20–448 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 114–632 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND 

RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2017 

JUNE 21, 2016.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. CALVERT, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 5538] 

The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in 

explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the 

Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, 

and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 

2017. The bill provides regular annual appropriations for the Department of the Interior (except the Bureau of Reclamation and the 

Central Utah Project), the Environmental Protection Agency, and 

for other related agencies, including the Forest Service, the Indian 

Health Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National 

Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities. 

CONTENTS 

Page number 

Bill Report 

Title I—Department of the Interior: 

Bureau of Land Management ............................................................ 2 9 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service ........................................... 8 13 

National Park Service ......................................................................... 15 23 

United States Geological Survey ....................................................... 20 35 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ............................................. 22 38 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement ......................... 24 38 

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement ................. 26 39 

Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education ............. 29 41 

Office of the Secretary ........................................................................ 38 48 

Insular Affairs ..................................................................................... 40 49 


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Page number 

Bill Report 

Office of the Solicitor .......................................................................... 43 50 

Office of Inspector General ................................................................. 43 51 

Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians ......................... 44 51 

Department-wide Programs: 

Wildland Fire Management, Interior Department ........................... 46 52 

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund, Interior Department 49 53 

Central Hazardous Materials Fund .................................................. 50 53 

Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration ................. 50 53 

Working Capital Fund ........................................................................ 50 54 

General Provisions, Department of the Interior ............................... 52 54 

Title II—Environmental Protection Agency: 

Science and Technology ...................................................................... 68 57 

Environmental Programs and Management ..................................... 69 59 

Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund ....................... 70 66 

Office of Inspector General ................................................................. 71 67 

Buildings and Facilities ...................................................................... 71 66 

Hazardous Substance Superfund ....................................................... 71 68 

Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program ............. 72 69 

Inland Oil Spill Programs .................................................................. 73 70 

State and Tribal Assistance Grants .................................................. 73 70 

Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program Account ... 80 73 

Administrative Provisions .................................................................. 81 74 

Title III—Related Agencies: 

Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture .............................. 84 74 

Wildland Fire Management, Forest Service ..................................... 89 85 

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund, Forest Service ......... 93 86 

Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services ............................................................................................ 101 87 

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ..................... 109 90 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ......................... 110 91 

Other Related Agencies: 

Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental 

Quality .............................................................................................. 111 91 

Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board ........................... 112 92 

Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation ................................... 113 93 

Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts 

Development .................................................................................... 114 94 

Smithsonian Institution ..................................................................... 114 94 

National Gallery of Art ....................................................................... 116 97 

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ............................ 117 98 

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars ........................ 118 99 

National Endowment for the Arts ..................................................... 118 99 

National Endowment for the Humanities ......................................... 119 101 

Commission of Fine Arts .................................................................... 120 101 

National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs ...................................... 121 102 

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation ....................................... 121 102 

National Capital Planning Commission ............................................ 121 103 

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum .................................... 122 103 

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission ................................. n/a 104 

Title IV—General Provisions: ................................................................... 122 105 

INTRODUCTION

The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017 totals $32,095,000,000. 

This amount reflects a $63,859,000 reduction from the amount appropriated in fiscal year 2016 and a $1,019,444,000 reduction from 

the budget request. 


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The amounts in the accompanying bill are reflected by title in 

the table below. 

BUDGET AUTHORITY RECOMMENDED IN BILL BY TITLE 

Activity Budget estimates, 

fiscal year 2017 

Committee bill, 

fiscal year 2017 

Committee bill 

compared with budget estimates 

Title I, Department of the Interior: 

New budget authority ...................................................... $12,180,509,000 $12,049,905,000 ¥$130,604,000 

Title II, Environmental Protection Agency: 

New budget authority ...................................................... $8,267,199,000 $7,976,018,000 ¥$291,181,000 

Title III, Related Agencies: 

New budget authority ...................................................... $12,666,736,000 $12,069,077,000 ¥$597,659,000 

Title IV, General Provisions: 

New budget authority ...................................................... $0 $0 $0 

Grand total, New budget authority ......................... $33,114,444,000 $32,095,000,000 ¥$1,019,444,000 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT

Members of Congress have provided considerable input in fashioning this bill. In total, 382 Members submitted nearly 5,300 programmatic requests relating to multiple agencies and programs. 

The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee 

takes seriously its oversight responsibility and conducted 14 budget 

hearings and briefings this year (including four hearings involving 

American Indians and Alaska Natives) to carefully review the programs and budgets under its jurisdiction. The Subcommittee held 

the following oversight hearings: 

U.S. Forest Service FY17 budget oversight hearing—February 

24, 2016 

Indian Health Service FY17 budget oversight hearing—February 

25, 2016 

Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation FY17 budget oversight hearing—February 25, 2016 

Department of the Interior FY17 budget oversight hearing— 

March 2, 2016 

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement FY17 

budget oversight hearing—March 3, 2016 

Bureau of Land Management FY17 budget oversight hearing— 

March 3, 2016 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FY17 budget oversight hearing— 

March 15, 2016 

National Park Service FY17 budget oversight hearing—March 

16, 2016 

Bureau of Indian Affairs/Bureau of Indian Education FY17 budget oversight hearing—March 16, 2016 

American Indian/Alaska Native Public Witnesses—March 17, 

2016 (morning) 

American Indian/Alaska Native Public Witnesses—March 17, 

2016 (afternoon) 

American Indian/Alaska Native Public Witnesses—March 18, 

2016 (morning) 

American Indian/Alaska Native Public Witnesses—March 18, 

2016 (afternoon) 


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Environmental Protection Agency FY17 budget oversight hearing—March 22, 2016 

Smithsonian Institution FY17 budget oversight hearing—March 

23, 2016 

In total, 97 individuals representing the Executive Branch, Congress, State, tribal, and local governments, and the general public 

testified before the Subcommittee. In addition to those who testified in person, another 112 organizations or coalitions provided 

written testimony for the hearing record which is publicly available 

online. 

COST OF WILDLAND FIRE

In seven of the last ten years, wildland fire suppression costs 

have exceeded estimated budgets despite being fully funded at the 

ten-year suppression average for such costs. Fire seasons have 

grown longer and more destructive, putting people, communities, 

and ecosystems at greater risk. Fire borrowing has now become 

routine rather than extraordinary. Borrowing from non-fire accounts to pay suppression costs results in the Forest Service and 

Department of the Interior having fewer resources available for forest management activities, including hazardous fuels management 

and other proven efforts, to improve overall forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildland fires. 

The Committee continues to believe the most catastrophic 

wildland fires should be addressed in a fashion similar to other 

major natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes and funded 

through the disaster cap adjustment established by the Budget 

Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112–25). This common sense reform 

would allow for a more responsible and stable way to budget for 

wildland fire costs. 

The Committee notes that the budget request included a provision almost identical to legislation that has been developed in the 

House (H.R. 167) and the Senate (S. 235). The budget request proposes to allow wildland fire suppression costs above 70 percent of 

the 10-year average for fire suppression to be paid from within the 

discretionary budget cap adjustment established for natural disasters, recognizing that wildland fires are a natural disaster akin to 

hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. As the issue of the disaster cap 

adjustment falls outside of the Committee’s jurisdiction, the Committee’s recommendation does not include the request for suppression funding through the disaster cap adjustment. 

As Congress continues to debate the best approach for fire budgeting, the Committee has provided robust wildland fire funding in 

its fiscal year 2017 bill. The bill includes a total of $3,852,708,000 

in wildland fire funding for the Department of the Interior and the 

Forest Service. Fire suppression accounts (including FLAME) are 

fully funded at the ten-year average level. Hazardous fuels reduction program funding, a critical component of an effective overall 

fire strategy, is funded at $575,000,000, which is $30,000,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 level. 

PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILT)

The Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program provides compensation to local governments for the loss of tax revenue resulting 

from the presence of Federal land in their county or State. In 2016, 


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49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will receive PILT payments. The Committee includes bill language providing full PILT 

funding for fiscal year 2017. 

LEAD IN DRINKING WATER

More communities are discovering elevated levels of lead in 

drinking water. It is estimated that nearly 1,500 water systems 

serving more than three million Americans have exceeded EPA’s 

lead in drinking water standard at least once in the past three 

years. The events in Flint, Michigan have called greater attention 

to aging infrastructure, the need for prudent management and 

oversight of water systems, exposed gaps in the understanding of 

contaminants in water systems, and the potential for exposure to 

residents. Targeted investments and prioritization of resources will 

help EPA, States and communities respond to Flint and other affected communities in a manner that addresses the entire water 

system. 

The bill provides $2.1 billion for water infrastructure programs 

including the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving 

Funds (SRFs) and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. This includes an increase of $207 million over the fiscal year 2016 enacted level for the Drinking Water 

SRF and $50 million for the WIFIA program. To the extent possible, States should give greater weight to funding projects on State 

Intended Use Plans that would remove lead pipes from existing infrastructure. Based on current Administration estimates, the Committee believes that direct loan subsidization through $50 million 

in the WIFIA program may be leveraged to fund anywhere from $3 

billion to $5 billion worth of water infrastructure projects nationwide. 

In addition, for fiscal year 2017 the Committee has provided additional authority to allow States to provide debt relief in areas 

with elevated levels of lead in drinking water. It is important for 

States and communities to approach projects in a comprehensive, 

strategic manner. The replacement of aging infrastructure will not 

only help mitigate nationwide issues related to contaminants such 

as lead and arsenic, but will also help address Combined Sewer 

Overflows and Sanitary Sewer Overflows, and allow systems to improve water delivery for residents. As such, the bill allocates $6.5 

million to fully fund activities related to integrated planning, which 

will be increasingly necessary as States and communities evaluate 

drinking water and wastewater systems for lead contamination 

issues. Recognizing the value of State drinking water programs, the 

Committee funds Public Water System Supervision grants as requested at $109.7 million, a $7.7 million increase for improved 

State oversight and operations. 

Finally, more information is necessary in order to understand the 

prevalence of lead pipes in the water infrastructure of cities around 

the country. To better understand the extent of the need, the Committee urges the Government Accountability Office to expeditiously 

assess the number of existing lead service lines by State. 


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RECREATION FEE AUTHORITY

Enacted in 2004, the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act 

(FLREA) authorized five agencies to collect and expend recreation 

fees on land they manage: the Department of the Interior’s Bureau 

of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(FWS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service 

(USFS). These fees, which leverage other funding sources and complement appropriated funds, fund projects that directly benefit the 

visitor experience. 

The authority for FLREA is scheduled to sunset at the end of the 

current fiscal year. This expiration would impact the Department 

of the Interior’s estimated annual collection of $258 million, of 

which the National Park Service collects nearly $230 million. In 

2015, the recreation fee program collected nearly $337 million from 

the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior combined. 

An extension of recreation fee authority is necessary for land managers to plan for upcoming seasons including selling annual passes, 

hiring seasonal employees, planning projects, organizing volunteers, and accepting reservations. The Committee has included 

within Title IV General Provisions a one-year extension of the current recreation fee authority as requested. 

COST OF LITIGATION

The Committee remains concerned that many of the legitimate 

goals of the Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and 

other agencies under the Committee’s jurisdiction—as well as the 

work of this Committee—are undermined by litigation filed in an 

effort to shift land management decisions from the agencies to the 

courts, regardless of merit. 

Litigation is a huge unbudgeted cost for land management agencies. The Committee is concerned that, as budgets shrink, agencies 

are forced to settle lawsuits quickly because they don’t have funds 

available to complete court-imposed work. In addition, the courts 

are not concerned whether agencies have funding necessary to 

meet court mandates. As a result, the courts are playing an increasing role in determining how and where agencies use their 

funding. 

Given ongoing concerns, the Department of the Interior, EPA, 

and the Forest Service are directed to provide to the House and 

Senate Committees on Appropriations, and to make publicly available no later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, detailed 

Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) fee information as specified in 

House Report 112–151. 

STATE WILDLIFE DATA

The Committee is concerned that the Department of the Interior, 

its bureaus, and the Forest Service are not maximizing the opportunity to save funds and leverage States’ on-the-ground wildlife expertise. State wildlife agencies often have the best available science 

on species and retain primary jurisdiction over most wildlife on 

Federal, State, and private lands. The Federal government should 

recognize and fully utilize State resources, including scientific information about species population numbers, conservation status, 


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and habitat availability, among other data. The Committee directs 

Federal agencies to cooperatively engage with State wildlife agencies and to use State fish and wildlife data and analyses as a primary source to inform Federal land use, land planning, and related 

natural resource decisions. The agencies should not duplicate analysis of raw data previously prepared by the States. Federal agencies should also provide their data to State wildlife managers to ensure that the most complete data is available to be incorporated 

into all decision support systems. 

PAPER REDUCTION

The Committee urges each agency funded by this Act to work 

with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reduce printing and reproduction costs and directs each agency to report to the 

Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act on what steps 

have been taken to achieve this goal. The report should specifically 

identify how much money each agency expects to save by implementing these measures. 

EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS

The Committee strongly supports the educational and outreach 

programs of the agencies funded through the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill and encourages 

them to ensure that their efforts reach the widest possible audience, including but not limited to, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges 

and Universities, as appropriate. 

LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND

The Committee recognizes that investments in the Land and 

Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) support public land conservation 

and ensure access to the outdoors for all Americans, and recommends $322 million for LWCF programs. While the program is 

the principal source of funding for National Park Service, Bureau 

of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service land acquisitions, the LWCF Act affords Congress the 

discretion to appropriate funds to a variety of recreation and conservation programs, including, but not limited to, land acquisition. 

The Committee believes it can fulfill the goals of the LWCF Act in 

a fiscally responsible manner by prioritizing State and local programs, consistent with chapter 2003 of title 54 of the United States 

Code, that do not add to the Federal estate and exacerbate deferred 

maintenance backlogs. Accordingly, the Committee recommends 

$186 million (58 percent of LWCF funding) for State and local 

recreation, conservation, battlefield protection and forest legacy 

programs. 

While the Committee remains committed to decreasing the rising 

deferred maintenance backlogs at Federal land management agencies, it recognizes the value of strategic land acquisitions, and recommends an amount appropriate given the constraints of the budget and other priorities within the bill. The recommendation includes $136 million for Federal land acquisition programs, of which 

not less than $24 million is directed to recreational access projects 

and inholdings. 


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Funding for recreational access projects may only be used to open 

or improve access to existing public lands for hunting, fishing, and 

related recreational activities. Funds may not to be used to initiate 

any new land acquisition project unless the project was included in 

the budget justification and approved by the Congress. The Committee directs each agency to develop and include its prioritization 

criteria and project selection process in future budget requests. 

The Committee does not have sufficient information to recommend specific Federal acquisition projects at this time. Each 

land management agency is directed to submit an updated project 

list to the Committee, accounting for any changes in cost estimates, 

willing sellers, or other new information arising since the list of requested projects originated at the start of the fiscal year 2017 

budget process. The list should include authorized appropriation 

levels for each unit, if applicable, total appropriations and acreage 

acquired to date for each unit, status of any unobligated balances, 

evidence of local, State, and congressional support, and, if the 

project would impact a unit boundary, by what amount and under 

what authority. If the agency considers a project, or any parcel of 

a project to be an ‘‘inholding’’, the agency should provide the percentage of the parcel’s border that abuts existing Federal land. 

Lastly, the Committee requests that each agency include in future budget justifications a status report on any prior year LWCF 

spending. The report should include a table of projects funded in 

the two prior fiscal years, comparing actual cost and acreage acquired to date, with cost and acreage estimates that were provided 

to the Congress in budget justifications. 

WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION

The World War I Centennial Commission serves as the lead organizer for the Nation’s commemorative events regarding America’s 

participation in the war. The Commission has selected a final design for a World War I Memorial which will be built at no Federal 

expense on the site of Pershing Park near the White House. The 

Committee is willing to consider limited discretionary appropriations in the future to support the Commission’s efforts provided 

that the Commission submits a detailed budget proposal and justification. 

OPERATING PLANS AND REPROGRAMMING GUIDELINES

Consistent with other appropriations Acts, the Committee has included within Title IV General Provisions (Sec. 403) bill language 

establishing the procedures governing reprogramming actions for 

programs, projects, and activities funded in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Incorporated into 

the section is requested language relating to assessments. The section also includes a requirement that each agency submit an operating plan to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations 

not later than 60 days following enactment of this Act to establish 

the baseline for application of reprogramming for the current fiscal 

year. In addition to the Committee recommendations and directives 

contained herein, the Committee directs each department and 

agency funded in this bill to submit an operating plan at the program, project, and activity level pursuant to Section 403 of this bill. 


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TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT OF LANDS AND RESOURCES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $1,072,675,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 1,075,545,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,081,922,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +9,247,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +6,377,000 

The Committee recommends $1,081,922,000 for Management of Lands and Resources, $9,247,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $6,377,000 above the budget request. A detailed 

table of funding recommendations below the account level is provided at the end of this report. 

Soil, Water, and Air Management.—The Committee recommends 

$43,609,000 for soil, water, and air management, equal to the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $1,769,000 below the budget request. 

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Program is funded at 

$1,500,000. 

Rangeland Management.—The Committee recommends 

$79,000,000 for rangeland management, equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and $16,168,000 above the budget request. The 

Committee directs the agency to focus on reducing the grazing permit backlog and carrying out a systematic program of range monitoring, land health assessments, development and implementation 

of allotment management plans, and adaptive management. The 

Committee rejects the Bureau’s proposal to impose new grazing 

fees. 

Forestry Management.—The Committee recommends $10,076,000 

for forestry management, $96,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

Riparian Management.—The Committee recommends 

$21,321,000 for riparian management, equal to the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and $1,599,000 below the budget request. 

Cultural Resources Management.—The Committee recommends 

$16,131,000 for cultural resources management, equal to the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $1,197,000 below the budget request. 

Wild Horse and Burro Management.—The Committee recommends $80,555,000 to implement Public Law 92–195 (16 U.S.C. 

1331 et seq.) requiring the protection, management, and control of 

free-roaming horses and burros on public lands, equal to the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $447,000 above the budget request. 

The Committee directs the Bureau to continue to study and test 

the feasibility of implementing a scientifically sound and humane 

sterilization program in partnership with universities and nonprofit organizations. The Committee strongly supports research to 

develop and refine a variety of fertility-control methods, including 

immunocontraceptives, which allow for sustainable populations of 

wild horses and burros while maintaining the genetic viability of 

the protected herds. 

The Committee is concerned about the number of herds with 

horse and burro populations that exceed their Appropriate Management Levels. Overpopulation damages rangeland and decreases the 

quality of life of the herds. The Committee also is concerned about 


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the large number of horses that are held in long-term holding. 

Given the increasing costs of operating the program, the Committee strongly encourages the Bureau to increase the use of existing population control measures as well as continue to implement 

the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences. The 

Committee further directs the Bureau to work cooperatively with 

States and other partners to control wild horse and burro herds. 

The bill continues a prohibition on funds to implement Section 

1333(b)(2)(C) of Title 16, United States Code, requiring the humane 

destruction of excess animals that are not adopted. The bill also 

continues a general provision within Title I allowing the Bureau to 

enter into long-term contracts and agreements for holding facilities 

off the range. 

Wildlife and Fisheries.—The Committee recommends 

$114,661,000 for wildlife and fisheries, $12,750,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $6,658,000 below the budget request. 

Within the total provided, the Committee recommends 

$102,131,000 for wildlife management. The additional $11,750,000 

is intended specifically for the Bureau to remove encroaching conifers, eradicate and control invasive weeds, restore riparian habitats, reduce fuel loads, and augment post-fire stabilization and rehabilitation efforts, as requested. The Committee recommends 

$12,530,000 for fisheries management. 

The Committee notes that the Bureau is working with States, 

communities and interested partners to incorporate up-to-date data 

and science on the greater sage-grouse in the Resource Management Plans and related Land Use Plan Amendments. However, the 

Committee continues to hear concerns, particularly from ranchers 

and mining companies, that the Bureau is failing to 1) manage for 

sustained yield and multiple uses and inconsistently applying longstanding, existing regulations; 2) consider the mitigation and habitat conservation successes of private entities and benefits of wellmanaged grazing; and 3) appreciate the role of States in managing 

wildlife and the economic needs of rural communities. Recognizing 

that thriving sage-grouse populations, rangelands, and local economies are interconnected and support healthy communities, the 

Committee directs the Bureau to ensure it is fairly and consistently 

applying its statutory mandate to manage for sustained yield and 

multiple use and adhering to its current regulations and processes. 

The Committee commends the Bureau for completing the National Seed Strategy and provides $1,000,000 to implement it. The 

Committee continues to believe the Bureau should focus on increasing the availability of appropriate seed to address high-priority restoration needs and to collaboratively work with other Federal agencies, States, researchers, and private partners to implement the 

strategy. 

Recreation Management.—The Committee recommends 

$69,461,000 for recreation management, equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and $2,396,000 below the budget request. The 

bill includes a general provision in Title IV prohibiting the use of 

funds to close areas open to recreational hunting and shooting as 

of January 1, 2013. 

Energy and Minerals.—The Committee recommends 

$164,943,000 for energy and minerals, $1,661,000 below the fiscal 


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year 2016 enacted level and $26,875,000 above the budget request. 

The Committee does not accept the proposal to increase fees. 

The Committee directs the Bureau to collaboratively work with 

industry, other Federal agencies, States, and interested entities on 

methane emission issues. 

Resource Protection and Maintenance.—The Committee recommends $110,150,000 for resource protection and maintenance, 

$972,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $16,168,000 

below the budget request. 

Soda Ash.—The Committee is concerned that other Nations provide significant subsidies to their soda ash producers and related 

industries, which causes U.S. companies to reduce operations and 

employment and negatively affects families and communities. As 

such, the Committee directs the Bureau to provide a report, within 

60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, on the current state 

of the U.S. industry and the negative effects of State-sponsored 

subsidies and to work with U.S. companies to provide royalty relief, 

as appropriate and authorized by current law. 

Resource Management Planning.—The Committee recommends 

$48,125,000 for resource management planning, equal to the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $17,078,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee reminds the Bureau not to duplicate existing efforts at the U.S. Geological Survey and in the private sector. 

Planning Process.—The Committee urges the Bureau to extend 

the public comment period on the proposed ‘‘Planning 2.0’’ initiative by no less than 30 days beyond the current 90 day comment 

period to ensure States, local governments, and other partners 

have adequate time to analyze the proposal and provide comments. 

Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.—The Committee is concerned about the transportation routes identified in the Draft Resource Management Plan and encourages the Bureau to work with 

the Fish and Wildlife Service; the State of Utah; Washington County, Utah; the city of St. George, Utah; and other cooperating entities to identify a northern transportation route as directed by the 

Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, P.L. 111–11. 

Resource Protection and Law Enforcement.—The Committee recommends $26,616,000 for law enforcement, $1,121,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $1,000,000 above the budget request to fill vacant ranger positions. The Bureau is directed to 

focus on visitor safety and archaeological resource protection and to 

defer to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for investigative and other non-emergency matters of 

Federal law not unique to Bureau lands or property. 

Challenge Cost Share.—The Committee recommends no funding 

for the challenge cost share program, as requested, which is 

$2,413,000 below the fiscal year 2016 level. Although no funds are 

provided for this program, the Committee encourages the Bureau 

to continue to work with partners on outdoor ethics education and 

stewardship programs designed to help keep America’s public lands 

healthy, open and accessible for opportunities to enjoy responsible 

outdoor recreation, especially high-impact activities such as recreational shooting and off-highway vehicle use. 

National Landscape Conservation System.—The Committee recommends $36,819,000 for the national landscape conservation system, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $13,826,000 


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below the budget request. The bill includes a general provision in 

Title I prohibiting the use of funds to implement Secretarial Order 

Number 3310 pertaining to wild lands. 

The Committee encourages the Bureau to continue to work with 

the State of Idaho to provide appropriate access to Federal lands 

for the purposes of aquifer recharge projects. 

The Committee is aware the California State office is establishing an independent monitoring pilot program for certain offhighway vehicle events and supports the Bureau’s implementation 

of the pilot program within 120 days, as planned. The Committee 

requests a report on the pilot program and any recommendations 

to facilitate its expansion to other States. 

The Committee is concerned that the Bureau’s actions regarding 

Federal oil and gas leases in the White River National Forest, including the release of the Preliminary Preferred Alternative in 

March 2016, are undermining the collaboration among Members of 

Congress, locally elected officials, and private and public partners 

to resolve the status of the leases. The Committee directs the Bureau to reconsider its actions and to work in a collaborative manner with all interested parties to reach a broadly supported resolution. 

LAND ACQUISITION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $38,630,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 43,959,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 19,400,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥19,230,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥24,559,000 

The Committee recommends $19,400,000 for land acquisition, $19,230,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$24,559,000 below the budget request. A detailed table of funding 

recommendations below the account level is provided at the end of 

this report. 

The Committee has included language and direction on Land and 

Water Conservation Fund programs in the front of this report. 

OREGON AND CALIFORNIA GRANT LANDS

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $107,734,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 106,985,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 106,985,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥749,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $106,985,000 for the Oregon and 

California (O&C) grant lands, $749,000 below the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and equal to the budget request. A detailed table of 

funding recommendations below the account level is provided at 

the end of this report. 

The Committee is concerned with the Bureau’s plan to withdraw 

approximately 75 percent of the O&C grant lands from sustained 

yield management and provide annual harvests of less than half 

the minimum described in the Oregon and California Revested 

Lands Act of 1937. The Committee reminds the Bureau that the 

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formity with the principles of sustained yield management in an 

annual quantity averaging not less than 500 million board feet. 

The Committee directs the Bureau to implement a plan that conforms to the mandates of that Act. 

RANGE IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation of not 

less than $10,000,000 to be derived from public lands receipts and 

Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act lands grazing receipts, as requested. 

SERVICE CHARGES, DEPOSITS, AND FORFEITURES

The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation estimated to be $31,050,000 for Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures, as requested. 

MISCELLANEOUS TRUST FUNDS

The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation estimated to be $24,000,000, as requested. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

The Committee recommendation includes the requested Administrative Provisions. 

UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is to 

conserve, protect and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats 

for the continuing benefit of people. Although the States are primarily responsible for management of fish and wildlife within their 

borders, the Service has been delegated responsibilities for certain 

threatened and endangered species, interjurisdictional fish and migratory bird species, and marine mammals, in addition to managing the National Fish Hatchery System and the National Wildlife Refuge System. 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $1,238,771,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 1,309,912,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,255,004,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 16,233,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥54,908,000 

The Committee recommends $1,255,004,000 for Resource Management, $16,233,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$54,908,000 below the budget request. Descriptions of activities 

below the account level are contained in the justification submitted 

to the Congress, except as otherwise discussed below and summarized in the table at the end of this report. 

Listing.—The recommendation includes $14,411,000 for Endangered Species Act listings and related activities, $6,104,000 below 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The proposed transfer of funds 

out of critical habitat designations is approved. The proposed transfer of funds into petitions is not approved; the number of listings 

and petitions to list have far outpaced the Service’s ability to keep 


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up with its other Endangered Species Act mandates, such as status 

reviews and consultations, so the recommendation redistributes the 

funds elsewhere to meet these other mandates. 

The Committee remains concerned that deadlines imposed by the 

2011 multispecies litigation settlements may be compromising the 

Service’s ability to be thorough in its economic impact analyses, to 

provide fair public notice and opportunity to comment, to base decisions upon the best available scientific evidence, and to be exceptionally transparent with the information upon which its decisions 

are made. The Service is directed to re-evaluate its work plans in 

order to meet these obligations in light of the budget, and to request deadline extensions as necessary. 

The Service is directed to exclude flood control reservoirs from 

critical habitat determinations, such as for the western distinct 

population segment of the yellow-billed cuckoo as described in detail in House Report 114–170. 

The Committee recognizes that the Service may consider species 

that are non-native to the U.S. for listing under the Endangered 

Species Act (ESA), based on their biological status in the wild. The 

Committee also recognizes that captive breeding and artificial propagation of listed species can have important conservation value. 

Any listing of a species as threatened should not, by default, adversely impact operations that engage in captive or artificial propagation for domestic or international trade in accordance with international law governing trade in protected species. The Service is 

therefore urged to consider alternative exemptions under section 

4(d) of the ESA for the continued commercial trade in captive or 

artificially propagated non-native sturgeons that are not linked to 

conservation activities within the range countries. 

Planning and Consultation.—The recommendation includes 

$103,650,000 for planning and consultation, $4,571,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level. Timely evaluations and permitting 

of proposed infrastructure and other development projects contribute to economic growth and job creation. The Service should 

distribute the increase in accordance with the backlog of requests 

from outside the Service for technical assistance and consultations, 

including habitat conservation planning (HCP) and hatchery genetic management planning. 

The Committee recognizes the important role of HCPs in both recovery of species and in providing economic certainty and growth 

to municipalities affected by listed species. The Service is encouraged to place a priority on working with partners making good 

faith efforts to develop and implement responsible HCPs. 

No additional funds are provided for planning and consultation 

of restoration projects funded by settlement agreements, including 

those associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Any such 

projects required by law to have technical assistance, consultation, 

or permits from the Service should have such costs built into the 

projects. The Service is directed to establish a reimbursement program consistent with similar programs across the Department. 

Conservation and Restoration.—The recommendation includes 

$32,646,000 for conservation and restoration, $250,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The increase is for expedited mapping of flood-prone coastal areas, as authorized by the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA). Funding for the National Wetlands InVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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ventory is maintained at $3,471,000. Funding for the sagebrush 

steppe ecosystem is maintained at $3,250,000. 

Recovery.—The recommendation includes $86,198,000 for Endangered Species Act recovery planning and oversight, five-year status 

reviews, and associated status changes, $4,182,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level. Funding to eliminate the backlog of 

downlistings and delistings is not less than $3,000,000, which is 

$1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

The Service stated in its budget justification that limited resources force the program to make difficult tradeoffs among fiveyear reviews, developing recovery plans, implementing recovery actions, delisting and downlisting. The Committee therefore directs 

the Service to focus on only those ESA mandates which are inherently governmental, and not to engage in other activities, such as 

implementing recovery actions, unless the costs are at least 

matched by partners outside the Service. 

The Service is directed to develop recovery plans for all listed 

species as required by law; to include measurable goals in each recovery plan; and to report to the Congress on any species for which 

the Secretary finds that a recovery plan will not promote the conservation of the species, including the justification. 

The Service is directed to complete all status reviews within the 

five-year period required by law, and, for any determination on the 

basis of such review whether a species should be delisted, 

downlisted, or uplisted, promulgate an associated regulation prior 

to initiating the next status review for such species. 

So that trends in the endangered species recovery program may 

be observed, the Service is directed to include, in its next such report to Congress, ‘‘species status’’ and all other data points for each 

species that were included in the report entitled, ‘‘Report to Congress on the Recovery of Threatened and Endangered Species, Fiscal Years 2009–2010’’. 

The recommendation includes $2,500,000 for matching grants to 

nonprofit organizations implementing genetically-sound breeding, 

rearing, and reintroduction programs as prescribed in recovery 

plans, such as for northern aplomado falcon and California condor. 

Not less than $2,000,000 is recommended for the recovery of listed bat species impacted by white-nose syndrome, provided such 

funds are matched by partners outside the Service. 

The Committee is aware that the State of Utah has taken over 

management for the Utah prairie dog as a result of a decision by 

a Federal judge. The Committee is also aware that the Fish and 

Wildlife Service is appealing that verdict. In the event that the 

Fish and Wildlife Service is successful in its appeal, the Committee 

recognizes the importance of the Fish and Wildlife Service coordinating with the State of Utah on developing a new conservation 

plan that provides a mechanism for reconciling local development 

interests with conservation of the Utah prairie dog, consistent with 

the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. The State of Utah 

and local counties have committed significant financial resources to 

the recovery of the Utah prairie dog and those efforts should be appropriately recognized in the conservation planning efforts. 

The Service is directed to brief the Committee on the Service’s 

evaluation and strategy for the red wolf recovery program within 

12 months of enactment of this Act. 


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The bill includes language directing the Secretary to re-issue 

final rules delisting recovered gray wolves in Wyoming and the 

Great Lakes, consistent with congressional action on recovered 

gray wolves in Idaho and Montana in the fiscal year 2011 appropriation. The Committee is compelled to act when egregious lawsuits waste limited agency resources and threaten the integrity of 

the Endangered Species Act, which guarantees that the Federal 

government will return management authority to the States once 

recovery plan goals are met and scientifically-sound State management plans are in place. Upon enactment of this Act, the Service 

is urged to finalize its proposal to delist recovered gray wolves 

range-wide. 

Partners for Fish and Wildlife.—The recommendation includes 

$52,026,000 for voluntary, non-regulatory partnerships with private landowners as authorized by the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act, $250,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The 

Service is urged to maintain ideal staffing levels for ongoing 

invasive species eradication efforts on private and national wildlife 

refuge lands, such as for nutria in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, 

in order to minimize the likelihood that such species will return. 

In addition, the recommendation includes $1,285,000 as requested 

for regional fisheries enhancement groups. 

Coastal Programs.—The recommendation includes $13,625,000 

for voluntary, non-regulatory coastal habitat programs, $250,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $131,000 above the 

budget request. 

National Wildlife Refuge System.—The recommendation includes 

$484,861,000 for the National Wildlife Refuge System, $3,434,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. Increases above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level include: $250,000 for invasive species control in coordination with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program; $250,000 to increase the number of volunteer hours, which 

have declined in recent years; and $250,000 to reduce the backlog 

of statutorily-required comprehensive conservation plans. The Service is commended for its efforts at certain refuges to develop plans 

that are strongly supported by the surrounding communities. 

Maintenance support is increased by $2,184,000 and deferred 

maintenance is increased by $500,000, as requested, to continue to 

reduce the maintenance backlog. 

The Committee directs the Service to institute signage on any individual refuge where trapping occurs. The Service is also directed 

to establish guidance on such signage and include it in the refuge 

manual. Information should be posted on the National Wildlife Refuge System website and the websites of the individual refuges 

where trapping is occurring so the public is informed. The Committee understands that Waterfowl Production Areas, easements, 

and Coordination Areas are established under different authorities 

and, as a result, signage may vary at these sites. 

The Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area was created to protect one of the last remaining 

grassland and longleaf pine savanna landscapes in eastern North 

America while securing water resources for seven million people in 

south Florida. The Committee supports collaborative efforts to protect, restore, and conserve habitats for one of the greatest ecological treasures of the United States. 


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The Service is reminded that solutions to recreational-use conflicts in national wildlife refuges should begin with the Refuge 

Manager engaging their local communities and collaborating with 

local officials and other representatives of recreational users to find 

mutually-agreeable solutions to conflicts. Failure to do so can result 

in significant public backlash, such as has happened with regard 

to proposed new recreational boating restrictions at Lake Havasu 

National Wildlife Refuge. 

Migratory Bird Management.—The recommendation includes 

$48,605,000 for migratory bird management, $1,125,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level. Increases include $500,000 as requested to improve aviation safety, $250,000 for conservation and 

monitoring, and $250,000 for migratory bird joint ventures. Permitting to reduce bird-livestock conflicts is funded at $350,000, which 

is $100,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The Service 

is commended for its efforts to work with landowners to reduce 

black vulture predation on livestock. 

Executive Order 13186, issued in 2001, directed Federal agencies 

to develop a memorandum of understanding and work together to 

promote the conservation of migratory bird populations, and established an interagency Council for the Conservation of Migratory 

Birds (Council). The last annual report produced by the Council 

was in 2012. The Committee supports the Council’s efforts to 

streamline the annual report development process, and to provide 

more detailed information on the Council web page, in order to disseminate the information in a more timely fashion. 

The Service is urged to update permitting requirements at section 21.12 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, to account for 

the addition of other accredited zoological trade organizations that 

did not exist at the time the regulation was last published. 

Law Enforcement.—The recommendation includes $75,053,000 as 

requested for law enforcement, $328,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level. The Service is directed to enforce illegal logging violations pursuant to the Lacey Act. 

Wildlife trafficking is funded at $7,500,000, as requested. Lawful 

importers and exporters should not shoulder the cost burden of a 

Service workload that has increased as global markets have expanded and wildlife trafficking has become more sophisticated. 

Service inspectors not only examine legally declared packages but 

now must also undertake efforts to interdict illegal shipments of 

wildlife and wildlife products. Funds appropriated specifically to 

combat wildlife trafficking may be used to supplement inspections. 

The Committee has been made aware of concerns about expeditious inspection of perishable echinoderms, squid, octopus and cuttlefish. Due to the limited shelf life, it is imperative inspections 

occur in less than 48 hours. The Committee has been informed the 

Service is working to inspect perishable items in 24 hours or less 

and requests data from the Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) to document these efforts and determine 

if there are any obstacles toward achieving that goal. The Service 

is also directed to brief the Committee on steps they are taking to 

review the regulations to ensure no industry is operating at a disadvantage and to provide a status on harvest levels and illegal 

wildlife interdicted because of these inspections. 


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International Affairs.—The recommendation includes $15,196,000 

for international affairs, $500,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The increase is to combat wildlife trafficking, as requested. 

The Committee is concerned about the recent increase of illegal 

trade in rhinoceros horn, elephant ivory, and harvested timber; the 

large sums of money that these products command on the black 

market; and the significant source of financing these activities provide for armed insurgencies and groups with links to transnational 

organized crime and terrorism. These activities threaten the stability and development of African countries and pose a threat to 

U.S. security interests. The Committee supports Service programs 

in particular that focus on: (1) site-based law enforcement protection in Africa for the most at-risk populations of forest and savannah elephants; (2) development and implementation of regional 

wildlife law enforcement networks in Africa and Asia; and (3) 

training local park guards and other wildlife law enforcement officers. These programs should be carried out in coordination with 

other U.S. agencies, local governments, and international conservation partners. The Committee encourages coordination between the 

Service and the Department of Homeland Security at U.S. ports of 

entry. 

The Committee recognizes the Service’s work with Honduras, El 

Salvador, and Guatemala to conserve priority species and ecosystems, and urges the continuation of these international partnerships in fiscal year 2017. 

