds provided under this act, provided under 

previous appropriations acts that remain available for obligation or 

expenditure in fiscal year 2017, or provided from any accounts in 

the Treasury available to the agencies funded by this act. Section 

505 requires that the Committee on Appropriations be notified by 

letter, at least 15 days prior to reprogramming of funds, whether 

permanent or temporary, in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, 

whichever is less, between programs, projects, or activities. Section 

505 of this act is also applicable in cases where funding for an activity is reduced by 10 percent. In addition, the Committee is to be 

notified of reprogramming actions which are less than these 

amounts if such actions would have the effect of: committing the 

agency to significant funding requirements in future years; increas-
7 

ing funds or personnel by any means for any program, project, or 

activity for which funds have been previously denied or restricted 

by Congress; creating new programs, offices, agencies, or commissions or substantially augmenting existing programs, offices, agencies, or commissions; relocating offices or employees; or reorganizing offices, programs, or activities. 

The Committee also expects that any items that are subject to 

interpretation will be reported. The Committee is concerned that, 

in some instances, the departments or agencies funded within this 

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

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

Committee. 

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

Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill provides 

specific program guidance throughout this report and tables accompanying the bill. The process is intended to provide flexibility to 

meet changing circumstances and emergency requirements of agencies, if there is agreement between the executive branch and the 

Congress that such a change is warranted. Reprogramming procedures provide a means to agree on adjustments, if necessary, during a fiscal year, and to ensure that the Committee is kept apprised of instances where nonappropriated resources are used to 

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

appropriations legislation. 

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

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

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

The Committee expects each executive branch department and 

agency to manage its programs, projects, and activities within the 

levels appropriated. Reprogramming or transfer requests shall be 

submitted only in the case of an unforeseen emergency or situation 

that could not have been anticipated when formulating the budget 

request for the current fiscal year. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET JUSTIFICATIONS

The Committee directs that all departments and agencies funded 

within this bill shall submit all of their fiscal year 2018 budget justifications concurrently with the official submission of the administration’s budget to Congress. Further, all departments and agencies 

with classified programs funded within this act are directed to submit their classified budget justification documents to the Com-
8 

mittee, through appropriate means, at the same time the unclassified budget justifications are transmitted. 

These justifications shall include a sufficient level of detailed 

data, exhibits, and explanatory statements to support the appropriations requests, including tables that outline each agency’s programs, projects, and activities for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. For 

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

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

and staffing and function change proposed in the fiscal year 2018 

budget, particularly within the departmental operations and management accounts. 

The Committee expects that the fiscal year 2018 submissions will 

include sufficient detail to justify all programs, projects, and activities contained in each department, agency, or commission budget 

request. Budget justifications are prepared not for the use of the 

agencies but are the primary tool of the Committee to evaluate the 

resource requirements and proposals requested by the administration. 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Committee directs the departments and agencies funded in 

this bill to submit reports by the deadlines detailed herein or to 

provide advance notification if there is sufficient reason why deadlines cannot be met, along with the expected date of submission. 

The Committee also recognizes that some enduring reporting requirements from previous Appropriations laws may no longer be 

necessary for Congressional oversight purposes. In the interest of 

reducing government waste and expediting responses to current report mandates, each department or agency is invited to submit a 

list of reporting requirements that it considers outdated or no 

longer relevant for the review of the Committees on Appropriations. Any list submitted for review shall cite the original authority 

as well as a justification for eliminating each reporting requirement. 

REDUCTIONS-IN-FORCE

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

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

date of the proposed personnel action. 

APPROPRIATIONS LIAISONS

The Committee prefers to channel the majority of its inquiries 

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

it oversees but reserves the right to call upon any individual or organization in any agency under its jurisdiction. 
(9) 

TITLE I 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

The Committee recommends a total of $9,316,456,000 for the Department of Commerce [DOC]. The recommendation is $70,815,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $411,723,000 below 

the budget request. 

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

support and expand opportunities for growth in the private sector. 

Few departments have such potential to directly impact the 

strength and sustainability of our communities and local businesses. 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION

OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $493,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 533,421,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 495,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $495,000,000 for the 

International Trade Administration [ITA]. The recommendation is 

$2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$38,421,000 below the budget request. The appropriation is offset 

by $12,000,000 in fee collections. 

Offsetting Fee Collections.—ITA shall continue to identify and include an accurate assessment of expected fee collections and corresponding expenditures in its fiscal year 2017 spending plan and 

in its fiscal year 2018 budget request. 

Trade Enforcement.—The Committee provides the requested 

funding level for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance. ITA 

should make enforcement of antidumping and countervailing duties 

a priority, including thoroughly investigating dumping and subsidies causing injury to domestic businesses and expeditiously reducing trade remedy case backlogs. 

Additionally, the Committee notes that funding formerly requested for the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center has been 

moved from ITA to the Office of the United States Trade Representative following passage of the Trade Facilitation and Trade 

Enforcement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–125). As such, no funds 
10 

are provided for these activities in ITA, but ITA shall continue to 

collaborate with all other Federal trade agencies to ensure U.S. 

trade laws and agreements are enforced fairly. 

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

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

businesses looking to expand overseas export opportunities. Given 

the export potential of emerging and developing economies in Asia 

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

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

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

fiscal year 2017, and at no less than the amount provided in fiscal 

year 2016. 

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

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

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

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

The Committee encourages ITA to maintain, and when feasible, expand the number of Foreign Commercial Service officers and support staff in developing markets overseas. 

SelectUSA.—Up to $10,000,000 is provided for SelectUSA, except 

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

direct investment in the United States unless an updated protocol 

to ensure that SelectUSA activities do not encourage such investments in the United States by State-owned entities is delivered to 

the Committee within 30 days of enactment of this act. 

China Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Activities [AD/ 

CVD].—The Committee provides no less than $16,400,000 for 

China AD/CVD enforcement and compliance activities. 

Survey of International Air Travelers.—Within funds provided, 

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

International Air Travelers. 

World Expositions and Fairs.—The Committee encourages the 

Department of Commerce to coordinate with the Department of 

State in planning future U.S. participation in world expos and 

fairs, including collaborating with private sector organizations, 

business leaders, and State and local government officials seeking 

to host an expo or fair in the United States. 

BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY

OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $112,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 126,945,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 112,500,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $112,500,000 for the 

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

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $14,445,000 below 

the budget request. 

BIS is the principal agency involved in the development, implementation, and enforcement of export controls for commercial tech-
11 

nologies and for many military technologies as a result of the President’s export control reform initiative. The Export Enforcement Division detects, prevents, investigates, and assists in the sanctioning 

of illegal exports of such items. 

Export Control Reform.—The Committee directs BIS to continue 

its exporter outreach program to educate companies of all sizes on 

the new regulatory requirements resulting from export control reform. In this effort, BIS should continue targeting small- and medium-sized businesses and working with State and local trade and 

export associations, in addition to working with national industry 

groups. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $261,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 258,454,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 254,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $254,000,000 for the 

Economic Development Administration [EDA]. The recommendation is $7,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$4,454,000 below the budget request. 

EDA provides grants to local governments and nonprofit agencies 

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

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

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $222,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 215,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 215,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $215,000,000 for Economic Development Assistance Programs. The recommendation is 

$7,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request. EDA is directed to focus on its core programs 

and mission to aid the most distressed communities across the 

country. The Committee expects EDA to use all available carryover 

and prior year recoveries to the maximum extent possible. EDA 

shall consider geographic equity in making all award decisions and 

shall ensure that rural projects are adequately represented among 

those selected for funding. Of the amounts provided, funds are to 

be distributed as follows, and any deviation of funds shall be subject to the procedures set forth in section 505 of this act: 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

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

Economic Adjustment Assistance ........................................................................................................................ 36,500 

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms .............................................................................................................. 13,000 

Regional Innovation Program ............................................................................................................................... 20,000 

Partnership Planning ........................................................................................................................................... 33,000 

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

Research and Evaluation ..................................................................................................................................... 1,500 
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Total ........................................................................................................................................................ 215,000 

Economic Adjustment Assistance [EAA].—EAA is EDA’s most 

flexible economic development program, which provides access to 

appropriate funding for everything from disaster recovery to business accelerators and incubators. Within funding for EAA, the 

Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

to support EDA’s collaborations with the Delta Regional Authority 

and Appalachian Regional Commission to assist distressed communities. The Committee encourages EDA to work with communities 

researching and developing new construction technologies such as 

engineered wood products. Furthermore, the Committee provides 

up to $2,000,000 for innovative energy efficiency grants under 

EAA. 

Regional Innovation Program.—The Committee provides $20,000,000 to EDA for grants under the Regional Innovation Program [RIP] as authorized under the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–235). RIP 

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

awards go to multiple grantees in multiple and diverse geographic 

areas. 

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

startups. EDA should prioritize funds for incubator projects where 

a State has made significant financial commitment to establishing 

an incubator program. Furthermore, within funds provided for RIP, $3,000,000 shall be 

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

Job Losses From Nuclear Power Plant Closures.—The Committee 

notes that recent closures of nuclear power plants throughout the 

United States have had a negative impact on the economic foundations of surrounding communities, and there is potential for additional plant closures in the coming years. The Committee encourages EDA to help identify and develop best practices to assist communities affected by nuclear power plant closures, including the coordination of economic development efforts across multiple States 

or Economic Development Districts. Additionally, the Committee 

reiterates that communities facing significant job losses are eligible 

for all EDA programs. 

Revolving Loan Fund.—The Committee recognizes the importance of EDA’s Revolving Loan Fund program investments to spur 

economic prosperity in distressed communities, but is concerned 

about the reporting burden on grantees that persists even after 

Federal capitalization funds are lent and repaid. EDA is encouraged to review its reporting requirements with the aim of reducing 

the reporting burden without affecting EDA’s ability to oversee execution of Revolving Loan Fund grants. EDA is directed to submit 
13 

a report to the Committee not later than 120 days after enactment 

of this act on the potential to reduce this burden, including whether any regulatory or legislative changes may be required. 

Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership Program 

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

and no funding is provided for the Investing in Manufacturing 

Communities Partnership Program [IMCP] for fiscal year 2017. 

The Committee remains concerned with the underlying premise of 

IMCP and the potential for negative impacts on communities not 

designated under the IMCP program. Instead, the Department is 

directed to better utilize existing programs to assist various types 

of distressed communities across the country using a bottom-up, 

demand-driven approach to manufacturing investment. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $39,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 43,454,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 39,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $39,000,000 for salaries and expenses. The recommendation is the same as the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $4,454,000 below the budget request. 

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $32,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 35,613,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 32,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $32,000,000 for the 

Minority Business Development Agency [MBDA]. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and is $3,613,000 

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

small, medium, and large minority business enterprises to increase 

revenues and create jobs. 

ECONOMIC AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $109,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 114,643,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 109,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $109,000,000 for Economic and Statistical Analysis [ESA]. The recommendation is the 

same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $5,643,000 below 

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

more informed policy decisions. 

Within funds provided, ESA is encouraged to move forward with 

the development of the proposed Regional Economic Dashboard, including improved local area statistics and providing gross domestic 

product data by county and to work with the Census Bureau on efforts to accelerate and improve the quality of economic indicators. 

Additionally, the Committee supports the Bureau of Economic 
14 

Analysis’s ongoing collaboration with the Federal Recreation Council and other Federal agencies to quantify the outdoor recreation 

sector’s contributions to the U.S. economy. 

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $1,370,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,633,606,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,518,319,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,518,319,000 for 

the Census Bureau. The recommendation is $148,319,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $115,287,000 below the budget 

request. 

CURRENT SURVEYS AND PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $270,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 285,287,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 270,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $270,000,000 for current surveys and programs. The recommendation is the same as 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $15,287,000 below the budget request. This account provides for the salaries and expenses associated with the statistical programs of the Bureau of the Census, 

including measurement of the Nation’s economy and the demographic characteristics of the population. 

PERIODIC CENSUSES AND PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $1,100,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,348,319,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,248,319,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,248,319,000 for 

periodic censuses and programs. The recommendation is 

$148,319,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$100,000,000 below the budget request. 

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

Oversight of Periodic Census Programs.—The Committee’s recommendation provides $2,580,000 for the Office of Inspector General [OIG] to continue oversight and audits of periodic censuses 

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

oversight of the 2020 Decennial Census. The Committee directs the 

Bureau to incorporate the OIG’s recommendations. 

Quarterly Status Reports.—The Census Bureau is directed to continue its quarterly status reports to the Committee as it prepares 

for the 2020 Decennial Census. 

2020 Decennial Census.—The Census Bureau is directed to 

prioritize spending for activities that have the greatest potential to 

reduce cost and risk for the 2020 Census. Controlling costs for the 

2020 Decennial Census remains a top oversight concern for the 

Committee. The Bureau shall continue to work to bring down the 

cost of the 2020 Decennial Census to a level less than the 2010 
15 

Census, not adjusting for inflation. The Committee is mindful of 

the Bureau’s efforts and expects that the increased testing early in 

this decennial cycle will result in significant cost savings over the 

course of the entire 2020 Census. 

Administrative Records.—The Census Bureau plans to save 

money during the 2020 Decennial Census cycle by using existing 

records and data to reduce unnecessary and costly duplication and 

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

to obtain the necessary records. 

Census Enterprise Data Collection and Processing.—The Committee supports the Bureau’s development of more cost efficient 

and secure data processing in advance of the 2020 Census through 

the Census Enterprise Data Collection and Processing [CEDCaP] 

initiative. This initiative is consolidating IT programs and reducing 

costs by retiring multiple redundant and survey-specific systems 

and by bringing many of the Census Bureau’s total IT expenditures 

into a single integrated and scalable system. Plans in fiscal year 

2017 include use of the CEDCaP in supporting the Economic Census and 2017 Census Test. 

The Committee directs the Bureau to ensure that cost estimates 

and implementation timelines are maintained and that the 

CEDCaP system is fully secured against cyber attacks and intrusions before any part of the system becomes operational. The Bureau is directed to cooperate with the OIG on all oversight activities for this system. 

American Community Survey [ACS].—The Committee supports 

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

testbed for innovative survey and data processing techniques that 

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

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

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

children, in order to reliably serve those communities. The ACS is 

especially important to Americans who live in small towns and 

rural areas, as this survey often provides the only reliable and consistent source of information about these communities. The Committee directs the Bureau to again provide an update to the Committee on efforts to evaluate and, where possible, to reduce the 

number of questions included in the ACS, and the steps being 

taken to ensure that the ACS is conducted as efficiently and unobtrusively as possible. 

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $39,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 50,841,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 39,500,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $39,500,000 for National Telecommunications and Information Administration [NTIA] 

salaries and expenses. The recommendation is the same as the fis-
16 

cal year 2016 enacted level and $11,341,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee retains language from previous years allowing 

the Secretary of Commerce to collect reimbursements from other 

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

shall submit a report to the Committee no later than June 1, 2017, 

detailing the collection of reimbursements from other agencies. 

Broadband.—The Committee’s recommendation does not include 

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

Committee supports the continued monitoring of existing 

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

Federal Spectrum Management.—The Committee directs NTIA to 

continue to evaluate options for repurposing spectrum for 

broadband in support of the President’s goal of making 500 megahertz [MHz] of spectrum available for wireless broadband use. 

NTIA shall also provide the Committee with quarterly updates on 

making 500 MHz of spectrum available for commercial mobile use, 

including the strategy for freeing up additional spectrum from Federal agencies. 

Spectrum Relocation Fund Report.—No less than 180 days after 

enactment of this act, NTIA shall consult with the Office of Management and Budget and produce a report to the Committee with 

recommendations on options to reform the Spectrum Relocation 

Fund addressing how the Fund could cover costs incurred by Federal entities related to sharing radio frequency bands with radio 

technologies conducting unlicensed operations. 

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 

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

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

American companies and consumers and urges greater participation and advocacy within the Governmental Advisory Committee 

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

a participant. The Committee strongly encourages NTIA to be an 

active supporter of the interests of the Nation within ICANN and 

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

businesses, and Government. 

Internet Governance.—The Committee understands that NTIA 

plans to transition the agency’s technical stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority [IANA] and that NTIA is currently evaluating a transition plan submitted by ICANN. The current IANA contract expires at the end of September 2016, and at 

this time, NTIA is preparing to evaluate its existing option to extend that contract while reviewing the transition plan. The Committee continues to be concerned about this process and the security of the .gov and .mil domains. The Committee directs NTIA to 

continue quarterly reports to the Committee on all aspects of the 

transition process, and further directs NTIA to inform the Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and 

Transportation not less than 45 days in advance of any decision 

with respect to a successor contract. 
17 

Internet of Things.—The Committee supports NTIA’s April 6, 

2016, Request for Comment in the Federal Register soliciting input 

on the potential benefits and challenges of technology related to the 

‘‘Internet of Things’’ and what role, if any, the U.S. Government 

should play in this area. The Committee encourages NTIA to continue its consideration of how to appropriately plan for and encourage the proliferation of network connected devices, including soliciting input from: industry stakeholders; subject matter experts; 

businesses, including small- and medium-sized businesses; consumer groups; and relevant Federal agencies. 

FirstNet.—The Committee is supportive of FirstNet continuing a 

funding agreement with the Department of Commerce’s Inspector 

General for the purposes of oversight and accountability of FirstNet 

through the end of fiscal year 2017. 

PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, PLANNING, AND

CONSTRUCTION

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

NTIA shall not use unobligated balances to award new grants. 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $3,272,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,230,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,230,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $3,230,000,000 for 

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

$42,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to 

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

Since fiscal year 2005, the Committee has refused to divert patent 

fees to other purposes. This decrease is due to a decrease in patent 

fee collections. 

USPTO examines patent applications, grants patent protection 

for qualified inventions, and disseminates technological information 

disclosed in patents. USPTO also examines trademark applications 

and provides Federal registration to owners of qualified trademarks. 

Budget Execution.—The Committee continues to allow USPTO 

full access to patent and trademark fees and provides bill language 

allowing USPTO to retain any revenue in excess of appropriated 

levels. 

Transfer to Office of Inspector General.—The Committee provides 

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

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

Commerce to implement all OIG recommendations. 

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

using excess fee collections to forward fund expenses beyond fiscal 

year 2017. Any deviations from the funding distribution provided 
18 

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

USPTO is directed to provide, as part of the spending plan required in section 533 of this act, all carryover balances from previous fiscal years, and a description of any changes to the patent 

or trademark fee structure. Any changes from the spending plan 

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

to submit all reprogramming requests, spending plans, and budget 

justifications to the Committee through the Department of Commerce. 

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $964,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,014,519,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 974,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $974,000,000 for the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST]. The recommendation is $10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $40,519,000 below the budget request. Up to $9,000,000 

may be transferred from the Scientific and Technical Research and 

Services account to the Working Capital Fund. 

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

technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve 

our quality of life. 

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

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $690,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 730,533,000 

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

The Committee’s recommendation provides $700,000,000 for 

NIST research and services. The recommendation is $10,000,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $30,533,000 below the 

budget request. The Committee requests a detailed spending plan 

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

The Committee provides $75,700,000 for cybersecurity activities 

within NIST, an increase of $1,500,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

level. This includes $33,000,000 for the National Cybersecurity 

Center of Excellence [NCCoE], $4,000,000 for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education to address the need for a welltrained cybersecurity workforce, and $38,700,000 for cybersecurity 

research and development. 

National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.—The Committee is 

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

growing partnerships it is developing with private industry. The 

NCCoE is a model of collaboration through which the Federal Government, industry, and academia work together to solve daunting 

cybersecurity challenges. The Committee recommends that NIST 

continue to work in concert with its public, State, and county part-
19 

ners to encourage co-location of companies involved in NCCoE activities, which will encourage further innovation by leveraging the 

development of new applications, business use cases, and technology transfer among all stakeholders. 

In fiscal year 2016, the Committee directed the NCCoE to absorb 

the activities and mission of the National Strategy for Trusted 

Identities in Cyberspace. Not later than 90 days after enactment 

of this act, the NCCoE shall submit a report to the Committee on 

how the expanded Center will continue to leverage expertise from 

both programs to contribute to the greater mission of improving 

cybersecurity in the public and private sectors. 

Cybersecurity Research and Grants.—The Committee encourages 

DOC to fund multidisciplinary programs of study and research that 

focus on tackling cybersecurity issues on a global scale. When establishing criteria for external grant funding, consideration should 

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

and Centers for Academic Excellence for Information Assurance 

Research. 

Forensic Science.—The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level for the Forensic Science Center of Excellence. The Committee recommends that NIST continue to work 

in concert with statisticians and researchers in related scientific 

fields to bring additional scientific resources and expertise to the 

practice and application of forensic science. Additionally, within 

funds provided, NIST is encouraged to work with the forensic 

science community to establish developmental validation standards 

for forensic science test methodologies. 

Disaster Resilient Buildings.—The Committee recognizes the importance of industry and municipal standards to better mitigate 

the impact of natural disasters and extreme weather events, which 

can save lives, reduce destruction to property, and enable faster 

economic recovery. Current building codes often do not provide the 

necessary protection against natural hazards, particularly with regard to enabling immediate occupancy after a significant earthquake, hurricane, tornado, flood, or other natural disaster. The 

Committee supports efforts to promote the use of resilient engineering design and construction techniques to improve the resiliency of buildings, homes, and infrastructure, and encourages NIST 

to partner with academic research institutions and industry stakeholders that have expertise in mitigating the effects of natural disasters to study and recommend best practices for resilient planning 

and construction. 

Of the amounts provided for Disaster Resilient Buildings and Infrastructure, not less than $5,000,000 shall be distributed through 

competitive external awards to academic institutions to support the 

evaluation of potential technologies and architectural design criteria to aid the overall effort for science-based building codes to improve disaster resilience. Additionally, not later than 1 year after 

the enactment of this act, NIST, in coordination with other relevant agencies and standards development organizations, shall provide to the Committee a plan detailing the basic research, applied 

research, and implementation activities necessary to develop a new 
20 

‘‘immediate occupancy’’ safety building performance objective for 

commercial and residential properties, as well as the engineering 

design principles needed to fulfill this objective. 

Helmet Safety.—The Committee is aware of scientific data that 

demonstrates a correlation between football-related collisions and 

concussions, as well as 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 scientifically 

understand 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 by funding research for 

advanced helmets and equipment and in developing new testing 

standards to ensure player safety. 

Metals-Based Additive Manufacturing.—The Committee provides up to $5,000,000 for competitive external grants for academic institutions to support research, development, and workforce training to 

overcome barriers to high-volume additive manufacturing of metals. While the Committee is aware of recent breakthroughs in metals-based additive manufacturing, major technical barriers still 

exist to dramatically improving build rates that would enable commercial markets to benefit from high-volume, metals-based additive 

manufacturing. In addition, NIST is directed to support partnerships and research opportunities with academic institutions in the 

advanced manufacturing of plastics and polymers and to explore 

ways to further reduce inefficiencies in the polymer manufacturing 

and extrusion process. 

Biomanufacturing.—The Committee provides NIST’s full requested level for biomanufacturing activities. 

Regenerative Medicine Standards.—The Committee recognizes 

the important role of standards in spurring the discovery and development of new and innovative therapies in regenerative medicine, cell therapy, and gene therapy, and commends NIST’s ongoing 

work with its Federal partners and the stakeholder community to 

coordinate development of technical process standards. The Committee directs NIST to continue its work with regenerative medicine, cell therapy, and gene therapy product developers, contract 

manufacturers, private standard setting bodies, the FDA, and other 

stakeholders to establish a strategic plan for the successful establishment and launch of a standards coordinating body for regenerative medicine to help develop and disseminate such standards, including a plan for its governance and activities. 

Spectrum Challenge Prize.—The Committee encourages NIST, 

subject to the availability of funds, to conduct prize competitions to 

dramatically accelerate the development and commercialization of 

technology that improves spectrum efficiency and is capable of costeffective deployment. NIST is encouraged to work with the Defense 

Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Federal Communications 

Commission, and other relevant Federal agencies to assist in the 

design of the prize competitions. 

Urban Dome Program.—The Committee notes the value of 

NIST’s Urban Dome program and the importance of accurate meas-
21 

urement science for environmental monitoring and human health, 

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

and this concentration is expected to intensify over the coming decades. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 

amount for the Office of Special Programs to maintain and expand 

the number of urban dome locations in fiscal year 2017. 

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $155,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 188,991,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 155,000,000 

The Committee provides $155,000,000 for Industrial Technology 

Services. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $33,991,000 below the budget request. Supporting 

the Nation’s manufacturers, especially small businesses, is critical 

to keeping America innovative in a global marketplace. 

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program 

[MEP].—The Committee provides $130,000,000 for MEP. The Committee supports MEP’s focus on strengthening the existing network 

of MEP centers and providing additional support to centers based 

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

manufacturing capacity of the area served by the center. 

MEP Cost Share.—The Committee is aware of concerns regarding the MEP’s current cost-share structure. This matter is still 

being considered by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation. NIST is directed to expeditiously submit the report 

mandated by the Committee in fiscal year 2016. 

National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.—The Committee provides $25,000,000 for NIST’s activities in the National 

Network for Manufacturing Innovation [NNMI], to include funding 

for center establishment and up to $5,000,000 for coordination activities. NIST shall follow the direction of the Revitalize American 

Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–235), 

which requires open competition to select the technological focus 

areas of these industry-driven institutes. 

CONSTRUCTION OF RESEARCH FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $119,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 94,995,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 119,000,000 

The Committee provides $119,000,000 for construction of research facilities. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and $24,005,000 above the budget request. 

Building 245.—The Committee provides $60,000,000 for the continued renovation of NIST’s radiation physics laboratories. NIST is 

directed to proceed with an aggressive construction and funding 

schedule in future budget requests, targeting a completion and occupancy date not later than fiscal year 2023. 
22 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $5,765,579,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 5,848,243,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,691,169,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $5,691,169,000 for 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]. 

The recommendation is $74,410,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $157,074,000 below the budget request. The Committee commends the Department for its work to bring down the 

costs of NOAA’s Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction [PAC] 

accounts, which have continuously consumed nearly half of NOAA’s 

budget. These costs were driven primarily by budget overruns and 

schedule slips in NOAA’s flagship weather satellite programs, 

which limited the resources available for NOAA’s other mission 

areas. The decrease in PAC resource needs in fiscal year 2017 reflects the Department’s and the Committee’s concerted efforts to 

rein in costs of NOAA’s satellite programs and put them on a sustainable path. While overall funding for NOAA is below the fiscal 

year 2016 level, the reduction in PAC resource needs alleviates the 

strain on other operations and research areas critical to NOAA’s 

core mission. This allowed for an increase above the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level in NOAA’s Operations, Research, and Facilities 

accounts. 

OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $3,305,813,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,494,180,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,339,376,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $3,339,376,000 for 

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

$33,563,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$154,804,000 below the budget request. 

NOAA NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE

The Committee’s recommendation provides $522,071,000 for the 

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

technical, and management expertise to promote safe navigation; 

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

environments. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning: 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning ................................................................................................ 149,094 

Hydrographic Survey Priorities/Contracts .................................................................................................. 27,000 
23 

NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Integrated Ocean Observing System—Regional Observations ................................................................ 31,500 

Total, Navigation, Observations and Positioning ................................................................................. 207,594 

Coastal Science and Assessment: 

Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and Restoration ....................................................................... 74,177 

Competitive External Research ................................................................................................................. 13,000 

Total, Coastal Science and Assessment .............................................................................................. 87,177 

Ocean and Coastal Management and Services: 

Coastal Zone Management and Services ................................................................................................. 42,500 

Coastal Management Grants .................................................................................................................... 85,000 

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

National Estuarine Research Reserve System .......................................................................................... 23,900 

National Marine Sanctuaries .................................................................................................................... 49,800 

Total, Ocean and Coastal Management and Services ......................................................................... 227,300 

GRAND TOTAL NOS ................................................................................................................................ 522,071 

Navigation, Observations and Positioning.—The Committee 

strongly supports activities under Navigation, Observations and 

Positioning, including the full operational funding for NOAA’s 

Navigation Response Teams. In addition, not more than 5 percent 

of the funds available for the Hydrographic Surveys and Contracts 

program may be used for administrative expenses within NOAA. 

Hydrographic Survey Backlog.—The Committee continues to be 

concerned with NOAA’s slow progress to reduce the backlog of hydrographic survey work for navigationally significant areas in the 

U.S. Arctic. Within the amount provided for Hydrographic Survey 

Priorities/Contracts, NOAA is directed to accelerate the acquisition 

of survey data and the preparation of navigation charts necessary 

to minimize the risks associated with increased maritime traffic in 

the Arctic region. 

Geospatial Modeling Grants.—The Committee provides no less 

than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, within Navigation, Observations and Positioning to continue the competitive Geospatial 

Modeling Grants Program for which all funding shall be distributed 

externally. 

Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System [PORTS].—The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level for 

PORTS. The Committee believes these operations, which exist as 

a partnership between NOAA and local port authorities, provide 

valuable information for safe vessel navigation and data for weather and coastal monitoring. The Committee encourages NOAA to request funding that reflects the program’s full costs, including operations and maintenance as authorized by Hydrographic Services 

Improvement Act (Public Law 110–386) in future budget submissions. 

Hydrographic Research and Technology Development.—The Committee supports the requested level and intended use of funds for 

Hydrographic Research and Technology Development. The Com-
24 

mittee provides $2,000,000 above the request for NOAA to designate joint ocean and coastal mapping centers in other areas of 

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

as authorized by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 

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

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

Marine Sensor Development.—The Committee supports NOAA’s 

Alliance for Coastal Technologies [ACT] and notes the program’s 

valuable expertise in marine sensor technology development, and 

provides no less than $1,500,000 for ACT within NOS for fiscal 

year 2017. 

Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and Restoration.—Within 

the funds provided for Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and 

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

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

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

Marine Debris.—The Committee provides $7,034,000 for NOAA’s 

Marine Debris Program. The Committee strongly supports ongoing 

efforts to address marine debris around the country. NOS is encouraged to prioritize marine debris projects in rural and remote 

communities, as well as projects in urban communities that include 

removal of abandoned vessels and pilings that harm the ecosystem 

and hinder recreational fishing. Additionally, due to the pervasive 

impact marine debris has on coastal waters of the Northern Gulf 

of Mexico, NOS is encouraged to work with communities in the 

Northern Gulf to help coordinate marine debris removal from waterways and the ecosystem. Activities under the Marine Debris program should help lead to the development of cost-effective programmatic solutions to address land-generated marine debris in all 

regions of the country. 

Integrated Water Prediction.—Within funding provided for Coastal Zone Management and Services, the Committee provides the full 

requested increase for NOS to help develop and operate an Integrated Water Prediction program with NOAA’s National Weather 

Service. 

Coastal Management Grants.—The Committee provides 

$85,000,000 for Coastal Management Grants. This includes 

$70,000,000 for Coastal Zone Management Grants and $15,000,000 

for Regional Coastal Resilience Grants [RCRG], which is 

$10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 level. NOAA is encouraged 

to continue developing the RCRG program in coordination with 

other ocean and coastal funding opportunities to ensure that the 

broadest array of projects, geographic regions, and research needs 

for oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes are met. NOAA is also encouraged to prioritize projects that are coordinated between State, Federal, and tribal partners; non-governmental organizations; and academia. However, NOAA may only award these funds to coastal 

State projects that have written support from the State’s Governor. 

As NOAA explores ways to make coastal areas more resilient, 

NOAA should consider depositing up to $10,000,000 from the 

RCRG into the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund for 
25 

grants as authorized in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 

(Public Law 114–113), subject to the reprogramming procedures set 

forth in section 505 of this act. 

Marine National Monuments.—The Committee notes the possibility of an expansion of existing marine national monuments in 

the Pacific. Should such an expansion occur in calendar year 2016, 

the Committee directs NOAA to update the report on marine national monuments required in Senate Report 114–66, and provide 

revised requirements for enforcement, research, management 

needs, and estimated costs within 120 days of such expansion or 

enactment of this act, whichever occurs later. In the event of such 

an expansion, up to $500,000 of funds provided for National Marine 

Sanctuaries may be made available for competitive research and 

management grants for existing marine national monuments administered by NOS, provided such grants are subject to a 100 percent non-Federal match. 

National Estuarine Research Reserve System.—The Committee 

provides $23,900,000 for the National Estuarine Research Reserve 

System [NERRS], which is $900,000 above the President’s request 

and the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. NERRS sites provide mixeduse areas that are protected for long-term research, monitoring, 

education, and coastal stewardship. The program is a positive example of State and Federal partnership. 

NERRS Blue Ribbon Panel and Strategic Plan.—The Committee 

applauds the work of the NERRS Blue Ribbon Panel and directs 

NOAA to act on its recommendations and complete the strategic 

plan for the NERRS system short- and long-term buildout. Additionally, NOAA is encouraged to increase its monitoring and research activities with partners through its NERRS, Integrated 

Ocean Observing System [IOOS], and National Centers for Coastal 

Ocean Science offices to improve and expand a collective state of 

the art environmental observing system. 

NOAA is further encouraged to work with its NERRS and National Marine Sanctuary partners on efforts for early detection, 

rapid response, and control of invasive species, especially those 

that jeopardize endangered or threatened native species. 

NOAA NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

The Committee’s recommendation provides $854,831,000 for the 

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

marine resources and their environment, including fish stocks, marine mammals, and endangered species. 

Committee recommendations are displayed in the following table: 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Protected Resources Science and Management: 

Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Other Species ................................................................................ 115,293 

Species Recovery Grants ......................................................................................................................... 6,500 

Atlantic Salmon ....................................................................................................................................... 6,224 
26 

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

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Pacific Salmon ........................................................................................................................................ 61,000 

Total, Protected Resources Science and Management ...................................................................... 189,017 

Fisheries Science and Management: 

Fisheries and Ecosystem Science Programs and Services ..................................................................... 139,489 

Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys and Assessments .......................................................................... 163,876 

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

Fisheries Management Programs and Services ...................................................................................... 118,850 

Aquaculture ............................................................................................................................................. 9,300 

Salmon Management Activities .............................................................................................................. 31,531 

Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions ...................................................................................... 34,254 

Interjurisdictional Fisheries Grants ......................................................................................................... 3,004 

Total, Fisheries Science and Management ........................................................................................ 543,959 

Enforcement ..................................................................................................................................................... 69,331 

Habitat Conservation and Restoration ............................................................................................................ 52,524 

GRAND TOTAL NMFS ........................................................................................................................... 854,831 

Marine Mammal Protection.—The Committee supports NMFS’s 

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

marine mammal species listed under the Endangered Species Act 

[ESA] in 2005, but whose populations continue to decline. The 

Committee encourages NMFS to utilize funding for the protection 

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

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

and sound impacts. 

Puget Sound Federal Caucus.—The Committee commends NOAA 

for signing the Puget Sound Federal Caucus Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] on May 21, 2014. The recovery and cleanup of 

Puget Sound is essential to our Nation’s economy, and continued 

coordination and sharing of expertise among Federal partners is 

critical to furthering current efforts. The Committee encourages 

NMFS to work with its counterparts in the Puget Sound Federal 

Caucus to renew and strengthen the MOU prior to its expiration 

on March 27, 2017. 

Hawaiian Monk Seals and Sea Turtles.—Within funding for Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Other Species, the Committee provides NOAA’s full request for Hawaiian Monk Seals and Hawaiian 

Sea Turtles. 

