95–555 PDF 

Calendar No. 176 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 114–97 

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT 

APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2016 

JULY 30, 2015.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. BOOZMAN of Arkansas, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 1910] 

The Committee on Appropriations reports an original bill (S. 

1910) making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for 

other purposes, reports favorably thereon without amendment and 

recommends that the bill do pass. 

Amounts of new budget (obligational) authority for fiscal year 2016 

Total of bill as reported to the Senate .................... $42,101,686,000 

Amount of 2015 appropriations ............................... 43,190,700,000 

Amount of 2016 budget estimate ............................ 46,789,418,000 

Bill as recommended to Senate compared to— 

2015 appropriations .......................................... ¥1,089,014,000 

2016 budget estimate ........................................ ¥4,687,732,000 
(2) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Overview and Summary of the Bill ........................................................................ 5 

Program, Project, and Activity ............................................................................... 5 

Reprogramming Guidelines .................................................................................... 5 

Relationship With Budget Offices .......................................................................... 6 

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

Agency Reports ........................................................................................................ 7 

Antideficiency Act Violations .................................................................................. 8 

Title I: Department of the Treasury: 

Departmental Offices ....................................................................................... 10 

Department-wide Systems and Capital Investments Programs ............ 14 

Office of Inspector General ....................................................................... 15 

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration .............................. 16 

Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program ....... 18 

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ........................................................ 18 

Treasury Forfeiture Fund ................................................................................ 20 

Bureau of the Fiscal Service ............................................................................ 20 

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau .................................................. 21 

United States Mint ........................................................................................... 22 

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund ................................. 22 

Bureau of Engraving and Printing ................................................................. 24 

Internal Revenue Service ................................................................................. 25 

Taxpayer Services ..................................................................................... 29 

Enforcement ............................................................................................... 33 

Operations Support ................................................................................... 38 

Business Systems Modernization ............................................................. 39 

Administrative Provisions—Internal Revenue Service .......................... 40 

Administrative Provisions—Department of the Treasury ............................. 41 

Title II: Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the 

President: 

The White House .............................................................................................. 43 

Executive Residence at the White House ....................................................... 44 

White House Repair and Restoration ............................................................. 44 

Council of Economic Advisers .......................................................................... 44 

National Security Council and Homeland Security Council ......................... 45 

Office of Administration ................................................................................... 45 

Office of Management and Budget .................................................................. 46 

Office of National Drug Control Policy ........................................................... 48 

Federal Drug Control Programs: 

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program .................................... 49 

Other Federal Drug Control Programs .................................................... 49 

Unanticipated Needs ........................................................................................ 50 

Information Technology Oversight and Reform ............................................. 50 

Special Assistance to the President ................................................................ 52 

Official Residence of the Vice President ......................................................... 53 

Administrative Provisions—Executive Office of the President and Funds 

Appropriated to the President ..................................................................... 53 

Title III: The Judiciary: 

Supreme Court of the United States .............................................................. 54 

Care of the Building and Grounds ........................................................... 55 

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ............................... 55 

United States Court of International Trade ................................................... 56 

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services ................. 56 

Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund .............................................. 57 

Defender Services ...................................................................................... 58 
Page

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Title III—Continued 

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services—Continued 

Fees of Jurors and Commissioners .......................................................... 59 

Court Security ........................................................................................... 59 

Administrative Office of the United States Courts ........................................ 60 

Federal Judicial Center .................................................................................... 61 

United States Sentencing Commission ........................................................... 61 

Administrative Provisions—The Judiciary ..................................................... 61 

Title IV—District of Columbia: 

Federal Payments: 

Federal Funds ............................................................................................ 63 

Federal Payment for Resident Tuition Support ...................................... 63 

Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the 

District of Columbia .............................................................................. 64 

Federal Payment to the District of Columbia Courts ............................ 64 

Federal Payment for Defender Services in District of Columbia 

Courts ..................................................................................................... 65 

Federal Payment to the Court Services and Offender Supervision 

Agency for the District of Columbia ..................................................... 65 

Federal Payment to the Public Defender Service for the District 

of Columbia ............................................................................................ 66 

Federal Payment to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority ..................................................................................................... 67 

Federal Payment to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council .......... 67 

Federal Payment for Judicial Commissions ............................................ 68 

Federal Payment for School Improvement .............................................. 69 

Federal Payment for the D.C. National Guard ....................................... 70 

Federal Payment for HIV/AIDS Prevention ............................................ 70 

Federal Payment for Climate Risk Management ................................... 70 

Federal Payment for DC Solar Power Initiative ..................................... 71 

Federal Payment for St. Elizabeths East Campus Development .......... 71 

Federal Payment for Supportive Housing ............................................... 71 

Federal Payment for Arts and Cultural Affairs Grants ......................... 71 

Federal Payment for Mass Transit Innovation Plan .............................. 72 

District of Columbia Funds ............................................................................. 72 

Title V—Independent Agencies: 

Administrative Conference of the United States ........................................... 73 

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection ..................................................... 73 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission ...................................................... 74 

Consumer Product Safety Commission ........................................................... 77 

Election Assistance Commission ..................................................................... 78 

Federal Communications Commission ............................................................ 79 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Office of the Inspector General .... 82 

Federal Election Commission .......................................................................... 83 

Federal Labor Relations Authority ................................................................. 83 

Federal Trade Commission .............................................................................. 84 

General Services Administration .................................................................... 85 

Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation ...................................................... 93 

Merit Systems Protection Board ..................................................................... 93 

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation ....................................... 94 

National Archives and Records Administration ............................................. 95 

National Credit Union Administration ........................................................... 100 

Office of Government Ethics ............................................................................ 100 

Office of Personnel Management ..................................................................... 101 

Office of Special Counsel .................................................................................. 105 

Postal Regulatory Commission ........................................................................ 105 

Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board ................................................. 106 

Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board ........................................ 107 

Securities and Exchange Commission ............................................................ 107 

Selective Service System .................................................................................. 109 

Small Business Administration ....................................................................... 110 

United States Postal Service ........................................................................... 117 

United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General ............................. 118 

United States Tax Court .................................................................................. 119 

Statement Concerning General Provisions ............................................................ 119 

Title VI—General Provisions—This Act ................................................................ 121 

Title VII—General Provisions—Governmentwide ................................................ 124 
Page

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Title VIII—General Provisions—District of Columbia ......................................... 128 

Title IX— Financial Regulatory Improvements .................................................... 130 

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

Senate ................................................................................................................... 131 

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

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

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

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

Budgetary Impact of Bill ......................................................................................... 182 

Comparative Statement of New Budget Authority ............................................... 183 
(5) 

OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF THE BILL 

The Financial Services and General Government appropriations 

bill provides funding for the Department of the Treasury, including 

the Internal Revenue Service; the Executive Office of the President; 

the Judiciary; the District of Columbia; and more than two dozen 

independent Federal agencies. 

The Committee recommends $42,101,686,000 in discretionary 

and mandatory appropriations. This represents a decrease of 

$1,089,014,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and a decrease of $4,687,732,000 below the budget request. Of the total, 

$20,714,829,000 is provided in discretionary appropriations, including $158,829,000 for the Small Business Administration Disaster 

Loans Program Account designated by Congress as disaster relief 

pursuant to Public Law 112–25. This discretionary amount is 

$4,661,421,000 below the budget request of $25,376,250,000. Mandatory appropriations less scorekeeping adjustments total 

$21,386,857,000. 

PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY 

During fiscal year 2016, for the purposes of the Balanced Budget 

and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–177), as 

amended, with respect to appropriations contained in the accompanying bill, the terms ‘‘program, project, and activity’’ [PPA] shall 

mean any item for which a dollar amount is contained in appropriations acts (including joint resolutions providing continuing appropriations) or accompanying reports of the House and Senate 

Committees on Appropriations, or accompanying conference reports 

and joint explanatory statements of the committee of conference. 

REPROGRAMMING GUIDELINES 

The Committee includes a provision (section 608) establishing 

the authority of agencies to reprogram funds and the limitation on 

that authority. The provision specifically requires the advance approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of 

any proposal to reprogram funds that: (1) creates a new program; 

(2) eliminates a program, project, or activity [PPA]; (3) increases 

funds or personnel for any PPA for which funds have been denied 

or restricted by the Congress; (4) proposes to redirect funds that 

were directed in such reports for a specific activity to a different 

purpose; (5) augments an existing PPA in excess of $5,000,000 or 

10 percent, whichever is less; (6) reduces an existing PPA by 

$5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; or (7) creates, reorganizes, or restructures offices differently than the congressional 

budget justifications or the table at the end of the Committee report, whichever is more detailed. 
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The Committee retains the requirement that each agency submit 

an operating plan to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not later than 60 days after enactment of this act to establish the baseline for application of reprogramming and transfer 

authorities provided in this act. Specifically, each agency should 

provide a table for each appropriation with columns displaying the 

budget request; adjustments made by Congress; adjustments for rescissions, if appropriate; and the fiscal year enacted level. The table 

shall delineate the appropriation both by object class and by PPA. 

The report must also identify items of special congressional interest. 

The Committee expects the agencies and bureaus to submit reprogramming requests in a timely manner and to provide a thorough explanation of the proposed reallocations, including a detailed 

justification of increases and reductions and the specific impact the 

proposed changes will have on the budget request for the following 

fiscal year. Except in emergency situations, reprogramming requests should be submitted no later than June 30. 

The Committee expects each agency to manage its programs and 

activities within the amounts appropriated by Congress. The Committee reminds agencies that reprogramming requests should be 

submitted only in the case of an unforeseeable emergency or a situation that could not have been anticipated when formulating the 

budget request for the current fiscal year. Further, the Committee 

notes that when a Department or agency submits a reprogramming 

or transfer request to the Committees on Appropriations and does 

not receive identical responses from the House and the Senate, it 

is the responsibility of the Department or agency to reconcile the 

House and the Senate differences before proceeding, and if reconciliation is not possible, to consider the request to reprogram 

funds unapproved. 

RELATIONSHIP WITH BUDGET OFFICES 

Through the years, the Committee has channeled most of its inquiries and requests for information and assistance through the 

budget offices of the various departments, agencies, offices, and 

commissions. The Committee has often pointed to the natural affinity and relationship between the budget offices and the Committee 

which makes such a relationship workable. The Committee reiterates its longstanding position that while the Committee reserves 

the right to call upon any office or officer in the departments, agencies, and commissions, the primary conjunction between the Committee and these entities must be through the budget offices. To 

help ensure the Committee’s ability to perform its responsibilities, 

the Committee insists on having direct, unobstructed, and timely 

access to the budget offices and expects to be able to receive forthright and complete responses from those offices and their employees. 

The Committee expects timely agency compliance with mandated 

reporting requirements. The Committee directs all agencies from 

which reports are required to allow sufficient time to secure any 

necessary internal and external clearances of reports in order to 

satisfy congressional deadlines. The Committee strongly urges 
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agencies to alert the Committee as far as possible in advance of 

any expected slippage in meeting a report delivery due date. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET JUSTIFICATIONS 

Budget justifications are prepared not for the use of the agency, 

but instead are the primary tool used by the House and Senate 

Committees on Appropriations to evaluate the resource requirements and fiscal needs of agencies. The Committee is aware that 

the format and presentation of budget materials is largely left to 

the agency within presentation objectives set forth by OMB. However, the Committee expects agencies to consult with the Committees on Appropriations in advance regarding any plans to modify 

the format of agency budget documents to ensure that the data 

needed to make appropriate and meaningful funding decisions is 

provided. 

The Committee directs that justifications submitted with the fiscal year 2017 budget requests by agencies funded under this act 

must contain the customary level of detailed data and explanatory 

statements to support the appropriations requests at the level of 

detail contained in the funding table included at the end of the report. Among other items, agencies shall provide a detailed discussion of proposed new initiatives, proposed changes in the agency’s 

financial plan from prior year enactment, and detailed data on all 

programs and comprehensive information on any office or agency 

restructurings. At a minimum, each agency must also provide adequate justification for funding and staffing changes for each individual office. Explanatory materials should compare programs, 

projects, and activities that are proposed for fiscal year 2017 to the 

fiscal year 2016 enacted level. 