Fish and Aquatic Conservation.—The recommendation includes 

$153,256,000 for Fish and Aquatic Conservation, $5,000,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, as described below. The Service 

is directed to continue its tradition of improving freshwater subsistence, commercial, and recreational fishing since 1871. The recommendation includes $55,418,000 for National Fish 

Hatchery System Operations, $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and $1,659,000 above the budget request. A portion 

of the increase should be used to fill hatchery manager vacancies. 

Not less than $800,000 is recommended for the aquatic animal 

drug approval partnership program, $400,000 above the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level. The national wild fish health survey program 

is funded at not less than $1,430,000, as requested. The Service 

should take economic return-on-investment into account in the allocation of National Fish Hatchery System Operations funds. 

The bill includes language prohibiting the termination of operations or the closure of any of the 90 units of the National Fish 

Hatchery System. The bill also includes language directing the 

Service to begin a propagation and reintroduction program for delta 

smelt. 

None of the production programs listed in the March, 2013, National Fish Hatchery System Strategic Hatchery and Workforce 

Planning Report, may be reduced or terminated without advance, 

informal consultation with affected States and Indian tribes. 

The Service is directed to maintain the fisheries archives, including the National Fishery Artifacts and Records Center and the Collection Management Facility, at its current location; to fill and station on site all vacant positions; and to share the costs and oversight across the fisheries program nationwide. 


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The recommendation includes $22,920,000 as requested for Main- tenance and Equipment, including a $3,000,000 increase above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level to reduce the deferred maintenance 

backlog. The Service should allocate funds to facilities with the 

most severe health and safety deficiencies across the System as a 

whole, rather than by region. The recommendation includes $74,918,000 for Aquatic Habitat 

and Species Conservation, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level. The Klamath agreement is funded at $1,610,000, as requested. Asian carp control is funded at $8,400,000. Quagga and 

zebra mussel control is funded at $2,000,000, as requested. Sea 

lamprey administrative costs are funded at $711,000, as requested. 

Increases above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level include $250,000 

for the National Fish Passage Program and $1,140,000 to implement State and interstate aquatic invasive species plans mandated 

by the National Invasive Species Act. The total amount allocated 

to the States for implementing such plans should be not less than 

$3,706,000. 

The Service is urged to accelerate the rulemaking process under 

the Lacey Act to prohibit the importation of live lionfish without 

prohibiting the sale and purchase of lionfish filets or the possession 

of lionfish already in aquariums. 

Cooperative Landscape Conservation.—The recommendation includes $12,988,000 for landscape conservation cooperatives (LCCs), 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The Committee continues to be concerned about a lack of State and tribal support for 

LCCs in certain parts of the country. The Service should focus on 

areas where partnerships are strongest. 

Science Support.—The recommendation includes $16,985,000 for 

science support, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. Not 

less than $2,500,000 is recommended to continue the search for a 

cure for white-nose syndrome in bats. The Service should propose 

future increases for science within the budgets of existing programs 

that need the science, such as fisheries, refuges, migratory birds, 

and endangered species, if such science is a priority for the programs. The Service is urged to engage with Cooperative Research 

Units in partnership with States, universities, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in order to leverage its funding. 

General Operations.—The recommendation includes $145,504,000 

for General Operations, $2,447,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $5,928,000 below the budget request. The recommendation includes the requested transfer of $153,000. Annual 

maintenance for the National Conservation Training Center 

(NCTC) is increased by $2,600,000, as requested, in order to avoid 

a maintenance backlog. The Service is encouraged to continue to 

make the NCTC available, at cost, to other Federal, State, tribal, 

and non-governmental entities for the purposes of conservation 

training. 

CONSTRUCTION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $23,687,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 23,740,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 14,837,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥8,850,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥8,903,000 


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The Committee recommends $14,837,000 for Construction, 

$8,850,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $8,903,000 

below the budget request. The recommendation includes requested 

funding for national fish hatcheries, dam safety, and the forensics 

laboratory. A detailed table of funding recommendations below the 

account level is provided at the end of this report. 

LAND ACQUISITION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $68,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 58,655,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 50,300,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥18,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥8,355,000 

The Committee recommends $50,300,000 for land acquisition, 

$18,200,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$8,355,000 below the budget request. A detailed table of funding 

recommendations below the account level is provided at the end of 

this report. 

Language and direction on Land and Water Conservation Fund 

programs is provided in the front of this report and includes direction on the use of recreational access funds. While the Committee 

does not include a directive limiting acquisition size and cost that 

could inadvertently discourage leveraging, the Committee expects 

the Service to use fiscal year 2017 recreational access funds in accordance with the defined use of recreational access funds in its fiscal year 2017 justification: to acquire small parcels of land to conserve important wildlife habitat and provide recreational opportunities, including hunting and fishing. Accordingly, the Committee 

recommends $1,000,000 for recreational access projects. The Service is directed to notify the Committee of any land acquired with 

these funds. 

In a time when budgetary constraints allow for only a limited 

number of new land acquisition projects, the Committee is encouraged by programs that leverage public/private partnerships for 

land conservation like the Highlands Conservation Act, which has 

a record of more than a 2 to 1 ratio in non-Federal matching funds. 

Therefore, the Committee recommendation includes $10,000,000 for 

the Highlands Conservation Act Grants and directs the Fish and 

Wildlife Service to work with the Highlands States regarding priority projects for fiscal year 2017. 

COOPERATIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND

The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund provides matching grants to States and territories for endangered species recovery actions on non-Federal lands, and provides matching 

funds for non-Federal land acquisition to facilitate habitat protection. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $53,495,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 53,495,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 55,590,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +2,095,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +2,095,000 


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The Committee recommends $55,590,000 for the Cooperative En- dangered Species Conservation Fund, $2,095,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. The recommendation includes the requested amount for conservation grants but 

maintains level funding for HCP assistance grants. A detailed table 

of funding recommendations below the account level is provided at 

the end of this report. 

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FUND

The National Wildlife Refuge Fund shares refuge revenues and 

makes payments in lieu of taxes to counties in which Service lands 

are located. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $13,228,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 0 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 0 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥13,228,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $0 for the National Wildlife Refuge Fund, as requested, $13,228,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level. Payments to counties in all 50 States, the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are estimated to 

be $5,516,000 in fiscal year 2017 from the net refuge receipts estimated to be collected in fiscal year 2016. 

NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION FUND

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989 provided for matching grants to carry out wetlands conservation 

projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the benefit 

of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife. Additional program funding comes from fines, penalties, and forfeitures 

collected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918; from Federal fuel excise taxes on small gasoline engines, as directed by 

amendments to the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of 

1950, to benefit coastal ecosystem projects; and from interest accrued on the fund established under the Federal Aid in Wildlife 

Restoration Act of 1937. Authorization of appropriations expired in 

fiscal year 2012. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $35,145,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 35,145,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 37,645,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +2,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +2,500,000 

The Committee recommends $37,645,000 for the North American 

Wetlands Conservation Fund, $2,500,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and the budget request. The Service is urged to make 

wetlands restoration projects that protect hunting and fishing treaty rights a higher priority. 

NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000 authorized matching grants for the conservation of neotropical migratory 

birds in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, with 

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side the United States. Authorization of appropriations expired in 

fiscal year 2010. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $3,910,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 3,910,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,910,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $3,910,000 for neotropical migratory 

bird conservation, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

the budget request. 

MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND

The Multinational Species Conservation Fund provides technical 

assistance and matching grants to countries to strengthen antipoaching activities; builds community support for conservation near 

these species’ habitats; conducts surveys, monitoring, and applied 

research; and provides infrastructure and field equipment necessary to conserve habitats. These funds help to leverage work with 

partners and other collaborators to conserve and protect African 

and Asian elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, great apes, marine turtles, and their habitats. Authorizations of appropriations for the 

programs within this Fund have all expired. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $11,061,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 11,061,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 11,061,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $11,061,000 for the Multinational 

Species Conservation Fund, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and the budget request. A detailed table of funding recommendations below the account level is provided at the end of 

this report. The Committee recognizes that international wildlife 

trafficking has national security implications and therefore supports the Service’s interagency and international cooperative efforts. 

STATE AND TRIBAL WILDLIFE GRANTS

The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program provides grants to 

States and Indian tribes, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories, to conserve fish and 

wildlife that are at risk of being listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The intent is to avoid the costly and time-consuming process of ESA listings and related regulatory actions. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $60,571,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 66,981,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 62,571,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +2,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥4,410,000 

The Committee recommends $62,571,000 for State and Tribal 

Wildlife Grants, $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $4,410,000 below the budget request. The Service is directed 

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ranted for listing but precluded because of higher priorities, and on 

species proposed for listing but not yet listed. States are encouraged to do the same with the formula grants. The Service is urged 

to document and communicate to the Congress whenever an Endangered Species Act downlisting or delisting occurs, or whenever 

a listing is otherwise no longer warranted, due in large part or in 

whole to efforts funded through this program. 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

The mission of the National Park Service (Service) is to preserve 

unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the 

national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration 

of this and future generations. Established in 1916, the National 

Park Service has stewardship responsibilities for the protection and 

preservation of the heritage resources of the national park system. 

The system, consisting of 410 separate and distinct units, is recognized globally as a leader in park management and resource preservation. The national park system represents much of the finest 

the Nation has to offer in terms of natural beauty and wildlife, historical and archeological relics, and cultural heritage. Through its 

varied sites, the National Park Service attempts to explain America’s history, interpret its culture, preserve examples of its natural 

ecosystems, and provide recreational and educational opportunities 

for U.S. citizens and visitors from all over the world. In addition, 

the National Park Service provides support to tribal, local, and 

State governments to preserve culturally significant, ecologically 

important, and public recreational lands. 

The National Park Service is 100 years old in 2016. The Service 

embarked on a ten-year effort to enhance the national parks leading up to this historic celebration. The Committee supports this effort leading to a second century of conservation, environmental 

stewardship and recreation benefiting millions of visitors from 

throughout the world. 

OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $2,369,596,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 2,524,362,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,435,047,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +65,451,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥89,315,000 

The Committee recommends $2,435,047,000 for Operation of the 

National Park System (ONPS), $65,451,000 above the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and $89,315,000 below the budget request. The 

amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the budget estimates by activity are shown in the table at the end of this 

report. 

Additional Guidance.—The following additional direction and 

guidance is provided with respect to funding provided within this 

account: 

Centennial of the National Park Service.—The Centennial of the 

National Park Service this year marks the beginning of a second 

century of stewardship, education, conservation, and recreation involving some of America’s most treasured spaces. The Committee 


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recognizes the importance of this historic national celebration and 

remains committed to its success. 

Accordingly, the Committee provides $65,451,000 in new discretionary funding within the Operation of the National Park System 

(ONPS) account to support the Centennial Initiative and related efforts, including funds to address deferred and cyclic maintenance 

needs. Specifically, the bill provides $10,672,000 as requested to 

support new responsibilities and critical needs across the System 

including critical operating needs at Park Service sites associated 

with the Civil Rights Movement as well as law enforcement and 

visitor services operations during the 2017 Presidential Inauguration; and $2,552,000 to support Service operations by providing increased communication bandwidth at parks. The bill also provides 

within ONPS $35,000,000 in new discretionary funding for repair 

and rehabilitation projects and $15,000,000 to address cyclic maintenance needs. These funds are supplemented by $30,000,000 provided within the Centennial Challenge matching grant program account dedicated to supporting signature projects and programs that 

provide visitor services enhancements for parks beyond amounts 

provided for basic operations. 

Given the scope of the Centennial Initiative, the Committee directs the Service to provide a report, not later than 90 days after 

enactment of this Act, detailing the distribution of funds supporting the Centennial Initiative and the anticipated return on investment on this substantial Federal investment. 

Resource Stewardship.—The bill provides $329,078,000 for resource stewardship. Increases above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level include $862,000 as requested to support new responsibilities 

and critical needs. The bill also includes $2,000,000 to continue 

zebra and quagga mussel containment, prevention, and enforcement. This funding was included in the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

bill but was not proposed in the budget request. 

Visitor Services.—The bill provides $258,516,000 for visitor services. Increases above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level include 

$3,279,000 as requested to support new responsibilities and critical 

needs. The bill also includes funding for the National Capital Area 

Performing Arts Program which was proposed for termination in 

the budget request. 

Park Protection.—The bill provides $358,672,000 for park protection. Increases above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level include 

$2,989,000 to support new responsibilities and critical needs as requested. 

Facility Maintenance and Operations.—The bill provides 

$792,721,000 for facility maintenance and operations. Increases 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level include $2,253,000 as requested to support new responsibilities and critical needs. The recommendation also includes $35,000,000 for repair and rehabilitation projects and $15,000,000 to address cyclic maintenance needs. 

Park Support.—The bill provides $515,457,000 for park support. 

Increases above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level include 

$1,289,000 as requested to support new responsibilities and critical 

needs and $2,552,000 to provide for increased communication bandwidth to support operations at national parks. 

The Committee recommendation for Operation of the National 

Park System includes the following additional guidance: 


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Aquatic Invasive Species.—The Committee remains concerned 

about the spread of quagga and zebra mussels in the West. As of 

2015, there were 10 western parks with established quagga/zebra 

mussel management or prevention programs. The Committee directs the Secretary of the Interior to continue developing and updating, using the best available science minimum protocols and 

training techniques for Federal, State, local, and private entities, 

a consistent standard of inspection and decontamination of recreational watercraft and equipment, as prescribed in the February 

2010 Quagga/Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters. 

Further, consistent with fiscal year 2016, the Committee pro- vides the Service with $2,000,000 for quagga and zebra mussel containment, prevention, and enforcement and directs the Service to 

prioritize the decontamination of watercraft and equipment leaving 

the watersheds of contaminated bodies, including Lake Powell and 

Lake Mead. Lastly, the Committee directs the Service to provide, 

not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, a report on 

steps taken in recent years to address this pervasive threat to 

western watersheds. 

White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bats.—The Committee remains 

concerned over the effects white-nose syndrome is having on the 

important roles bats perform in ecological functions in parks. The 

Committee provides funds as requested to support the Service’s efforts to control the spread of the disease; protect and better inventory NPS bat and cave resources; expand research and partnerships for research on WNS management; monitor NPS resources 

for WNS; conduct public education about WNS; and standardize 

visitor WNS screening procedures across park units. 

Eastern Legacy Study (Lewis and Clark Trail Study).—The Eastern Legacy Study authorized to determine the feasibility of extending the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is now three years 

overdue. While the Committee appreciates that the study area is 

approximately 7,400 miles across 14 eastern States and the District 

of Columbia, the Committee directs the Service to work expeditiously to complete the study in a timely fashion and report back 

to the Committee on any impediments to completion. 

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.—The Committee is pleased with recent operational improvements at Big 

South Fork National River and Recreation Area. These improvements, including increased staffing and supervisory oversight, are 

showing tangible results and resulting in enhanced visitor experiences. The Committee also recognizes the important role that park 

partnerships with State and local organizations play in promoting 

recreational opportunities at the park, particularly during the 

Service’s Centennial celebration. As efforts continue to improve 

park infrastructure, the Committee urges the Service to identify 

and assess the potential costs of additional needs including yearround bathroom facilities, campsite renovations, and other critical 

park features. 

Death Valley National Park.—Scotty’s Castle, a historic national 

landmark in Death Valley National Park, has been closed to the 

public since flash floods damaged the landmark’s visitor center, 

museum, and nearby roads in 2015. More rain fell in two days than 

normally occurs in a year resulting in mud and debris measuring 

four feet thick in some areas. Repairs are necessary to flood control 


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berms, the facility’s electrical, sewer, and water system, and to the 

physical buildings. The Committee urges the Service to provide in 

its fiscal year 2018 budget justification a detailed estimate of funds 

necessary to complete repairs to this iconic landmark in a timely 

manner. The Committee further directs the Service to take steps 

to ensure the security and protection of Scotty’s Castle, and the 

contents of the museum, to protect from theft and trespassing at 

this historic site. 

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA).—The 

Committee directs the Service to report, within 180 days of enactment of this Act, on progress in identifying potential site options 

and associated costs for the development of a permanent headquarters and visitor use facility at the Mississippi National River 

and Recreation Area as described in the report accompanying P.L. 

114–113. The Service shall work with government and non-government partners to determine the feasibility of potential site options 

and their suitability to support visitor use and park interpretation 

in accordance with the themes as outlined in the 2014 Mississippi 

National River and Recreation Area Foundation Document. 

James A. Garfield Memorial.—The Committee understands that 

the Service is undertaking a reconnaissance study to assess the eligibility of the James A. Garfield Memorial at Lake View Cemetery 

for designation as an affiliated area of the national park system. 

The Committee supports this ongoing study and directs the Service 

to complete its assessment expeditiously. 

Sexual Harassment.—The Committee is concerned about a recent 

report from the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General of 

a long-term issue of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment at the Grand Canyon National Park’s River District. The 

Committee directs the Service to undertake a thorough review of 

this incident and provide a report within 90 days of enactment of 

this Act, of the findings and specific corrective actions needed to 

preclude this incident from recurring at Grand Canyon and 

throughout the national park System. 

Theodore Roosevelt Island.—The Committee directs the Service 

to continue working cooperatively with the Theodore Roosevelt Association to place interpretive markers on Theodore Roosevelt Island detailing President Roosevelt’s work on issues related to the 

natural world. 

Biscayne National Park Marine Reserve Zone.—Biscayne National Park (BNP) is the largest marine park in the National Park 

System. In June 2015, BNP finalized an update of the Park’s 1983 

General Management Plan (GMP), approving a no-fishing marine 

reserve eliminating fishing and severely restricting boating in more 

than 10,000 acres of the park’s most popular and productive marine waters. 

The Committee joins members of the Florida congressional delegation in expressing concern over the establishment of a marine reserve zone or other marine protected area in State waters of Biscayne National Park without rigorous scientific evidence, an adaptive management approach, and clear, science-based goals underlying its design and implementation. The Committee is also concerned by such action being taken by the Service over the objections of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 

(FWC) and affected local stakeholders including, but not limited to, 


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anglers and recreational fishing- and boating-dependent businesses. 

The Biscayne National Park GMP ignores recommendations and 

input received from local stakeholders and the FWC through years 

of public comments, public meetings, and extensive consultation 

with Service and BNP officials in an attempt to balance the need 

for conservation with the need for recreational access to the park’s 

waters. The Service’s actions also directly undermine the Fisheries 

Management Plan through which the FWC worked in consultation 

with BNP officials in good faith, and under which all sides agreed 

to ‘‘seek out the less restrictive management actions necessary’’ to 

achieve fishery management goals. 

Prior to implementing fishing restrictions within Biscayne National Park waters, the Service is directed to work to reestablish 

a mutually-cooperative and productive relationship with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as well as other 

affected stakeholders, to develop a plan that balances resource conservation with public access. Such efforts shall assess whether utilizing less restrictive fishing management actions could achieve 

similar goals for the park under the new General Management 

Plan. 

The Committee directs that the data and findings of the first 

peer-reviewed, five-year research report summarizing monitoring, 

research, and performance evaluation of the MRZ as described in 

BNP’s General Management Plan / Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision signed on August 27, 2015, shall represent 

baseline conditions against which all future research reports shall 

be compared. Furthermore, no fishing restrictions shall be imposed 

within the MRZ until after the public release of that first peer-reviewed, five-year research report. 

The Committee also recommends that BNP work to re-establish 

a mutually-cooperative and productive relationship with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to facilitate agreement on one or more Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) as described in BNP’s General Management Plan / Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision signed on August 27, 2015. 

Everglades Restoration.—The Committee notes the substantial 

progress made toward restoration of the Everglades ecosystem and 

continues to support this multi-year effort to preserve one of the 

great ecological treasures of the United States. The Service is directed to continue working with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of 

Florida and relevant Federal agencies to develop a range of options 

to address the water quality issues of the L–28 canal system. 

Vicksburg National Military Park.—The Committee is concerned 

about erosion and soil and ground deterioration affecting historic 

elements of Vicksburg National Memorial Park, including the 

Texas State Memorial and the Railroad Redoubt. The Committee 

urges the Service to assess on-the-ground conditions and take all 

necessary steps to ensure the park is safe for visitors and employees, and is preserved for future generations. 

American Discovery Trail.—The Committee urges the Service, 

the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service, in 

conjunction with all relevant law, regulations, and policies, to work 

with relevant and appropriate stakeholders to facilitate installing 

signage for the American Discovery Trail. 


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Wetumpka Marine Impact Crater.—The Wetumpka Impact Crater, located in Elmore County, Alabama, is a uniquely preserved 

marine impact crater created approximately 80 million years ago 

when an asteroid measuring an estimated 350 meters in diameter 

struck a coastal basin under 300–400 feet of water. The crater is 

widely considered to be the best preserved marine impact crater 

ever discovered and one of only about six in the entire world. Given 

that the crater is an extremely rare and well-preserved geologic 

feature of national and international significance, the Committee 

urges the Service to assess the suitability of designating the 

Wetumpka Marine Impact Crater as a National Natural Landmark. 

America’s First Frontier.—The Committee urges the Service to 

advance interpretive efforts at existing Service sites and in collaboration with other Federal, State, and local agencies, including other 

bureaus within the Department of the Interior, to detail the start 

of westward expansion through the Northwest Territory as America’s First Frontier. Further, the Committee directs the Service to 

report back to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this 

Act on steps being taken to advance such interpretive collaboration 

and improve visitation across the region. 

World War II Memorial.—The Committee recognizes that the 

World War II Memorial is one of the most visited memorials in our 

Nation’s Capital. To accommodate rising visitation and modern 

means of creative narrative preservation, similar to other U.S. supported World War II memorials around the world, the Committee 

urges the Department to report back within 90 days of enactment 

of this Act on ongoing plans to upgrade the premises for veterans 

and other visitors. 

Outdoor Recreation Opportunities.—The Committee encourages 

the Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service to support outdoor 

recreation opportunities for economically disadvantaged communities in close proximity to national parks and national wildlife refuges. 

Arlington Memorial Bridge.—A recent inspection of the Arlington 

Memorial Bridge by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) revealed severe deterioration that had accelerated since a 2015 inspection. More than 68,000 vehicles traverse the bridge between 

Virginia and the District of Columbia on a daily basis. Repair and 

renovation costs to the bridge—the symbolic entry to Washington, 

DC, as well as the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery—are 

estimated at $250 million. 

The National Park Service and engineers from the FHA have 

been monitoring the condition of the bridge for many years, making 

minor repairs as needed and recently limiting vehicle weight to ensure safe operation. Federal inspectors have now determined that 

significant structural issues including ongoing deterioration of 

trunnion posts, the bascule span, and the bridge decking must be 

addressed within five years or, as the FHA concluded, the bridge 

will have to be closed in 2021. 

More than 50 percent of the Service’s $11.9 billion in deferred 

maintenance needs are related to transportation assets funded outside of this bill’s jurisdiction. This includes 5,500 miles of paved 

roads, 7,000 miles of unpaved roads, and 1,451 bridges. The Service 

received $268 million for its fiscal year 2016 system-wide transporVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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tation budget as a result of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act, P.L. 114–94) signed into law in December, 

2015. The FAST Act also established two Department of Transportation grant programs to address large, complex, nationally significant projects like the Memorial Bridge restoration which require 

non-Federal matching dollars. The Committee understands that 

the Service and the District government have submitted a grant 

application seeking $150 million from the Department of Transportation for bridge repairs. 

The Memorial Bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction effort will 

require the active bipartisan support of Federal, State, and local 

leaders. The Committee urges the Service to pursue coalitions and 

partnerships, modeled after similar projects including the Tamiami 

Trail bridge project within Everglades National Park, to leverage 

and secure necessary funding to complete this critical project in a 

timely manner. 

Sale of water in disposable, recyclable plastic bottles.—The Committee recognizes bipartisan concerns raised over the Director’s 

Policy Memorandum 11–03 relating to disposable plastic water bottle recycling and reduction. The Director’s memorandum provides 

national park units the option to eliminate the sale of bottled 

water. The memorandum requires that proposals for bans be based 

upon a rigorous written impact analysis, considering certain specified factors relating to health and safety, waste reduction, cost, and 

impacts on concessioners. The Committee understands that 22 

parks have eliminated the sale of disposable water bottles as a result of this policy. 

The explanatory statement accompanying Division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 included a directive for the 

Service to report on the justification each affected Service unit has 

used to ban the sale of bottled water. The report provided to the 

Committee in April fails to provide sufficient data to justify the 

Service’s actions. In some instances, the analysis and effects of the 

bottled water ban relies on estimates and projections rather than 

concrete, measurable impacts and results. 

Eliminating water as a healthy choice for bottled drinks in national parks contradicts the Service’s Healthy Parks Healthy People initiative as well as established efforts to encourage park visitors to make healthy food and beverage choices. While well-intentioned, the Service’s policy simply defies common sense and is not 

in the public interest. Bottled water, arguably the healthiest beverage option for national park visitors, is subject to a sales ban 

while sales of soft drinks, juices, and sports drinks continue. The 

Committee maintains park visitors are entitled to purchase bottled 

water wherever other packaged beverages are sold in national 

parks. 

The bill includes language prohibiting the use of funds to eliminate the sale in national parks of water in disposable, recyclable 

plastic bottles. The Committee directs the Service to advance its 

stated goal of reducing the waste stream through emphasizing to 

the visiting public the importance of recycling plastic waste from 

all bottled beverages sold in parks. Further, the Committee urges 

the Service to partner with non-governmental entities to develop a 

comprehensive, effective program that uniformly addresses plastic 

waste recycling system-wide. 


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NDAA evaluation.—The Committee notes that the Service is deficient in providing an evaluation as directed, not later than 90 days 

after enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, of 

Section 3040 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. The Committee directs the Service to complete the evaluation expeditiously. 

U.S. Capitol Concerts.—The Committee continues its longstanding support for funding for the National Capitol Area Performing Arts Program and directs the Service to maintain funding 

for the summer concert series staged on the U.S. Capitol grounds 

at the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways.—The Committee understands 

concerns have been expressed regarding potential access restrictions in certain areas of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. 

These concerns over restrictions to access points, trails, and reductions of allowable horsepower for motorized vessels in certain areas 

of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways merit continued examination and review by the Service. The Service is directed to work collaboratively with affected parties with the intent of honoring traditional access and ensuring that implementation of the General 

Management Plan for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways addresses the legitimate concerns of affected stakeholders including, 

but not limited to, local communities and businesses. 

Historic Dairying and Ranching.—The Service is directed to complete and implement its Ranch Comprehensive Management Plan 

at the Point Reyes National Seashore in a manner that supports 

historic beef and dairy ranches and natural and cultural resources 

in the pastoral zone. Until the date on which new permits or other 

authorizations are issued pursuant to the Ranch Comprehensive 

Management Plan, the Secretary is directed to continue to issue 

permits and authorizations for existing beef and dairy ranches in 

the pastoral zone. 

Leasing of Historic Buildings.—Leasing of historic park buildings 

has proven to be an effective public-private partnership that has 

brought private investment to the repair and maintenance of historic park resources. In previous Committee reports, the Committee 

has encouraged the Service to make expanded use of leasing authority. The Committee commends the Service for recent steps it 

has taken to increase the utilization of this tool, including establishing a leasing manager to oversee and expand the historic leasing program. The Committee renews its previous request that directs the Service to provide a report, within six months of enactment of this Act, detailing its progress towards expanding use of 

this authority. Included in this report should be (1) a list of structures the Service considers high-priority candidates for leasing, (2) 

a list of structures currently under a lease arrangement, (3) an estimate of the number of leases that have enabled private sector investments using the Service-administered historic tax credit, and 

(4) any statutory or regulatory impediments that now inhibit the 

enhanced use of leasing of historic structures. 

Ford’s Theater.—The Committee understands that while Ford’s 

Theater serves over 650,000 visitors annually, there are many who 

are unable to visit the site. The Committee supports Ford’s Theater’s plan to expand virtual access to the site over the next two fiscal years by investing in digital initiatives. Specifically, the theater 


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plans to enhance interpretation and accessibility through expanded 

wireless connectivity and bandwidth, a new website, virtual field 

trips and digital interpretive tools. These initiatives will allow 

Ford’s Theater to better serve and engage diverse audiences and 

create access for youth and others unable to physically visit this 

historic site. 

Bill Language.—The Committee has, since 2006, included bill 

language authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to acquire or 

lease property to facilitate the transportation of visitors to and 

from Ellis, Governors, and Liberty Islands, NY and NJ. The language was necessitated by the need to establish a screening process 

for visitors to the Statue of Liberty in the aftermath of the events 

of September 11, 2001. While the location of future, permanent 

screening facilities for the ferry operation to the Statue of Liberty 

and Ellis Island is now uncertain, prior-year bill language is retained as the Service reviews the security risks of alternative sites 

before making final decisions on the future location of permanent 

security screening facilities. The bill also includes language in Title 

I General Provisions addressing heritage areas. 

NATIONAL RECREATION AND PRESERVATION

The National Recreation and Preservation account provides for 

outdoor recreation planning, preservation of cultural and national 

heritage resources, technical assistance to Federal, State and local 

agencies, and administration of Historic Preservation Fund grants. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $62,632,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 54,392,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 62,632,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +8,240,000 

The Committee recommends $62,632,000 for national recreation 

and preservation, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$8,240,000 above the budget request. The amounts recommended 

by the Committee compared with the budget estimates by activity 

are shown in the table at the end of this report. 

Additional Guidance.—The following additional direction and 

guidance is provided with respect to funding provided within this 

account: 

Heritage Partnership Program (HPP).—The Committee recommends $19,821,000 for the Heritage Partnership Program 

(HPP), equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. These funds support grants to local nonprofit groups in support of historical and 

cultural recognition, preservation and tourism activities. Congress 

has in recent years expanded from 27 to 49 the number of authorized heritage partnerships, creating additional pressure on available grant funding. The Service, as the administrator of the program, has developed a funding strategy that ensures newer areas 

receive Federal funding to establish themselves to a level that 

should eventually become self-sufficient. Under this approach, 

older, more established areas will continue to receive funds, but at 

a level that recognizes the decades of significant Federal financial 

support these areas have received. Heritage areas were never intended to receive Federal funding in perpetuity, yet the Committee 


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notes they continue to depend on annual appropriations at sustained historical levels. 

The Committee has in the recent past provided direction for the 

development of self-sufficiency plans, and the Committee fully expects pressure on HPP funding to increase in future years. Accordingly, the Committee directs that participating heritage areas move 

expeditiously to develop plans for long-term self-sufficiency. The 

Committee supports the Service’s efforts to allocate funding in a 

manner that moves all 49 areas towards self-sufficiency. 

Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area (MPNHA).—The Committee recognizes Snow College’s Mormon Pioneer Heritage Institute (MPHI) as the academic center for the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area (MPNHA). The Service and the MPNHA are 

encouraged to work cooperatively with MPHI to ensure the longterm viability and sustainability of the MPNHA. 

Maritime Heritage Preservation.—The Committee is aware of the 

Service’s cooperative partnership with the Maritime Administration 

to promote public awareness and appreciation for the Nation’s maritime heritage, including the National Maritime Heritage Grant 

Program. The Committee supports the efforts of this grant program 

to advance educational efforts and address preservation of historically significant maritime properties, including historic battleships. 

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Grants.— 

The Committee supports the budget request for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Grant Program. 

Japanese American Confinement Site Grants.—The Committee 

supports the budget request for the Japanese American Confinement Site Grant Program which leverages proportional funding 

through partnerships with local preservation groups to preserve 

Japanese American World War II confinement sites. 

American Battlefield Protection Program Assistance Grants.—The 

Committee supports the budget request for the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) which assists in the preservation 

and protection of America’s battlefields through site identification, 

documentation, planning, interpretation, and educational efforts. 

The Committee is aware of increased workload and associated 

delays in grant processing due to the program’s expansion of eligibility to sites associated with the Revolutionary War and the War 

of 1812, and has provided funds within the Land Acquisition and 

State Assistance account to allow for timely review and processing 

of grants. 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND

The Historic Preservation Fund supports the State historic preservation offices to perform a variety of functions. These include 

State management and administration of existing grant obligations; review and advice on Federal projects and actions; determinations and nominations to the National Register; Tax Act certifications; and technical preservation services. The States also review properties to develop data for planning use. Funding in this 

account also supports direct grants to qualifying organizations for 

individual preservation projects and for activities in support of heritage tourism and local historic preservation. 


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Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $65,410,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 87,410,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 78,410,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +13,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥9,000,000 

The Committee recommends $78,410,000 for historic preservation, $13,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$9,000,000 below the budget request. 

Additional Guidance.—The following guidance is provided with 

respect to funding provided within this account: 

State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.—The bill provides 

$46,925,000 for State Historic Preservation Offices and $11,985,000 

for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices. The bill also provides 

$11,500,000 for competitive grants of which $500,000 is for grants 

to underserved communities and $11,000,000 is for competitive 

grants to document, interpret, and preserve historical sites associated with the Civil Rights Movement. The bill also includes 

$3,000,000 for competitive grants to Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities (HBCUs) and $5,000,000 for the Save America’s 

Treasures competitive grant program for preservation of nationally 

significant sites, structures, and artifacts. 

National Historical Preservation Program.—The Committee recognizes the importance of enhancing the energy efficiency of historic buildings and urges the National Park Service to review and 

update its National Historical Preservation Program guidance to 

simplify the process through which owners of designated properties 

may undertake energy modernization efforts. 

CONSTRUCTION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $192,937,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 252,038,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 215,707,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +22,770,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥36,331,000 

The Committee recommends $215,707,000 for Construction, 

$22,770,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$36,331,000 below the budget request. 

Line-Item Construction.—The bill provides $129,501,000 in funding for line-item construction projects. The amount provided fully 

funds the top 20 construction projects as prioritized by the Service 

in the fiscal year 2017 budget request. Requests for reprogramming 

will be considered pursuant to the guidelines contained in this Act. 

Bill Language.—The Committee has maintained bill language 

from prior years providing that a single procurement may be issued 

which includes the full scope of the project for any project initially 

funded in a fiscal year with a future phase indicated in the Service’s five-year Line-Item Construction program. The solicitation and 

contract in such procurement shall be subject to availability of 

funds. Executing a single contract has the potential to increase 

economies of scale and reduce overall costs. 


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LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND

RESCISSION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. ¥$28,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... ¥30,000,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... ¥28,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +2,000,000 

The Committee recommends the rescission of the annual contract 

authority provided by 16 U.S.C. 460l-10a. This authority has not 

been used in years and there are no plans to use it in fiscal year 

2017. The Committee does not agree with the Administration’s proposal to permanently cancel the authority. 

LAND ACQUISITION AND STATE ASSISTANCE

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $173,670,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 178,248,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 128,752,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥44,918,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥49,496,000 

The Committee recommends $128,752,000 for Land Acquisition and State Assistance, $44,918,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $49,496,000 below the budget request. The recommendation includes $71,839,000 for State Conservation Grants; 

$5,000,000 for the competitive Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant program; and $22,500,000 for acquisitions. Additionally, $10,000,000 is included for the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and the budget request. Funds have been provided, as requested, 

for ABPP grant administration, to allow for timely review and processing of grants. A detailed table of funding recommendations 

below the account level is provided at the end of this report. Language and direction on Land and Water Conservation Fund programs is provided below, and in the front of this report. 

The recommendation includes $1,000,000 for acquisitions that 

improve access to existing Federal public lands via road, river, or 

trail for hunting, fishing, and other public recreation, as authorized 

by law or regulation. The Service is directed to notify the Committee of any land acquired with these funds. 

CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $15,000,000 

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

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 30,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +15,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥5,000,000 

The Committee has provided $30,000,000 for the Centennial 

Challenge matching grant program, a key component of the Service’s Centennial Initiative. The Committee notes that the 

$15,000,000 in Centennial Challenge funds provided to the Service 

in fiscal year 2016 was matched with nearly $33,000,000 from more 

than 90 partner organizations nationwide. These funds are now financing 69 projects to improve visitor services at more than 63 


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parks in 38 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin 

Islands. The Committee commends the Service for its success in 

garnering non-Federal assistance for the completion of these and 

future projects as the Service celebrates its Centennial. 

The Committee understands that funds provided will be matched 

on at least a 1:1 basis and administered under existing Service 

partnership authorities. Funds provided will be dedicated to supporting signature projects and programs which provide critical enhancements for the parks beyond amounts provided for basic operations. The Committee directs that preference be given to projects 

that have a clear and immediate visitor benefit as well as a higher 

partner match. The Committee further encourages the Service to 

provide consideration to Centennial Challenge projects which have 

a deferred maintenance component in order to alleviate the sizeable deferred maintenance backlog within the System. The Committee notes that the Service has a long history of working with 

philanthropic partners and fully supports the use of public-private 

partnerships wherever feasible. 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The United States Geological Survey (USGS, or ‘‘Survey’’) was 

established by an Act of Congress on March 3, 1879, to support the 

mission of the Department of the Interior and its science requirements. The USGS also works in collaboration with other Federal, 

State, and tribal cooperators to conduct research and provide scientific data and information to describe and understand the Earth; 

minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage 

water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and 

protect our quality of life. The USGS is the Federal government’s 

largest earth-science research agency and the primary source of 

data on the Nation’s surface and ground water resources. Its programs address increasingly complex societal issues such as the development of alternative and unconventional energy resources, 

management of critical ecosystems, understanding and adaptation 

to climate change, and responses to natural and human-induced 

hazards. For more than a century, the diversity of scientific expertise and collaborative partnerships with universities, research institutions, and major public and private laboratories has enabled 

USGS to carry out large-scale, multi-disciplinary investigations and 

provide impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, policymakers, and the public. 

SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $1,062,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 1,168,803,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,080,006,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +18,006,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥88,797,000 

The Committee recommends $1,080,006,000 for Surveys, Investigations, and Research, $18,006,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $88,797,000 below the budget request. The recommendation recognizes that the Survey’s scientific work is vital to 

managers at Federal, State, and local levels to inform public policy 


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decisions regarding human health, public safety, and national security. 