Species Recovery Grants.—The Committee provides $6,500,000 

for species recovery grants. NOAA is encouraged to seek efficiencies 

by aligning the program with the applicable Take Reduction Plans, 

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

Prescott Grants.—Within Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and 

Other Species, $4,000,000 is provided for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance grant program. 

Marine Mammal Stranding Network Reimbursements.—The 

Committee notes that the United States recently reached a settle-
27 

ment with BP and other parties involved in the 2010 Gulf oil spill, 

and directs NOAA to use a portion of the funding provided under 

this settlement to reimburse eligible members of NOAA’s Marine 

Mammal Standing Network for legitimate costs associated with 

stranding activities, including the use of services, personnel, equipment, and facilities provided in response to the 2010 Deepwater 

Horizon oil spill. 

Atlantic Salmon.—NOAA has identified major threats to Atlantic 

salmon, including interrelated effects of freshwater salmon habitat 

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

Committee directs NOAA to enable a broader use of funds for restoration of diadromous species and habitats that support salmon 

recovery by providing ecological functions critical to the Atlantic 

salmon life cycle. The Committee further directs NOAA to ensure 

that adequate resources continue to be provided for State agencies 

to implement the recovery strategy effectively. 

Pacific Salmon.—Within funding provided for Pacific salmon, 

NOAA shall consider expanding salmonid monitoring activities, including through the use of tags and acoustic tracking to utilize 

real-time monitoring to avoid impacts to protected species. NOAA 

is also encouraged to work with partners to address the backlog of 

hatchery genetic management plans. 

Genetic Stock Identification.—The Committee supports continued 

research and testing of genetic stock identification [GSI] management techniques in the Pacific salmon fishery to meet the dual purpose of protecting weak and ESA listed stocks, while allowing for 

sustainable commercial and recreational access to healthy stocks in 

the wild. NMFS shall continue to support GSI research, including 

the collection, analysis, and testing of methods that rely on genetics-based data to identify and track the location of federally protected stocks in the wild. 

Promote and Develop Fisheries Products and Research Funding 

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

the Promote and Develop Fisheries Products and Research funds 

transferred from the Department of Agriculture to NOAA in a way 

that better meets the intended purpose of the transfer mandated 

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

internal NOAA or DOC management, but rather funds may only be 

used for activities that directly benefit U.S. fisheries and fishery 

communities. Specifically, these funds may only be used for: cooperative research; annual stock assessments; efforts to improve data 

collection, including catch monitoring and reporting for commercial, 

charter, and recreational fisheries; interjurisdictional fisheries 

grants; and Fisheries Information Networks. 

As part of the fiscal year 2017 spending plan, NOAA shall include a clear accounting of how the Promote and Develop transfer 

funds will be allocated based on the funding criteria described in 

this bill. 

The Committee further directs that not less than 15 percent of 

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

competitive Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant program. NOAA shall consult with each Regional Fishery Management Council and the Marine Fisheries Commissions to identify regional funding priorities. 
28 

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

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

plan incorporates regional priorities. 

Red Snapper Stock Assessments.—Within the amount provided 

for Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys, and Assessments, the Committee provides $5,000,000 for the continued development and implementation of agency-independent and alternative approaches to 

research and stock assessments of reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. 

NOAA shall incorporate this independent fishery data collected on 

artificial reefs, offshore oil platforms, and any other offshore fixed 

energy exploration infrastructure directly into the agency’s stock 

assessments for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, within funding provided, NOAA shall develop and support a fishery 

management pilot program that allows States to lead reef fish 

management activities in designated zones over artificial reefs in 

the Gulf of Mexico. Not later than 60 days after enactment of this 

act, NOAA shall report to the Committee on how the pilot program 

will be implemented. 

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

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

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

total above 10 million pounds of quota to the recreational sector. 

While all sectors have faced challenges in the gulf red snapper fishery, the private boat recreational sector has been especially impacted. 

Ecosystem Imbalance.—NOAA shall take into consideration any 

imbalance in the ecosystem that may be occurring between larger 

red snapper and other fish species before accepting amendments to 

existing regulations or implementing new regulations that directly 

affect red snapper quotas in the Gulf of Mexico. 

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

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

may impact these important species. Within funding provided, 

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

tuna. 

Fisheries Information Networks.—Within funding provided for 

Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys, and Assessments, $22,500,000 

is provided for Fisheries Information Networks. 

Marine Recreational Information Program [MRIP].—The Committee remains concerned about the accuracy of NOAA’s stock assessments and estimates due to a lack of data regarding fish abundance on reefs and human-made structures. While the Committee 

supports NMFS transitioning to an improved method of estimating 

total recreational catch, such transition must be coupled with improved methods of estimating fish populations. Therefore, no funding is provided to implement the May 5, 2015, MRIP report titled 
29 

‘‘Transition Plan for the Fishing Effort Survey’’ until NMFS stock 

assessments are sufficiently advanced, including fully accounting 

for reef fish inhabiting areas of artificial reefs and fixed offshore 

energy infrastructure. However, funding is provided for NMFS to 

continue the development process and public outreach regarding 

MRIP’s transition plan. 

Alaska Region Fisheries Personnel Costs.—Not later than 180 

days after the date of the enactment of this act, NOAA shall report 

to the Committee on the costs associated with travel of NMFS personnel to and from research areas in Alaska. The report shall include an analysis of the costs of NOAA employees traveling to and 

from Alaska to conduct fisheries, marine mammal, and habitat research. The report shall also include a comparison of those costs to 

the estimated travel costs that would be incurred if the same 

NMFS personnel were located at the nearest practicable site to 

their research in Alaska. 

Salmon Management Activities.—Within the amount provided for 

Salmon Management activities, the Committee recommends 

$12,000,000 to enable States and tribal communities to implement 

necessary Pacific Salmon Treaty agreements. The Committee fully 

supports all other aspects of the budget request for Salmon Management activities that are essential to meeting these treaty obligations. NOAA shall report to the Committee within 45 days of enactment of this act on all fees charged by NOAA from the funding provided for Pacific Salmon Treaty activities. The Committee also provides additional funding above the request to be used for the operation and maintenance of Mitchell Act hatcheries. The Committee 

encourages NOAA to consider funding for activities to modernize 

and expand salmonid research, testing, and monitoring through 

use of genetic stock identification management techniques to improve the protection of federally protected salmonids, while also improving water supply, commercial fishing, and recreational fishing. 

These activities should include the use of near real-time data to 

minimize closures of commercial fisheries. 

In addition, the Committee notes the number of California Sea 

Lions in the Columbia River Estuary and their impact on endangered wild salmon survival. NMFS has authorization for the lethal 

removal of sea lions in accordance with provisions of the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act, meant to reduce the impacts of sea lion 

predation on salmon stocks. The Committee encourages NMFS to 

review the current lethal removal program in order to monitor and 

assess the impacts of removal efforts on adult spring salmon migration survival within the Columbia River Estuary and to report its 

findings to Congress. 

Fishery Councils and Commissions.—No less than $34,254,000 is 

provided to support the Regional Fishery Management Councils, 

Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions, and International Fisheries Commissions. All amounts provided by this act for NMFS Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions, which are above 

amounts provided in fiscal year 2016, shall be distributed in equal 

proportion between the Councils and the Interstate Fish Commissions. 

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

to continue supporting baseline research for fisheries health in the 
30 

Gulf of Mexico, including studies of pelagic species. NOAA is encouraged to increase and continue collaborations in the Gulf to establish an integrated and comprehensive ecosystem-level fisheries 

monitoring enterprise and sentinel species program. 

Withheld Data from 2010 Gulf Oil Spill.—The Committee is concerned that NMFS’s continued withholding of marine mammal 

data and samples, which has persisted in spite of the resolution of 

Federal and State claims against BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil 

spill in 2010, is preventing the scientific community from conducting vital research in the Gulf of Mexico. The Committee encourages NMFS to quickly and efficiently return marine mammal 

samples that were taken from Gulf investigators in the aftermath 

of the spill, lift restrictions on marine mammal carcass sample 

analyses, and make the restricted data public for independent analyses by experts in the field so that the free exchange of scientific 

information may resume. 

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

fishery data used for stock assessments, the Committee continues 

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

commercial fishing vessels to serve as research and fishery survey 

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

enhance numerous ocean research programs. Other parts of NOAA, 

including the National Ocean Service and the Office of Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research line offices, are also encouraged to charter 

commercial fishing vessels, when appropriate, to augment ongoing 

survey and research activities. 

Bycatch Reduction.—The development and implementation of 

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

fisheries management and protected species conservation. The 

Committee supports the requested amount for Reducing Bycatch, of 

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

on the development of improved fishing practices and innovative 

gear technologies. 

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

by the impacts of NMFS’s decision to fund such activities by decreasing funding for at-sea monitoring in fiscal year 2016. NMFS’s 

decision came as a surprise to fishermen and communities and negatively disrupted the Northeast groundfish fishery in the middle of 

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

Fishery Management Council to find a resolution to the disruption 

and hardship caused by this funding decision. The Committee reminds NMFS that future direction from this Committee and Congress should be treated as a priority and followed accordingly. 

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

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

dockside monitoring for all fisheries with approved catch share 

management plans, including those catch share management plans 

that impose observer coverage for new or expanded fishing opportunities. The Committee is aware that implementation of some management programs continues to present substantial financial chal-
31 

lenges to the participants as well as to the economic sustainability 

of those fisheries and fishing communities. Given these ongoing 

problems, the Committee encourages NMFS to continue working 

with regional fishery programs to identify adequate support for atsea and dockside monitoring for fisheries with approved catch 

share management plans. Recognizing the financial challenges facing participants, including those in the Northeast Multispecies fishery sector management program, the Committee also directs NMFS 

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

an at-sea and dockside monitoring program that is more cost effective, accurate, and commensurate with the ex-vessel value. 

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

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

costs and improve data collection for most U.S. fisheries. NMFS is 

directed to prioritize EM/ER implementation in fiscal year 2017, 

and expedite to the fullest extent practicable the transition to full 

EM/ER. Within the funds provided for these activities, not less 

than $3,000,000 shall be available, in accordance with 16 U.S.C. 

3701, for collaborative partnerships that include non-Federal 

matching funds to implement cost-shared EM/ER programs that 

support fisheries conservation and management. During the development and implementation of electronic reporting and monitoring 

programs, NOAA shall consult directly with industry and work 

through the Fishery Management Councils (established under sections 1851 and 1852 of title 16) to develop appropriate cost-sharing 

arrangements that are commensurate with the ex-vessel value of 

the fishery. 

Furthermore, NMFS shall continue to work in fiscal year 2017 

with the charter for-hire recreational fishery fleet in the Gulf of 

Mexico; the Northeast Multispecies/groundfish fishery fleet, including small vessels within that fleet; and any regional fishery fleet 

interested in implementing EM/ER technologies to better track information that is currently collected through the use of human observers. The Committee is aware that the New England Fishery 

Management Council has been working with NMFS to begin the 

transition to electronic monitoring systems. NMFS is directed to 

expedite this effort and to explore innovative ways to make such 

systems cost-effective for the fishery. NOAA shall report to the 

Committee within 90 days of the enactment of this act on the 

progress of this implementation in New England and work that remains to be done to provide an affordable monitoring system in the 

fishery. 

EM/ER Central Repository and Cost Estimations.—NOAA shall 

consider developing a central repository for EM/ER documentation 

and information sharing to facilitate regional access to complete, 

organized, and accurate information. NOAA shall also consider developing an EM/ER cost estimation template, to include all necessary cost components, which shall be shared with regions and 

Fishery Management Councils and used to determine further deployment of EM/ER technologies. 
32 

Small Fixed-Gear Boats.—The Committee recognizes the importance of utilizing currently available technologies on small fixedgear boats to improve fisheries management. Within funding provided for EM/ER, NMFS shall provide an adequate amount for the 

installation of currently available electronic monitoring systems to 

continue the development of workable alternatives to address catch 

or discard data needs. 

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated [IUU] Fishing.—The Committee provides the requested increase of $1,556,000 under Fisheries Management Programs and Services to combat IUU fishing. 

NOAA is encouraged to continue strengthening its efforts to detect 

and deter illegally harvested and improperly-documented seafood, 

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

and safety for American consumers. 

Regional Pilots in Sustainable Aquaculture.—The Committee 

notes that more than ninety percent of seafood consumed in the 

United States is imported, that more than half of imported seafood 

is from overseas aquaculture, and that, while possessing the largest exclusive economic zone in the world, the United States ranks 

only fifteenth in aquaculture production. To address this major lost 

opportunity for job creation in coastal communities and to encourage the development of a domestic seafood supply, the NMFS 

Aquaculture Office is directed to conduct regional pilot programs 

for partnerships between the seafood industry and community partners that can develop, validate, and deploy economically and environmentally sustainable aquatic farming techniques and regional 

business practices to grow U.S. domestic seafood production. To 

maximize the impact of these pilot grants, NMFS is encouraged to 

give priority consideration to promising but less commercially developed technologies, such as those targeting shellfish, seaweed, 

and other relative newcomers to the domestic aquaculture industry. 

$2,000,000 is included in NMFS Aquaculture budget for this purpose. This funding is in addition to the laboratory funding for 

NOAA’s fisheries science centers engaged in aquaculture research, 

which shall be funded at no less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level. 

Aquaculture Activities at Fisheries Science Centers.—The Committee is concerned by reports that NMFS fisheries science centers 

are cutting resources and staff positions dedicated to aquaculture 

research. NOAA is expected to maintain viable financial and personnel resources at the Northeast and Northwest Fisheries Science 

Centers, including refraining from cutting aquaculture funding or 

staff resources and expeditiously filling open positions. Not later 

than 90 days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall provide a report to the Committee outlining how it plans to prioritize and leverage aquaculture research at the Northeast and Northwest Fisheries Science Centers. 

Oyster Aquaculture, Research, and Restoration.—Within the increased funds provided for NMFS Aquaculture, the Committee provides not less than $1,000,000 to support ongoing research in offbottom oyster production in coastal areas, particularly those new to 

this method of production, including the Gulf of Mexico, and en-
33 

courages NMFS to dedicate resources for further research in oyster 

genetics, disease, and economic modeling. 

In addition, the Committee recognizes that the shellfish farming 

industry is composed of thousands of small farmers who are unable 

to fund critical research in the fields of shellfish disease, food safety, warming waters, and ocean acidification. To improve coordination and consistency, the Committee directs NMFS Aquaculture to 

engage and partner with industry, academic institutions, and 

States to conduct collaborative research to address the challenges 

facing this growing industry. 

Furthermore, the Committee continues to encourage NOAA to 

work with its State and non-Federal partners to consider supporting oyster shell recycling programs as part of the agency’s competitive external funding opportunities for habitat restoration 

projects. 

Cooperative Research.—Depleted fish stocks result in significant 

economic losses to our Nation. At a time when fishing opportunities 

are constrained by uncertainty in stock assessments, and increased 

access to healthy stocks depends on better data, the Committee believes that maintenance of ongoing monitoring programs and surveys is critical. The Committee encourages the National Marine 

Fisheries Service to continue to prioritize long-time series surveys 

that are conducted cooperatively with industry and States. In addition, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center is directed to work collaboratively with the fishing industry to update and publish the 

Northeast Cooperative Research Strategic Plan, including: the 

identification of science priorities; a process for greater involvement 

of fishermen in data collection; and better communication of how 

the results of cooperative fisheries research are used. 

Horseshoe Crab Survey.—The Committee remains concerned 

about the inability to estimate the abundance of the mid-Atlantic 

horseshoe crab population. Adequate data is required to ensure 

state 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 encourages NMFS to continue this important survey to generate the data necessary to ensure the mid-Atlantic horseshoe crab 

stock remains on a sustainable path. 

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

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

sustainable fisheries through the agency’s FishWatch program. 

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

the Department could have unintended consequences for various 

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

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

adopt such certification schemes when doing so could result in the 

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

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

third-party certification scheme for seafood sustainability but to in-
34 

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

Habitat Conservation and Restoration.—The Committee provides $52,524,000 for Habitat Conservation and Restoration activities. 

The Committee adopts the proposal to move Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants, funded at $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2016, into the 

National Ocean Service’s Regional Coastal Resilience Grant program. Therefore, the fiscal year 2017 funding level for Habitat Conservation and Restoration is effectively an increase of $1,116,000 

for these programs. Within the amount provided, NOAA is encouraged to include funding for the multi-year Habitat Blueprint Focus 

Area partnership agreements developed under the Habitat Blueprint initiative. The Committee encourages NOAA to include a 

broader ecosystem-based management philosophy; expand criteria 

to include recreational species, managed commercial species, and 

forage species; and prioritize proposals that engage local communities. NOAA should continue to emphasize the value of partnerships when evaluating grant applications. 

NOAA OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH

The Committee’s recommendation provides $451,878,000 for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research [OAR]. OAR programs provide environmental research and technology needed to improve NOAA 

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

Federal research laboratories, universities, and joint institutes and 

partnership programs. 

Committee recommendations are displayed in the following table: 

OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH OPERATIONS, RESEARCH AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Climate Research: 

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

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

Climate Competitive Research .............................................................................................................. 60,000 

Total, Climate Research ................................................................................................................... 158,000 

Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs: 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes ............................................................................................... 72,653 

U.S. Weather Research Program ........................................................................................................... 12,600 

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

Total, Weather and Air Chemistry Research .................................................................................... 98,411 

Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research: 

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

National Sea Grant College Program .................................................................................................... 64,000 

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

Sustained Ocean Observations and Monitoring ................................................................................... 41,823 

Integrated Ocean Acidification ............................................................................................................. 13,500 

Ocean Exploration ................................................................................................................................. 20,000 

Total, Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research ........................................................................... 181,323 
35 

OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH OPERATIONS, RESEARCH AND FACILITIES—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

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

Research Transition Acceleration Program .................................................................................................... 2,000 

GRAND TOTAL OAR ............................................................................................................................ 451,878 

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

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

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

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

communities and the Nation. Therefore, the Committee provides 

$4,611,000 above the budget request for Ocean, Coastal and Great 

Lakes Research Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes and expects the administration to fully fund cooperative institutes at appropriate levels in future years, including those currently supporting NOAA’s coastal resilience mission. The Committee strongly 

supports well-established institutes, including those focused on watershed effects on marine ecosystems, remote sensing, and longterm monitoring of oil spill impacts on marine ecosystem health. 

Additionally, as part of its ‘‘Cooperative Institutes in the 21st Century’’ [CI21] initiative, the Committee directs NOAA to consider 

how additional ocean and coastal Cooperative Institutes could support NOAA’s mission objectives, including those related to coastal 

resilience and other key research priorities, and shall update its 

CI21 report with guidance explaining how new research institutions can partner with NOAA scientists to expand the Cooperative 

Institute network in future years. Additionally, the Committee supports the budget request for ice cover activities within OAR’s cooperative institutes, which are important to various Great Lakes 

stakeholders, including the fishing industry, the commercial shipping industry, and the U.S. Coast Guard, which has a statutory 

icebreaking mission in the Great Lakes. 

Autonomous Glider Demonstration.—The Committee rejects 

OAR’s proposed decrease to reduce support for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle demonstration. Instead, OAR is directed to demonstrate how an autonomous ocean glider could address critical 

gaps in NOAA’s physical, chemical, biological, and other observational needs, particularly those observational needs of NOAA’s 

IOOS program. 

Climate Research.—The Committee provides the requested level 

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

Information System. 

Multi-Function Phased Array Radar [MPAR] Program.—The 

Committee recognizes the importance of the MPAR program in the 

development and implementation of the next generation weather 

and aircraft radar surveillance network. The Committee directs 

NOAA to maintain its leadership in the MPAR research and devel-
36 

opment effort and encourages continued work on a Memorandum 

of Understanding between NOAA, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security that delineates each agency’s or Department’s needs 

regarding the function and timeline of a joint MPAR system. 

Vortex-Southeast [Vortex-SE].—The southeast United States commonly experiences devastating tornadoes under variables and conditions that differ considerably from the Midwest, where tornado 

research has historically been focused. Within funds provided for 

Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs, up to $5,000,000 

is provided for OAR to continue collaborating with the National 

Science Foundation’s Vortex-SE initiative to better understand how 

environmental factors that are characteristic of the southeast 

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

Airborne Phased Array Radar [APAR].—Within funding for 

NOAA’s U.S. Weather Research Program, an increase of $4,642,000 

is provided to research and develop aircraft-based hazardous 

weather observing systems, such as APAR. NOAA shall coordinate 

these research and development activities with the National 

Science Foundation. 

Infrasonic Weather Monitoring Research.—Within funding provided for the U.S. Weather Research Program, the Committee provides up to $500,000 to support external research opportunities 

with academic institutions in infrasonic monitoring methods of violent weather. The Committee believes that advanced infrasound 

signal processing methodologies and studies, deployed through a 

network of infrasound arrays to detect tornadoes and hurricanes, 

have the potential to improve forecast accuracy. 

National Sea Grant College Program.—The Committee rejects 

NOAA’s requested decrease to the National Sea Grant Program. 

Within funds provided, NOAA is encouraged to leverage resources 

and pursue partnerships with Sea Grant universities and other 

Federal agencies to carry out aquatic animal health monitoring and 

research. This effort contributes to Sea Grant’s and NOAA’s broader mission of providing services to enhance coastal community resilience. Further, NOAA is directed to continue its partnership 

with academic programs that provide legal expertise related to the 

missions of the program and NOAA. 

Sea Grant funding should support key focus areas in the program’s strategic plan, including healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and 

economies, environmental literacy, and workforce development. The 

Committee directs NOAA to continue funding all Sea Grant STEM 

education and fellowship programs. 

Fisheries-Related Research.—The Committee remains concerned 

about the negative impacts of the short recreational fishing season 

for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Additional data sources and 

assessment approaches would be beneficial and should be pursued 

by entities other than NOAA’s regulating line office, NMFS. Therefore, the Committee provides up to the fiscal year 2016 level within 

Sea Grant to research and develop alternative approaches to data 

collection and analysis. 
37 

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

marine aquaculture research. NOAA is directed to support marine 

aquaculture research and development in partnership with universities. Similar research efforts have led to beneficial outcomes such 

as the development and commercialization of new technologies to 

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

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

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

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

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

is encouraged to continue fundamental ocean exploration in which 

open source data are collected for the oceanographic community 

and private industries in real-time through telepresence technology. 

Furthermore, NOAA’s ocean exploration program should continue fundamental exploration and surveys with primary focus on 

America’s Exclusive Economic Zones of the Continental United 

States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and 

the Pacific Territories. The Committee encourages NOAA to emphasize areas for exploration that may be of interest to NOAA laboratories including unique deep water regions, and to consider collaborating with international partners when practicable. 

Research Transition Acceleration Program [RTAP].—The Committee provides $2,000,000 for NOAA to establish RTAP within 

OAR, to identify, prioritize, and fund the transition of the most 

promising research into operations, applications, and commercialization. However, no funding within RTAP shall be used to support transitioning research that is not directly related to NOAA’s 

core mission areas. Furthermore, NOAA shall look for ways to leverage funding in existing research lines to accelerate any research-to-operations transition under RTAP. 

NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

The Committee’s recommendation provides $991,264,000 for the 

National Weather Service [NWS]. NWS programs provide timely 

and accurate meteorologic, hydrologic, and oceanographic warnings 

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

NWS is also responsible for issuing operational climate forecasts 

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

livelihoods through accurate weather forecasting a priority. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Observations ..................................................................................................................................................... 217,363 

Central Processing ........................................................................................................................................... 92,790 
38 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Analyze, Forecast, and Support ....................................................................................................................... 497,810 

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

Science and Technology Integration ................................................................................................................ 136,558 

GRAND TOTAL NWS ............................................................................................................................. 991,264 

Information Technology Officers.—The Committee continues to 

support cost savings and steps to improve efficiency at NWS. However, NWS’s proposal to consolidate Information Technology Officer 

[ITO] positions at the agency’s regional weather forecast offices, including the plan laid out in the March 2016 report titled ‘‘Evolving 

Information Technology Service Delivery at NWS Field Offices,’’ 

comes before a comprehensive review of NWS operations has been 

completed. While the March plan is helpful in clarifying both the 

intent and proposed execution of the ITO consolidation, any move 

to consolidate these positions at this time would be premature. 

However, the Committee is pleased that NWS is engaged in a comprehensive, third-party review of its long-term operations and 

workforce needs, and looks forward to the results of this full, NWSwide workforce assessment. 

Although the proposal to consolidate 122 field ITO positions is 

not approved, NWS is invited to submit a proposal in its 2017 

spending plan for a single pilot Regional Enterprise Application 

Development and Integration [READI] team comprised of volunteer 

ITOs. The successes and challenges of the pilot READI team 

project will assist the Committee in evaluating the larger consolidation proposal if resubmitted in future fiscal years. 

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

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

80 percent data availability. The Committee encourages NOAA to 

provide adequate funding to support maintenance and service of 

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

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

the coastal weather buoy system in areas off the coast of Alaska 

and in the Arctic Ocean. The report shall include the identification 

of gaps in Arctic weather and sea ice observing networks in U.S. 

territories of the Arctic Ocean. The Committee directs NOAA to include a schedule to restore existing data buoy operability and its 

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

spending plan. 

National Water Center.—The Committee provides no less than $14,750,000, which is equal to NOAA’s requested amount, for operations and staffing of the National Water Center [NWC] to develop 

and operate the Integrated Water Prediction [IWP] program. NWS 

shall leverage this funding with resources provided to NOS for 

IWP. The NWC will serve as the first ever clearinghouse for research and operational forecasting of all water-related issues facing 
39 

our Nation, including: severe floods, storm surge, droughts, and 

water quality, among others. Given the importance of the NWC to 

better protect lives and property of our Nation’s citizens, NOAA is 

directed to expedite staffing and operations at the Center to 

achieve full operating capability as soon as possible. The Committee directs NOAA to provide a report no less than 45 days after 

enactment of this act with an updated staffing plan that includes 

an update on commitments from partner agencies and a timeline 

for accomplishing operational readiness in the first quarter of fiscal 

year 2017. 

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program [NTHMP].—The 

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

Agency to maintain funding at the fiscal year 2016 level and to 

strengthen the NTHMP in accordance with the 2011 evaluation by 

the National Academy of Sciences. 

Consumer Option for an Alternative System To Allocate Losses 

[COASTAL] Act Implementation.—Within funding provided for 

Science and Technology Integration, the Committee provides not 

less than $5,000,000 for the continued development and implementation of the COASTAL Act, which was included in the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2012 (Public Law 112– 

141). The Committee supports NOAA’s work to assist homeowners 

impacted by destructive winds and storm surges associated with 

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

is directed to provide the Committee with updates every 6 months 

on progress made and challenges related to implementation, as 

well as any proposed solutions. 

National Mesonet Program.—The Committee provides 

$19,000,000 for the continuation and expansion of the National 

Mesonet Program. Funds should be made available through a competitive weather data procurement that sustains coverage of areas 

currently included within the national mesonet, as well as an expansion of coverage in high risk areas. NOAA is also encouraged 

to add new observations such as total lightning data, regional aircraft observations, and vertical column measurements in tornadoprone areas. Additionally, within funds provided, NOAA is encouraged to incorporate state mesonet data into the national mesonet 

network. NOAA should require that awardees provide mesonet 

data in formats that can be integrated by NWS for use in forecasts 

and severe weather alerts. Of the funds provided, up to $500,000 

may be used for Meterological Assimilation Data Ingest System 

[MADIS] activities, and up to $500,000 may be used for costs associated with the National Mesonet Program Office. The Committee 

views the national mesonet as an important component of any effort to effectively develop a ‘‘Weather-Ready Nation’’ and expects 

that future NOAA budget requests will continue to reflect it as a 

priority. 
40 

NOAA NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND

INFORMATION SERVICE

The Committee’s recommendation provides $198,884,000 for National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service 

[NESDIS] operations. NESDIS programs operate environmental 

polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites and collect and archive 

global environmental data and information for distribution to users 

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

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

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

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

AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Environmental Satellite Observing Systems: 

Office of Satellite and Product Operations ............................................................................................ 107,008 

Product Development, Readiness & Application .................................................................................... 27,014 

Commercial Remote Sensing Licensing & Enforcement ........................................................................ 2,065 

Office of Space Commercialization ......................................................................................................... 2,000 

Group on Earth Observations [GEO] ....................................................................................................... 500 

Total, Environmental Satellite Observing Systems ............................................................................ 138,587 

National Environmental Information Office ..................................................................................................... 60,297 

GRAND TOTAL NESDIS ......................................................................................................................... 198,884 

National Environmental Information Office.—The Committee recommends $60,297,000 for the National Environmental Information 

Office [NEIO], which is a new office that consolidates several programs previously funded separately. While the Committee supports 

the updated budget structure for NESDIS, it is essential to ensure 

that key programs continue to receive adequate funding. Specifically, the Committee provides not less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted levels of $6,000,000 for Regional Climate Services, $3,650,000 

for Regional Climate Centers, and $4,567,000 for Coastal Data Development. Within NEIO, the Committee encourages NOAA to fully 

support critical international partnerships, including the Global 

Climate Observing System. 

NOAA MISSION SUPPORT

The Committee’s recommendation provides $256,981,000 for 

NOAA’s mission support activities. These programs provide for 

overall NOAA management, including staffing of the Under Secretary’s office and services to NOAA and DOC field offices through 

the regional Administrative Support Centers. These programs also 

support NOAA’s Education Office consistent with the recommendations of the Joint Ocean Commission. The facilities subactivity provides for repair and maintenance to existing facilities, planning 

and design, and environmental compliance. 

Committee recommendations are displayed in the following table: 
41 

PROGRAM SUPPORT OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Corporate Services: 

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

Mission Services Management ................................................................................................................ 150,000 

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

Payment to DOC Working Capital Fund .................................................................................................. 43,000 

Total, Corporate Services .................................................................................................................... 230,050 

NOAA Education Program ................................................................................................................................. 26,931 

GRAND TOTAL, MISSION SUPPORT ...................................................................................................... 256,981 

Corporate Services.—Within the increased funds provided for 

Corporate Services, NOAA is directed to focus on restoring the 

functionality of its Workforce Management Office and Acquisition 

and Grant Services. 

Education.—Within the funds provided for NOAA’s Education 

Program, $5,000,000 is for competitive educational grants, which 

includes continued support for Environmental Literacy Grants and 

for improving geographic literacy; $14,431,000 is for the Educational Partnership Program with minority-serving institutions; 

and $7,500,000 is for Bay-Watershed Education and Training regional programs. 

NOAA Leases.—While the Committee is supportive of increasing 

funding for the NOAA Weather Radio network in this bill to assist 

with the cost of its tower agreements, the Committee has previously raised concerns about the agency’s large amount of real 

property commercial leases. Without a clear understanding of the 

extent of its holdover leases, NOAA may be unable to budget for 

liabilities created by the termination of these holdover leases, 

which, in turn, could cause Antideficiency Act violations. To fully 

account for the potential budgetary impact of its holdover leases, 

NOAA shall: ensure that it understands the extent of its lease 

holdover issues; that it maintains complete and accurate records on 

owned and leased property; and that it provides these records to 

the Committee and the OIG upon request. 

Responsiveness to Congress.—The Committee notes that NOAA 

often fails to respond in a timely manner to inquiries from Congress. Letters from members have gone unanswered and repeated 

requests for drafting assistance have been ignored. Congress plays 

an important role in the oversight of NOAA, and the Committee directs the agency to be responsive to congressional inquiries. 

Outstanding Loan Balances.—The Committee encourages NOAA 

and its respective line offices to work with communities and businesses, on a case-by-case basis, to resolve outstanding balances in 

a manner that considers the borrower’s current financial ability but 

remains fair to American taxpayers. 
42 

NOAA OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS

The Committee’s recommendation provides $211,131,000 for 

NOAA’s marine and aviation operations. The Office of Marine and 

Aviation Operations provides aircraft and marine data acquisition, 

repair, and maintenance of the existing fleet; planning of future 

modernization; and technical and management support for NOAAwide activities through the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. 

OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Marine Operations and Maintenance ............................................................................................................... 178,838 

Aviation Operations .......................................................................................................................................... 32,293 

GRAND TOTAL, OMAO .......................................................................................................................... 211,131 

Capital Assets.—Any decisions related to laying up any vessels, 

grounding any aircraft, or decommissioning any capital asset are 

subject to the standard reprogramming procedures set forth in section 505 of this act. Any changes from the spending plan shall also 

be subject to section 505 of this act. NOAA shall continue to provide the Committee with a monthly operational status of the fleet 

and aircraft. NOAA is further directed to provide the Committee 

with updated long-term management and acquisition plans for the 

fleet and aircraft within 60 days of enactment of this act. 

Aviation Operations.—In February 2016, MacDill Air Force Base 

formally notified NOAA that the Aircraft Operations Center [AOC] 

must vacate their hanger facilities by July 2017. AOC’s aircraft 

play a critical role in the Nation’s hurricane forecasting capabilities. The Committee is aware that NOAA is seeking a short term 

lease at another airport within a 50 mile radius of its current location so as to help mitigate any impacts a sudden move could have 

on operations during the 2017 hurricane season and to provide 

more reliable accommodations for the next few years. While the 

Committee fully supports NOAA’s near term plans, the Committee 

views such arrangements as temporary. Soon after NOAA settles 

into the new short-term lease agreement, the Committee directs 

the agency to embark on a comprehensive plan to find a permanent, cost-effective home for AOC in the Gulf Coast region, potentially co-located with a Federal partner that can meet NOAA’s 

operational needs. 

NOAA PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION, AND CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $2,400,416,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,270,123,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,286,853,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $2,286,853,000 for 

NOAA’s procurement, acquisition, and construction. The recommendation is $113,563,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $16,730,000 above the budget request. 

Committee recommendations are displayed in the following table: 
43 

PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

National Ocean Service: 

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

Marine Sanctuaries Construction/Acquisition ......................................................................................... 2,000 

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

Ocean and Atmospheric Research: 

Research Super Computing .................................................................................................................... 28,379 

National Weather Service: 

Observations ............................................................................................................................................ 32,755 

Central Processing .................................................................................................................................. 67,761 

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

WFO Construction .................................................................................................................................... 8,650 

Total, National Weather Service—PAC .............................................................................................. 143,785 

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Services: 

Geostationary Systems [GOES–R] ........................................................................................................... 752,784 

Joint Polar Satellite System [JPSS] ......................................................................................................... 787,246 

Polar Follow-on ........................................................................................................................................ 383,000 

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

DSCOVR ................................................................................................................................................... 3,745 

Space Weather Follow-on ........................................................................................................................ 7,500 

COSMIC–2 ............................................................................................................................................... 8,100 

Satellite Ground Services ........................................................................................................................ 54,000 

System Architecture and Advanced Planning ......................................................................................... 3,929 

Projects, Planning, and Analysis ............................................................................................................ 25,200 

Satellite CDA Facility .............................................................................................................................. 2,228 

Commercial Weather Data Pilot .............................................................................................................. 3,000 

Total, NESDIS—PAC ........................................................................................................................... 2,031,232 

Mission Support: 

NOAA Construction .................................................................................................................................. 6,057 

Total, Mission Support—PAC ............................................................................................................. 6,057 

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations: 

Vessel Equip. and Tech Refresh ............................................................................................................. 11,700 

New Vessel Construction ......................................................................................................................... 75,000 

Total, OMAO—PAC ............................................................................................................................. 86,700 

Unobligated balances from prior years ........................................................................................................... ¥13,000 

GRAND TOTAL, PAC ............................................................................................................................. 2,286,853 

National Estuarine Research Reserve Construction.—The Committee remains concerned about the increased costs and lack of 

transparency associated with certain third-party green building 

rating systems. The use of certain green building standards can arbitrarily discriminate against domestic building materials such as 

wood that could be locally sourced, thereby increasing costs to taxpayers without significant benefits in energy and water savings. 