The Committee includes a general provision requiring that agencies provide, as a component incorporated within their fiscal year 

2017 budget justification materials submitted to the Committee, a 

separate table briefly describing the top management challenges 

for fiscal year 2016 as identified by the agency inspector general, 

along with an explanation of how the fiscal year 2017 budget request addresses each such management challenge. 

The Committee is aware that the analytical materials required 

for review by the Committee are unique to each agency in this act. 

Therefore, the Committee expects that each agency will coordinate 

with the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in advance on its planned presentation for its budget justification materials in support of the fiscal year 2017 budget request. 

AGENCY REPORTS 

As a measure to reduce costs and conserve paper, the Committee 

reminds agencies funded by this act that currently provide separate copies of periodic reports (such as Performance and Accountability Reports) and correspondence to the chairs of the House and 

Senate Appropriations Committees and Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government, and also to the ranking 

members of the committees and subcommittees, to use a single 

cover letter jointly addressed to the chairs and ranking members 

of the Committee and subcommittee of both the House and the 
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Senate. To the greatest extent feasible, agencies should include in 

the cover letter a reference or hyperlink to facilitate electronic access to the report and provide the documents by electronic mail delivery. Consolidating addressees and remitting a copy of the letter 

and attachments to each recipient should expedite agency processing. This should also help ensure that consistent information is 

conveyed concurrently to the majority and minority committee offices of both chambers of Congress. 

ANTIDEFICIENCY ACT VIOLATIONS 

The Antideficiency Act is a cornerstone of Federal fiscal law. It 

forbids agencies from exceeding an appropriation, apportionment, 

or allotment; from obligating funds before Congress has appropriated them; and from accepting voluntary services or employing 

personal services exceeding that authorized by law. These prohibitions ensure that agencies operate within amounts that Congress 

has appropriated and, therefore, that agency activities are carried 

out in accordance with the will of the people as expressed through 

Congress. 

The Antideficiency Act requires agencies to immediately report 

violations of the act to Congress and to the President and to transmit a copy of each report to the Comptroller General. These reports 

must include all relevant facts pertaining to the violation and a 

statement of action taken. These reports provide information essential to the Committee as it performs oversight and as it considers 

agency funding levels. Therefore, the Committee directs any agency 

funded by this Act to concurrently transmit to the Subcommittee 

on Financial Services and General Government a copy of any 

Antideficiency Act violation report submitted pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 

section 1351 or 31 U.S.C. section 1517(b). 

Cybersecurity.—Cybersecurity remains one of the most significant challenges facing the Nation. Recent events have demonstrated that the Federal Government faces an array of cyberbased threats to its systems and data and the results have proven 

disastrous to millions of Americans. The Committee remains concerned that billions of Federal dollars are spent each fiscal year yet 

there is no guarantee of security for Americans. The Committee 

stresses the importance of the role of the Federal CIO in protecting 

Federal assets and information and strengthening the Federal Government’s overall cybersecurity infrastructure. The Committee is 

committed to conducting oversight of agencies within its jurisdiction to ensure that funding is being spent wisely and effectively 

while ensuring that stronger cyber controls are in place. The Committee encourages the Administration and agencies to enhance 

their cyber strategies and allocate resources accordingly to combat 

cybercrime and data breaches. 

Paper Reduction Efforts.—The Committee is concerned about the 

millions of taxpayer dollars spent on wasteful printing practices 

each year and the lack of clear printing policies within each of the 

agencies. While progress has been made to better utilize the cloud 

and digitize records, little progress has been made to reform inhouse printing practices. The Committee urges each agency to work 

with the Office of Management and Budget to reduce printing and 

reproduction by 34 percent and directs each agency to report to the 
9 

Committee within 60 days after enactment of this act on what 

steps have been taken to reduce printing volume and costs. The report should specifically identify how much money each agency will 

be saving. 
(10) 

TITLE I 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

DEPARTMENTAL OFFICES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $210,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 331,837,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 325,900,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Secretary of the Treasury has the primary role in formulating and managing the domestic and international tax and financial policies of the Federal Government. The Secretary’s responsibilities funded by the Departmental Offices Salaries and Expenses appropriation include: recommending and implementing 

U.S. domestic and international economic and tax policy; formulating fiscal policy; governing the fiscal operations of the Government; executing the Nation’s financial sanction policies; disrupting 

and dismantling terrorist financial infrastructure; protecting the 

United States and the international financial system from terrorist 

financing, money laundering, and other financial crimes; managing 

the public debt; managing international development policy; representing the United States on international monetary, trade, and 

investment issues; overseeing Department of the Treasury overseas 

operations; and directing the administrative operations of the Department of the Treasury. The majority of the Salaries and Expenses appropriation provides resources for policy formulation and 

implementation in the areas of domestic and international finance, 

terrorist financing and financial crimes, tax, economic, trade, financial operations and general fiscal policy. This appropriation also 

provides resources to support the Secretary, policy components, and 

departmental administrative policies in financial and personnel 

management, procurement operations, and information systems 

and telecommunications. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $325,900,000 for the Departmental 

Offices account of the Department of the Treasury for fiscal year 

2016. The funding recommendations are made based on information included in the budget justification. The Committee recommends $112,500,000 within the Departmental Offices account for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence in order to support safeguarding financial systems 

against illicit use and combating rogue nations, terrorist 

facilitators, money launderers, proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, and other national security threats. 
11 

Student Debt.—The Committee notes that there is nearly $1,200,000,000,000 in outstanding student loan debt, of which 

$150,000,000,000 is in private student loans. More than 850,000 

students have defaulted on their private student loans worth more 

than $8,100,000,000. The Committee commends the Federal bank 

regulators for efforts to encourage financial institutions to work 

constructively with private student loan borrowers experiencing financial difficulties and directs Treasury to work with the Federal 

Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the 

Currency, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Federal Reserve to offer clear guidance that protects taxpayers and is 

consistent with safety and soundness principles recognizing the 

unique characteristics of private student loans compared to other 

debt and providing flexibility to lenders working with borrowers to 

avoid default. 

Office of Financial Education.—The Committee is concerned 

about the low level of financial literacy and numeracy skills among 

the adult population of the United States, as one in seven adults 

do not have basic financial literacy skills to succeed in all but the 

most rudimentary financial literacy tasks. The Committee encourages the Department to explore the degree to which current Federal financial literacy programs benefit those individuals with less 

than basic literacy skills and to develop measurable goals and objectives for the Financial Literacy and Education Commission that 

address the needs of this population. Finally, the Committee urges 

the Department to explore opportunities to work with communitybased adult and family literacy organizations as it promotes and 

implements future financial literacy initiatives. 

Wildlife Trafficking.—The Committee notes the recent increase of 

illegal trade in rhinoceros horns, elephant ivory, and illegally harvested timber, along with the large sums of money that these products command on the black market. There are indisputable linkages between these activities and the financing of armed 

insurgencies and groups that threaten the stability and development of African countries and pose a threat to U.S. security interests. The Committee directs the Department to use available resources to pursue and enforce money laundering and other related 

laws as related to wildlife trafficking and the illegal ivory trade. 

The Department shall report to the Committee semiannually during fiscal year 2016 on such enforcement actions and other steps 

taken to carry out the Implementation Plan of the National Strategy on Wildlife Trafficking during this fiscal year. 

Agricultural Exports.—The Committee notes that expanding export opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers remain a critical 

opportunity for economic growth. U.S. agricultural sales restrictions to Cuba have prevented U.S. producers from unlocking their 

full market potential in Cuba. The Committee directs the Department of the Treasury to coordinate with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Agriculture to conduct an assessment 

of the impact that recent policy and regulatory changes to ease 

trade restrictions with Cuba have had on the U.S. agricultural industry and the extent to which remaining prohibitions on U.S. private financing or credit for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities 

negatively affects small U.S. exporters and farmers. The Depart-
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ment should report its findings to the Committee no later than 120 

days after enactment. 

Economic Sanctions and Divestments.—The Committee recommendation includes resources for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence programs. With these funds, the Department will continue 

to implement and enforce economic and trade sanctions consistent 

with national security and foreign policy goals. These sanctions are 

a key tool for asserting U.S. policy toward countries and entities 

under sanction. The Committee directs the Department to fully implement all sanctions and divestment measures, particularly those 

applicable to those supporting WMD proliferation, terrorism, 

transnational organized crime, the Islamic State of Iraq and the 

Levant, Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and designated rebel groups operating in and 

around the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Committee directs 

the Department to promptly notify the Committee of any resource 

constraints that adversely impact the implementation of any sanctions program. 

Iran Sanctions.—The Committee directs the Treasury Department, prior to lifting of any sanctions designation relating to Iran, 

to conduct a full review of a sanctioned entity’s behavior and report 

to the committee in writing whether the entity continues to engage 

in any prohibited activities. If Treasury determines an entity has 

engaged in other activities for which it should be sanctioned, Treasury shall either sanction the entity or provide a written justification for why sanctions have not been imposed. 

The Committee directs the Department to review each lifting of 

sanctions against a designated entity relating to Iran 180 days 

after the lifting and determine in writing to the Committee whether the entity has violated the terms of the Joint Comprehensive 

Plan of Action or may be subject to other U.S. sanctions. 

The Committee also directs the Department to provide a written 

assessment, which may include a classified annex, of whether any 

previously sanctioned companies are contributing to a clandestine 

nuclear weapons program in Iran. 

The Committee is deeply concerned over reports that, for the 

purpose of Iran sanctions relief, an arbitrary distinction may be 

made between Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] and the 

IRGC’s Al-Quds Force [IRGC–QF]. The Committee directs the Department to submit a report within 60 days of enactment on the 

financial benefit of JCPOA to both the IRGC and the IRGC–QF, as 

well as any subsidiaries or affiliates of the IRGC or IRGC–QF, and 

detail its views concerning whether there is any separation between the organization and leadership of IRGC and IRGC–QF. 

Management of Capital Investments.—The Committee notes that 

section 121 of the bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to develop an annual Capital Investment Plan, to be submitted to the 

Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives within 30 days following submission of the President’s 

annual budget request. The Committee directs the Department to 

include estimated funding needs for the lifetime capital needs for 

each project, not just for the budget year. The Committee also directs the Department to include in the Capital Investment Plan 

meaningful and understandable summaries of capital investments 
13 

by project type (e.g., information technology). The Committee directs the Office of the Chief Information Officer to ensure that adequate resources are devoted both to projects in the capital phase 

and to proper maintenance and modernization of existing systems 

and to ensure that all projects are tracked properly and described 

completely in the annual Capital Investment Plan. 

Tribal Advisory Committee.—The Tribal Advisory Committee to 

the Secretary of the Treasury, established by Public Law 113–168, 

is intended to provide informed advice to the Treasury Department 

and the Internal Revenue Service [IRS] on matters relating to the 

taxation of Indians, the training and education of IRS field agents 

who administer and enforce internal revenue laws with respect to 

Indian tribes, and the training and technical assistance of IRS field 

agents and tribal financial officers with respect to implementation 

of the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act and any amendments. 

In recognition of this important function and the indispensable relationship between the Government of the United States of America and tribal nations, the Committee recommends that the Treasury Department make every effort to appoint primarily tribal officials to the Tribal Advisory Committee so as to facilitate proper 

consultation with Indian nations and tribes in their goal to provide 

for the general welfare of tribal citizens. 

Mortgage Servicing Assets.—The Committee is concerned that, in 

general, prudential regulators in the United States have inappropriately applied certain standards developed by the Basel Committee on Bank Supervision to community and regional banks, 

when such standards were designed to address activities of the 

large, globally systemic banking organizations. A primary example 

of this is the Basel III capital standards for mortgage servicing assets [MSAs], which have been applied to all banks in the United 

States. There is no record that the regulators undertook any study 

specifically evaluating the impact of these capital requirements on 

community or regional banks or recognized that the current markets for MSAs provide liquidity and pricing information for MSAs. 

The Committee recommends that the prudential regulators reconsider this rule as it applies to community and regional banks, especially since the current rule, although being phased in, could soon 

require these banks to start selling MSAs into the market at an artificial loss created by the rule’s own impact. The Committee does 

not believe that the Basel III capital rules on MSAs should be applied to small and mid-size banks. Mortgage servicing at community and regional banks constitute a core financial services relationship with the bank’s customers and the communities they serve 

that should be encouraged, while being appropriately regulated. 