Ecosystems.—The Committee recommends $160,732,000 for ecosystem programs, $2,691,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $13,206,000 below the budget request. Increases include 

$250,000, as requested, for Great Lakes fisheries assessments and 

$250,000 for the invasive species program. The recommendation 

provides requested funding levels for Asian Carp control; the California Bay Delta; the Chesapeake Bay; the Everglades; and the 

Great Lakes. The Survey is expected to allocate Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds in accordance with the funding allocation methodology used in fiscal year 2016. Additionally, the 

Committee remains concerned about white-nose syndrome and provides funds as requested for continued research on the disease, to 

enhance the ability of decision makers to develop management 

strategies to preserve vulnerable bat populations and the ecosystem services that bats provide. 

The Committee commends the work of the Federal Tick Borne 

Disease Integrated Pest Management Workgroup, in particular its 

recognition of the critical importance of better understanding the 

geographical distribution of Lyme and other tick borne diseases. 

The Committee requests that no later than 120 days after enactment of this Act, USGS submit to the Committee a report detailing 

progress in coordinating Federal research into the relationship between tick prevalence and environmental factors, including ecological changes and shifting land-use patterns. 

The Committee supports the continuation of USGS research on 

understanding the prevalence of toxins in the nation’s natural bodies of water by expanding their understanding of cyanobacteria and 

toxins in stream and wetland ecosystems. USGS is encouraged to 

participate in interagency efforts to expedite the development of remote sensing tools to assist with early event warning delivered 

through mobile devices and web portals. 

Climate and Land Use Change.—The Committee recommends 

$145,975,000 for climate and land use change programs. The Committee supports existing Landsat operations and the accelerated 

launch schedule for Landsat-9 and therefore recommends 

$78,194,000, $6,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, 

for the land remote sensing account. Carryover balances from the 

satellite operations account should be applied to cover anticipated 

costs for Landsat-9 development. 

The Committee recognizes the benefits of a diverse workforce and 

encourages the Department to make an effort to diversify its workforce through outreach and recruitment programs at Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, 

and other Minority Serving Institutions. 

Energy, Mineral, and Environmental Health.—The Committee 

recommends $94,511,000 for the energy, mineral and environmental health program, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $4,972,000 below the budget request. The Committee applauds 

USGS’ Open Data policy and encourages collaborations with other 

Federal agencies and research partners, as appropriate, that could 

utilize the Survey’s environmental health data. 


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Natural Hazards.—The Committee recommends $142,863,000 for 

natural hazards programs, $4,024,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and $6,838,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee continues to be concerned about the lack of 

knowledge and real-time instrumentation available for the 

Cascadia subduction zone and the potential devastation a major 

earthquake would have on the West Coast. The Committee recommends $10,200,000 for continued development, expansion, and 

upgrading of the infrastructure necessary for an earthquake early 

warning system. 

The Committee recommends $800,000, as requested, for USGS to 

assume operations of the Central and Eastern U.S. Seismic Network (CEUSN) as a permanent part of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). The network provides greatly improved earthquake detection and accuracy in the region that hosts most of the 

Nation’s nuclear power reactors, and also in areas that have seen 

increased seismicity since 2009. 

The Committee remains concerned that systems and equipment 

used to monitor, detect and warn the public of volcano hazards, including lahars, on high-threat volcanoes in the United States are 

outdated and inadequate to address the substantial risks. The recommendation retains the $1,000,000 increase provided to the Volcano Hazards program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 

2016, to be used for necessary work on next-generation lahar warning systems at very high threat volcanoes. 

Water Resources.—The Committee recommends $216,060,000 for 

water resources, $3,008,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level. The recommendation includes increases to the Water Availability and Use Science program for the continuity and expansion 

of data collection and research programs that support water planning and decision making across all States. Requested increases 

are also recommended for the Groundwater and Streamflow Information program, and for the Enhanced Cooperative Activities and 

Urban Waters initiative within the National Water Quality program. 

The Cooperative Matching Funds program is designed to bring 

State, tribal, and local partners together to respond to emerging 

water issues through shared efforts and funding. The recommendation provides $60,132,000 to support this collaboration, $2,422,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

Core Science Systems.—The Committee recommends 

$113,833,000 for core science systems, of which $24,486,000 is for 

the National Cooperative Geological Mapping program. An increase 

of $2,194,000 is provided for 3–D elevation mapping within the National Geospatial program, to include $500,000 requested for landscape level assessments of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Bill Language.—The bill provides two-year funding authority except for satellite operations and deferred maintenance and capital 

improvement projects, which are no-year authority. Provisos include a funding limitation on surveys on private property and a 

cost-share requirement on topographic mapping and water resources activities in cooperation with States and municipalities. 


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BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is responsible for the 

development of the Nation’s offshore energy and mineral resources. 

The Bureau’s management of these resources helps meet the Nation’s energy needs by providing access to—and fair return to the 

American taxpayer for—offshore energy and mineral resources 

through strategic planning and resource and economic evaluation. 

Conventional energy activities include development of the FiveYear Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program; 

assessment of mineral resource potential, tracking of inventories of 

oil and gas reserves, and development of production projections; 

and economic evaluation to ensure the receipt of fair value through 

lease sales and lease terms. 

OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $170,857,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 175,138,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 169,306,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥1,551,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥5,832,000 

The Committee recommends $169,306,000 for Ocean Energy 

Management, $1,551,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $5,832,000 below the budget request. This amount will be partially offset with the estimated collection of rental receipts and cost 

recovery fees totaling $94,944,000. The Committee agrees to the 

proposed shift in receipts between BOEM and BSEE and is monitoring the continued decline in rental receipts. The Committee recommendation does not provide funding for National Ocean Policy 

Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning. 

BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is responsible for oversight of exploration, development, and production operations for oil, gas, and other marine minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Leases in Federal waters off the shores of California, Alaska, and the Gulf of Mexico provide about 16 percent of 

the Nation’s oil production and about 5 percent of domestic natural 

gas production. The Bureau facilitates the safe and environmentally responsible development of oil and gas and the conservation of offshore resources. The Bureau’s safety and environmental 

compliance activities include oil and gas permitting; facility inspections, regulations and standards development; safety and oil spill 

research; field operations; environmental compliance and enforcement; review of operator oil spill response plans; production and 

development; and operation of a national training center for inspectors and engineers. 

OFFSHORE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $189,772,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 189,968,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 189,968,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +196,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 


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The Committee recommends $189,968,000 for Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement as requested and $196,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. This amount will be partially offset with the estimated collection of offsetting rental receipts, cost 

recovery fees and inspection fees totaling $96,530,000. The Committee is monitoring the continued decline in rental receipts and 

notes that the Bureau has unobligated, unexpired carryover balances from prior years to cover the anticipated shortfall from the 

loss of revenue receipts in fiscal year 2017. These balances are sufficient to prevent operational impacts from the shortfall in lost receipts in fiscal year 2017. The Bureau should not expect that the 

Committee will substitute increased appropriated funds for lower 

offsetting collections in future years. The Bureau will need to 

prioritize program activities accordingly. 

OIL SPILL RESEARCH

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $14,899,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 14,899,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 14,899,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $14,899,000 for Oil Spill Research, 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 

(OSM), through its regulation and technology account, regulates 

surface coal mining operations to ensure that the environment is 

reclaimed once mining is completed. The OSM accomplishes this 

mission by providing grants and technical assistance to those 

States that maintain their own regulatory and reclamation programs and by conducting oversight of State programs. Further, the 

OSM administers the regulatory programs in the States that do not 

have their own programs and on Federal and tribal lands. Through 

its Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation program, the OSM 

provides funding for environmental restoration at abandoned coal 

mines based on fees collected from current coal production operations. In their un-reclaimed condition these abandoned sites endanger public health and safety, and prevent the beneficial use of 

land and water resources. Mandatory appropriations provide funding for the abandoned coal mine sites as required under the 2006 

amendments to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. 

REGULATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $123,253,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 127,550,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 119,300,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥3,953,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥8,250,000 

The Committee recommends $119,300,000 for Regulation and 

Technology, $3,953,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$8,250,000 below the budget request. The bill funds regulatory 

grants at $68,590,000, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

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tions and enhanced Federal oversight of State regulatory programs. 

Delegation of the authority to the States is the cornerstone of the 

surface mining regulatory program, and State regulatory programs 

do not require enhanced Federal oversight to ensure continued implementation of a protective regulatory framework. Accordingly, 

the Committee has not provided the requested funding and FTE increase for those activities within the Regulation and Technology account. 

Consistent with language in the bill, the recommendation includes reductions specified in the table at the end of this report 

that are associated with activities to revise the Stream Buffer rule. 

The Committee provides no funds for such activities. 

ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION FUND

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $117,303,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 30,375,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 117,303,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +86,928,000 

The Committee recommends $117,303,000 for the Abandoned 

Mine Reclamation Fund equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $86,928,000 above the budget request. Of the funds provided, 

$27,303,000 shall be derived from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund consistent with the fiscal year 2016 appropriation, and 

$90,000,000 shall be derived from the General Fund. 

The Committee provides a total of $90,000,000 for grants to 

States for the reclamation of abandoned mine lands in conjunction 

with economic and community development and reuse goals. States 

shall use these funds to accelerate the remediation of AML sites 

with economic and community development end uses in mind. In 

doing so, the Committee envisions a collaborative partnership between the State AML programs and their respective State and local 

economic and community development programs that will explore 

ways to return legacy coal sites to productive reuse. The Committee 

notes that these grants are provided from the General Fund and 

are therefore separate from the estimated $174 million in mandatory payments from the Abandoned Mine Land fund in fiscal year 

2017. 

For fiscal year 2017, $75,000,000 shall be provided to the three 

Appalachian States with the largest unfunded needs for the reclamation of Priority 1 and Priority 2 sites as delineated in the 

Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System. Consistent with fiscal 

year 2016 implementation, State AML programs, in consultation 

with State economic and community development authorities, shall 

develop a list of eligible AML projects in Appalachian counties that 

have a nexus to economic and community development, and select 

qualifying AML projects that have the potential to create long-term 

economic benefits. State AML programs should consider whether a 

model similar to the Appalachian Regional Commission grants 

process could streamline project selection, and whether an interagency agreement or other contracting mechanisms could streamline program implementation. Eligible grant recipients are limited 

to State and local governmental entities who may subcontract 

project-related activities as appropriate. 


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Further, the Committee believes that an incremental approach is 

warranted to better understand programmatic impacts of proposing 

criteria changes to the underlying law. Each State presents unique 

opportunities and the Committee believes more States can contribute to the success of the pilot. As such, the Committee provides 

$15,000,000 for the next three Appalachian states with the largest 

unfunded needs for the reclamation of Priority 1 and Priority 2 

sites as delineated in the Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System. 

The $15,000,000 shall be divided equally among the next three 

States. Eligible grant recipients for the $15,000,000 are also limited to State and local governmental entities who may subcontract 

project-related activities as appropriate. The Committee expects 

that the efforts of all six States under this pilot program will inform future policy discussions, possibly under a reauthorization of 

SMCRA, which the Committee supports. 

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, 

and the Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs (together, 

‘‘Indian Affairs’’’) provide services directly or through contracts, 

grants, or compacts to a service population of more than 1.7 million 

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) who are enrolled 

members of 567 federally recognized tribes in the 48 contiguous 

United States and Alaska. While the role of the organization has 

changed significantly in the last four decades in response to a 

greater emphasis on Indian self-determination, tribes still look to 

Indian Affairs for a broad spectrum of services. Almost 85 percent 

of all appropriations expended at the local level, and over 62 percent of appropriations provided directly to tribes and tribal organizations through grants, contracts, and compacts. 

In preparation for the fiscal year 2017 appropriation bill, the 

Subcommittee held two days of hearings and received testimony 

from over 75 witnesses on a variety of topics pertaining to AI/AN 

programs. The Federal government has a legal and moral obligation to provide quality services to American Indians and Alaska 

Natives. On a nonpartisan basis, the Committee continues to protect and, where possible, strengthen the budgets for Indian Country programs in this bill in order to address longstanding and underfunded needs. 

OPERATION OF INDIAN PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $2,267,924,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 2,395,786,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,335,635,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +67,711,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥60,151,000 

The Committee recommends $2,335,635,000 for Operation of In- dian Programs, $67,711,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $60,151,000 below the budget request. Descriptions of activities below the account level are contained in the justification 

submitted to the Congress, except as otherwise discussed below 

and summarized in the table at the end of this report. 


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Road Maintenance.—The recommendation includes $30,000,000 

for Road Maintenance, $3,217,000 above the budget request. The 

Committee recognizes that only 16 percent of BIA-owned roads and 

only 67 percent of BIA-owned bridges are in fair condition or better. The increase above the budget request is intended for BIAowned roads and bridges in poor or failing condition, particularly 

along school bus routes. 

The Committee remains concerned by the BIA’s substantial road 

maintenance backlog, particularly as it impacts rural tribal communities that lack adequate emergency access corridors. The Committee directs the Secretary to submit a report outlining the steps 

the BIA is taking to address the safety and emergency access 

issues experienced by remote and isolated tribal communities. 

Tribal Government Program Oversight.—The recommendation 

does not include the requested increases for the Nativeonestop.gov 

web portal because of the already limited funding for core tribal 

government programs. Indian Affairs is encouraged to coordinate 

with the Grants.gov web portal, to share costs with other Federal 

agencies, and to reconsider the need to hire regional staff, before 

including the proposal in the fiscal year 2018 budget request. 

Social Services.—The recommendation includes $55,500,000 for 

Social Services, $10,321,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level, in order to provide culturally-appropriate services with the 

goals of empowering individuals and families through health promotion, family stability, and strengthening tribal communities as a 

whole. Indian Affairs is urged to make services available to law enforcement officers in coordination with the Indian Health Service. 

Indian Child Welfare Act.—The recommendation includes 

$18,509,000 for implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act, 

$2,868,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, in order to 

keep AI/AN children in need of foster care in AI/AN communities 

wherever possible. 

Rights Protection Implementation.—The recommendation includes $40,161,000 as requested for rights protection implementation, $2,523,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, in order 

to meet Federal court litigated and mitigated responsibilities in the 

conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources. 

The Committee supports the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ efforts to 

address the resiliency needs of tribal communities by working to 

address threats to public safety, natural resources, and sacred 

sites. The Committee is particularly concerned about coastal tribal 

communities and Alaska Native Villages that face severe challenges to their long-term resilience. Consistent with the Federal 

government’s treaty and trust obligations, the Committee directs 

the Bureau of Indian Affairs to work with at-risk tribes to identify 

and expedite the necessary resources to support mitigation and relocation efforts. 

Forestry.—The Department of the Interior is encouraged to promote and expand the use of agreements with Indian tribes to protect Indian trust resources from catastrophic wildland fire, insect 

and disease infestation, or other threats from adjacent Federal 

lands, as authorized by law. 

Water Resources.—The recommendation includes $10,450,000 for 

Water Resources, $83,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, 


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of which $390,000 is to continue the Seminole and Miccosukee 

water study, as requested. 

Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.—The recommendation includes 

$14,414,000 for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, $768,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level. 

Trust—Real Estate Services.—The recommendation includes 

$121,192,000 for Trust—Real Estate Services, $6,294,000 below the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level, including the proposed reduction of 

$6,893,000 for completion of the Klamath River program. Indian 

Affairs is directed to recognize the Yakama Indian Nation’s tribal 

boundary as the boundary established by the State of Washington 

and the Congress. 

The Committee directs the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to 

have no outstanding title conveyance requests older than 12 

months, including those that have been initially rejected by the 

Land Titles and Record Offices for insufficient or incorrect documentation, by September, 2017. The Committee expects an update 

on the status of outstanding conveyances by September, 2017 and 

a report on what the BIA will be changing in their operations policy to ensure these backlogs and documentation related rejections 

do not occur in the future. 

Public Safety and Justice.—The recommendation includes 

$384,730,000 for Public Safety and Justice, $7,307,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level, and $11,270,000 above the budget 

request. Criminal investigations and police services are increased 

by $3,064,000 above the budget request to continue reducing the 

disparity in the number of patrol officers per population size in Indian Country, as compared to the Nation as a whole. Other program increases include $1,000,000 for detention/corrections and 

$2,600,000 for tribal courts, as requested. The $8,211,000 proposed 

reduction to tribal justice support has been restored. Indian Affairs 

is urged to improve officer safety by eliminating radio tower communications dead zones. 

For the purpose of addressing the needs of juveniles in custody 

at tribal detention centers operated or administered by the BIA, 

the Committee considers educational and health-related services to 

juveniles in custody to be allowable costs for detention/corrections 

program funding. Indian Affairs is further urged to provide mental 

health and substance abuse services when needed by juvenile and 

adult detainees and convicted prisoners. 

The Committee recommends $1,000,000 to support the development of a Cultural Items Unit within the Division of Law Enforcement tasked with investigating violations of the Native American 

Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) (25 U.S.C. 3001 

et seq.), and related law. Although domestic laws such as NAGPRA 

can be enforced to address the theft of tribal cultural items with 

both criminal and civil penalties, without active Federal support, 

tribes are left only to do what they each can independently afford 

to do to stop the theft and sale of their cultural items. Therefore, 

the Committee supports the BIA in developing the capacity to coordinate investigations of violations of NAGPRA and related law. 

Community and Economic Development.—The recommendation 

includes $42,844,000 as requested for Community and Economic 

Development, $2,225,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, 

for job placement and training, competitive pay rates in oil and gas 


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programs, and legal infrastructure to encourage credit and other 

capital transactions. Indian Affairs is encouraged to submit a budget request for fiscal year 2018 for the next phase of the energy office. 

Executive Direction and Administrative Services.—The recommendation includes $231,784,000 for executive direction and administrative services, $12,170,000 below the budget request, and 

includes the $1,300,000 program increase for safety inspections. Indian Affairs is directed to complete annual health and safety inspections of all BIE system facilities, and to submit quarterly updates on the status of such inspections to the Congress. 

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).—The Committee recommends 

$892,886,000 for BIE system operations and maintenance, 

$40,519,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$19,544,000 below the budget request. The recommendation largely 

supports the budget request, except where discussed below. Indian 

education remains among the Committee’s top priorities because it 

is a fundamental trust responsibility and because elementary and 

secondary students in particular have fallen far behind their peers 

for reasons now well documented by the Government Accountability Office, the Department of Education, and others. 

The BIE system is undergoing a major transformation, in direct 

response to these reports, in order to meet the changing needs of 

schools now that most schools are tribally-run, and in order to improve accountability. With the concurrence of elected tribal leaders 

and major intertribal organizations, the Committee continues to 

support this transformation. By the end of fiscal year 2017, all of 

the education-related responsibilities under Indian Affairs, including procurement, human resources, budget and finance, and BIE 

facilities operations, maintenance, and inspections, should be consolidated under the BIE, which should be led by an experienced 

and proven superintendent selected from a pool of qualified candidates inside and outside the BIE system. 

The recommendation includes $14,201,000 as requested for education program enhancements, of which $5,000,000 is for language 

immersion demonstration grants. 

The recommendation includes $3,000,000 for the development 

and operation of tribal departments or divisions of education 

(TEDs) as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 2020, $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. TEDs are instrumental in helping tribes build the capacity to oversee the high 

quality and culturally appropriate education of tribal members. 

The recommendation includes $57,245,000 as requested for Student Transportation, $4,103,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level. The BIE is urged to oversee and report on the safety of school 

bus routes. 

The recommendation includes $19,659,000 as requested for the 

Family and Child Education (FACE) program, $4,039,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The BIE is directed to conduct an 

annual review of the FACE program and to publish its findings in 

order to improve program direction and transparency. 

The recommendation fully funds tribal grant support costs at 

$75,335,000, as requested, $2,059,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level. Fully funding these costs is consistent with the polVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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icy of fully funding contract support costs, and is instrumental for 

tribal control of more BIE-system schools. 

The recommendation includes $125,262,000 as requested for facilities operations and maintenance. The BIE should combine the 

two program elements into one, recalculate the annual estimated 

need according to industry standards, and report any estimated 

shortfall in future budget justifications. 

The recommendation includes $14,778,000 for the JohnsonO’Malley (JOM) program, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level. The Committee continues to encourage the BIE and tribal 

partners to establish a regular and accurate student count so that 

future appropriations more accurately reflect the increase and distribution of the eligible student population. The Committee directs 

the Bureau, in consultation with tribal leaders and in coordination 

with the Department of Education and the Census Bureau, to examine the feasibility of using U.S. Census or National Center for 

Education Statistics data to provide the JOM student count. The 

Committee requests that a report be provided to Congress, tribal 

leaders, and existing JOM contractors no later than September 30, 

2017, that (i) uses this data to estimate the number of potentially 

eligible Indian students, and (ii) proposes a process to reconcile this 

data with information from eligible contracting entities and tribal 

enrollment to determine funding distributions. 

The recommendation does not include the proposed program increase for broadband access. Without question, high speed internet 

access is essential for student success and economic development in 

modern society. However, the Government Accountability Office recently identified tribal internet access as an area of fragmentation, 

overlap, or duplication (GAO 16 375SP). Indian Affairs is urged to 

coordinate with larger, existing broadband access programs funded 

by the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The BIE is encouraged to coordinate with the Indian Health 

Service to integrate preventive dental care and mental health care 

at schools within the BIE system. 

The recommendation continues bill language limiting the expansion of grades and schools in the BIE system, including charter 

schools. The intent of the language is to prevent already limited 

funds from being spread further to additional schools and grades. 

The intent is not to limit tribal flexibility at existing schools. Nothing in the bill is intended to prohibit a tribe from converting a tribally-controlled school already in the BIE system to a charter school 

in accordance with State and Federal law. 

The recommendation continues bill language providing the Secretary with the authority to approve satellite locations of existing 

BIE schools if a tribe can demonstrate that the establishment of 

such locations would provide comparable levels of education as are 

being offered at such existing BIE schools, and would not significantly increase costs to the Federal government. The intent is for 

this authority to be exercised only in extraordinary circumstances 

to provide tribes with additional flexibility regarding where students are educated without compromising how they are educated, 

and to significantly reduce the hardship and expense of transporting students over long distances, all without unduly increasing 


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costs that would otherwise unfairly come at the expense of other 

schools in the BIE system. 

The Committee recognizes that level funding and increasing enrollment has resulted in steadily decreasing funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) on a per student basis. Therefore, 

the Committee directs the Bureau to articulate a process in the fiscal year 2018 congressional budget justification to annually fund 

TCUs on a per Indian student basis, as authorized under the Tribally Controlled Colleges & Universities Assistance Act in 1978 (P.L. 

95–471), and to compare that funding to the authorized level of 

$8,000 per student. 

CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $277,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 278,000,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 278,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +1,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $278,000,000 for Contract Support 

Costs, $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

equal to the budget request. 

Bill Language.—The recommendation continues bill language 

making available for two years such sums as are necessary to meet 

the Federal government’s full legal obligation, and prohibiting the 

transfer of funds to any other account for any other purpose. Language addressing contract funds that go unspent in a given fiscal 

year is discontinued. 

CONSTRUCTION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $193,973,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 197,017,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 197,017,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +3,044,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $197,017,000 for Construction, as 

requested, $3,044,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. Details are contained in the justification submitted to the Congress, 

except as otherwise discussed below. 

Education.—The recommendation includes $138,257,000 as requested for education construction, of which $45,504,000 is for campus-wide replacement, $11,935,000 is for component facilities replacement, $7,567,000 is for employee housing repair, and 

$73,251,000 is for facilities improvement and repair. 

The Committee recognizes the School Facilities & Construction 

Negotiated Rulemaking Committee was established under Public 

Law 107–110 for the equitable distribution of funds. Appropriations 

in this bill for campus-wide replacement are limited to the 10 

schools selected via the rulemaking committee process and published by Indian Affairs on April 5, 2016 (www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/ 

AS–IA/OFECR/index.htm). The BIE should submit a similar list for 

facilities with the fiscal year 2018 budget request. 


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Looking ahead beyond the completion of the schools and component facilities on such lists, the Committee remains concerned that 

the current approach to construction focuses on only a subset of 

schools and requires those schools to submit applications and compete for the funding. A more comprehensive, long-term planning 

approach is needed for every campus and component facility in the 

BIE system, modeled after the Department of Defense Education 

Activity. Indian Affairs is therefore directed to publish a report on 

the status of its education construction program no later than one 

year after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall include, at a minimum: 

(1) A comprehensive list of all current BIE schools and a 

quality assessment of each school’s facilities (including dormitories and employee housing), indicating where facilities are 

nonexistent, undersized, or otherwise inadequate to support 

education and associated wellness programs including native 

language and other cultural programs; 

(2) A comprehensive list, which shall incorporate student enrollment projections as well as space for language and other 

cultural programming, of all construction projects and costs required to bring entire school campuses and component facilities 

up to industry standards and eliminate temporary facilities; 

(3) An estimate of the total annual sustainment, restoration, 

and modernization funds required to maintain the facilities of 

each BIE school up to code and in good condition; and 

(4) A complete accounting of the process and status of facilities health, safety, and condition inspections. 

The Committee recognizes the tremendous costs needed to bring 

and maintain all BIE schools up to code and in good condition, and 

the futility of doing so in a reasonable timeframe with funds provided solely via this annual appropriation. The Committee continues to look for innovative ways to leverage this appropriation 

with other sources of Federal financing, such as existing tax credits, in order to more quickly replace the substandard facilities 

throughout the BIE system. To that end, the bill includes a general 

provision in Title I, which builds upon the President’s proposal to 

reconstitute the National Fund for Excellence in American Indian 

Education (Fund). 

The Title I general provision would reconstitute the Fund as a 

federally chartered corporation affiliated with a 501(c)(3) national 

organization whose mission is to represent Native American students and educators for the improvement of schools and the education of Native children. The Fund would be authorized to leverage a portion of the annual construction appropriation with philanthropic donations of funds and property, and with other sources of 

Federal financing such as Qualified School Construction Bonds, 

New Markets Tax Credits, historical tax credits, and Federal grant 

programs. 

Public Safety and Justice.—The Committee is concerned that Indian Affairs’ focus on alternatives to incarceration has come at a 

cost to justice facilities construction. Indian Affairs, in coordination 

with the Department of Justice, is therefore urged to consider including with its fiscal year 2018 budget request a legislative proposal for a joint venture demonstration program for regional justice 

centers, similar to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ Justice Center, 


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and modeled after the joint venture program for Indian health facilities. 

INDIAN LAND AND WATER CLAIM SETTLEMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS

PAYMENTS TO INDIANS

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $49,475,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 55,155,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 49,025,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥450,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥6,130,000 

The Committee recommends $49,025,000 for Indian Land and 

Water Claim Settlements and Miscellaneous Payments to Indians, 

$450,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $6,130,000 

below the budget request. The recommended level enables Indian 

Affairs to meet statutory deadlines of all authorized settlement 

agreements to date. Indian Affairs is directed to submit an allocation plan to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act. 

The Committee supports the Department’s efforts to fulfill commitments relating to Indian water rights settlements and its participation in negotiations of the Pechanga Band of Luisen ̃ o Mission 

Indians Water Rights Settlement. 

INDIAN GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $7,748,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 7,757,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 8,757,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +1,009,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +1,000,000 

The Committee recommends $8,757,000 for the Indian Guaranteed Loan Program Account, $1,009,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and $1,000,000 above the budget request. The Indian 

Guaranteed Loan Program is the most effective Federal program 

tailored, dedicated to, and capable of facilitating greater access to 

private capital for Indian tribes and Indian-owned economic enterprises. 

DEPARTMENTAL OFFICES

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

The Office of the Secretary supports a wide-range of Departmental business, policy, and oversight functions. In September 

2010, Secretarial Order 3306 established the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONNR) as part of the reorganization of the 

former Minerals Management Service (MMS). This revenue collection and compliance function is now managed within the Office of 

the Secretary. 

DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $721,769,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 278,376,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 749,422,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +27,653,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +471,046,000 


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The Committee recommends $749,422,000 for Departmental Op- erations, $27,653,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$471,046,000 above the budget request. Increases above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level include $225,000 for equipment associated 

with monitoring classified computers and communication devices 

supporting the Office of the Secretary and the intelligence community in light of ongoing terrorist threats to national icons; $110,000 

to support the Indian Arts and Crafts Board’s law enforcement and 

investigation activities; $968,000 as requested for ONNR to help 

with certain Trust responsibilities for the Osage Nation consistent 

with the services ONNR already provides to every other tribe; and 

$480,000,000 to fully fund the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) 

program for fiscal year 2017. The Office of Valuation Services is 

funded at $10,000,000. 

National Monument Designations.—The Department is directed 

to work collaboratively with interested parties, including but not 

limited to, the Congress, States, local communities, tribal governments and others prior to planning, implementing, or making national monument designations. 

San Joaquin River.—The Committee directs the Secretary to 

carefully weigh the anticipated benefits of the Bureau of Reclamation’s forthcoming plan for the Upper San Joaquin River prior to 

making a decision regarding a Wild and Scenic River designation 

for a portion of the river. 

Rights-of-Way.—The Committee is concerned that the Department of the Interior Solicitor General has reinterpreted long-standing policy and precedent regarding rights-of-way and directs the 

Department to engage all interested entities to reach a reasonable 

resolution to the issue. 

Royalty Policy Committee.—The Committee believes the Royalty 

Policy Committee plays an important role in determining Federal 

royalty rates and product valuation regulations and directs the Secretary to reconstitute the Royalty Policy Committee as chartered 

prior to its lapse in 2014 within 30 days of enactment of this Act. 

Bill Language.—The Committee has included bill language providing full funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for fiscal year 2017 and a new administrative provision regarding the Solicitor General’s memorandum of November 4, 2011. 

The bill does not include language authorizing the establishment of 

the Department of the Interior Experienced Services Program. The 

Committee urges the Department to work with the authorizing 

committees of jurisdiction to achieve the goals of this program. 

INSULAR AFFAIRS

ASSISTANCE TO TERRITORIES

The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) was established on August 4, 

1995, through Secretarial Order No. 3191, which also abolished the 

former Office of Territorial and International Affairs. The OIA has 

important responsibilities to help the United States government 

fulfill its responsibilities to the four U.S. territories of Guam, 

American Samoa (AS), U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and also the 

three freely associated States: the Federated States of Micronesia 

(FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the RepubVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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lic of Palau. The permanent and trust fund payments to the territories and the compact nations provide substantial financial resources to these governments. During fiscal year 2004, financial arrangements for the Compacts of Free Association with the FSM 

and the RMI were implemented. These also included mandatory 

payments for certain activities previously provided in discretionary 

appropriations as well as Compact impact payments of $30,000,000 

per year split among Guam, CNMI, AS, and Hawaii. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $86,976,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 99,399,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 86,976,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥12,423,000 

The Committee recommends $86,976,000 for Assistance to Territories, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $12,423,000 

below the budget request. A detailed table of funding recommendations below the account level is provided at the end of this report. 

Regional Biosecurity Plan (RBP) for Micronesia and Hawaii.— 

The Committee recognizes that the Office of Insular Affairs is supportive of proposed actions contained within the RBP. The Office 

is directed to include with its fiscal year 2018 budget request a 

summary of the Office’s role in the development and implementation activities of the RBP. The report should include a table of upcoming fiscal year activities, and, if applicable, estimates of funding 

to be used or needed for planned activities. 

COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $16,465,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 3,318,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,318,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥13,147,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $3,318,000 for Compact of Free Association, $13,147,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

equal to the budget request. The Committee expects the Compact 

will be renegotiated and therefore the discretionary stopgap funding will not be necessary in fiscal year 2017. A detailed table of 

funding recommendations below the account level is provided at 

the end of this report. 

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $65,800,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 69,448,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 65,800,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥3,648,000 

The Committee recommends $65,800,000 for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Solicitor, equal to the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and $3,648,000 below the budget request. 


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OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $50,047,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 55,911,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 50,047,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥5,864,000 

The Committee recommends $50,047,000 for salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector General, equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and $5,864,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee is concerned about the recent report from the Inspector General of a longterm issue of sexual harassment and a 

hostile work environment at the Grand Canyon National Park’s 

River District. To assure this problem is being adequately addressed and improved practices and operating procedures are instituted, the Committee directs the Inspector General to conduct a follow up audit no later than March 31, 2017, to determine the status 

of actionable facts, and to report back to the Committee on how the 

National Park Service is moving forward to respond and remedy 

these very serious concerns. 

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS

FEDERAL TRUST PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Congress has designated the Secretary of the Interior as the 

trustee delegate with responsibility for approximately 55 million 

surface acres of land, 57 million acres of subsurface mineral interests, and nearly $4.4 billion that is held in trust by the Federal 

government on behalf of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and 

federally recognized Indian tribes. The Office of the Special Trustee’s trust management of these assets includes conserving, maintaining, accounting, investing, disbursing, and reporting to individual Indians and federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations on asset transactions generated from sales, leasing and other 

commercial activities on these lands. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $139,029,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 140,379,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 139,029,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥1,350,000 

The Committee recommends $139,029,000 for Federal trust pro- grams, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $1,350,000 

below the budget request. A detailed table of funding recommendations below the account level is provided at the end of this report. 

DEPARTMENT-WIDE PROGRAMS

WILDLAND FIRE

The Department’s Wildland Fire Management and FLAME wildfire suppression reserve accounts support fire activities for the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Fish and 


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Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Committee 

recommends a total of $943,945,000 for the Department’s wildland 

fire accounts, including $92,000,000 in the FLAME wildfire suppression reserve fund. This fully funds the fire accounts at the 10- 

year average of expenditures. 

WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $816,745,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 824,624,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 851,945,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +35,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +27,321,000 

The Committee recommends $851,945,000 for Wildland Fire 

Management at the Department of the Interior, $35,200,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $27,321,000 above the budget request. The detailed allocation of funding for these accounts is 

included in the table at the end of this report. 

Wildland Fire Preparedness.—The Committee recommends 

$332,784,000 for Wildland Fire Preparedness, $9,099,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. The 

Department should immediately notify the Committees on Appropriations if it appears that funding shortfalls may limit needed firefighting capacity. 

Wildland Fire Suppression.—The Committee recommends 

$302,701,000, for Wildland Fire Suppression, $11,028,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $26,410,000 above the budget request. 

Fuels Management.—The Committee recommends $180,000,000 

for the Fuels Management program, $10,000,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $30,911,000 above the budget request. 

The Committee encourages the Department to increase crossboundary collaboration through the Fuels Management Program, 

particularly with State Foresters and private sector organizations, 

in efforts to reduce hazardous fuels in high fire risk landscapes and 

to prioritize projects that work across ownership boundaries in 

landscapes, particularly those areas identified as priorities in State 

Forest Action Plans. 

Burned Area Rehabilitation.—The Committee recommends 

$20,470,000 for the Burned Area Rehabilitation program, 

$1,500,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request. The Committee notes that funding for emergency stabilization is meant to supplement emergency stabilization 

funding provided under suppression (generally ten percent), not replace it. The Committee is also concerned by the delay of emergency stabilization and rehabilitation funds to State and/or regional offices and directs the Department to more quickly allocate 

these funds so that critical work can be completed in a timely manner. Finally, the Department is directed to work with the Bureau 

of Land Management on the seed procurement direction provided 

in this report. 

The Committee is aware many National Guard installations have 

excellent resources, including land, for training National Guardsmen hand crews for seasonal firefighting and could support additional fire line training on their installations. The Committee enVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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courages the Department to consider conducting joint fire training 

missions, where appropriate, with the National Guard. 

The Committee supports the Department’s continuing evaluation 

of unmanned aerial systems to support wildland fire operations 

and is aware of the successful firefighting demonstration performed 

by an unmanned helicopter at an unmanned aircraft tehnology 

demonstration in October 2015. The Committee requests that the 

Department provide a report to coincide with the fiscal year 2018 

budget request regarding its plans and recommendations for the 

use of unmanned aerial systems. 

FLAME WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION RESERVE FUND

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $177,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 0 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 92,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥85,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +92,000,000 

The Committee recommends $92,000,000 for the FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund, $85,000,000 below the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and $92,000,000 above the budget request. As 

discussed above, under the Wildland Fire Management account, 

the Committee fully funds the 10-year average expenditure for 

wildfire suppression. 

CENTRAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS FUND

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $10,010,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 13,513,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 10,010,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥3,503 

The Committee recommends $10,010,000 for the Central Hazardous Materials Fund, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $3,503 below the budget request. The Committee understands 

that BLM, in coordination with EPA and the Alaska Department 

of Environmental Conservation, is still in the process of developing 

proposed plans for remediation at Red Devil Mine and therefore 

does not recommend additional funds at this time. 

NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION

NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FUND

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $7,767,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 9,229,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 7,767,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥1,462,000 

The Committee recommends $7,767,000 for the Natural Resource 

Damage Assessment Fund, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $1,462,000 below the budget request. A detailed table of 

funding recommendations below the account level is provided at 

the end of this report. 


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WORKING CAPITAL FUND

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $67,100,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 111,524,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 67,100,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥44,424,000 

The Committee recommends $67,100,000 for the Working Capital 

Fund, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $44,424,000 

below the budget request. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Section 101 continues a provision providing for emergency transfer authority (intra-bureau) with the approval of the Secretary. 

Section 102 continues a provision providing for emergency transfer authority (Department-wide) with the approval of the Secretary. 

Section 103 continues a provision providing for the use of appropriations for certain services. 

Section 104 continues a provision permitting the transfer of 

funds between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian 

Education, and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. 

Section 105 continues a provision permitting the redistribution of 

tribal priority allocation and tribal base funds to alleviate funding 

inequities. 

Section 106 continues a provision authorizing the acquisition of 

lands for the purpose of operating and maintaining facilities that 

support visitors to Ellis, Governors, and Liberty Islands, NJ and 

NY. 

Section 107 continues a provision allowing Outer Continental 

Shelf inspection fees to be collected by the Secretary of the Interior. 

Section 108 continues a provision allowing for the reorganization 

of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement only in conformance with Committee reprogramming 

guidelines. 

Section 109 continues a provision allowing the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) to enter into long-term cooperative agreements 

for long-term care and maintenance of excess wild horses and burros on private land. 

Section 110 continues a provision dealing with the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service’s responsibilities for mass marking of salmonid 

stocks. 

Section 111 modifies a provision addressing BLM actions regarding grazing on public lands. 

Section 112 continues a provision prohibiting funds to implement, administer or enforce Secretarial Order 3310 issued by the 

Secretary of the Interior on December 22, 2010. 