The Committee again directs NOAA to use funding provided for 

NERR Construction subject only to green building rating systems 

or standards that are voluntary consensus standards; have 

achieved American National Standard Institute [ANSI] Designa-
44 

tion; or were developed by an ANSI Audited Designator, and take 

into consideration the environmental and economic benefits of 

building materials through lifecycle analysis. Not later than 90 

days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall notify the Committee 

on any new, existing, or planned construction projects at NERRS 

sites that receive accreditation for energy savings from a thirdparty green building rating system. 

High Performance Computing.—The Committee recognizes 

NOAA’s high performance computing needs and its current limitations on providing high fidelity results in near real-time. Within 

funding provided for OAR Research Supercomputing, up to 

$8,000,000 shall be used to develop a dedicated high performance 

computing facility in collaboration with partners with existing high 

performance computing expertise and scientific synergies. This facility shall be used in part to research improved weather modeling 

capabilities. 

NWS Observations.—The Committee provides NOAA’s full request for Observations under NWS PAC, which includes the full requested increase for the Automated Surface Observing System and 

Next Generation Weather Radar Service Life Extension Programs. 

Integrated Water Prediction [IWP].—The Committee provides 

NOAA’s full request for Central Processing under NWS PAC, which 

includes not less than the requested amount of $4,500,000 to procure operational high performance computing resources to enable 

modeling improvements associated with the IWP initiative. 

Weather Satellites.—The Committee provides full funding for the 

continued procurement and acquisition of the Joint Polar Satellite 

System [JPSS] and the Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite R-series [GOES–R], NOAA’s flagship weather satellite 

programs. NOAA is directed to prioritize satellite programs directly 

related to weather forecasting and that result in the greatest reduction of risk to lives and property. Keeping JPSS and GOES–R 

programs on budget and on schedule is critical, as is maintaining 

their respective cost controls, particularly when NOAA’s satellite 

missions continue to dominate the agency’s annual budget requirements. The Committee reiterates its previous direction to NOAA to 

find savings from operating expenses and to reduce duplicative 

Government overhead shared with the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration. 

Polar Follow-On.—The Committee provides $383,000,000 for the 

Polar Follow-On mission. Ensuring a risk-averse and robust continuation of polar orbiting weather satellites is essential to avoid 

gaps in the data that is required for accurate weather forecasting. 

The Committee is still awaiting an Independent Cost Estimate 

[ICE] directed for the Polar Follow-on program in fiscal year 2016. 

Not later than 45 days following enactment of this act, NOAA shall 

provide detailed results from the ICE analysis to the Committee, 

including a comparison to the agency’s internal estimate of the program’s life-cycle cost. 

Jason–3.—The Committee strongly supports the Jason–3 mission, which after months of delay successfully launched in January 

2016. The Jason–3 mission will support national and international 

users of sea surface height measurements, and allow the NWS to 

more accurately forecast the strength of tropical cyclones that 
45 

threaten U.S. coastal communities. Now that Jason–3 has 

launched, the Committee expects any associated analysis and processing to be accounted for within NESDIS ORF. 

Space Weather Follow-on.—The Committee provides $7,500,000, 

an increase of $6,300,000 above the fiscal year 2016 level, for space 

weather follow-on activities. Funds should be used to accelerate the 

development of advanced technologies and an architecture study for 

a series of space weather follow-on flight missions that implement 

the National Space Weather Strategy and Space Weather Action 

Plan. A detailed account of how this funding will be spent and accompanying deliverables shall be submitted to the Committee with 

the fiscal year 2017 spend plan. 

The Committee recognizes that expanding data collection 

through enhanced space weather observations and models can significantly improve warning times for severe space weather events. 

Therefore, NOAA shall maintain the multi-year funding profile and 

schedule that was presented with the 2017 budget request in its 

fiscal year 2018 budget submission. 

COSMIC–2.—The Committee provides $8,100,000 for the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate 2 [COSMIC–2] program, to support the ground reception and 

processing of Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation 

satellite data. These data will augment current models used for 

global weather forecasts and studies. However, no funding is provided for the procurement of a second set of radio occultation [RO] 

sensors that NOAA proposes to launch into polar orbit in 2019. The 

Committee notes that the U.S. Air Force—NOAA’s partner on COSMIC–2—has not committed to providing launch services for a polar 

constellation of RO sensors. Furthermore, NOAA has not yet identified any other launch provider for this proposed polar constellation. The Committee encourages NOAA to utilize funding provided 

for NESDIS’s Commercial Weather Data Pilot program to potentially meet identified needs in polar orbiting RO data. 

Commercial Weather Data Pilot.—The Committee provides 

$3,000,000 to support NOAA’s newly launched assessment and potential use of commercial data in NOAA’s weather modeling and 

forecasting through pilot purchases of commercial data. 

NOAA Satellite Reporting.—The Committee directs NOAA to provide quarterly programmatic and procurement status reports of all 

satellites actively flying, in space but in standby mode, and under 

development unless any reprogramming, system failure, construction delay, or other extraordinary circumstance warrants an immediate update. As part of the agency’s quarterly satellite briefing, 

NOAA shall include updates on preparations and enhancements 

necessary to accommodate an increased volume of satellite data 

and shall compare initial cost estimates to actual expenditures. 

New Vessel Construction.—Recapitalizing NOAA’s aging fleet and 

building new ships is a long-term endeavor, requiring a foundation 

of financial stability. The Committee recognizes that the fits-andstarts method of periodically appropriating a large tranche of funding to construct one vessel at a time is untenable in the foreseeable 

fiscal climate, especially for a fleet that requires several new vessels. 
46 

With a baseline ocean class design in hand and a near-term path 

to restart work with the U.S. Navy, and after repeated reassurances that the requested ocean class vessel construction was a top 

priority for the Department, the Committee responded to both the 

immediate- and long-term fleet need by providing $80,050,000 for 

vessel construction in fiscal year 2016, and anticipating no less 

than $75,000,0000 provided for new vessel construction each year 

thereafter. The Committee’s expectation was that, provided annually, this funding would put NOAA on a steadier financial path and 

allow the agency to construct a new vessel every 2 years. 

As such, the Committee was stunned and disappointed to see the 

administration’s change of tack in the fiscal year 2017 request, as 

well as a reprogramming request for the fiscal year 2016 funding, 

in support of a smaller vessel that had no initial design, no supporting operational requirements, no immediate path for construction, and which cut the vessel construction account by 71 percent. 

The request eroded the financial foothold that the Committee 

worked hard to establish in fiscal year 2016 and jeopardizes the 

fleet’s long term stability. Additionally, the proposal in fiscal year 2017 to use $100,000,000 

of unsubstantiated non-discretionary funding not in the jurisdiction 

of this Committee for a second yet-to-be-conceived regional class 

vessel suggests that the administration does not take fleet recapitalization seriously. Proposing disingenuous budget gimmicks to 

spend money outside the current budget agreement does not solve 

real Federal infrastructure problems, regardless of the agency or 

the account. 

Subsequent to the fiscal year 2017 budget submission, the Committee appreciated receiving the administration’s ‘‘Federal Fleet 

Status Report’’ in March 2016, which provided a comprehensive 

snapshot of various U.S. Federal oceanographic vessels, including 

those operated by NOAA. This report is a tool for the Committee 

that not only examines NOAA’s operational status, but that of the 

University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System ships and 

the U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers, which are used by the National 

Science Foundation. The interagency working group’s plan clearly 

shows that NOAA needs to build both regional class and oceangoing ships in the coming years, though the plan did not sufficiently address the relative needs or prioritization among regional, 

ocean, and global class vessels, and instead focused on justifying 

the new regional class request. The Committee notes that not all 

of NOAA’s marine operations can be conducted using regional class 

vessels, and to presume as such would suggest a drastic change in 

NOAA’s ability to carry out its responsibilities, which is a much 

larger discussion than can be presented in a near-term fleet report 

card. 

The Committee does not intend to determine which vessel classes 

are of the highest priority at any given time, which vessels to replace at which homeports, or which of NOAA’s at-sea operations to 

favor. However, the Committee does expect the administration to 

provide the Congress with a clear and realistic plan for recapitalizing NOAA’s fleet that remains consistent from one fiscal year to 

the next, and to consistently follow that plan in the future. A shortterm snapshot report of the entire Federal oceanographic fleet is an 
47 

important tool to gain an interagency perspective, but the ‘‘Federal 

Fleet Status Report’’ is not the agency-specific fleet recapitalization 

plan that the Committee requested or expected in the fiscal year 

2016 bill. The Committee understands that an independent review 

team is currently analyzing NOAA’s short-term and long-term fleet 

needs, which has a greater potential to yield a more in depth 

NOAA-centric fleet recapitalization plan when that report is delivered in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. 

In the meantime, the Committee is willing to stay on its original course, for now, by providing no less than $75,000,000 for NOAA’s 

on-going fleet recapitalization efforts with a continued focus on an 

ocean class vessel and to retain a pathway for financial stability for 

future fiscal years. The Committee intends to work with all levels 

of the administration now and throughout fiscal year 2017 to create 

a stable and successful plan for NOAA to continue the agency’s atsea operations should the administration continue to see value in 

supporting such operations in future fiscal years. 

Mission Support Construction.—The Committee supports NOAA’s 

decision to designate Newport, Rhode Island, as the homeport for 

the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, a Fisheries Survey Vessel [FSV] 

which has been temporarily based in Rhode Island since its commissioning in 2005. The Committee provides $1,500,000 under Mission Support PAC to continue the necessary environmental assessments, permitting activities, and additional design work for new 

berthing facilities that will permanently accommodate this FSV 

and possibly other vessels in future fiscal years. 

Mission Support, Facilities Initiative.—The Committee provides 

NOAA’s full request for major renovation and repair activities at 

the Northwest Fisheries Science Center facility under Construction 

PAC. 

Fishing Community Presence.—NOAA shall consider all viable 

ports when undertaking capital planning reviews, including those 

that do not currently have a significant NOAA presence. 

PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY FUND

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $65,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 65,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 65,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $65,000,000 for the 

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. The recommendation is the 

same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget estimate. 

Funds are for conservation and restoration of Pacific salmon populations. State and local recipients of this funding will provide 

matching contributions of at least 33 percent of Federal funds. In 

addition, funds will be available to tribes without a matching requirement. 

FISHERMEN’S CONTINGENCY FUND

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $350,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 350,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 350,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $350,000 for the 

Fishermen’s Contingency Fund. The recommendation is the same 

as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the President’s request. 
48 

FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. ¥$6,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... ¥410,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ¥410,000 

The Committee recommends that direct loans administered 

through this account for individual fishing quotas may not exceed 

$24,000,000. Traditional direct loans may not exceed $100,000,000, 

which is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and budget 

request. 

Permit Banks and Trusts.—The Committee notes that there is 

some confusion in the fishing community regarding whether fishing 

permit banks or trusts are eligible applicants for the Fisheries Finance Program. Permit banks and trusts have proven to be effective tools in retaining and anchoring fish harvesting rights within 

coastal communities, and have been uniquely effective in helping 

young fishermen engage in our fisheries by leasing quota and permits to them. The Committee directs NOAA to work with the fishing community and to provide a report within 180 days of enactment of this act clarifying whether fishing permit banks and trusts 

are eligible for the program. Additionally, if applicable, the report 

shall detail whether legislative or regulatory changes are necessary 

to establish eligibility or to clarify the application requirements for 

fishing permit banks and trusts. 

OTHER 

DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $58,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 74,503,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 58,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $58,000,000 for Departmental Management Salaries and Expenses. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $16,503,000 

below the budget request. 

Within Departmental Management, the Salaries and Expenses 

account provides funding for the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and 

support staff. Responsibilities involve policy development and implementation affecting U.S. and international activities, as well as 

establishing internal goals for operations of the Department. 

Not less than 90 days after enactment of this act, the Department shall submit to the Committee a report detailing actions 

taken to cut costs and a detailed account of funds saved by such 

actions across the Department’s bureaus. 

Working Capital Funds.—For each of the three working capital 

funds within DOC, the following are to be provided to the Committee and the Office of Inspector General by November 30 of each 

fiscal year: (1) A comparison of the final budget or spending plan 

at the project or activity level to the actual year-end data as of September 30 of the prior fiscal year, including detailed narratives for 

variances greater than 5 percent at the project or activity; (2) the 

initial budget or spending plan by project or activity for the current 

fiscal year; and (3) a detailed schedule of fiscal year-end unobli-
49 

gated and carryover balances by source funding category and by expiring budget fiscal year, to include: direct authority, Federal and 

intragovernmental reimbursable authority by trading partner, nonFederal reimbursable authority, amounts held for future asset replacement, and other categories. 

BusinessUSA.—The Committee provides funding up to the 

amount provided in fiscal year 2016 for BusinessUSA. 

BusinessUSA is an online tool and shared inter-agency call center 

designed to facilitate information sharing, improve services to the 

public, and reduce interagency redundancies. Funds provided shall 

not be used to expand staffing or open any offices. 

Small Business Innovation Research.—The Committee recognizes 

the importance of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] 

program and its previous accomplishments in facilitating commercial successes from federally funded research and development 

projects. The SBIR program encourages small domestic businesses 

to engage in Federal research and development and creates jobs in 

the smallest firms. The Committee therefore directs the DOC to 

place an increased focus on awarding SBIR grants to firms with 

fewer than 50 people. 

Unobligated Balances.—The Committee remains concerned about 

the amount of unobligated funding within DOC. The Department 

is directed to report all unobligated balances to the Committee on 

a quarterly basis following enactment of this act. 

Spending Plans.—Under section 533 of this act, the Department 

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

and activities of the Department so that the Committee receives 

detailed descriptions of how the Department intends to 

operationalize the funding provided in annual appropriations bills. 

The Committee expects a detailed accounting of each bureau’s 

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

Fund spending, particularly with regard to specific programs, 

projects, and activities described in the bill and accompanying report. The Department shall continue to work with the Committee 

to ensure that its spending plans provide adequate information for 

continued oversight of the Department. 

RENOVATION AND MODERNIZATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $19,062,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 12,224,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 12,224,000 

The Committee recommendation provides $12,224,000, which is 

$6,838,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request, for building renovation at the Department of 

Commerce. Furthermore, unobligated balances of discretionary 

funds appropriated for the Department of Commerce may be transferred to and merged with this account subject to certain limitations and the procedures set forth in section 505 of this act. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $32,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 37,167,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 32,744,000 
50 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $32,744,000 for the 

Office of Inspector General [OIG]. The recommendation is $744,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $4,423,000 below the 

budget request. 

In addition to funds provided under this heading, the Committee 

has recommended transfers to the OIG: $2,000,000 from the U.S. 

Patent and Trademark Office; $1,302,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and $2,580,000 from the 

Census Bureau for oversight and audits of those activities. The 

Committee directs the OIG to continue strict oversight activities for 

satellite procurements, cybersecurity, and the decennial census. 

Working Capital Fund Audits.—The Committee continues to direct the OIG to audit all of the working capital funds within the 

Department to evaluate the Department’s budgetary controls over 

all funds. The OIG shall assess: the controls in place to develop reimbursement formulas; the relationship of reimbursements to client services; the appropriateness of the level of fund balances; and 

compliance with appropriations law and direction. As part of this 

assessment, the Inspector General shall pay particular attention to 

the increasing amounts of funding needed to support the Department’s Office of General Counsel, including the justification and 

metrics for how such funding is being levied against each agency 

and, reciprocally, how the agencies account for the services they receive from the Office of General Counsel. If at any point during 

these audits the OIG encounters problems with accessing any necessary information or data from the Department, the OIG is directed to notify the Committee immediately. 

Audits and Investigations.—The OIG serves a critical oversight 

role at the Department. The Committee believes that robust investigations and audits are essential to rooting out waste, fraud, and 

abuse, but that limiting inquiries only to individuals in the Department does not necessarily lead to comprehensive findings and recommendations. The Committee directs the OIG to modify its policies and procedures to ensure that investigations or reports include 

interviews with all parties to the project or program in question, 

including, but not limited to, contractors responsible for projects 

under review. The Committee cautions the OIG against issuing 

preliminary findings prior to interviewing a majority of the entities 

involved with the program or project under investigation, unless 

the OIG believes the findings are time sensitive or additional interviews are immaterial. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Section 101 makes Commerce Department funds available for advanced payments only upon certification of officials designated by 

the Secretary that such payments are considered to be in the public 

interest. 

Section 102 makes appropriations for salaries and expenses 

available for the hire of passenger motor vehicles, and for services, 

uniforms, and allowances as authorized by law. 

Section 103 provides the authority to transfer funds between Department of Commerce accounts. The provision makes transfers 

subject to the Committee’s standard reprogramming procedures. 
51 

Section 104 extends congressional notification requirements for 

the NOAA satellite programs. 

Section 105 provides authority for the Secretary of Commerce to 

furnish certain services within the Herbert C. Hoover Building. 

Section 106 clarifies that grant recipients under the Department 

of Commerce may continue to deter child pornography, copyright 

infringement, or any other unlawful activity over their networks. 

Section 107 provides NOAA the authority to share resources with 

entities outside the agency. 

Section 108 requires that, before charging for congressional reports, the National Technical Information Service [NTIS] advise 

the public of free ways to receive or access these reports. For those 

reports that cannot be found free of charge or when a customer requires a mailed, hard copy, NTIS may only charge a de minimus 

copying and mailing fee. The Committee is concerned about outrageous fees the National Technical Information Service charges 

the public for hard copies of congressional reports and documents 

available for free online. 

Section 109 allows the Secretary of Commerce to waive the bond 

requirement for research vessel repair and construction contracts 

that would align Commerce’s authorities with those of other Federal agencies and address difficulties NOAA has experienced in obtaining competitive bids for ship repairs. 

Prior to exercising waiver authority under section 109 of this act, 

the Secretary of Commerce shall promulgate regulations specifying 

criteria under which waiver authority may be used, including the 

types of contracts eligible for consideration, surety alternatives, 

and acceptable risk profiles in order to protect the taxpayer and ensure that NOAA maximizes cost-savings. The Department is directed to notify the Committee not less than 15 days prior to any 

waiver issued under this section. In addition, the Department 

shall, not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 

act, prepare a report including the actual costs of repairing, rehabilitating, and replacing vessels in fiscal years 2013, 2014, 2015, 

2016, 2017, and annually thereafter, including an indication of 

those vessels for which NOAA waived the Miller Act. 

Section 110 prohibits funds for certain fishery management policies in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Section 111 allows NOAA to be reimbursed by Federal and nonFederal entities for performing certain activities. 

The Committee remains concerned that agreements for offsetting 

collections provided for under this section could result in a conflict 

of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, for the Department. The Department is directed to exercise caution and consider any unintended consequences that could result from such 

agreements, including, but not limited to, augmentation of appropriations, initiation of new programs not authorized by this act or 

any other act of Congress, and liabilities extending beyond the period of any such agreement. The Department shall provide to the 

Committee monthly updates on all offsetting fee collections, including each entity participating in the agreement, as well as the terms 

of and specific activities funded by the agreement. Additionally, estimates of anticipated fee collections shall be included in the Department’s annual spend plans. To further ensure the Committee 
52 

maintains sufficient oversight for activities carried out under this 

section, language is included specifying that any offsetting collection would require the consent of each party subject to the agreement and all offsetting collections shall be subject to procedures set 

forth by section 505 of this act. 

Section 112 provides authority for the programs of the Bureau of 

Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census to enter into cooperative 

agreements in order to assist in improving statistical methodology 

and research. 

Section 113 ensures full access to departmental and agency information and data for the Office of Inspector General [OIG]. Since 

fiscal year 2015, the Committee has directed the Department to ensure that the OIG has access to all documents needed to conduct 

its audit and oversight function. In order to correct the erroneous 

interpretation by the Department of Justice of the Committee’s bill 

language, the Committee clarified the provision in question in section 540 of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies 

Act, 2016 (division B of Public Law 114–113). Yet the Committee 

continues to receive notices from the OIG that components within 

the Department are withholding documents based on a misinterpretation of the 2015 language and on concerns about OIG protection of confidential documents. Providing documents to the OIG 

does not change the protected status of the documents. Classified 

information remains classified, and business proprietary information remains confidential. Should the Committee receive a notice 

under section 536 of this act from the Inspector General regarding 

the Department’s deliberate withholding of information, no funds 

shall be provided for the Department’s Office of General Counsel 

until such time that the Committee receives a follow-up notice from 

the OIG that the Department has resolved the matter. 
(53) 

TITLE II 

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

The Committee recommends a total of $29,246,199,000 for the 

Department of Justice [DOJ]. The recommendation is $156,391,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 funding level and $581,936,000 below 

the budget request. The Committee’s recommendation emphasizes 

key priorities regarding funding for the Department’s critical ongoing missions and activities to protect the safety, security, and 

rights of our citizens. 

Fighting Heroin and Opioids.—The Committee remains committed to helping States and local communities in the fight against 

heroin and illegal use of opioids. Resources totaling $132,000,000 

are provided in fiscal year 2017 to support enforcement efforts as 

well as prevention and treatment programs. 

To assist with law enforcement efforts, the Committee provides 

$10,000,000 for the COPS Office’s Anti-Heroin Task Force grant 

program to help Statewide task forces take heroin off of our streets 

through the investigation and location of the distribution of heroin 

or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids. As the Department administers this program, the Committee encourages adoption of a more comprehensive set of criteria for evaluating high per 

capita rates of heroin and opioid abuse, particularly one that includes overdose deaths and drug seizures. The Drug Enforcement 

Administration [DEA] is provided $12,500,000 to create four new 

enforcement groups focused on counteracting heroin trafficking and 

eradicating its availability in the United States. While DEA currently works to investigate and interdict drug trafficking, the explosion of heroin use and abuse of opioids requires a more concentrated enforcement effort. 

Communities cannot just enforce their way out of this epidemic. 

Therefore, the Committee supports comprehensive prevention and 

treatment programs to discourage experimentation with heroin or 

abusing prescription medication in the first place and to help those 

who are addicted to find affordable and accessible options to aid recovery. The Committee provides $14,000,000 for Residential Substance Abuse Treatment grants to assist State, local, and tribal 

governments in the development and implementation of substance 

abuse treatment programs in correctional and detention facilities, 

as well as in the creation and maintenance of community-based 

aftercare services; $14,000,000 for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program which plans, implements, and enhances prescription drug monitoring programs to prevent and reduce misuse and 

abuse of prescription drugs and aids in investigations of pharmaceutical crime; and $43,000,000 for drug courts to help non-violent 

offenders get intensive treatment and support. Within the Second 

Chance Act, $37,500,000 is provided for prevention of drug use and 
54 

drug treatment for those who were formerly incarcerated returning 

to our communities. The Committee also provides $1,000,000 to the 

Bureau of Prisons to continue to increase their medication-assisted 

treatment pilot program for approximately 200 inmates with heroin 

and opioid addiction. The science supporting the use of medication 

as a critical component of treating opioid addiction, including heroin, is clear in that this type of treatment saves lives. 

Trafficking in Persons.—The fight against human and sex trafficking, including the apprehension of perpetrators who use online 

classified Web sites to facilitate the sexual exploitation of children, 

crosses many jurisdictions within the Department. The Department 

shall dedicate no less than the fiscal year 2016 level for the Human 

Trafficking Prosecution Unit [HTPU] and encourage HTPU and the 

Anti-Trafficking Coordination Teams to continue working with victim service providers and non-governmental organizations to ensure victim needs are prioritized as part of the overall strategy to 

combat human trafficking and forced labor in the United States. 

Furthermore, the Committee directs the HTPU to report to the 

Committees on Appropriations no later than 120 days following enactment of this act on: (1) the total number of human trafficking 

cases it prosecuted or assisted in prosecuting within the last 3 

years disaggregated by type of trafficking, and including instances 

in which an online classified Web site is determined to be the conduit for exploiting trafficked persons, especially minors, and the actions being taken to shut down these sites; (2) the number of (a) 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys, (b) Federal law enforcement, and (c) 

State and local law enforcement who received training on human 

trafficking within the last 3 years that included sex and labor trafficking, disaggregated from those who receive training just on sex 

trafficking; and (3) the number of Assistant U.S. Attorneys who received training on restitution for human trafficking victims within 

the last 3 years. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] is directed to provide 

no less than the fiscal year 2016 level to investigate severe forms 

of trafficking in persons. As the lead Federal law enforcement 

agency, the FBI’s ability to combat trafficking and forced labor requires resources devoted specifically to the growing problem of trafficking and forced labor. Funding shall be used for investigations 

into human trafficking and forced labor and providing victim witness coordinators when needed on an emergency basis through the 

Office of Victim Assistance via the Office of Victims of Crime. 

In addition, the Committee directs the FBI to submit a report for 

Innocence Lost Operations encompassing the previous 5 years that 

details the: (1) number of traffickers arrested, (2) the number of 

adults arrested on charges of prostitution, (3) the number of minor 

victims identified, (4) the number of minor victims criminally 

charged, and (5) the placement and social service support secured 

for each child in each State operation within 180 days of enactment 

of this act. 

The Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys [EOUSA] and the FBI 

shall continue to follow direction as outlined by the Committee in 

Senate Report 114–66 regarding designated points of contact and 

improved processes for T-visas for EOUSA and support for victims 

of trafficking through Continued Presence for the FBI. 
55 

Intellectual Property Rights [IPR] Enforcement.—The Committee 

expects the Department to continue to make IPR enforcement an 

investigative and prosecutorial priority. Sophisticated, 

transnational, criminal enterprises engage in a range of illegal activity, including identity theft, connected to the theft of copyrighted 

content. Given the strong links to other illegal activity, the Department’s IP-dedicated personnel should investigate U.S.-based sites 

and apps that are engaged in such criminal activity. The Committee directs the Criminal Division and FBI to maintain dedicated 

positions to combat intellectual property crimes and fund IPR efforts at no less than fiscal year 2016 enacted levels. In addition, 

the FBI shall provide quarterly updates to the Committee detailing 

the activities of its dedicated agents investigating IPR cases. 

Sole Sourcing of Equipment and Scientific Instruments.—The direction provided to the Department on this issue in Senate Report 

114–66 remains in effect for fiscal year 2017. 

Cybersecurity.—The Department has several offices with 

cybersecurity responsibilities, including those within the FBI, the 

National Security Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys Offices [USAO]. At a minimum, the Committee directs the Department to maintain its cybersecurity posture at no less than the 

fiscal year 2016 level to defend and respond to current and emerging attacks that threaten its own infrastructure and activities. In 

other cases, such as with the USAO, DEA, and the FBI, the Committee has specific direction detailed later in this report to increase 

cyber-related investigations and to prosecute additional 

cybercrimes. Throughout this title, the Committee’s recommendation for cybersecurity-related activities for the Department totals 

$896,325,000 for fiscal year 2017, which is an increase of 

$82,679,000, or 10 percent, above the fiscal year 2016 level. 

Strengthening Police-Community Relations.—The Committee continues to recognize and support the important need for lasting collaborative relationships between local police and the public. To assist with strengthening this relationship, the Committee has dedicated resources totaling $121,254,370 across a variety of program 

areas. Strong partnerships between the police and the communities 

they protect reduce crime, ensure that citizens’ civil rights are protected, and improve officer safety. 

The Community Trust Initiative is again funded at $70,000,000 

for fiscal year 2017. Funding is included for law enforcement to 

purchase body cameras, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, the 

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation program and the National 

Crime Statistics Exchange. More details on these programs are 

found in the Office of Justice Programs section of this report. The 

Committee also provides a total of $15,000,000 for specific programs within the Byrne-JAG program: $5,000,000 for improved 

training for police responses to people with mental illness and 

$10,000,000 to support evidence-based approaches in responding to 

crime, called the Smart Policing program. 

Within the COPS Office, the Committee sets aside $10,000,000 

for the continuation of the Collaborative Reform Model, which assists local law enforcement agencies to identify problems and develop solutions to some of the most critical issues facing law enforcement today, such as use of force, fair and impartial policing, 
56 

and improved accountability. Another $10,000,000 is set aside for 

Community Policing Development [CPD] within the COPS Office. 

CPD funds are used to advance community policing in law enforcement agencies through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, development of innovative policing strategies, 

and best practices that are national in scope. 

The Committee is providing funding for departmental agencies 

that assist with training State and local law enforcement officers 

and help with mediating conflicts in communities. The Community 

Relations Service is funded by the Committee at $14,446,000, 

which will allow for continued efforts to mediate, train, and facilitate discussion between police departments and communities where 

tensions exist. The Committee fully funds the FBI’s request of 

$1,808,370 for the National Academy, a professional development 

course for State, local and international law enforcement leaders 

that serves to improve the administration of justice and raise law 

enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide. 

This funding will allow approximately 900 police officers to attend 

the National Academy to receive world class training on leadership 

and specific law enforcement issues like use of force. 

Federal Water Usage Violations.—The Committee is aware that 

the Department of Justice should receive notifications from the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [USACE] regarding violations of 

Federal water contracts involving multi-State river basins. For example, the Department has been involved in litigation in the past 

regarding the USACE’s administration of its dams and reservoirs 

in both the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa [ACT] and the ApalachicolaChattahoochee-Flint [ACF] river basins. The Committee directs the 

Department to provide a report within 60 days of enactment of this 

act that includes: an audit of all Federal water contract violations 

in multi-State water basins since 2005; an audit of any contract 

violation notifications DOJ has received from USACE regarding all 

multi-State river basins since 2005; a record of how DOJ has handled these violations and notifications; and a comprehensive plan 

for how DOJ intends to enforce the law and respond to these contract violations now and in the future. 

The Committee also directs the Department to enter into an 

agreement with USACE whereby the Department contemporaneously receives all water contract violation notifications produced 

or issued by the USACE, in whatever form. 

Gang Violence.—The Committee recognizes the challenges posed 

by the increasing number of gang members and the violent crimes 

they commit in urban, suburban, and rural communities. The Committee understands that combating these gangs requires continued 

and increased cooperation between Federal, State, and local law 

enforcement as well as support, coordination, and expertise from 

the Federal level. The Committee acknowledges the work currently 

being undertaken to fight gangs by the FBI Violent Safe Streets 

Task Forces, the DEA, the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement 

and Coordination Center [GangTECC], the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF], the U.S. Marshals Service 

[USMS], the Bureau of Prisons [BOP], the USAO, and other Federal agencies. The Committee urges these agencies to intensify current efforts, including supporting and prosecuting cases under the 
57 

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act [RICO], while 

enhancing coordination across the Federal Government and with 

State and local law enforcement in order to maximize the impact 

of limited personnel resources. The Committee’s recommendation 

includes $5,000,000 for the USMS for gang enforcement efforts 

within the Regional Fugitive Task Forces and $6,500,000 for the 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction Program within the Office 

of Justice Programs [OJP] aimed at reducing gang violence. 

Elder Justice Initiative.—In July 2013, the Government Accountability Office [GAO] published its review of elder justice program 

issues, including a recommendation that the Department of Health 

and Human Services [HHS] in cooperation with the Department of 

Justice develop a national elder justice public awareness campaign. 

The Committee understands that more than 2 years later, GAO 

considers this recommendation open and unimplemented. The 

Committee is aware of the work being carried out by the Elder Justice Coordinating Council [EJCC], of which the Department is a 

permanent member, and remains supportive of efforts to help protect older adults from all forms of abuse, including through increasing public awareness to occurrences of elder abuse, including fraud, 

and the dissemination of information about how members of the 

public may obtain services. Through the work of the EJCC, the 

Committee urges the Department to work with the Secretary of 

HHS, and other relevant agencies, to develop a national elder justice awareness campaign. 

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.—The Committee 

fully supports the goals of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights 

Crime Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–344) to investigate and prosecute previously unresolved civil rights era ‘‘cold case’’ murders 

suspected of having been racially motivated, through a partnership 

among the Civil Rights Division [CRT], the FBI, and the Community Relations Service [CRS], as well as with State and local grant 

resources. To continue supporting Emmett Till activities, the Committee urges the Department to: use such sums as may be necessary from within the budget base for the CRT’s Cold Case Initiative; for the FBI to pursue Emmett Till Act cold cases; and for the 

CRS to partner with law enforcement agencies and communities to 

help resolve conflicts resulting from the investigation of unsolved 

civil rights era cases. Additionally, the Committee directs the National Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and 

the Office for Victims of Crime to continue providing grants for cold 

case DNA investigations to aid State and local law enforcement 

agencies in their investigation and prosecution of unsolved civil 

rights cold cases. 

Working Capital Fund [WCF].—The Committee expects the Department to execute funding to the fullest extent possible without 

any carryover balances. The Committee directs DOJ to continue to 

use the WCF only as a repository for reimbursable funds from components and to obligate and execute that funding expeditiously. 

The DOJ shall provide a report to the Committee within 45 days 

of enactment of this act regarding balances in the WCF including 

carryover funds, the intended uses of those funds, and a spending 

plan. The spending plan shall include: the amount each component 

contributes to the WCF; a detailed accounting of collections into the 
58 

WCF from appropriations, reimbursable funds, and alternative 

sources of funding including the Three Percent Fund; a list of settlements and collections from the Three Percent Fund in excess of 

$3,000,000; and a categorical accounting of obligations out of the 

WCF including a breakdown of services provided from the Department to each component. The Department is further directed to 

provide quarterly updates on the WCF to the Committee. 

DOJ Settlements.—The Committee is aware of the Department’s 

ability to enter into civil settlement agreements in which a defendant is required to make a donation to a third-party organization. 

On a quarterly basis, the Department shall provide the Committee 

with a list of settlements in which the Department required defendants to donate money to third-party groups that includes the 

amount of funding and the intended use of the funds. 

Cell-Site Simulator [CSS] Technology.—Funds provided in this 

act shall be used only to deploy or facilitate the use of CSS technology for criminal investigations if such use complies fully with 

DOJ guidance issued on September 3, 2015. The Department shall 

ensure its guidance is followed strictly by Federal, State, and local 

entities that receive funds under this act, to include compliance 

with requirements of the Fourth Amendment and the Pen Register 

Act. As directed in the guidance, CSS technology must be configured only as pen registers and may not be used to collect content 

of any communication or subscriber account information. In addition, Departmental guidance to be implemented includes conducting comprehensive and consistent training on the appropriate 

use of CSS technology; adopting rigorous practices for handling and 

retaining data acquired through the use of this technology; and 

scrupulously auditing the use of such technology. 

Spending Plan.—In compliance with section 533 of this act, the 

Committee directs the Department of Justice to submit a spending 

plan, signed by the Attorney General, within 45 days of enactment 

of this act. 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $111,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 125,896,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 114,124,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $114,124,000 for General Administration salaries and expenses. The recommendation is 

$2,624,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$11,772,000 below the budget request. 

The General Administration account provides funding for senior 

policy officials responsible for departmental management and policy development. The specific offices funded by this account include: 

the immediate Office of the Attorney General; the immediate Office 

of the Deputy Attorney General; the immediate Office of the Associate Attorney General; Office of Legal Policy; Office of Public Affairs; Office of Legislative Affairs; Office of Professional Responsibility; Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison; and the Justice Management Division. 
59 

The Committee directs that any increased funding provided 

above the fiscal year 2016 level for this account shall only be allocated to operations within the Justice Management Division. 