Remittances to East Africa.—The Committee is concerned that 

the lack of a safe, transparent mechanism for transmitting remittances to East Africa has the potential to worsen the humanitarian 

and security challenges. Remittances are important to the stability 

and development of Somalia, South Sudan, and other countries in 

the region. The Administration recently commenced an interagency 

effort led by the Treasury Department and the National Security 

Council to identify solutions for how to traceably transfer money to 

Somalia given the closure of money service businesses. The Committee encourages the Department of the Treasury, in cooperation 
14 

with other departments and international partners, to take the 

necessary steps to prevent a large-scale disruption of remittances 

and to support a sustainable mechanism to ensure the flow of remittances with safeguards to prevent the financing of terrorism. 

Within 30 days of enactment, the Treasury Department shall notify 

the Committee of any impediments to addressing this matter and 

proposals for overcoming the problems. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee supports investments in financial 

cybersecurity research, and strongly urges the Department of the 

Treasury, including the Office of Critical Infrastructure Policy, to 

work with the National Science Foundation, the Department of 

Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate and its 

Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, and others to leverage 

cybersecurity research and efforts to protect our Nation where it is 

most vulnerable. 

Currency Report.—The Committee supports the efforts of the Department of the Treasury to redesign Federal Reserve notes to improve their security and to include the likenesses of women who 

have made significant contributions to our Nation. The Committee 

requests a comprehensive report from the Treasury on its plans to 

redesign Federal Reserve notes including the costs of all planned 

redesigns, plans to increase the security features of such notes, and 

plans for establishing stable standards and criteria for selecting the 

subjects of the portraits for such notes. 

DEPARTMENT-WIDE SYSTEMS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,725,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 10,690,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The 1997 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act 

established this account, which is authorized to be used by or on 

behalf of Treasury bureaus at the Secretary’s discretion to modernize business processes and increase efficiency through technology investments, as well as other activities that involve more 

than one Treasury bureau or Treasury’s interface with other Government agencies. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $5,000,000 for Department-wide 

Systems and Capital Investments Programs [DSCIP] for fiscal year 

2016. 

The Committee notes that the DSCIP account has been utilized 

to fund a wide variety of multiyear initiatives. Given the complexity of these initiatives, the bill includes language in section 120 

directing the Department of the Treasury to submit an annual 

Capital Investment Plan to the Committees on Appropriations 

within 30 days after the President’s budget submission. 
15 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $35,351,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 35,416,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 35,416,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

As a result of the 1988 amendments to the Inspector General 

Act, the Secretary of the Treasury established the Office of Inspector General [OIG] in 1989. 

The OIG conducts and supervises audits, evaluations, and investigations designed to: (1) promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in departmental programs and operations; and (2) keep the Secretary and Congress 

fully and currently informed of problems and deficiencies in the administration of departmental programs and operations. The audit 

function provides program audit, contract audit, and financial 

statement audit services. Contract audits provide professional advice to agency contracting officials on accounting and financial matters relative to negotiation, award, administration, repricing, and 

settlement of contracts. Program audits review and audit all facets 

of agency operations. Financial statement audits assess whether financial statements fairly present the agency’s financial condition 

and results of operations, the adequacy of accounting controls, and 

compliance with laws and regulations. These audits contribute significantly to improved financial management by helping Treasury 

managers identify improvements needed in their accounting and 

internal control systems. The evaluations function reviews program 

performance and issues critical to the mission of the Department. 

The investigative function provides for the detection and investigation of improper and illegal activities involving programs, personnel, and operations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $35,416,000 for salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector General. This amount is equal to 

the budget request and $65,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level. 

The Committee directs the Inspector General to utilize funds provided to meet mandated audit requirements such as information 

security in addition to other prioritized work including Treasury’s 

responsibilities as they relate to the implementation of anti-money 

laundering programs and the Community Development Financial 

Institutions Fund. 

The Committee remains concerned about cyber-based threats and 

recent data breaches at Federal agencies. The Committee encourages the Inspector General to conduct oversight work on the potential vulnerability of Treasury’s networks and systems including its 

physical security, continuous monitoring, and strong authentication. 

As outlined in the Inspector General’s recent audit plan, the 

Committee looks forward to reviewing work on the CDFI Fund’s 

overall administration of grants awarded under the core program. 
16 

Specifically, the Committee hopes to learn more about whether 

funds are awarded to eligible recipients in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; whether the CDFI Fund has established 

and maintained internal control procedures and oversight over 

grants; and whether there is a process for measuring outcomes to 

ensure program objectives are achieved. 

Inspector General Report on Treatment of Legacy Financial Management Services Workers.—The Committee directs the Department 

of the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General [OIG] to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations within 120 days of enactment concerning the treatment of workers at the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service who were formerly employees 

of the Financial Management Service. The OIG is directed to pay 

special attention to whether any employees have faced intimidation, demotion, or actions that would discourage the employees 

from continuing their employment with the Bureau. 

TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $158,210,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 167,275,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 167,275,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration [TIGTA] 

was established by the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 

(Public Law 105–206). TIGTA was created to provide independent 

audit and investigative services necessary to improve the quality 

and credibility of oversight of the Internal Revenue Service [IRS] 

and ensure that the IRS is held to a high level of accountability. 

TIGTA conducts audits, investigations, and inspections and evaluations to assess the operations and programs of the IRS and related entities, the IRS Oversight Board and the Office of Chief 

Counsel to (1) promote the economic, efficient, and effective administration of the Nation’s tax laws and to detect and deter fraud and 

abuse in IRS programs and operations; and (2) recommend actions 

to resolve fraud and other serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies in these programs and operations, and keep the Secretary 

and Congress fully and currently informed of these issues and the 

progress made in resolving them. 

The audit function provides program audit, limited contract 

audit, and financial audit services. Program audits review and 

audit all facets of the IRS and related entities in an effort to improve IRS systems and operations, while ensuring fair and equitable treatment of taxpayers. Contract audits focus on invoices/ 

vouchers submitted to the IRS to determine whether charges are 

valid and to identify erroneous and improper payments. The investigative function provides for the detection and investigation of improper and illegal activities involving IRS programs and operations 

and protects the IRS and related entities against external attempts 

to corrupt or threaten the administration of the tax laws. 

During fiscal year 2014, TIGTA recovered, protected, and identified monetary benefits totaling $16,600,000,000, including 
17 

$7,700,000,000 in potential increased and protected revenue and 

$8,700,000,000 in potential cost savings. In fiscal year 2014, the 

Office of Audit issued 95 audits, and the Office of Investigations 

opened 2,964 investigations and closed 3,054 investigations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $167,275,000 for TIGTA. This amount is $9,065,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the same as the budget request. The Committee 

recognizes the expansive workload that TIGTA has assumed as 

well as considerable demands on its resources in order to be responsive to Congress. The Committee acknowledges the challenges 

TIGTA faces in adapting its oversight activities to address increasingly complex and high-risk issues associated with IRS operations, 

including protecting sensitive taxpayer data, detection and investigation of fraud and electronic crime, and review of procurement 

activities. The Committee recognizes that growth in the size and 

workload of the IRS generates concomitant increased work for 

TIGTA. 

Since Fiscal Year 2011, TIGTA has designated the security of 

taxpayer data as the top concern facing the IRS based on the increased number and sophistication of threats to taxpayer information and the need for the IRS to better protect taxpayer data and 

improve its enterprise security program. In addition, the IRS has 

declared its Information Security program as a ‘‘significant deficiency’’ from a financial reporting standpoint, which means weaknesses in its internal control environment are important enough to 

merit the attention of those charged with IRS governance. The 

Committee directs TIGTA to submit a report to the Committees on 

Appropriations of the House and Senate not less than 6 months 

after enactment of this Act describing the cyber attacks and attempted cyber attacks against the agency and their consequences; 

the steps taken to prevent, mitigate or otherwise respond to such 

attacks; the cybersecurity policies and procedures in place, including policies about ensuring safe use of computer and mobile devices 

by individual employees; and a description of all outreach efforts 

undertaken to increase awareness among employees and contractors of cybersecurity risks. 

The Committee relies on TIGTA’s annual assessment of the serious management challenges facing the IRS as it evaluates resource 

needs. TIGTA highlighted the unabated problem of identity theft 

tied to tax refunds among the predominant challenges. The Committee notes that TIGTA has made numerous recommendations for 

the IRS to institute or improve processes that will bolster the IRS’s 

ability to detect and prevent the issuance of fraudulent tax refunds 

resulting from identity theft. The Committee urges TIGTA to continue to assist the IRS in improving its arsenal of tools to better 

serve innocent taxpayer victims of identity theft and other 

schemes. 

The IRS’s use of inappropriate criteria for selecting and reviewing applications for tax-exempt status is of continuing concern to 

both Congress and organizations seeking tax-exempt status. There 

have been a number of congressional hearings, as well as ongoing 

Federal investigations into this matter. TIGTA recently reported 
18 

that the IRS has taken actions to eliminate the selection of potential political cases based on names and policy positions, expedite 

processing of 501(c)(4) social welfare organization applications, and 

eliminate unnecessary information requests. The Committee recognizes the extensive investigative work TIGTA has conducted in an 

attempt to recover e-mails from the former Director of Exempt Organizations. The Committee understands TIGTA’s investigation is 

still ongoing and looks forward to receiving TIGTA’s final report. 

The Committee appreciates TIGTA’s monitoring of the IRS’s implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 

[ACA]. The ACA impacts individual and business taxpayers at all 

income levels, IRS compliance and enforcement programs, information reporting requirements, the administration of tax penalties, 

and information technology. The IRS’s ability to ensure accurate 

tax returns are filed and information reported is correct is dependent on the timely receipt of information from exchanges, insurance 

providers, and employers. A further challenge for the IRS is the 

fact that a number of the reporting provisions relating to insurance 

providers and employers have been delayed. TIGTA has issued numerous reports related to the IRS’s efforts to implement the Affordable Care Act tax provisions. TIGTA remains concerned about the 

protection of confidential taxpayer data that will be provided to the 

Federal and State Exchanges. TIGTA also remains concerned that 

the IRS’s existing fraud detection system may not be capable of 

identifying Affordable Care Act refund fraud or schemes prior to 

the issuance of tax refunds. The Committee encourages TIGTA to 

monitor IRS’s ability to implement ACA. 

SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE TROUBLED ASSET RELIEF

PROGRAM

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $34,234,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 40,671,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 36,671,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (Public Law 110–343) 

established the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program [SIGTARP] to perform audits and investigations of the Troubled Asset Relief Program [TARP]. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $36,671,000 for the SIGTARP for 

fiscal year 2016. The recommendation is $4,000,000 below the 

budget request because the SIGTARP will be able to utilize carryover balances to fund a portion of fiscal year 2016. 

FINANCIAL CRIMES ENFORCEMENT NETWORK

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $112,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 112,979,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 112,979,000 
19 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network [FinCEN], a bureau 

within the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, is the largest overt collector of financial intelligence in the United States. FinCEN’s mission is to safeguard the 

financial system from the abuses of financial crime, including terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activity. 

FinCEN accomplishes its mission by administering the Bank Secrecy Act, a collection of statutes that form the Nation’s antimoney 

laundering/counterterrorist financing regulatory regime. As the delegated administrator of the Bank Secrecy Act, FinCEN is responsible for the development and implementation of regulations, rules, 

and guidance issued under the Bank Secrecy Act. FinCEN also 

oversees the work of eight Federal agencies with delegated responsibility to examine various sectors of the financial industry for compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act’s requirements. FinCEN is responsible for collecting, maintaining, and disseminating the information reported by financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy 

Act through a Governmentwide access service. FinCEN is the 

United States’ Financial Intelligence Unit [FIU] and a founding 

member of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units. As 

the United States’ FIU, FinCEN routinely shares information and 

cooperates with other FIUs around the world to address the global 

problems of terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit 

activity. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $112,979,000 for the Financial 

Crimes Enforcement Network [FinCEN]. 

The recommended funding will support several key FinCEN 

budget priorities, including targeting examination and enforcement 

efforts to high priority areas; expanding understanding and analysis of illicit networks, institutions, jurisdictions, and schemes; ensuring the Bank Secrecy Act regulatory structure effectively and efficiently targets illicit financing risks; managing the efficient collection, processing, and retrieval of Bank Secrecy Act data; and fostering strong public-private partnerships with the financial industry. 