Section 113 continues a provision allowing the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education to more efficiently and effectively perform reimbursable work. 

Section 114 prohibits the use of funds to change the status of 

sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act and to prohibit 


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funds to implement Federal Resource Management Plans unless 

certain criteria are met. 

Section 115 addresses Solicitor Opinion M–37025, dated November 4, 2011. 

Section 116 reconstitutes the National Fund for Excellence in 

American Indian Education for the purposes of supplementing annual appropriations to the Bureau of Indian Education with other 

Federal and private funds. 

Section 117 addresses National Heritage Areas. 

Section 118 expands conservation fish hatcheries. 

Section 119 directs the Secretary to reissue two final rules removing recovered wolves in Wyoming and the Great Lakes from 

the endangered species list. 

Section 120 prohibits the use of funds to develop, carry out, or 

implement proposed regulations published on July 7, 2015, or any 

changes to regulations published on June 30, 1983. 

Section 121 prohibits the use of funds to implement, administer, 

or enforce a National Park Service policy to eliminate the sale of 

water in disposable, recyclable bottles in national parks. 

Section 122 prohibits the use of funds to finalize the BLM’s proposed rule titled Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, 

and Resource Conservation. 

Section 123 prohibits the use of funds to list in the National Register of Historic Places property deemed crucial to national security 

and military training. 

Section 124 prohibits the use of funds to change regulations for 

drilling margins and downhole mud weight as of April 1, 2015. 

Section 125 prohibits the implementation of a final rule for federally recognizing Indian tribes. 

Section 126 modifies 50 CFR 14.92(a)(1) to include echinoderms 

commonly known as sea urchins and sea cucumbers. 

Section 127 prohibits the use of funds for the Bureau of Offshore 

Energy Management to issue, finalize, or implement a rule until 

certain criteria are met. 

Section 128 addresses land taken into trust between 1934 and 

February 24, 2009. 

TITLE II—ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created by Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970, which consolidated nine programs 

from five different agencies and departments. Major EPA programs 

include air and water quality, drinking water, hazardous waste, research, pesticides, radiation, toxic substances, enforcement and 

compliance assurance, pollution prevention, Inland Oil Spill, Superfund, Brownfields, and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank 

program. In addition, EPA provides Federal assistance for wastewater treatment, sewer overflow control, drinking water facilities, 

other water infrastructure projects, and diesel emission reduction 

projects. The Agency is responsible for conducting research and development, establishing environmental standards through the use 

of risk assessment and cost-benefit, monitoring pollution conditions, seeking compliance through enforcement actions, managing 

audits and investigations, and providing technical assistance and 

grant support to States and tribes, which are delegated authority 

for much of the program implementation. Under existing statutory 


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authority, the Agency contributes to specific homeland security efforts and may participate in international environmental activities. 

Among the statutes for which the Environmental Protection 

Agency has sole or significant oversight responsibilities are: 

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. 

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended. 

Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended. 

Clean Water Act [Federal Water Pollution Control Act], as 

amended. 

Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended. 

Ocean Dumping Act [Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972], as amended. 

Oil Pollution Act of 1990. 

Safe Drinking Water Act [Public Health Service Act (Title XIV)], 

as amended. 

Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. 

Clean Air Act, as amended. 

Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002. 

Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. 

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended. 

Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization 

Act of 2002 (amending CERCLA). 

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. 

Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. 

Pollution Prosecution Act of 1990. 

Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2003. 

Energy Policy Act of 2005. 

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. 

For fiscal year 2017, the Committee recommends $7,976,018,000 for the Environmental Protection Agency, $163,869,000 below the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $291,181,000 below the budget 

request. Comparisons to the budget request and 2016 enacted levels are shown by account in the table at the end of the report. 

Reprogramming.—The Agency is held to the reprogramming limitation of $1,000,000. This limitation will be applied to each program area in every account at the levels provided in the table at 

the end of this report. This will allow the Agency the flexibility to 

reprogram funds within a set program area. However, where the 

Committee has cited funding levels for certain program projects or 

activities within a program area, the reprogramming limitation 

continues to apply to those funding levels. Further, the Agency 

may not use any amount of de-obligated funds to initiate a new 

program, office, or initiative without the prior approval of the Committee. 

Congressional Budget Justification.—The Committee directs the 

Agency to include in future justifications the following items: (1) a 

comprehensive index of programs and activities within the program 

projects; (2) the requested bill language, with changes from the enacted language highlighted, at the beginning of each account section; (3) a justification for every program/project, including those 

proposed for elimination; (4) a comprehensive, detailed explanation 

of all changes within a program project; (5) a table showing consolidations, realignments or other transfers of resources and personnel 


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from one program project to another such that the outgoing and receiving program projects offset and clearly illustrate a transfer of 

resources; and, (6) a table listing the budgets and FTE by major 

office within each National Program Management area with pay/ 

non-pay breakouts. Further, if EPA is proposing to change State allocation formulas for the distribution of appropriated funds, then 

EPA should include such proposals in the congressional justification. 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Science and Technology (S&T) account funds all Environmental Protection Agency research (including Superfund research 

activities paid with funds moved into this account from the Hazardous Substance Superfund account). This account includes programs carried out through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, cooperative research and development agreements, and 

interagency agreements, with other Federal agencies, States, universities, nonprofit organizations, and private business, as well as 

in-house research. It also funds personnel compensation and benefits, travel, supplies and operating expenses, including rent, utilities and security, for all Agency research. Research addresses a 

wide range of environmental and health concerns across all environmental media and encompasses both long-term basic and nearterm applied research to provide the scientific knowledge and technologies necessary for preventing, regulating, and abating pollution, and to anticipate emerging environmental issues. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $734,648,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 754,184,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 720,072,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥14,576,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥34,112,000 

The bill provides $720,072,000 for Science and Technology, $14,576,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$34,112,000 below the budget request. The Committee recommends 

that $15,496,000 be paid to this account from the Hazardous Substance Superfund account for ongoing research activities. A detailed table of funding recommendations below the account level is 

provided at the end of this report, and the Committee provides the 

following additional detail by program area: 

Research: Air, Climate and Energy.—The Committee recommends $88,282,000 and does not include funding for proposed 

additional hydraulic fracturing activities or for the Mission Innovation commitment. 

Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability.—The Committee 

recommends $132,265,000 and fully funds the request for computational toxicology. The Committee supports EPA’s computational 

toxicology research activities to advance the next generation of risk 

assessment methods to enable integration of tiered toxicity evaluation strategies, advanced high throughput molecular biological assays and computational methods with exposure information to support risk-based decisions for prioritization and screening. 

Within the funds provided, $1,000,000 shall be used to contract 

with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct the peer 

review of the revised draft IRIS assessment of formaldehyde. The 


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NAS shall ensure that all recommendations and concerns raised in 

the April 2011 report of the NAS are fully resolved scientifically in 

the revised draft assessment. Further, the Committee does not accept the proposed $872,000 reduction for endocrine disruptor research. 

Research: National Priorities.—The bill provides $5,000,000 

which shall be used for extramural research grants, independent of 

the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grant program, to fund 

high-priority water quality and availability research by not-forprofit organizations who often partner with the Agency. Because 

these grants are independent of the STAR grant program, the 

Agency should strive to award grants in as large an amount as is 

possible to achieve the most scientifically significant research. 

Funds shall be awarded competitively with priority given to partners proposing research of national scope and who provide a 25 

percent match. The Agency is directed to allocate funds to grantees 

within 180 days of enactment of this Act. Further, the Committee provides $5,000,000 for the Agency to 

further research on oil and gas development in the Appalachian 

Basin, of which $3,500,000 is available for extramural funding. The 

Committee encourages the Agency to work with the energy producing industry to explore technology to curtail fugitive emissions 

within the context of this research project. 

Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources.—The Committee recommends $107,434,000, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The Committee rejects the proposed reductions for 

water quality and drinking water system research, and the Agency 

shall allocate funds consistent with fiscal year 2016. The Committee supports planned activities in fiscal year 2016 to install a 

mobile pipe loop rig in the Flint drinking water treatment plant to 

examine lead release from pipes and evaluate lead mitigation strategies and corrosion control efforts. The Committee looks forward to 

the findings. 

Further, the Committee believes augmenting drinking water supplies through artificial or enhanced recharge into aquifers could 

represent a cost-effective way of increasing the availability of 

water. Enhanced Aquifer Recharge (EAR) also represents a key 

practice for the management and restoration of ecosystems. EAR 

may involve the use/injection of treated drinking water, treated 

wastewater or collected storm water. However the most promising 

systems have focused on the use of surface water diversion during 

high flow periods. Therefore, the Committee directs EPA research 

efforts to establish a best practices approach for EAR, and to the 

extent feasible, coordinate with other Federal research efforts in 

this area. 

Additional Guidance.—The Committee has included the following 

additional guidance with respect to funding provided under this account: 

Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and other assessments.—At least six critical recommendations from the National 

Academy of Sciences (NAS) have yet to be implemented including 

objective evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of critical 

studies, the need for weight of evidence evaluation and integration, 

and clearer rationale for selecting studies to calculate toxicity values. Additionally, the NAS identified specific concerns that need to 


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be addressed when evaluating the hazards of formaldehyde. The 

Committee believes it is essential for the NAS to peer review the 

revised draft assessment of formaldehyde to verify whether EPA 

has addressed all previous recommendations. 

In addition, for all draft or final EPA risk assessments issued in 

fiscal year 2017, the Committee directs the Agency to provide clear 

criteria for judging the quality of all key studies and to provide a 

description of how all evidence will be integrated, based on its 

strengths and weaknesses, in advance of releasing any future draft 

assessments. When evaluating the potential carcinogenic effects of 

substances, the Agency shall also present non-linear modeling approaches. Consistent with EPA’s Risk Characterization Handbook 

(EPA, 2002), draft and final hazard and exposure assessments, produced by EPA offices, should also include the distribution of estimated hazards, exposures, or risks, including central tendency values. 

Water Security Test Bed.—Both for fiscal year 2017 and in future 

budget requests, the Committee recommends that EPA include 

adequate funding for advancing full scale applied research and 

testing capabilities to address threats to drinking water and drinking water infrastructure. 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AND MANAGEMENT

The Environmental Programs and Management account encompasses a broad range of abatement, prevention, enforcement, and 

compliance activities, and personnel compensation, benefits, travel, 

and expenses for all programs of the Agency except Science and 

Technology, Hazardous Substance Superfund, Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund, Inland Oil Spill Programs, and 

the Office of Inspector General. 

Abatement, prevention, and compliance activities include setting 

environmental standards, issuing permits, monitoring emissions 

and ambient conditions and providing technical and legal assistance toward enforcement, compliance, and oversight. In most cases, 

the States are directly responsible for actual operation of the various environmental programs, and the Agency’s activities include 

oversight and assistance. 

In addition to program costs, this account funds administrative 

costs associated with the operating programs of the Agency, including support for executive direction, policy oversight, resources management, general office and building services for program operations, and direct implementation of Agency environmental programs for headquarters, the ten EPA regional offices, and all nonresearch field operations. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $2,613,679,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 2,852,893,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,527,470,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥86,209,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥325,423,000 

The bill provides $2,527,470,000 for Environmental Programs 

and Management, $86,209,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $325,423,000 below the budget request. A detailed table 

of funding recommendations below the account level is provided at 


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the end of this report, and the Committee provides the following 

additional detail by program area: 

Clean Air and Climate.—The Committee recommends 

$248,108,000 which is $25,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $92,866,000 below the budget request. The Committee rejects $39,738,000 in requested increases for implementation of greenhouse gas regulations, methane regulations and to disqualify products under the Significant New Alternatives Policy. 

Further, the amount provided does not include funding for EPA’s 

greenhouse gas rules for stationary sources, including efforts to develop Federal Implementation Plans while the Supreme Court has 

stayed the regulations. The Committee is concerned that EPA continues to expend funds on related activities despite the Supreme 

Court ordered stay on the regulations. These funds would be better 

used to address the backlog of State Implementation Plans that 

EPA has yet to approve. As such, within the funds provided, the 

Committee includes $3,000,000 to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of both preconstruction and operating permitting programs. 

Environmental Protection: National Priorities.—The bill provides 

$15,000,000 for a competitive grant program to provide technical 

assistance for improved water quality or safe drinking water to 

rural and urban communities or individual private well owners. 

The Agency is directed to provide on a national or multi-State regional basis, $13,500,000 for grants to qualified not-for-profit organizations, including organizations authorized by Section 1442(e) of 

the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–1(e)(8)), for the sole 

purpose of providing on-site training and technical assistance for 

water systems in rural or urban communities. The Agency is also 

directed to provide $1,500,000 for grants to qualified not-for-profit 

organizations for technical assistance for individual private well 

owners, with priority given to organizations that currently provide 

technical and educational assistance to individual private well owners. The Agency shall require each grantee to provide a minimum 

10 percent match, including in-kind contributions. The Agency is 

directed to allocate funds to grantees within 180 days of enactment 

of this Act. 

Geographic Programs.—The bill provides $409,709,000. The Committee has provided funding for programs that support restoration 

and protection of our Nation’s most important water bodies, as protection of these resources continues to be a priority. From within 

the amount provided, the Committee directs the following: 

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.—The Committee recommends 

$300,000,000 for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $50,000,000 above 

the budget request. The Agency shall continue to follow the direction as provided in House Report 112–589. In addition, as EPA distributes funds across the five focus areas, tribal related activities 

shall be maintained at not less than the fiscal year 2016 level. Further, the Committee supports ongoing work to reduce the growth 

of harmful algal blooms. 

Chesapeake Bay.—The Committee recommends $60,000,000. 

From within the amount provided, $5,000,000 is for nutrient and 

sediment removal grants and $5,000,000 is for small watershed 


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grants to control polluted runoff from urban, suburban and agricultural lands. 

Puget Sound.—The Committee recommends $28,000,000. Funds 

shall be allocated in the same manner as directed in House Report 

112–331. The Committee directs EPA to expeditiously obligate 

funds, in a manner consistent with the authority and responsibilities under Section 320 and the National Estuary Program. 

Long Island Sound.—The Committee recommends $10,000,000, 

$6,060,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $7,107,000 

above the budget request. 

Indoor Air and Radiation.—The Committee recommends 

$29,148,000, $1,511,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

The recommendation includes no funding for the uranium and thorium mill tailings (Part 192) rulemaking. The Committee encourages EPA to withdraw this rulemaking and work with State regulators, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the uranium recovery industry to collect sufficient data to determine whether updates are needed to the existing generally applicable standards. 

Using the increase provided herein for fiscal year 2017, the Administrator shall take the following actions to meet the increased 

demand for radon services as a result of the National Radon Action 

Plan: 

(1) establish criteria for recognition of national proficiency 

certification programs that use ongoing performance review 

processes, with provision for discontinuation of certifications 

for cause, to ensure the effectiveness of private firms and individuals offering radon-related measurement and mitigation 

services utilizing consensus American National Standards; recognize qualified programs; and encourage States to require certification by qualified programs; 

(2) promote and encourage train-the-trainer courses in radon 

measurement, radon mitigation, and radon resistant new construction for qualified entities and certifying organizations; 

(3) recognize consensus American National Standards that 

conform to OMB Circular A–119 and the Technology Transfer 

Act (P.L. 104–113) and support their completion and adoption; 

and 

(4) support dialogues with organizations responsible for developing national model building codes, and respective authorities within States or political subdivisions, to add up-to-date 

methods of reducing radon in new buildings to model building 

code requirements. 

Information Exchange/Outreach.—The Committee recommends 

$115,440,000. The recommendation provides $43,638,000 for Congressional, Intergovernmental, and External Relations. From within this amount, $2,200,000 has been provided for the Administrator’s Immediate Office. The bill provides $4,235,000 for the Office 

of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, which is 

$4,000,000 below the budget request. The Committee is acutely 

aware that a backlog of responses to congressional letters, informal 

questions, and questions for the record exists as member offices 

have requested the Committee’s assistance to obtain answers. The 

consistent lack of responsiveness to congressional inquiries has 

been a pervasive concern raised at oversight hearings throughout 


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the year and the pattern suggests a systematic approach to hindering congressional oversight. 

Legal/Science/Regulatory/Economic Review.—The Committee 

recommends $89,234,000 and does not include funding for the 

Smart Growth Program. The Committee recommends $20,700,000 

for the Office of Policy. 

Operations and Administration.—The Committee recommends 

$482,751,000. The Committee remains concerned about a number 

of management issues that have surfaced over the past year. The 

lack of administrative controls for employee payroll, travel, bonuses, and time and attendance has fostered several instances of 

waste, fraud and abuse of appropriated funds. The Committee continues to be troubled by the Agency’s practice of transferring carryover amounts to fund current year payroll, fixed cost or contract 

needs. This practice invalidates Agency estimates of fixed cost 

needs and further calls into question the Agency’s management of 

funds. 

Water: Ecosystems.—The Committee recommends $47,788,000. 

From within the amount provided, the recommendation includes 

$16,800,000 to provide $600,000 to each National Estuary Program 

(NEP) funded under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The Committee also provides $300,000 in competitive grants within the 

coastal activities and encourages EPA to work in consultation with 

the NEP directors to identify worthy projects and activities. In addition, the Committee recommends $21,065,000 for the Wetlands 

program. The Committee directs EPA to use the funds provided to 

accelerate the processing of mining permits with the Corps of Engineers. Further, the Committee directs EPA, in consultation with 

the Corps of Engineers, to continue to report monthly on the number of Section 404 permits under review according to the directive 

in Division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014. 

Water: Human Health Protection.—The Committee recommends 

$100,507,000 which is $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The recommended level provides a $2,000,000 increase 

to support technical assistance activities related to integrated planning, which will be increasingly necessary as States and communities evaluate drinking water systems for lead contamination 

issues and pipe replacement. 

Water Quality Protection.—The Committee recommends 

$212,516,000 which is $2,099,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. In addition, the recommended level provides funding 

for the urban waters program, as requested. The Committee supports the proposed budget realignment of $2,200,000 to the new 

WIFIA account to support increased water infrastructure investment. The recommended level provides a $4,299,000 increase to 

support activities related to integrated planning, which will be increasingly necessary as States and communities evaluate water 

systems for lead contamination issues and pipe replacement. Further, the Committee is aware that more than one quarter of the 

U.S. population relies on onsite-decentralized systems to treat 

wastewater. The Committee urges the Agency to designate additional technical assistance, resources and expertise toward onsite 

wastewater recycling issues within the Decentralized Wastewater 

Program. 


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Additional Guidance.—The Committee has included the following 

additional guidance with respect to funding provided under this account: 

Administrator Priorities.—EPA is directed to submit a report 

within 90 days of enactment of this Act that identifies how any fiscal year 2015 and 2016 funding was used, by account, program 

area, and program project. Each activity funded should include a 

justification for the effort and any anticipated results. 

Antimicrobial Solutions for Citrus Disease.—The Committee recognizes the importance of antimicrobial crop protection tools in 

combating citrus greening and continues to support EPA’s cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Multi-Agency Coordination Group. The Committee encourages EPA to expedite and 

support the development, review, and registration of antimicrobial 

compounds that may lead to a treatment and cure for infected 

trees. Given the precipitous drop of citrus production, and the fact 

that no cure for the disease has been identified to date, the Committee directs EPA to use its resources to expedite review and approval of any treatment for this disease. Further, EPA should continue to prioritize and support ongoing research at land-grant colleges and universities. Where appropriate, the EPA should facilitate timely approval of USDA research in antimicrobial treatments 

and pesticide regimens. 

Composite Wood Products.—The Formaldehyde Standards for 

Composite-Wood Products Act directed EPA to develop a national 

standard for formaldehyde emissions that replicates the California 

regulations. The Committee urges EPA to finalize a rule on the national formaldehyde standard for composite wood products that is 

consistent with the California regulations for laminated products 

and consistent with the intent of the 2010 Act. 

Disproportionate Impacts for Small Refineries.—Division D of the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 provided direction that the 

Department of Energy may recommend to the Administrator a 50 

percent waiver under 211(o)(9)(B) of the Clean Air Act. Under regulations promulgated by EPA, a small refinery may petition the Administrator for an extension of its small refinery exemption, based 

on disproportionate economic hardship, at any time (40 CFR 

80.1441(e)(2)). Under those regulations the Administrator shall act 

on small refinery petitions not later than 90 days after the date of 

receipt of the petition. The Administrator is reminded that disproportionate hardship does not require a finding that the refiner 

or refinery is no longer profitable. Small refinery profitability does 

not justify a disproportionate regulatory burden where Congress 

has explicitly given EPA authority, in consultation with the Secretary, to reduce or eliminate this burden. Disproportionate impact 

may occur from several site specific factors which make it more difficult or expensive to meet the required volumes, or from a lack of 

blending infrastructure available to the refinery. 

Where the refiner or refinery shows a disproportionate economic 

hardship based on site specific factors and where the Secretary of 

Energy recommends to EPA that a waiver, in partial or full, is warranted, the Committee finds the Administrator has the necessary 

authority to grant a partial waiver. Should the Administrator disagree with a waiver recommendation from the Secretary of Energy, 

either to approve or deny, the Agency shall provide a report to the 


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Committee on Appropriations and to the Secretary of Energy that 

explains the Agency position. Such report shall be provided 10 days 

prior to issuing a decision on a waiver petition. 

Exempt Aquifers.—Protecting underground sources of drinking 

water while ensuring robust economic development is of critical importance to the Committee. Existing criteria and procedures for aquifer exemptions under EPA’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) 

regulations for all classes of injection wells are sufficiently flexible 

to address new and changed circumstances, including the development of significant new information regarding what can or cannot 

reasonably be expected to serve as a source of drinking water. The 

Committee believes that amendments to these criteria are not necessary or warranted for purposes of processing any pending or proposed applications. EPA is directed to work within the existing UIC 

regulatory framework, in a collaborative manner with the States, 

the energy producing industry, and all other stakeholders that rely 

on UIC operations, to promptly review and process all aquifer exemption applications submitted to the Agency, including applications for Class II injection by permit, to ensure robust oil and natural gas production in the States, and promote associated economic 

development and national security benefits, while simultaneously 

continuing to protect the Nation’s underground sources of drinking 

water. 

Consistent with EPA’s Guidance for Review and Approval of 

State UIC Programs and Revisions to Approved State Programs, 

GWPB Guidance #34, aquifer exemption applications involving underground injection authorized by permit shall not be processed as 

substantial program revisions, provided the injection is occurring 

into aquifers that meet the criteria for an exemption set forth in 

40 CFR 146.4 (as in effect on April 1, 2016), and the recommendations of key State resource agencies are taken in account. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following aquifer exemption categories 

may be processed as substantial program revisions, irrespective of 

authorization by permit, to ensure consistency with GWPB Guidance #34 and 40 CFR 144.7(d), respectively: (1) exemptions involving Class I injection into aquifers containing water less than 3,000 

mg/l TDS; and (2) exemptions involving expansion of the areal extent of Class II aquifer exemptions for the purpose of Class VI injection. 

Interagency Consultations.—The U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) has a robust history of collecting and analyzing data related to agricultural economics and the environmental impact of 

farming practices upon the environment, including crop protection 

and pest management. Several provisions in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act require USDA and EPA to 

consult and coordinate together. Given the Department’s expertise, 

the Committee directs EPA to consult with the USDA experts on 

regulatory decisions impacting America’s farmers. 

Lead Test Kit.—The Committee fully supports activities by EPA, 

States, contractors and homeowners that result in the safe and 

proper reduction of lead paint in homes. The Committee believes 

it is incumbent upon contractors to be fully trained, certified and 

knowledgeable about the risks related to lead exposure especially 

for children and at-risk populations. It is imperative that EPA and 

the States continue to make those training opportunities readily 


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available and easily accessible along with improved outreach to 

build awareness for homeowners during renovations. As the Committee follows EPA’s implementation of the rule, the Committee 

raised concerns in fiscal year 2012 that EPA had not been meeting 

demand by offering the necessary volume and accessibility to training based upon training locations and dates offered. As such, EPA 

was required to adjust implementation and enforcement deadlines 

in the rule. In 2009, EPA stipulated that an in-home test kit could 

be developed along certain parameters that would allow contractors 

to quickly and efficiently identify whether lead paint was present 

during a renovation. EPA set a standard that has been unattainable to date, and redirects homeowners to solutions such as laboratory testing that are more costly and delay renovations. Those are 

the appropriate alternatives within the regulatory void that EPA 

has created, and those costs must be factored into EPA’s cost/benefit analysis for the rulemaking. Further, the Committee notes that 

EPA’s enforcement of paperwork violations has little effect on 

whether children have been exposed to lead paint. Therefore, the 

Committee finds the overall intent of the rule to have merit, but 

EPA’s implementation and standards therein must be revisited via 

a formal comment period. 

Pharmaceutical Drug Incinerators.—The Committee understands 

that there are numerous mobile incinerators used for the purpose 

of destroying unwanted pharmaceuticals in conjunction with sanctioned drug take-back events. Many of these mobile incinerators, 

while once in use, currently do not meet the standards that EPA 

is utilizing to regulate these unique incinerators. Although EPA acknowledges that unwanted pharmaceuticals are not classified as 

hazardous waste, the Committee understands that EPA is regulating them as such. These standards are designed for the regulation of large hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facilities, and not for the regulation of small-scale units such as these 

mobile incinerators. This misclassification results in an overly burdensome permitting process and the application of an unattainable 

standard, unsuitable for these small units. The Committee notes 

that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has characterized the 

abuse and misuse of opioids as a national epidemic, and therefore 

encourages EPA to consider the benefits of mobile incinerators to 

rural communities, reassess the cost and environmental impact of 

transporting large quantities of unwanted pharmaceuticals long 

distances to be incinerated, and re-examine the applicable regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act with respect to mobile incinerators. 

Restrictions on Certain Communications.—On December 14, 

2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that 

EPA, in association with its Waters of the United States rulemaking, violated prohibitions against publicity or propaganda and 

grassroots lobbying contained in appropriations Acts. Because EPA 

expended funds in violation of these prohibitions, the GAO further 

concluded that EPA violated the Antideficiency Act. The Committee 

has yet to see any related documentation, as required by law, and 

directs EPA to submit such paperwork immediately, and coordinate 

with the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 directives. 


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In addition, the Committee is also aware that the Inspector General is investigating the use of EPA funds to support billboards and 

other advertisements. This appears to be part of an alarming trend 

where EPA engages in funding advocacy efforts against the very 

entities it is seeking to regulate. EPA cannot systematically choose 

when it wishes to follow the law and when it does not. The Committee reminds EPA that funding may not be used in a manner 

contrary to Section 401 of this bill. 

Science Advisory Board.— For fiscal year 2017, the Agency shall 

only use scientific and technical information and data that is publicly available to justify proposing, finalizing or disseminating any 

risk assessment or regulation so as to allow for independent analysis, verification, reproduction, and inquiries of research results by 

the general public. The Administrator shall ensure that the evaluation of research by the Science Advisory Board (SAB) includes a detailed summary regarding the ability to reproduce the results of 

the reviewed research and whether the research contains a detailed 

analysis of all uncertainties. Further, the Administrator shall ensure that every SAB review panel substantively addresses each 

technical, scientific, and associated comment received during any 

stage of the SAB review process. The Administrator shall only officially accept responses to SAB charge questions when the SAB has 

responded to all questions. 

State Water Quality Standards.—The Committee finds that EPA 

should support States proposing Clean Water Act standards using 

a science-based approach, which utilizes a methodology for deriving 

water quality criteria for the protection of human health that has 

been publicly vetted and scientifically peer reviewed, that have incorporated public comment regarding human health criteria for fish 

consumption, where the standards are based on EPA’s most recent 

guidance. Failure to accept such State proposals runs contrary to 

the underlying principles of the Clean Water Act that support cooperative Federalism. 

Worker Protection Standards.—The Committee recognizes the 

importance of agricultural worker protection standards, especially 

for migrant farm workers, children who work on farms, and pesticide handlers, and directs the Agency to engage the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers, farm workers, industry and other interested organizations as it implements its standards. 

HAZARDOUS WASTE ELECTRONIC MANIFEST SYSTEM FUND

This account supports all activities necessary for the development of the system established by the Hazardous Waste Electronic 

Manifest Establishment Act (P.L. 112–195). 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $3,674,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 7,433,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,178,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥496,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥4,255,000 

The bill provides $3,178,000, which is $496,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $4,255,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee continues to support the expeditious development 

of a system that would allow for the electronic tracking of hazardous waste shipments pursuant to P.L. 112–195. The Committee 


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notes that funds provided herein for fiscal year 2017 fulfill EPA’s 

requests for amounts to complete the system design and build. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides audit, evaluation, 

and investigation products and advisory services to improve the 

performance and integrity of EPA programs and operations. The 

Inspector General (IG) will continue to perform the function of IG 

for the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. This account funds personnel compensation and benefits, travel, and expenses (excluding rent, utilities, and security costs) for the Office 

of Inspector General. In addition to the funds provided under this 

heading, this account receives funds from the Hazardous Substance 

Superfund account. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $41,489,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 51,527,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 41,489,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥10,038,000 

The bill provides $41,489,000, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $10,038,000 below the budget request. In addition, 

the Committee recommends $8,778,000 as a payment to this account from the Hazardous Substance Superfund account. The Inspector General is directed to prioritize funds to projects that prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse at EPA. 

Further, the Committee directs the Inspector General to provide 

a report by July 1, 2017, that describes existing EPA policy, procedure and training regarding sexual harassment at the Agency and 

any policy and process changes it has made. The Committee also 

directs the Office of the Inspector General to continue to provide 

oversight of the Agency’s civil rights and EEO activities. 

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

The Buildings and Facilities account provides for the design and 

construction of EPA-owned facilities as well as for the repair, extension, alteration, and improvement of facilities used by the Agency. The funds are used to correct unsafe conditions, protect health 

and safety of employees and Agency visitors, and prevent deterioration of structures and equipment. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $42,317,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 52,078,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 34,467,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥7,850,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥17,611,000 

The bill provides $34,467,000, which is $7,850,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $17,611,000 below the budget request. The Committee supports proposed projects that will reduce 

Agency operational and rent costs. EPA should prioritize projects 

based on anticipated cost savings and allocate funds accordingly. 


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HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE SUPERFUND

The Hazardous Substance Superfund (Superfund) program was 

established in 1980 by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act to clean up emergency 

hazardous materials, spills, and dangerous, uncontrolled, and/or 

abandoned hazardous waste sites. The Superfund Amendments and 

Reauthorization Act (SARA) expanded the program substantially in 

1986, authorizing approximately $8,500,000,000 in revenues over 

five years. In 1990, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act extended the program’s authorization through 1994 for 

$5,100,000,000 with taxing authority through calendar year 1995. 

The Superfund program is operated by EPA subject to annual appropriations from a dedicated trust fund and from general revenues. Enforcement activities are used to identify and induce parties 

responsible for hazardous waste problems to undertake cleanup actions and pay for EPA oversight of those actions. In addition, responsible parties have been required to cover the cost of fund-financed removal and remedial actions undertaken at spills and 

waste sites by Federal and State agencies. Funds are paid from 

this account to the Office of Inspector General and Science and 

Technology accounts for Superfund related activities. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $1,088,769,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 1,128,989,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,115,929,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +27,160,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥13,060,000 

The bill provides $1,115,929,000 for the Hazardous Substance Superfund program which is $27,160,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and $13,060,000 below the budget request. 

Superfund Cleanup.—The Committee recommends $751,722,000. 

While the Committee understands this increase is insufficient to 

eliminate the backlog of unfunded new starts, the Committee expects the Agency to use the additional funds to initiate remediation 

at highly contaminated, orphan sites. Further, the Committee expects the additional funding will also support pipeline activities 

such as remedial investigations, feasibility studies, and remedial 

designs which are critical steps prior to construction. The Committee continues to support EPA’s added financial and project management efforts that enable the Agency to de-obligate unused funds 

from sites and redirect those funds to new construction projects. 

Additional Guidance.—The Committee has included the following 

additional guidance with respect to funding provided under this account: 

Financial Assurance.—The Committee directs the Administrator 

to complete a thorough analysis of the capacity of the financial and 

credit markets to provide the necessary instruments (surety bonds, 

letters of credit, insurance, and trusts) for meeting any new financial responsibility requirements pursuant to section 108(b) of the 

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9608(b)). The Committee provides no 

funds to develop, propose, finalize, implement, enforce, or administer any regulation that would establish any such new financial 

responsibility requirements until the Administrator demonstrates 

that such an analysis has been completed. 


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Gold King Mine.—The Committee understands the EPA and the 

State are currently working through the process to add the Gold 

King mine and other nearby sites to the National Priorities List. 

In the interim, EPA continues to maintain and operate a temporary water treatment plant. Using funds provided herein, the 

Administrator shall maintain and operate the temporary water 

treatment plant to treat contaminated flows in the area, but only 

to the capacity of the plant. The Committee believes any long-term 

solution should be consistent with a site remediation plan following 

the addition to the National Priorities List. The Committee understands that such plan will take time to develop and directs the 

EPA to so maintain and operate the temporary water treatment 

plant until a more permanent water treatment solution is developed. 

Sediment Report.—The Committee is aware that the Government 

Accountability Office is auditing EPA’s cleanup of contaminated 

sediment sites under the Superfund program. EPA was directed to 

provide a report within 90 days of enactment of the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2016 regarding the Agency’s compliance with 

the Contaminated Sediment Guidance. The Committee directs the 

Agency to complete and submit the report expeditiously. 

LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK TRUST FUND PROGRAM

Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the 

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, authorized the 

establishment of a response program for cleanup of releases from 

leaking underground storage tanks. Owners and operators of facilities with underground tanks must demonstrate financial responsibility and bear initial responsibility for cleanup. The Federal trust 

fund is funded through the imposition of a motor fuel tax of onetenth of a cent per gallon. 

In addition to State resources, the Leaking Underground Storage 

Tank (LUST) Trust Fund provides funding to clean up sites, enforces necessary corrective actions, and recovers costs expended 

from the Fund for cleanup activities. The underground storage 

tank response program is designed to operate primarily through cooperative agreements with States. Funds are also used for grants 

to non-State entities, including Indian tribes, under Section 8001 

of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Energy Policy 

Act of 2005 expanded the authorized activities of the Fund to include the underground storage tank program. In 2006, Congress 

amended section 9508 of the Internal Revenue Code to authorize 

expenditures from the trust fund for prevention and inspection activities. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $91,941,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 94,285,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 94,605,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +2,664,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +320,000 

The bill provides $94,605,000 for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund Program, $2,664,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $320,000 above the budget request. 


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INLAND OIL SPILL PROGRAMS

This appropriation, authorized by the Federal Water Pollution 

Control Act, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, provides 

funds to prepare for and prevent releases of oil and other petroleum products in navigable waterways. In addition, EPA is reimbursed for incident specific response costs through the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the United States Coast Guard. 

EPA is responsible for directing all cleanup and removal activities posing a threat to public health and the environment; conducting site inspections; providing a means to achieve cleanup activities by private parties; reviewing containment plans at facilities; reviewing area contingency plans; pursuing cost recovery of 

fund-financed cleanups; and conducting research of oil cleanup 

techniques. Funds for this appropriation are provided through the 

Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund which is composed of fees and collections made through provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the 

Comprehensive Oil Pollution Liability and Compensation Act, the 

Deepwater Port Act of 1974, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 

Amendments of 1978, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 

as amended. Pursuant to law, the Trust Fund is managed by the 

United States Coast Guard. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $18,209,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 25,410,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 18,079,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥130,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥7,331,000 

The bill provides $18,079,000 for the Inland Oil Spill program, 

$130,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $7,331,000 

below the budget request. 

STATE AND TRIBAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

The State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) account provides 

grant funds for programs operated primarily by State, local, tribal 

and other governmental partners. The account includes two broad 

types of funds: (1) Infrastructure Assistance, which is used primarily by local governments for projects supporting environmental 

protection; and, (2) Categorical Grants, which assist State and tribal governments and other environmental partners with the operation of environmental programs. The account also includes specific 

program grants such as competitive Brownfields grants and diesel 

emissions reduction grants. 

In the STAG account, EPA provides funding for infrastructure 

projects through two State Revolving Funds (Clean Water and 

Drinking Water), geographic specific projects in Alaskan Native 

Villages and on the United States-Mexico Border, Brownfields revitalization projects, diesel emission reduction grants, and other targeted infrastructure projects. 

The State Revolving Funds (SRFs) provide Federal financial assistance to protect the Nation’s water resources. The Clean Water 

SRF helps eliminate municipal discharge of untreated or inadequately treated pollutants and thereby helps maintain or restore 

the country’s water to a swimmable and/or fishable quality. The 

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ipal, State, and interstate agencies and tribal governments to plan, 

design, and construct wastewater facilities and other projects, including non-point source, estuary, stormwater, and sewer overflow 

projects. The Safe Drinking Water SRF finances improvements to 

community water systems so that they can achieve compliance with 

the mandates of the Safe Drinking Water Act and continue to protect public health. 

Many of the major Federal environmental statutes include provisions that allow the Federal government, through EPA, to delegate 

to the States and tribes the day-to-day management of environmental programs or to approve State and Tribal environmental 

programs. The Federal statutes were designed to recognize the 

States as partners and co-regulators, allowing the States to issue 

and enforce permits, carry out inspections and monitoring, and collect data. To assist the States in this task, the statutes also authorized EPA to provide grants to the States and tribes. These grants, 

which cover every major aspect of environmental protection, include those programs authorized by sections 319 and 106 of the 

Clean Water Act (Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended) (for non-point source pollution and the water quality permits 

programs), sections 105 and 103 of the Clean Air Act (for State and 

Local air quality management programs), section 128 of CERCLA 

(for State and tribal response programs), section 1443(a) of the Safe 

Drinking Water Act (for public water system supervision), and section 3011 of RCRA (for the implementation of State hazardous 

waste programs). 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $3,518,161,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 3,280,400,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,370,729,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥147,432,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +90,329,000 

The bill provides $3,370,729,000 for the State and Tribal Assist- ance Grants account, $147,432,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $90,329,000 above the budget request. The Committee provides the following additional detail by program area: 

Infrastructure Assistance.—The Committee has appropriated 

more than $25 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure assistance since 2009, and notes that more than $6 billion is currently revolving in the system and available for drinking water and 

wastewater infrastructure loans in fiscal year 2016. Nevertheless, 

little progress has been made to reduce the known water infrastructure gap. The Committee believes that EPA and the States 

must aggressively allocate existing funds to projects in order to address the pressing infrastructure needs facing the country. In addition, the Committee continues to encourage EPA and water infrastructure stakeholders to promote alternate financing mechanisms 

for water infrastructure at local, State and Federal levels as it is 

widely accepted that Federal financing through the State Revolving 

Funds remains an important yet insufficient tool to address the 

Nation’s water infrastructure needs. 