Wildlife Trafficking.—The Committee notes the sharp increase of 

criminal activity involving wildlife that includes the illegal trade in 

rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory, poaching of wild animals for 

their parts, illegal capture and transport of endangered animals, 

and illegally harvested timber, as well as money laundering that 

comes with these products’ sale on the black market. There are indisputable linkages between these activities and the financing of 

armed insurgencies and transnational organized crime that threaten the stability and development of African countries and pose a 

serious threat to U.S. security interests. 

The Committee directs the Attorney General to continue to report on the specific steps the Department is taking to further address wildlife trafficking and the illegal natural resources trade, as 

specifically outlined in Senate Report 114–66. The report should 

also include the investigative efforts of INTERPOL programs like 

Operation Worthy II and Operation Paws, as well as the issuance 

of Red Notices for criminals engaging in these activities. 

Office of Legislative Affairs.—While the Committee primarily 

communicates with the Department through the Justice Management Division, it reserves the right to call upon any individual or 

organization within its jurisdiction for requests for information, including the Department’s Office of Legislative Affairs [OLA]. The 

Committee notes that recent responses from OLA have been neither helpful nor timely, with some answers left completely void of 

any meaningful information whatsoever. The Committee has received similar feedback from other Senate offices about OLA’s performance, leading the Committee to question the efficacy of fully 

funding OLA’s budget. The Committee reminds DOJ that requests 

from the Congress to OLA should be treated as a priority for the 

Department and responded to both courteously and expeditiously. 

Guidance to Communities.—The Committee recognizes that it 

can be difficult for States and local communities recovering from 

terrorist attacks or State declarations of emergency to navigate 

varying Department of Justice program rules, requirements, and 

timelines. The Committee directs the Attorney General to ensure 

that the Office of Legislative Affairs maintains a comprehensive 

list of all grants made available by Departmental components, 

along with application periods and deadlines, and serves as a onestop shop for communities recovering from a terrorist attack or 

State-declared emergency situation. In addition, not later than 180 

days after enactment of this act, the Attorney General shall provide to Congress and make publically available a single guidance 

document for local communities that describes currently available 

DOJ programs, assistance, and points of contact for which local 

communities recovering from a terrorist attack or State declaration 

of emergency would be eligible. 

Internet Gambling.—Since 1961, the Wire Act has prohibited 

nearly all forms of gambling over interstate wires, including the 

Internet. However, beginning in 2011, certain States began to permit Internet gambling. The Committee notes that the Wire Act did 

not change in 2011. The Committee also notes that the Supreme 
60 

Court of the United States has stated that ‘‘criminal laws are for 

courts, not for the Government, to construe.’’ Abramski v. U.S., 134 

S.Ct. 2259, 2274 (2014) (internal citation omitted). 

JUSTICE INFORMATION SHARING TECHNOLOGY

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $31,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 57,561,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 50,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $50,000,000 for Justice Information Sharing Technology [JIST]. The recommendation 

is $19,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$7,561,000 below the budget request. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee’s recommendation supports the 

requested programmatic changes for Information Security Continuous Monitoring and the Insider Threat Prevention and Detection 

Program for a total increase of $10,600,000. This level of funding 

will allow DOJ to continue to proactively defend against and respond to current and emerging cybersecurity threats and attacks 

against DOJ’s network infrastructure. 

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND APPEALS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $426,791,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 437,444,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 426,791,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $426,791,000 for Administrative Review and Appeals, of which $4,000,000 is a transfer 

from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [USCIS] Immigration Examiners Fee Account. The recommendation is equal to 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $10,653,000 below the budget request. 

This account funds the Executive Office for Immigration Review 

[EOIR], including the Board of Immigration Appeals [BIA], immigration judges, and administrative law judges who decide through 

administrative hearings whether to admit or exclude aliens seeking 

to enter the country, and whether to deport or adjust the status of 

aliens whose status has been challenged. This account also funds 

the Office of the Pardon Attorney, which receives, investigates, and 

considers petitions for all forms of executive clemency. 

EOIR Backlog of Cases and Immigration Judge Hiring.—EOIR 

represents the Department’s frontline presence with respect to the 

application of immigration law. EOIR receives cases directly from 

Department of Homeland Security [DHS] enforcement personnel, in 

which the Federal Government is seeking the removal of immigrants who are in the United States without lawful status or who 

have committed some act, typically a criminal offense, that renders 

them removable. 

The Committee directs EOIR to continue submitting monthly 

performance and operating reports, which have provided the Committee with clear statistics on the dire situation at EOIR with regard to the backlog of cases and the hiring of new Immigration 
61 

Judge Teams to process them. EOIR’s immigration court caseload 

continues to escalate as a result of heightened border enforcement 

efforts. At the end of fiscal year 2015 there were over 457,000 cases 

pending in immigration courts around the country, and by the end 

of February 2016 the number of cases pending adjudication had 

risen to over 480,000. 

For fiscal year 2016, the Committee provided funding to hire 55 

new Immigration Judge Teams and to equip them with the necessary technology and support to do their jobs efficiently. The Committee is extremely disappointed to learn that despite the provision 

of these needed resources, the funds cannot be fully utilized in fiscal year 2016. The immigration judge hiring process remains severely backlogged due to a cumbersome process that is further delayed by the lethargy of the Department’s review procedures. 

Compounding the ongoing problem of the hiring backlog is the Administration’s failure to include a funding request for any new Immigration Judge Teams in fiscal year 2017. The Committee directs 

the Department to prioritize hiring new immigration judges, which 

is the only way to reverse the alarming growth in the caseload 

backlog. 

Training for Immigration Judges on Children’s Cases.—The 

Committee was deeply troubled to hear the recent comments of 

EOIR headquarters personnel that children as young as age 3 or 

4 can understand immigration law and court procedures. The Committee continues to direct that EOIR’s training for immigration 

judges should address how to properly adjudicate children’s cases, 

including forms of relief for children, how to elicit information from 

children, the impact of trauma on children, and other relevant 

child development issues. 

Legal Orientation Program [LOP].—The Committee’s recommendation maintains the fiscal year 2016 base funding for LOP, 

pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act 

of 2008 (Public Law 110–457), for custodians of unaccompanied, 

undocumented children to address the custodian’s responsibility for 

the child’s appearance at all immigration proceedings, and to protect the child from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking. 

Pardons and Sentence Commutations.—Regarding funding for 

the Office of the Pardon Attorney, the Committee prohibits the use 

of funding related to the review, consideration, or approval of clemency or pardon petitions as part of the Department’s April 23, 

2014, announcement on executive clemency requesting relief from 

convictions for gun crimes or crimes involving violence. The Committee reminds the Administration of the limitations contained in 

the Department’s April 2014 criteria for considering Federal inmates for the President’s initiative for executive clemency that limited consideration to non-violent individuals who would not pose a 

threat to public safety if released; low-level offenders without significant ties to large-scale criminal organizations, gangs, or cartels; 

inmates who do not have a significant criminal history; and those 

who have no history of violence prior to, or during, their current 

term of imprisonment. 
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OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $93,709,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 97,814,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 95,583,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $95,583,000 for the 

Office of Inspector General [OIG]. The recommendation is 

$1,874,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $2,231,000 

below the budget request. 

This account finances the activities of the OIG, including audits, 

inspections, investigations, and other reviews of programs and operations of the Department of Justice to promote efficiency and effectiveness, and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse, as 

well as violations of ethical standards arising from the conduct of 

Department employees in their numerous and diverse activities. 

Oversight of Crime Victims Fund Grants.—Section 510 of this act 

maintains $10,000,000 for the OIG to continue its expanded audits 

of the Crime Victims Fund [CVF]. The Committee remains concerned that the Department is not doing enough to proportionately 

adjust its grant monitoring activities to reflect significant changes 

in CVF spending in order to avoid waste, fraud and abuse. The 

Committee directs the OIG to continue to increase its audit of CVF 

awards and assist the Department to ensure these important funds 

are used appropriately and effectively. 

UNITED STATES PAROLE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $13,308,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 14,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 13,308,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $13,308,000 for the 

United States Parole Commission. The recommendation is equal to 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $692,000 below the budget 

request. 

Commissioner Continuity.—The Committee directs the Department to follow its fiscal year 2017 request allowing a Commissioner 

to continue to serve until a successor has been appointed, even if 

that Commissioner’s term of office has expired. The request 

matches language contained in division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–113). 

LEGAL ACTIVITIES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, GENERAL LEGAL ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $893,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 957,423,000 

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

The Committee’s recommendation provides $893,000,000 for General Legal Activities salaries and expenses. The recommendation is 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $64,423,000 below 

the budget request. 

This appropriation funds the establishment of litigation policy, 

conduct of litigation, and various other legal responsibilities 
63 

through the Office of the Solicitor General, the Tax Division, the 

Criminal Division [CRM], the Civil Division [CIV], the Environmental and Natural Resources Division, the Civil Rights Division 

[CRT], the Office of Legal Counsel, and INTERPOL Washington. 

INTERPOL Washington.—From within funds provided for General Legal Activities, the Committee directs the Department to provide no less than the fiscal year 2016 level for INTERPOL Washington. The Committee has provided no-year authority in the 

amount of $685,000 to ensure sufficient resources are available for 

INTERPOL Washington’s dues payments and help the Department 

better manage fluctuations in currency exchange rates. INTERPOL 

Washington’s command center [IOCC] operates 24 hours a day, 7 

days a week, 365 days a year, responding to requests for international criminal investigative and humanitarian assistance from 

more than 18,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies and their counterparts in 189 other INTERPOL-member countries. INTERPOL 

Washington’s responsibility to respond to increasing foreign and domestic requests places additional operational demands on the resources of this organization. 

Civil Rights.—The Committee provides no less than the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level to continue its efforts to enforce civil rights 

laws; expand its capacity to prosecute and provide litigation support for human trafficking, hate crimes, and unsolved civil rights 

era crimes; carry out its responsibilities associated with the civil 

rights of institutionalized persons and the access rights of the disabled; investigate and prosecute police misconduct; and enhance 

the enforcement of fair housing and fair lending laws. 

Civil Rights Violations in State and Local Prisons and Jails.— The Committee continues to be concerned by reports of civil rights 

violations in State and local prisons and jails, and directs the CRT 

to increase efforts to investigate and address violations of the Civil 

Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act in State and local prisons 

and jails. The Committee directs the CRT to use such sums as necessary from amounts appropriated in fiscal year 2017 to address 

such issues in State and local prisons and jails. 

Human Rights Crimes.—The Committee remains concerned by 

the large number of suspected human rights violators from foreign 

countries who have found safe haven in the United States and directs the CRM to continue its efforts to investigate and prosecute 

serious human rights crimes, including genocide, torture, use or recruitment of child soldiers, and war crimes. For this purpose, the 

Committee’s recommendation supports continued funding for the 

CRM to investigate and prosecute individuals who violate Federal 

laws regarding serious human rights abuses. 

International Training.—The Committee remains concerned 

about the instability of budget and staffing challenges faced by the 

Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and 

Training [OPDAT] and International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program [ICITAP] programs under the current 

funding structure provided via the Department of State. While the 

Committee encourages the Departments of Justice and State to 

maintain open communications regarding programmatic and resource needs to truly execute their missions, OPDAT and ICITAP 

should ideally receive a transfer of funds from State within 90 days 
64 

of enactment of this act. Should an immediate source of funding be 

needed ahead of a completed transfer of funds, the Committee suggests that the Department of Justice notify the Committee immediately. 

Protecting the Rights of Servicemembers and Veterans.—The 

Committee recognizes the importance of ensuring that 

servicemembers and veterans have access to essential legal resources that educate them and their families on their rights and 

defend them during times of need. The Committee supports funding this program at no less than the fiscal year 2016 level to continue to enforce existing law, such as the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and to provide outreach 

and training efforts on behalf of servicemembers, veterans, and 

their families. 

Enforcing Federal Animal Welfare Laws.—Animal cruelty violations were listed as separate violent crime offenses under the FBI’s 

Uniform Crime Reporting System in January 2016. Given the disturbing increase in this type of criminal behavior, the Committee 

supports the request to deter and enforce violations of Federal animal welfare laws. 

THE NATIONAL CHILDHOOD VACCINE INJURY ACT

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $9,358,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 11,970,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,358,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides a reimbursement of 

$9,358,000 for legal costs. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and is $2,612,000 below the budget request. 

This account covers the Department’s expenses associated with 

litigating cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 

1986 (Public Law 99–660). 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, ANTITRUST DIVISION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $164,977,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 180,506,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 164,977,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $164,977,000 for the 

Antitrust Division. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and $15,529,000 below the budget request. This 

appropriation is offset by $125,000,000 in pre-merger filing fee collections, resulting in a direct appropriation of $39,977,000. 

UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $2,000,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,074,402,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,030,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $2,030,000,000 for 

the Executive Office for United States Attorneys [EOUSA] and the 

94 U.S. Attorneys [USAs] offices. The recommendation is 

$30,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$44,402,000 below the budget request. 
65 

As in past years, the Committee directs the USAs to focus their 

efforts on those crimes where the unique resources, expertise, or jurisdiction of the Federal Government can be most effective. 

Adam Walsh Act Implementation.—The Committee expects the 

EOUSA to continue to focus on investigations and prosecutions related to the sexual exploitation of children, as authorized by the 

Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 

109–248), and as part of Project Safe Childhood. The recommendation fully funds the budget request of $46,378,000 for this purpose 

in fiscal year 2017. 

Combating Financial and Mortgage Fraud.—The Committee directs the EOUSA to provide no less than the fiscal year 2016 level 

to conduct criminal investigations and prosecutions of mortgage 

and financial fraud, predatory lending, financial fraud, and market 

manipulation matters. 

Civil Rights Prosecutions.—The Committee’s recommendation 

provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 level for continued civil 

rights enforcement that will advance both criminal and civil litigations, including the prosecution of sex and labor trafficking. 

Cybercrime.—As national and international cyber threats become 

increasingly sophisticated, our Federal prosecutors must become 

better versed in digital forensic evidence. The Committee’s recommendation provides no less than $58,331,000, which is 

$2,666,000 above the budget request, for cybercrime activities. The 

USAO will be able to increase the number of investigations and 

prosecutions of cyber attacks and cyber intrusions, and provide the 

high-caliber level of training on cybercrime and digital evidence 

needed for Assistant U.S. Attorneys to be able to analyze and 

present digital evidence across all types of criminal cases. 

The Committee does not support proposed funding cuts for Intellectual Property and Child Pornography activities, and instead directs USAO to provide no less than the fiscal year 2016 funding 

level for prosecution of these cyber-related crimes. 

National Advocacy Center.—While the Committee remains disappointed that a change in circumstances resulted in Project Palmetto not becoming a reality as envisioned, it commends the two 

parties for coming to a mutually amicable resolution. The Committee is also aware of the need to address outstanding administrative adjustment issues related to Palmetto and encourages the parties to quickly conclude those discussions. 

UNITED STATES TRUSTEE SYSTEM FUND

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $225,908,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 229,717,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 225,908,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $225,908,000 for the 

U.S. Trustee System Fund. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $3,809,000 below the budget request. The appropriation is offset by $163,000,000 in fee collections. 

The U.S. Trustee Program, authorized by 28 U.S.C. 581 et seq., 

is the component of the Department with responsibility for protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case 

administration and litigation to enforce the bankruptcy laws. In fis-
66 

cal year 2017, the U.S. Trustee Program will participate in an estimated 685,000 business and consumer bankruptcy case filings. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, FOREIGN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT COMMISSION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $2,374,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,409,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,374,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $2,374,000 for the 

Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. The recommendation is 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $35,000 below the 

budget request. 

The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission settles claims of 

American citizens arising from nationalization, expropriation, or 

other takings of their properties and interests by foreign governments. 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF WITNESSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $270,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 270,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 270,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $270,000,000 for fees 

and expenses of witnesses. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

This appropriation, which is considered mandatory for 

scorekeeping purposes, provides for fees and expenses of witnesses 

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

United States is a party, including fact and expert witnesses. These 

funds are also used for mental competency examinations, and witness and informant protection. The Committee includes bill language prohibiting the Department from transferring funds out of 

this account. 

The Committee expects that no funds will be expended for expert 

witness services, including the payment of fees and expenses of expert witnesses, from any other DOJ accounts but Fees and Expenses of Witnesses. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $14,446,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 18,990,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 14,446,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $14,446,000 for the 

Community Relations Service [CRS]. The recommendation is equal 

to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $4,544,000 below the 

budget request. 

The Community Relations Service, established by title X of the 

Civil Rights Act of 1964, provides assistance to communities and 

persons in the prevention and resolution of disagreements arising 

from discriminatory practices. 

Hate Crimes Prevention.—Within the funds provided, the Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 level to handle the 

workload and responsibilities stemming from passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act 
67 

[HCPA] (Public Law 111–84). The HCPA expanded the CRS’s mandate, requiring that it help communities prevent and respond to 

violent hate crimes committed on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability, in addition to race, 

color, and national origin. This funding will maximize the CRS crisis response nationwide and enable CRS to fulfill both its original 

mandate and expanded mandate under the HCPA. 

ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $20,514,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 20,514,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 20,514,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $20,514,000 for the 

Assets Forfeiture Fund [AFF]. The recommendation is equal to the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

Equitable Sharing.—The Department’s AFF provides for qualifying expenses of Federal law enforcement agencies and their State 

and local partners based on assets seized, including as part of 

criminal and counternarcotic investigations. The Committee was 

concerned by the unexpected suspension of reimbursements to 

States and localities through the AFF in December 2015. This abrupt suspension of reimbursements through AFF, coupled with the 

increased demands on law enforcement including those of the heroin and opioid crisis, put some State and local law enforcement 

agencies in a difficult financial position. The Department is directed to provide to the Committee advanced notice of at least 10 

business days regarding any future changes to the Equitable Sharing Program. 

UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $2,699,995,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,789,165,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,713,454,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides a total of 

$2,713,454,000 for the United States Marshals Service [USMS]. 

The recommendation is $13,459,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and is $75,711,000 below the budget request. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $1,230,581,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,275,156,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,249,040,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,249,040,000 for 

USMS salaries and expenses. The recommendation is $18,459,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $26,116,000 below the 

budget request. The core missions of the USMS include the apprehension of fugitives; protection of the Federal judiciary and witnesses; execution of warrants and court orders; and the custody 

and transportation of unsentenced prisoners. 

In addition to receiving direct appropriations, the Committee is 

aware that USMS also receives funding from the Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund [AFF] to augment salaries and expenses that 

are intended to directly administer AFF-related activities like the 
68 

management and sale of forfeited assets. In an effort to increase 

transparency to USMS’s use of AFF funding, the Department is directed to provide the Committee with quarterly reports that include: a detailed list of USMS’s AFF expenditures; the number of 

Federal employees and contractor staff, including the assigned division for each, for any personnel expenses using AFF funds; and justifications for each expenditure, including connections with AFF-related operations. 

Implementation of International Megan’s Law.—In 2009, to fulfill 

the mission assigned it by the Adam Walsh and Child Protection 

Safety Act of 2006, the USMS established the National Sex Offender Targeting Center [NSOTC]. The mission of the NSOTC is to 

serve as an interagency intelligence and operations center supporting the identification, investigation, location, apprehension, and 

prosecution of non-compliant, unregistered fugitive sex offenders. 

In February 2016, Congress passed, and the President signed, 

International Megan’s Law (Public Law 114–119), which granted 

new authorities to the USMS regarding registered sex offenders. 

This new law, among other things, directs the USMS to alert foreign governments when registered sex offenders plan to travel 

abroad in an effort to prevent further victimization of children. 

Within the amount provided, the USMS shall dedicate not less than $5,000,000 to fulfill the critical role of vetting and providing 

notification of sex offenders traveling abroad, including dedicating 

Deputy U.S. Marshals to this new mission. The Committee expects 

that the funds provided herein will be used to enhance the USMS’s 

NSOTC role as detailed in the International Megan’s Law including, providing advanced notice of travel by registered sex offenders 

to destination countries using the INTERPOL notification system; 

coordinating communication and enforcement between the newly 

established Angel Watch Center within the Department of Homeland Security and the NSOTC to carry out the required checks of 

State sex offender registries, advanced notices of international 

travel by registered offenders, the Angel Watch Center notifications 

of covered sex offenders, and flight manifests; and streamlining the 

international notification system to ensure that no registered sex 

offenders go ‘‘un-noticed’’ when leaving the United States. 

Regional Fugitive Task Forces [RFTFs].—The oldest Federal law 

enforcement agency, the USMS, is also the Federal Government’s 

primary agency for apprehending fugitives and providing assistance and expertise to other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in support of fugitive investigations. One key way to 

accomplish this dangerous task is through the USMS’s network of 

60 district-led Violent Offender Task Forces and seven RFTFs. 

The Committee supports the USMS’s request of $7,650,000 to establish an additional RFTF in the location proposed in the fiscal 

year 2017 budget request, including the hiring of Deputy U.S. Marshals and other personnel to fully staff the RFTF. With this new 

RFTF, the USMS expects it will be able to locate and arrest the 

most egregious offenders, and help reduce violent crime within our 

communities, including an anticipated increased arrest rate of at 

least 840 violent fugitives. Should the Department need additional 

resources to fully fund this effort, funding from unobligated balances should be used. 
69 

Gang Enforcement.—The Committee recognizes the need to reduce gang crime by apprehending violent fugitives. Within the 

amount provided in the budget request, the USMS shall dedicate 

no less than $5,000,000 to operate anti-gang investigative units 

within the RFTFs, including supporting the supervisory, operational, equipment, and training needs of these units, in order to 

target gangs of national significance. 

Sex Offender Apprehension.—The Adam Walsh Child Protection 

and Safety Act of 2006 [AWA] (Public Law 109–248) gives the 

USMS the authority to apprehend convicted sex offenders who fail 

to register as fugitives. The act also directs the USMS to assist jurisdictions in locating and apprehending these individuals. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides not less than the requested amount of $61,305,000 to continue AWA enforcement. 

While the USMS is a leading DOJ agency conducting AWA-related 

activities, the Committee notes that the administration requests 

$188,116,000 throughout the Department to support the entire 

suite of AWA enforcement, prosecutions, and nationwide grants, 

which the Committee supports. 

CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $15,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 10,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 10,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $10,000,000 for construction in space controlled, occupied, or utilized by the USMS in 

Federal courthouses and buildings, including but not limited to the 

creation, renovation, and expansion of prisoner movement areas, 

elevators, and other law enforcement and court security support 

space. The recommendation is $5,000,000 below the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

FEDERAL PRISONER DETENTION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $1,454,414,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,504,009,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,454,414,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,454,414,000 for 

Federal Prisoner Detention [FPD]. The recommendation is equal to 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level including offsetting funds from 

other accounts and is $49,595,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee expects the USMS to anticipate the true funding 

needs for this account in order to avoid funding shortfalls and the 

need for emergency reprogrammings to avert deficiencies. The 

Committee directs the USMS to report to the Committee on a quarterly basis the current number of individuals in the detention system, the projected number of individuals, and the associated 

annualized costs. 
70 

NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $95,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 97,337,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 95,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $95,000,000 for the 

National Security Division [NSD]. The recommendation is equal to 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $2,337,000 below the budget 

request. 

The NSD coordinates the Department’s national security and 

counterterrorism missions through law enforcement investigations 

and prosecutions, and handles counterespionage cases. The NSD 

works in coordination with the FBI, the Intelligence Community, 

and the U.S. Attorneys. Its primary function is to prevent acts of 

terrorism and espionage from being perpetrated in the United 

States by foreign powers. 

Combating Cyber Threats to National Security.—The Committee’s recommendation provides not less than the fiscal year 2016 

level for cybersecurity activities within the NSD for investigative, 

prosecutorial, intelligence collection, and oversight abilities that 

support the Intelligence Community in identifying and disrupting 

cyber threats to national security. 

INTERAGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT

INTERAGENCY CRIME AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $512,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 522,135,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 512,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $512,000,000 for 

Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement. The recommendation is 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $10,135,000 below 

the budget request. 

The Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement account funds the 

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces [OCDETF], 

which is the centerpiece of the Department’s drug enforcement and 

counternarcotics efforts. The mission of the OCDETF is to ensure 

a coordinated, multi-agency, intelligence-based, and prosecutor-led 

approach to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling those drug 

trafficking and money laundering organizations primarily responsible for the Nation’s illicit drug supply and drug-related violence. 

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $8,489,786,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 8,718,884,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 8,617,133,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $8,617,133,000 for 

the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] salaries and expenses. 
71 

The recommendation is $127,347,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $101,751,000 below the budget request. 

Criminal Justice Information Services [CJIS].—The Committee 

recommends the full funding request for CJIS including fee collections. The recommendation provides up to $121,081,000, the same 

as the requested level, for the FBI to continue improvements to the 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System [NICS] to increase the capacity and efficiency of the existing NICS system to 

perform background checks on prospective firearms buyers. 

Cybersecurity.—The FBI remains the only agency with the statutory authority, expertise, and ability to combine counterterrorism, 

counterintelligence, and criminal investigatory resources to neutralize, mitigate, and disrupt illegal computer-supported operations 

domestically. The Committee supports the requested $17,950,000 

adjustments-to-base increase for cybersecurity activities throughout 

the FBI. In addition, the Committee supports the programmatic increases of $43,075,000 at the Cyber Division as part of the Bureau’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its cyber capabilities and investigations including those into ransomware attacks against institutions such as hospitals. 

Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center [TEDAC].—The 

Committee continues to view TEDAC as a critical resource in combating the global threat posed by terrorist use of explosives and in 

sharing Improvised Explosive Devices [IED] threat information and 

intelligence. As such, the Committee’s recommendation provides 

$61,700,000 of full operational funding to TEDAC in fiscal year 

2017, which the administration proposed to partially cut in the 

budget request. This funding will continue to strengthen the role 

of TEDAC as the U.S. Government’s strategic-level improvised explosive device exploitation center and provide the resources necessary to staff the new facility as it comes online. Associated with TEDAC, the Committee provides $1,700,000 for 

additional operational support associated with the counter-IED 

campus encompassing TEDAC, Hazardous Devices School Weapons 

of Mass Destruction Directorate, and other FBI operations co-located together. Funding will be used for the operations of an inprocessing center for FBI employees, official visitors, and students 

attending training, as well as support for the project management 

office. 

Hazardous Devices School [HDS].—HDS is the sole U.S. Government entity for accrediting and certifying U.S. public safety bomb 

squads and bomb technicians. The Committee notes that the FBI 

and the Department of the Army have completed a staffing transition at HDS that maintains the instruction and increases operational efficiencies and effectiveness at the school. The Committee 

does not support the budget request to cut HDS and instead reinstates full funding for operations provided in fiscal year 2016. 

Ballistic Research Facility.—The Committee supports the relocation of the Ballistic Research Facility, which had to move due to 

facility limitations at the FBI Academy grounds. The recommendation provides $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 level for additional staff and equipment for the new facility’s operations. 

Human Rights Violations.—The Committee directs the FBI to 

continue its efforts to investigate and support the DOJ’s criminal 
72 

prosecution of serious human rights crimes committed by foreign 

nationals, including genocide, torture, use or recruitment of child 

soldiers, and war crimes. The Committee’s recommendation continues funding this effort at the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

Innocent Images National Initiative.—The Committee’s recommendation provides $79,114,000 for the Innocent Images National Initiative, which is $886,000 above the requested level, allowing the FBI to target and investigate sexual predators on the 

Internet. This funding will address the critical requirements for 

Federal law enforcement in targeting child sexual exploitation and 

child victimization. The Committee is concerned that the proposed 

reductions to the base program are insufficient to cover the current 

Innocent Images caseload. 

FBI Specialized Fleet Issues.—As the FBI has diverse investigatory missions, the Committee understands there are subsequent 

unique needs for vehicle purchases to appropriately assist with investigations. The FBI is directed to report to the Committee on any 

policy or legislative barriers to obtaining the necessary vehicles, including recommended changes to policy or law. 

CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $308,982,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 783,482,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 833,982,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $833,982,000 for FBI construction. The recommendation is $525,000,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $50,500,000 above the budget request. 

FBI Headquarters Consolidation.—The Committee expects the 

FBI and the General Services Administration [GSA] to continue to 

coordinate closely on moving forward in a timely and transparent 

way with the full consolidation of FBI Headquarters. Consolidation 

is critical to an FBI workforce that is currently dispersed between 

the J. Edgar Hoover building and approximately 13 leased offices 

in the National Capital region. The Committee supports the administration’s request of $646,000,000 within the FBI’s Construction 

account to build a new FBI Headquarters facility that will provide 

the operational work environment necessary for the FBI to be successful in performing its national security, intelligence, and criminal investigative missions. 

21st Century Facilities.—The Committee is aware that as the 

FBI prepares to transition to a new headquarters, the Bureau is 

developing a strategic plan for its facilities that establishes a longterm vision to improve its operations, taking into consideration its 

changing footprint at Quantico. In drafting the plan, the FBI has 

sought to identify missions, workforce, and land requirements to 

secure space for supporting a variety of functions. The Committee 

supports the FBI’s vision for the strategic plan, and encourages the 

Bureau to formalize its concepts into a multi-year phased proposal. 

In the meantime, the Committee supports the FBI’s near-term 

facility plans to better leverage current agency investments in the 

co-location of TEDAC, HDS, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate [WMDD] explosives-related training operations. The Committee provides $75,500,000 to complete the FBI’s project development currently underway in this field so as to continue trans-
73 

forming the campus into a key government research and development center. Such facilities should include: phase 4 of TEDAC’s Explosives Technical Laboratory, mobile deployment trailers pad, 

warehouse for response vehicles, and forensic explosives test range; 

further HDS range modernizations; base infrastructure improvements and in-processing entry control; interim Regional Computer 

Forensic Laboratory and Training Facility; and defense systems 

unit facility. 

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $2,451,514,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,485,638,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,485,638,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides total resources of $2,485,638,000 for the Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA], of 

which $382,662,000 is derived from the DEA’s Drug Diversion Control Fee Account. The recommendation is $34,124,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the same as the budget request. 

The DEA’s mission is to enforce the controlled substances laws 

and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and 

civil justice system of the United States—or any other competent 

jurisdiction—those organizations and principal members of organizations involved in the growing, manufacturing, or distribution of 

controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in 

the United States; and to support non-enforcement programs aimed 

at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the 

domestic and international markets. 

Heroin Enforcement Groups.—As the DEA’s 2015 National Drug 

Threat Assessment notes, heroin and the illegal use of prescription 

drugs are now the most significant drug threats in the United 

States. To combat this growing threat, the Committee provides 

$12,500,000 to the DEA for the creation of four new enforcement 

groups concentrated on targeting, disrupting, and dismantling heroin trafficking. 

Diversion Control Program.—Full funding of $382,662,000 is provided for the Diversion Control Program, which is an increase of 

$11,148,000 from the fiscal year 2016 enacted level for expanded 

forensic support of diversion cases and is fully offset with fee collections. 

Drug Diversion at Veterans Health Administration Facilities.— 

The Committee remains alarmed by the rates of prescription drug 

opioid abuse and related overdoses among veterans, as well as allegations of diversion of prescription opioids from Veterans Health 

Administration [VHA] facilities into the illicit drug market. The notion that VHA facilities are a source for the illicit distribution and 

use of opioids is extremely concerning, and the Committee directs 

the DEA to ensure that investigations of drug diversion in VHA facilities remain a priority and that sufficient resources are allocated 

for these efforts from the funds appropriated for its operations. The 

Committee anticipates reviewing the reports regarding drug diversion investigations involving the VHA, as requested in Senate Report 114–66. 
74 

Cooperation with State and Local Forensic Crime Laboratory 

Community.—The Committee encourages the DEA to collaborate 

and share any available resources with State and local forensic 

crime laboratories in their important efforts to combat the growing 

use of synthetic, or designer, drugs. 

Medical Registration Coordination.—The Committee directs the 

Attorney General to coordinate with the Secretary of Health and 

Human Services to take additional steps to limit the over-prescribing of opioids by medical practitioners and clearly identify how 

the DEA can help to regulate registrations for the dispensing of 

controlled substances based on this criterion. Not later than 90 

days after enactment of this act, both the Departments of Justice 

and Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee a 

plan for moving forward on this effort, including ways for medical 

professionals to demonstrate, via certification to the DEA, that 

they have obtained training in proper prescribing of schedule II 

controlled substances, including pain management, and the prevention and treatment of addiction. 

Implementation and Compliance with Recent Law.—The Committee urges the DEA to promptly implement Public Law 114–89, 

the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies 

Act, which streamlines DEA ’s approval process for drugs that fall 

under the Controlled Substances Act by creating a specific timeline 

for the DEA to schedule certain controlled substances. The Committee directs that the DEA report to the Committee within 180 

days of the enactment of this act on its efforts to implement Public 

Law 114–89, including logistical or resource constraints. The DEA 

is urged to continue efforts to improve communication and transparency with stakeholders regarding its prescription drug diversion 

efforts. 

The Committee also directs the DEA to report to the Committee 

within 180 days of the enactment of this act on its efforts to implement Public Law 113–260, the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control 

Act of 2014, which was enacted on December 14, 2014. 

Cybersecurity.—Within the funding provided, the Committee supports the budget request to increase cybersecurity activities at DEA 

by $7,763,000, for a total of $30,602,000, which includes improving 

DEA’s internal network defenses and investigating and monitoring 

online pharmacies. 

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $1,240,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,306,063,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,258,600,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,258,600,000 for 

the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF]. 

The recommendation is $18,600,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $47,463,000 below the budget request. ATF has diverse law enforcement responsibilities, and the funding increase is 

provided to allow ATF to carry out these duties and to fill vacant 

existing positions. 
75 

The ATF reduces the criminal use of firearms and illegal firearms trafficking, and assists other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in reducing crime and violence. The ATF investigates bombing and arson incidents and assists with improving 

public safety by reducing the criminal misuse of and trafficking in 

explosives, combating acts of arson and arson-for-profit schemes, 

and removing safety hazards caused by improper and unsafe storage of explosive materials. 

Combating Gun Violence and Enforcing Existing Gun Laws.— The Committee’s recommendation maintains ATF’s ability to enforce existing firearms laws and perform regulatory oversight and 

training, including the National Integrated Ballistics Information 

Network [NIBIN]. This will enable the ATF to continue to collect, 

report, and share ballistic intelligence with Federal, State, local 

and tribal law enforcement partners to identify, target, and disrupt 

violent criminals, including serial shooters. Funds will support 

work with State and local law enforcement agencies and laboratories to collect ballistic hit information to provide leads to Firearms Intelligence Groups for investigations and document successful prosecutions as a result of NIBIN. 

United States Bomb Data Center.—The Committee is encouraged 

by ATF’s recent announcement that it is permanently moving the 

U.S. Bomb Data Center [USBDC] to the National Center for Explosives Training and Research, which will effectively combine the 

three components of explosives research, training, and information 

sharing in one location. DOJ has designated the Bomb Arson 

Tracking System [BATS] repository maintained at the USBDC as 

the sole repository for explosives incidents, and has directed all 

DOJ components to use this system to document explosives-related 

incidents. The Committee believes that the USBDC will be more 

productive with regular input and analysis from multiple agencies. 