Money Laundering of Cybercrime Proceeds.—The Committee recognizes that major data security breaches are becoming more common and are often orchestrated by sophisticated cybercriminal enterprises that then monetize the data and launder it through U.S. 

financial institutions. The Committee notes FinCEN’s history of 

supporting law enforcement cases that combat cybercrime, and emphasizes the importance of continuing this effort as part of the bureau’s broader mission to detect and disrupt all forms of financial 

crime. In addition to analyzing financial flows for this important effort in the course of ongoing strategic operations, FinCEN shall use 

this data to ensure reporting institutions remain vigilant in detecting the laundering of cybercriminal proceeds by issuing an advisory 

to financial institutions on filing suspicious activity reports [SARs] 

regarding specific cybercriminal activities. The advisory should provide SAR filers a list of trends, typologies, and red flag indicators 
20 

that may potentially signal cybercrime to be included in the narratives of relevant SAR filings. 

Human Trafficking.—The Committee recognizes that human 

trafficking and slavery are frequently conducted by transnational 

criminal organizations. The Committee notes FinCEN’s history of 

supporting law enforcement cases that combat human trafficking, 

and emphasizes the importance of continuing this effort as part of 

the bureau’s broader mission to detect and disrupt all forms of financial crime. The Committee appreciates FinCEN’s work to ensure reporting institutions remain vigilant in detecting the laundering of human trafficking proceeds by issuing an advisory to financial institutions in September 2014 on filing suspicious activity 

reports [SARs] regarding human trafficking activities. 

TREASURY FORFEITURE FUND

(RESCISSION)

The Committee recommends a rescission of $700,000,000 of unobligated balances in the Treasury Forfeiture Fund. 

BUREAU OF THE FISCAL SERVICE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $348,184,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 363,850,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 356,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Fiscal Service is to promote the financial integrity and operational efficiency of the U.S. Government through 

accounting, borrowing, collections, payments, and shared services. 

The Fiscal Service provides central payment services to Federal 

agencies and operates the Federal Government’s collections and deposit systems in addition to providing Governmentwide accounting 

and reporting services, managing the collection of delinquent debt 

owed to the Federal Government, borrowing on behalf of the Federal Government, and providing support services for other Federal 

agencies on a reimbursable basis. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $356,000,000 for the Bureau of the 

Fiscal Service. This amount is $7,816,000 above the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level. 

The Committee recognizes the Fiscal Service’s responsibilities related to implementation of the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 [DATA Act], and the Committee’s recommendation provides funding to support its implementation. The 

Committee supports the Fiscal Service’s goal of improving governmentwide financial management through transparency and accountability. The Committee provides funding for activities associated with maintaining consistent, reliable, and searchable governmentwide spending data on USASpending.gov. 

Do Not Pay Center.—The Committee directs the Bureau to submit a report within 180 days of enactment of this act to the Com-
21 

mittees on Appropriations of the House and Senate on its progress 

toward key goals of the Do Not Pay data analytics center, including 

how the center incorporates comparisons of payment and beneficiary enrollment lists for State programs that use Federal funds 

to identify improper payments; reviews of payments across Federal 

programs to identify payment duplication; reviews of other information determined to be effective; and interagency tools and practices for the prevention and detection of waste and fraud. Furthermore, the report should describe the metrics used to determine the 

extent to which the analytic and investigatory efforts have helped 

reduce improper payments, and plans for involving Inspectors General. Finally, the report should include a schedule for implementing 

these steps. 

DATA Act.—The Committee is aware of the Department of 

Treasury’s actions to expand the Federal Funding Accountability 

and Transparency Act [FFATA] to standardize and fully disclose 

Federal agency expenditures, which incorporate steps to simplify financial reporting and improve the quality of spending data and for 

other activities related to DATA Act implementation, and is supportive of those efforts. The Department of Treasury is directed to 

inform the Committee of developments in reaching these goals. 

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

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

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 101,439,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 101,439,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau [TTB] is charged 

with collecting revenue and protecting the public and is responsible 

for enforcement of certain Federal laws and regulations relating to 

alcohol and tobacco. TTB works directly and in cooperation with 

others to maintain a sound revenue management and collection 

system that continues to reduce the regulatory burden, improve 

service, collect the revenue due, and prevent tax evasion and other 

criminal conduct. TTB is also responsible for preventing consumer 

deception, ensuring that regulated products comply with Federal 

commodity, safety, and distribution requirements, and providing 

customer service. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $101,439,000 for TTB for fiscal year 

2016. The Committee recognizes that TTB is tasked to enforce alcohol, tobacco, and firearms provisions in the Internal Revenue Code 

[IRC]. Within funds appropriated to the Department of the Treasury, the Committee urges the Secretary to prioritize alcohol and tobacco criminal enforcement by providing sufficient resources to 

TTB to combat tax evasion and enforce existing anti-illicit tobacco 

laws. 

Labeling Program.—The surge of small brewers and wine makers 

emerging in the domestic market has also meant a rapid annual 

growth in the number of alcohol beverage label applications sub-
22 

mitted to the TTB. In recent years, understaffing and outdated filing and processing procedures in the Bureau’s labeling program 

caused significant delays in application approvals. These delays ultimately affected the ability of the applicants to get their product 

to the market in a timely manner. The Committee encourages the 

Bureau to make strategic investments that will further streamline 

the approval process to keep up with the volume of label applications and reduce delays. 

UNITED STATES MINT

UNITED STATES MINT PUBLIC ENTERPRISE FUND

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States Mint manufactures coins, sells numismatic 

and investment products, and provides for security and asset protection. Public Law 104–52 established the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund [the Fund]. The Fund encompasses the previous Salaries and Expenses, Coinage Profit Fund, Coinage Metal Fund, and 

the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund. The Mint submits annual 

audited business-type financial statements to the Secretary of the 

Treasury and to Congress in support of the operations of the revolving fund. 

The operations of the Mint are divided into two major activities: 

manufacturing and sales (including circulating coinage and numismatic and investment products); and protection. The Mint is credited with receipts from its circulating coinage operations, equal to 

the full cost of producing and distributing coins that are put into 

circulation, including depreciation of the Mint’s plant and equipment on the basis of current replacement value. Those receipts pay 

for the costs of the Mint’s operations, which include the costs of 

production and distribution. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a spending level of $20,000,000 for 

circulating coinage and protective service capital investments for 

the Mint. 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FUND

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FUND PROGRAM

ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $230,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 233,523,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 221,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund makes 

investments in the form of grants, loans, equity investments, deposits, and technical assistance grants to new and existing community development financial institutions [CDFIs] through the CDFI 

program. CDFIs include community development banks, credit 

unions, venture capital funds, revolving loan funds, and microloan 

funds, among others. Recipient institutions engage in lending and 
23 

investment for affordable housing, small business, and community 

development within underserved communities. The CDFI Fund administers the Bank Enterprise Award [BEA] Program, which provides a financial incentive to insured depository institutions to undertake community development financing activities. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $221,000,000 for the CDFI Fund. Of 

the amounts provided, $161,900,000 is for financial and technical 

assistance grants, $15,000,000 is for Native Initiatives, $21,000,000 

is for the Bank Enterprise Award Program, and $23,100,000 is for 

the administrative expenses for all programs. 

The Committee notes the CDFI Fund’s ability to leverage private 

sector investment in community development projects such as affordable housing, retail development, and community centers, as 

well as lending to small businesses. However, the Committee is 

concerned about an overall lack of transparency into many of the 

CDFI Fund’s programs and nominal ability to verify investment 

impacts. The Committee recognizes the CDFI Fund released two 

independent studies that provided an initial evaluation of CDFIs. 

The Committee expects to know how program funding generates 

meaningful community impacts. Therefore, the Committee directs 

the CDFI Fund to establish clear reporting requirements and collect and evaluate performance data to inform the Committee how 

the CDFI Fund is making a difference in underserved populations 

and communities in the United States. 

The Committee strongly believes it is important to ensure that 

CDFIs are delivering investments to the borrowers and communities that need it most. However, it is difficult to determine 

whether program goals are being achieved. As one independent 

study reported, the CDFI industry lacks a set of common definitions around key impact measurements, which could be helpful for 

collecting impact data. In addition, the independent study noted 

that the CDFI Fund experiences disparate feedback from awardees 

and not enough CDFIs provide necessary data. The Committee directs the CDFI Fund to continue working to improve the quality 

and completeness of the data it tracks, including validation of selfreported data, further development of common definitions for use 

by the CDFI industry, and the ability to fully account for investment activity in a timely manner after an award has been issued. 

The Committee also directs the CDFI Fund to continue taking 

steps to provide a risk rating system for certified CDFIs. 

Core Program.—The Committee recommends $161,900,000 for 

the CDFI Fund to carry out its financial assistance and technical 

assistance programs, including the Healthy Foods Financing Initiative. The Committee believes that applicants for CDFI awards 

should receive fair and equal consideration, consistent with section 

102 of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–325), including financial 

and technical assistance for lending and investment in small businesses, affordable housing, community development, and efforts to 

increase the availability of affordable, healthy foods in underserved 

communities. The core CDFI Program should be the source of 

awards allocations for these purposes. The Committee looks for-
24 

ward to reviewing work from the Inspector General on the CDFI 

Fund’s overall administration of grants awarded under the core 

program. Specifically, the Committee hopes to learn more about 

whether funds are awarded to eligible recipients’ in accordance 

with applicable laws and regulations; whether the CDFI Fund has 

established and maintained internal control procedures and oversight over grants; and whether there is a process for measuring 

outcomes to ensure program objectives are achieved. 

Bank Enterprise Award Program.—The Committee recommends 

$21,000,000 for the Bank Enterprise Award [BEA] Program to increase lending, investment, and service activities within economically distressed communities. This program plays an important role 

in providing financial services to underserved communities across 

the country. 

Native Programs.—The Committee recommends $15,000,000 for 

grants, loans, and technical assistance and training programs to 

benefit Native American, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiian 

communities in the coordination of development strategies, increased access to equity investments, and loans for development activities. 

Non-Metropolitan and Rural Areas.—The Committee directs 

Treasury to take into consideration the unique conditions, challenges, and scale of non-metropolitan areas when designing programs to address economic revitalization and community development. The Committee notes that the CDFI Fund is required by 12 

U.S.C. 4706(b) to seek to fund a geographically diverse group of 

award recipients, including those from non-metropolitan and rural 

areas. In addition, the Committee encourages funding to be used 

for projects that serve populations living in persistent poverty 

counties as required by Public Law 112–74. 

Bond Guarantee Program.—The Committee includes a provision 

enabling the Secretary of the Treasury to guarantee up to 

$750,000,000 in bonds in fiscal year 2016, as authorized by section 

1134 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–240). 

The bond guarantees will not result in a cost to the taxpayer. The 

bonds are intended to support CDFI lending and investment activities in underserved communities by providing a source of long-term 

capital, and the funds raised through the bonds will be used to capitalize new loans or refinance existing loans. 

BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing [BEP] has been the sole 

manufacturer of U.S. paper currency for almost 150 years. The origin of the BEP is traced to an act of Congress passed on February 

25, 1862, 12 Stat. 345, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury 

to issue a new currency—United States notes. While this law was 

the cornerstone authority for the operations of the engraving and 

printing division of the Treasury for many years, it was not until 

an Act of June 20, 1874, 18 Stat. 100, that the Congress first referred to this division as the ‘‘Bureau of Engraving and Printing.’’ 

The Bureau’s status as a distinct bureau within the Department of 

the Treasury was solidified by section 1 of the Act of June 4, 1897, 
25 

30 Stat. 18, which placed all of the business of the BEP under the 

immediate control of a director, subject to the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury. The 1897 law is now codified in 31 U.S.C. 

303. 

The BEP designs, manufactures, and supplies Federal Reserve 

notes and other security documents issued by the Federal Government. The operations of the BEP are currently financed by means 

of a revolving fund established in accordance with the provisions 

of Public Law 656, August 4, 1950 (31 U.S.C. 181), which requires 

the BEP to be reimbursed by customer agencies for all costs of 

manufacturing products and services performed. The BEP is also 

authorized to assess amounts to acquire capital equipment and provide for working capital needs. No direct appropriation is required 

to cover the activities of the BEP. 