Public-private partnerships, greater access to financing from private activity bonds, and improved asset management are just a few 

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tions and reduce costs. In fiscal year 2017, the Committee is providing greater investment for drinking water needs. To the extent 

possible, States should give greater weight to projects on State Intended Use Plans that would remove lead pipes from existing infrastructure. 

In addition, the Committee continues bill language to allow EPA 

and the States to provide additional forms of subsidy to those communities which cannot afford the below market rates provided by 

an SRF loan. The Committee has provided additional authority to 

allow States to provide debt relief in areas with elevated lead levels 

in drinking water. 

Brownfields Program.—The bill provides $80,000,000 for 

brownfields grants and directs that at least 10 percent of such 

grants be provided to areas in which at least 20 percent of the population has lived under the poverty level over the past 30 years as 

determined by the 1990 and 2000 censuses and the most recent 

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. 

Diesel Emissions Reductions Grants (DERA).—The bill provides $100,000,000 for DERA grants. More than 10 million older, heavily 

polluting diesel engines remain in use that have yet to be retrofitted, repowered, or replaced, and over one million are expected to 

remain in use in 2030. For fiscal year 2017, the Committee directs 

EPA to continue to make at least 70 percent of DERA grants available to improve air quality in non-attainment areas. 

Targeted Airshed Grants.—The bill provides $40,000,000 for targeted airshed grants to reduce air pollution in non-attainment 

areas. These grants shall be distributed on a competitive basis to 

non-attainment areas that EPA determines are ranked as the top 

five most polluted areas relative to annual ozone or particulate 

matter 2.5 standards as well as the top five areas based on the 24- 

hour particulate matter 2.5 standard where the design values exceed the 35 μg/m3 standard. To determine these areas, the Agency 

shall use the most recent design values calculated from validated 

air quality data. The Committee notes that these funds are available for emission reduction activities deemed necessary for compliance with national ambient air quality standards and included in 

a State Implementation Plan submitted to EPA. Not later than the 

end of fiscal year 2017, EPA should provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations that includes a table showing how fiscal 

year 2016 and 2017 funds were allocated. The table should also include grant recipients and metrics for anticipated or actual results. 

Categorical Grants.—For categorical grants to States and other 

environmental partners for the implementation of delegated programs, the bill provides $1,058,229,000. 

Public Water System Supervision.—The recommendation includes 

$109,700,000 as requested which is $7,737,000 above the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level. These additional resources are critical for State 

oversight of drinking water systems, particularly as more communities confront the challenges associated with lead in drinking 

water. 

Radon.—The Committee continues to support State radon program efforts that raise awareness about the associated risks of 

radon exposure as ongoing, unmitigated exposures result in over 

21,000 radon-induced lung cancer deaths per year. The Committee 

provides $8,051,000, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, 


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and directs that EPA award priority to State applicants that have 

adopted or seek to adopt radon building codes for single family 

homes, conduct programs providing radon awareness and education 

for homebuyers, or have certification requirements according to national consensus standards for radon measurement and mitigation 

professionals: $3,500,000 to promote radon awareness through 

health care providers and medical professionals, cancer control 

plans, child care providers, and real estate transactions; $1,000,000 

to inform local school systems about radon exposure risk in schools 

and to provide sample school testing and mitigation plans consistent with national consensus standards; and $3,551,000 to offer 

training and technical support on radon measurement and mitigation according to national consensus standards for radon testers, 

mitigators and home inspectors, and radon-resistant new construction techniques and best practices for home builders and building 

code officials. Using these funds, the Committee also encourages 

EPA and the States to convene dialogues involving representatives 

of home builders, real estate professionals, building code officials, 

radon testers, mitigators, home inspectors, public health officials, 

and cancer prevention advocates to consider whether updated code 

requirements for State or local adoption may have merit. 

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AND INNOVATION PROGRAM

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 20,000,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 50,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +50,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +30,000,000 

The bill provides $50,000,000 for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program, $50,000,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $30,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee notes that $2,200,000 had previously been 

provided in other accounts for staffing and administrative needs in 

order to establish the program. The Committee concurs with the 

consolidation of those resources into this new account. From within 

the amount provided, the Committee directs $5,000,000 to assist 

with the administrative expenses for the WIFIA program. With 

these funds, the Committee expects that EPA will be well positioned to issue loans for the first time in fiscal year 2017. 

Greater investment in the replacement of aging infrastructure 

will help mitigate nationwide issues the Committee is tracking related to contaminants such as lead and arsenic, help address Combined Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Sewer Overflows, and allow 

systems to improve water delivery for residents. Of the recommended amount, $45,000,000 is provided for direct loan subsidization which may translate into a potential loan capacity of $3 

billion to $5 billion to eligible entities for water infrastructure 

projects. The Committee intends to closely monitor implementation 

in fiscal year 2017. 


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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee continues bill language, carried in prior years, 

concerning Tribal Cooperative Authority, the collection and obligation of pesticides fees, and additional transfer authorities for the 

purposes of implementing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

The Committee has included bill language authorizing up to $150,000 to be spent for facility repairs at any one time. 

The Committee has included bill language clarifying policies related to biomass emissions. 

The Committee has included bill language clarifying policies and 

related to the ongoing reviews for aquifer exemptions. 

TITLE III—RELATED AGENCIES 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

FOREST SERVICE

The U.S. Forest Service manages 193 million acres of National 

Forests, Grasslands, and a Tallgrass Prairie, including lands in 44 

States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and cooperates with 

States, other Federal agencies, tribes and private landowners to 

sustain the Nation’s forests and grasslands. The Forest Service administers a wide variety of programs, including forest and rangeland research, State and private forestry assistance, cooperative 

forest health programs, an international program, National Forest 

System, and wildland fire management. The National Forest System (NFS) includes 155 national forests, 20 national grasslands, 20 

national recreation areas, a national Tallgrass prairie, six national 

monuments, and six land utilization projects. The NFS is managed 

for multiple uses, beginning with wood, water and forage, and expanded under the Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act to include 

recreation, grazing, fish and wildlife habitat management. The Forest Service celebrated its centennial in 2005. 

Forest Service Challenges.—The Forest Service is presently facing 

some of its greatest historical challenges. These include invasive 

species, regional drought and watershed degradation, fuel buildups 

and severe wildland fires, habitat fragmentation, and devastating 

outbreaks of insects and disease. More than 58 million acres (nearly one-third) of Forest Service lands are at high or very high risk 

of severe wildfire. At this time, there are 29 million dead and dying 

trees, the result of a severe four-year drought and insect and disease infestation, in California. One estimate calculates that up to 

120 million trees in California are at risk of dying. This is 20 percent of the State’s total. Many of these acres are at risk for catastrophic wildland fire. 

To help the Service address these challenges, the Committee provides an increase of $15,000,000 for forest management programs; 

$25,000,000 for the forest products program; and $20,000,000 for 

hazardous fuels treatments. The Committee also removes the limitation on funding for hazardous fuels treatments and provides a 

categorical exclusion for forest management activities, on 3,000 

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hance, or modify critical habitat to protect it from catastrophic disturbances; or increase water yield. 

The Service is directed to aggressively work to improve the 

health of the forests in California and around the Nation, using all 

available authorities and strategies. The Service also is directed to 

increase its collaboration with the State of California, other States, 

and partners to address the forest health crisis before it worsens, 

putting lives and property at risk of catastrophic wildland fire. 

The Committee directs the Service to use the best available 

science that takes into account historical fire data, landscape characteristics, and forest composition as well as the effects of past and 

current human influences, such as development and land-use patterns, and climatic conditions to identify the highest priority areas 

for hazardous fuel reduction and forest health and management 

treatments. 

Forest Service Accounting, Budgeting, and Management.—The 

Committee believes the Service does not manage and track its 

budget to an adequate level of detail. In an effort to improve the 

Service’s practices, the Committee has included bill language and 

directives to increase transparency and confidence in the Service’s 

management of its programs and activities. 

The bill includes a new administrative provision requiring the 

Service to report 30 days after the close of each quarter, through 

the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, its current and prior 

year unobligated balances to the House and Senate Committees on 

Appropriations. The Service is directed to provide this report for all 

mandatory and discretionary funds, including receipts and permanent appropriations. 

As noted elsewhere in this report, the Interior, Environment, and 

Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017 includes 

reprogramming guidelines in bill language. The Committee expects 

the Service to follow the letter and spirit of the reprogramming requirements and directs the Service to submit requests to the House 

and Senate Appropriations Committees through the Office of Budget and Program Analysis. 

In fiscal year 2016 and prior fiscal years, most of the Service’s 

discretionary accounts were provided without a fiscal-year limitation. This bill assigns fiscal-year limitations to all accounts. This 

modification will require funds to be tracked by year, budget line 

item, and account and encourage the Service to expeditiously 

award contracts, settle reimbursable agreements, and conduct forest management activities. 

To help support integrated restoration planning and project implementation, the Committee expands the Integrated Resource Restoration (IRR) pilot to Regions 2 and 5. The goal of IRR is to support greater integration and prioritization of the forest restoration 

program, increase the flexibility of the regions in the pilot to focus 

on high-priority projects, and to create budgetary and implementation efficiencies. While budgetary and implementation efficiencies 

have not yet been realized, the Committee believes that providing 

national forests the flexibility to identify and focus on high-priority 

projects will ultimately improve forest health and better support 

the communities that rely on the forests. 

Under the IRR pilot, budget line items are combined to allow 

flexibility for planning and restoration projects. In order to allow 


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for appropriate oversight of spending, the Committee directs the 

Service to track and report funding by budget line item at the regional level for all regions included in the pilot. Further, the Committee encourages the Service to implement the positive outcomes, 

such as integrated planning and budgeting, improved priority-setting, and greater cooperation between the forests and regions, of 

the IRR pilot throughout the National Forest System and to continue to improve integrated performance measures. 

Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Request.—The Committee appreciates 

the Service’s work to provide project statements showing total 

available funding, including mandatory and discretionary funds; 

justifications of increases and decreases; and classifications of objects for each account in its fiscal year 2017 budget request and directs the Service to provide the same information in greater detail 

in the fiscal year 2018 budget request. The Committee encourages 

the Service to work with the Office of Budget and Program Analysis to conform its budget requests to those of other Department 

of Agriculture agencies and offices. 

Harassment-free Workplace.—Forest Service employees have the 

right to a harassment-free workplace, and the Committee recognizes the efforts the Service has taken to address past concerns. 

The Committee directs the Service to provide a report by July 1, 

2016, that describes in detail the policy and process changes it has 

made. The report should be made available to the public. The Committee also directs the Office of the Inspector General to continue 

to provide oversight of the Service’s civil rights and EEO activities. 

Indian Trust Lands.—The Service is encouraged to promote and 

expand the use of agreements with Indian tribes to protect Indian 

trust resources from catastrophic wildfire, insect and disease infestation or other threats from adjacent Federal lands, as authorized 

by law. 

Invasive Forest Pests.—The Committee is concerned about the 

threat of invasive forest pests and recognizes that more than 

58,000,000 acres of the Nation’s forests are at risk. The Committee 

encourages the Service to continue its work to assess future risks, 

control existing threats, research and develop new control methods, 

and improve the health of forest ecosystems. 

Knutson-Vandenberg Program.—The Committee is concerned 

that the Service is not fully utilizing the Knutson-Vandenberg fund 

as authorized by 16 U.S.C. 576b, including the amendments made 

by this Committee in P.L. 109–54, to accomplish important restoration activities with funds generated from timber sales. The Service 

is directed to fully utilize this authority and limit the deduction of 

any agency overhead cost pools to fund personnel of the responsible 

Ranger District for the planning and implementation of activities 

authorized and funded under the Act. 

FOREST AND RANGELAND RESEARCH

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $291,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 291,982,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 291,982,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +982,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 


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The Committee recommends $291,982,000 for Forest and Range- land Research, $982,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and equal to the budget request. 

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA).—The Committee recommends $77,000,000 for the FIA program, $2,000,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee finds that State forestry agencies and their cooperators are often able to accomplish critical FIA work with equal 

quality at lower costs than the Service. The Service is directed to 

work with State foresters to identify ways to more efficiently deliver the program in all States, including timely inventory updates, 

and should explore opportunities to work with additional State forestry agencies and their cooperators who can accomplish necessary 

field work at lower cost. 

Forest Products Laboratory.—The Committee recommends 

$19,200,000, as requested, for the Forest Products Lab and its programs, including $5,200,000 for the Engineered Properties and 

Structures research program. 

Northern Long-Eared Bat.—The Committee is encouraged by the 

Service’s research, in partnership with private landowners, State 

agencies and nonprofit organizations that successfully treated 

northern long-eared and other bats for white-nose syndrome and 

strongly urges the Service to continue this important effort. 

Urban Forest Research.—The Committee encourages the Service 

to support urban forest research initiatives, related social and 

socio-economic research, and cooperative activities that help cities 

monitor and care for their urban forests. The Committee directs 

the Service to provide information and tools, including inventories 

of urban forests, to help cities, towns, and metropolitan areas systematically assess the health and changing conditions of their 

urban forests and to plan strategic actions to sustainably maintain 

these forests. 

Bighorn Sheep Research.—The Service is urged to collaborate 

with the Bureau of Land Management and the Agricultural Research Service on research involving the risk of disease transmission between domestic and bighorn sheep. 

Wood Products.—Mass timber and other wood products, when 

appropriately used in the construction of buildings and other infrastructure, have been shown to withstand wind, seismic and other 

natural forces. The Committee acknowledges that these products 

should be considered for inclusion in any categorization of resilient 

products by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other Federal 

agencies. 

Forest Carbon Research.—The Committee encourages the Service 

to work with other U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies and offices to establish the methods and tools needed to quantify forest 

carbon as a resource. 

Water, Air, and Soil Research.—The Committee notes that the 

Service’s research program has the potential to improve air quality 

monitoring technologies and air quality data and encourages the 

Service to collaborate with other Federal agencies and research 

partners in this field. 

Post-fire Treatment Report.—The Committee directs the Service 

to provide a report within 60 days of enactment of this Act regarding its salvage operations. The report should include, by fire and 


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year for the past 10 years, the number of acres of Forest Service 

land burned by high-severity fires; the number of severely burned 

acres proposed for salvage harvest; the number of acres on which 

salvage harvest was actually performed; and the length of time between the fire being declared contained and 1) the completion of 

the NEPA process proposing and analyzing a salvage operation; 2) 

offer of timber sale or stewardship contract to perform a salvage 

operation; and 3) the number and outcome, if any, of legal proceedings against a proposed salvage operation. 

Technical Report Update.—The Committee requests that the 

Service update General Technical Report PNW–GTR–486 regarding 

the environmental effects of post-fire logging during fiscal year 

2017. 

Research Program Report.—The Service is directed to update the 

report provided to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations that describes its research program in detail. The report 

should be transmitted as part of the fiscal year 2018 budget request. It should include information on each research laboratory, 

including their relationship to the research stations, their goals 

and purpose, the funding provided for each of the previous five fiscal years, the funding proposed to be provided in fiscal year 2018, 

the allocation of funding between research and administrative 

costs, the allocation of funding and projects between in-house and 

extramural research, and the number of scientists and support 

staff. The report also should include similar information for each 

research station. 

Bill Language.—The Committee provides three-year spending 

authority for this account. 

STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $237,023,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 234,004,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 244,038,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +7,015,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +10,034,000 

The Committee recommends $244,038,000 for State and Private 

Forestry, $7,015,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$10,034,000 above the budget request. 

Landscape Scale Restoration.—The Committee recommends 

$14,000,000 for Landscape Scale Restoration, equal to the fiscal 

year 2016 level and $9,513,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee supports continuing to use the majority of these 

resources for interstate competitive processes and recommends 

these projects address national and State priorities as identified in 

State Forest Action Plans. 

Forest Health Management.—The Committee recommends 

$114,600,000 for Forest Health Management, $15,000,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $22,540,000 above the budget request. As noted elsewhere in this report, the additional funds 

are provided to address severe insect and disease conditions, particularly in Forest Service Region 5. An additional $10,000,000 is 

provided for Federal forest lands, and an additional $5,000,000 is 

provided for cooperative lands. 


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Forest Stewardship Program.—The Committee recommends 

$22,398,000 for the Forest Stewardship Program, $638,000 below 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee continues to encourage the Service to focus the 

program on the priorities identified in the State Forest Action 

Plans, to use program resources for the most efficient strategies for 

accomplishing results, to leverage collaborative public-private efforts, and to engage landowners to address priority resource concerns, especially landowners who are not currently engaged in active management. 

Forest Legacy.—The recommendation includes $55,000,000 for 

Forest Legacy. Not later than the start of the fiscal year, the Service is directed to notify the Committee of any changes to proposed 

project costs or viability. 

The Committee is concerned that unobligated balances may be 

accumulating in the Forest Legacy account. Accordingly, the Committee directs that future budget justifications include a table of 

Forest Legacy projects that have received appropriations for the 

last three fiscal years. The table should include: project name, 

State, fiscal year funds were appropriated, amount of funds appropriated, funds spent to date, and project status (completed, ongoing, or no longer viable). If a project is ongoing, the table should 

include an estimated close-out year. If the project is no longer viable, the table should include a short explanation of why and when 

the determination was made. 

Community Forest and Open Space Conservation.—The Committee recommends $2,000,000 for Community Forest and Open 

Space Conservation, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

the budget request. 

Urban and Community Forestry.—The Committee recommends 

$28,040,000 for Urban and Community Forestry, equal to the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $4,354,000 above the budget request. 

International Forestry.—The Committee recommends $8,000,000 

for International Forestry, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and the budget request. 

Bill Language.—The Committee provides two-year spending authority for this account, except for the Forest Legacy Program, 

which will continue to be available until expended. 

NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $1,509,364,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 1,500,996,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 1,531,443,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +22,079,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +30,447,000 

The Committee recommends $1,531,443,000 for the National Forest System, $22,079,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $30,447,000 above the budget request. 

Integrated Resource Restoration.—The Committee supports the 

continuation of the pilot project established in the fiscal year 2012 

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies conference report, and 

expands it to include Regions 2 and 5. In order to expand IRR nationwide, the Committee must see demonstrable results from the 


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program, including management efficiencies, tangible accomplishments, and accountability prior to the consideration of expanding 

IRR nationwide. 

Land Management Planning, Inventory and Monitoring.—The 

Committee recommends $36,998,000 for Land Management Planning and $147,998,000 for Inventory and Monitoring. The Committee does not accept the proposed merging of the Land Management Planning and Inventory and Monitoring line items. 

The Committee is aware that the Service, Bureau of Reclamation 

and others worked together during fiscal year 2016 to initiate a 

multi-year study to generate new knowledge to quantitatively establish the co-benefits of forest management practices in the Sierra 

Nevada that could potentially generate water supply and other 

benefits to the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. 

The Committee supports the Service’s continued participation, 

through the Western Watershed Enhancement Partnership program, in the analysis of science-based fuel reductions that are mutually beneficial to national forest health and water supply yield 

and, if merited, recommendations for further congressional action. 

Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness.—The Committee recommends $263,942,000 for Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness, 

$2,223,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request. Of the funds available to Manage Recreation 

Operations, $750,000 shall be for the maintenance of rural airstrips. The Committee requests a report on the funding allocated 

to rural airstrips in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 and directs the Forest Service to consult with Congress, State and local officials, and 

affected stakeholders, prior to making a determination to close or 

terminate the use of any rural airstrips. 

The Committee encourages the Service to continue long-standing 

partnerships that support outdoor ethics and stewardship programs. 

The Committee again directs the Service to conduct the appropriate analysis regarding any lands that could be incorporated into 

the Tahoe National Forest and reminds the Service of the importance of engaging all local stakeholders, including local government 

institutions, private citizens, and community groups, in its analysis. 

The Committee understands that the Service is conducting a wilderness inventory and evaluation for portions of the Inyo, Sierra 

and Sequoia National Forest. Recreation and tourism at these national forests support the economies of many communities near 

these forests. Under current law and regulation, any land recommended by the Service for wilderness protection will significantly restrict access and recreation in these forests, creating de 

facto wilderness without congressional approval. The Committee directs the Service to carefully conduct its analysis, ensuring that it 

takes into full account the economic effects of its decisions, the desires and needs of the local communities and their local, State and 

federally elected representatives. 

The Committee reminds the Service of the importance of making 

the national forests as accessible as possible to the American people and requests that the Service work with States, local officials, 

communities, and partners as it implements the travel analysis 

process. 


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Grazing Management.—The Committee recommends $56,856,000 

for Grazing Management, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and $6,856,000 above the budget request. The Committee rejects the proposal to increase fees for grazing. 

The Committee encourages the Service to improve its monitoring 

of grazing permits in allotments where riparian streamside health 

is a concern for listed or threatened species. The Committee also 

requests each Forest Service region to increase transparency and 

reporting on how their monitoring resources are used on the 

ground to satisfy monitoring requirements or for other purposes. 

Forest Products.—The Committee recommends $384,805,000 for 

Forest Products, $25,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and the budget request. 

The Committee believes timber sales are a vital component of 

forest health. The budget request assumes 3.2 billion board feet of 

timber volume will be sold in fiscal year 2017. The Committee’s 

recommended increase is intended to support timber sales of 4 billion board feet. 

Vegetation and Watershed Management.—The Committee recommends $184,716,000 for Vegetation and Watershed Management, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget 

request. 

The Committee encourages the Service to establish a pilot program to promote voluntary vegetation management along electric 

transmission and distribution rights-of-way to reduce the threat of 

catastrophic wildfire. 

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management.—The Committee 

recommends $140,466,000 for Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget 

request. 

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund.—The Committee recommends $40,000,000, for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and the budget request. 

The Committee recognizes the need to ensure forest resiliency 

and support multiple uses on national forest lands. The Committee 

urges the Service to incorporate a variety of landscapes, including 

wet forests, as it develops future projects for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. 

Minerals and Geology Management.—The Committee recommends $75,069,000 for Minerals and Geology Management, 

$1,354,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request. 

The Committee expects that the Service will not promulgate regulations under the authority provided by section 2508 of Public 

Law 102–486 regarding certain oil and gas activities where the 

Federal government has acquired an interest in surface lands but 

not in oil and gas deposits that may be present under these lands. 

The Committee intends that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Minard Run Oil Co. v. U.S. Forest Serv., 670 F.3d 236 (3d 

Cir. 2011) will continue to apply to all Forest Service actions regarding oil and gas development of outstanding and reserved mineral rights on the Allegheny National Forest. 


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Landownership Management.—The Committee recommends 

$71,440,000 for Landownership Management, $6,290,000 below the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

Law Enforcement Operations.—The Committee recommends 

$129,153,000 for Law Enforcement Operations, $2,500,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $2,477,000 below the budget 

request. 

The Committee continues to be concerned about the increasing 

incidence of illegal marijuana cultivation on public lands and the 

corresponding effects it has on the environment, forest restoration 

and habitat, employee and public safety, tourism, and communities. 

As such, the Committee provides $2,500,000 to remediate cultivation sites. The Committee believes Forest Service Law Enforcement 

and Investigations should be included as an integral participant in 

the annual forest planning process as a means to ensure stronger 

collaboration among all partners and focused enforcement strategies aimed at safety, interdiction, and mitigation. 

Bill Language.—The Committee provides two-year spending authority for this account and includes the following bill language in 

Title IV General Provisions: Section 407, allowing forest management plans to expire if the Forest Service has made a good faith 

effort to update plans commensurate with appropriated funds; Section 410, regarding timber sales of Alaskan western red cedar; Section 421, allowing the Forest Service to renew grazing permits; Section 422, extending the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement 

Act for one year; Section 428, prohibiting the use of appropriated 

funds to close areas open to recreational hunting and shooting as 

of January 1, 2013; Section 432, making available vacant allotments for permittees affected by drought or wildfire; Section 433, 

prohibiting the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 

from requiring relinquishment of all or a portion of water rights as 

a condition for permit renewals (this includes all permits issued by 

the Bureau and the Forest Service and is not limited to grazing 

permits). 

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $364,164,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 343,280,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 364,164,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +20,884,000 

The Committee recommends $364,164,000 for Capital Improvement and Maintenance, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $20,884,000 above the budget request. 

Facilities Maintenance and Construction.—The Committee recommends $71,390,000 for Facilities Maintenance and Construction, 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $210,000 below the 

budget request. Specifically, the Committee recommends 

$55,369,000 for facilities maintenance and $16,021,000 for facilities 

construction. 

Road Maintenance and Construction.—The Committee recommends $172,094,000 for Road Maintenance and Construction, 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $22,094,000 above 


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the budget request. Specifically, the Committee recommends 

$145,454,000 for road maintenance and $26,640,000 for road construction. 

Los Padres National Forest.—The Committee directs the Secretary of Agriculture to work with the Service and appropriate 

California agencies to expeditiously repair roads damaged by 

strong El Nin ̃ o rains during the first quarter of 2016 that are most 

important to ensure the health and safety of local residents, the 

functions of adjacent military bases, and ability of Federal and 

State agencies to respond to emergencies. 

The Committee directs the Service to follow its current practices 

regarding maintenance on roads suitable for passenger cars. 

Trail Maintenance and Construction.—The Committee recommends $77,530,000 for Trail Maintenance and Construction, 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $1,000,000 below 

the budget request. Specifically, the Committee recommends 

$69,777,000 for trail maintenance and $7,753,000 for trail construction. 

Deferred Maintenance.—The Committee recommends $3,150,000 

for Deferred Maintenance, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and the budget request. 

Legacy Roads and Trail Remediation.—The Committee recommends $40,000,000 for Legacy Roads and Trails, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

The Committee directs the Service to allocate funding in a manner proportionate to the distribution of roads in need of attention 

across the National Forest System and to provide funds to regions 

most in need of road remediation. 

Bill Language.—The Committee provides two-year spending authority for this account. 

LAND ACQUISITION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $63,435,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 65,653,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 27,280,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥36,155,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥38,373,000 

The Committee recommends $27,280,000 for Land Acquisition, $36,155,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$38,373,000 below the budget request. Language and direction on 

Land and Water Conservation Fund programs is provided below, 

and in the front of this report. 

The Committee has become aware of the possibility for resolution 

of long-standing management challenges regarding school trust 

lands within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the Superior National Forest in Minnesota. Specifically, stakeholders have proposed a combination of sale and exchange of the school trust lands 

within the boundaries. The Committee understands that this approach was collaboratively designed, and that the Forest Service 

and the State are committed to this hybrid model. The Forest Service is encouraged to explore all avenues for funding the first phase 

of this project expeditiously. 

Prior to proceeding with any acquisitions in Skamania County, 

Washington, with funds from this or any other Act, the Forest 


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Service is directed to submit to the Committee a list of specific parcels for Committee approval. 

ACQUISITION OF LANDS FOR NATIONAL FORESTS SPECIAL ACTS

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $950,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 950,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 950,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $950,000 for Acquisition of Lands 

for National Forests Special Acts, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

ACQUISITION OF LANDS TO COMPLETE LAND EXCHANGES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $216,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 216,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 216,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $216,000 for Acquisition of Lands to 

Complete Land Exchanges under the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 

U.S.C. 484a), equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the 

budget request. 

Bill Language.—The Committee provides two-year spending authority for this account. 

RANGE BETTERMENT FUND

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $2,320,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 2,320,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,320,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $2,320,000, for the Range Betterment Fund, equal to the fiscal year 2016 level and the budget request, to be derived from grazing receipts from national forests 

(Public Law 94–579) and to be used for range rehabilitation, protection, and improvements including seeding, reseeding, fence construction, weed control, water development, and fish and wildlife 

habitat enhancement in 16 western States. 

Bill Language.—The Committee provides two-year spending authority for this account. 

GIFTS, DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS FOR FOREST AND RANGELAND

RESEARCH

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $45,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 45,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 45,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $45,000 for Gifts, Donations and Bequests for Forest and Rangeland Research, equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and the budget request. 


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Bill Language.—The Committee provides two-year spending authority for this account. 

MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL FOREST LANDS FOR SUBSISTENCE USES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $2,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... $2,441,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,500,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +59,000 

The Committee recommends $2,500,000 for the Management of 

National Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses in Alaska, equal to the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $59,000 above the budget request. 

Bill Language.—The Committee provides two-year spending authority for this account. 

WILDLAND FIRE

The Wildland Fire Management and FLAME wildfire suppression reserve accounts support the wildland fire activities of the Forest Service. The Committee recommends a total of $2,908,763,000 

for the Forest Service wildland fire accounts, including 

$315,000,000 in the FLAME wildfire suppression reserve fund. 

This fully funds the fire accounts at the 10-year average of expenditures. 

WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $2,386,329,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 2,451,445,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,593,763,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +207,434,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +142,318,000 

The Committee recommends $2,593,763,000 for Wildland Fire 

Management, $207,434,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $142,318,000 above the budget request. 

Wildland Fire Preparedness.—The Committee recommends 

$1,147,620,000 for Wildfire Preparedness, $65,000,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. Within this 

amount, $65,000,000 is provided for the acquisition of next generation aircraft to safely and efficiently fight wildland fires. The Committee expects that this funding will be dedicated solely for the acquisition of aircraft. 

Wildland Fire Suppression Operations.—The Committee recommends $933,434,000 for Wildfire Suppression Operations, 

$122,434,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$59,530,000 above the budget request. The Committee recommendation fully meets the 10-year average expenditure on all 

suppression activities. 

Hazardous Fuels.—The Committee recommends $395,000,000 for 

hazardous fuels reduction, $20,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and $10,874,000 above the budget request. The recommendation includes $5,000,000 for biomass utilization grants. 

The Committee recommends prioritizing funding for proactive hazVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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ardous fuels management and fire mitigation in high-priority areas 

to protect life and property. 

The Committee continues to be concerned with the pace of planning and implementation of post-fire rehabilitation by the Service. 

The slow pace of rehabilitation leaves communities unable to access 

timber resources and delays the regeneration of Federal forests. 

The Committee directs the Service to prioritize and expedite planning and implementation of post-fire rehabilitation projects. 

Fire Plan Research and Development.—The Committee recommends $19,795,000 for Fire Plan Research and Development, 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

Joint Fire Science Program.—The Committee recommends 

$6,914,000 for the Joint Fire Science Program, equal to the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $6,914,000 above the budget request. 

State Fire Assistance.—The Committee recommends $78,000,000 

for State Fire Assistance, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and the budget request. 

Volunteer Fire Assistance.—The Committee recommends 

$13,000,000 for Volunteer Fire Assistance, equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

The Committee is aware many National Guard installations have 

excellent resources, including land, for training National Guardsmen hand crews for seasonal firefighting and could support additional fire line training on their installations. The Committee encourages the Service to consider conducting joint fire training missions, where appropriate, with the National Guard. 

The Committee recognizes that to protect communities, homes, 

critical infrastructure, and watersheds from the threat of catastrophic wildfire, a landscape approach that involves both public 

and private landowners is necessary. The Committee encourages 

the Service to increase cross-boundary collaboration with States 

and private organizations to reduce hazardous fuels in high-risk 

areas. 

Bill Language.—The Committee provides three-year funding authority for this account. 

FLAME WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION RESERVE FUND

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $823,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 0 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 315,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥508,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +315,000,000 

The Committee recommends $315,000,000 for the FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund, $508,000,000 below the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and $315,000,000 above the budget request. The 

Committee fully funds the 10-year average expenditure for wildfire 

suppression. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS, FOREST SERVICE

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The Committee has included administrative provisions as requested, unless otherwise stated below. 


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The Committee continues the administrative provision regarding 

Wildland Fire Management and the FLAME Wildfire Suppression 

Reserve Fund. 

The Committee includes new bill language regarding reporting of 

unobligated balances and a categorical exclusion for certain forest 

management activities. 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE

The provision of Federal health services to Indians is based on 

a relationship between Indian tribes and the U.S. Government first 

set forth in the 1830s by the U.S. Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall. Numerous treaties, statutes, constitutional provisions, and international laws have reconfirmed this relationship. 

Principal among these is the Snyder Act of 1921, which provides 

the basic authority for most Indian health services provided by the 

Federal government to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ 

AN). The Indian Health Service (IHS) provides direct health care 

services in 28 hospitals, 61 health centers, three school health centers, and 34 health stations. Tribes and tribal groups, through contracts and compacts with the IHS, operate 17 hospitals, 249 health 

centers, six school health centers, and 70 health stations (including 

164 Alaska Native village clinics). 

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $3,566,387,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 3,815,109,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,720,690,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +154,303,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥94,419,000 

The Committee recommends $3,720,690,000 for Indian Health 

Services, $154,303,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$94,419,000 below the budget request. Details are contained in the 

justification submitted to the Congress, except as otherwise discussed below and summarized in the table at the end of this report. 

Current Services.—The recommendation includes an increase of 

$142,898,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level to help maintain current levels of service, $16,119,000 below the budget request. Increases for population growth are only partially funded 

within Hospitals and Health Clinics. 

The Committee recognizes the significant growth rate of the AI/ 

AN population as a whole, but agency-estimated population growth 

costs are not currently linked to data on patient caseloads, by facility. Thus, the distribution of increases for population growth 

doesn’t necessarily reflect where the patient caseloads are growing. 

The agency should consider alternative means of allocating increases for population growth, such as the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund, in future budget requests. 

Staffing for New Facilities.—The recommendation includes 

$32,982,000 for the staffing of newly opened health facilities, as requested. Funds for the staffing of new facilities are limited to facilities funded through the Health Care Facilities Construction Priority System or the Joint Venture Construction Program that have 


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opened in fiscal year 2016 or will open in fiscal year 2017. None 

of these funds may be allocated to a facility until such facility has 

achieved beneficial occupancy status. 

Hospitals and Health Clinics.—The recommendation includes 

$1,928,879,000 for Hospitals and Health Clinics, $71,654,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, and includes the proposed transfer of $4,000,000 from Direct Operations. 

The recommendation includes $1,000,000 to fund the creation of 

a prescription drug monitoring program authorized by Section 196 

of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, in order to monitor 

the prescription of opioid pain relievers in Indian Country on a 

multi-State basis. 

Accreditation Emergencies.—The Committee considers the loss or 

potential loss of a Medicare agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to be an accreditation emergency. The recommendation includes $6,000,000 for accreditation 

emergencies, $4,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

Funds may be used for personnel or other expenses essential for 

sustaining operations of an affected service unit, but these are not 

intended to be recurring base funds. The Director should reallocate 

the funds as necessary to ensure that agreements with CMS are 

reinstated, and to restore third-party collection shortfalls. Shortfalls should be calculated relative to a baseline, which should be 

the average of the collections in each of the two fiscal years preceding the year in which an agreement with CMS was terminated 

or put on notice of termination. 

Dental Health.—The recommendation includes $186,029,000 for 

dental health, $7,743,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, 

and includes a transfer of $800,000 to Direct Operations in order 

to backfill vacant dental health positions in headquarters. The 

Service is encouraged to coordinate with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to integrate preventive dental care at schools within 

the BIE system. 

The Committee understands that the geographic isolation of Indian tribes makes it difficult to attract and retain dentists and may 

limit access to care as tooth decay continues to be a problem. One 

way to help address access would be to allow volunteer dentists to 

treat patients who can provide important services that will improve 

access to oral health care. The Committee directs the Service to 

conduct a pilot project to explore establishing a centralized 

credentialing system to address workforce needs as well as volunteer providers similar to the Departments of Defense and Veterans 

Affairs who have centralized credentialing systems. The Committee 

directs the Service to consult with these agencies and private organizations to include the credentialing of dentists in a pilot program. 

Purchased/Referred Care (formerly Contract Health Services).— 

The recommendation includes $960,831,000 for Purchased/Referred 

Care (PRC), $46,692,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

The Committee remains concerned about the inequitable distribution of funds as reported by the Government Accountability Office 

(GAO–12–446). The Service is therefore directed to allocate the increase above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level according to the 

PRC allocation formula normally reserved for program increases 

only. 


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The IHS is encouraged to evaluate the feasibility of entering into 

reimbursable agreements with Federal health facilities outside of 

the IHS system for patient referrals. Such agreements should be 

considered only when such referrals save costs and patient travel 

times relative to referrals to the nearest non-Federal health facilities, and when such referrals do not significantly increase patient 

wait times at such Federal facilities. 

Urban Indian Health.—The recommendation includes 

$48,157,000 as requested for Urban Indian Health, $3,416,000 

above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. IHS should continue to include current services estimates for Urban Indian Health in future 

budget requests. 

The Committee recognizes that seven out of ten American Indian/Alaska Natives live in urban centers, according to the latest 

census data. Many of these individuals are, or are descendants of, 

individuals encouraged by the Federal government to move to 

urban centers during the termination and relocation era of the 

1950s and 1960s, and are thus entitled to receive vital culturallyappropriate health services from urban Indian organizations, just 

as they would have received health services from IHS-run and tribally-run facilities if they lived on or near a reservation. Unfortunately, urban Indian health organizations are struggling to recover 

their costs because they are not designated in relevant statutes as 

eligible providers on an equal par with IHS and Tribal Health Program facilities. The Committee urges the authorizing committees of 

jurisdiction to review these statutes and make any changes necessary for urban Indian organizations to receive equitable reimbursement for the culturally appropriate services they provide to 

Native individuals, including Native veterans. 

Indian Health Professions.—It is the intent of the Congress that 

the term ‘‘any other health profession’’ in the definition of health 

profession at section 1603(10) of title 25, United States Code, includes health administration. 

Advance Appropriations.—The Government Accountability Office 

is directed to report on the use of advance appropriations authority 

for healthcare programs across the Federal government, including 

problems encountered, any estimates of cost savings, and applications to the Indian Health Service. 