The Committee encourages ATF to work with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Bombing Prevention to 

make space available for any analysts or agents from those agencies who may be assigned to the USBDC to increase Federal collaboration on bomb information. 

United States-Mexico Firearms Trafficking.—The Committee continues to support the ATF’s efforts to combat weapon trafficking on 

the border. The ATF shall continue to provide the Committee with 

annual data on the total number of firearms recovered by the Government of Mexico, and of those, the number for which an ATF 

trace is attempted, the number successfully traced, and the number 

determined to have originated in the United States prior to being 

recovered in Mexico. 

National Center for Explosives Training and Research 

[NCETR].—The Committee supports the enhancements at NCETR, 

including additional advanced explosives disposal techniques 

courses for public safety bomb technicians. Given that NCETR 

serves as the Bureau’s Center of Excellence for arson and explosives training, the Committee supports co-locating the Bureau’s canine training operations for explosives and accelerant detection at 

NCETR in fiscal year 2017 and directs ATF to provide details on 

the merger as part of the Department’s spending plan. The Committee also supports NCETR’s research expertise and encourages 
76 

further investigations into the functions and effects of explosive devices in order to better exploit design weaknesses. Within the increased funds provided for ATF in fiscal year 2017, up to 

$2,500,000 may be made available for an advanced counter explosive device research program focusing on hypervelocity impact and 

hypervelocity flight dynamics. 

FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM

The Committee’s recommendation provides a total of $7,094,222,000 for the Federal Prison System, or the Bureau of 

Prisons [BOP]. The recommendation is $386,978,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $207,725,000 below the budget request. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $6,948,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 7,186,225,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 6,978,500,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $6,978,500,000 for BOP salaries and expenses. The recommendation is $30,000,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $207,725,000 below 

the budget request. The Committee supports the Department’s request to increase funding for BOP’s cybersecurity, including improving network defenses and mitigating insider threats. 

Augmentation.—Although the overall Federal inmate population 

has declined from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2016, overcrowding 

remains a serious threat to officer safety, particularly at high and 

medium security facilities which are overcrowded at rates of 45 

percent and 28 percent, respectively. To meet staffing needs, the 

BOP routinely uses 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 instead hire additional full-time correctional staff before 

continuing to augment existing staff. BOP is further directed to 

submit quarterly reports to the Committee on the inmate-to-correctional officer ratios at each facility. 

Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions.—The Committee 

supports the continued efforts to sustain the addition of correctional officers for each housing unit at high security institutions to 

ensure that no officer has to work alone. This will allow all BOP 

high security institutions to have at least two correctional officers 

on duty in each housing unit for all three shifts. BOP is directed 

to submit quarterly reports to the Committee showing compliance 

and provide a strategic plan for implementation for any high security institution that has not activated the second officer within 90 

days of enactment of this act. 

Alleviating Overcrowding at High Security Facilities.—The overcrowding rate at high-security prisons continues to remain high at 

45 percent. The Committee supports BOP’s efforts to alleviate overcrowding at high security facilities through the process of opening 

additional prisons. The Committee expects the BOP to adhere to 

the activation schedule included in the BOP’s budget submission 
77 

regarding these prison facilities, including the new U.S. Penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois. The BOP shall notify the Committee of 

any deviations from this schedule. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment Pilot Expansion.—The Committee 

supports the request of $1,000,000 for the BOP to continue the 

medication-assisted treatment pilot program for inmates with heroin and opioid addiction. This voluntary pilot program will treat 

approximately 200 inmates. 

Federal Detainers.—In an effort to ensure that criminal aliens 

are not improperly released into our communities, the Committee 

directs the BOP to offer Immigration and Customs Enforcement 

[ICE] the first opportunity to take into custody and remove an individual with a Federal detainer instead of BOP and ICE automatically deferring to States and municipalities who are seeking custody of the same individual. ICE’s decision to exercise this right of 

first refusal with BOP will be informed, in part, by the State or 

municipality’s willingness to cooperate with Federal authorities on 

ICE detainers. 

International Prisoner Transfer Program.—The Committee is interested in the Department’s effective use and administration of 

the International Prisoner Transfer Program, which permits certain foreign national inmates from treaty nations to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home countries. While the BOP 

has made efforts to improve its utilization of this program after a 

2011 review by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General, the Committee is disappointed that the program remains significantly 

underused. Increasing the number of foreign national inmates 

transferred out of BOP facilities to their home countries could result in considerable cost savings. 

The BOP, in coordination with the Criminal Division, is directed 

to submit a report to the Committee not later than 90 days after 

enactment of this act detailing how the International Prisoner 

Transfer Program is currently being administered, including: methods for educating eligible foreign national inmates about the program, the estimated number of currently eligible foreign national 

inmates compared to the number of applicants, the process for approving transfers, the number of prisoner transfers in the previous 

5 fiscal years, the corresponding countries to which prisoners were 

transferred, and the long-term cost savings this program has 

achieved for BOP along with projected cost savings if the program 

were operating at full capacity. 

The Committee continues to await the overdue submission of this 

report as directed by Senate Report 114–66 and requests its immediate submission. 

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $530,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 113,022,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 113,022,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $113,022,000 for the 

construction, modernization, maintenance, and repair of prison and 

detention facilities housing Federal prisoners. The recommendation 

is $416,978,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal 

to the budget request. 
78 

The Committee includes bill language in Title V—General Provisions stipulating that no BOP resources may be used for facilities 

to house detainees from the United States Naval Station, 

Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

Reporting.—The Committee believes that the consideration of 

any new facility or facility expansion should be based upon a longterm strategic plan which incorporates a robust capital planning 

process including leading capital planning practices as outlined in 

OMB and GAO guidance. The Committee directs the BOP to continue providing quarterly reports to the Committee on the progress 

of its efforts, including funding for new prison construction if merited in future requests. 

The Committee also directs the BOP to continue providing the 

Committee with the most recent monthly status of construction report, and to notify the Committee of any deviations from the construction and activation schedule identified in that report, including detailed explanations of the causes of delays and actions proposed to address them. 

FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

(LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $2,700,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,700,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,700,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides a limitation on the 

administrative expenses of $2,700,000 for the Federal Prison Industries, Inc. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and the budget request. 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

In total, the Committee recommends $4,937,449,000 for State 

and local law enforcement and crime prevention grant programs, 

including: $1,980,449,000 in discretionary appropriations and in 

mandatory appropriations, and $2,957,000,000 from funds provided 

under section 510 of this act. The total is $300,511,000 below the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $812,949,000 above the budget 

estimate. 

Management and Administration Expenses.—The Department 

shall, in preparing its fiscal year 2017 spending plan, assess management and administration [M&A] expenses compared to program 

funding. The Committee directs the Department to ensure that its 

assessment methodology is equitable and, for programs funded 

through the Crime Victims Fund, that the assessment reflects a 

fair representation of the share of each program devoted to common M&A costs. The Committee also directs grant offices to minimize administrative spending in order to maximize the amount of 

funding that can be used for grants or training and technical assistance. The Committee reiterates the direction provided in Public 

Law 113–76 that the Department shall detail, as part of its budget 

submission for fiscal year 2018 and future years, the actual costs 

for each grant office with respect to training, technical assistance, 

research and statistics, and peer review for the prior fiscal year, 

along with estimates of planned expenditures by each grant office 
79 

in each of these categories for the current year and the budget 

year. 

Compliance with Federal Laws.—The Committee directs the Department to ensure that all applicants for Edward Byrne Memorial 

Justice Assistance Grants [Byrne JAG], Community Oriented Policing Services [COPS] grants, and State Criminal Alien Assistance 

Program [SCAAP] funds are required to attest and certify that the 

potential grant recipients are in compliance with all applicable 

Federal laws, and shall be required to continue to remain compliant throughout the duration of their grant award period as the Attorney General has testified before this Committee. 

Prudence in Budget Proposals for Grant Programs.—Many of the 

initiatives proposed by the Department come at the expense of effective existing grant programs which currently serve our communities, including State and local law enforcement, well. Such proposals put the Committee in an untenable position in a fiscal environment of limited funding resources. As virtually all of the new 

programs proposed for funding have never been authorized or previously vetted by Congress, the Committee is left to choose between 

well-established grant programs and new ideas which are untested. 

The Committee reminds the Department to work more closely with 

the appropriate congressional committees to seriously consider the 

modification or omission of existing outdated programs before new 

proposals and initiatives are unveiled. 

Duplication of DOJ Grant Programs.—The Committee believes 

that, as the Federal budget continues to experience fiscal constraints, there is an ever-increasing need to ensure that governmental resources, including those awarded through grants and subgrants, are appropriately targeted and that unnecessary duplication is mitigated. Recent GAO reports have found that, as established in statute, some of the grant programs administered by the 

Office of Justice Programs [OJP], Office on Violence Against 

Women [OVW], and the COPS Office are similar in scope and grant 

applicants can apply for and receive grant awards from more than 

one program. Moreover, grant recipients may choose to award a 

portion of their grant to subgrantees. These subgrantees may also 

apply directly to Justice for funding through other grant programs 

for the same or similar purposes. 

Yet, the Department’s ability to characterize the landscape of potential duplicative programs and overlapping award opportunities 

remains unsatisfactory. This was evident during the Committee’s 

February 25, 2016, hearing on DOJ’s fiscal year 2017 budget request, when a Committee member noted that the Department’s recent efforts to follow Committee direction from the fiscal year 2016 

act to report duplications in Justice grants resulted in a paltry 

three page document of very general statements with no real detail. A more comprehensive report on duplication is clearly needed. 

Therefore, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committee within 120 days of enactment of this act that includes the 

following: 

—An assessment to better understand the extent to which DOJ 

grant programs overlap with one another along with a determination as to whether grant programs should be consolidated to mitigate the risk of unnecessary duplication. To the extent that DOJ 
80 

identifies any statutory obstacles to consolidating its grant programs, it should work with Congress to address them, as needed; 

and 

—Direction given to granting agencies to coordinate with one 

another on a consistent basis to review potential or recent grant 

awards, including subgrant awards reported by DOJ prime grant 

awardees, to the extent possible, before awarding grants. This 

could help ensure an accurate understanding of DOJ resources already provided to applicants and the communities they serve, as 

well as knowledge of those applicants proposing to carry out the 

same or similar activities with funds from one or more of the granting agencies’ programs. The Department should also take steps to 

establish written policies and procedures to govern this coordination and help ensure that it occurs. 

Grant Funding Set-Asides.—The Committee notes the significant 

number of reductions in grant funding allowable for various purposes, including training, technical assistance, research, evaluation 

and statistics activities with set-asides ranging anywhere from 2 

percent to 10 percent of total grant funding provided. To that end, 

the Committee directs the Department to continue providing a 

comprehensive report concurrently with the spending plan that details the total amount provided for each grant program in this act, 

the specific reductions taken, the purpose for those reductions and 

the final use of those resources, including any transfers that may 

occur within OJP, OVW, and COPS. The Committee expects that 

the report will provide a complete analysis of the final amounts externally awarded and the amounts retained internally for other 

purposes. 

Grant Funds for Rural, High Poverty Areas.—The Committee is 

concerned about the needs of rural, high poverty areas, especially 

those communities with high crime rates. The Committee wants to 

ensure that the challenges encountered by the residents of these 

areas are being addressed through the equitable use of grant funding. The Committee reminds the Department to keep the unique 

needs of rural, high poverty communities in mind when making 

grant awards through the numerous programs funded under this 

act. 

Performance Partnership Pilots.—The bill includes language permitting OJP to participate, with other Federal agencies, in the Performance Partnership Pilot program authorized in division H of 

Public Law 113–76 and division G of Public Law 113–235. Performance Partnership Pilots take an evidence-based approach to better 

serve disconnected youth in our communities. The Committee supports innovative efforts to coordinate programs across the Federal 

Government that serve these young people. Nonetheless, the Department must remain accountable for the proper use and effectiveness of its grant funds. The proposal for these pilots states that 

outcome-focused criteria will be used as part of the evaluation process. In addition, jurisdictions receiving funding will be held accountable to a set of cross-agency, data-driven outcomes and interventions will be measured and rigorously evaluated using real-time 

performance and outcome data. 

The Department’s Office of Inspector General should continue to 

coordinate with the Inspectors General of other participating de-
81 

partments and agencies to ensure timely audits and oversight of 

these funds. 

Trauma-Informed Training.—The Committee encourages the Department’s grant making agencies to focus on efforts to provide specialized trauma-informed training in responding to, and investigating, sexual assault, including forensic interviewing and evidence-gathering techniques and trauma-informed investigative 

skills. The goal is to increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies whose officers may come into contact with survivors of sexual 

assault, including survivors of sexual assault on college campuses, 

and to help ensure law enforcement resources are made available 

in an appropriate and timely manner. 

Submission of Officer Training Information.—The Committee directs the Department to continue following direction provided in 

fiscal year 2016 regarding the submission of officer training data 

as part of the Byrne-JAG and COPS hiring grant process. 

Office for Victims of Crime Final Rulemaking.—While the deadline for public comment to the Office for Victims of Crime’s proposed rulemaking on changes to Victim Assistance formula grants 

was October 28, 2013 [28 CFR Part 94], no final regulations have 

been announced nearly 3 years later. The Committee requests an 

expeditious closure to this review and publication of a final rulemaking. Unserved and underserved victim service areas such as 

tribal communities; human, sex, and labor trafficking victims; and 

exonerees should be given consideration for covered purpose areas 

of victim assistance. 

OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION

PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $480,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 1 489,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2 481,500,000 

1Of the $489,000,000 provided in this heading, $326,000,000 is requested to be derived from 

funding available under section 510 of this act. 2Of the $481,500,000 provided in this heading, $102,500,000 is provided in direct appropriations and $379,000,000 is derived by transfer from amounts available for obligation in this Act 

from the Fund established by section 1402 of chapter XIV of title II of Public Law 98–473 (42 

U.S.C. 10601), notwithstanding section 1402(d) of such act of 1984. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $481,500,000 for 

OVW grants. The recommendation is $1,500,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level, and $7,500,000 below the budget request. 

Resources are provided to the OVW to respond to the needs of all 

victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and 

stalking, including, but not limited to, Native women, immigrants, 

LGBT victims, college students, youths, and public housing residents. 

The table below displays the Committee’s recommendations for 

the programs under this office. 
82 

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION PROGRAMS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee recommendation 

STOP Grants ....................................................................................................................................................... 215,000 

Transitional Housing Assistance ........................................................................................................................ 30,000 

National Institute of Justice Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women ....................................... 3,000 

Consolidated Youth Oriented Program ............................................................................................................... 11,000 

Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies .................................................................................................................. 53,000 

Homicide Reduction Initiative ................................................................................................................... [4,000 ] 

Domestic Violence Firearm Lethality Reduction Initiative ........................................................................ [4,000 ] 

Sexual Assault Victims Services ........................................................................................................................ 35,000 

Rural Domestic Violence Assistance Grants ...................................................................................................... 35,000 

Violence on College Campuses .......................................................................................................................... 20,000 

Civil Legal Assistance ........................................................................................................................................ 45,000 

Elder Abuse Grant Program ............................................................................................................................... 5,000 

Family Civil Justice ............................................................................................................................................ 16,000 

Education and Training for Disabled Female Victims ...................................................................................... 6,000 

National Center on Workplace Responses ......................................................................................................... 500 

Research—Violence Against Indian Women ..................................................................................................... 1,000 

Sex Assault in Indian Country Clearinghouse ................................................................................................... 500 

Tribal Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction .................................................................................... 4,000 

Rape Survivor Child Custody Act ....................................................................................................................... 1,500 

Total ...................................................................................................................................................... 481,500 

STOP Grants.—Within the discretionary budget authority appropriated, $215,000,000 is for formula grants to the States. This is 

$15,000,000 above the budget request and equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level. The recommendation supports increasing access 

to comprehensive legal services for victims, providing short-term 

housing assistance and support services for domestic violence victims, and education and training to end violence against and abuse 

of women with disabilities. 

The Committee has included bill language providing a 1-year exemption from the penalties required under the Prison Rape Elimination Act for the OVW’s STOP Grants. 

Sexual Assault Services Act [SASA].—The Committee’s recommendation provides $35,000,000, which is equal to the budget 

request and the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, to directly fund the 

needs of sexual assault victims. 

As part of VAWA 2005 and reauthorized by VAWA 2013, the 

Sexual Assault Services Program addresses considerable gaps in 

services to sexual assault victims. The Committee supports a dedicated stream of funding to provide a broad range of services to 

male, female, and child sexual assault victims and their families 

through the well-established and well-regarded system of community-based rape crisis centers throughout the United States, and 

maintains its strong commitment to ensuring that these rape crisis 

centers have access to technical assistance, training, and support. 

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS

The Office of Justice Programs [OJP] is responsible for providing 

leadership, coordination, and assistance to its Federal, State, local, 

and tribal partners to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of 

the U.S. justice system in preventing, controlling, and responding 

to crime. As most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in States, cities, and other lo-
83 

calities, the Federal Government is effective in these areas only to 

the extent that it can enter into successful partnerships with these 

jurisdictions. Therefore, the OJP is tasked with administering 

grants; collecting statistical data and conducting analyses; identifying emerging criminal justice issues; developing and testing 

promising and innovative approaches to address these issues; evaluating program results; and disseminating these findings and other 

information to State, local, and tribal governments. The Committee 

directs the OJP to submit a quarterly report on grant programs 

that have not received a sufficient number of qualified applicants. 

Gang Prevention Grants and Crime Rates.—The Committee remains concerned about gang activity and violent crime throughout 

the country, noting that Federal partnership with law enforcement 

is essential not only in our largest cities, but also in suburban and 

rural jurisdictions, where gang activity and violent crime rates can 

exceed national averages. To strengthen Federal partnership across 

all jurisdictions, the Committee directs the OJP to review the criteria by which the OJP awards discretionary grants relating to 

gang violence and prevention under the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Juvenile Justice Programs on a per capita basis of applicant cities and jurisdictions where gang activity 

and violent crime rates exceed national averages. The Committee 

encourages the OJP to report on the relative success rate of awards 

granted to applicant cities and jurisdictions with disproportionately 

high gang and violent crime activity, including the murder rates of 

those cities and jurisdictions. The report should also consider the 

relative success rate of applicant cities and jurisdictions that have 

an established gang commission or community planning body, have 

completed the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention 

[OJJDP] gang assessment, and have consulted with or received 

technical assistance from the OJJDP National Gang Center regarding gang initiatives in the community. 

Legal Training.—Training of State and local prosecutors and defense attorneys is essential to the functioning of the criminal justice system and ensuring justice is served. The Committee encourages OJP to explore funding options, including Byrne-JAG, that 

support training for prosecutors and defense attorneys that provide 

a hands-on approach to topics such as criminal process, trial advocacy, ethics, and evidence. 

Combating Online Crime, Hate, and Terror Groups.—The Committee encourages OJP to provide funding within existing grant opportunities targeted at expanding the ability of academic forensic 

technology programs to assist in identifying and profiling online 

crime, hate, and terror groups. 

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND STATISTICS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $116,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 154,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 118,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $118,000,000 for the 

Research, Evaluation and Statistics account. The recommendation 
84 

is $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$36,000,000 below the budget request. 

Funding in this account provides assistance in the areas of research, evaluation, statistics, hate crimes, DNA and forensics, 

criminal background checks, and gun safety technology, among others. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND STATISTICS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee 

recommendation 

Bureau of Justice Statistics ........................................................................................................................... 41,000 

National Institute of Justice .......................................................................................................................... 36,000 

Regional Info Sharing Activities .................................................................................................................... 36,000 

Forensic Initiative ........................................................................................................................................... 5,000 

Transfer to NIST .................................................................................................................................... [4,000 ] 

Total .................................................................................................................................................. 118,000 

Spending Plans.—The Department shall submit to the Committee as part of its spending plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Activities a plan for the use of all funding administered 

by the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, respectively, for approval by the Committee prior to the obligation of any such funds. 

National Institute of Justice [NIJ].—The Committee’s recommendation provides $36,000,000 for the NIJ, in addition to 

$4,000,000 transferred from the OVW for research and evaluation 

on violence against women and Indian women. The NIJ’s mission 

is to advance scientific research, development, and evaluation to 

advance the administration of justice and public safety. 

Forensic Initiative.—The Committee provides $5,000,000 for a forensic initiative, of which $4,000,000 is provided by transfer to the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] to support 

Scientific Working Groups. The Department of Justice shall coordinate its forensic initiative activities with NIST. 

Regional Information Sharing Activities.—The Committee recommends $36,000,000, an increase of $11,000,000 above the budget 

request and $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, to 

support activities that enable the sharing of nationwide criminal 

intelligence and other resources with State, local, and other law enforcement agencies and organizations. Such activities should address critical and chronic criminal threats, including gangs, terrorism, narcotics, weapons and officer safety or ‘‘event 

deconfliction,’’ and should reflect regional as well as national threat 

priorities. In addition, funds shall be available to support local-tolocal law enforcement data and information sharing efforts focused 

on solving routine crimes by sharing law enforcement information 

not categorized as criminal intelligence. All activities shall be consistent with national information-sharing standards and requirements as determined by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. 
85 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $1,408,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,097,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,183,649,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,183,649,000 for 

State and local law enforcement assistance. The recommendation is 

$227,500,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, and 

$83,200,000 above the budget request. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee recommendation 

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants .................................................................................................... 384,000 

VALOR Initiative .................................................................................................................................... [15,000 ] 

Smart Policing ....................................................................................................................................... [10,000 ] 

Smart Prosecution ................................................................................................................................. [2,500 ] 

Firearm Safety and Gun Locks ............................................................................................................. [1,000 ] 

NamUS ................................................................................................................................................... [2,400 ] 

Improved Police Responses to the Mentally Ill .................................................................................... [5,000 ] 

State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ..................................................................................................... 100,000 

Victims of Trafficking Grants ........................................................................................................................ 47,649 

Drug Courts .................................................................................................................................................... 43,000 

Mentally Ill Offender Courts ........................................................................................................................... 11,000 

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment ....................................................................................................... 14,000 

Capital Litigation/Wrongful Prosecution Review ............................................................................................ 2,500 

Economic, High-Tech, and Cybercrime Prevention ........................................................................................ 14,000 

IP Enforcement ...................................................................................................................................... [2,500 ] 

Cybercrime Prosecutor Pilot Program ................................................................................................... [1,000 ] 

John R. Justice Grant Program ...................................................................................................................... 2,000 

Adam Walsh Act Implementation .................................................................................................................. 20,000 

Children Exposed to Violence Initiative ......................................................................................................... 8,000 

Bulletproof Vests Partnership ........................................................................................................................ 22,500 

Transfer to NIST/OLES ........................................................................................................................... [1,500 ] 

National Sex Offender Public Web site .......................................................................................................... 1,000 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction ....................................................................................................... 6,500 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System [NICS] Initiative ....................................................... 75,000 

NICS Improvements ............................................................................................................................... [25,000 ] 

Paul Coverdell Forensic Science .................................................................................................................... 13,500 

DNA Initiative ................................................................................................................................................. 125,000 

Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grants ....................................................................................................... [117,000 ] 

Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grants ........................................................................ [4,000 ] 

Sex Assault Exam Kits .......................................................................................................................... [4,000 ] 

Community-Based Sexual Assault Response Reform .................................................................................... 45,000 

Court-Appointed Special Advocates [CASA] ................................................................................................... 9,000 

Second Chance Act ........................................................................................................................................ 75,000 

Smart Probation .................................................................................................................................... [6,000 ] 

Children of Incarcerated Parents Demo Grants ................................................................................... [5,000 ] 

Project HOPE Opportunity Probation with Enforcement ........................................................................ [4,000 ] 

Pay for Success ..................................................................................................................................... [7,500 ] 

Veterans Treatment Courts ............................................................................................................................ 6,000 

Prescription Drug Monitoring ......................................................................................................................... 14,000 

Comprehensive School Safety Program ......................................................................................................... 75,000 

Community Trust Initiative ............................................................................................................................ 70,000 

Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program ............................................................................................. [22,500 ] 

Justice Reinvestment Initiative ............................................................................................................. [25,000 ] 
86 

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee recommendation 

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program ......................................................................................... [17,500 ] 

National Crime Statistics Exchange (NCS–X) ...................................................................................... [5,000 ] 

Total .................................................................................................................................................. 1,183,649 

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.—The 

Committee recommends $384,000,000 for Edward Byrne Memorial 

Justice Assistance Grants [Byrne-JAG]. Funding is not available 

for luxury items, real estate, or construction projects. The Department should expect State, local, and tribal governments to target 

funding to programs and activities that conform with evidencebased strategic plans developed through broad stakeholder involvement. The Committee directs the Department to make technical assistance available to State, local, and tribal governments for the development or update of such plans. Funding is authorized for law 

enforcement programs including 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. 

Training for Forensic Services.—The Committee is interested in 

solution-based approaches to train local law enforcement officers 

and utilize available technology to reduce court backlogs and prosecutions. To the extent appropriate, OJP should explore ways to 

provide resources for multi-jurisdictional forensic service providers, 

in collaboration with universities, to provide access to forensic expertise, assistance, and continuing education to law enforcement 

agencies. The Committee encourages OJP to remind awardees that 

these objectives could be met through the Byrne-JAG program. 

VALOR Initiative.—The Committee’s recommendation fully funds 

the budget request of $15,000,000 within Byrne-JAG for the Officer 

Robert Wilson III Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement 

Officer Resilience and Survivability Initiative [VALOR]. This is a 

national training initiative that promotes a culture of safety within 

Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies by training officers to respond to and react better in deadly situations, such 

as ambush attacks, while on duty. The Committee expects Federal 

law enforcement agencies to continue and expand on efforts to provide local police with information as to whether or not a suspect 

has a violent history, to the extent that transfer of such information is allowable and available via Federal law enforcement databases, in an effort to prevent officer deaths. 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System [NICS] Initiative Grants.—The Committee recommends funding the program at $75,000,000, which is $20,000,000 above the budget request, to 

continue to improve the submission of State criminal and mental 

health records to NICS. This investment will strengthen the national background check system by assisting States in finding ways 

to make more records available in the NICS system, especially 
87 

mental health records, thereby addressing gaps in Federal and 

State records currently available in NICS. Those gaps significantly 

hinder the ability of NICS to quickly confirm whether a prospective 

purchaser is prohibited from acquiring a firearm. 

Grants to Combat Human Trafficking.—Trafficking victims are 

subjected to physical, mental, and sexual abuse and need various 

types of assistance to begin healing and recovery, including counseling, housing, medical care, support groups, and legal assistance. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $47,649,000 for services 

and task force activities for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and 

foreign nationals who are victims of trafficking. The OJP shall consult with stakeholder groups in determining the overall allocation 

of Victims of Trafficking funding and shall provide to the Committee a plan for the use of these funds as part of the Department’s 

fiscal year 2017 spending plan. 

The Committee notes that funding provided in this program may 

be used for victims of sex and labor trafficking who are minors, as 

authorized under VAWA 2013. Child trafficking victims require 

specialized care, and these resources can be used for items like residential care, emergency social services, mental health counseling, 

and legal services. 

Funding to assist State and local law enforcement in strengthening and expanding the investigation and prosecution of human 

trafficking and training law enforcement personnel on the identification of trafficking victims was authorized under VAWA 2013. 

The Committee recommends that funds be made available for 

human trafficking task forces, particularly those that combat the 

sex trafficking of minors in High Intensity Child Prostitution areas 

identified by the FBI. Trafficking task forces can also use funding 

for innovative technological instruments to assist in the rescue of 

trafficking victims. 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction.—Violent crime and 

homicide continue to exact a heavy toll on victims, families, and 

neighborhoods. The Committee’s recommendation provides 

$6,500,000, which is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$1,500,000 above the budget request, for competitive grants aimed 

at reducing homicides and gun-related violent crime in communities overwhelmed by gangs of national significance and illegally 

purchased and trafficked guns. Popularly known as the Project 

Safe Neighborhoods model, this funding shall be used to hire new 

Federal and State prosecutors, support investigators, provide investigative and litigation training, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and promote community outreach efforts, as well as to support other gun and gang violence reduction strategies. 

Veterans Treatment Courts.—The Committee urges the Department to work in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide grant support for collaborative, rehabilitative approaches for continuing judicial supervision of offenders who are 

veterans. The Committee recommends not less than $6,000,000 for 

Veterans Treatment Courts and urges the Department to strengthen funding for existing Veterans Treatment Courts with successful 

track records to promote best practices. 

Bulletproof Vests.—Within the $22,500,000 provided for bulletproof vests, $1,500,000 is to be transferred directly to the NIST Of-
88 

fice of Law Enforcement Standards [OLES] to continue supporting 

ballistic- and stab-resistant material compliance testing programs. 

The Committee expects the BJA to continue strengthening internal 

controls to manage the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program. Improving grantee accountability in the timely use of Federal funds 

to purchase body armor will help every police officer who needs a 

vest to get one, thus saving officers’ lives. 

Second Chance Act Grants and Drug Treatment.—The recommendation provides $75,000,000 for Second Chance Act [SCA] 

grants. The Committee expects that SCA funding will support 

grants that foster the implementation of strategies that have been 

proven to reduce recidivism and ensure safe and successful reentry 

back to their communities of adults released from prisons and jails. 

The SCA supports activities such as employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, local transportation, mentoring, 

family programming, and victim support. SCA grants will also support demonstration projects designed to test the impact of new 

strategies and frameworks. 

The Committee agrees with the White House’s scoring mechanism for SCA grant funding as part of the President’s February 2, 

2016, announcement addressing the national opioid abuse and heroin epidemic. Under this method, 50 percent of SCA grant funding 

is deemed as drug treatment, and the Committee expects OJP to 

follow this strategy in awarding grant funds for fiscal year 2017. 

In addition, when awarding SCA grants, OJP shall consider the 

impact of reentry of prisoners on communities in which a disproportionate number of individuals are already residing after release from incarceration. This includes assessing the reentry burdens borne by local communities and local law enforcement agencies; reviewing the resources available in such communities to support successful reentry; and making recommendations to strengthen the resources in such communities available to support successful reentry and to lessen the burden placed on such communities 

by the need to support reentry. 

DNA Backlog and Crime Lab Improvements.—The Committee is 

once again extremely disappointed that the Department’s budget 

request slashes funding by $20,000,000 for critical grant programs 

to help State and local agencies address their backlogs and test forensic evidence. The Committee continues its strong support for 

DNA backlog and crime lab improvements by recommending 

$125,000,000 to strengthen and improve Federal and State DNA 

collection and analysis systems that can be used to accelerate the 

prosecution of the guilty while simultaneously protecting the innocent from wrongful prosecution. Within funds provided, 

$117,000,000 is for Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Reduction grants, 

$4,000,000 is for Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing 

grants, and $4,000,000 is for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners 

grants. 

From within the funding provided for Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Reduction grants, the Committee expects the Department to 

prioritize reducing rape kit backlogs, given that it is the primary 

reason why the Committee continues to provide robust funding for 

these grants. The Committee directs the Department to provide not 

less than 75 percent of the total grant amounts for direct testing 
89 

activities to reduce the backlog. The Committee further directs 

DOJ to provide at least 5 percent of funds to law enforcement 

agencies to conduct audits of their backlogged rape kits and to 

prioritize testing in those cases in which the statute of limitations 

will soon expire, as authorized by the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting Act of 2013 (Public Law 113–4). 

The Committee expects that the OJP will make funding for DNA 

analysis and capacity enhancement a priority in order to meet the 

purposes of the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. The 

Committee directs the Department to submit to the Committee as 

part of its spending plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Activities a plan with respect to funds appropriated for DNA-related 

and forensic programs, including the alignment of appropriated 

funds with the authorized purposes of the Debbie Smith DNA 

Backlog Grant Program. 

Reducing the Rape Kit Backlog.—The Committee’s recommendation includes $45,000,000 to continue a competitive grant program 

started in fiscal year 2015 as part of the initiative to reduce the 

backlog of rape kits at law enforcement agencies. The NIJ shall 

provide competitively awarded grants with a comprehensive community-based approach to addressing the resolution of cases in the 

backlog. The Committee directs the NIJ to provide a report not 

later than 90 days after enactment of this act on its progress in developing a strategy and model to serve as best practices for discovering and testing kits, training law enforcement, and supporting 

victims throughout the process as required by Public Law 113–235. 

Comprehensive School Safety.—The Committee’s recommendation 

includes $75,000,000 to continue a competitive grant program as 

part of the comprehensive school safety initiative started in fiscal 

year 2014. The NIJ shall provide competitively awarded grants 

with strong research and evaluation components to local school districts and State educational agencies to support the implementation of school safety interventions under the existing construct. The 

Committee directs the NIJ to provide a report not later than 90 

days after enactment of this act, on the continued development of 

a strategy and model for comprehensive school safety. 

Economic, High-Tech, and Cybercrime Prevention.—The Committee recommends $14,000,000 to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of economic, high-tech, and Internet crimes. Given the importance of protecting our Nation’s new technologies, ideas, and products, the Committee includes the request of $2,500,000 for competitive grants that help State and local law enforcement tackle intellectual property [IP] thefts, such as counterfeiting and piracy. 

With the growing prevalence of cybercrimes and the ubiquitous 

nature of the existence of digital evidence in nearly every crime 

committed, the Committee is concerned that insufficient training 

and support of law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges could 

hinder the investigation and prosecution of cyber and traditional 

crimes. Within the funds provided, $1,000,000 is for the creation of 

a Cybercrime and Digital Evidence Resource Prosecutor Pilot Program to provide State and local prosecutors with training and trial 

experience in cybercrimes and digital evidence. 
90 

John R. Justice Program.—The Committee notes that the Department of Justice plans to implement administrative changes to 

the long-running John R. Justice program, and is concerned that 

changes may be inconsistent with the intent of Congress in enacting section 952 of Public Law 110–315, which created the program. 

The Committee directs the Department to present details of the 

plan to the Committee within 30 days of enactment of this act, including the rationale and benefits for implementing proposed 

changes to this established program. 

Flexible Tribal Assistance.—The Committee recommends funding 

tribal grant programs by permitting 7 percent of discretionary 

grant and reimbursement program funds made available to the 

OJP to be used for tribal criminal justice assistance, and continues 

to strongly support efforts to help tribes improve the capacity of 

their criminal justice systems. The OJP is expected to consult closely with tribal stakeholders in determining how tribal assistance 

funds will be awarded for detention facilities, courts, alcohol and 

substance abuse programs, civil and criminal legal assistance, and 

other priorities. The Committee directs the OJP to submit, as part 

of the Department’s spending plan for fiscal year 2017, a plan for 

the use of these funds that has been informed by such consultation. 

The Committee notes that the bill includes additional grant funding for tribal law enforcement programs through COPS and OVW. 

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.—The Committee directs 

the Bureau of Justice Assistance to assess the impact of establishing threshold enrollment and utilization rates for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and, where enrollment and utilization rates are below 100 percent, assess the feasibility of requiring 

benchmarks for improvements in enrollment and utilization as 

grant eligibility criteria. The Committee directs the Department to 

report, not later than 180 days after enactment of this act, on this 

assessment, including the potential of prioritizing funding based on 

the goal of optimizing prescriber and dispenser enrollment and utilization rates for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs by prescribers and dispensers as a ratio compared to the potential universe of prescribers and dispensers and controlled substance prescribing rates, respectively. 