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Internal Revenue Service [IRS] administers the Nation’s tax 

laws and collects the revenue that funds more than 92 percent of 

the Federal Government’s operations and public services. The IRS’s 

mission is to provide taxpayers with quality service by helping 

them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all. The IRS focuses 

its enforcement programs toward increasing voluntary tax compliance by deterring taxpayers inclined to evade their tax obligations 

while vigorously pursuing those who violate the law. Each year, 

IRS employees deal directly with more American taxpayers than 

any other institution, public or private. 

Therefore, it is imperative that the American people have faith 

in the credibility and impartiality of IRS. The Committee is highly 

concerned with the IRS’s fiscal year 2016 budget request which 

seeks nearly $2,000,000,000 more than what was enacted in fiscal 

year 2015. The IRS commissioner has stated repeatedly that if IRS 

funding requests are not met, it threatens Americans’ voluntary 

tax compliance yet he has stated that he has seen no erosion of voluntary compliance. According to the Commissioner, with a growing 

economy, revenues have surged to a record high, but he has admitted that is not necessarily any sign of taxpayer’s attitudes about 

voluntarily complying with the tax code. 

Unfortunately the IRS continues to ignore the impact of its own 

behavior on the attitudes of taxpayers. When the IRS takes actions 

that represent a serious breach of the trust of the American people, 

it undermines taxpayers’ faith in the impartiality of the agency. 

The self-inflicted damage harms the very credibility that is essential for our voluntary compliance system to function. Americans 

have lost faith in the institution and it is incumbent upon the 

agency to regain the trust of the taxpayers. 

Too often IRS leadership has identified congressional oversight 

as a distraction that hampers execution of IRS responsibilities. Unfortunately, to taxpayers these responses appear to reflect a continued lack of accountability and a lack of leadership. To repair that 

damage, there has to be fundamental change in an agency culture 
26 

that has given rise to these issues—and that change must begin 

with complete transparency and acceptance of responsibility. 

Unfortunately there continues to be evidence of a culture that is 

simply out of touch with taxpayers and their concerns. When the 

IRS singles out certain groups for disparate treatment it should not 

be surprised by the lasting impact such actions have on taxpayer 

attitudes. When the IRS hires employees with past performance or 

conduct issues, it does nothing to maintain the public trust in tax 

administration or build confidence in the IRS’s ability to safeguard 

taxpayer’s rights and privacy. 

Making employee bonuses a priority does not help the IRS regain 

the trust of taxpayers or raise confidence that the agency will enforce tax laws impartially, without regard to an individual’s exercise of their constitutional rights. As was the case in the previous 

fiscal year, in 2015 one of the IRS’s first actions after the enactment of their appropriations bill was to announce they would pay 

out $67,000,000 in awards to employees. 

Once again, IRS management seems to have forgotten that their 

most important customers aren’t their own employees. They are the 

American people. This is particularly evident with respect to taxpayer services. The Committee is concerned about the IRS’s willingness to cut services to taxpayers in an effort to garner support 

for increased resources. The Committee provides the IRS with 

funds through four appropriations. While some funds are designated for some specific taxpayer assistance programs within 

those amounts, the IRS has significant discretion as to how to apportion its funds to meet agency requirements. Unfortunately as 

was evident during this tax filing season, the IRS did not use that 

flexibility to make taxpayer assistance a priority. In addition, the 

IRS had over $1,000,000,000 available in additional resources, including over $500,000,000 in user fees to supplement its appropriations. The IRS made the decision to use the majority of those resources to supplement operations support activities rather than 

taxpayer services by transferring about 75 percent less to taxpayer 

services in fiscal year 2015 compared to fiscal year 2014. 

Additional funding does not address the actions taken by IRS 

that have breached the trust of the American people and undermined taxpayers’ faith in the system. The IRS has failed to develop 

and implement a strategy for identifying and delivering timely taxpayer assistance in the form and manner most beneficial to taxpayers and cost-effective to the IRS. In addition, the IRS has failed 

to protect the confidentiality of sensitive taxpayer information including Social Security information, date of birth and street address. 

The Committee continues to be concerned with the IRS’s role in 

the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 

Act [ACA]. IRS has stated that the tax provisions of ACA are a 

core activity, like all other tax administration. However, concerns 

have been raised about potential fraudulent claims related to premium tax credits and the security of Federal tax data as the IRS 

provides data to health exchanges. According to the Government 

Accountability Office [GAO], from 2010 to 2014, the IRS has already spent $1,100,000,000 on implementation of ACA. IRS’s fiscal 

year 2015 budget requested $451,000,000 for ACA and the IRS is 
27 

requesting another $490,000,000 in fiscal year 2016, to be supplemented with user fees and other resources. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a total of $10,475,000,000 for the 

Internal Revenue Service for fiscal year 2016. 

The Committee agrees with GAO, the National Taxpayer Advocate, and TIGTA that the IRS needs to ensure available resources 

are utilized as effectively as possible by identifying opportunities to 

improve services while offering the best possible mix of services to 

taxpayers. The Committee stresses the importance of achieving 

program efficiencies and cost savings. As the GAO observed, ‘‘Additional funding is not the only solution to performance declines 

across IRS. Although resources are constrained, IRS has some flexibility in how it allocates resources to ensure that limited resources 

are utilized as effectively as possible.’’ The Committee believes the 

formation of IRS’s Planning, Programming and Audit Oversight office is overdue and hopes this office assists the IRS in strategically 

managing its operations under current funding levels as is expected of all Federal agencies. 

User Fees.—Numerous user fees are collected by the IRS for services provided by the IRS to taxpayers. Specifically, IRS charges 

user fees for various activities that include assisting taxpayers in 

complying with their tax liabilities, clarifying the application of the 

tax code to particular circumstances, and ensuring the quality of 

paid preparers of tax returns, among others. Those fees are available for use by the IRS at the discretion of the Commissioner. According to the IRS, it determines the use of user fees based on 

agency-wide requirements given the total IRS funding availability. 

In its fiscal year 2016 budget request, IRS estimates $450,360,000 

in user fees will supplement its fiscal year 2016 funding. The IRS 

has informed the Committee it intends to use $481,000,000 in user 

fees in fiscal year 2015 and has more than $500,000,000 available 

in additional resources from reimbursable agreements and prior 

year unobligated balances to supplement its appropriations. The 

Committee agrees with GAO, the National Taxpayer Advocate, and 

TIGTA that the IRS does not have a clear plan for its resource-allocation decisions in an atmosphere of fiscal austerity and budgetary 

constraints. As these decisions are at the discretion of the Commissioner, the process lacks transparency that could better inform 

Committee consideration of appropriations requests. In response to 

these concerns, the IRS’s Wage & Investment Division [W&I] is collaborating with the Taxpayer Advocate Service [TAS] on the development of a ranking methodology for the major taxpayer service activities. Its purpose is to balance cost savings the IRS can achieve 

by automating service delivery options against the needs of taxpayers for personal service. Although progress has been made, it is 

not clear whether the IRS will devote the short-term resources required to determine how it can better allocate its resources over 

the long term. The Committee agrees with the National Taxpayer 

Advocate and others that W&I should continue to work with TAS 

to develop the best ranking methodology possible. The Committee 

directs IRS to submit a user fee spending plan within 60 days of 

enactment detailing planned spending on its four appropriations 
28 

accounts—Taxpayer Services, Enforcement, Operations Support, 

and Business Modernization Systems. Specifically, the Committee 

would like to see how programs, investments, and initiatives funded through each appropriations account are supported by user fees. 

Cybersecurity.—The IRS is responsible for safeguarding a vast 

amount of sensitive financial and personal data, processing returns 

that contain confidential information for over 100 million taxpayers. The agency needs to protect taxpayer information from misuse, improper disclosure, or destruction. This responsibility is even 

more complex given the vast amount of data being sent and exchanged as part of ACA. Since fiscal year 2011, TIGTA has designated the security of taxpayer data as the top concern facing the 

IRS based on the increased number and sophistication of threats 

to taxpayer information and the need for the IRS to better protect 

taxpayer data and improve its enterprise security program. The 

threats to taxpayer data are constant. As we have just seen, criminals obtained taxpayers’ personal information which they now have 

the ability to use to submit fraudulent returns to the IRS. Securing 

IRS’s systems and protecting taxpayers’ information should be a 

top priority for IRS. 

Employee Performance and Conduct.—The Committee remains 

concerned about TIGTA’s findings relating to current and prior employee performance and conduct. The Committee agrees with 

TIGTA, that as the agency primarily responsible for administering 

Federal tax law, the IRS must ensure that its employees comply 

with the tax law in order to maintain the public’s confidence. The 

Committee is deeply concerned about employees who fail to file 

taxes in a timely manner and claim tax credits for which they are 

ineligible. In addition, the Committee agrees with TIGTA that rehiring employees with known conduct and performance issues presents increased risks to the IRS and taxpayers. Rehiring employees 

with past misconduct does nothing to rebuild the public’s trust or 

build confidence in the IRS’s ability to protect taxpayer’s rights and 

privacy. The Committee prohibits funds for IRS employee bonuses 

and awards that do not consider the conduct and tax compliance 

of such employees; and also prohibits funds for hiring former IRS 

employees without considering the employees past conduct and tax 

compliance. 

Budget Presentation for Staffing of New Initiatives.—The Committee strongly believes that transparency in the budget request 

documents is critical for congressional oversight and informed decisionmaking. The Committee directs that the justification materials 

submitted by the IRS to the Committee for fiscal year 2017 should 

accurately reflect the anticipated hiring dates for staff identified for 

proposed new initiatives. The Committee expects that resources 

designated for hiring of staff for new initiatives be predicated on 

the expected hiring dates, and not assume that such planned hiring 

will occur on one particular date during the fiscal year. The Office 

of Management and Budget Circular A–11 suggests agencies consider delays in recruiting and hiring when budgeting for staff. 
29 

TAXPAYER SERVICES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,156,554,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,408,803,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,246,554,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Taxpayer Services appropriation provides for taxpayer services, including forms and publications; processing tax returns and 

related documents; filing and account services; taxpayer advocacy 

services; and assisting taxpayers to understand their tax obligations, correctly file their returns, and pay taxes due in a timely 

manner. 

According to the Taxpayer Assistance Blueprint, taxpayers generally prefer self-assisted services, such as those found on the IRS 

website, for tasks like getting a form or a publication or getting information on their refund. Taxpayers prefer assisted services, such 

as those available by telephone or at IRS’s Taxpayer Assistance 

Centers [TACs], for more complex interactive tasks like responding 

to a notice. Overall, several factors influence which service channel 

taxpayers prefer to use, including the specific type of service 

sought, demographic characteristics, channel awareness, channel 

access, taxpayer attitudes, and previous behavior. The Committee 

encourages the IRS to consult with the National Taxpayer Advocate to allocate taxpayer services in the most effective way. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $2,246,554,000 for Taxpayer Services. Bill language is included providing not less than $5,600,000 

for the tax counseling for the elderly program, not less than 

$12,000,000 for low-income taxpayer clinic [LITC] grants, not less 

than $12,000,000, to be available for 2 years, for a community volunteer income tax assistance [VITA] matching grant program for 

tax return preparation assistance and $206,000,000 for the Taxpayer Advocate Service of which $5,000,000 shall be devoted to assisting taxpayers impacted by tax-related identity theft and refund 

fraud. 

Providing quality taxpayer service is a critical component of the 

IRS’s efforts to help the taxpaying public understand their tax obligation while making it easier to participate in the tax system. The 

Committee is aware of the concerns raised about providing adequate funding for Taxpayer Services. A recent TIGTA report found 

that IRS’s reduced budgets and collection resources have resulted 

in declines in taxpayer service, case closures, and dollars collected. 

The Committee notes that the IRS has flexibility in how it allocates 

user fees as well as transfer authority among appropriations accounts. In fiscal year 2015, the IRS allocated fewer user fees to 

Taxpayer Services, representing about a 75 percent decline from 

fiscal year 2014, while increasing user fees to its Enforcement and 

Operations Support accounts. The Committee encourages the IRS 

to use resources available through user fee revenues to augment 

the direct discretionary appropriation for Taxpayer Services. In addition, the Committee recommendation includes an additional 
30 

$90,000,000 for measurable improvements in taxpayer services and 

resolution of identity theft cases. 