Indian Health Care Improvement Act.—It has been over five 

years since the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health 

Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), yet many of the provisions in the 

law remain unfunded. Tribes have specifically requested that priority areas for funding focus on diabetes treatment and prevention, 

behavioral health, and health professions. The Committee directs 

the Service to provide, no later than 90 days after enactment of 

this Act, a detailed plan with specific dollar amounts identified to 

fully fund and implement the IHCIA. 

CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $717,970,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 800,000,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 800,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +82,030,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 


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The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation estimated to be $800,000,000 for contract support costs incurred by the 

agency as required by law, $82,030,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level. 

The recommendation continues bill language making available 

for two years such sums as are necessary to meet the Federal government’s full legal obligation, and prohibiting the transfer of 

funds to any other account for any other purpose. Language addressing contract funds that go unspent in a given fiscal year is 

discontinued. 

INDIAN HEALTH FACILITIES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $523,232,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 569,906,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 557,946,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +34,714,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥11,960,000 

The Committee recommends $557,946,000 for Indian Health Facilities, $34,714,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$11,960,000 below the budget request. Details are contained in the 

justification submitted to the Congress, except as otherwise discussed below and summarized in the table at the end of this report. 

Staffing for New Facilities.—The recommendation includes 

$3,395,000 for the staffing of newly opened health facilities. The 

stipulations included in the Indian Health Services account regarding the allocation of funds pertain to this account as well. 

Health Care Facilities Construction.—The recommendation includes $120,934,000 for health care facilities construction, 

$15,886,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. Recognizing 

that inadequate and non-existent staff quarters are a significant 

impediment to recruitment, the recommendation includes 

$12,000,000 as requested for staff quarters. 

In order to ensure that IHS patients across the system have fairly equal access to healthcare, the IHS is directed to conduct and 

publish a gap analysis of the locations and capacities of patient 

health facilities relative to the IHS user population. The analysis 

should include: facilities within the IHS system, including facilities 

on the Health Facilities Construction Priority System list and the 

Joint Venture Construction Program list; and facilities within private or other Federal health systems for which agreements with 

IHS exist, or should exist, to see IHS patients. 

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, an 

agency within the National Institutes of Health, was authorized in 

section 311(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 

Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 and in section 126(g) of 

the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 to 

conduct certain research and worker training activities associated 

with the Nation’s Hazardous Substance Superfund program. 


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Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $77,349,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 77,349,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 77,349,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $77,349,000 for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, equal to the fiscal year 

2016 enacted level and the budget request. 

AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY

TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), an 

agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, was created in section 104(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980. The 

Agency’s mission is to serve the public through responsive public 

health actions to promote healthy and safe environments and prevent harmful toxic exposures. ATSDR assesses hazardous exposures in communities near toxic waste sites and advises the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other government agencies, community groups and industry partners on actions needed to 

protect people’s health. In addition, ATSDR conducts toxicological 

and applied research to support environmental assessments, supports health surveillance systems and registries, develops and disseminates information on hazardous substances, provides education 

and training on hazardous exposures, and responds to environmental emergencies. Through a national network of scientists and 

public health practitioners in State health departments, regional 

EPA offices and headquarters, ATSDR helps to protect people from 

acute toxic exposures that occur from hazardous leaks and spills, 

environment-related poisonings, and natural and terrorism-related 

disasters. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $74,691,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 74,691,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 74,691,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $74,691,000 for the Agency for Toxic 

Substances and Disease Registry, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request. The Committee encourages the 

Agency to collaborate with the U.S. Geological Survey, other Federal agencies, and research partners, as appropriate, to share 

knowledge and enhance research. 

OTHER RELATED AGENCIES 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND OFFICE OF

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) was established by 

Congress under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

(NEPA). The Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ), which proVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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vides professional and administrative staff for the Council, was established in the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970. 

The Council on Environmental Quality has statutory responsibility 

for overseeing Federal agency implementation of the requirements 

of NEPA. CEQ also assists in coordinating environmental programs 

among the Federal agencies in the Executive Branch. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $3,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 3,015,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 3,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥15,000 

The Committee recommends $3,000,000 for the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality, equal to 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $15,000 below the budget request. 

CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is 

an independent Federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The board members are appointed by the 

President and confirmed by the Senate. The CSB conducts rootcause investigations of chemical accidents at fixed industrial facilities. Root causes are usually deficiencies in safety management 

systems, but can be any factor that would have prevented the accident if that factor had not occurred. Other accident causes often involve equipment failures, human errors, unforeseen chemical reactions or other hazards. CSB does not issue fines or citations, but 

does make recommendations to plants, regulatory agencies such as 

the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, industry organizations, and labor 

groups. Congress designed the CSB to be non-regulatory and independent of other agencies so that its investigations might, where 

appropriate, review the effectiveness of regulations and regulatory 

enforcement. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $11,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 12,436,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 11,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥1,436,000 

The Committee recommends $11,000,000 for Salaries and Expenses of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $1,436,000 below 

the budget request. Funds have not been provided for the CSB to 

organize an annual symposium as requested in the budget. 

The Committee is aware of CSB’s recent announcement of a 

study on land use and facility siting. Prior to expending any funds 

for this purpose, the Committee directs CSB to provide a report detailing the intended scope and justification for the study. 


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OFFICE OF NAVAJO AND HOPI INDIAN RELOCATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation was established 

by Public Law 93–531 to plan and conduct relocation activities associated with the settlement of a land dispute between the Navajo 

Nation and the Hopi Tribe. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $15,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 15,431,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 15,431,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +431,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $15,431,000 for the Office of Navajo 

and Hopi Indian Relocation (Office), as requested, $431,000 above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. Of this amount, $200,000 shall 

be transferred to the Inspector General of the Department of the 

Interior for continued oversight of planning, transition, and closure 

of the Office. 

The Office is making progress in relocations, and the fiscal year 

2017 budget builds upon the fiscal year 2016 enacted level to ensure continued progress. As of June 2016, all Hopi families have 

been relocated; 83 Navajo families have been certified eligible and 

are awaiting relocation, with 19 homes currently under construction; 127 families have had their cases closed due to death or nonaction on the part of the certified client to proceed with relocation; 

and 166 eligibility appeals are pending. 

The Office’s administrative appeal process is ongoing, and at its 

current rate all pending administrative appeals could be heard and 

determined by December 31, 2017. However, the six-year Federal 

statute of limitations for seeking Federal district court review (28 

U.S.C. § 2415 (a)), will require another Federal agency to assume 

responsibility for those cases unresolved by the end of 2017. 

For those awaiting relocation, over 300 lots are available for relocation on the New Lands and in the Coalmine Canyon subdivision. 

While relocatees are not required to utilize these lots, the availability of the lots suggests there will be sufficient home site options 

for remaining eligible relocatees. 

The Committee’s goal is to bring the relocation process to an orderly conclusion and ensure all eligible relocatees receive the relocation benefits and necessary support services to which they are 

entitled. To that end, the Committee directs the Office to continue 

providing quarterly reports on the status of eligibility appeals and 

the current appeals hearing and conference schedule; relocations 

pending and completed; housing construction and maintenance updates; outreach and coordination with the Navajo Nation and the 

Hopi Tribe; and other significant business activities of which the 

Committee should be apprised. 

In addition, the statute provides for termination of the Office 

when the President determines its functions have been fully discharged. In order to have the information required for such a determination, the Office is directed to prepare a comprehensive plan for 

closing the Office, to be submitted with the fiscal year 2018 budget 


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request, which lays out a timeframe and specific steps for successfully completing the relocation program and transferring any ongoing support services. This plan will provide the transparency needed for informed discussions about the path forward and a reasonable timeframe for concluding the operations of the Office, while 

ensuring the relocation mission is successfully completed. The plan 

should include the following: 

(1) the full range of activities currently performed or supported by the Office and any current agreements to provide 

services to relocatees, specifically identifying those activities 

which will need to be taken over by other entities for a limited 

period of time and others that will need to continue without an 

end date; 

(2) Federal assets and leases that must be disposed of or 

transferred, including any near and long-term maintenance requirements; 

(3) housing construction; 

(4) land management and infrastructure responsibilities, including stewardship of the Padres Mesa Demonstration Ranch; 

(5) a human capital plan for Office staff; 

(6) a schedule of milestones for completing eligibility appeals 

and relocations; 

(7) a schedule of meetings with appropriate successor agencies and tribal entities to plan for completion of any remaining 

relocation activities and transfer of ongoing support services 

that will continue after closure of the Office; 

(8) plans, developed with Inspector General input, for monitoring the transition of Office functions to successor agencies to 

ensure adequate services are maintained; and 

(9) annual funding requirements for all programs that will 

be transitioned. 

INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE CULTURE AND

ARTS DEVELOPMENT

PAYMENT TO THE INSTITUTE

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $11,619,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 11,835,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 11,619,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥216,000 

The Committee recommends $11,619,000 in direct appropriations 

for the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture 

and Arts Development, equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 

and $216,000 below the budget request. The Committee encourages 

the Institute to submit a budget request beginning with fiscal year 

2018, in coordination with other tribal colleges and universities, to 

align appropriations with the school calendar instead of the Federal fiscal calendar. 

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and 

research complex, with 19 museums and galleries, numerous research centers, libraries, archives, and the National Zoological 


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Park. Funded by both private and Federal sources, the Smithsonian is unique in the Federal establishment. Created by an Act of 

Congress in 1846 to carry out the trust included in James 

Smithson’s will, it has been engaged for 170 years in the ‘‘increase 

and diffusion of knowledge.’’ Last year, the Smithsonian attracted 

over 28 million visits to its museums, galleries, and zoological park. 

Additional millions also view Smithsonian traveling exhibitions 

and participate in the annual Folklife Festival on the National 

Mall. As custodian of the National Collections, the Smithsonian is 

responsible for more than 138 million art objects, natural history 

specimens, and artifacts. These scientific and cultural collections 

are a vital resource for global research and conservation efforts. 

The collections are displayed for the enjoyment and education of 

visitors and are available for research by the staff of the Institution 

and by thousands of visiting students, scientists, and historians 

each year. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $696,045,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 759,224,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 712,487,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +16,442,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥46,737,000 

The Committee recommends $712,487,000 for Salaries and Expenses of the Smithsonian Institution, $16,442,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $46,737,000 below the budget request. 

Additional Guidance.—The following additional direction and 

guidance is provided with respect to funding provided within this 

account: 

Collections Care.—The Committee maintains its longstanding 

commitment to the preservation of priceless, irreplaceable Smithsonian Institution collections and has provided funds, as requested, 

for the collections care initiative. The Committee is pleased by continuing efforts to improve the long-term inventory, preservation, 

and storage of historical collections. 

National Museum of African American History and Culture.— The Committee maintains its longstanding support of the National 

Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The 

Committee has provided funds for museum maintenance, facility 

operations, and security for the new museum opening in September 

2016, as requested. 

Smithsonian Security.—The Committee commends the Smithsonian for conducting a security analysis for each of its major facilities in light of recent extremist and lone wolf shooter attacks in the 

United States. Facility analyses conducted to date have confirmed 

a need to fill existing unfunded security positions and provide a 

higher level of security, including visitor screening, and also in galleries and public spaces. The Committee has provided funds, as requested, to address security needs at the Smithsonian’s highest 

risk facilities. 

Latino Programs, Exhibitions, Collections and Public Outreach.— The Committee supports the Smithsonian Latino Center’s goal of 

promoting the inclusion of Latino contributions in Smithsonian Institution programs, exhibitions, collections and public outreach. 

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vance these goals more fully by utilizing existing Smithsonian Institution museum locations for the expansion of the Smithsonian 

Latino Center’s programming, exhibition and collection space. The 

Committee has provided funds, as requested, to support the Institution’s Latino initiatives. 

Preserving Cultural Heritages.—The Committee commends the 

Smithsonian for taking a leadership role in the preservation of cultural heritage affected by natural and manmade disasters in the 

United States and around the world. The Smithsonian’s work in 

cultural heritage preservation dates back to World War II when it 

worked with the U.S. military to create the Monuments Men to arrange for the evacuation and safe storage of art and artifacts in 

wartime. Today, the Smithsonian’s efforts include recovery efforts 

following the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the Nepal earthquake in 

2015, and the continuing destruction of cultural heritage in countries like Iraq and Syria. The Committee has provided funds, as requested, which supplement funding from other governmental partners and leverage support for cultural recovery efforts from numerous private sources. 

FACILITIES CAPITAL

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $144,198,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 163,000,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 150,860,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +6,662,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥12,140,000 

The Committee recommends $150,860,000 for Facilities Capital, $6,662,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$12,140,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee supports revitalization of Smithsonian Institution facilities and the planning and design of future projects. The 

Committee has provided funds to continue ongoing revitalization 

projects at the National Museum of Natural History, National Zoological Park, National Museum of American History, National Air 

and Space Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, 

Museum Support Center, and the Suitland Collections Facility. The 

Committee urges the Smithsonian to use remaining revitalization 

funds provided to support the highest priority projects on the Facilities Capital Program list. 

The recommendation includes funding as requested for the construction of the Dulles Storage Module at the National Air and 

Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, adjacent to Dulles International Airport. This critical addition of collections storage space at the Smithsonian’s Dulles site will establish 

a permanent facility to gather collections from the antiquated ‘‘temporary’’ buildings at the Garber facility in Suitland, Maryland, 

which are being phased out after 60 years of service. In the near 

term, this storage module will serve the Smithsonian’s immediate 

need for temporary collections swing space during the National Air 

and Space Museum’s Revitalization Project, and will provide critically needed collections consolidation space for the Institution’s 

long-term storage needs. 

National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Revitalization 

Project.—The Committee is aware of the National Air and Space 

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uled to begin in fiscal year 2018. Opened to the public on July 1, 

1976 as part of our country’s bicentennial celebration, the NASM 

is the most highly visited museum in the United States with nearly 

seven million annual visits, second worldwide only to the Louvre 

Museum in Paris. 

The National Air and Space Museum faces a multitude of mechanical, structural, and security challenges that necessitate action 

to ensure the facility’s long-term viability. The Committee recognizes the critical need to address these concerns in order to protect 

the health and safety of both the visiting public and the museum’s 

vast collections. 

The Committee is concerned, however, by the projected overall 

costs of this multi-year project—estimated at nearly 

$600,000,000—and the suggestion that the project be funded entirely through appropriated funds. The Committee, therefore, directs the Smithsonian to provide, not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, 1) an independent assessment and re-estimate 

of the anticipated costs of the revitalization project, 2) an independent assessment examining the potential costs of rebuilding the 

entire NASM at its present physical location, and 3) an independent assessment examining the viability and potential costs associated with relocating the NASM to another physical location. 

The Committee further directs the Smithsonian to evaluate potential partnership and philanthropic opportunities that may provide 

non-Federal sources of funding to partially offset the overall costs 

of this project. 

Given the scope and scale of this effort, it is likely this multiyear revitalization project would place additional burdens on the 

Smithsonian’s annual budgets for the foreseeable future. For this 

reason, it is essential that the Smithsonian clearly outline and 

communicate to the Committee its highest and greatest priorities. 

The Committee will endeavor to address the Smithsonian’s most 

urgent priorities, including the revitalization needs of the National 

Air and Space Museum, but given the many demands and priorities within the Smithsonian Institution and across this entire bill, 

difficult decisions will have to be made. 

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

The National Gallery of Art is one of the world’s great galleries. 

Its magnificent works of art, displayed for the benefit of millions 

of visitors annually, and its two iconic buildings and sculpture garden, serve as an example of a successful cooperative endeavor between private individuals and institutions and the Federal government. With the special exhibitions shown in the Gallery, and 

through the many exhibitions which travel across the country, the 

Gallery brings great art treasures to Washington, DC, and to the 

Nation. Through its educational and teacher training programs and 

its website, the Gallery provides art history materials, rich online 

educational materials, direct loans, and broadcast programs to millions of Americans in every State. 


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SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $124,988,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 135,801,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 130,801,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +5,813,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥5,000,000 

The Committee recommends $130,801,000 for Salaries and Expenses of the National Gallery of Art, $5,813,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $5,000,000 below the budget request. 

Bill Language.—The Committee has included bill language specifying the amount provided for Special Exhibitions. The Committee 

also includes in Title IV General Provisions, Section 442, revising 

the definition of the National Gallery of Art’s buildings and 

grounds commensurate with the Gallery’s geographic boundaries. 

REPAIR, RESTORATION AND RENOVATION OF BUILDINGS

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $22,564,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 22,600,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 22,564,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥36,000 

The Committee recommends $22,564,000 for Repair, Restoration 

and Renovation of buildings at the National Gallery of Art, equal 

to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $36,000 below the budget 

request. 

Bill Language.—The Committee has included bill language, as 

requested, relating to lease agreements of no more than 10 years 

that addresses space needs created by ongoing renovations in the 

Master Facilities Plan. 

JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a living 

memorial to the late President Kennedy and is the National Center 

for the Performing Arts. The Center houses nine stages and seven 

theaters which have a total of more than 7,300 seats. The Center 

consists of over 1.5 million square feet of usable floor space with 

visitation averaging 8,000 on a daily basis. The support systems in 

the building often operate at capacity 18 hours a day, seven days 

a week, 365 days a year. 

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $21,660,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 22,260,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 22,260,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +600,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $22,260,000 for Operations and 

Maintenance as requested and $600,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level. 


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CAPITAL REPAIR AND RESTORATION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $14,740,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 13,000,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 14,140,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥600,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +1,140,000 

The Committee recommends $14,140,000 for Capital Repair and 

Restoration, $600,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 

$1,140,000 above the budget request. 

WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars promotes 

policy-relevant research and dialogue to increase understanding 

and enhance the capabilities and knowledge of leaders, citizens, 

and institutions worldwide. The Center hosts scholars and policy 

makers to do their own advanced study, research and writing and 

facilitates debate and discussions among scholars, public officials, 

journalists and business leaders from across the country on relevant, major long-term issues facing this Nation and the world. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $10,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 10,400,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 10,500,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +100,000 

The Committee recommends $10,500,000 for Salaries and Expenses of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $100,000 above the 

budget request. 

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $147,949,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 149,849,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 149,849,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +1,900,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $149,849,000 for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), $1,900,000 above the fiscal year 2016 

enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee supports the NEA’s participation in the National 

Initiative on Arts and the Military, a collaborative effort involving 

Federal agencies, the military, and nonprofit and private sector 

partners working to advance the policy, research, and practice of 

arts therapy for military veterans and their families. The Committee is pleased that the increase above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level will strengthen and support these efforts. 

Further, the Committee commends the NEA for its collaboration 

with the Walter Reed National Military Center in creating the 


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NEA Walter Reed Healing Arts Partnership. Since 2011, this 

unique partnership has supported creative and innovative arts 

therapies for service members. In 2013, this collaborative relationship expanded to bring art therapy to military patients at the Fort 

Belvoir Community Hospital Brain Injury Clinic in Virginia to 

evaluate the potential health benefits of creative arts therapy interventions for wounded warriors including service members with 

Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress. An NEA Navy 

Special Warfare/Special Operations (NSW) Healing Arts Partnership is also being established that will bring these benefits to the 

Navy SEAL community in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

The Committee recognizes the value of integrating Arts education into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) 

education to foster creativity, innovation, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. The Committee encourages the NEA to continue engaging cultural institutions and arts organizations in supporting arts education as a valued educational component necessary to nurture the next generation of leaders and prepare young 

Americans for the 21st century economy. 

The Committee values greatly the longstanding collaborative relationship between the NEA and the States. State Arts Agencies 

support the arts for communities at the grassroots level regardless 

of their geographic location, providing much of their funding to 

smaller organizations, community groups, and schools. The Committee recognizes the importance of the arts in local communities 

including the display of art in public spaces including interested 

local postal facilities with the consent of, and at no expense to, the 

U.S. Postal Service. 

The Committee remains committed to supporting proven national 

initiatives with broad geographic reach. The Big Read, Challenge 

America, and Shakespeare in American Communities are among 

the cost-effective grant programs with broad, bipartisan congressional support that meet these criteria, supporting the NEA’s goal 

of extending the arts to underserved populations in both urban and 

rural communities across the United States. 

Bill Language.—Each year, the Committee provides in bill language specific guidelines under which the Endowment is directed 

to distribute taxpayer dollars in support of the arts. With the exception of established honorific programs, grant funding to individual artists is strictly prohibited. The Committee directs that priority be given to providing services or grant funding for projects, 

productions, or programs that encourage public knowledge, education, understanding, and appreciation of the arts. Any reduction 

in support to the States for arts education should be no more than 

proportional to other funding decreases taken in other NEA programs. 

Reforms originally instituted by the Committee in P.L. 108–447 

relating to grant guidelines and program priorities are fully restated in Sections 413 and 414 of the bill. The Committee expects 

the NEA to adhere to them fully. These reforms maintain broad bipartisan support and continue to serve well both the NEA and the 

public. 


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NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES

GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION (INCLUDING MATCHING GRANTS)

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $147,942,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 149,848,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 149,848,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +1,906,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends a total of $149,848,000 for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), $1,906,000 above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee commends the NEH for its support of grant programs to benefit wounded warriors and to ensure educational opportunities for veterans and service members transitioning to civilian life. In partnership with NEH, State humanities councils have 

developed and delivered local programs that support veterans, their 

families and caregivers, and that help communities better understand the experiences of veterans. The Committee encourages the 

NEH to fully support efforts to connect the humanities to the experience of veterans and provide educational opportunities to these 

American heroes. The Committee is pleased that the increase above 

the fiscal year 2016 enacted level will strengthen and support these 

efforts. 

The Committee commends NEH for its ongoing support to American Indian and Alaska Native communities in preserving their cultural and linguistic heritage through the Documenting Endangered 

Languages program and a variety of preservation and access grants 

that enable American Indian and Alaska Native communities to 

preserve cultural artifacts and make them broadly accessible. It 

also commends the NEH for providing educational opportunities for 

tribal communities through the Humanities Initiatives at Tribal 

Colleges and Universities program. 

The Committee commends the NEH Federal/State Partnership 

for its ongoing, successful collaboration with State humanities 

councils in each of the 50 states as well as Washington, DC, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American 

Samoa. The Committee recognizes the State humanities councils 

for the scope and reach of public humanities programming in congressional districts across the nation, which serve rural areas, promote family literacy, and support cultural tourism that contributes 

to local economies. Every NEH dollar received by a council is 

matched by a local contribution. In recent years, the proportion of 

NEH program funds supporting the work of State humanities councils has grown to nearly 40 percent. The Committee urges the NEH 

to provide program funding to support the work of State humanities councils consistent with the guidance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. 

COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS

The Commission of Fine Arts was established in 1910 to advise 

the government on matters pertaining to the design of national 

symbols, and particularly to guide the architectural development of 

Washington, DC. The Commission’s work includes advice on deVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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signs for parks, public buildings, public art, as well as the design 

of national monuments, coins and medals, and overseas American 

military cemeteries. In addition, the Commission conducts design 

reviews of semipublic and private structures within the Old 

Georgetown Historic District and within certain areas of the National Capital that are adjacent to areas of Federal interest. The 

Commission reviews approximately 700 projects annually. The 

Commission also administers the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $2,653,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 2,762,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,762,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +109,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $2,762,000 for Salaries and Expenses of the Commission of Fine Arts, $109,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

NATIONAL CAPITAL ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $2,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 1,400,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 2,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... +600,000 

The National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs (NCACA) program was established in Public Law 99–190 to support organizations that perform, exhibit, and/or present the arts in the Nation’s 

Capital. The Committee recommends $2,000,000, equal to the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level. 

Bill Language.—The bill does not include requested language addressing limitations on grant recipient eligibility. The Committee 

notes that NCACA is deficient in providing a report as directed, not 

later than 90 days after enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, detailing the potential impact of inclusion of such 

bill language on those arts and cultural affairs organizations that 

received NCACA grant funding in fiscal year 2015. The Committee 

directs NCACA to complete the report expeditiously. 

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 established the 

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). The ACHP was 

granted permanent authorization as part of the National Historic 

Preservation Act Amendments of 2006 (Public Law 109–453). The 

ACHP promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive 

use of our Nation’s historic resources and advises the President 

and Congress on national historic preservation policy. 


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Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $6,080,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 6,493,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 6,480,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +400,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥13,000 

The Committee recommends $6,480,000 for Salaries and Expenses of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). 

An increase of $400,000 over the fiscal year 2016 enacted level is 

to be used to meet Federal requirements for cybersecurity implementation. 

NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The National Capital Planning Act of 1952 designated the National Capital Planning Commission as the central planning agency 

for the Federal government in the National Capital Region. The 

three major functions of the Commission are to prepare and adopt 

the Federal elements of the National Capital Comprehensive Plan; 

prepare an annual report on a five-year projection of the Federal 

Capital Improvement Program; and review plans and proposals 

submitted to the Commission. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $8,348,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 8,099,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 8,099,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥249,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $8,099,000 for Salaries and Expenses of the National Capital Planning Commission, $249,000 

below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget 

request. 

UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

In 1980, Congress passed legislation creating a 65-member Holocaust Memorial Council with the mandate to create and oversee a 

living memorial/museum to victims of the Holocaust. The museum 

opened in April 1993. Construction costs for the museum came 

solely from donated funds raised by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial 

Museum Campaign, and appropriated funds were used for planning and development of programmatic components, overall administrative support, and annual commemorative observances. Since 

the opening of the museum, appropriated funds have been provided 

to pay for the ongoing operating costs of the museum as authorized 

by Public Law 102–529 and Public Law 106–292. Private funds 

support educational outreach throughout the United States. 

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $54,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 57,000,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 57,000,000 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ +3,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... 0 


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The Committee recommends $57,000,000 for the Holocaust Memorial Museum, $3,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level and equal to the budget request. 

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER MEMORIAL COMMISSION

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission was created by 

Congress in 1999 through Public Law 106–79 for the purpose of establishing a permanent national memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe in 

World War II and 34th President of the United States. The Commission consists of 12 members, four members of the House of Representatives, four Senators, and four private citizens appointed by 

the President. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $1,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 ....................................................................... 1,800,000 

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 0 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ ¥1,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥1,800,000 

The bill does not include funding for the Salaries and Expenses 

account. 

The Committee strongly supports the construction of a permanent memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, the current design of the Eisenhower Memorial continues to garner a significant 

amount of interest and opposition. The design process was intended 

to be collaborative and incorporate multiple perspectives, including 

the views of the Eisenhower family. 

The Commission’s continued unwillingness to entertain sensible 

revisions to the memorial design, as suggested by the Eisenhower 

family and others, to more accurately capture the essence and reflect the legacy of Eisenhower, has resulted in unnecessary and unfortunate delays. The Committee is willing to consider discretionary appropriations to support memorial construction provided 

that steps are taken to replace the Commission staff with professionals committed to seeking common ground with the Eisenhower 

family, Congress, and others. 

The Committee reiterates its strongly held view that it is unacceptable that a memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower could be designed, approved, and built without the active support of the Eisenhower family. This position is also supported by the American Legion, the Nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, 

which recently passed a resolution stating it would support the memorial ‘‘if the design is acceptable to the Eisenhower family.’’ 

The Eisenhower family continues its longstanding willingness 

and desire to work in concert with the Commission on a suitable 

design, assist with fundraising, and actively work toward the memorial’s completion. The Committee maintains that the effort to 

appropriately honor Eisenhower would be significantly enhanced by 

providing the Eisenhower family and interested legacy organizations the active role they deserve in recognizing the contributions 

of one of the great American leaders of the twentieth century. 


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CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION

Appropriation enacted, 2016 .............................................................. $0 

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

Recommended, 2017 ........................................................................... 0 

Comparison: 

Appropriation, 2016 ........................................................................ 0 

Budget estimate, 2017 .................................................................... ¥43,000,000 

The bill does not include funding for the Capital Construction account. The Committee continues bill language maintaining the approved site of the memorial and preventing construction of the memorial to begin until all necessary construction funds have been 

appropriated. 

TITLE IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Section 401 continues a provision prohibiting activities to promote public support or opposition to legislative proposals. 

Section 402 continues a provision providing for annual appropriations unless expressly provided otherwise in this Act. 

Section 403 modifies a provision that restricts administrative assessments, and adds new language regarding reprogrammings and 

submission of operating plans. 

Section 404 continues a limitation on accepting and processing 

applications for patents and on the patenting of Federal lands; permits processing of grandfathered applications; and permits thirdparty contractors to process grandfathered applications. 

Section 405 continues a provision regarding the payment of contract support costs for prior fiscal years. 

Section 406 addresses the payment of contract support costs for 

fiscal year 2017. 

Section 407 continues a provision allowing Forest Service land 

management plans to be more than 15 years old if the Secretary 

is acting in good faith to update such plans and prohibiting the use 

of funds to implement new wilderness directives under the planning rule. 

Section 408 continues a provision limiting preleasing, leasing, 

and related activities within the boundaries of National Monuments. 

Section 409 continues a provision which restricts funding for acquisition of land from being used for declarations of taking or complaints in condemnation. 

Section 410 continues a provision addressing timber sales involving Alaskan western red cedar. 

Section 411 continues a provision which prohibits no-bid contracts and grants except under certain circumstances. 

Section 412 continues a provision which requires public disclosure of certain reports. 

Section 413 continues a provision which delineates the grant 

guidelines for the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Section 414 continues a provision which delineates the program 

priorities for the programs managed by the National Endowment 

for the Arts. 

Section 415 continues a provision requiring the Department of 

the Interior, the EPA, the Forest Service, and the Indian Health 

Service to provide the Committees on Appropriations a quarterly 

report on the status of balances of appropriations. 


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Section 416 requires the President to submit a report to the 

Committees on Appropriations no later than 120 days after the fiscal year 2018 budget is submitted to Congress describing in detail 

all Federal agency obligations and expenditures for climate change 

programs and activities in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 

Section 417 continues a provision prohibiting the use of funds to 

promulgate or implement any regulation requiring the issuance of 

permits under title V of the Clean Air Act for carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions. 

Section 418 continues a provision prohibiting the use of funds to 

implement any provision in a rule if that provision requires mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems. 

Section 419 continues a provision from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 modifying authorities relating to the Dwight D. 

Eisenhower Memorial Commission. 

Section 420 prohibits the use of funds to regulate the lead content of ammunition or fishing tackle. 

Section 421 extends certain authorities through fiscal year 2017 

allowing the Forest Service to renew grazing permits. 

Section 422 provides a one-year extension of the current recreation fee authority. 

Section 423 clarifies the Bureau of Land Management’s stewardship contracting authority. 

Section 424 prohibits the use of funds to maintain or establish 

a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, 

downloading, and exchanging of pornography. 

Section 425 prohibits the use of funds from making any change 

to the regulations in effect on October 1, 2012, pertaining to the 

definitions of the terms ‘‘fill material’’ or ‘‘discharge of fill material’’. 

Section 426 prohibits the use of funds to require permits for the 

discharge of dredged or fill material for certain agriculture activities. 

Section 427 prohibits the use of funds to develop, adopt, implement, administer, or enforce a change or supplement to a rule or 

guidance documents pertaining to the definition of waters under 

the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. 

Section 428 prohibits the use of funds to limit recreational shooting and hunting on Federal and public lands except for public safety. 

Section 429 prohibits the use of funds to enforce provisions within the lead renovation rule until EPA has approved a commercially 

available lead test kit or solicits public comment on alternatives. 

Section 430 prohibits the use of funds to develop, propose, finalize, implement, enforce, or administer any regulation that would 

establish new financial responsibility requirements under 

CERCLA. 

Section 431 prohibits the use of funds to develop, issue, implement, or enforce any greenhouse gas New Source Performance 

Standards on any new or existing source that is an electric utility 

generating unit. 

Section 432 makes available vacant allotments for permittees impacted by drought or wildland fire. 


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Section 433 clarifies the protection of water rights with regard to 

Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management permits. 

Section 434 limits the use of funds for status changes of certain 

chemicals. 

Section 435 sets requirement for the use of American iron and 

steel for certain loans and grants. 

Section 436 prohibits the use of funds pertaining to certain updates to the social cost of carbon. 

Section 437 prohibits the use of funds to implement or enforce 

a provision of a rule related to designated representatives. 

Section 438 addresses the implementation of national ambient 

air quality standards for ozone. 

Section 439 prohibits the use of funds to develop, propose, finalize, implement, or enforce any rule or guideline to address methane 

emissions from sources in the oil and natural gas sector under section 111(b) or (d) of the Clean Air Act, and proposed guidelines 

from September 18, 2015. 

Section 440 prohibits the use of funds to modify existing royalty 

rates on coal and oil and gas leases. 

Section 441 establishes a deadline for the programmatic EIS review of the Federal coal program. 

Section 442 revises the definition of the National Gallery of Art’s 

buildings and grounds commensurate with the Gallery’s geographic 

boundaries. 

Section 443 prohibits the use of funds for the Bureau of Land 

Management to update its planning process regulations unless it 

meets certain criteria. 

Section 444 provides for the humane transfer of excess wild 

horses and burros. 

Section 445 prohibits the use of funds to list the lesser prairie 

chicken under the Endangered Species Act. 

Section 446 directs the Indian Health Service to establish governance boards at certain federally operated hospitals, with the 

consent and participation of tribes. 

Section 447 addresses the Old and Middle River reverse flow operations in California. 

Section 448 addresses authorizing increased Old and Middle 

River reverse flows in California during certain times. 

Section 449 addresses certain water rights and water supply deliveries in California. 

Section 450 prohibits funds to implement the San Joaquin River 

Restoration program. 

Section 451 prohibits funds for instream flow purchases in California carried out by the Bureau of Reclamation at certain times. 

Section 452 addresses water storage at New Melones Reservoir. 

Section 453 prohibits the use of funds to designate national 

monuments in certain counties. 

Section 454 establishes a Spending Reduction Account in the bill. 

BILL-WIDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The following items are included in accordance with various requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives: 


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STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is a statement of general performance goals and objectives for which this measure authorizes funding: 

The Committee on Appropriations considers program performance, including a program’s success in developing and attaining 

outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing funding recommendations. 

RESCISSION OF FUNDS

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following table is submitted describing the 

rescission recommended in the accompanying bill: 

Department and activity: 

Amounts recommended for rescission: 

Department of the Interior: Land and Water Conservation Fund 

(contract authority), $28,000,000. 

Department of the Interior: Bureau of Safety and Environmental 

Enforcement, $20,000,000. 

TRANSFERS OF FUNDS

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following table is submitted describing the 

transfer of funds in the accompanying bill. 


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DISCLOSURE OF EARMARKS AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED

SPENDING ITEMS

Neither the bill nor the report contains any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined by 

clause 9 of rule XXI. 

COMPLIANCE WITH RULE XIII, CL. 3(e) (RAMSEYER RULE) 

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012 

(Public Law 112-74) 

* * * * * * * 

DIVISION E—DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012 

TITLE I 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

* * * * * * * 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS REGARDING GRAZING ON

PUBLIC LANDS

SEC. 122. (a) EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW RE- QUIRED.— 

(1) For øfiscal years 2012 through 2018,¿ fiscal year 2012 

and each fiscal year thereafter, a person may bring a civil action challenging a decision of the Bureau of Land Management 

concerning grazing on public lands (as defined in section 103(e) 

of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 

U.S.C. 1702(e))) in a Federal district court only if the person 

has exhausted the administrative hearings and appeals procedures established by the Department of the Interior, including 

having filed a timely appeal and a request for stay. 

(2) An issue may be considered in the judicial review of a decision referred to in paragraph (1) only if the issue was raised 

in the administrative review process described in such paragraph. 

(3) An exception to the requirement of exhausting the administrative review process before seeking judicial review shall be 

available if a Federal court finds that the agency failed or was 

unable to make information timely available during the administrative review process for issues of material fact. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘timely’’ means within 120 

calendar days after the date that the challenge to the agency 

action or amendment at issue is received for administrative review. 


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(b) ACCEPTANCE OF DONATION OF CERTAIN EXISTING PERMITS OR

LEASES.— 

(1) During fiscal year 2012 and thereafter, the Secretary of 

the Interior shall accept the donation of any valid existing permits or leases authorizing grazing on public lands within the 

California Desert Conservation Area. With respect to each permit or lease donated under this paragraph, the Secretary shall 

terminate the grazing permit or lease, ensure a permanent end 

(except as provided in paragraph (2)), to grazing on the land 

covered by the permit or lease, and make the land available for 

mitigation by allocating the forage to wildlife use consistent 

with any applicable Habitat Conservation Plan, section 

10(a)(1)(B) permit, or section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

(2) If the land covered by a permit or lease donated under 

paragraph (1) is also covered by another valid existing permit 

or lease that is not donated under such paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall reduce the authorized grazing level 

on the land covered by the permit or lease to reflect the donation of the permit or lease under paragraph (1). To ensure that 

there is a permanent reduction in the level of grazing on the 

land covered by a permit or lease donated under paragraph (1), 

the Secretary shall not allow grazing use to exceed the authorized level under the remaining valid existing permit or lease 

that is not donated. 

* * * * * * * 

INDIAN SELF-DETERMINATION AND EDUCATION 

ASSISTANCE ACT 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VIII—NATIONAL FUND FOR EXCELLENCE IN AMERICAN INDIAN 

EDUCATION 

SEC. 801. NATIONAL FUND FOR EXCELLENCE IN AMERICAN INDIAN 

EDUCATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish, 

under the laws of the District of Columbia and in accordance with 

this title, a øfoundation¿ fund to be known as the ‘‘National Fund 

for Excellence in American Indian Education’’ (hereinafter referred 

to as the ‘‘øFoundation¿ Fund’’). The Fund shall be affiliated and 

may contract for services with a section 501(c)(3) national organization whose mission is to represent Native American students and 

educators for the improvement of schools and the education of Native children. 

(b) PERPETUAL EXISTENCE.—Except as otherwise provided, the 

øFoundation¿ Fund shall have perpetual existence. 

(c) NATURE OF CORPORATION.—The øFoundation¿ Fund shall be 

a charitable and nonprofit federally chartered corporation and shall 

not be an agency or instrumentality of the United States. 