Community Trust Initiative.—The Committee’s recommendation 

provides $70,000,000 for the Community Trust Initiative to continue funding for the program established in fiscal year 2016. The 

Community Trust Initiative aims to improve police-community relations and build cooperation and trust between law enforcement 

agencies and the people they serve. The Committee has included 

funding for four component programs within the Community Trust 

Initiative, with $22,500,000 provided for the Body-Worn Camera 

Partnership Program, $25,000,000 provided for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, $17,500,000 provided for the Byrne Criminal 

Justice Innovation [BCJI] Program, and $5,000,000 provided for 

the National Crime Statistics Exchange [NCS–X]. 

The Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program funding is to be 

used for matching grants for ongoing efforts to equip law enforcement officers with body-worn cameras. In order to qualify for 

grants, jurisdictions must provide training in the proper use of 
91 

body-worn cameras and have privacy and data retention policies already in place. 

The Justice Reinvestment Initiative is a data-driven approach to 

improving public safety in communities. The funding for this program supports State and local efforts to reduce corrections expenditures while at the same time making communities safer and 

stronger. 

The BCJI Program provides demonstration grants in communities to support innovative, evidence-based approaches to fighting 

crime and improving public safety, as well as addressing underlying problems. This program builds upon the approach of supporting communities with strategies that combine law enforcement, 

community policing, prevention, intervention, treatment, and 

neighborhood restoration. Due to the award of numerous promising 

BCJI planning grants in recent years, the Committee directs OJP 

to award no less than $15,000,000 in implementation grants for fiscal year 2017 to allow these planning projects to flourish. 

NCS–X will improve the collection and reporting into the National Incident-Based Reporting System [NIBRS], which provides 

more detailed criminal data like officer related shooting incidents. 

Approximately 6,300 out of the Nation’s 18,000 law enforcement 

agencies currently participate in NIBRS. The funding provided for 

NCS–X will add 300 additional law enforcement agencies into 

NIBRS and allow the Bureau of Justice Statistics to produce nationally representative estimates of crimes known to the police that 

can be disaggregated by victim-offender characteristics, the circumstances of the crime, victim-offender relationship, and other 

important elements of criminal events. 

JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $270,160,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 334,400,000 

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

The Committee’s recommendation provides $272,000,000 for juvenile justice programs. The recommendation is $1,840,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $62,400,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee strongly supports a comprehensive approach of 

substantial funding for a robust portfolio of programs that work to 

improve the lives of the youth in our communities. Title II State 

Formula and title V juvenile delinquency prevention grants are the 

backbone of programs assisting State and local agencies to prevent 

juvenile delinquency and ensure that youth who are in contact with 

the juvenile justice system are treated fairly. Combined with other 

critical programs like youth mentoring, the Committee believes 

that a balanced level of programming is the way to best help atrisk and vulnerable youth and their families. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 
92 

JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Part B—State Formula ...................................................................................................................................... 63,000 

Emergency Planning—Juvenile Detention Facilities ................................................................................ [500 ] 

Youth Mentoring Grants ..................................................................................................................................... 75,000 

Title V—Delinquency Prevention ....................................................................................................................... 27,500 

Tribal Youth ............................................................................................................................................... [10,000 ] 

Gang and Youth Violence Education and Prevention ............................................................................... [5,000 ] 

Children of Incarcerated Parents Web Portal ........................................................................................... [500 ] 

Girls in the Justice System ....................................................................................................................... [2,000 ] 

Victims of Child Abuse (VOCA) .......................................................................................................................... 21,000 

Community-Based Violence Prevention .............................................................................................................. 8,000 

Missing & Exploited Children Programs ............................................................................................................ 73,000 

Child Abuse Training for Judicial Personnel ..................................................................................................... 2,000 

Juvenile Indigent Defense .................................................................................................................................. 2,500 

Total ...................................................................................................................................................... 272,000 

Any deviation from the above plan is subject to the reprogramming requirements of section 505 of this act. 

Part B: State Formula Grants.—The Committee provides $63,000,000 for grants to implement comprehensive State juvenile 

justice plans, including community-based prevention and intervention programs and activities for juvenile offenders. This amount is 

$5,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$12,000,000 below the budget request. 

Within the amount provided, the Committee recommends $500,000 for competitive demonstration grants for State, local, and 

tribal juvenile justice detention facilities and systems to meet the 

needs of children and adolescents housed in detention facilities in 

preparation for, during, and after a disaster, as detailed in the 

2011 emergency planning guidance issued by the OJJDP. 

The Committee directs the OJP to submit as part of its spending 

plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Activities a plan for the 

administration of Part B State Formula Grants. The Committee expects this plan to include details pertaining to the formulas utilized 

in awarding grants under this heading. 

The Committee urges DOJ to encourage title II grant recipients 

to coordinate with their State education agencies to support continuity of education opportunities for adjudicated youth. 

Youth Mentoring Grants.—To support the critical work of national, regional, and local organizations in nurturing and mentoring at-risk children and youths, the Committee recommends 

$75,000,000 for competitive, peer-reviewed youth mentoring grants. 

Within 45 days of enactment of this act, the OJP is directed to provide a report and spend plan to the Committee detailing the criteria and methodology that will be used to award these grants, as 

well as an explanation of any deviations from the criteria and Committee directions used in fiscal year 2016. The Committee expects 

that the OJJDP will take all steps necessary to ensure fairness and 

objectivity in the award of these and future competitive grants. 

Victims of Child Abuse Act.—The Committee’s recommendation 

provides $21,000,000 for the various programs authorized under 

the Victims of Child Abuse Act [VOCA] (Public Law 101–647) and 

directs the OJJDP to ensure that not less than 90 percent of the 
93 

grants awarded are for the purposes of developing and maintaining 

child advocacy centers, including training and accreditation. Within 

the funds provided, $5,000,000 shall be for Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers [RCACs] Programs. The RCACs were established to 

provide information, consultation, training, and technical assistance to communities, and to help establish child-focused programs 

that facilitate and support coordination among agencies responding 

to child abuse. 

The Committee recognizes the excellent work of Children’s Advocacy Centers [CAC] in coordinating State and local agencies’ intervention in cases of child abuse, and the valuable collaboration that 

has arisen between CACs and military installations through memoranda of understanding. The Committee encourages CACs to continue to explore ways in which their unique model and expertise 

can be leveraged to help military installations address cases of 

child abuse, and provides an additional $1,000,000 to support a 

pilot project to identify, develop, and operationalize best practices. 

Missing and Exploited Children Programs.—The OJP works with 

law enforcement agencies to find missing children and to target 

and prosecute predatory child molesters and those who traffic in 

child pornography. The Committee recommends $73,000,000 for 

Missing and Exploited Children Programs and expects the Department to allocate no less than the current funding level for task 

force grants, training and technical assistance, research and statistics, and administrative costs for the Internet Crimes Against Children [ICAC] program. The Committee directs the OJP to provide 

a spending plan for the use of these funds as part of the Department’s spending plan for fiscal year 2017, which shall include only 

investments in authorized national programs that serve as a resource center and clearinghouse on missing and exploited children. 

The Committee will not entertain spending on new activities, such 

as unauthorized demonstration programs. 

The Committee supports efforts across the country to train child 

protection professionals, beginning with undergraduate and graduate curricula and following up with ongoing training for professionals in the field, including the development of State forensic 

interviewing courses. The Committee directs the OJJDP to provide 

training and technical assistance to improve forensic interview 

training for investigation and prosecution professionals, evidencebased community prevention programs for child protection professionals, and undergraduate and graduate curricula on the maltreatment and exploitation of children. 

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS BENEFITS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $88,300,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 89,300,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 89,300,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $89,300,000 for public 

safety officers benefits. The recommendation is $1,000,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget estimate. 

This program provides a one-time death benefit payment to eligible 

survivors of Federal, State, and local public safety officers whose 
94 

death was the direct and proximate result of a traumatic injury 

sustained in the line of duty or certain eligible heart attacks or 

strokes. Within funds provided, $73,000,000 is for death benefits 

for survivors, an amount estimated by the Congressional Budget 

Office and considered mandatory for scorekeeping purposes. The Committee also recommends $16,300,000, as requested, for 

disability benefits for injured officers and education benefits for the 

families of officers who have been permanently disabled or killed 

in the line of duty. 

Claims Process Improvements.—The Committee encourages the 

Public Safety Officers Benefits [PSOB] Office to streamline the documentation requirements for a claim to reduce the burden on injured officers or surviving families, improve communication with 

claimants and agencies regarding these documentation requirements, provide regular updates to claimants on the status of their 

claim, improve PSOB claim decision-making documentation to facilitate timely and efficient legal review, improve the collection and 

management of PSOB claims data, and establish metrics and regularly report on program performance. Not later than 90 days after 

enactment of this act, the PSOB Office shall report to the Committee regarding the steps it will take to implement these priorities. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $212,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 286,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 215,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $215,000,000 for community oriented policing services. The recommendation is 

$3,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$71,000,000 below the budget request. 

Local law enforcement is not only essential to ensuring the safety 

of the public, but also plays a critical role in preventing and responding to terrorist threats. Since its creation, the Community 

Oriented Policing Services [COPS] Office has assisted State and 

local law enforcement agencies by providing grants, training, and 

technical assistance that not only ensure public safety from traditional crime, but also better enable law enforcement officers to address the growing threat from terrorist organizations. 

The Committee’s recommendations are displayed in the following 

table: 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee recommendation 

Methamphetamine Lab Cleanup (Transfer to DEA) ........................................................................................... 11,000 

COPS Hiring Grants ............................................................................................................................................ 187,000 

Transfer to Tribal Resources Grant Program ............................................................................................ [30,000 ] 

Community Policing Development/Training and Technical Assistance .................................................... [10,000 ] 

Collaborative Reform Model ...................................................................................................................... [10,000 ] 

Anti-Meth Task Forces ....................................................................................................................................... 7,000 
95 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Program Committee recommendation 

Anti-Heroin Task Forces ..................................................................................................................................... 10,000 

Total ...................................................................................................................................................... 215,000 

Any deviations from the above plan are subject to the reprogramming requirements of section 505. 

COPS Hiring Program.—The Committee recommends 

$187,000,000 for COPS Hiring grants to help State, local, or tribal 

law enforcement agencies to create and preserve police officer positions and to increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. As in the request, the grants will have an award 

cap of $125,000 and require grantees to provide a 25 percent local 

match. 

Methamphetamine Hot Spots.—The Committee’s recommendation 

includes a $11,000,000 transfer to reimburse the DEA for assistance to State and local law enforcement for proper removal and 

disposal of hazardous materials at clandestine methamphetamine 

labs, and to initiate container programs. This is the level the DEA 

estimates will be sufficient in fiscal year 2017 to operate the full 

cleanup program for States to transition to container program 

cleanups, and to cover the costs of smaller methamphetamine 

cleanups in States where the problem is intermittent. 

Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces.—The Committee’s recommendation provides $7,000,000 for the COPS Office to make 

competitive grants to law enforcement agencies in States with high 

seizures of precursor chemicals, finished methamphetamine, laboratories, and laboratory dump seizures. These funds shall be utilized for investigative purposes to locate or investigate illicit activities such as precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine 

traffickers. 

Anti-Heroin Task Forces.—The Committee has repeatedly expressed its concern over the dramatic rise of heroin abuse and related crime in the United States. The need for additional resources 

and training to address these challenges is apparent, and the Committee created the anti-heroin program within the COPS Office in 

fiscal year 2015. Despite the plea for additional resources from law 

enforcement as well as the interest of the Committee, the Department eliminated this program as part of the fiscal year 2017 budget request. The Committee provides $10,000,000 for the COPS Office to make competitive grants to law enforcement agencies in 

States with high per capita levels of primary treatment admissions 

for both heroin and other opioids. These funds shall be utilized for 

drug enforcement, including investigations and activities related to 

the distribution of heroin or unlawful diversion and distribution of 

prescription opioids. Priority shall be given to those drug task 

forces, managed and operated by the State, serving a majority of 

counties in the State. 

Policing Practices and Accountability Initiative.—In December 

2015, a Policing Practices and Accountability Initiative was created 

within the COPS Office to oversee the Collaborative Reform and 
96 

Critical Response technical assistance programs and assist law enforcement in developing strategies to implement recommendations 

of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The Committee supports the COPS Office’s efforts to integrate the Task 

Force recommendations and urges the Policing Practices and Accountability Initiative to work across Department of Justice programs and agencies to provide support and best practices for law 

enforcement agencies working to address issues of public trust. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

The Committee recommends the following general provisions: 

Section 201 limits the amount of funding the Attorney General 

can use for official reception and representation. 

Section 202 prohibits the use of funds in this title to pay for an 

abortion except where the life of the mother would be in danger. 

Section 203 prohibits the use of funds in this title to require a 

person to perform or facilitate an abortion. 

Section 204 requires female prisoners to be escorted when off 

prison grounds. 

Section 205 allows the Department of Justice, subject to the 

Committee’s reprogramming procedures, to transfer up to 5 percent 

between appropriations, but limits to 10 percent the amount that 

can be transferred into any one appropriation. 

Section 206 limits the placement of maximum or high security 

prisoners to appropriately secure facilities. 

Section 207 restricts Federal prisoner access to certain amenities. 

Section 208 requires review by the Deputy Attorney General and 

the Department’s Investigative Review Board prior to the obligation or expenditure of funds for major technology projects. 

Section 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 OMB Circular A–76 

competitions for work performed by employees of the Bureau of 

Prisons or of the Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated. 

Section 211 prohibits U.S. Attorneys from simultaneously holding 

multiple jobs outside of the scope of a U.S. Attorney’s professional 

duties. 

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, permits up to 2 percent of grant and reimbursement program funds made available to 

that office to be transferred to the National Institute of Justice or 

the Bureau of Justice Statistics for criminal justice research and 

statistics, and permits up to 7 percent of discretionary grant and 

reimbursement program funds made available to OJP to be used 

for tribal criminal justice assistance. The Committee continues to 

strongly support efforts to help tribes improve the capacity of their 

criminal justice systems. 

Section 213 gives the Attorney General the authority to waive 

matching requirements for Second Chance Act adult and juvenile 

reentry demonstration projects; State, tribal and local reentry 

courts; and drug treatment programs. 
97 

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 

agent of a drug cartel where law enforcement personnel do not continuously monitor or control such firearm. 

Section 216 permits the Department of Justice to participate in 

Performance Partnership Pilot collaboration programs. 

Section 217 allows the Department of Justice to transfer funds 

from the Working Capital Fund to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
(98) 

TITLE III 

SCIENCE 

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $5,555,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 5,566,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,555,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $5,555,000 for the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The recommendation is the 

same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $11,000 below the 

budget request. 

The Office of Science and Technology Policy [OSTP] was created 

by the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and 

Priorities Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–282) and coordinates science 

and technology policy for the White House. OSTP provides scientific and technological information, analyses, and advice for the 

President and the executive branch; participates in the formulation, coordination, and implementation of national and international policies and programs that involve science and technology; 

maintains and promotes the health and vitality of the U.S. science 

and technology infrastructure; reviews and analyzes, with the Office of Management and Budget, the research and development 

budgets for all Federal agencies; and coordinates research and development efforts of the Federal Government to maximize the return on the public’s investment in science and technology and to 

ensure Federal resources are used efficiently and appropriately. 

Open Access to Federal Research.—The Committee has received 

reports by OSTP on the progress of all Federal agencies in developing and implementing policies to increase public access to federally funded scientific research. The Committee is pleased by the 

progress, but previously instructed OSTP to have all relevant departments’ and agencies’ plans approved by the end of calendar 

year 2014 with implementation occurring by early calendar year 

2016. OSTP is directed to continue providing quarterly reports to 

the Committee in order to keep Congress apprised of the remaining 

progress needed to make federally funded research accessible to the 

public as expeditiously as possible. 

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education.— 

The Committee continues to support effective mission-oriented 

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] education programs at NASA, NOAA, and NIST within this bill, and 

encourages OSTP to work with non-Federal education and outreach 

communities. OSTP and its partners should be mindful of ensuring 

that scientists supported by the Federal Government are not absolved of responsibility to educate and train the next generation. 

OSTP should also take care to preserve effective training and edu-
99 

cation programs designed to directly fulfill the unique STEM-related mission needs of the agencies administering them. 

National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee.—The 

Committee understands the importance of engaging and recruiting 

a diverse talent pool to work in STEM fields. The Committee also 

believes that limited Federal budgets require innovative approaches that are collaborative and build upon existing training to 

promote a diverse Federal workforce and make the most efficient 

use of limited resources. The Committee directs the Office of 

Science and Technology Policy to work with the Office of Personnel 

Management, the National Science Foundation, and the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology to create a National Science 

and Technology Council Subcommittee to build on existing efforts 

and develop and implement STEM Inclusion training for use in 

both the Federal Government and academe. The training should 

address advancement barriers for underrepresented groups in 

STEM careers, including implicit bias, stereotype threat, and worklife balance and caregiving issues so as to foster more inclusive 

workplace environments. Related legal requirements, including 

those under title IX, should also be addressed. 

Interagency Working Group on Medical Imaging.—The Committee is pleased that OSTP has convened the Interagency Working Group on Medical Imaging as directed in this Committee’s fiscal year 2015 report, Senate Report 113–181. Basic, use-inspired 

discoveries in core technologies like medical imaging can spur the 

type of technology-driven jobs and start up activity that will result 

in sustainable economic growth and drive the Nation’s economy in 

the coming century. OSTP is directed to provide a report with an 

update on the Working Group’s activities and recommendations not 

later than 180 days after the enactment of this act. 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $19,285,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 18,262,100,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 19,306,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $19,306,000,000 for 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]. The 

recommendation is $21,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $1,043,900,000 above the budget request. 

NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space 

Act of 1958 (Public Law 85–568) to conduct space and aeronautical 

research and development and to conduct flight activities for peaceful purposes. NASA’s unique mission of exploration, discovery, and 

innovation is intended to preserve the United States’ role as both 

a leader in world aviation and as the pre-eminent space-faring nation. It is NASA’s mission to: advance human and robotic exploration, use, and development of space; advance and communicate 

scientific knowledge and understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe; and research, develop, verify, and transfer 

advanced aeronautics and space technologies. 

NASA’s budget is a diverse blend of human and robotic missions, 

education, and research and technology development with the overarching goal to discover and explore. It is the responsibility of 

NASA to request appropriate funding to accomplish its mission. It 
100 

is also incumbent upon NASA to properly manage budget and 

schedule in order to maintain a high probability of mission success 

which will enhance the value of its missions, scientific discoveries, 

and further provide the inspiration that will encourage the Nation’s 

next generation of scientists and engineers. 

The proposed budget request by NASA is significantly flawed 

compared to the solid fiscal foundation that was provided by the 

Congress in fiscal year 2016. NASA irresponsibly chose to present 

a budget that conflated mandatory funding and discretionary funding to reach a misleading budget total that still falls $259,900,000 

short of the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. Only the discretionary 

portion of the request is within this Committee’s jurisdiction, and 

therefore the Committee must make all comparisons to the request 

of $18,262,100,000, over which the Committee has jurisdiction. 

Unfortunately, the proposed discretionary budget fails to meet 

even basic funding needs for priorities agreed upon by NASA and 

Congress. Human exploration missions would miss launch dates 

that NASA has formally committed to meet, science missions would 

be terminated early, and the agency would struggle to fully fund 

its own civil servants working on next generation technologies. Following the discretionary fiscal year 2017 budget proposed for NASA 

would only create unnecessary mission cost growth and inefficient 

resource allocation throughout the agency. The Committee has chosen to meet NASA’s needs solely through discretionary funds. 

For Science, the Committee’s recommendation strives to keep 

NASA’s near-term launches on track to continue progress in exploring our solar system and the universe, understanding the sun, and 

observing our planet. The Committee expects NASA to continue 

making progress on the recommendations of the National Academies’ decadal surveys, now and in the future. 

The Committee believes this bill represents a solid path forward 

for human spaceflight that reaches beyond low-Earth orbit with affordable crew and launch vehicles; invests in the burgeoning domestic launch industry that is bringing cargo, and eventually crew, 

to the International Space Station; and supports NASA’s science 

and technology programs. These elements should be viewed as complementary pieces of a balanced whole. 

NASA utilizes a broad variety of launch vehicles, from suborbital 

to heavy configurations, in order to successfully execute its missions. The Committee encourages NASA to choose those launch vehicles that prioritize their manifests such that NASA has a high 

confidence level that missions can be reliably launched on schedule. 

NASA is directed to continue providing the Committee with a quarterly launch schedule, by mission, that describes risks associated 

with launch delays due to problems with the launch vehicle; impacts of launch delays to other missions in the launch queue, and 

a budget estimate of the anticipated carrying costs for missed 

launch windows. 

The Committee is supportive of NASA’s STEM education efforts 

that provide hands-on learning experiences at NASA centers for 

middle, high school, and college students, including space launch 

activities. These types of programs allow students to experience the 

full range of STEM-related skills involved in designing, testing, 
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and launching vehicles and payloads to deepen their interest in 

science and engineering fields. 

The Committee is counting on NASA to maintain focus on improving oversight and accountability throughout the agency. 

NASA’s acquisition management continues to be on the Government Accountability Office’s [GAO] ‘‘high risk’’ list. The Committee 

notes that NASA is making progress in strengthening its financial 

management. GAO’s most recent assessment of NASA’s large-scale 

projects found the agency’s cost and schedule performance on major 

projects has improved since GAO’s first assessment in 2009, with 

the average cost overrun down from 4 percent to 1.3 percent. NASA 

is directed to cooperate fully and to provide timely program analysis, evaluation data, and relevant information to the GAO so that 

GAO can report to Congress shortly after the annual budget submission of the President and semiannually thereafter on the status 

of large-scale NASA programs, projects, and activities based on its 

review of this information. 

In addition, NASA is directed to provide the Committee, with its 

budget justification, the reserves assumed by NASA to be necessary 

within the amount proposed for each directorate, theme, program, 

project, and activity, or, if the proposed funding level for a directorate, theme, program, project, or activity is based on confidence 

level budgeting, the confidence level and reserves assumed in the 

proposed funding level. 

The Committee was informed by the priorities of the Senate as 

well as the administration. However, the Committee does not always agree with the administration. The Committee grants NASA 

flexibility to craft spending plans that manage funds appropriately 

and, where necessary, address funding shortfalls that were not 

foreseen by the Congress or the agency prior to passage of annual 

appropriations. However, that latitude should not be viewed as a 

license to disregard the Congressional direction about where limited resources should be spent. The Federal funding priorities for 

NASA set forth in this bill should not be interpreted as a suggestion from the Committee. Rather they should be interpreted like 

any other statutory requirement levied upon NASA. The Committee objects to NASA’s efforts in recent fiscal years to redirect 

funding away from priorities clearly set by the Congress in law. 

NASA’s continued use of section 505 of this bill in this manner will 

result in limited funding flexibility in the future. 

The Committee has chosen to articulate the funding levels of programs, where appropriate, in the form of tables and, if necessary, 

supplemented with explanatory report language. 

SCIENCE

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $5,589,400,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 5,302,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,395,000,000 

The Committee provides $5,395,000,000 for Science, which is 

$194,400,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$92,500,000 above the budget request. The Science account encompasses: Earth Science, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, the James 

Webb Space Telescope, Heliophysics, and Education. This funding 

supports NASA programs that seek to answer fundamental ques-
102 

tions concerning the ways in which Earth is changing; the comparison of Earth with other planets in the solar system and around 

other stars; the connections between the Sun and Earth; and the 

origin and evolution of planetary systems, the galaxy, and the universe, including the origin and distribution of life in the universe. 

These objectives are assisted by input from the scientific community through decadal surveys and are achieved through robotic 

flight missions, ground-based scientific research and data analysis, 

and the development of new technologies for future missions. 

NASA shall continue its progress toward implementing decadal 

surveys in Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics, including recommendations for large, flagship projects 

and small- and medium-sized missions. 

SCIENCE 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

Earth Science ................................................................................................................................................... 1,984,000 

Planetary Science ............................................................................................................................................. 1,355,900 

Astrophysics ..................................................................................................................................................... 807,000 

Education ................................................................................................................................................ [42,000 ] 

James Webb Space Telescope .......................................................................................................................... 569,400 

Heliophysics ...................................................................................................................................................... 678,700 

Total, Science ..................................................................................................................................... 5,395,000 

Earth Science.—The recommendation includes $1,984,000,000 for 

Earth Science, including $130,900,000 to continue formulation and 

development of Landsat-9 with a target launch date for Landsat9 during calendar year 2020. The Committee expects to receive a 

plan, along with the spending plan required under section 533, 

which details the technical and schedule progress needed to 

achieve the 2020 target launch date, by each major subsystem 

needed for the mission. The recommendation also includes 

$90,000,000 for the Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and Ocean Ecosystem 

[PACE] mission to continue formulation and development of the 

mission. In apportioning work for PACE, including development of 

primary mission components, NASA shall make every effort to preserve key intermural capabilities. 

Planetary Science.—The Committee supports Planetary Science 

at $1,355,900,000, including $387,700,000 for the Mars 2020 Rover 

which is $10,000,000 above the request level, $60,000,000 for Near 

Earth Object Observations within Planetary Science Research, 

$44,000,000 for the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer, and $14,000,000 for New 

Horizons to continue to analyze and interpret data from the Pluto 

fly-by and exploration of the Kuiper Belt. Within funding for Near 

Earth Objects, $16,100,000 is for Asteroid Impact and Deflection 

Assessment [AIDA] Double Asteroid Redirection Test [DART]. In 

future requests, NASA shall identify total resources for AIDA– 

DART as a separate activity. 

Europa.—The Committee remains supportive of a scientific mission to Europa, as called for in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey, and continues its directive to use the Space Launch System as 
103 

the baseline launch vehicle for mission planning purposes. The 

Committee believes that any ongoing mission planning should seek 

to maximize the scientific return for exploring Europa with an expeditious launch and reduced travel time. To assist the Committee 

in evaluating potential mission configurations, NASA shall provide 

the Committee with a report, no later than 90 days from enactment, that compares options of flying the Europa Clipper mission 

with an orbiter and lander launched together, or separately. As 

part of this report, NASA shall consider mission cost, schedule, potential scientific return, and technical complexity. 

Astrophysics.—Within funds provided to Astrophysics in order to 

advance scientific knowledge of the origins of the universe, the 

Committee provides $98,300,000 for the Hubble Space Telescope, 

$83,800,000 for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy [SOFIA], and $120,000,000 for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey 

Telescope [WFIRST]. 

Hubble Space Telescope.—The Committee supports continued operations of Hubble at the fiscal year 2016 level. The 2020 Vision 

Study confirms that constant funding will allow Hubble to continue 

to deliver outstanding science by ensuring attention is paid to addressing operational anomalies and other risks to Hubble’s scientific output. The Committee is concerned that NASA has increased the risks to Hubble science by requiring the program absorb costs for the well-regarded Hubble Fellowship program that 

were previously funded within Astrophysics. NASA shall detail to 

the Committee how it will maintain operational capability and 

science productivity through at least 2 years of overlap with JWST 

while also continuing support for the Hubble Fellowship Program. 

WFIRST Science Mission.—The Committee has provided $120,000,000 for the WFIRST mission using the Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets, with the goal of launching the telescope no 

later than 2024. The Committee is concerned about the cost of the 

prime mission, especially because inadequate early investment, 

schedule delay, and creeping mission requirements have contributed to high cost growth in previous NASA missions. The Committee directs NASA to cap WFIRST life cycle costs at no more 

than $3,500,000,000 through the end of its prime mission. NASA 

should persue the most efficient development program for WFIRST 

and its instruments, and take advantage of scientific and operational and synergies with Hubble and JWST, as directed in fiscal 

year 2016. To reduce mission costs and ensure that overlap with 

JWST is maximized, NASA should consolidate management of the 

telescope, including its optical assets, and its instruments. 

Science Mission Directorate, Education.—Within Astrophysics, 

the request includes $25,000,000 for education funding within the 

Science Mission Directorate [SMD], which is $12,000,000 below the 

fiscal year 2016 level. For fiscal year 2017, the Committee provides 

no less than $42,000,000 for education as reflected in a more transparent single line within the SMD funding chart. This includes the 

$25,000,000 education funding included in the budget submission 

within the Astrophysics program. However, the Committee supports the recommendation that the Astrophysics program administer this SMD-wide education funding. The Committee encourages 

SMD-funded investigators to be directly involved in outreach and 
104 

education efforts. NASA should continue to prioritize funding for 

on-going education efforts linked directly to its science missions 

and conclude its on-going formal education assessment so the moratorium on formal education activities can be lifted. 

James Webb Space Telescope.—The Committee maintains its 

strong support for the completion of the James Webb Space Telescope [JWST], and provides $569,400,000, the same as the budget 

request. The bill maintains an overall development cost ceiling for 

JWST at $8,000,000,000, and the Committee intends to hold NASA 

and its contractors to that commitment. The Committee expects to 

be kept fully informed on issues relating to program and risk management, achievement of cost and schedule goals, and the program’s technical status. The Committee appreciates GAO’s continuing work to monitor JWST progress, costs, and schedule. 

Astrophysics/Search for Life Technology Development.—According to GAO’s most recent assessment of NASA’s major projects, ‘‘As 

of 2015, 9 of the 11 major projects that passed preliminary design 

review matured all technologies to the level recommended by GAO 

best practices.’’ While GAO characterizes this as a positive trend 

for cost and schedule performance, NASA needs new technologies 

to make new discoveries. NASA’s goal should be to invest in technologies early to mitigate risk and continue to mature technologies 

to position the U.S. scientific community to advance its world class 

science. The Committee encourages NASA to strengthen industry 

involvement in leveraging and scaling new technologies developed 

for the JWST to larger segmented-aperture telescopes that will be 

required to achieve the goals of the next decadal survey such as detecting biomarkers in faint signals of light from distant Earth-sized 

planets. The recommendation includes $5,000,000 for such technology development. 

Heliophysics.—The Committee provides $678,700,000 for Heliophysics including the budget request of $232,500,000 for the 

Solar Probe Plus mission to launch in 2018 and $17,400,000 for the 

Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. The Committee recognizes that 

a greater understanding of our Sun will help to mitigate the hazards that solar activity poses to the ground- and space-based platforms that strengthen our national security, economic security, and 

scientific prowess. Therefore, the Committee expects NASA to request adequate discretionary funding in future years to continue 

progress toward Decadal Survey priorities, including the release of 

Explorer Announcements of Opportunity every 18 months, alternating between small and mid-sized opportunities. Within the 

amount for Heliophysics, the recommendation includes $61,200,000 

for Heliophysics Research, Other Missions and Data Analysis, an 

increase of $5,000,000 above the President’s request, to continue 

implementation of the Diversify, Realize, Integrate, Venture, Educate [DRIVE] Initiative. 

AERONAUTICS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $640,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 634,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 601,000,000 

The Committee provides $601,000,000 for Aeronautics, which is 

$39,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
105 

$33,500,000 below the budget request. The Aeronautics account 

funds research in key areas related to the development of advanced 

aircraft technologies and systems, including those related to aircraft safety, ultra-efficient vehicles and fuel efficiency, and research 

that supports the Next Generation Air Transportation System in 

partnership with the Joint Planning and Development Office. 

Unmanned Aerial Systems [UAS] Research.—NASA provides research to reduce technical barriers associated with integrating UAS 

into the National Airspace System [NAS]. This research remains a 

national priority with the potential to increase public safety and 

bring economic benefits to a wide range of industries. The Committee provides $5,000,000 for NASA to conduct further research at 

the Federal Aviation Administration’s six test sites in collaboration 

with the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence 

on UAS use in a broad range of public safety applications over land 

and maritime environments. 

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $686,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 690,600,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 686,500,000 

The Committee provides $686,500,000 for Space Technology, 

which is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$4,100,000 below the budget request. The Space Technology Program funds basic research that can advance multi-purpose technologies to enable new approaches to NASA’s current missions. It 

includes NASA’s Small Business Innovative Research [SBIR] and 

Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] programs. 

The Committee is supportive of many of the technologies being 

developed within Space Technology, which will have wide ranging 

benefits for NASA missions and throughout the agency. Of particular note are the enabling technologies of Solar Electric Propulsion, the laser communications relay demonstration, and composite 

tanks and structural materials. These key supporting technologies 

will provide enabling capabilities for multiple robotic and human 

exploration missions. 

Satellite Servicing/RESTORE–L.—The Committee recommends 

$130,000,000 for continued formulation activities and acquisition of 

the mission’s bus module to maintain a schedule that targets a 

launch in calendar year 2019 allowing Landsat-7 to be refueled before its original fuel supply is depleted. 

Nuclear Propulsion.—NASA is continuing its work to develop the 

foundational technologies and advance low enriched uranium nuclear thermal propulsion systems that can provide significantly 

faster trip times for crewed missions than non-nuclear options. The 

Committee provides $28,900,000 above the request for ongoing nuclear thermal propulsion technologies for space transportation and 

exploration. NASA shall update its report to the Committee within 

180 days of enactment of this act on ongoing nuclear thermal propulsion research and how the research into this technology supports NASA’s exploration programs. 

Small Launch Technology.—The Committee provides $30,000,000 

for the advancement, and sub-orbital and orbital technology demonstrations, of a small launch technology platform able to carry a 
106 

200–300 kilogram small satellite into low Earth orbit. The small 

launch technology demonstration platform shall leverage existing 

government derived small launch technologies, such as the Operationally Responsive Space developed Super Strypi, to the maximum extent possible. The results and data from the demonstrations shall be owned by the U.S. Government and made available 

for future launch services and competitions. 

Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR].—The Committee 

recognizes the importance of the SBIR program and its previous 

success in commercialization of results from federally funded research and development projects. The SBIR program encourages 

domestic small businesses to engage in Federal research and development, and creates jobs. The Committee therefore directs NASA 

to place an increased focus on awarding SBIR awards to firms with 

fewer than 50 employees. 

EXPLORATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $4,030,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,163,900,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,330,000,000 

The Committee provides $4,330,000,000 for Exploration, which is $300,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$1,166,100,000 above the budget request. The Exploration account 

funds the capabilities required to develop, demonstrate, and deploy 

the transportation, life support, and surface systems that will enable sustained human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and 

throughout the solar system. The Committee believes the Nation 

deserves a safe and robust human spaceflight program to explore 

beyond low-Earth orbit. 

EXPLORATION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee recommendation 

Space Launch System ........................................................................................................................................ 2,150,000 

Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle ..................................................................................................................... 1,300,000 

Exploration Ground Systems .............................................................................................................................. 484,000 

Exploration Research and Development ............................................................................................................ 396,000 

TOTAL .................................................................................................................................................... 4,330,000 

The Space Launch System [SLS], Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle [Orion], and Exploration ground systems are all critical infrastructure for the development and sustainment of the Nation’s 

human exploration goals. These investments will enable for the 

human exploration of space beyond low Earth orbit, and provide 

flexibility for a variety of mission destinations. 

The Committee is strongly supportive of NASA’s efforts to develop the elements of a launch system that will enable the human 

exploration of space beyond low Earth Orbit. Since NASA began 

developing the vehicles and infrastructure that will enable future 

exploration efforts, the agency has focused its budget on funding 

the individual systems necessary to meet either the Exploration 

Mission 1 [EM–1] or the crewed Exploration Mission 2 [EM–2] 

launch dates. Currently, SLS has a commitment to meet a launch 
107 

date for EM–1, while Orion has a commitment that extends to EM– 

2. Yet Orion cannot fly the EM–2 mission without SLS. Mismatched goals and schedules do not ensure a coordinated effort for 

human exploration mission success. 