Telephone Level of Service.—The Committee acknowledges that 

telephonic access to the IRS is important to promoting voluntary 

compliance. In fiscal year 2015, IRS projected its telephone level of 

service performance (the percentage of callers seeking live assistance and receiving it) would be about 38 percent and wait times 

would average about an hour. In addition, IRS expected demand 

for assistors to increase about 20 percent from fiscal year 2014 in 

part due to ACA-related questions, and expected assistors to answer about 27 percent fewer calls. According to a recent TIGTA report, ‘‘since Fiscal Year 2010, decreases in the IRS’s budget have 

resulted in the reduction of 21 percent of Automated Collection 

Service [ACS] contact representatives [which has] resulted in the 

ACS answering 25 percent fewer taxpayer telephone calls since 

2011. Taxpayers whose calls were answered spent an average of 

eight minutes (97 percent) longer waiting for a contact representative.’’ This is despite appropriated funding for Taxpayer Services 

that was equal to that provided in fiscal year 2014 when the telephone level of service was 64 percent. The IRS has already indicated to the Committee that it expects the level of service to decline again in fiscal year 2016 even though the IRS’s appropriations have not yet been determined. While it is unclear to the Committee how IRS calculates future telephone level of service performance it is clear that IRS has the flexibility to supplement its Taxpayer Services appropriation with user fees to prioritize taxpayer 

service delivery. The Committee also expects the IRS to allocate its 

fiscal year 2016 appropriated resources in a manner that reflects 

taxpayer services as a top priority. 

Taxpayer Assistance Centers.—Taxpayers can obtain face-to-face 

assistance at TACs also known as walk-in sites. As part of its service changes for 2014, IRS eliminated return preparation at TACs 

and redirected taxpayers to volunteer sites and Free File. In fiscal 

year 2014, taxpayers visited TACs 5.4 million times, a decline of 

about 17 percent compared to the previous year. In almost half of 

those visits, taxpayers received assistance with account-related inquiries. TACs play an important role in meeting the needs of underserved taxpayers, including rural, elderly, disabled, English as 

a second language, American Indian, and low income taxpayers. 

The National Taxpayer Advocate expressed concern about the IRS’s 

future direction for taxpayer services, primarily that the IRS will 

make service-related policy decisions that will leave this vulnerable 

population behind. In response to a recent GAO recommendation, 

IRS is developing a 6-year initiative to better understand how taxpayers want to interact with the agency. The initiative’s overall 

goal is to provide taxpayers with secure self-service options and to 

improve taxpayer service. TIGTA has also identified areas in which 

the IRS could make more informed business decisions when determining how to use its resources. TIGTA reported that while the 

IRS reduced services at TACs, the IRS’s plans did not show to 

what extent the service cuts lowered costs. Prior to the closure of 

any TACs, the Committee directs the IRS to conduct a detailed 

analysis, similar to that conducted by the department of the United 

Kingdom responsible for the collection of taxes, Her Majesty’s Rev-
31 

enue and Customs, of the specific characteristics of taxpayer populations that have utilized the TACs over the past decade (including 

language, computer, and functional literacy). The IRS should submit the report to the Committee containing a plan, including well 

designed pilots, showing how the IRS will meet the needs of those 

taxpayer populations in light of their unique challenges and specific characteristics. In developing this plan, the IRS should consult 

with the National Taxpayer Advocate and external stakeholders, 

including the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly grantees, and Low Income Taxpayer Clinic grantees. 

In addition, the report shall include a detailed explanation of the 

IRS’s methodology for selecting TACs for closure, including the impact on compliance and additional costs to taxpayers if the IRS reduces access to services. To ensure that adequate steps are taken 

to solicit stakeholder input, the Committee directs the IRS to take 

the following actions prior to closing a TAC: provide public notice 

with information about the area served by the office, including wait 

times and transportation/Internet access constraints; conduct at 

least one public hearing on the proposed closure; and report to the 

Committee on the concerns raised by the communities served by 

the office. In addition, the Committee directs the IRS to publish on 

its Web site its most recent annual review of each office proposed 

to be closed. 

The Committee agrees with the National Taxpayer Advocate and 

TIGTA that expanding Virtual Service Delivery, which integrates 

video and audio technology, would allow taxpayers to see and hear 

an assistor located at remote locations thus enhancing the scope of 

activities taxpayers can undertake. Taxpayers can use this technology to obtain many of the services available at TACs. The Committee supports recommendations for the IRS to establish a process 

to identify the best locations for virtual face-to-face services. 

Rural Service Delivery Issues.—Given the significant wait times 

and deteriorating rate of response for assistance provided through 

the national toll-free line, it is imperative that TACs in rural areas 

are fully staffed and capable of resolving taxpayer issues. The Committee notes with concern that both the overall number of TACs 

declined and the number of TACs currently staffed with only one 

employee continues to increase. 

Currently 67 TACs are staffed by only one employee, which 

means those locations are often subject to unexpected closures due 

to employee absence, and are subject to extended wait times when 

there are more than projected taxpayer visits. Residents in rural 

areas who cannot access assistance via phone due to documented 

problems with wait times and unanswered phone calls, and who 

are less likely to have reliable Internet access, depend on the TACs 

as one of their only options for taxpayer assistance. In rural areas 

taxpayers often must travel far distances to reach a TAC location 

which they too often find is unexpectedly closed due to a lack of 

staffing. The elimination of funding for staff to travel and provide 

staffing at TAC locations will only exacerbate this problem. 

The Committee is concerned with decisions to significantly reduce the availability of forms to rural taxpayers through the Tax 

Form Outlet Program [TFOP] which was implemented without ade-
32 

quate consultation with the TFOP sites or other stakeholders and 

without providing a practical alternative for taxpayers without access to the Internet. To rectify this situation, the Committee directs 

the IRS to report to the Committee within 120 days of enactment 

the steps being taken to help alleviate difficulties faced by rural 

taxpayers seeking guidance and assistance to properly file their tax 

returns. Additionally, the IRS is directed to report to the Committee the strategic plan to improve taxpayer services for minority, 

rural, elderly, disabled and low-income populations. 

Taxpayer Services in Alaska and Hawaii.—Given the remote distance of Alaska and Hawaii from the U.S. mainland and the difficulty experienced by Alaska and Hawaii taxpayers in receiving 

needed tax assistance by the national toll-free line, it is imperative 

that the Taxpayer Advocate Service Centers in these States are appropriately staffed and capable of resolving taxpayer problems of 

the most complex nature. The Committee directs the IRS to continue to staff each Taxpayer Advocate Service Center in each of 

these States with a Collection Technical Advisor and an Examination Technical Advisor in addition to the current complement of office staff. 

Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.—The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance [VITA] and Tax Counseling for the Elderly 

[TCE] programs are an important aspect of IRS efforts to provide 

income tax preparation assistance programs for underserved taxpayers, including rural, elderly, disabled, English as a second language, American Indian, and low-income taxpayers. According to 

the National Taxpayer Advocate, in fiscal year 2014, VITA and 

TCE programs prepared approximately 3.5 million returns, an increase of about 27 percent over the fiscal year 2009 level. The IRS 

does not capture the number of taxpayers who are turned away 

from VITA or TCE sites because the issues they need help with are 

‘‘out of scope.’’ The Committee agrees with the National Taxpayer 

Advocate that insufficient funding combined with ‘‘out of scope’’ 

constraints, volunteer training restrictions, and tax preparation 

software limitations may lead to the VITA and TCE programs lacking the adequate infrastructure to meet the specific needs of underserved taxpayers. The Committee highlights a 2013 TIGTA recommendation for VITA and TCE volunteer instructors, return preparers, audit reviewers, and site coordinators to complete intake/ 

interview and quality review training annually. The Committee 

urges the IRS to ensure that the sites are equipped with sufficient 

and properly trained volunteers. 

Taxpayer Survey.—The Committee believes that effective tax administration requires that taxpayers understand from the outset 

what they need to do to comply with the tax laws, and that effective taxpayer service is key to taxpayer compliance and building 

public trust in the IRS. Accordingly, the Committee supports the 

National Taxpayer Advocate’s development and delivery of a survey 

to determine the willingness and ability of individual taxpayers to 

obtain and utilize IRS taxpayer service, and to identify the extent 

to which IRS services and practices promote or serve as barriers 

to tax compliance. The Committee supports the work undertaken 

by the National Taxpayer Advocate and the IRS in developing the 

Services Priority Project, a method of ranking core taxpayer service 
33 

offerings by value to the taxpayer and value to the IRS. The Committee believes this ranking tool and the survey results will assist 

the IRS and Congress in allocating IRS resources in the most effective and cost-efficient manner. The Committee directs the IRS to 

submit a report by April 30, 2016, prepared in consultation with 

the National Taxpayer Advocate, on the deployment of this ranking 

tool. 

ENFORCEMENT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,860,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 5,399,832,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,500,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Enforcement appropriation provides for the examination of 

tax returns, both domestic and international; the administrative 

and judicial settlement of taxpayer appeals of examination findings; technical rulings; monitoring employee pension plans; determining qualifications of organizations seeking tax-exempt status; 

examining tax returns of exempt organizations; enforcing statutes 

relating to detection and investigation of criminal violations of the 

31 internal revenue laws; identifying underreporting of tax obligations; securing unfiled tax returns; and collecting unpaid accounts. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $4,500,000,000 for enforcement activities for fiscal year 2016. 

Combating Refund Fraud and Identity Theft.—The recent data 

breach to IRS’s Get Transcript service highlights the importance of 

the need to mitigate identify theft [IDT] and combat refund fraud. 

TIGTA has consistently ranked protection of taxpayer data as one 

of the highest priority challenges facing the IRS. In addition, GAO 

noted that although the IRS is making progress in addressing information security, weaknesses remain that could affect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of financial and sensitive 

taxpayer data. As identity theft patterns continue to evolve it is 

important for the IRS to adapt its detection and prevention processes. The Committee remains concerned about IRS’s efforts to prevent fraudulent returns while subsequently serving taxpayers who 

have had fraudulent tax returns filed in their name. The Committee is particularly concerned about the authentication process in 

place for its web applications. The Committee directs IRS to reevaluate its authentication steps for the Get Transcript and other 

applications and report to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of steps taken to remedy this issue. 

To provide relief to victims of identity theft, the IRS began 

issuing identity protection personal identification numbers [IP PIN] 

to eligible taxpayers in fiscal year 2011. Use of an IP PIN provides 

relief to taxpayers because it allows the IRS to process their tax 

returns without delay and helps prevent the misuse of taxpayers’ 

Social Security numbers on fraudulent tax returns. The Committee 

urges the IRS to continue efforts to address TIGTA recommendations regarding IP PINs to improve assistance to victims of identity 

theft. 
34 

Audit findings by GAO issued in its second report in February 

2015 on IDT refund fraud discuss IRS’s pre-refund options for preventing IDT refund fraud such as tracking device identification 

numbers to determine when multiple returns are filed from the 

same device, and authenticating the identity of a taxpayer before 

issuing a refund through the use of security questions, passwords, 

and other techniques, in addition to pre-refund W2 matching. The 

Committee agrees with GAO that an analysis of costs, benefits, and 

risks is essential to determining whether and how much to invest 

in authentication options. The Committee urges IRS to explore new 

strategies that provide cost-effective solutions to deter attempts at 

IDT fraud as well as to detect and stop it when attempted. The 

Committee directs the IRS to share with the Committee within 90 

days of enactment, an action plan for how the IRS can implement 

a widespread process for taxpayer authentication. The Committee 

further directs IRS to provide a briefing on the recommendations 

from its public-private partnership focused on addressing the problem of ITD refund fraud. 

The Committee also urges the IRS to continue efforts to address 

TIGTA recommendations to better detect and reduce filing fraud, 

including implementing a process to deactivate any individual taxpayer identification number [ITIN] assigned to individual taxpayers prior to January 1, 2013, including ITINs assigned to individuals who are now deceased. In addition, the Committee recommends the IRS expand identity theft filters to address filing patterns that may indicate that a tax return is related to identity 

theft. Finally, the Committee recommends that the IRS develop 

and deploy actions to prevent multiple tax refunds from being deposited to the same bank account, thus reducing a practice that 

may facilitate identity theft and tax fraud. 