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(d) PLACE OF INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE.—The øFoundation¿ 

Fund shall be incorporated and domiciled in the District of Columbia. 

(e) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the øFoundation¿ Fund shall 

be— 

(1) to encourage, accept, and administer private or public 

gifts of real and personal property or any income therefrom or 

other interest therein for the benefit of, or in support of, the 

mission of the Office of Indian Education Programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (or its successor office); 

(2) to undertake and conduct such other activities as will further the educational opportunities of American Indians who attend a Bureau funded school; øand¿ 

(3) to participate with, and otherwise assist, Federal, State, 

and tribal governments, agencies, entities, and individuals in 

undertaking and conducting activities that will further the 

educational opportunities of American Indians attending Bureau funded schoolsø.¿; 

(4) to promote and facilitate public-private partnerships that 

maximize the involvement of the private sector, including nonprofit organizations and for-profit entities, in providing financial and in-kind support for the improvement or replacement of 

facilities and infrastructure and for the enhancement of telecommunications and technological capacity in Bureau-funded 

schools; and 

(5) to facilitate interagency agreements between the Department of the Interior and other Federal agencies in furtherance 

of the purposes of the Fund. 

(f) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the øFoundation¿ Fund. The Board may exercise, or provide for the exercise of, the powers of the øFoundation¿ Fund. 

(2) SELECTION.—øThe number of members of the Board, the 

manner of their selection (including the filling of vacancies), 

and their terms of office shall be as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the Foundation. However, the Board shall 

have at least 11 members, two of whom shall be the Secretary 

and the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, 

who shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members, and the initial voting members of the Board shall be appointed by the 

Secretary not later than 6 months after the date that the 

Foundation is established and shall have staggered terms (as 

determined by the Secretary).¿ The number of members of the 

Board, the manner of their selection (including the filling of vacancies), and their terms of office shall be as provided in the 

constitution and bylaws of the Fund. The Board shall have nine 

members, including the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of 

the Interior for Indian Affairs who shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members and who shall appoint three voting members to 

staggered terms, and including the President and Executive Director of the 501(c)(3) national organization referenced in subsection (a) who shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members and 

who shall appoint two voting members to staggered terms. 


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(3) QUALIFICATION.—The members of the Board shall be 

United States citizens who øare knowledgeable or experienced 

in American Indian education and shall, to the extent practicable,¿ shall, to the extent practicable, be drawn from various 

disciplines related to the purposes of the Fund, and represent 

diverse points of view relating to the education of American Indians. 

(4) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Board shall not receive 

compensation for their services as members, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties of 

the øFoundation¿ Fund. (g) OFFICERS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The officers of the øFoundation¿ Fund 

shall be a secretary, elected from among the members of the 

Board, and any other officers provided for in the constitution 

and bylaws of the øFoundation¿ Fund. 

(2) SECRETARY OF FOUNDATION.—The secretary shall serve, 

at the direction of the Board, as its chief operating officer and 

shall be knowledgeable and experienced in matters relating to 

education in general and education of American Indians in particular. 

(3) ELECTION.—The manner of election, term of office, and 

duties of the officers shall be as provided in the constitution 

and bylaws of the øFoundation¿ Fund. (h) POWERS.—The øFoundation¿ Fund— (1) shall adopt a constitution and bylaws for the management of its property and the regulation of its affairs, which 

may be amended; 

(2) may adopt and alter a corporate seal; 

(3) may make contracts, subject to the limitations of this Act; 

(4) may acquire (through a gift or otherwise), own, lease, encumber, and transfer real or personal property as necessary or 

convenient to carry out the purposes of the øFoundation¿ 

Fund; 

(5) may sue and be sued; and 

(6) may perform any other act necessary and proper to carry 

out the purposes of the øFoundation¿ Fund. 

(i) PRINCIPAL OFFICE.—The principal office of the øFoundation¿ 

Fund shall be in the District of Columbia. However, the activities 

of the øFoundation¿ Fund may be conducted, and offices may be 

maintained, throughout the United States in accordance with the 

constitution and bylaws of the øFoundation¿ Fund. (j) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—The øFoundation¿ Fund shall comply 

with the law on service of process of each State in which it is incorporated and of each State in which the øFoundation¿ Fund carries 

on activities. 

(k) LIABILITY OF OFFICERS AND AGENTS.—The øFoundation¿ 

Fund shall be liable for the acts of its officers and agents acting 

within the scope of their authority. Members of the Board are personally liable only for gross negligence in the performance of their 

duties. 

(l) RESTRICTIONS.— 

(1) LIMITATION ON SPENDING.—Beginning with the fiscal year 

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tion¿ Fund is in operation, the administrative costs of the 

øFoundation¿ Fund may not exceed 10 percent of the sum of— 

(A) the amounts transferred to the øFoundation¿ Fund 

under subsection (m) during the preceding fiscal year; and 

(B) donations received from private sources during the 

preceding fiscal year. 

(2) APPOINTMENT AND HIRING.—The appointment of officers 

and employees of the øFoundation¿ Fund shall be subject to 

the availability of funds. 

(3) STATUS.—Members of the Board, and the officers, employees, and agents of the øFoundation¿ Fund are not, by reason 

of their association with the øFoundation¿ Fund, officers, employees, or agents of the United States. 

(m) TRANSFER OF DONATED FUNDS AND PROPERTY.—The Secretary may transfer to the øFoundation¿ Fund funds and property 

held by the Department of the Interior under the Act of February 

14, 1931 (25 U.S.C. 451), if the transfer or use of such funds is not 

prohibited by any term under which the funds were donated. 

(n) AUDITS.—The øFoundation¿ Fund shall comply with the 

audit requirements set forth in section 10101 of title 36, United 

States Code, as if it were a corporation in part B of subtitle II of 

that title. 

* * * * * * * 

SECTION 140 OF PUBLIC LAW 108-108 

SEC. 140. (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

‘‘Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Act of 2003’’. 

(b) FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 

(1) FINDINGS. Congress finds that: 

(A) The Blue Ridge Mountains and the extensive cultural and natural resources of the Blue Ridge Mountains 

have played a significant role in the history of the United 

States and the State of North Carolina. 

(B) Archaeological evidence indicates that the Blue 

Ridge Mountains have been inhabited by humans since the 

last retreat of the glaciers, with the Native Americans living in the area at the time of European discovery being 

primarily of Cherokee descent. 

(C) The Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, including the Great Smoky Mountains, played a 

unique and significant role in the establishment and development of the culture of the United States through several 

distinct legacies, including— 

(i) the craft heritage that— 

(I) was first influenced by the Cherokee Indians; 

(II) was the origin of the traditional craft movement starting in 1900 and the contemporary craft 

movement starting in the 1940’s; and 

(III) is carried out by over 4,000 craftspeople in 

the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, the third largest concentration of such people 

in the United States; 


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(ii) a musical heritage comprised of distinctive instrumental and vocal traditions that— 

(I) includes stringband music, bluegrass, ballad 

singing, blues, and sacred music; 

(II) has received national recognition; and 

(III) has made the region one of the richest repositories of traditional music and folklife in the 

United States; 

(iii) the Cherokee heritage— 

(I) dating back thousands of years; and 

(II) offering— 

(aa) nationally significant cultural traditions practiced by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; 

(bb) authentic tradition bearers; 

(cc) historic sites; and 

(dd) historically important collections of 

Cherokee artifacts; and 

(iv) the agricultural heritage established by the 

Cherokee Indians, including medicinal and ceremonial 

food crops, combined with the historic European patterns of raising livestock, culminating in the largest 

number of specialty crop farms in North Carolina. 

(D) The artifacts and structures associated with those 

legacies are unusually well-preserved. 

(E) The Blue Ridge Mountains are recognized as having 

one of the richest collections of historical resources in 

North America. 

(F) The history and cultural heritage of the Blue Ridge 

Mountains are shared with the States of Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia. 

(G) there are significant cultural, economic, and educational benefits in celebrating and promoting this mutual 

heritage. 

(H) according to the 2002 reports entitled ‘‘The Blue 

Ridge Heritage and Cultural Partnership’’ and ‘‘Western 

North Carolina National Heritage Area Feasibility Study 

and Plan’’, the Blue Ridge Mountains contain numerous 

resources that are of outstanding importance to the history 

of the United States. 

(I) it is in the interest of the United States to preserve 

and interpret the cultural and historical resources of the 

Blue Ridge Mountains for the education and benefit of 

present and future generations. 

(2) PURPOSE. The purpose of this section is to foster a close 

working relationship with, and to assist, all levels of government, the private sector, and local communities in the State in 

managing, preserving, protecting, and interpreting the cultural, historical, and natural resources of the Heritage Area 

while continuing to develop economic opportunities. 

(c) DEFINITIONS. (1) In this section: 

(A) HERITAGE AREA. The term ‘‘Heritage Area’’ means 

the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area established by subsection (d). 


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(B) MANAGEMENT ENTITY. The term ‘‘management entity’’ means the management entity for the Heritage Area 

designated by subsection (d)(3). 

(C) MANAGEMENT PLAN. The term ‘‘management plan’’ 

means the management plan for the Heritage Area approved under subsection (e). 

(D) SECRETARY. The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. 

(E) STATE. The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of North 

Carolina. 

(d) BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT. There is established the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in the State. 

(2) BOUNDARIES. The Heritage Area shall consist of the counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, 

Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, 

McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, 

Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey in 

the State. 

(3) MANAGEMENT ENTITY. 

(A) IN GENERAL. As a condition of the receipt of funds 

made available under subsection (i), the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership shall be the management 

entity for the Heritage Area. 

(B) BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 

(i) COMPOSITION. The management entity shall be 

governed by a board of directors composed of nine 

members, of whom— 

(I) two members shall be appointed by 

AdvantageWest; 

(II) two members shall be appointed by HandMade In America, Inc.; 

(III) one member shall be appointed by the Education Research Consortium of Western North 

Carolina; 

(IV) one member shall be appointed by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians; and 

(V) three members shall be appointed by the 

Governor of North Carolina and shall— 

(aa) reside in geographically diverse regions 

of the Heritage Area; 

(bb) be a representative of State or local 

governments or the private sector; and 

(cc) have knowledge of tourism, economic 

and community development, regional planning, historic preservation, cultural or natural 

resources development, regional planning, 

conservation, recreational services, education, 

or museum services. 

(e) MANAGEMENT PLAN. 

(1) IN GENERAL. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the management entity shall submit to 

the Secretary for approval a management plan for the Heritage 

Area. 


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(2) CONSIDERATION OF OTHER PLANS AND ACTIONS. In developing the management plan, the management entity shall— 

(A) for the purpose of presenting a unified preservation 

and interpretation plan, take into consideration Federal, 

State, and local plans; and 

(B) provide for the participation of residents, public 

agencies, and private organizations in the Heritage Area. 

(3) CONTENTS. The management plan shall— 

(A) present comprehensive recommendations and strategies for the conservation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area; 

(B) identify existing and potential sources of Federal and 

non-Federal funding for the conservation, management, 

and development of the Heritage Area; and 

(C) include— 

(i) an inventory of the cultural, historical, natural, 

and recreational resources of the Heritage Area, including a list of property that— 

(I) relates to the purposes of the Heritage Area; 

and 

(II) should be conserved, restored, managed, developed, or maintained because of the significance 

of the property; 

(ii) a program of strategies and actions for the implementation of the management plan that identifies 

the roles of agencies and organizations that are involved in the implementation of the management plan; 

(iii) an interpretive and educational plan for the 

Heritage Area; 

(iv) a recommendation of policies for resource management and protection that develop intergovernmental cooperative agreements to manage and protect 

the cultural, historical, natural, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area; and 

(v) an analysis of ways in which Federal, State, and 

local programs may best be coordinated to promote the 

purposes of this section. 

(4) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT. If a management plan is 

not submitted to the Secretary by the date described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not provide any additional funding under this section until a management plan is submitted 

to the Secretary. 

(5) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT PLAN. 

(A) IN GENERAL. Not later than 90 days after receiving 

the management plan submitted under paragraph (1), the 

Secretary shall approve or disapprove the management 

plan. 

(B) CRITERIA. In determining whether to approve the 

management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether 

the management plan— 

(i) has strong local support from landowners, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and governments in the Heritage Area; and 

(ii) has a high potential for effective partnership 

mechanisms. 


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(C) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL. If the Secretary 

disapproves a management plan under subparagraph (A), 

the Secretary shall— 

(i) advise the management entity in writing of the 

reasons for the disapproval; 

(ii) make recommendations for revisions to the management plan; and 

(iii) allow the management entity to submit to the 

Secretary revisions to the management plan. 

(D) DEADLINE FOR APPROVAL OF REVISION. Not later than 

60 days after the date on which a revision is submitted 

under subparagraph (C)(iii), the Secretary shall approve or 

disapprove the proposed revision. 

(6) AMENDMENT OF APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLAN. 

(A) IN GENERAL. After approval by the Secretary of a 

management plan, the management entity shall periodically— 

(i) review the management plan; and 

(ii) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval, 

the recommendation of the management entity for any 

amendments to the management plan. 

(B) USE OF FUNDS. No funds made available under subsection (i) shall be used to implement any amendment proposed by the management entity under subparagraph (A) 

until the Secretary approves the amendment. 

(f) AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY. 

(1) AUTHORITIES. For the purposes of developing and implementing the management plan, the management entity may 

use funds made available under subsection (i) to— 

(A) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the State (including a political subdivision), 

nonprofit organizations, or persons; 

(B) hire and compensate staff; and 

(C) enter into contracts for goods and services. 

(2) DUTIES. In addition to developing the management plan, 

the management entity shall— 

(A) develop and implement the management plan while 

considering the interests of diverse units of government, 

businesses, private property owners, and nonprofit groups 

in the Heritage Area; 

(B) conduct public meetings in the Heritage Area at 

least semiannually on the development and implementation of the management plan; 

(C) give priority to the implementation of actions, goals, 

and strategies in the management plan, including providing assistance to units of government, nonprofit organizations, and persons in— 

(i) carrying out the programs that protect resources 

in the Heritage Area; 

(ii) encouraging economic viability in the Heritage 

Area in accordance with the goals of the management 

plan; 

(iii) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits in the Heritage Area; 


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(iv) developing recreational and educational opportunities in the Heritage Area; and 

(v) increasing public awareness of and appreciation 

for the cultural, historical, and natural resources of 

the Heritage Area; and 

(D) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are received under subsection (i)— 

(i) submit to the Secretary a report that describes, 

for the fiscal year— 

(I) the accomplishments of the management entity; 

(II) the expenses and income of the management entity; and 

(III) each entity to which a grant was made; 

(ii) make available for audit by Congress, the Secretary, and appropriate units of government, all 

records relating to the expenditure of funds and any 

matching funds; and 

(iii) require, for all agreements authorizing expenditure of Federal funds by any entity, that the receiving 

entity make available for audit all records relating to 

the expenditure of funds. 

(3) PROHIBITION ON THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY. The 

management entity shall not use Federal funds received under 

subsection (i) to acquire real property or an interest in real 

property. 

(g) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. (1) IN GENERAL. The Secretary may provide to the management entity technical assistance and, subject to the availability 

of appropriations, financial assistance, for use in developing 

and implementing the management plan. 

(2) PRIORITY FOR ASSISTANCE. In providing assistance under 

subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to actions that 

facilitate— 

(A) the preservation of the significant cultural, historical, natural, and recreational resources of the Heritage 

Area; and 

(B) the provision of educational, interpretive, and recreational opportunities that are consistent with the resources of the Heritage Area. 

(h) LAND USE REGULATION. 

(1) IN GENERAL. Nothing in this section— 

(A) grants any power of zoning or land use to the management entity; or 

(B) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes any authority of the 

Federal Government or any State or local government to 

regulate any use of land under any law (including regulations). 

(2) PRIVATE PROPERTY. Nothing in this section— 

(A) abridges the rights of any person with respect to private property; 

(B) affects the authority of the State or local government 

with respect to private property; or 

(C) imposes any additional burden on any property 

owner. 


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(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (1) IN GENERAL. There is authorized to be appropriated to 

carry out this section ø$10,000,000¿ $12,000,000, of which not 

more than $1,000,000 shall be made available for any fiscal 

year. 

(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE. The non-Federal share of the cost 

of any activities carried out using Federal funds made available under subsection (a) shall be not less than 50 percent. 

(j) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. The authority of the Secretary to 

provide assistance under this section terminates on the date that 

is 15 years after the date of enactment of this section. 

SECTION 810 OF DIVISION B OF PUBLIC LAW 106-554 

SEC. 810. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.— 

(1) CORRIDOR.—There is authorized to be appropriated for 

the Corridor not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal year, to 

remain available until expended. Not more than a total of 

ø$10,000,000¿ $12,000,000 may be appropriated for the Corridor under this title. 

(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Federal funding provided 

under this paragraph may not exceed 50 percent of the total 

cost of any activity carried out with such funds. The non-Federal share of such support may be in the form of cash, services, 

or in-kind contributions, fairly valued. 

(b) OTHER FUNDING.—In addition to the sums authorized in subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 

of the Interior such sums as are necessary for the Secretary for 

planning and technical assistance. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VIII 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 8162. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER MEMORIAL. (a) FINDINGS.— 

Congress finds that— 

(1) the people of the United States feel a deep debt of gratitude to Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe in World War II and 

subsequently as 34th President of the United States; and 

(2) an appropriate permanent memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower should be created to perpetuate his memory and his contributions to the United States. 

(b) COMMISSION.—There is established a commission to be known 

as the ‘‘Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission’’ (referred to 

in this section as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be composed of— 

(1) four persons appointed by the President, not more than 

two of whom may be members of the same political party; 


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(2) four Members of the Senate appointed by the President 

Pro Tempore of the Senate in consultation with the Majority 

Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate, of which not more 

than two appointees may be members of the same political 

party; and 

(3) four Members of the House of Representatives appointed 

by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in consultation 

with the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the House of 

Representatives, of which not more than two appointees may 

be members of the same political party. 

(d) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The members of the Commission 

shall select a Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission. The Chair 

and Vice Chair shall not be members of the same political party. 

(e) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect 

its powers if a quorum is present, but shall be filled in the same 

manner as the original appointment. 

(f) MEETINGS.— 

(1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 45 days after the date 

on which a majority of the members of the Commission have 

been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting. 

(2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 

the call of the Chair. 

(g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Commission 

shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number of members may 

hold hearings. 

(h) NO COMPENSATION.—A member of the Commission shall 

serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses 

incurred in carrying out the duties of the Commission. 

(i) DUTIES.—The Commission shall consider and formulate plans 

for such a permanent memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower, including its nature, design, construction, and location. 

(j) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.— (A) POWERS.—The Commission may— 

(i) make such expenditures for services and materials for the purpose of carrying out this section as the 

Commission considers advisable from funds appropriated or received as gifts for that purpose; 

(ii) solicit and accept contributions to be used in carrying out this section or to be used in connection with 

the construction or other expenses of the memorial; 

(iii) hold hearings and enter into contracts; 

(iv) enter into contracts for specialized or professional services as necessary to carry out this section; 

and 

(v) take such actions as are necessary to carry out 

this section. 

(B) SPECIALIZED OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.—Services 

under subparagraph (A)(iv) may be— 

(i) obtained without regard to the provisions of title 

5, United States Code, including section 3109 of that 

title; and 

(ii) may be paid without regard to the provisions of 

title 5, United States Code, including chapter 51 and 

subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title. 


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(2) GIFTS OF PROPERTY.—The Commission may accept gifts of 

real or personal property to be used in carrying out this section, including to be used in connection with the construction 

or other expenses of the memorial. 

(3) FEDERAL COOPERATION.—At the request of the Commission, a Federal department or agency may provide any information or other assistance to the Commission that the head of 

the Federal department or agency determines to be appropriate. 

(4) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—If authorized by the Commission, any 

member or agent of the Commission may take any action 

that the Commission is authorized to take under this section. 

(B) ARCHITECT.—The Commission may appoint an architect as an agent of the Commission to— 

(i) represent the Commission on various governmental source selection and planning boards on the selection of the firms that will design and construct the 

memorial; and 

(ii) perform other duties as designated by the Chairperson of the Commission. 

(C) TREATMENT.—An authorized member or agent of the 

Commission (including an individual appointed under subparagraph (B)) providing services to the Commission shall 

be considered an employee of the Federal Government in 

the performance of those services for the purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, relating to tort 

claims. 

(5) TRAVEL.—Each member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 

away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission. 

(k) REPORTS.—The Commission shall— 

(1) report the plans under subsection (i), together with recommendations, to the President and the Congress at the earliest practicable date; and 

(2) in the interim, make annual reports on its progress to the 

President and the Congress. 

(l) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission. 

(m) AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MEMORIAL.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may establish a permanent memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower on land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior in the District of Columbia or its environs. 

(2) COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS FOR COMMEMORATIVE

WORKS.—The establishment of the memorial shall be in accordance with the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et 

seq.). 

(3) EXPIRATION.—Any reference in section 8903(e) of title 40, 

U.S.C. to the expiration at the end of, or extension beyond, a 

7-year period shall be considered to be a reference to an expiraVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Jun 22, 2016 Jkt 020448 PO 00000 Frm 00133 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR632.XXX HR632

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tion on, or extension beyond, øSeptember 30, 2016¿ September 

30, 2017. 

(n) MEMORIAL FUND.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is created in the Treasury a 

fund for the memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower that includes 

amounts contributed under subsection (j)(2). 

(2) USE OF FUND.—The fund shall be used for the expenses 

of establishing the memorial. 

(3) INTEREST.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall credit to 

the fund the interest on obligations held in the fund. 

(o) STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.— 

(A) POWERS.—The Commission may— 

(i) make such expenditures for services and materials for the purpose of carrying out this section as the 

Commission considers advisable from funds appropriated or received as gifts for that purpose; 

(ii) solicit and accept contributions to be used in carrying out this section or to be used in connection with 

the construction or other expenses of the memorial; 

(iii) hold hearings and enter into contracts; 

(iv) enter into contracts for specialized or professional services as necessary to carry out this section; 

and 

(v) take such actions as are necessary to carry out 

this section. 

(B) SPECIALIZED OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.—Services 

under subparagraph (A)(iv) may be— 

(i) obtained without regard to the provisions of title 

5, United States Code, including section 3109 of that 

title; and 

(ii) may be paid without regard to the provisions of 

title 5, United States Code, including chapter 51 and 

subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title. 

(2) GIFTS OF PROPERTY.—The Commission may accept gifts of 

real or personal property to be used in carrying out this section, including to be used in connection with the construction 

or other expenses of the memorial. 

(3) FEDERAL COOPERATION.—At the request of the Commission, a Federal department or agency may provide any information or other assistance to the Commission that the head of 

the Federal department or agency determines to be appropriate. 

(4) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—If authorized by the Commission, any 

member or agent of the Commission may take any action 

that the Commission is authorized to take under this section. 

(B) ARCHITECT.—The Commission may appoint an architect as an agent of the Commission to— 

(i) represent the Commission on various governmental source selection and planning boards on the selection of the firms that will design and construct the 

memorial; and 


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(ii) perform other duties as designated by the Chairperson of the Commission. 

(C) TREATMENT.—An authorized member or agent of the 

Commission (including an individual appointed under subparagraph (B)) providing services to the Commission shall 

be considered an employee of the Federal Government in 

the performance of those services for the purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, relating to tort 

claims. 

(5) TRAVEL.—Each member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 

away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission. 

(p) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to 

be appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this section. 

(q) APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.—In addition to amounts provided 

elsewhere in this Act, there is appropriated to the Commission 

$300,000, to remain available until expended. 

* * * * * * * 

FEDERAL LANDS RECREATION ENHANCEMENT ACT 

* * * * * * * 

DIVISION J—OTHER MATTERS 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VIII—FEDERAL LANDS RECREATION ENHANCEMENT 

ACT 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 810. SUNSET PROVISION. 

The authority of the Secretary to carry out this Act shall terminate øSeptember 30, 2017¿ September 30, 2018. 

* * * * * * * 

HEALTHY FORESTS RESTORATION ACT OF 2003 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 604. STEWARDSHIP END RESULT CONTRACTING PROJECTS. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) CHIEF.—The term ‘‘Chief’’ means the Chief of the Forest 

Service. 

(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of 

the Bureau of Land Management. 


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(b) PROJECTS.—The Chief and the Director, via agreement or contract as appropriate, may enter into stewardship contracting 

projects with private persons or other public or private entities to 

perform services to achieve land management goals for the national 

forests and the public lands that meet local and rural community 

needs. 

(c) LAND MANAGEMENT GOALS.—The land management goals of 

a project under subsection (b) may include any of the following: 

(1) Road and trail maintenance or obliteration to restore or 

maintain water quality. 

(2) Soil productivity, habitat for wildlife and fisheries, or 

other resource values. 

(3) Setting of prescribed fires to improve the composition, 

structure, condition, and health of stands or to improve wildlife 

habitat. 

(4) Removing vegetation or other activities to promote 

healthy forest stands, reduce fire hazards, or achieve other 

land management objectives. 

(5) Watershed restoration and maintenance. 

(6) Restoration and maintenance of wildlife and fish. 

(7) Control of noxious and exotic weeds and reestablishing 

native plant species. 

(d) AGREEMENTS OR CONTRACTS.— 

(1) PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE.—A source for performance of 

an agreement or contract under subsection (b) shall be selected 

on a best-value basis, including consideration of source under 

other public and private agreements or contracts. 

(2) CONTRACT FOR SALE OF PROPERTY.—A contract entered 

into under this section may, at the discretion of the Secretary 

of Agriculture, be considered a contract for the sale of property 

under such terms as the Secretary may prescribe without regard to any other provision of law. 

(3) TERM.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B), the Chief and the Director may enter into a contract 

under subsection (b) in accordance with section 3903 of 

title 41, United States Code. 

(B) MAXIMUM.—The period of the contract under subsection (b) may exceed 5 years but may not exceed 10 

years. 

(4) OFFSETS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Chief and the Director may apply 

the value of timber or other forest products removed as an 

offset against the cost of services received under the agreement or contract described in subsection (b). 

(B) METHODS OF APPRAISAL.—The value of timber or 

other forest products used as an offset under subparagraph 

(A)— 

(i) shall be determined using appropriate methods of 

appraisal commensurate with the quantity of products 

to be removed; and 

(ii) may— 

(I) be determined using a unit of measure appropriate to the contracts; and 


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(II) may include valuing products on a per-acre 

basis. 

(5) RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.—Notwithstanding subsections 

(d) and (g) of section 14 of the National Forest Management 

Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a), the Chief may enter into an 

agreement or contract under subsection (b). Notwithstanding 

section 2 of the Act of July 31, 1947 (commonly known as the 

Materials Act of 1947; 30 U.S.C. 602), the Director may enter 

into an agreement or contract under subsection (b). 

(6) CONTRACTING OFFICER.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior 

may determine the appropriate contracting officer to enter into 

and administer an agreement or contract under subsection (b). 

(7) FIRE LIABILITY PROVISIONS.—Not later than 90 days after 

the date of enactment of this section, the Chief øand the Director¿ shall issue for use in all contracts and agreements entered 

into by the Chief under this section fire liability provisions that 

are in substantially the same form as the fire liability provisions contained in— 

(A) integrated resource timber contracts, as described in 

the Forest Service contract numbered 2400–13, part H, 

section H.4; and 

(B) timber sale contracts conducted pursuant to section 

14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 

U.S.C. 472a). 

(e) RECEIPTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief and the Director may collect 

monies from an agreement or contract under subsection (b) if 

the collection is a secondary objective of negotiating the contract that will best achieve the purposes of this section. 

(2) USE.—Monies from an agreement or contract under subsection (b)— 

(A) may be retained by the Chief and the Director; and 

(B) shall be available for expenditure without further appropriation at the project site from which the monies are 

collected or at another project site. 

(3) RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision 

of law, the value of services received by the Chief or the 

Director under a stewardship contract project conducted 

under this section, and any payments made or resources 

provided by the contractor, Chief, or Director shall not be 

considered monies received from the National Forest System or the public lands. 

(B) KNUTSON-VANDERBERG ACT.—The Act of June 9, 

1930 (commonly known as the ‘‘Knutson-Vanderberg Act’’) 

(16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.) shall not apply to any agreement 

or contract under subsection (b). 

(f) COSTS OF REMOVAL.—Notwithstanding the fact that a contractor did not harvest the timber, the Chief may collect deposits 

from a contractor covering the costs of removal of timber or other 

forest products under— 

(1) the Act of August 11, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 490); and 

(2) the Act of June 30, 1914 (16 U.S.C. 498). 

(g) PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT GUARANTEES.— 


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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief and the Director may require 

performance and payment bonds under sections 28.103–2 and 

28.103–3 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, in an amount 

that the contracting officer considers sufficient to protect the 

investment in receipts by the Federal Government generated 

by the contractor from the estimated value of the forest products to be removed under a contract under subsection (b). 

(2) EXCESS OFFSET VALUE.—If the offset value of the forest 

products exceeds the value of the resource improvement treatments, the Chief and the Director may— 

(A) collect any residual receipts under the Act of June 9, 

1930 (commonly known as the ‘‘Knutson-Vanderberg Act’’) 

(16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.); and 

(B) apply the excess to other authorized stewardship 

projects. 

(h) MONITORING AND EVALUATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief and the Director shall establish 

a multiparty monitoring and evaluation process that accesses 

the stewardship contracting projects conducted under this section. 

(2) PARTICIPANTS.—Other than the Chief and Director, participants in the process described in paragraph (1) may include— 

(A) any cooperating governmental agencies, including 

tribal governments; and 

(B) any other interested groups or individuals. 

(i) REPORTING.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Chief and the Director shall report to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 

Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the 

House of Representatives on— 

(1) the status of development, execution, and administration 

of agreements or contracts under subsection (b); 

(2) the specific accomplishments that have resulted; and 

(3) the role of local communities in the development of agreements or contract plans. 

TITLE 40, UNITED STATES CODE 

* * * * * * * 

SUBTITLE II—PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS 

* * * * * * * 

PART C—FEDERAL BUILDING COMPLEXES 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 63—SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, NATIONAL 

GALLERY OF ART, AND JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER 

FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 

* * * * * * * 


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§ 6301. Definition 

In this chapter, the term ‘‘specified buildings and grounds’’ 

means— 

(1) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.—The Smithsonian Institution 

and its grounds, which include the following: 

(A) SMITHSONIAN BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS ON THE NATIONAL MALL.—The Smithsonian Building, the Arts and Industries Building, the Freer Gallery of Art, the National 

Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural 

History, the National Museum of American History, the 

National Museum of the American Indian, the Hirshhorn 

Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Arthur M. Sackler 

Gallery, the National Museum of African Art, the S. Dillon 

Ripley Center, and all other buildings of the Smithsonian 

Institution within the Mall, including the entrance walks, 

unloading areas, and other pertinent service roads and 

parking areas. 

(B) NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK.—The National Zoological Park comprising all the buildings, streets, service 

roads, walks, and other areas within the boundary fence of 

the National Zoological Park in the District of Columbia 

and including the public space between that fence and the 

face of the curb lines of the adjacent city streets. 

(C) OTHER SMITHSONIAN BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.—All 

other buildings, service roads, walks, and other areas within the exterior boundaries of any real estate or land or interest in land (including temporary use) that the Smithsonian Institution acquires and that the Secretary of the 

Smithsonian Institution determines to be necessary for the 

adequate protection of individuals or property in the 

Smithsonian Institution and suitable for administration as 

a part of the Smithsonian Institution. 

(2) NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART.—øThe National Gallery of 

Art¿ (A) The National Gallery of Art and its grounds, which extend— 

ø(A)¿ (i) to the line of the face of the south curb of Constitution Avenue Northwest, between Seventh Street 

Northwest, and Fourth Street Northwest, to the line of the 

face of the west curb of Fourth Street Northwest, between 

Constitution Avenue Northwest, and Madison Drive 

Northwest; to the line of the face of the north curb of 

Madison Drive Northwest, between Fourth Street Northwest, and Seventh Street Northwest; and to the line of the 

face of the east curb of Seventh Street Northwest, between 

Madison Drive Northwest, and Constitution Avenue 

Northwest; 

ø(B)¿ (ii) to the line of the face of the south curb of 

Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, between Fourth Street 

and Third Street Northwest, to the line of the face of the 

west curb of Third Street Northwest, between Pennsylvania Avenue and Madison Drive Northwest, to the line of 

the face of the north curb of Madison Drive Northwest, between Third Street and Fourth Street Northwest, and to 

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west, between Pennsylvania Avenue and Madison Drive 

Northwest; and 

ø(C)¿ (iii) to the line of the face of the south curb of Constitution Avenue Northwest, between Ninth Street Northwest and Seventh Street Northwest; to the line of the face 

of the west curb of Seventh Street Northwest, between 

Constitution Avenue Northwest and Madison Drive Northwest; to the line of the face of the north curb of Madison 

Drive Northwest, between Seventh Street Northwest and 

the line of the face of the east side of the east retaining 

wall of the Ninth Street Expressway Northwest; and to the 

line of the face of the east side of the east retaining wall 

of the Ninth Street Expressway Northwest, between Madison Drive Northwest and Constitution Avenue Northwest. 

(B) All other buildings, service roads, walks, and other areas 

within the exterior boundaries of any real estate or land or interest in land (including temporary use) that the National Gallery of Art acquires and that the Director of the National Gallery of Art determines to be necessary for the adequate protection of individuals or property in the National Gallery of Art 

and suitable for administration as a part of the National Gallery of Art. 

(3) JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.— The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which 

extends to the line of the west face of the west retaining walls 

and curbs of the Inner Loop Freeway on the east, the north 

face of the north retaining walls and curbs of the Theodore 

Roosevelt Bridge approaches on the south, the east face of the 

east retaining walls and curbs of Rock Creek Parkway on the 

west, and the south curbs of New Hampshire Avenue and F 

Street on the north, as generally depicted on the map entitled 

‘‘Transfer of John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’’, 

numbered 844/82563 and dated April 20, 1994 (as amended by 

the map entitled ‘‘Transfer of John F. Kennedy Center for the 

Performing Arts’’, numbered 844/82563A and dated May 22, 

1997), which shall be on file and available for public inspection 

in the office of the National Capital Region, National Park 

Service. 

* * * * * * * 

CHANGES IN APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted 

describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill, which 

directly or indirectly change the application of existing law. In most 

instances these provisions have been included in prior appropriations Acts. 

The bill includes the following changes in application of existing 

law: 

OVERALL BILL

Providing that certain appropriations remain available until expended or extends the availability of funds beyond the fiscal year 

where programs or projects are continuing but for which legislation 


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does not specifically authorize such extended availability. This authority tends to result in savings by preventing the practice of committing funds on low priority projects at the end of the fiscal year 

to avoid losing the funds. 

Limiting, in certain instances, the obligation of funds for particular functions or programs. These limitations include restrictions 

on the obligation of funds for administrative expenses, travel expenses, the use of consultants, and programmatic areas within the 

overall jurisdiction of a particular agency. 

Limiting official entertainment or reception and representation 

expenses for selected agencies in the bill. 

Continuing ongoing activities of those Federal agencies, which require annual authorization or additional legislation, which has not 

been enacted. 

TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT OF LANDS AND RESOURCES

Providing funds to the Bureau for the management of lands and 

resources. 

Providing funds to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 

under certain conditions. 

Permitting the use of fees for processing applications for permit 

to drill. 

Permitting the use of mining fee collections for program operations. 

Permitting the use of fees from communication site rentals. 

LAND ACQUISITION

Requiring that funding for the program is derived from the Land 

and Water Conservation Fund. 

OREGON AND CALIFORNIA GRANT LANDS

Providing funds for the Oregon and California Grant Lands. 

Authorizing the transfer of certain collections from the Oregon 

and California Land Grants Fund to the Treasury. 

RANGE IMPROVEMENTS

Allowing certain funds to be transferred to the Department of the 

Interior for range improvements. 

SERVICE CHARGES, DEPOSITS, AND FORFEITURES

Allowing the use of certain collected funds for certain administrative costs and operation of termination of certain facilities. 

Allowing the use of funds on any damaged public lands. 

Authorizing the Secretary to use monies from forfeitures, compromises or settlements for improvement, protection and rehabilitation of public lands under certain conditions. 

MISCELLANEOUS TRUST FUNDS

Allowing certain contributed funds to be advanced for administrative costs and other activities of the Bureau. 


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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Permitting the Bureau to enter into agreements with public and 

private entities, including States. 

Permitting the Bureau to manage improvements to which the 

United States has title. 

Permitting the payment of rewards for information on violations 

of law on Bureau lands. 

Providing for cost-sharing arrangements for printing services. 

Permitting the Bureau to conduct certain projects for State governments on a reimbursable basis. 

Prohibiting the use of funds for the destruction of wild horses 

and burros. 

UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Limiting funds for certain Endangered Species Act programs. 

LAND ACQUISITION

Requiring that funding shall be derived from the Land and 

Water Conservation Fund. 

Providing that funding for projects may not be used for administrative costs. 

COOPERATIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND

Providing that a portion of the appropriation shall be derived 

from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 

STATE AND TRIBAL WILDLIFE GRANTS

Providing for a State and Tribal wildlife grants program. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Providing that programs may be carried out by direct expenditure, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and reimbursable 

agreements with public and private entities. 

Providing for repair of damage to public roads. 

Providing options for the purchase of land not to exceed $1. 

Permitting cost-shared arrangements for printing services. 

Permitting the acceptance of donated aircraft. 

Providing that fees collected for non-toxic shot review and approval shall be available without further appropriation for the expenses of non-toxic shot review related expenses. 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

Designating funds for Everglades restoration. 

Providing for repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of National 

Park Service assets. 

NATIONAL RECREATION AND PRESERVATION

Providing for expenses not otherwise provided for. 


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HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Providing for expenses derived from the Historic Preservation 

Fund. 

CONSTRUCTION

Providing funds for construction, improvements, repair or replacement of physical facilities, and management planning and 

compliance for areas administered by the National Park Service. 