The Committee believes that the funds for each element are critical. Therefore, NASA should provide an integrated budgetary plan 

that will address the goal of these elements becoming an ongoing 

exploration system instead of discrete projects with separate management and commitment goals. For fiscal year 2017, bill language 

is included that calls for NASA to provide a 5-year integrated budget plan to execute EM–2 in 2021. Within that same timeframe, elements of future exploration missions, along with potential science 

missions, will require funding provided within in their discrete programs, projects, and activities. Having a sustained systems approach instead of a mission-by-mission mindset for the launch vehicles and infrastructure will provide for better budget planning in 

the future fiscal years. 

The Committee continues to be disappointed that funding requested by NASA for SLS and Orion once again bears little relation 

to necessary funding levels or to amounts provided in previous 

years. The lack of budgetary support for these programs indicates 

that NASA is allowing an artificially low development funding profile and inefficient decision processes to create unnecessary risks to 

launch schedules. The Committee has repeatedly been compelled to 

provide appropriate funding to keep the human exploration program from incurring costly setbacks and to maintain development 

schedules. NASA is directed to provide the Committee more realistic funding profiles for the SLS, Orion, and ground system elements, so that future proposed funding will match NASA’s own expectations. The Committee’s challenge to appropriately fund exploration systems is made significantly more difficult because NASA 

chose to include mandatory funding not under the jurisdiction of 

the Committee in its request. This mandatory funding was proposed without any existing authority or specific offsets, as part of 

NASA’s overall request. Within the discretionary levels proposed in 

NASA’s request, NASA cannot meet its baseline commitments for 

any of these components. 

Space Launch System.—The Committee reiterates its unwavering support of SLS and the ability for SLS to open the human exploration of space to a wide range of missions and to enable unprecedented scientific discovery. 

The Committee finds that the budgetary resources proposed for 

SLS in the fiscal year 2017 budget request are insufficient and 

would prevent SLS from meeting NASA’s baseline commitment to 

a November 2018 launch. The Committee is further concerned that 

NASA did not request any funding for the Exploration Upper Stage 

[EUS]. In doing so, NASA is ensuring that EM–2 will not occur in 

2021 and places in doubt NASA’s support for meeting the baseline 

commitment of a launch in 2023. 

To ensure funding that enables NASA to adequately meet management agreement goals for EM–1 and EM–2, the Committee provides $2,150,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 for SLS, with no less than 

$300,000,000 provided for the direct development of the EUS. The 
108 

funding provided sets SLS on a path from development to sustained production. 

Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle [Orion].—Orion is an essential 

component of NASA’s human exploration goals that extend beyond 

low-Earth orbit and represents the Nation’s next human exploration vehicle designed to carry astronauts to deep space destinations and provide a safe return to Earth. Consistent with NASA’s 

direction that Orion be managed in order to fly a crewed mission 

as early as 2021, the Committee has provided $1,300,000,000 for 

Orion to continue its progress toward a successful EM–1 test flight 

and continue preparations for a crewed flight in 2021. 

Testing Infrastructure.—The Committee encourages NASA to develop plans to fully utilize NASA-owned rocket testing infrastructure for commercially developed launch vehicles to ensure that 

these vehicles are not only tested in the same manner as Government-developed launch vehicles but at the same facilities to ensure 

consistency in testing across all potential vehicles. 

Advanced Exploration Systems.—The amount provided for Advanced Exploration Systems enables NASA to continue current activities within NASA and with industry related to VASIMR propulsion technology and In Situ Resource Utilization from surface or 

asteroid-derived resources, in cooperation with Space Technology. 

Space Suit Plan.—The Committee is concerned that NASA lacks 

plans for testing and deploying a next generation exploration space 

suit that can serve the safety needs of the astronaut corps. Recent 

failures of the existing suit system during spacewalks conducted 

aboard the ISS highlight the importance of delivering a more functional exploration suit and life support system for more complex future endeavors, in a manner that can respond expeditiously to urgent needs. Not less than 90 days after the date of enactment of 

this act, NASA is directed to submit to the Committee a detailed 

plan for achieving an advanced space suit capability that aligns 

with the crew needs for exploration enabled by SLS and Orion, and 

evaluates the merit of delivering the planned suit system for use 

on ISS. Consideration should be given to leveraging NASA’s existing investments and technologies as the plan is developed. 

SPACE OPERATIONS

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $5,029,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 5,075,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,950,700,000 

The Committee provides $4,950,700,000 for Space Operations, 

which is $78,500,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$125,100,000 below the budget request. The Space Operations account funds the International Space Station [ISS], and the supporting functions required to conduct operations in space. The ISS 

is a complex of research laboratories in low-Earth orbit in which 

American, Russian, and international partner astronauts are conducting unique scientific and technological investigations in a 

microgravity environment. 

Commercial Cargo.—The Committee is encouraged with the ability of both domestic cargo suppliers to respond to launch mishaps 

and find solutions that keep the ISS supplied and operating as a 

scientific platform in space. NASA has reaffirmed its confidence in 
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the current suppliers and added a third in its next round of contracted supply flights, providing further redundancy and additional 

capabilities for delivering cargo to, and from, the ISS. Within the 

funds provided for Space Operations, $1,028,000,000, equal to the 

budget request, is for fully funding the continuing support of cargo 

flights by domestic companies under the first and second rounds of 

commercial resupply contracts. 

Commercial Crew.—The Committee provides up to $1,184,800,000, for the Commercial Crew program. The Committee 

remains concerned about the tight schedule for delivering crew to 

the ISS by commercial crew participants by 2017. Both companies 

now anticipate completing contracted milestones on a delayed 

schedule, closer to the anticipated launch dates, compressing already aggressive and optimistic schedules. This leaves little margin 

for either provider to maintain schedule as unanticipated challenges emerge during vehicle production and testing. 

The Government Accountability Office, in its most recent report 

on NASA’s large scale projects, has indicated that commercial crew 

contractors have asked for variances to design standards, that if 

they are not granted, could have significant impacts to cost and 

schedule. The report found that NASA, in the face of such impacts, 

has accommodated variances that might lead to design changes. 

Unfortunately, in doing so, neither commercial crew contractor is 

meeting the requirement that the chance of a loss of crew be less 

than 1 in 200. The Committee considers astronaut safety its highest priority, and NASA must ensure that safety standards for 

transportation are not compromised as NASA begins to replace its 

reliance on existing Russian capabilities with services from domestic crew transportation providers. 

It is the intent of the Committee to closely monitor and review 

the progress of each commercial crew participant through the quarterly reports that are provided by NASA and to continue to assess 

the need for this funding as milestone schedules and timelines are 

reevaluated by NASA. 

Rocket Propulsion Test Program.—The Committee recommends 

the fiscal year 2017 funding request and up to an additional 

$10,000,000 for the NASA Rocket Propulsion Test program to ensure test infrastructure remains adequate to support the Space 

Launch System and other propulsion development programs. 

21st Century Launch Complex Program.—The Committee provides $20,000,000 for the 21st Century Space Launch Complex, 

which is $8,000,000 above the request. The Committee notes that 

maintaining multiple launch sites contributes to assured access to 

the ISS in case of natural disaster, national security event, or 

launch accident. The program’s authorized purposes include 

projects at all NASA-owned launch facilities. As such, the Committee directs no less than half of the total funding provided be directed toward filling critical maintenance, capacity, and range safety gaps at the Wallops Flight Facility launch complex, and further 

directs NASA to take into consideration the full potential of all 

NASA-owned launch complexes. Should NASA phase out this program, as currently planned, the agency should give high priority to 

range safety projects when developing its future Construction of 

Facilities requests. 
110 

Shuttle Close Out.—The Committee recognizes that NASA is 

working expeditiously to finalize the required audits and close out 

activities associated with the end of the Space Shuttle program. 

Within the funds provided for Space Operations, up to $7,600,000 

is for close out activities of the Shuttle program. No funds have 

been provided in the Exploration Account for this purpose. 

EDUCATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $115,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 100,100,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 108,000,000 

The Committee provides $108,000,000 for Education, which is $7,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $7,900,000 

above the budget request. The Education account funds science, 

technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] education activities to educate and inspire our next generation of explorers and 

innovators. 

EDUCATION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

NASA Space Grant ................................................................................................................................................ 40,000 

Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research ................................................................................ 18,000 

Minority University Research and Education Program ........................................................................................ 32,000 

STEM Education and Accountability Projects ...................................................................................................... 18,000 

TOTAL ........................................................................................................................................................... 108,000 

Space Grant.—The Committee provides $40,000,000 for Space 

Grant, and directs NASA to support an extension of the current 

Space Grant program, and to allocate the entire funding amount 

for consortia-led institutions in all 52 participating jurisdictions according to the percentage allocation provided to States in the current 5-year grant award. 

Competitive Program.—The Committee provides up to 

$10,000,000 for the Competitive Program for Science, Museums, 

Planetariums and NASA Visitors Centers within the STEM Education and Accountability Projects. This competitive grant program 

creates interactive exhibits, professional development activities, 

and community-based programs to engage students, teachers, and 

the public in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

Space Law.—As the civilian space market continues to grow and 

national policies are developed for remote sensing and commercial 

space launches for cargo and crew, there is an increasing need for 

education on the legal aspects of human use of aerospace technologies. To encourage legal research in this area, the Committee 

provides up to $1,000,000 for space law education and outreach. 

NASA shall provide a spending plan to the Committee within 60 

days of enactment on how NASA will implement this direction. 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $2,768,600,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,836,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,796,700,000 
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The Committee provides $2,796,700,000 for Safety, Security, and 

Mission Services, which is $28,100,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and $40,100,000 below the budget request. The Safety, Security, and Mission Services account funds agency management, including headquarters and each of the nine NASA field centers, as well as the design and execution of non-programmatic Construction of Facilities and Environmental Compliance and Restoration activities. 

Independent Verification and Validation [IV&V] Program.—Within the amounts provided for cross-agency support, the Committee 

recommends $39,100,000 for NASA’s IV&V Program. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee’s recommendation includes the 

full request for the Agency Information Technology [IT] Services to 

support shifting NASA’s IT model to one that enhances 

cybersecurity with strong governance and strong information security practices. 

Technical Capabilities Assessment Team/Business Applications.—The Committee remains interested in the progress of the 

Technical Capabilities Assessment Team [TCAT] process and implementation. The potential for cross-Center technical teams to 

allow each Center to be best at what they are best at and also to 

be the best at what they are needed for is encouraging. However, 

organizational efficiency is not always the same as organizational 

effectiveness. The Committee is concerned that divorcing business 

decisions from local control could result in unnecessary delays to 

mission execution. 

The Committee directs NASA to provide an independently-assessed business case for any further consolidations of procurement 

or human resources services. The Committee acknowledges NASA’s 

efforts to inform interested parties of planned implementation actions and further directs that NASA shall ensure all impacted parties, including both local and national unions, are formally consulted before implementing any TCAT-related action, no matter the 

size. The Committee understands that NASA has assured impacted 

Centers that recent actions related to small procurements will not 

result in reduced head count and expects NASA to follow that 

promise. 

National Center for Critical Information Processing and Storage.—The National Center for Critical Information Processing and 

Storage [NCCIPS], managed by NASA, was established to consolidate efforts across Federal agencies to store and secure data. 

NCCIPS is designed to be a shared service, multi-tenant Federal 

data facility and is currently utilized by NASA, the Department of 

Homeland Security, and the U.S. Navy. The Committee encourages 

NASA to make agencies aware of NCCIPS capabilities in order to 

help the Federal Government reduce IT costs and more rapidly 

achieve IT modernization. The Committee urges NASA to offer 

NCCIPS to other agencies in order to take full financial advantage 

of this secure data facility, to help the Federal Government reduce 

IT costs, and to more rapidly achieve IT modernization. 
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CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $388,900,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 419,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 400,000,000 

The Committee provides $400,000,000 for Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration, which is $11,100,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $19,800,000 below the budget request. The Construction and Environmental Compliance and 

Restoration account provides for design and execution of programmatic, discrete and minor revitalization, construction of facilities projects, facility demolition projects, and environmental compliance and restoration activities. 

In order to maintain continuity within the projects for major construction, NASA shall prioritize available funding towards repairs, 

minor revitalization, and activities that have initiated demolition, 

site preparation, or construction activities during previous fiscal 

years, followed by projects that were deferred in previous budget 

requests and have since been requested again for funding in the 

fiscal year 2017 request. 

Preservation of Tribal Artifacts at Santa Susana Field Laboratory.—As NASA works to meet the requirements of the 2010 Administrative Order on Consent for Remedial Action, along with preceding agreements and court orders, the agency is encouraged to 

protect the unique and historically significant Native American 

sites on the property, including but not limited to the Burro Flats 

Painted Cave. To the maximum extent practicable, NASA shall include all Traditional Cultural Properties and Traditional Cultural 

Landscapes (as defined by 30 CFR 60.4 and National Park Service 

Bulletin 38) as ‘‘Native American artifacts that are formally recognized as Cultural Resources,’’ for the purposes of the Administrative Order. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $37,400,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 38,100,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 38,100,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $38,100,000 for the Office of Inspector General [OIG], which is $700,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the same as the budget request. 

The Office is responsible for promoting efficiency and preventing 

and detecting crime, fraud, waste, and mismanagement. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

The Committee includes bill language regarding the availability 

of funds for certain prizes. 

The Committee also includes bill language regarding transfers of 

funds between accounts and the NASA spending plan for fiscal 

year 2017. 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $7,463,485,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 7,564,020,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 7,509,788,000 
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The Committee’s recommendation provides $7,509,788,000 for 

the National Science Foundation [NSF]. The recommendation is 

$46,303,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$54,232,000 below the budget request. 

The National Science Foundation was established as an independent agency by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 

(Public Law 81–507) and is authorized to support research and 

education programs that promote the progress of science and engineering in the United States. The Foundation supports research 

and education in all major scientific and engineering disciplines 

through grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other forms 

of assistance in all parts of the United States. The Foundation also 

supports unique domestic and international large-scale research facilities. 

RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $6,033,645,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 6,079,430,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 6,033,645,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $6,033,645,000. The 

recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $45,785,000 below the budget request. 

The Research and Related Activities [R&RA] appropriation funds 

scientific discovery, trains a dynamic workforce, and supports 

broadly accessible state-of-the-art tools and facilities. Research activities will contribute to the achievement of these outcomes 

through expansion of the knowledge base; integration of research 

and education; stimulation of knowledge transfer between academia and the public and private sectors; and international activities, and will bring the perspectives of many disciplines to bear on 

complex problems important to the Nation. The Foundation’s discipline-oriented R&RA account includes: Biological Sciences; Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Engineering; Geosciences; Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Social, Behavioral 

and Economic Sciences; Office of Cyberinfrastructure; Office of 

International Science and Engineering; Office of Polar Programs; 

Integrative Activities; and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. 

The Committee’s fiscal year 2017 recommendation supports Federal long-term basic research that has the potential to transform 

our economy and our way of life in the context of a flat Federal 

budget. 

Scientific Facilities and Instrumentation.—A critical component 

of the Nation’s scientific enterprise is the infrastructure that supports researchers in discovery science. Investments to advance the 

frontiers of research and education in science and engineering are 

critical to the Nation’s innovation enterprise. The Committee encourages the National Science Foundation to fully fund its U.S. scientific research facilities and instruments to adequately support 

scientists and students engaged in sustained, cutting-edge research. 

Astronomy.—U.S.-based astronomy facilities continue to make 

groundbreaking discoveries and maintain excellent world-class scientific research even as operating budgets have been continually 

constrained. This area of research is particularly important be-
114 

cause NSF’s network of observatories and its individual investigators are significant resources to all astronomers, including those 

from U.S. colleges and universities that do not have dedicated observatories. The Committee encourages NSF to sustain support for 

the programs and scientific facilities funded by the Astronomical 

Sciences division, including the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. 

Solar Astronomy.—The Committee believes that a robust U.S. 

solar research community is an important asset to the country’s 

competitive scientific edge. As NSF begins its long-planned transition to full-scale operations of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, the Committee directs NSF to continue working with the 

National Solar Observatory and the academic community to transition the management and operational responsibilities of other solar 

telescopes to university consortia or other non-Federal entities. 

Super Computing Planning.—The Committee commends NSF on 

its continuing commitment to its high-performance computing and 

data analysis capabilities and urges NSF to make timely and significant investments in high-performance computing. NSF should 

remain committed to enabling tremendous leaps in computational 

simulation and data analyses for the broad range of research the 

Nation requires. The Committee understands that the National Research Council [NRC] is in the process of finalizing its report on 

advanced computing infrastructure. This report should be instructive in identifying priorities and approaches that NSF can take to 

modernize its high performance computing infrastructure and associated software and applications in order to support scientific research and education. Within 180 days of receipt of the finalized 

report, NSF shall provide the Committee with a response to the report and its plans to incorporate, to the extent practicable, the 

NRC’s recommendations into the Foundation’s approach for maintaining and modernizing its supercomputing capabilities at existing 

or future facilities. 

Mathematical Sciences Institutes.—The Committee recognizes the 

importance of the NSF Mathematical Sciences Institutes across the 

country, which provide important basic research in multiple fields. 

Vortex-SE.—The southeastern United States commonly experiences devastating tornadoes under variables and conditions that 

differ considerably from the Midwest, where tornado research has 

historically been focused. NSF has been working in conjunction 

with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

[NOAA] to build up to a full research campaign to study the unique 

characteristics of tornadoes in the southeast. The Committee understands that NSF and NOAA are conducting an initial field operation associated with the Vortex-SE effort in the spring of 2016 and 

fully supports the planned workshop in the fall of 2016 that will 

help inform the larger scale research effort planned for fiscal year 

2017. These activities will allow for researchers to build a framework for a focused experimental design and science campaign centered on tornadoes in the southeast. NSF shall continue its coordinated efforts with NOAA to ensure that NSF-funded research complements work funded through NOAA. The Committee expects that 

future budget requests for Vortex-SE will include adequate resources for the anticipated research campaign and directs NSF to 
115 

include a coordinated funding plan and timeline for conducting 

Vortex-SE as part of future budget requests. 

As part of Vortex-SE, the Committee directs NSF to look beyond 

the traditional research disciplines and programs utilized in previous Vortex programs and to include and utilize the collaborative 

opportunities of the Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme 

Events [PREEVENTS] program for co-funding grants that enhance 

understanding of the fundamental natural processes and hazards of 

tornadoes in the southeast and to improve models of these seasonal 

extreme events. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee’s recommendation includes no 

less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level for cybersecurity research, including support for core computer science research at academic institutions. The discovery and innovation in cybersecurity 

supported by NSF will form the intellectual foundations for practical applications that make our information networks safer, more 

secure, and better able to predict, resist, repel, and recover from 

cyber attacks. 

Innovation Corps.—The Committee supports the NSF’s request 

for the Innovation Corps [I–Corps] program to build on the successes of its innovative public-private partnership model. Technology transfer is the backbone of American innovation, and NSF 

plays a critical role in enabling our Nation’s brightest academic 

minds to bring their ideas and ingenuity to the marketplace. Scientists are trained in discovery but need help turning their research into real-world products and profits. Programs like I–Corps 

create jobs in our laboratories today and jobs in American industries tomorrow. NSF is encouraged to collaborate with the National 

Institute for Standards and Technology’s Lab-to-Market program 

and with other science mission agencies’ technology transfer programs to leverage Federal expertise in maximizing the success of 

I–Corps projects and participants. 

HBCUs Excellence in Research.—The Committee continues to believe in the importance of additional Federal research opportunities 

at Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs]. Because 

NSF’s primary research directorates continue to have a troubling 

track record of funding HBCUs, the Committee provides 

$10,000,000 for the HBCUs Excellence in Research program with 

the goal of providing strategic programs and opportunities for 

HBCUs that stimulate sustainable improvement in their research 

and development capacity and competitiveness. NSF is also encouraged to use research infrastructure improvement grants, co-funding 

programs, and other innovative mechanisms to achieve these goals. 

NSF shall provide a detailed outline of the proposed execution for 

the HBCUs Excellence in Research program in its fiscal year 2017 

spending plan. 

Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials 

[SusChEM].—The Committee recognizes that the Sustainable 

Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials [SusChEM] program is 

scheduled to sunset in fiscal year 2017, but encourages NSF to continue research in these fields within existing program areas. The 

Committee encourages NSF to pursue a long-term vision for sustainable chemistry, including support for sustainable chemistry re-
116 

search and development, education and training, commercialization, and public-private partnerships. 

Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering 

Careers [ADVANCE].—The Committee is supportive of the ADVANCE program, which funds efforts to address the systemic barriers to women’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 

[STEM] careers. To further these efforts, the Committee provides 

$18,000,000, an increase of $3,100,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

funding level, with the additional funds being provided to broaden 

the reach of the proven strategies developed through ADVANCE to 

increase the representation and advancement of women and minorities in STEM fields. 

Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research 

[EPSCoR].—Within funds provided, the Committee provides not 

less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level for EPSCoR. 

MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $200,310,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 193,120,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 246,573,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $246,573,000 for 

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction. The recommendation is $46,263,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $53,453,000 above the budget request. 

The Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction appropriation supports the acquisition, procurement, construction, 

and commissioning of unique national research platforms and facilities as well as major research equipment. Projects supported by 

this appropriation will push the boundaries of technology and offer 

significant expansion of opportunities for the science and engineering community. Preliminary design and development activities, ongoing operations, and maintenance costs of the facilities are provided through the Research and Related Activities appropriation 

account. 

The Committee’s recommendation includes funding at the requested level for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope and the 

Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. 

Regional Class Research Vessels.—The Committee notes that the 

fiscal year 2017 request includes a new start for two regional class 

research vessels [RCRV]. In a 2012 report to the Committee on the 

status of the planned acquisition of the RCRV, NSF indicated that 

the agency was coordinating with the Interagency Working Group 

on Facilities and Infrastructure to design and potentially construct 

three RCRVs in order to right size the fleet. The timeline included 

milestones, pending funding approval, for three RCRVs beginning 

in 2017, 2019, and 2020. In March of 2014, NSF reiterated its recommendation for three vessels, after analyzing multiple scenarios 

through its division of Ocean Sciences. The analysis showed RCRVs 

are needed to meet regional coastal requirements and could be supported within projected budgets. The Committee supports NSF’s 

plan for acquiring three RCRVs and appreciates the benefits of 

having dedicated regional vessels for the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf 

coasts rather than inefficiently forcing two ships to allocate time 

among the three regions. Therefore, the Committee recommenda-
117 

tion provides $159,453,000 to facilitate planning and construction 

of three RCRVs. 

Independent Review.—The Committee requests the Government 

Accountability Office [GAO] to review programs funded within 

MREFC in a timescale and quality that is similar to the analysis 

GAO already provides the Committee regarding NASA’s large-scale 

acquisition and construction projects. The Committee believes that 

the additional independent perspective will help to identify potential technical risks and cost overruns over the construction life of 

projects so that these important scientific missions keep on schedule and on budget. NSF is directed to cooperate fully and to provide 

timely program analysis, evaluation data, and other relevant information to GAO so that GAO can report to Congress shortly after 

the annual budget submission of the President and semiannually 

thereafter on the status of large-scale NSF programs, projects, and 

activities based on its review of this information. The Committee 

notes that NSF MREFC has a no cost overrun policy and expects 

GAO’s analysis to explain any trade offs NSF intends to execute to 

meet its policy. 

EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $880,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 898,870,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 880,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $880,000,000 for this 

account. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $18,870,000 below the budget request. 

The Education and Human Resources appropriation supports a 

comprehensive set of programs across all levels of education in 

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM]. The appropriation supports activities that unite school districts with institutions of higher learning to improve precollege education. Other 

precollege activities include the development of the next generation 

of STEM education leaders, instructional materials, and the STEM 

instructional workforce. Undergraduate activities support curriculum, laboratory, and instructional improvement; expand the 

STEM talent pool; attract STEM participants to teaching; augment 

advanced technological education at 2-year colleges; and develop 

dissemination tools. Graduate support is directed to research and 

teaching fellowships, internships, and instructional workforce improvement by linking precollege education systems with higher 

education. Programs also seek to broaden the participation of 

groups underrepresented in the STEM enterprise and promote informal science education. 

Advanced Technological Education.—The Committee provides 

funding for Advanced Technological Education at not less than the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

Robert Noyce Scholarship Program.—The Committee provides 

the budget request level of $60,890,000 for the Robert Noyce Scholarship program to help fill the critical need for STEM teachers in 

elementary and secondary schools. 

CyberCorps: Scholarships for Service.—The CyberCorps: Scholarships for Service program helps the Federal Government respond 

to threats to our information technology infrastructure by providing 
118 

scholarships to train cybersecurity professionals. In return, scholarship recipients agree to serve in a Federal Government agency 

building the Government’s capacity to understand, respond to, and 

prevent cyber threats. More than 2,656 students have completed 

the program, which was initiated in fiscal year 2001, and more 

than 93 percent of students have been placed, serving more than 

140 Federal agencies. The Committee provides no less than 

$55,000,000 for the Federal Cyber Service: Scholarships for Service 

program, of which not less than $7,500,000 should be used to continue work with community colleges that have been designated as 

a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance 2–Year 

Education [CAE2Y] by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Additionally, the Committee urges 

NSF to collaborate with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity 

Education at NIST on their efforts to develop cybersecurity skills 

in the workforce, especially in support of non-traditional or technical degree qualifications. 

Informal Science Education.—The Committee maintains its 

strong support for NSF’s informal science education program and 

supports the requested levels of $62,500,000 for Advancing Informal STEM Learning and $51,880,000 for STEM∂C Partnerships. 

The Committee encourages the NSF to coordinate and provide necessary support for investments in both in- and out-of-school time 

STEM education programs across Federal agencies, including support for extracurricular STEM programs. 

Division of Research on Learning [DRL] in Formal and Informal 

Settings.—As part of the research funded through the DRL, the 

Committee recognizes the importance of out-of-school time STEM 

mentor-led engagement programs, including STEM networks, festivals, and competitions. Such programs are highly effective in filling the higher education STEM pipeline. The Committee urges 

NSF to focus on populations underrepresented in the STEM fields 

and encourages NSF to fund out-of-school time STEM engagement 

program activities. 

Dyslexia.—The Committee encourages NSF to continue funding 

meritorious research on dyslexia and other learning disabilities 

through the Research on Disabilities Education program under the 

Education and Human Resources Directorate. Dyslexia related research grants are expected to fully meet NSF’s merit review standards and should have a goal of practical application. 

Division on Human Resource Development.—The Committee continues its longstanding support for existing initiatives to broaden 

participation in STEM fields and recognizes these programs have 

various purposes and engage students in a different manner. The 

Committee notes that support for these programs has stagnated 

within NSF in spite of increases to the overall NSF budget. The 

Committee recommends $35,000,000 for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs] Undergraduate Program, 

$8,000,000 for the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, $46,000,000 for the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority 

Participation, $14,000,000 for the Tribal Colleges and Universities 

Program, and $24,000,000 for Centers for Research Excellence in 

Science and Technology. In proposal selection, the Committee encourages NSF to give priority to grant proposals that have dem-
119 

onstrated maturity, including previous partnerships with other 

Federal agencies. 

Hispanic-Serving Institutions [HSI] Program.—Investment in 

STEM education is vital for American economic competitiveness, 

and Hispanic Americans are underrepresented in science and engineering disciplines. The Committee provides $5,000,000 as authorized under 42 U.S.C. 1862o–12 for NSF to implement an HSI Program that is designed to increase the recruitment, retention, and 

graduation rates of Hispanic students pursuing associate or baccalaureate degrees in STEM fields. 

AGENCY OPERATIONS AND AWARD MANAGEMENT

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $330,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 373,020,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 330,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $330,000,000 for 

Agency Operations and Award Management. The recommendation 

is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $43,020,000 below 

the budget request. 

The appropriation provides salaries and expenses, including: 

staff salaries, benefits, travel, training, rent, advisory and assistance services, communications and utilities expenses, supplies, 

equipment, and other operating expenses necessary for management of the National Science Foundation’s research and education 

activities. 

The Committee reiterates its long-standing requirement that 

NSF submit reprogrammings when initiating new programs or activities of more than $500,000 or when reorganizing components. 

The Committee expects to be notified of reprogramming actions 

which involve less than the above-mentioned amount if such actions would have the effect of changing the agency’s funding requirements in future years, or if programs or projects specifically 

cited in the Committee’s reports are affected. 

Peer Review.—The Committee has long been supportive of NSF’s 

peer review process to identify and recommend funding for scientifically meritorious research. NSF’s ability to fund cutting-edge research helps keep the country at the forefront of research across all 

scientific disciplines, which in turn builds the technological capabilities that underpin economic growth and prosperity. As part of 

the peer review process, NSF should include criteria that evaluates 

how a proposal will advance our Nation’s national security and economic interests, as well as promote the of progress of science and 

innovation in the United States. 

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $4,370,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 4,380,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,370,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $4,370,000 for the Office of the National Science Board. The recommendation is the 

same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $10,000 below the 

budget request. 

The National Science Board is the governing body of NSF and is 

charged with serving as an independent adviser to the President 
120 

and Congress on policy matters related to science and engineering 

research and education. 

Operations and Maintenance Costs.—The Committee is concerned 

that operations and maintenance costs for NSF-funded research facilities require an increasingly large percentage of the funding for 

Research and Related Activities, especially in a budget environment where overall domestic spending is restrained and annual operations and maintenance costs increase faster than overall NSF 

spending. The Board is directed to consider whether this issue merits a change in NSF’s funding principles or budgetary formulation 

processes, including considering the research infrastructure funding approaches within other Federal agencies, and whether a separate operations account is merited. Not later than 180 days after 

enactment of this act, the Board shall submit a report to the Committee on its findings, including any recommendations to the Foundation and to the Committees on Appropriations. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. 15,160,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 15,200,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 15,200,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $15,200,000 for the 

Office of Inspector General [OIG]. The recommendation is $40,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the same as the budget request. 

The OIG appropriation provides audit and investigation functions to identify and correct deficiencies that could lead to instances of fraud, waste, or mismanagement. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

The bill includes one administrative provision to allow limited 

transfers of funds among accounts. 
(121) 

TITLE IV 

RELATED AGENCIES 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $9,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 9,430,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,200,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $9,200,000 for the 

salaries and expenses of the Commission on Civil Rights. The recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$230,000 below the budget request. 

State Advisory Committees [SAC].—The SACs represent the eyes 

and ears of the Commission in their respective States, and the significant proportion of unchartered SACs inhibits the Commission in 

carrying out its mission across the Nation. The Committee is 

pleased with the Commission’s progress in extending all existing 

State Advisory Committee charters from 2 years to 4 years and 

looks forward to the improvements in work quality that can be attributed to this change. However, 17 of 51 SAC charters currently 

remain expired. The Commission is directed to submit a report to 

the Committee not later than 90 days after enactment of this act 

detailing the number of new SAC charters, criteria used by the 

Commission to approve or deny any charter submitted for approval, 

and any SAC charters that were submitted but not approved by the 

Commission. 

Use of Letterhead.—The Committee reminds the Commission of 

direction provided in Senate Report 114–66 related to the use of official Commission letterhead by any one Commissioner or group of 

Commissioners in correspondence that does not reflect the official 

position of the Commission. The Commission is directed to report 

to the Committee within 180 days of enactment of this act on any 

violation of this direction and steps being taken to ensure that the 

positions taken by the Commission are clear. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $364,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 376,646,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 364,500,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $364,500,000 for 

EEOC salaries and expenses. This recommendation is the same as 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $12,146,000 below the request. 
122 

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC] is the 

leading Federal agency dedicated to eradicating employment discrimination in both the public and private sectors on the basis of 

race, color, national origin, sex, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, 

and family medical history or genetic information. The EEOC 

serves both U.S. public and private workplaces by helping provide 

a fair and inclusive workplace, which engenders employee satisfaction and commitment, and enhances employee retention, productivity, and profitability. 

Action Council for Transformation.—The EEOC launched the 

Online Charge Status System in March 2016 as a component of the 

Action Council for Transformation to a Digital Charge System 

[ACT Digital]. Once fully operational, this online system will address issues of information accessibility for charging parties and respondents as well as allow the EEOC staff to spend more time investigating charges and reducing its current backlog of open cases. 

The Committee urges the EEOC to continue its efforts to leverage 

technology to increase productivity, streamline customer service, 

and reduce the inefficiencies at the Commission. The EEOC shall 

provide the Committee with an update not later than 90 days after 

the enactment of this act on the ACT Digital system including its 

impact on call center workload, overall use of the system by intended parties, any plans to make more cases accessible within the 

system, and steps being taken to protect the personal information 

of both the charging parties and the respondents. 

Inventory Backlog Reduction.—The EEOC has a private sector 

inventory of over 76,000 cases and a Federal sector hearing inventory of over 12,000. Using appropriated funds for activities that do 

not directly resolve this backlog of existing and incoming claims denies cases with complainants the opportunity of a timely resolution. 

EEOC’s own budget submission states that justice delayed is justice denied. Therefore, the Committee directs the EEOC to 

prioritize its staffing and resources toward reducing the number of 

current and outstanding unresolved private sector pending charges 

and public sector hearings. 

Public Comment on EEOC Guidance.—The Committee is concerned that as the EEOC conducts its business in protecting 

against employment discrimination, its guidance proposals can be 

adopted without the opportunity of public input prior to implementation and enforcement. Therefore, if requested by at least two 

Commissioners, the EEOC shall make any new guidance available 

for public comment in the Federal Register for not less than 30 

days prior to taking any potential action on proposed guidance. 

State and Local Enforcement Assistance.—The Committee recommends up to $29,500,000 to assist State and local enforcement 

agencies. This will help ensure that EEOC provides adequate resources to its State partners. 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $88,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 92,866,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 88,500,000 
123 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $88,500,000. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and is 

$4,366,000 below the budget request. 

The International Trade Commission [ITC] is an independent, 

quasi-judicial agency responsible for conducting trade-related investigations and providing Congress and the President with independent technical advice related to U.S. international trade policy. 

Lease Expiration.—No funding is provided for ITC to renovate 

and lease new office space in fiscal year 2017. The Committee notes 

that ITC has proposed to sign a new 15-year lease in order to 

achieve a 25 percent reduction in space, but that the best-case scenario involves no savings until year 13 of the 15-year lease. Furthermore, the Committee understands that the least expensive option over the proposed 15-year lease term is for ITC to remain in 

its current location without reducing its footprint. The Committee 

is disappointed that the leasing issue has not yet been resolved, 

and directs ITC to work expeditiously and cooperatively with the 

General Services Administration in pursuit of an immediate resolution. 

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

PAYMENT TO THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $385,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 475,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 395,000,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $395,000,000 for payment to the Legal Services Corporation [LSC]. The recommendation is $10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$80,000,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $362,000,000 for 

basic field programs, to be used for competitively awarded grants 

and contracts; $19,400,000 for management and administration; 

$4,000,000 for client self-help and information technology; 

$4,600,000 for the Office of the Inspector General [OIG]; $1,000,000 

for loan repayment assistance; and $4,000,000 for the LSC’s Pro 

Bono Innovation Fund. 