The Committee acknowledges that while the IRS has made some 

inroads in its capacity to flag and filter questionable filings, the 

IRS still needs to significantly improve its timeliness and effectiveness in responding to taxpayers who report that they have been 

victims of refund-related identity theft. A recent TIGTA report 

found that the IRS took an average of 278 days to resolve tax accounts. Although this is 34 days on average less than the time reported in their prior review, it still represents a significant delay 

for taxpayers to have their tax accounts corrected and refunds 

issued. Some identity theft victims have only a single issue that requires resolution, but many victims have multiple issues that must 

be resolved before the IRS will issue their refunds. In addition, 

these victims often have to call the IRS numerous times and speak 

with numerous employees. The Committee directs the IRS to institute, and share with the Committee within 90 days of enactment, 

an updated action plan and timetable predicated on a goal of reducing by half the average amount of time a taxpayer must await a 

disposition of a refund fraud claim. The Committee also directs IRS 

to report on the feasibility of assigning the cases of identity theft 

victims with multiple issues to a single IRS representative (and 

provide victims with a toll-free direct extension to this representative) who will manage the case, including coordinating the actions 

of different IRS functions, and work with the taxpayer until the 

case is fully resolved. 
35 

Processing of Applications for Tax-Exempt Status.—The Committee strongly believes that meaningful, transparent, and sustained corrective action is warranted to restore any erosion of public trust in the IRS, strengthen the agency, and prevent any recurrence of the circumstances that led to the use of inappropriate case 

screening criteria in the handling of applications for certain tax-exempt groups based on their political beliefs. In a hearing on May 

8, 2013, before the Committee, just days prior to the announcement 

of the disparate treatment of taxpayers, Secretary of the Treasury 

stated, ‘‘As a principle, we totally agree that there should be no politics in the execution of our tax laws.’’ The Committee agrees with 

this statement by the Secretary but notes that the commitment to 

this principle must be demonstrated through the actions of the 

IRS. In March 2015, TIGTA assessed IRS’s actions in response to 

its 2013 recommendations to improve the identification and processing of applications for tax-exempt status involving political campaign intervention. TIGTA found that the IRS has taken action to 

eliminate the selection of potential political cases based on names 

and policy positions, expedited processing of social welfare organization applications, and instituted a quality review process to provide better assurance that unnecessary information requests are 

not sent to applicants. TIGTA also found that the IRS developed 

and provided extensive political campaign intervention training for 

relevant employees. However, TIGTA identified additional steps 

the IRS should take to improve upon the timing and execution of 

the training. The Committee agrees with TIGTA’s recommendations and encourages the IRS to incorporate best practices and lessons learned into future training plans. Based on TIGTA’s report 

findings, of the 160 cases that were open as of December 17, 2012, 

149 cases had been closed. TIGTA’s report found that IRS implemented significant changes to the process for reviewing applications for tax-exempt status. The Committee notes that organizations deserve timely responses for tax-exempt status. 

Given the significant impact the disparate treatment of certain 

groups had on the public’s confidence in the impartial execution of 

our tax laws, the Committee believes the IRS and the Department 

of the Treasury should await the conclusion of ongoing investigations into these issues prior to proposing regulatory changes regarding section 501(c)(4). 

Preventing Payroll Tax Fraud.—The Committee recognizes that 

many employers outsource payroll and related tax duties to thirdparty payroll service providers to help assure filing deadlines and 

deposit requirements are met and streamline business operations. 

While most payroll service providers are trustworthy, failures can 

pose devastating financial setbacks for multiple clients, particularly 

small businesses. The Committee is aware that the National Taxpayer Advocate has recommended an array of practical solutions to 

address this persistent problem, including more effective early detection of potential fraud; registration, certification, and bonding 

requirements for third-party payroll tax services; restrictions on 

changing addresses of record; and greater consideration of offers in 

compromise to assist defrauded businesses with relief from tax liability. The Committee directs the IRS to intensify its scrutiny of 

questionable practices of payroll service providers and continue to 
36 

inform taxpayers of their responsibility for payment of all Federal 

and State employment taxes notwithstanding any contractual relationship with a payroll service provider. The Committee directs the 

IRS to update its 2015 report to the Committee within 60 days of 

enactment noting any changes in (1) what data is currently collected on delinquent payroll service providers, (2) how this data is 

currently being used to prevent fraud, and (3) what the IRS would 

do with this data if given additional resources for this purpose. 

The Committee retains an administrative provision enacted for 

fiscal year 2015 requiring that the IRS issue a notice of confirmation of any address change relating to an employer making employment tax payments, and that such notice be sent to both the employer’s former and new address and requires that an officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service shall give special consideration to an offer-in-compromise from a taxpayer who has been the 

victim of fraud by a third-party payroll tax preparer. 

Prisoner Tax Refund Fraud.—The Committee is concerned about 

growth in tax refund fraud. TIGTA recently reported that refund 

fraud associated with prisoner Social Security numbers remains a 

significant problem for tax administration. According to a September 2014 TIGTA report, the number of fraudulent tax returns 

filed using a prisoner’s Social Security number that were identified 

by IRS increased from approximately 37,000 tax returns in calendar year 2007 to more than 137,000 tax returns in calendar year 

2012. The refunds claimed on these tax returns increased from 

$166,000,000 to $1,000,000,000. 

According to TIGTA, Treasury has the authority to share information with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and State Departments 

of Corrections to help determine if prisoners may have filed or help 

the filing of a fraudulent return. As of March 2015, the IRS completed memoranda of understanding with 7 State correctional authorities while 13 State corrections agencies declined to participate. 

The Committee encourages the IRS to remain committed to addressing agencies’ concerns related to enrolling in this program so 

they may begin receiving inmate tax return information from the 

IRS. 

The Committee recognizes steps IRS has taken to identify returns filed that have the same characteristics of confirmed fraudulent prisoner tax returns. The Committee agrees with TIGTA’s recommendations that the IRS should ensure that all tax returns filed 

with a prisoner Social Security number are assigned a prisoner indicator. The Committee expects the IRS to continue efforts to fully 

address TIGTA’s recommendations to identify and prevent prisoner 

tax fraud. 

Earned Income Tax Credit Fraud.—GAO has highlighted the persistent problems with improper earned income tax credit [EITC] 

payments for years, and it is a factor underlying their designation 

of IRS Enforcement of Tax Laws as a high-risk area. As GAO reported, a root cause of EITC noncompliance is the self- determination of eligibility by taxpayers combined with IRS’s limited ability 

to verify eligibility before refunds are issued. According to GAO, 

the estimated EITC improper payment rate has remained relatively unchanged since fiscal year 2003 (the first year IRS was required to report estimates of these payments to Congress), but the 
37 

amount of improper EITC payments has increased from an estimated $10,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2003 to nearly 

$18,000,000,000 in fiscal year 2014. The Committee is concerned 

that billions of dollars are wasted every year because the IRS has 

little ability to monitor overpayments or prevent EITC payments to 

ineligible recipients. The Committee encourages IRS to address improper payments through compliance programs for both preparers 

and taxpayers, as well as through extensive outreach and education. 

Addressing Fraud and Filing Errors in Refundable Credit Programs.—The Department of Treasury reported, in its most recent 

financial statements, that the EITC improper payment rate, comprised of both intentional fraud and unintentional filing errors, was 

nearly $18,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2014. In an effort to reduce 

intentional fraud and unintentional filing errors in refundable credit programs intended to help taxpayers, the Department of the 

Treasury is directed to ensure that the same eligibility questions 

are being asked of taxpayers whether they are preparing their returns with a paid tax preparer or via do-it-yourself methods such 

as paper forms, preparation software, or online preparation tools. 

Implementing uniform eligibility questions for refundable credit filers is a common sense step that will help alleviate confusion over 

eligibility and better establish qualification for these credits. The 

Department of the Treasury shall ensure that all EITC eligibility 

questions included on Form 8867, such as questions 1 through 19 

and the eligibility questions used to meet the requirements of question 24, will be included on the Schedule EIC. The Department of 

Treasury shall implement this for tax returns filed after January 

1, 2016. The Department of Treasury shall ensure that eligibility 

questions for all other refundable credits, such as the Child Tax 

Credit, American Opportunity Tax Credit, or the healthcare premium tax credit, are the same for all taxpayers regardless of filing 

method and that it utilize existing forms for refundable credit due 

diligence programs instead of creating additional forms or worksheets as it did with the proposed Form 8967. 

Affordable Care Act Fraud.—ACA created a refundable tax credit, referred to as the Premium Tax Credit [PTC], to assist individuals with the cost of their health insurance premiums. When enrolling in a Qualified Health Plan through the Exchange, eligible 

individuals can choose to have some or all of the PTC paid in advance to their insurance company as payment of their monthly premium or can wait to claim all of the PTC on their tax return. A 

recent TIGTA report found that even though the IRS will have the 

data it needs to identify erroneous claims moving forward, it does 

not have the tools it needs to effectively prevent PTC claims from 

being paid. The Committee supports TIGTA’s recommendation that 

PTC claimants should be verified before tax refunds are issued. 

In February 2015, IRS announced that it would not pursue collection of additional taxes from any of the 50,000 taxpayers who 

filed their taxes using incorrect forms provided to those enrolled in 

insurance policies through Healthcare.gov. IRS told the Committee 

that they have the ability to suspend enforcement under several 

sections of the Internal Revenue Code, and that the administration 

and collection costs involved would not warrant collection of the 
38 

amounts due. The Committee expects the IRS to keep the Committee informed of its handling of erroneous tax forms and related 

overpayments. 

Misclassification of Contractors.—The Committee remains concerned that staffing within the IRS’s SS–8 Program, responsible for 

making determinations as to a worker’s Federal employment tax 

status, has not kept pace with the record and sustained SS–8 filings during the past six filing seasons. The Committee believes 

that the IRS SS–8 Program is critical to ensuring that workers are 

classified correctly, identifying leads for employment tax exams 

and criminal investigations, and combating the underreporting of 

employment taxes that contributes significantly to the tax gap. The 

Committee believes it is important, given the growing workload, 

that the IRS maintain sufficient staffing at all SS–8 processing locations. The Committee directs the IRS to notify the House Appropriations Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the 

House Ways and Means Committee, and the Senate Finance Committee prior to making any staffing reductions or reallocations 

within the SS–8 processing program. 

OPERATIONS SUPPORT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,638,446,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,743,258,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,468,446,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Operations Support appropriation provides for overall planning and direction of the IRS including Infrastructure, including 

administrative services related to space and housing, rent and 

space alterations, buildings service maintenance, guard services, 

and non-IT equipment; Shared Services and Support, including policy management, IRS-wide support for research, strategic planning, 

communications and liaison, finance, human resources, equity, diversity, and inclusion programs, printing, postage, business systems planning, corporate training, legal services, procurement, and 

employee benefit programs; and Information Services, including the 

staffing, equipment, and related costs to manage, maintain, and operate the information systems critical to the support of tax administration programs. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $3,468,446,000 for Operations Support for fiscal year 2016. 

The Committee notes that half of IRS’s total requested increase 

for fiscal year 2016 funding is for Operations Support. Further, the 

Committee notes that over half of the $2,300,000,000 in planned 

funding for 20 major Information Technology [IT] investments is 

requested under Operations Support. The Committee remains concerned that the IRS continues to supplement this appropriations 

account with the vast majority of its user fees. 

Information Technology Reports.—Given the size and significance 

of IRS’s IT investments and the challenges inherent in successfully 

delivering these complex IT investments, it is important that the 

Committees on Appropriations be provided reliable information to 
39 

assist with their oversight responsibilities. While IRS has been 

submitting quarterly reports on the performance of its IT investments to the Committees, we are concerned that these reports have 

yet to address GAO’s recommendations for cumulative reporting 

and providing a quantitative measure of scope. In addition, we believe the reports could provide information that would allow the 

Committees to better gauge the performance of IRS’s IT investments. The Committee directs the IRS to submit quarterly reports 

on particular major project activities to the Committees on Appropriations and the GAO, no later than 30 days following the end of 

each calendar quarter in fiscal year 2016. The Committee expects 

the reports to include detailed, plain English explanations of the 

cumulative expenditures and schedule performance to date, specified by fiscal year; the costs and schedules for the previous 3 

months; the anticipated costs and schedules for the upcoming 3 

months; and the total expected costs to complete the following 

major information technology project activities: IRS.gov; Returns 

Remittance Processing; EDAS/IPM; Information Returns and Document Matching; E-services; Taxpayer Advocate Service Integrated 

System; Affordable Care Act administration; and other projects associated with significant changes in law. In addition, the quarterly 

report should clearly explain when the project was started; the expected date of completion; the percentage of work completed as 

compared to planned work; the current and expected state of 

functionality; any changes in schedule; and current risks unrelated 

to funding amounts and mitigation strategies. The Committee directs the Department of the Treasury to conduct a semi-annual review of IRS’s IT investments to ensure the cost, schedule, and 

scope goals of the projects are transparent. The Committee further 

directs GAO to review and provide an annual report to the Committees evaluating the cost and schedule of activities of all major 

IRS information technology projects for the year, with particular 

focus on the projects about which the IRS is submitting quarterly 

reports to the Committee. 