Providing that a single procurement may be issued for any 

project funded in fiscal year 2017 with a future phase indicated in 

the National Park Service 5-year Line Item Construction Plan. 

LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND

Rescinding Land and Water Conservation Fund contract authority. 

LAND ACQUISITION AND STATE ASSISTANCE

Requiring that funding for the program is derived from the Land 

and Water Conservation Fund. 

CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE

Providing funds for Centennial Challenge projects with no less 

than 50 percent of the cost of each project derived from non-Federal sources. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Allowing certain franchise fees to be available for expenditure 

without further appropriation to extinguish or reduce liability for 

certain possessory interests. 

Providing for the retention of administrative costs under certain 

Land and Water Conservation Fund programs. 

Allowing National Park Service funds to be transferred to the 

Federal Highway Administration for purposes authorized under 23 

U.S.C. 204 for reasonable administrative support costs. 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH

Providing funds to classify lands as to their mineral and water 

resources. 

Providing funds to give engineering supervision to power permittees and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensees. 

Providing funds to publish and disseminate data relative to the 

foregoing activities. 

Limiting funds for the conduct of new surveys on private property without permission. 

Limiting funds for cooperative topographic mapping or water resource data collection and investigations. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Allowing funds to be used for certain contracting, construction, 

maintenance, acquisition, and representation expenses. 


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Permitting the use of certain contracts, grants, and cooperative 

agreements. 

Recognizing students and recent graduates as Federal employees 

for the purposes of travel and work injury compensation. 

BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Permitting funds for mineral leasing and environmental study; 

enforcing laws and contracts; and for matching grants. 

Providing that funds may be used which shall be derived from 

non-refundable cost recovery fees collected in 2017. 

Permitting the use of certain excess receipts from Outer Continental Shelf leasing activities. 

Providing for reasonable expenses related to volunteer beach and 

marine cleanup activities. 

Prohibiting the use of funds for regulating non-lease holders. 

BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT

Permitting funds for mineral leasing and environmental study; 

enforcing laws and contracts; and for matching grants. 

Providing that funds may be used which shall be derived from 

non-refundable cost recovery fees collected in 2016. 

Permitting the use of certain excess receipts from Outer Continental Shelf leasing activities. 

Permitting the use of funds derived from non-refundable inspection fees collecting in 2017. 

Requiring that not less than 50 percent of inspection fees expended be used on personnel, expanding capacity and reviewing applications for permit to drill. 

OIL SPILL RESEARCH

Providing that funds shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability 

Trust Fund. 

OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

REGULATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Permitting payment to State and tribal personnel for travel and 

per diem expenses for training. 

Permitting the use of certain offsetting collections from permit 

fees. 

ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION FUND

Allowing the use of debt recovery to pay for debt collection. 

Allowing that certain funds made available under title IV of Public Law 95–87 may be used for any required non-Federal share of 

the cost of certain projects. 

Allowing funds to be used for travel expenses of State and tribal 

personnel while attending certain OSM training. 

Providing that funds shall be used for economic and community 

development in conjunction with reclamation priorities. 


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BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION

OPERATION OF INDIAN PROGRAMS

Limiting funds for official reception and representation expenses. 

Limiting funds for welfare assistance payments, except for disaster relief. 

Allowing tribal priority allocation funds to be used for unmet 

welfare assistance costs. 

Providing forward-funding for school operations of Bureau-funded schools and other education programs. 

Providing that limited funds shall be available until expended for 

certain purposes. 

Limiting funds for education-related administrative cost grants. 

Allowing the transfer of certain forestry funds. 

Allowing the use of funds to purchase uniforms or other identifying articles of clothing for personnel. 

CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS

Providing for such sums as are necessary to fully fund contract 

support costs. 

Prohibiting the transfer of funds from any other account within 

the Indian Health Service to fund contract support costs. 

CONSTRUCTION

Providing for the transfer of Navajo irrigation project funds to 

the Bureau of Reclamation. 

Providing that six percent of Federal Highway Trust Fund contract authority may be used for construction management costs. 

Providing Safety of Dams funds on a non-reimbursable basis. 

Requiring the use of administrative and cost accounting principles for certain school construction projects and exempting such 

projects from certain requirements. 

Requiring conformance with building codes and health and safety 

standards. 

Specifying the procedure for dispute resolution. 

Limiting the control of construction projects when certain time 

frames have not been met. 

Allowing reimbursement of construction costs from the Office of 

Special Trustee. 

INDIAN GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Limiting funds for administrative expenses and for subsidizing 

total loan principal. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Allowing the use of funds for direct expenditure, contracts, cooperative agreements, compacts, and grants. 

Allowing contracting for the San Carlos Irrigation Project. 

Limiting the use of funds for certain contracts, grants and cooperative agreements. 

Allowing tribes to return appropriated funds. 

Prohibiting funding of Alaska schools. 

Limiting the number of schools and the expansion of grade levels 

in individual schools. 


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Specifying distribution of indirect and administrative costs for 

certain tribes. 

Limiting the expansion of satellite school locations. 

DEPARTMENTAL OFFICES

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Allowing the use of certain funds for official reception and representation expenses. 

Permitting payments to former Bureau of Mines workers. 

Designating funds for mineral revenue management activities. 

Designating funds for consolidated appraisal services to be derived from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 

Designating funds for mineral revenue management activities. 

Allowing certain refunds of overpayments in connection with certain Indian leases. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Allowing certain payments authorized for the Payments in Lieu 

of Taxes Program to be retained for administrative expenses. 

Providing that no Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program payment 

be made to otherwise eligible units of local government if the computed amount of the payment is less than $100. 

Providing that a payment made to a unit of general local government for fiscal year 2016 may be reduced by the Secretary to correct overpayments, and increased by the Secretary to correct underpayments, to such unit of local government for the previous fiscal year. 

Extending funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes. 

INSULAR AFFAIRS

ASSISTANCE TO TERRITORIES

Designating funds for various programs and for salaries and expenses of the Office of Insular Affairs. 

Allowing audits of the financial transactions of the Territorial 

and Insular governments by the GAO. 

Providing grant funding under certain terms of the Agreement of 

the Special Representatives on Future United States Financial Assistance for the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Providing for capital infrastructure in various Territories. 

Allowing appropriations for disaster assistance to be used as nonFederal matching funds for hazard mitigation grants. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS, INSULAR AFFAIRS

Allowing, at the request of the Governor of Guam, for certain discretionary or mandatory funds to be used to assist securing certain 

rural electrification loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS

FEDERAL TRUST PROGRAMS

Limiting the amount of funding available for the historical accounting of Indian trust fund accounts. 


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Allowing transfers to other Department of the Interior accounts. 

Providing no-year funding for certain Indian Self-Determination 

Act grants. 

Exempting quarterly statements for Indian trust accounts $15 or 

less. 

Requiring annual statements and records maintenance for Indian 

trust accounts. 

Limiting use of funds to correct administrative errors in Indian 

trust accounts. 

Permitting the use of recoveries from erroneous payments pursuant to Indian trust accounts. 

Exempting reconciliation of Special Deposit Accounts with low 

balances in certain circumstances. 

Allowing for limited aggregation of trust accounts of individuals 

whose whereabouts are unknown. 

DEPARTMENT WIDE PROGRAMS 

WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Providing funds for wildland fire management. 

Designating funds for renovation or construction of fire facilities 

and designating funds for Wildfire suppression operations. 

Permitting the repayments of funds transferred from other accounts for firefighting. 

Designating funds for hazardous fuels and burned area rehabilitation. 

Permitting the use of funds for lodging and subsistence of firefighters. 

Permitting the use of grants, contracts and cooperative agreements for hazardous fuels reduction, including cost-sharing and 

local assistance. 

Permitting cost-sharing of cooperative agreements with non-Federal entities under certain circumstances. 

Providing for local competition for hazardous fuel reduction activities. 

Permitting reimbursement to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

and the National Marine Fisheries Service for consultation activities under the Endangered Species Act. 

Providing certain terms for leases of real property with local governments. 

Providing for the transfer of funds between the Department of 

the Interior and the Department of Agriculture for wildland fire 

management. 

Providing funds for support of Federal emergency response actions. 

Allowing for international forestry assistance to or through the 

Department of State. 

FLAME WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION RESERVE FUND

Providing funds for the FLAME fund. 


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CENTRAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS FUND

Providing funds for response action, including associated activities, performed pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. 

WORKING CAPITAL FUND

Allowing funds for the financial and business management system and information technology improvement. 

Prohibiting use of funds to establish reserves in the working capital fund with exceptions. 

Allowing assessments for reasonable charges for training services 

at the National Indian Program Center and use of these funds 

under certain conditions. 

Providing space and related facilities or the lease of related facilities, equipment or professional services of the National Indian Program Training Center to state, local and tribal employees or other 

persons for cultural, educational or recreational activities. 

Providing that the Secretary may enter into grants and cooperative agreements to support the Office of Natural Resource Revenue’s collection and disbursement of royalties, fees, and other mineral revenue proceeds, as authorized by law. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

Allowing acquisition and sale of certain aircraft. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Allowing transfer of funds for certain reconstruction of facilities, 

aircraft or utilities in emergency situations. 

Allowing transfer of funds in certain emergency situations, including wildfires and oil spill response, if other funds provided in 

other accounts will be exhausted within 30 days and a supplemental appropriation is requested as promptly as possible. 

Permitting the Department to use limited funding for certain 

services. 

Permitting the transfer of funds between the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education and the Office of Special 

Trustee for American Indians and limiting amounts for historical 

accounting activities. 

Authorizing the redistribution of Tribal Priority Allocation funds 

to address unmet needs. 

Authorizing the acquisition of lands and leases for Ellis, Governors and Liberty Islands. 

Providing the authority for the Secretary to collect nonrefundable 

inspection fees. 

Permitting the reorganization of the Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, Enforcement and Regulation. 

Permitting the Secretary of the Interior to enter into long-term 

agreements for wild horse and burro holding facilities. 

Requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to mark hatchery 

salmon. 

Addressing BLM actions regarding grazing on public lands. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to implement, administer or enforce 

Secretarial Order 3310. 


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Allowing for the more efficient use of reimbursable funding 

agreements. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to change the status of sage-grouse 

under the Endangered Species Act and to prohibit funds to implement Federal Resource Management Plans unless certain criteria 

are met. 

Addressing Solicitor Opinion M–37025, dated November 4, 2011. 

Reconstituting the Indian Education Fund. 

Providing authorities for heritage areas. 

Expanding conservation fish hatcheries. 

Requiring the reissuance of certain final rules and prohibiting 

such rules from further judicial review. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to develop, carry out, or implement 

proposed regulations published on July 7, 2015, or any changes to 

regulations published on June 30, 1983. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce 

a National Park Service policy to eliminate the sale of water in disposable, recyclable bottles in national parks. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to finalize the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rule titled Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to list in the National Register of 

Historic Places property deemed crucial to national security and 

military training. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to change regulations for drilling 

margins and downhole mud weight as of April 1, 2015. 

Prohibiting the implementation of a final rule for federally recognizing Indian tribes. 

Modifying 50 CFR 14.92(a)(1) to include echinoderms commonly 

known as sea urchins and sea cucumbers. 

Prohibiting the use of funds for the Bureau of Offshore Energy 

Management to issue, finalize, or implement a rule until certain 

criteria are met. 

Adressing land taken into trust between 1934 and February 24, 

2009. 

TITLE II—ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Providing for operating expenses in support of research and development. 

Designating funding for National Priorities research as specified 

in the report accompanying this Act. 

Environmental Programs and Management Allowing hire and 

maintenance of passenger motor vehicles and operation of aircraft 

and purchase of reprints and library memberships in societies or 

associations which issue publications to members only or at a price 

to members lower than to subscribers who are not members. 

Limiting amounts for official representation and reception expenses. 

Providing two-year funding availability for administrative costs 

of Brownfields program. 

Designating funding for National Priorities as specified in the report accompanying this Act. 


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Designating funding for Geographical programs as specified in 

the report accompanying this Act. 

Providing for the use of funds to assist with States Solid Waste 

management plans. 

Providing for the use of funds for a report on the effectiveness 

States Solid Waste management plans toward the intended purpose. 

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE SUPERFUND

Allowing distribution of funds to purchase services from other 

agencies under certain circumstances. 

Providing for the transfer of funds within certain agency accounts. 

LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK PROGRAM

Providing for grants to Federally-recognized Indian tribes. 

STATE AND TRIBAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

Limiting funding amounts for certain programs. 

Specifying funding for capitalization grants for the Clean Water 

and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and allowing certain 

amounts for additional subsidies. 

Designating funds for specific sections of law. 

Providing waivers for certain uses of Clean Water and Drinking 

Water State Revolving Funds for State administrative costs for 

grants to federally-recognized Indian tribes and grants to specific 

Territories and Freely Associated States. 

Requiring that 10 percent Clean Water and 20 percent of Drinking Water funds shall be used by States for forgiveness of principal 

or negative interest loans. 

Prohibiting the use of funds for jurisdictions that permit development or construction of additional colonia areas. 

Providing certain grants under authority of Section 103, Clean 

Air Act. 

Providing funding for environmental information exchange network initiatives grants, statistical surveys of water resources and 

enhancements to State monitoring programs, tribal grants, and underground storage tank projects. 

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AND INNOVATION PROGRAM

ACCOUNT

Defining costs of loans and costs of modifying loans. 

Providing availability of funds. 

Designating the deposit and availability of fees. 

Providing administrative expenses to carry out the programs. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Allowing awards of grants to federally-recognized Indian tribes. 

Authorizing the collection and obligation of pesticide registration 

service fees. 

Allowing the transfer of funds from the ‘‘Environmental Programs and Management’’ account to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and providing for certain interagency agreements and grants to various entities in support of this effort. 


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Providing amounts for construction, alteration, repair, rehabilitation, and renovation of facilities. 

Designating the policy for treatment of biomass emissions as carbon neutral. 

Designating the policy for review of exempt aquifer applications. 

Providing for grants to federally recognized tribes. 

TITLE III—RELATED AGENCIES 

FOREST SERVICE

FOREST AND RANGELAND RESEARCH

Providing funds for forest and rangeland research. 

Designating funds for the forest inventory and analysis program. 

STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY

Providing for forest health management, including treatments of 

certain pests or invasive plants, and for restoring damaged forests, 

and for cooperative forestry, education and land conservation activities, and conducting an international program. 

Deriving certain funds from the Land and Water Conservation 

Fund. 

NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM

Providing funds for the National Forest System. 

Depositing funds in the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund. 

Designating funds for forest products. 

Designating funds in the Integrated Resource Restoration pilot 

program. 

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

Providing funds for construction, reconstruction, and maintenance and acquisition of buildings and other facilities and infrastructure; and for construction, capital improvement, decommissioning, and maintenance of forest roads and trails. 

Requiring that funds becoming available in fiscal year 2016 for 

the road and trails fund (16 U.S.C. 501) shall be transferred to the 

Treasury. 

Providing for the transfer of funds to the National Forest System 

for the Integrated Resource Restoration pilot program. 

LAND ACQUISITION

Requiring that funding for the program is derived from the Land 

and Water Conservation Fund. 

ACQUISITION OF LANDS FOR NATIONAL FORESTS SPECIAL ACTS

Requiring that funding for the program is derived from forest receipts. 

ACQUISITION OF LANDS TO COMPLETE LAND EXCHANGES

Requiring that funding for the program is derived from funds deposited by State, county, or municipal governments and non-Federal parties pursuant to Land Sale and Exchange Acts. 


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RANGE BETTERMENT FUND

Providing that fifty percent of monies received for grazing fees 

shall be used for range improvements and limiting administrative 

expenses to six percent. 

GIFTS, DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS

Providing for gifts, donations and bequest per Federal law. 

MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL FORESTS FOR SUBSISTENCE USES

Providing funds for subsistence uses per the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. 

WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Permitting the use of funds for emergency rehabilitation and restoration and hazardous fuels reduction to support emergency response and wildfire suppression. 

Allowing the use of wildland fire funds to repay advances from 

other accounts. 

Allowing reimbursement of States for certain wildfire emergency 

activities. 

Designating funds for the Joint Fire Sciences Program and extending authorities for Fire Science Research. 

Allowing funds to be available for emergency rehabilitation, hazardous fuels reduction and emergency response. 

Designating funds for suppression, hazardous fuels reduction and 

national fire plan research. 

Designating funds for State fire assistance and volunteer fire assistance Federal and State and private lands. 

Providing for cooperative agreements and grants. 

Allowing funds available for Community Forest Restoration Act 

to be used on non-Federal land. 

Limiting the transfer of wildland fire management funds between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. 

Designating the use of hazardous fuels reduction funds for biomass grants. 

Providing that funds transferred from the FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund shall be assessed for cost pools. 

Permitting the transfer of funds for the Integrated Resources 

Restoration pilot. 

FLAME WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION RESERVE FUND

Providing funds for the FLAME fund and authorizing transfers 

under certain conditions. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Permitting the purchase of passenger motor vehicles and proceeds from the sale of aircraft may be used to purchase replacement aircraft. 

Allowing funds for certain employment contracts. 

Allowing funds to be used for purchase and alteration of buildings. 

Allowing for acquisition of certain lands and interests. 


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Allowing expenses for certain volunteer activities. 

Providing for the cost of uniforms. 

Providing for debt collections on certain contracts. 

Allowing transfer of funds in certain emergency situations if all 

other funds provided for wildfire suppression will be obligated 

within 30 days and the Secretary notifies the Committees. 

Allowing funds to be used through the Agency for International 

Development for work in foreign countries and to support other forestry activities outside of the United States. 

Allowing the Forest Service, acting for the International Program, to sign certain funding agreements with foreign governments 

and institutions as well as with certain domestic agencies. 

Authorizing the expenditure or transfer of funds for wild horse 

and burro activities. 

Prohibiting the transfer of funds under the Department of Agriculture transfer authority under certain conditions. 

Limiting the transfer of funds for the Working Capital Fund and 

Department Reimbursable Program (also known as Greenbook 

charges). 

Limiting funds to support the Youth Conservation Corps and 

Public Lands Corps. 

Limiting the use of funds for official reception and representation 

expenses. 

Providing for matching funds for the National Forest Foundation. 

Providing for matching funds for the National Fish and Wildlife 

Foundation. 

Allowing funds to be used for technical assistance for certain 

rural communities. 

Allowing funds for payments to counties in the Columbia River 

Gorge National Scenic Area. 

Allowing funds to be used for the Older Americans Act. 

Permitting funding assessments for facilities maintenance, rent, 

utilities, and other support services. 

Limiting funds to reimburse the Office of General Counsel at the 

Department of Agriculture. 

Permitting eligible employees to be considered a Federal Employee. 

Requiring regular report of all unobligated balances. 

Providing a categorical exclusion for certain forest management 

activities. 

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES

Providing that tribal contract and grant funding is deemed obligated at the time of grant or contract award and remains available 

until expended. 

Providing no-year funds for contract medical care including the 

Indian Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund. 

Providing for loan repayment under sections 104 and 108 of the 

Indian Health Care Improvement Act with certain conditions and 

making the funds available for certain other purposes. 

Providing for operational funds for leased space and accreditation 

emergencies. 

Providing for the allocation of certain funds. 


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Providing that certain contracts and grants may be performed in 

two fiscal years. 

Providing for use of collections and reporting of collections under 

Title IV of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. 

Providing no-year funding for scholarship funds. 

Providing for the collection of individually identifiable health information relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act by the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

Permitting the use of Indian Health Care Improvement Fund 

monies for facilities improvement and providing no-year funding 

availability. 

CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS

Providing for such sums as are necessary to fully fund contract 

support costs. 

Prohibiting the transfer of funds from any other account within 

the Indian Health Service to fund contract support costs. 

INDIAN HEALTH FACILITIES

Providing that facilities funds may be used to purchase land, 

modular buildings and trailers. 

Providing for TRANSAM equipment to be purchased from the 

Department of Defense. 

Prohibiting the use of funds for sanitation facilities for new 

homes funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Allowing for the purchase of ambulances. 

Providing for a demolition fund. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Providing for per diem expenses for senior level positions. 

Providing for payments for telephone service in private residences in the field, purchase of motor vehicles, aircraft and reprints. 

Providing for purchase and erection of modular buildings. 

Providing funds for uniforms. 

Allowing funding to be used for attendance at professional meetings. 

Providing that health care may be extended to non-Indians at Indian Health Service facilities, subject to charges, and for the expenditure of collected funds. 

Providing for transfers of funds from the Department of Housing 

and Urban Development to the Indian Health Service. 

Prohibiting limitations on certain Federal travel and transportation expenses. 

Requiring departmental assessments to be identified in annual 

budget justifications. 

Allowing de-obligation and re-obligation of funds applied to selfgovernance funding agreements. 

Prohibiting the expenditure of funds to implement new eligibility 

regulations. 

Permitting certain reimbursements for goods and services provided to tribes. 


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Providing that reimbursements for training, technical assistance, 

or services include total costs. 

Prohibiting changes in organizational structure without advance 

notification to Congress. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 

Registry 

TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH

Providing for the conduct of health studies, testing, and monitoring. 

Providing deadlines for health assessments and studies. 

Limiting the number of toxicological profiles. 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND OFFICE OF

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Limiting the use of funds for official reception and representation 

expenses. 

Designating the appointment and duties of the chairman. 

OFFICE OF NAVAJO AND HOPI INDIAN RELOCATION

Providing that funds in this and prior appropriations Acts shall 

be used to relocate persons certified as eligible. 

Providing that no person can be evicted unless a replacement 

home is provided. 

Providing that no relocatee is provided with more than one new 

or replacement home. 

Providing for the transfer of funds to the Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General. 

CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD

Permitting use of funds for hire of passenger vehicles, uniforms 

or allowances with per diem rate limitations. 

Limiting the number of senior level positions. 

Designating the individual appointed to the position of Inspector 

General of the Environmental Protection Agency as the Inspector 

General of the Board. 

Directing use of personnel and limiting position appointments 

within the Board. 

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Limiting certain lease terms. 

Providing for purchase of passenger vehicles and certain rental, 

repair and cleaning of uniforms. 

Designating funds for certain programs including the National 

Museum of African American History and Culture and providing 

no-year funds. 

Providing that funds may be used to support American overseas 

research centers. 

Allowing for advance payments to independent contractors performing research services or participating in official Smithsonian 

presentations. 


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FACILITIES CAPITAL

Designating funds for maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and 

construction and for consultant services. 

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Allowing payment in advance for membership in library, museum, and art associations or societies. 

Allowing for purchase, repair, and cleaning of uniforms for 

guards and employees and allowances therefor. 

Allowing purchase or rental of devices for protecting buildings 

and contents thereof, and maintenance, alteration, improvement, 

and repair of buildings, approaches, and grounds. 

Providing for restoration and repair of works of art by contract 

under certain circumstances. 

Providing no-year funds for special exhibitions. 

REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND RENOVATION OF BUILDINGS

Providing lease agreements of no more than 10 years addressing 

space needs created by renovations under the Master Facilities 

Plan. 

Permitting the Gallery to perform work by contract under certain 

circumstances. 

JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Providing funds to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Kennedy Center for operational and maintenance 

costs. 

CAPITAL REPAIR AND RESTORATION

Providing funds to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Kennedy Center for facility repair. 

WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Providing funds to the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars. 

Allowing for hire of passenger vehicles and services. 

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Providing funds for the support of projects and productions in the 

arts, including arts education and public outreach activities. 

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES

GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Specifying funds to carry out the matching grants program. 

Allowing obligation of National Endowment for the Humanities 

current and prior year funds from gifts, bequests, and devises of 


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money for which equal amounts have not previously been appropriated. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS, NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS

AND THE HUMANITIES

Prohibiting the use of funds for grants and contracts which do 

not include the text of 18 U.S.C. 1913. 

Prohibiting the use of appropriated funds and permitting the use 

of non-appropriated funds for reception expenses. 

Allowing the chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts 

to approve small grants under certain circumstances. 

COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Permitting the charging and use of fees for its publications and 

accepting gifts related to the history of the Nation’s Capital. 

Providing that one-tenth of one percent of funds provided may be 

used for official reception and representation expenses. 

NATIONAL CAPITAL ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

Providing funding for the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs. 

NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION

Providing funding for the National Capital Planning Commission. 

Providing that one-quarter of one percent may be used for official 

reception and representational expenses. 

UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

Designating funds for equipment replacement. 

Designating funds for repair, rehabilitation and for exhibition design and production and providing no year availability for these 

funds. 

TITLE IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Prohibiting the use of funds to promote or oppose legislative proposals on which congressional action is incomplete. 

Providing for annual appropriations unless expressly provided 

otherwise in this Act. 

Providing for reprogramming procedures, disclosure of administrative expenses, assessments and requirements for operating 

plans. 

Continuing a limitation on accepting and processing applications 

for patents and on the patenting of Federal lands; permitting processing of grandfathered applications; and permitting third-party 

contractors to process grandfathered applications. 

Continuing a provision regarding the payment of contract support costs for prior fiscal years. 

Addressing the payment of contract support costs for fiscal year 

2017. 

Continuing a provision allowing Forest Service land management 

plans to be more than 15 years old if the Secretary is acting in 


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good faith to update such plans and prohibiting the use of funds 

to implement new wilderness directives under the planning rule. 

Limiting leasing and preleasing activities within National Monuments. 

Limiting takings for acquisition of lands except under certain 

conditions. 

Continuing a provision addressing timber sales involving Alaskan western red cedar. 

Prohibiting funds to enter into certain no-bid contracts except 

under certain conditions. 

Requiring reports to Congress to be posted on public agency 

websites. 

Continuing a provision that delineates grant guidelines for the 

National Endowment for the Arts. 

Continuing a provision that delineates program priorities for the 

programs managed by the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Requiring that the Department of the Interior, the EPA, the Forest Service, and the Indian Health Service provide the Committees 

on Appropriations a quarterly report on the status of balances of 

appropriations. 

Requiring a government-wide report regarding expenditures on 

climate change. 

Continuing a provision prohibiting the use of funds to promulgate or implement any regulation requiring the issuance of permits 

under title V of the Clean Air Act for carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, 

water vapor, or methane emissions. 

Continuing a provision prohibiting the use of funds to implement 

any provision in a rule if that provision requires mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems. 

Modifying authorities relating to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to regulate the lead content of ammunition or fishing tackle. 

Extending certain authorities allowing the Forest Service to 

renew grazing permits. 

Providing a one-year extension of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act. 

Making a technical correction regarding stewardship contracting 

authority. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to maintain or establish a computer 

network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and 

exchanging of pornography. 

Prohibiting the use of funds from making any change to the regulations in effect on October 1, 2012, pertaining to the definitions 

of the terms ‘‘fill material’’ or ‘‘discharge of fill material’’. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to require permits for the discharge 

of dredged or fill material for certain agriculture activities. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to develop, adopt, implement, administer, or enforce a change or supplement to a rule or guidance 

documents pertaining to the definition of waters under the Federal 

Water Pollution Control Act. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to limit recreational shooting and 

hunting on Federal and public lands except for public safety. 


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Prohibiting the use of funds to enforce provisions within the lead 

renovation rule until EPA has approved a commercially available 

lead test kit or solicits public comment on alternatives. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to develop, propose, finalize, implement, enforce, or administer any regulation that would establish 

new financial responsibility requirements under CERCLA. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to develop, issue, implement, or enforce any greenhouse gas New Source Performance Standards on 

any new or existing source that is an electric utility generating 

unit. 

Making available vacant grazing allotments for permittees impacted by drought or wildfire. 

Clarifying the protection of water rights with regard to Forest 

Service and Bureau of Land Management permits. 

Limiting the use of funds for status changes of certain chemicals. 

Setting requirements for the use of American iron and steel for 

certain loans and grants. 

Prohibiting the use of funds pertaining to certain updates to the 

social cost of carbon. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to implement or enforce a provision 

of a rule related to designated representatives. 

Addressing the implementation of national ambient air quality 

standards for ozone. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to develop, propose, finalize, implement, or enforce any rule or guideline to address methane emissions from sources in the oil and natural gas sector under section 

111(b) or (d) of the Clean Air Act, and proposed guidelines from 

September 18, 2015. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to modify existing royalty rates on 

coal and oil and gas leases. 

Establishing a deadline for the review of the Federal coal program. 

Revising the definition of the National Gallery of Art’s buildings 

and grounds commensurate with the Gallery’s geographic boundaries. 

Prohibiting the use of funds for the Bureau of Land Management 

to update its planning process regulations unless it meets certain 

criteria. 

Providing for the humane transfer of excess wild horses and burros. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to list the lesser prairie chicken 

under the Endangered Species Act. 

Directing the Indian Health Service to establish governance 

boards at certain federally operated hospitals, with the consent and 

participation of tribes. 

Addressing the Old and Middle River reverse flow operations in 

California. 

Addressing increased Old and Middle River reverse flows in California during certain times. 

Addressing certain water rights and water supply deliveries in 

California. 

Prohibiting funds to implement the San Joaquin River Restoration program. 

Prohibiting funds for instream flow purchases in California carried out by the Bureau of Reclamation at certain times. 


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Addressing water storage at New Melones Reservoir. 

Prohibiting the use of funds to designate national monuments in 

certain counties. 

Establishing a Spending Reduction Account in the bill. 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law: 


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COMPARISON WITH BUDGET RESOLUTION

Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93–344), as amended, requires that the report accompanying a bill providing new budget 

authority contain a statement detailing how the authority compares with the reports submitted under section 302 of the Act for 

the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget for 

the fiscal year. This information follows: 


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FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS

In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93–344), as amended, the following 

table contains five-year projections associated with the budget authority provided in the accompanying bill: 


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ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93–344), as amended, the financial 

assistance to State and local governments is as follows: 


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PROGRAM DUPLICATION

No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a program of 

the Federal government known to be duplicative of another Federal 

program, a program that was included in any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 

of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

DIRECTED RULE MAKING

Pursuant to section 3(i) of H. Res. 5 (114th Congress), the Committee estimates that the bill directs two rule makings in section 

119. 

TABLE OF FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS

The following table provides the amounts recommended by the 

Committee compared with the budget estimates by account. 


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(224) 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

The Interior, Environment and Related Agencies (Interior) Appropriations bill provides $32.095 billion for most of the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and 

other related agencies. This allocation is $64 million less than the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

Environmental Protection 

The most significant programmatic cut is to the Environmental 

Protection Agency, which would receive $164 million less than the 

FY 2016 enacted level. This cut will impact the Agency’s ability to 

protect public health and the environment, and will jeopardize 

clean air and water for our families and future generations. 

Draconian cuts to EPA would undermine EPA’s ability to effectively regulate pollution. The bill starves EPA of resources for enforcement and legal services, cutting $37 million below the fiscal 

year 2016 enacted level and $115 million below the Administration’s request. These cuts would reduce EPA’s capacity to enforce 

and litigate environmental laws that are in place to protect individuals and create an unfair playing field in which big corporations 

are the winners and regular citizens are left unprotected. Disappointingly, the bill reduces the Clean Water State Revolving 

Fund by $394 million below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. This 

cut is both austere and irresponsible. EPA’s most recent Clean Watersheds Needs Survey estimated the investment required to meet 

wastewater and stormwater treatment and collection to be $271 

billion. The bill’s disinvestment in wastewater infrastructure is at 

odds with addressing this need. 

While funding for water infrastructure is woefully inadequate, 

the bill appropriately provides additional authority for states to 

offer debt relief in areas with elevated levels of lead in drinking 

water. 

However, this bill does not provide any funding specifically to assist the residents of Flint, Michigan, even though thousands of children and adults were poisoned by contaminated water as a result 

of corroded lead pipes. The situation in Flint is a culmination of 

years of weakening EPA through budget cuts and over-reliance on 

state agencies to manage federal environmental laws. All of our 

communities deserve and expect their government to provide clean 

water and basic public health protections. 

Residents of Flint were betrayed by their state government and 

to this day still do not have safe drinking water available from 

their taps. That is why it is imperative the Appropriations Committee provide additional funds for Flint, Michigan, under an emergency designation. A Federal State of Emergency was declared for 

Flint, yet the Committee voted down, along party lines, an amendment offered by Representatives McCollum and Wasserman 


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Schultz to provide emergency funding to begin to address these responsibilities. It is unconscionable that American citizens have 

been victimized first by their state government and now by the 

Federal government. 

Resource Conservation 

The majority continues its assault on the Endangered Species 

Act in this bill, reducing funding for endangered species listing by 

30 percent. This irresponsible cut opens the door for litigation and 

delays protecting and recovering vulnerable species. 

This bill also shortchanges the Land and Water Conservation 

Fund (LWCF), which since its inception has protected conservation 

and recreation land in every State and supported tens of thousands 

of State and local projects. Yet, despite its merits, this bill slashes 

the LWCF program by a third. This successful program enjoys bipartisan support, as evidenced by the amendment offered and withdrawn by Republican Representative Fortenberry. Unfortunately 

an inadequate overall allocation does not provide sufficient resources for this important program. 

In light of the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife 

Refuge in Oregon, we strongly reject the majority’s policy decision 

to leave the National Wildlife Refuge System vulnerable to those 

who seek to harm the refuge. 

Representative Kilmer’s amendment, which failed, 20–29, would 

have saved taxpayer dollars by allowing the Fish and Wildlife Service to recover costs from any responsible party who has inflicted 

damage or injury to a National Wildlife Refuge and use those funds 

for the repair, restoration, or replacement of the refuge. Currently, 

fines and penalties resulting from litigation against responsible 

parties who damaged a refuge go to the U.S. Treasury. This 

amendment would have brought parity between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the other land management agencies in the Department of the Interior. The National Park Service, Bureau of 

Land Management, as well as the National Oceanic Atmospheric 

Administration all have this authority. 

The costs associated with the recent 41 day illegal occupation of 

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge highlight the importance of this 

authority. The current cost to the American taxpayer of this illegal 

occupation is $6.9 million, almost three times the annual appropriation of $2.5 million to operate Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The House majority’s opposition to this amendment further 

supports their agenda to undermine federal management of public 

lands. 

Native American Issues 

Despite this bill’s shortcomings in environmental protection and 

resource conservation, the subcommittee continues to maintain a 

non-partisan approach to addressing Native American issues, and 

the bill recommends an increase of $343 million for programs critical to Indian Country. 

The increased funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the 

Indian Health Service is critical to fulfilling our federal trust and 

treaty responsibilities to tribal nations, including support for 

health care, education, and public safety. American Indian and 


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Alaska Native populations face substantial hardships, and when 

compared to the total population, have poorer health, lower earnings, and higher poverty rates. 

The bill maintains the subcommittee’s commitment to providing 

Native American students with safe schools that are conducive to 

learning and to fully funding contract support costs so tribes are 

not penalized for exercising their self-determination rights. 

National Park Service 

Another bright spot in this bill is the continued support for the 

National Park Service’s Centennial Initiative. The bill recommends 

an additional $80 million for the Centennial, which will strengthen 

the foundation for visitor services and make essential infrastructure investments. 

We praise the Chairman for working with us to resurrect the 

Save America’s Treasures program. This program funds preservation of nationally significant sites, structures, and artifacts. Additionally, we note that the bill provides $11 million for the Civil 

Rights Initiative grant program, an increase of $3 million above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level, but $14 million below the budget request. The bill also provides $3 million for grants-in-aid to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which is $3 million above the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the request. 

Wildland Fire Funding 

Once again the majority has failed to adopt the common sense 

reforms requested by the Administration and championed in Representative Simpson’s wildfire disaster funding bill. Every member 

of the Interior subcommittee is a cosponsor of that bill, yet the majority has balked, citing committee jurisdiction. The majority 

should adopt the Administration’s proposal so costs associated with 

wildfires can be responsibly met without usurping base funding of 

other agencies in the Interior bill. 

Legislative Riders 

The bill includes numerous harmful funding limitations and legislative riders. The number and outrageous nature of the riders included in this bill pander to special interests at the expense of the 

public good. 

Once again the bill is loaded with veto-bait provisions that seek 

to derail the Administration’s effort to combat climate change, restrict control of greenhouse gas emissions, and undermine clean 

water and clean air protections. 

This bill contains provisions that would undermine worker protections for agricultural workers and offshore oil rig workers. This 

includes a provision that would effectively and functionally deny 

workers information regarding pesticide application and hazard information. There is also a provision that would reverse the safety 

improvements developed following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. 

Eleven lives were lost in that explosion. It is unconscionable this 

bill puts the profits of big agricultural and oil companies ahead of 

worker safety. 

The bill carries several harmful policy provisions that block the 

federal government’s ability to use the Endangered Species Act and 


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effectively repeals major federal land management statutes like the 

Federal Land Management Policy and Management Act and the 

National Forest Management Act by subordinating federal authority to undefined state land use plans. 

Democrats attempted to address many inadequacies through the 

amendment process in Committee. Ranking Member McCollum offered an amendment to remove thirty-three partisan riders, including those affecting the Department of the Interior, EPA and U.S. 

Forest Service. The majority strongly rejected these efforts. Ranking Member Lowey offered an amendment to strike section 429, 

which delays implementation of EPA’s lead renovation, repair, and 

painting rule. The amendment failed along party lines, and the majority effectively stripped EPA of one of its tools for addressing lead 

paint in homes. 

Instead, more controversial riders were added during Committee 

mark-up, including one that undermines the Antiquities Act, prohibiting the use of funds to make a Presidential declaration of a 

national monument in several specific counties across the country. 

There were also several Republican amendments adopted that delayed the Administration from finalizing rules related to land use 

and energy use. The majority also offered and approved an amendment related to California’s complex water challenges, which would 

inject ill-considered and controversial language that preempts state 

water law, court decisions, and statutory environmental protections, and has no place on an appropriations bill. 

Finally, the majority once again rejected an amendment to pro- vide the full $1.9 billion requested by the Administration to protect 

Americans from the Zika virus. 

We cannot support this bill given in its current form given the 

inclusion of ideological riders, dramatic cuts to environmental protection, and the insufficient allocation for the overall bill. Despite 

our current opposition, we intend to continue to work with Chairman Calvert through this year’s appropriations process to produce 

a responsible bill that both parties can support. 

NITA M. LOWEY. 

BETTY MCCOLLUM. 

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