Governance and Management.—The LSC must continue to improve its governance and management in order to further restore 

the transparency of the organization and direct additional funds 

into legal aid, where resources are desperately needed. The Committee expects the Inspector General of the LSC to continue conducting annual audits of LSC grantees to ensure that funds are not 

being used in contravention of the restrictions by which LSC grantees are required to abide. 

Pro Bono Innovation Fund.—The Committee’s recommendation 

provides no less than $4,000,000 to continue the Pro Bono Innovation Fund. This fund will support innovative projects that promote 

and enhance pro bono initiatives throughout the Nation, as well as 

leverage Federal dollars to increase free legal aid for low-income 

Americans by engaging private attorneys. 
124 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION—LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

The Committee’s recommendation continues the administrative 

provisions contained in the fiscal year 1998 appropriations act 

(Public Law 105–119) regarding operation of this program to provide basic legal services to disadvantaged individuals and the restrictions on the use of LSC funds. 

LSC funds cannot be used to engage in litigation and related activities with respect to a variety of matters including: (1) redistricting; (2) class action suits; (3) representation of illegal aliens; (4) 

political activities; (5) abortion; (6) prisoner litigation; (7) welfare 

reform; (8) representation of charged drug dealers during eviction 

proceedings; and (9) solicitation of clients. The exception to the restrictions occurs in a case where there is imminent threat of physical harm to the client or prospective client. 

MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $3,431,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,431,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,431,000 

The Committee provides $3,431,000. The recommendation is 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

The Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific 

Advisors on Marine Mammals provide oversight and recommend 

actions on domestic and international topics to advance policies and 

provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Commission 

provides precise, up-to-date scientific information to Congress on 

issues related to the safety of marine mammals. 

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $54,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 59,376,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 59,376,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $59,376,000 for the 

Office of the United States Trade Representative [USTR]. The recommendation is $4,876,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and equal to the budget request. USTR is responsible for developing and leading international negotiations for the United States 

on policies regarding international trade, direct investment, and 

commodities. Its areas of responsibility include all matters relating 

to the World Trade Organization; trade, commodity, and direct investment matters dealt with by certain international institutions; 

industrial, agricultural, and services trade policy; and trade-related 

protection of intellectual property and the environment. 

The Committee provides increased funding for USTR above the 

fiscal year 2016 level primarily for trade enforcement activities. 

Within funds provided, the Committee supports USTR’s proposal to 

assume the full financial responsibilities of the Interagency Trade 

Enforcement Center [ITEC] in fiscal year 2017. As the office makes 

plans to balance its fiscal year 2017 trade enforcement activities 
125 

and allocate this increased funding, USTR should consider the 

goals of the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund as defined in the Trade 

Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114– 

125), including enforcement, monitoring, investigation, and capacity-building activities related to free trade agreements. Subject to 

the reprogramming procedures set forth in section 505 of this act, 

USTR may request to transfer appropriated funds into the Trade 

Enforcement Trust Fund from funding allocated to the office’s trade 

enforcement-related activities. 

Economy Act Transfers.—USTR is directed to continue isolating 

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

Committees not less than 15 days before such transfers of sums are 

made. 

Market Economy Status.—The Committee recognizes the negative impact of foreign dumping and subsidies on American businesses, and is subsequently concerned about the possibility of 

granting Market Economy status to countries that may still engage 

in unfair market manipulations. The Committee directs USTR, in 

coordination with the International Trade Administration, to brief 

the Committee not less than 15 days after analysis has been undertaken in relation to a foreign country’s Market or Non-Market 

Economy status. 

Religious Freedom.—Not later than 90 days after enactment of 

this act, the U.S. Trade Representative, in coordination with the 

Department of State, shall submit a report to the Committee and 

to the Senate Committee on Finance detailing USTR’s compliance 

with the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–26) as it relates to religious 

freedom, including conditions in Vietnam, and any party to negotiations for a trade agreement with the United States. 

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

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

ongoing trade negotiations, enforcement activities, and objectives 

achieved for existing trade agreements. 

STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016 ............................................................................. $5,121,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ........................................................................... 5,121,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,121,000 

The Committee’s recommendation provides $5,121,000 for the 

State Justice Institute. The recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

The Institute was created in 1984 to further the development 

and adoption of improved judicial administration in State courts. 
(126) 

TITLE V 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends the following general provisions for 

the departments, agencies and commissions funded in the accompanying act. Similar provisions were included in the fiscal year 

2016 act. 

Section 501 prohibits the use of appropriations for certain publicity and propaganda purposes. 

Section 502 prohibits any appropriations contained in this act 

from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal 

year unless expressly provided. 

Section 503 limits funds for certain consulting purposes. 

Section 504 provides that, should any provision of the act be held 

to be invalid, the remainder of the act would not be affected. 

Section 505 stipulates the policy and procedures by which funding available to the agencies funded under this act may be reprogrammed for other purposes. 

Section 506 provides for a penalty for persons found to have 

falsely mislabeled products. 

Section 507 requires agencies to provide quarterly reports to the 

Appropriations Committees regarding unobligated balances. 

Section 508 requires agencies and departments funded in this act 

to absorb any necessary costs related to downsizing or consolidation 

within the amounts provided to the agency or department. 

Section 509 limits funds for the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products. 

Section 510 stipulates obligation of receipts and the use of certain funds for victim services available under the Crime Victims 

Fund. 

Section 511 prohibits the use of Department of Justice funds for 

programs that discriminate against, denigrate, or otherwise undermine the religious beliefs of students participating in such programs. 

Section 512 limits transfers of funds between agencies. 

Section 513 provides that funding for E-government initiatives 

are subject to reprogramming guidelines established by this act. 

Section 514 requires the Inspectors General of the Departments 

of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Legal Services Corporation to conduct reviews of activities funded in this act 

and requires certifications regarding conflicts of interest. 
127 

Section 515 prohibits funds for information technology acquisitions unless the acquiring department or agency has assessed the 

supply chain risk of the technology. 

Section 516 prohibits the use of funds to support or justify the 

use of torture. 

Section 517 limits funds pertaining to certain activities related to 

the export of firearms. 

Section 518 limits funds that would deny permits to import certain products. 

Section 519 prohibits funds for activities that seek to include certain language in new trade agreements. 

Section 520 prohibits funds to authorize a national security letter 

in contravention of the statutes authorizing the FBI to issue national security letters. 

Section 521 requires notification to the Committees in the event 

of cost overruns. 

Section 522 authorizes funds appropriated for intelligence activities for the Department of Justice during fiscal year 2017 until the 

enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 

2017. 

Section 523 prohibits contracts or grant awards in excess of 

$5,000,000 unless the prospective contractor or grantee has certified in writing that he or she has filed all Federal tax returns, 

has not been convicted of a criminal offense under the IRS Code 

of 1986, and has no unpaid Federal tax assessment. 

Section 524 specifies rescissions of prior appropriations. 

Section 525 prohibits the use of funds to purchase first class or 

premium airline travel in contravention of current regulations and 

improves reporting. 

Section 526 prohibits the use of funds to pay for the attendance 

of more than 50 employees at any single conference outside the 

United States and limits the cost of any such conference incurred 

by an agency. 

Section 527 prohibits the use of funds in this act for the transfer 

or release of certain individuals detained at Naval Station, 

Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba, to or within the United States, its territories or possessions. 

Section 528 prohibits the use of funds in this act to construct, acquire, or modify any facility in the United States, its territories, or 

possessions to house certain individuals who, as of June 24, 2009, 

were located at Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or control of the 

Department of Defense. 

Section 529 requires, when practicable, the use of ‘‘Energy Star’’ 

or ‘‘Federal Energy Management Program’’ designated light bulbs. 

Section 530 requires agencies funded in this act to report on 

undisbursed balances. 

Section 531 prohibits funds made available by this act from being 

used to deny the importation of certain shotgun models. 

Section 532 prohibits the use of funds to establish or maintain 

a computer network that does not block pornography, except for 

law enforcement purposes. 
128 

Section 533 requires departments and agencies funded in this 

bill to submit spending plans to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees within 45 days of enactment of this act. 

Section 534 prohibits the use of funds to implement the Arms 

Trade Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification 

for the Treaty. 

Section 535 prohibits funds to pay for award or incentive fees for 

contractors with below satisfactory performance or performance 

that fails to meet the basic requirements of the contract. The Committee directs any head of any executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded by this act to require that 

all contracts within their purview that provide award fees to link 

such fees to successful acquisition outcomes, specifying the terms 

of cost, schedule, and performance. 

Section 536 allows for full access of departmental and agency information and data to the corresponding Inspectors General. 

Section 537 prohibits the Department of Justice from preventing 

certain States from implementing State laws regarding the use of 

medical marijuana. 

Section 538 prohibits the use of funds by the Department of Justice to prevent States from implementing laws related to a certain 

section of the Agricultural Act of 2014. 
(129) 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Rule XVI, paragraph 7 requires that every report on a general 

appropriation bill filed by the Committee must identify items of appropriation not made to carry out the provisions of an existing law, 

a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously passed by 

the Senate during that session. 

The Committee recommends funding for the following programs 

or activities that currently lack an authorization for fiscal year 

2017, either in whole or in part, and therefore fall under this rule: 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW—FISCAL YEAR 2017 

Agency/program Last year of 

authorization 

Department of Commerce: 

International Trade Administration: 

Export Promotion ................................................................................................................................ 1996 

Bureau of Industry and Security: 

Export Administration ......................................................................................................................... 2001 

Economic Development Administration: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2008 

Economic Development Assistance Programs: 

Public Works and Economic Development ................................................................................ 2008 

Trade Adjustment Assistance ................................................................................................... 2015 

Bureau of the Census: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2014 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 1993 

National Institute of Standards and Technology: 

Scientific and Technical Research and Services .............................................................................. 2013 

Industrial Technology Services ........................................................................................................... 2013 

Construction of Research Facilities ................................................................................................... 2013 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 

Operations, Research, and Facilities: 

National Ocean Service: 

Coral Reef Conservation .................................................................................................. 2009 

Hydrographic Services ...................................................................................................... 2007

Coastal Zone Management .............................................................................................. 1999 

Marine Protection, Research, Preservation & Sanctuaries .............................................. 2005 

National Marine Fisheries Service: 

Endangered Species Act Amendment .............................................................................. 1992 

Marine Mammal Protection .............................................................................................. 1999 

NOAA Marine Fisheries Program ...................................................................................... 2000 

Interjurisdictional Fisheries .............................................................................................. 2012

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management ........................................... 2012 

Estuary Restoration .......................................................................................................... 2012 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research: 

National Sea Grant College Program ............................................................................... 2008 

Procurement, Acquisition and Construction: 

National Ocean Service: 

Marine Protection, Research, Preservation & Sanctuaries .............................................. 2005 

Department of Justice: 

General Administration: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Justice Information Sharing Technology ............................................................................................ 2009 
130 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW—FISCAL YEAR 2017—Continued 

Agency/program Last year of 

authorization 

Administrative Review & Appeals: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Office of Inspector General: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

U.S. Parole Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Legal Activities: 

General Legal Activities: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

Antitrust Division: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

U.S. Attorneys: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

Foreign Claims Settlement Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

Fees and Expenses of Witnesses ....................................................................................................... 2009 

Community Relations Service: 

Salaries and Expenses .............................................................................................................. 2009 

Assets Forfeiture Fund Current Budget Authority .............................................................................. 2009 

U.S. Marshals Service ................................................................................................................................. 2009 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... N/A 

Federal Prison Detention .................................................................................................................... N/A 

Construction ....................................................................................................................................... N/A 

National Security Division: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... N/A 

Interagency Law Enforcement: 

Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement ........................................................................................ 2009 

Federal Bureau of Investigation ................................................................................................................. 2009 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... N/A 

Construction ....................................................................................................................................... N/A 

Drug Enforcement Administration: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2009 

Federal Prison System ................................................................................................................................. 2009 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... N/A 

Buildings and Facilities ..................................................................................................................... N/A 

Office on Violence Against Women Programs: 

National Institute of Justice Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women ....................... N/A 

Consolidated Youth Oriented Program ............................................................................................... N/A 

Homicide Reduction Initiative ................................................................................................... N/A 

Research—Violence Against Indian Women ..................................................................................... 2015

Sexual Assault in Indian Country Clearinghouse .............................................................................. N/A

Office of Justice Programs: 

Research, Evaluation, and Statistics: 

National Institute of Justice ..................................................................................................... 1995 

Bureau of Justice Statistics ...................................................................................................... 1995 

Regional Information Sharing Activities ................................................................................... 2003 

Forensic Sciences ...................................................................................................................... N/A 

Forensic Science Advisory Committee .............................................................................. N/A 

State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance: 

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants ........................................................................................ 2012 

Body-Worn Camera Partnership ................................................................................................ N/A

VALOR Initiative ........................................................................................................................ N/A 

Smart Policing ........................................................................................................................... N/A 

Smart Prosecution ..................................................................................................................... N/A 

John R. Justice Grant Program .......................................................................................................... 2014 

Byrne Competitive Grants .................................................................................................................. N/A 

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program ...................................................................................... N/A 

Adam Walsh Act ................................................................................................................................. 2009 

Children Exposed to Violence Initiative ............................................................................................. N/A 

State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ......................................................................................... 2011 

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment ........................................................................................... 2000 
131 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW—FISCAL YEAR 2017—Continued 

Agency/program Last year of 

authorization 

Mentally Ill Offender Act .................................................................................................................... 2014 

Drug Courts ........................................................................................................................................ 2008 

Capital Litigation (and Wrongful Prosecution review) ...................................................................... 2009 

Economic, High Tech and Cybercrime Prevention ............................................................................. N/A 

Second Chance Act/Offender Reentry ................................................................................................ 2010 

Smart Probation ........................................................................................................................ N/A 

Children of Incarcerated Parents Demo Grants ....................................................................... N/A 

Pay for Success (Discretionary) ................................................................................................ N/A 

Pay for Success (Permanent Supportive Housing Model) ........................................................ N/A 

Coverdell Forensic Science Grants ..................................................................................................... 2009 

Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction ........................................................................................... N/A 

Bulletproof Vests ................................................................................................................................ 2012 

NIST/OLES Transfer ................................................................................................................... N/A 

National Sex Offender Website .......................................................................................................... N/A 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) ........................................................... N/A 

Criminal Records Upgrade (NCHIP) ................................................................................................... 2007 

Veterans Treatment Courts Program ................................................................................................. N/A 

Rape Kit Backlog ............................................................................................................................... N/A 

Justice Reinvestment Initiative .......................................................................................................... N/A 

Project HOPE Opportunity Probation with Enforcement ..................................................................... N/A 

Comprehensive School Safety Initiative ............................................................................................. N/A 

Juvenile Justice Programs: 

Part B—State Formula ...................................................................................................................... 2007 

Emergency Planning in Juvenile Justice Facilities ................................................................... N/A 

Part G—Youth Mentoring .................................................................................................................. N/A; 2007 

Title V—Local Delinquency Prevention Incentive Grants .................................................................. 2008 

Tribal Youth ............................................................................................................................... N/A 

Gang/Youth Violence Education and Prevention ...................................................................... N/A 

Community-Based Violence Prevention Initiatives ............................................................................ N/A 

Missing and Exploited Children Programs ........................................................................................ 2004; 2018; 

2018 

Competitive Grants for Girls in the Justice System .......................................................................... N/A

Children of Incarcerated Parents Web Portal .................................................................................... N/A 

COPS Programs: 

COPS Hiring Program ......................................................................................................................... 2009 

Transfer to DEA for Methamphetamine Clean-Up ............................................................................. N/A 

Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces .................................................................................................. N/A 

Anti-Heroin Task Forces ..................................................................................................................... N/A 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration: 

Science ........................................................................................................................................................ 2013 

Aeronautics .................................................................................................................................................. 2013 

Exploration ................................................................................................................................................... 2013 

Space Operations ........................................................................................................................................ 2013 

Education .................................................................................................................................................... 2013 

Safety, Security and Mission Services ........................................................................................................ 2013 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration ................................................................. 2013 

Office of the Inspector General .................................................................................................................. 2013 

National Science Foundation ............................................................................................................................... 2013 

Related Agencies: 

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2000 

Commission on Civil Rights: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 1995 

International Trade Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2004 

Payment to the Legal Services Corporation: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 1980 

Marine Mammal Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 1999 

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2004 
132 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW—FISCAL YEAR 2017—Continued 

Agency/program Last year of 

authorization 

State Justice Institute: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 2008 

1 NOAA authorizations are spread across over 60 separate statutory authorities. In many cases, the authorizations do not match exactly to 

specific programs. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on April 21, 2016, the 

Committee ordered favorably reported a bill (S. 2837) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 

Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 

30, 2017, and for other purposes, provided, that the bill be subject 

to amendment and that the bill be consistent with its budget allocation, by a recorded vote of 30–0, a quorum being present. The 

vote was as follows: 

Yeas Nays 

Chairman Cochran 

Mr. McConnell 

Mr. Shelby 

Mr. Alexander 

Ms. Collins 

Ms. Murkowski 

Mr. Graham 

Mr. Kirk 

Mr. Blunt 

Mr. Moran 

Mr. Hoeven 

Mr. Boozman 

Mrs. Capito 

Mr. Cassidy 

Mr. Lankford 

Mr. Daines 

Ms. Mikulski 

Mr. Leahy 

Mrs. Murray 

Mrs. Feinstein 

Mr. Durbin 

Mr. Reed 

Mr. Tester 

Mr. Udall 

Mrs. Shaheen 

Mr. Merkley 

Mr. Coons 

Mr. Schatz 

Ms. Baldwin 

Mr. Murphy 
133 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Paragraph 12 of the rule XXVI requires that Committee reports 

on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute or 

part of any statute include ‘‘(a) the text of the statute or part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a comparative print of 

that part of the bill or joint resolution making the amendment and 

of the statute or part thereof proposed to be amended, showing by 

stricken-through type and italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical devices the omissions and insertions which 

would be made by the bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form 

recommended by the Committee.’’ 

In compliance with this rule, no changes to existing law are displayed because this bill proposes no changes. 

BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL 

PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 

308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93–344, AS AMENDED 

[In millions of dollars] 

Budget authority Outlays 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee 

allocation for 2017: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: 

Mandatory .................................................................... 320 320 330 1 330 

Discretionary ................................................................ 56,285 56,285 64,425 1 64,409 

Security ............................................................... 5,117 5,117 NA NA 

Nonsecurity ......................................................... 51,168 51,168 NA NA 

Projections of outlays associated with the recommendation: 

2017 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 2 42,085 

2018 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 14,140 

2019 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 3,974 

2020 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 1,402 

2021 and future years ................................................ ...................... ...................... ...................... 3,720 

Financial assistance to State and local governments for 

2017 ................................................................................. NA ¥6,275 NA 2¥7 

1 Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

2 Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

NA: Not applicable. 
134 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2016 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee 

recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

Operations and administration .................................................................................................................................. 493,000 533,421 495,000 ∂2,000 ¥38,421 Offsetting fee collections ........................................................................................................................................... ¥10,000 ¥12,000 ¥12,000 ¥2,000 ............................

Direct appropriation ...................................................................................................................................... 483,000 521,421 483,000 ............................ ¥38,421 

Bureau of Industry and Security 

Operations and administration .................................................................................................................................. 76,500 90,945 76,500 ............................ ¥14,445 

Defense function ............................................................................................................................................... 36,000 36,000 36,000 ............................ ............................

Total, Bureau of Industry and Security ........................................................................................................ 112,500 126,945 112,500 ............................ ¥14,445 

Economic Development Administration 

Economic development assistance programs ............................................................................................................ 222,000 215,000 215,000 ¥7,000 ............................Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 39,000 43,454 39,000 ............................ ¥4,454 

Total, Economic Development Administration .............................................................................................. 261,000 258,454 254,000 ¥7,000 ¥4,454 

Minority Business Development Agency 

Minority business development .................................................................................................................................. 32,000 35,613 32,000 ............................ ¥3,613 

Economic and Statistical Analysis 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 109,000 114,643 109,000 ............................ ¥5,643 

Bureau of the Census 

Current surveys and programs .................................................................................................................................. 270,000 285,287 270,000 ............................ ¥15,287 
135 

Periodic censuses and programs (new structure) ..................................................................................................... 1,100,000 1,348,319 1,248,319 ∂148,319 ¥100,000 

Total, Bureau of the Census ........................................................................................................................ 1,370,000 1,633,606 1,518,319 ∂148,319 ¥115,287 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 39,500 50,841 39,500 ............................ ¥11,341 

United States Patent and Trademark Office 

Salaries and expenses, current year fee funding ...................................................................................................... 3,272,000 3,230,000 3,230,000 ¥42,000 ............................Offsetting fee collections ........................................................................................................................................... ¥3,272,000 ¥3,230,000 ¥3,230,000 ∂42,000 ............................

Total, United States Patent and Trademark Office ...................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Scientific and technical research and services ........................................................................................................ 690,000 730,533 700,000 ∂10,000 ¥30,533 Industrial technology services .................................................................................................................................... 155,000 188,991 155,000 ............................ ¥33,991 

Manufacturing extension partnerships ............................................................................................................. (130,000 ) (141,991 ) (130,000 ) ............................ (¥11,991 ) National network for manufacturing innovation ............................................................................................... (25,000 ) (47,000 ) (25,000 ) ............................ (¥22,000 ) 

Construction of research facilities ............................................................................................................................. 119,000 94,995 119,000 ............................ ∂24,005 Working Capital Fund (by transfer) ........................................................................................................................... (9,000 ) (9,000 ) (9,000 ) ............................ ............................

Total, National Institute of Standards and Technology ............................................................................... 964,000 1,014,519 974,000 ∂10,000 ¥40,519 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Operations, research, and facilities ........................................................................................................................... 3,305,813 3,494,180 3,339,376 ∂33,563 ¥154,804 

(By transfer) ...................................................................................................................................................... (130,164 ) (130,164 ) (130,164 ) ............................ ............................Promote and Develop Fund (transfer out) ........................................................................................................ (¥130,164 ) (¥130,164 ) (¥130,164 ) ............................ ............................

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 3,305,813 3,494,180 3,339,376 ∂33,563 ¥154,804 

Procurement, acquisition and construction ............................................................................................................... 2,400,416 2,270,123 2,286,853 ¥113,563 ∂16,730 Pacific coastal salmon recovery ................................................................................................................................ 65,000 65,000 65,000 ............................ ............................Fishermen’s Contingency Fund .................................................................................................................................. 350 350 350 ............................ ............................Fisheries disaster assistance ..................................................................................................................................... ............................ 9,000 ............................ ............................ ¥9,000 Fisheries Finance Program Account ........................................................................................................................... ¥6,000 ¥410 ¥410 ∂5,590 ............................National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund ............................................................................................................. ............................ 10,000 ............................ ............................ ¥10,000 

Total, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ........................................................................... 5,765,579 5,848,243 5,691,169 ¥74,410 ¥157,074 
136 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2016 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee 

recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

Departmental Management 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 58,000 74,503 58,000 ............................ ¥16,503 Renovation and modernization ................................................................................................................................... 19,062 12,224 12,224 ¥6,838 ............................Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 32,000 37,167 32,744 ∂744 ¥4,423 

Total, Departmental Management ................................................................................................................ 109,062 123,894 102,968 ¥6,094 ¥20,926 Total, title I, Department of Commerce ....................................................................................................... 9,245,641 9,728,179 9,316,456 ∂70,815 ¥411,723 

(By transfer) ......................................................................................................................................... 139,164 139,164 139,164 ............................ ............................

TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

General Administration 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 111,500 125,896 114,124 ∂2,624 ¥11,772 Justice information sharing technology ..................................................................................................................... 31,000 57,561 50,000 ∂19,000 ¥7,561 

Total, General Administration ....................................................................................................................... 142,500 183,457 164,124 ∂21,624 ¥19,333 

Administrative review and appeals ........................................................................................................................... 426,791 437,444 426,791 ............................ ¥10,653 

Transfer from immigration examinations fee account ..................................................................................... ¥4,000 ¥4,000 ¥4,000 ............................ ............................

Direct appropriation ................................................................................................................................. 422,791 433,444 422,791 ............................ ¥10,653 

Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 93,709 97,814 95,583 ∂1,874 ¥2,231 

United States Parole Commission 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 13,308 14,000 13,308 ............................ ¥692 

Legal Activities 

Salaries and expenses, general legal activities ........................................................................................................ 893,000 957,423 893,000 ............................ ¥64,423 
137 

Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund .................................................................................................................. 9,358 11,970 9,358 ............................ ¥2,612 Salaries and expenses, Antitrust Division ................................................................................................................. 164,977 180,506 164,977 ............................ ¥15,529 

Offsetting fee collections—current year .......................................................................................................... ¥124,000 ¥125,000 ¥125,000 ¥1,000 ............................

Direct appropriation ................................................................................................................................. 40,977 55,506 39,977 ¥1,000 ¥15,529 

Salaries and expenses, United States Attorneys ....................................................................................................... 2,000,000 2,074,402 2,030,000 ∂30,000 ¥44,402 United States Trustee System Fund ........................................................................................................................... 225,908 229,717 225,908 ............................ ¥3,809 

Offsetting fee collections .................................................................................................................................. ¥162,000 ¥163,000 ¥163,000 ¥1,000 ............................New fees (Sec. 221) (legislative proposal) ....................................................................................................... ............................ ¥125,000 ............................ ............................ ∂125,000 

Direct appropriation ................................................................................................................................. 63,908 ¥58,283 62,908 ¥1,000 ∂121,191 

Salaries and expenses, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission .............................................................................. 2,374 2,409 2,374 ............................ ¥35 Fees and expenses of witnesses ................................................................................................................................ 270,000 270,000 270,000 ............................ ............................Salaries and expenses, Community Relations Service .............................................................................................. 14,446 18,990 14,446 ............................ ¥4,544 Assets Forfeiture Fund ............................................................................................................................................... 20,514 20,514 20,514 ............................ ............................

Total, Legal Activities ................................................................................................................................... 3,314,577 3,352,931 3,342,577 ∂28,000 ¥10,354 

United States Marshals Service 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 1,230,581 1,275,156 1,249,040 ∂18,459 ¥26,116 Construction ............................................................................................................................................................... 15,000 10,000 10,000 ¥5,000 ............................Federal prisoner detention ......................................................................................................................................... 1,454,414 1,504,009 1,454,414 ............................ ¥49,595 

Total, United States Marshals Service ......................................................................................................... 2,699,995 2,789,165 2,713,454 ∂13,459 ¥75,711 

National Security Division 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 95,000 97,337 95,000 ............................ ¥2,337 

Interagency Law Enforcement 

Interagency crime and drug enforcement .................................................................................................................. 512,000 522,135 512,000 ............................ ¥10,135 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 3,444,306 3,537,251 3,495,971 ∂51,665 ¥41,280 

Counterintelligence and national security ........................................................................................................ 5,045,480 5,181,633 5,121,162 ∂75,682 ¥60,471 

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 8,489,786 8,718,884 8,617,133 ∂127,347 ¥101,751 

Construction ............................................................................................................................................................... 308,982 783,482 833,982 ∂525,000 ∂50,500 

(By transfer) ...................................................................................................................................................... ............................ (85,000 ) ............................ ............................ (¥85,000 ) 
138 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2016 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee 

recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

Total, Federal Bureau of Investigation ......................................................................................................... 8,798,768 9,502,366 9,451,115 ∂652,347 ¥51,251 

Drug Enforcement Administration 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 2,451,514 2,485,638 2,485,638 ∂34,124 ............................

Diversion control fund ....................................................................................................................................... ¥371,514 ¥382,662 ¥382,662 ¥11,148 ............................

Total, Drug Enforcement Administration ...................................................................................................... 2,080,000 2,102,976 2,102,976 ∂22,976 ............................

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 1,240,000 1,306,063 1,258,600 ∂18,600 ¥47,463 

Federal Prison System 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 6,948,500 7,186,225 6,978,500 ∂30,000 ¥207,725 Buildings and facilities .............................................................................................................................................. 530,000 113,022 113,022 ¥416,978 ............................Limitation on administrative expenses, Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated ..................................................... 2,700 2,700 2,700 ............................ ............................

Total, Federal Prison System ........................................................................................................................ 7,481,200 7,301,947 7,094,222 ¥386,978 ¥207,725 

State and Local Law Enforcement Activities 

Office on Violence Against Women: 

Prevention and prosecution programs .............................................................................................................. 101,000 163,000 102,500 ∂1,500 ¥60,500 

(By transfer) ............................................................................................................................................. (379,000 ) ............................ (379,000 ) ............................ (∂379,000 ) 

Crime Victims Fund (transfer out) .................................................................................................................... (¥379,000 ) ............................ (¥379,000 ) ............................ (¥379,000 ) Offsetting collections ........................................................................................................................................ ............................ ¥326,000 ............................ ............................ ∂326,000 Spending of offsetting collections .................................................................................................................... ............................ 326,000 ............................ ............................ ¥326,000 

Office of Justice Programs: 

Research, evaluation and statistics ................................................................................................................. 116,000 154,000 118,000 ∂2,000 ¥36,000 
139 

State and local law enforcement assistance ................................................................................................... 1,408,500 1,097,800 1,183,649 ¥224,851 ∂85,849 Juvenile justice programs ................................................................................................................................. 270,160 334,400 272,000 ∂1,840 ¥62,400 Public safety officer benefits: 

Death benefits .......................................................................................................................................... 72,000 73,000 73,000 ∂1,000 ............................Disability and education benefits ............................................................................................................ 16,300 16,300 16,300 ............................ ............................

Subtotal ................................................................................................................................................ 88,300 89,300 89,300 ∂1,000 ............................Total, Office of Justice Programs ........................................................................................................ 1,882,960 1,675,500 1,662,949 ¥220,011 ¥12,551 

Community Oriented Policing Services: 

COPS programs ................................................................................................................................................. 212,000 286,000 215,000 ∂3,000 ¥71,000 

Total, State and Local Law Enforcement Activities ..................................................................................... 2,195,960 2,124,500 1,980,449 ¥215,511 ¥144,051 Total, title II, Department of Justice ............................................................................................................ 29,089,808 29,828,135 29,246,199 ∂156,391 ¥581,936 

TITLE III—SCIENCE 

Office of Science and Technology Policy ................................................................................................................... 5,555 5,566 5,555 ............................ ¥11 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Science ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5,589,400 5,302,500 5,395,000 ¥194,400 ∂92,500 Aeronautics ................................................................................................................................................................. 640,000 634,500 601,000 ¥39,000 ¥33,500 Space technology ........................................................................................................................................................ 686,500 690,600 686,500 ............................ ¥4,100 Exploration .................................................................................................................................................................. 4,030,000 3,163,900 4,330,000 ∂300,000 ∂1,166,100 Space operations ........................................................................................................................................................ 5,029,200 5,075,800 4,950,700 ¥78,500 ¥125,100 Education .................................................................................................................................................................... 115,000 100,100 108,000 ¥7,000 ∂7,900 Safety, security and mission services ....................................................................................................................... 2,768,600 2,836,800 2,796,700 ∂28,100 ¥40,100 Construction and environmental compliance and restoration .................................................................................. 388,900 419,800 400,000 ∂11,100 ¥19,800 Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 37,400 38,100 38,100 ∂700 ............................

Total, National Aeronautics and Space Administration ............................................................................... 19,285,000 18,262,100 19,306,000 ∂21,000 ∂1,043,900 

National Science Foundation 

Research and related activities ................................................................................................................................. 5,966,125 6,011,910 5,966,125 ............................ ¥45,785 

Defense function ............................................................................................................................................... 67,520 67,520 67,520 ............................ ............................

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 6,033,645 6,079,430 6,033,645 ............................ ¥45,785 
140 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2016 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee 

recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

Major research equipment and facilities construction .............................................................................................. 200,310 193,120 246,573 ∂46,263 ∂53,453 Education and human resources ............................................................................................................................... 880,000 898,870 880,000 ............................ ¥18,870 Agency operations and award management ............................................................................................................. 330,000 373,020 330,000 ............................ ¥43,020 Office of the National Science Board ........................................................................................................................ 4,370 4,380 4,370 ............................ ¥10 Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 15,160 15,200 15,200 ∂40 ............................

Total, National Science Foundation .............................................................................................................. 7,463,485 7,564,020 7,509,788 ∂46,303 ¥54,232 Total, title III, Science .................................................................................................................................. 26,754,040 25,831,686 26,821,343 ∂67,303 ∂989,657 

TITLE IV—RELATED AGENCIES 

Commission on Civil Rights 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 9,200 9,430 9,200 ............................ ¥230 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 364,500 376,646 364,500 ............................ ¥12,146 

International Trade Commission 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 88,500 92,866 88,500 ............................ ¥4,366 

Legal Services Corporation 

Payment to the Legal Services Corporation ............................................................................................................... 385,000 475,000 395,000 ∂10,000 ¥80,000 

Marine Mammal Commission 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 3,431 3,431 3,431 ............................ ............................

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 54,500 59,376 59,376 ∂4,876 ............................
141 

State Justice Institute 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 5,121 5,121 5,121 ............................ ............................

Total, title IV, Related Agencies ................................................................................................................... 910,252 1,021,870 925,128 ∂14,876 ¥96,742 

TITLE V—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

DOC, economic development assistance programs (rescission) ............................................................................... ¥10,000 ............................ ............................ ∂10,000 ............................DOJ, Working Capital Fund (rescission) ..................................................................................................................... ¥69,000 ¥164,743 ¥289,743 ¥220,743 ¥125,000 DOJ, Drug Enforcement Administration (rescission) .................................................................................................. ............................ ¥6,192 ¥6,192 ¥6,192 ............................DOJ, Assets Forfeiture Fund (rescission) ................................................................................................................... ¥458,000 ¥304,000 ¥304,000 ∂154,000 ............................FBI, Salaries and expenses, nondefense (rescission) ................................................................................................ ¥32,767 ¥90,709 ¥73,509 ¥40,742 ∂17,200 FBI, Salaries and expenses, defense (rescission) ..................................................................................................... ¥48,000 ¥132,877 ¥107,682 ¥59,682 ∂25,195 Federal prisoner detention (rescission) ...................................................................................................................... ¥195,974 ¥24,000 ¥24,000 ∂171,974 ............................Violence against women prevention and prosecution programs (rescission) ........................................................... ¥15,000 ¥5,000 ¥5,000 ∂10,000 ............................Office of Justice programs (rescission) ..................................................................................................................... ¥40,000 ¥20,000 ¥20,000 ∂20,000 ............................COPS (rescission) ....................................................................................................................................................... ¥10,000 ¥10,000 ¥10,000 ............................ ............................

Total, title V, General Provisions .................................................................................................................. ¥878,741 ¥757,521 ¥840,126 ∂38,615 ¥82,605 Grand total .................................................................................................................................................... 65,121,000 65,652,349 65,469,000 ∂348,000 ¥183,349 

Appropriations ...................................................................................................................................... (65,999,741 ) (66,409,870 ) (66,309,126 ) (∂309,385 ) (¥100,744 ) Rescissions .......................................................................................................................................... (¥878,741 ) (¥757,521 ) (¥840,126 ) (∂38,615 ) (¥82,605 ) 

(By transfer) .................................................................................................................................................. 518,164 224,164 518,164 ............................ ∂294,000 (Transfer out) ................................................................................................................................................ ¥509,164 ¥130,164 ¥509,164 ............................ ¥379,000 

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