BUSINESS SYSTEMS MODERNIZATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $290,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 379,178,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 260,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Business Systems Modernization appropriation provides resources for the planning and capital asset acquisition of information technology to modernize the IRS business systems. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $260,000,000 for Business Systems 

Modernization [BSM] for fiscal year 2016. 

The Committee is concerned about IRS’s plan to invest in new 

IT capabilities for the future given the recent data breach to IRS’s 

Get Transcript tool. In addition, the Committee remains concerned 

about exceeding planned investment costs, projects that fall behind 

schedule, and providing secure digital communications to taxpayers. 
40 

The Committee expects the IRS to continue to submit quarterly 

reports to the Committees and GAO during fiscal year 2016, no 

later than 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter. The 

Committee expects the reports to include detailed, plain English 

explanations of the cumulative expenditures and schedule performance to date, specified by fiscal year; the costs and schedules for 

the previous 3 months; the anticipated costs and schedules for the 

upcoming 3 months; and the total expected costs to complete 

CADE2 and MeF. In addition, the quarterly report should clearly 

explain when the project was started; the expected date of completion; the percentage of work completed as compared to planned 

work; the current and expected state of functionality; any changes 

in schedule; and current risks unrelated to funding amounts and 

mitigation strategies. The Committee directs the Department of the 

Treasury to conduct a semi-annual review of CADE2 and MeF to 

ensure the cost, schedule, and scope goals of the projects are transparent. The Committee further directs GAO to review and provide 

an annual report to the Committee evaluating the cost and schedule of CADE2 and MeF activities for the year, as well as an assessment of the functionality achieved. 

The Committee remains concerned that IRS systems modernization, by its nature, is a high-risk endeavor, and appreciates that 

the IRS has, in recent years, satisfied the majority of developmental milestones planned for completion early, under budget, or 

within 10 percent of cost and schedule estimates. Because of the 

tendency for certain projects or components to exceed schedule and 

cost estimates, the Committee urges IRS management to maintain 

close routine scrutiny of cost and schedule factors. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Committee has included administrative provisions carried in 

prior appropriations acts and new directives as follows: 

Section 101 continues a provision allowing the IRS to transfer up 

to 5 percent of any appropriation made available to the agency in 

fiscal year 2016 to any other IRS appropriation, upon the advance 

approval of the Committees on Appropriations. 

Section 102 continues a provision maintaining a training program in taxpayers’ rights and cross-cultural relations. 

Section 103 continues a provision requiring the IRS to institute 

and enforce policies and procedures, which will safeguard the confidentiality of taxpayer information and protect taxpayers against 

identity theft. 

Section 104 continues a provision directing that funds shall be 

available for improved facilities and increased staffing to support 

sufficient and effective 1–800 help line services for taxpayers including enhanced response time to taxpayer communications, particularly for victims of tax-related crimes. 

Section 105 continues a provision requiring videos produced by 

the IRS to be approved in advance by the Service-Wide Video Editorial Board. 

Section 106 continues a provision requiring the IRS to issue notices to employers of any address change request and to give spe-
41 

cial consideration to offers in compromise for taxpayers who have 

been victims of payroll tax preparer fraud. 

Section 107 continues a provision that prohibits the use of funds 

by the IRS to target United States citizens for exercising any right 

guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

Section 108 continues a provision that prohibits the use of funds 

by the IRS to target groups for regulatory scrutiny based on their 

ideological beliefs. 

Section 109 continues a provision that requires the IRS to comply 

with procedures on conference spending as recommended by the 

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. 

Section 110 continues a provision that prohibits the use of funds 

to violate the confidentiality of tax returns. 

Section 111 is a new provision that prohibits the use of funds to 

give bonuses or hire former employees without consideration of conduct and compliance with Federal tax laws. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The Committee includes 14 administrative provisions, as follows: 

Section 112 authorizes certain basic services within the Treasury 

Department in fiscal year 2016, including purchase of uniforms; 

maintenance, repairs, and cleaning; purchase of insurance for official motor vehicles operated in foreign countries; and contracts 

with the Department of State for health and medical services to 

employees and their dependents serving in foreign countries. 

Section 113 authorizes transfers, up to 2 percent, between Departmental Offices, Office of Inspector General, Special Inspector 

General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, Financial Crimes 

Enforcement Network, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and Alcohol 

and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, appropriations under certain 

circumstances. 

Section 114 authorizes transfers, up to 2 percent, between the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax 

Administration under certain circumstances. 

Section 115 prohibits the Department of the Treasury and the 

Bureau of Engraving and Printing from redesigning the $1 Federal 

Reserve Note. 

Section 116 authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer 

funds from Salaries and Expenses, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, to 

the Debt Collection Fund as necessary to cover the costs of debt collection. Such amounts shall be reimbursed to the Salaries and Expenses account from debt collections received in the Debt Collection 

Fund. 

Section 117 requires prior approval for the construction and operation of a museum by the United States Mint. 

Section 118 prohibits the merger of the United States Mint and 

the Bureau of Engraving and Printing without prior approval of 

the committees of jurisdiction. 

Section 119 authorizes the Department’s intelligence activities. 

Section 120 permits the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to use 

not to exceed $5,000 from the Industrial Revolving Fund for reception and representation expenses. 
42 

Section 121 requires the Secretary of the Treasury to develop an 

annual Capital Investment Plan. 

Section 122 continues a provision that requires quarterly reports 

of the Office of Financial Research [OFR] and Office of Financial 

Stability. 

Section 123 continues a provision that requires a report on the 

Department’s Franchise Fund. 

Section 124 continues a provision that requires the Department 

to submit a report on economic warfare and financial terrorism. 

Section 125 is a new provision that prohibits the Department 

from enforcing guidance for U.S. positions on multilateral development banks which engage with developing countries on coal-fired 

power generation. 
(43) 

TITLE II 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS 

APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT 

THE WHITE HOUSE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $55,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 55,214,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 55,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The ‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’ account of The White House provides staff assistance and administrative services for the direct 

support of the President. The White House also serves as the President’s representative before the media. In accordance with 3 U.S.C. 

105, The White House office also supports and assists the activities 

of the spouse of the President. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $55,000,000 for 

The White House, Salaries and Expenses. The recommendation is 

equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

Exports to Africa.—The Committee acknowledges efforts by the 

Executive Office of the President [EOP] to designate a senior 

United States Government official to lead efforts to significantly increase United States exports to Africa as directed under section 

1206(d) of Public Law 113–66 and urges the EOP to continue to leverage resources provided in this and other acts to carry out the 

intent of the directive. 

Office of National AIDS Policy.—The Committee directs the Executive Office of the President [EOP] to allocate sufficient resources 

to continue the robust operation of the Office of National AIDS Policy [ONAP]. ONAP is responsible for leading implementation of the 

National HIV/AIDS Strategy and holding Federal agencies and 

local jurisdictions accountable for implementing effective, scalable, 

and cost-effective interventions for HIV prevention and care 

through commissioning policy research, consulting with the community, and helping jurisdictions modernize data systems and 

other activities to align with the strategy. The Committee directs 

the administration to continue to coordinate a Governmentwide effort to achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS strategy. 
44 

EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE

OPERATING EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $12,700,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 12,723,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 12,700,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

These funds provide for the care, maintenance, repair, alteration, 

refurnishing, improvement, air-conditioning, heating, and lighting 

of the White House and the official and ceremonial functions of the 

President. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $12,700,000 for 

the Executive Residence at the White House. The Committee recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. The bill 

also continues certain restrictions on reimbursable expenses for use 

of the Executive Residence. 

WHITE HOUSE REPAIR AND RESTORATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $625,000 

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

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 625,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This account funds the repair, alteration, and improvement of 

the Executive Residence at the White House. A separate account 

was established in fiscal year 1996 to program and track expenditures for the capital improvement projects at the Executive Residence at the White House. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $625,000 for 

White House Repair and Restoration, equal to the fiscal year 2015 

enacted level. 

COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,184,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,201,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,184,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Council of Economic Advisers analyzes the national economy 

and its various segments, advises the President on economic developments, recommends policies for economic growth and stability, 

appraises economic programs and policies of the Federal Government, and assists in the preparation of the annual Economic Report of the President to Congress. 
45 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,184,000 for 

salaries and expenses of the Council of Economic Advisers. This 

amount is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND HOMELAND SECURITY COUNCIL

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $12,600,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 13,069,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 12,600,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The National Security Council advises the President in integrating domestic, foreign, and military policies related to national 

security, and the Homeland Security Council advises the President 

in coordinating homeland security-related policies across the Government. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $12,600,000 for 

the salaries and expenses of the National Security Council and the 

Homeland Security Council. This amount is equal to the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level. 

OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $111,300,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 96,116,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 96,116,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Administration provides administrative services to 

the EOP. These services, defined by Executive Order 12028 of 

1977, include financial, personnel, library and records services, information management systems support, and general office services. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $96,116,000 for 

the Office of Administration for fiscal year 2016. This amount is 

$15,184,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request. 

The Committee’s recommendation includes not to exceed 

$7,994,000 to remain available until expended for modernization of 

the information technology infrastructure within the Executive Office of the President. The recommended reduction is the result of 

a proposed reorganization of Presidential information technology 

resources, which relocates the responsibility for maintenance of the 

EOP data center and data telecommunications networks. 

The Committee directs the Office of Administration to place a top 

priority on the implementation of comprehensive policies and proce-
46 

dures for the preservation of all records, including electronic 

records such as emails, videos, and social networking communication, consistent with the requirements of the Presidential Records 

Act, the Federal Records Act, and other pertinent laws. The Office 

of Administration shall work closely with the National Archives 

and Records Administration [NARA] to ensure the full and complete maintenance and formatting of electronic records that will 

eventually be turned over to NARA. The Committee expects the Office of Administration to keep the Committee fully apprised of 

funding needs related to records preservation and retention. 

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $91,750,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 97,441,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 91,750,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Management and Budget [OMB] assists the President in the discharge of his budgetary, management, and other executive responsibilities. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $91,750,000 for 

the Office of Management and Budget, which is equal to the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level. 

The Committee directs OMB to utilize sufficient resources to respond in a timely and complete manner to requests from Congress, 

in particular requests related to program funding and operations. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee recognizes actions that were recently taken by some Federal agencies to improve their 

cybersecurity posture under the Federal CIO’s 30-day Cybersprint. 

The Committee looks forward to learning more about the results of 

this initiative. The Committee directs OMB in consultation with 

Federal agencies to report to the Committees on Appropriations of 

the House and Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs in the Senate and the Homeland Security Committee in the House not less than 6 months after enactment of this act on the national security implications of recent data 

breaches including the OPM breach; the extent to which weaknesses exist in Federal agencies; the existence of a cybersecurity 

strategy across the Federal Government; and the status of Federal 

agencies cybersecurity policies and procedures in place, including 

policies and procedures relating to IT best practices such as data 

encryption, multifactor authentication, and continuous monitoring. 

The report should consider any improvements that could be made 

to assist Federal agencies in addressing cybersecurity challenges. 

Intellectual Property.—The Committee continues to strongly support the Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator [IPEC] and its important mission and directs that funds be 

made available for no less than one full-time equivalent dedicated 

senior staff position to ensure it can carry out its statutory mission. 

The Committee recommends that IPEC continue working to facili-
47 

tate voluntary efforts among stakeholders to reduce online copyright and trademark infringement. 

Social Cost of Carbon.—OMB should not approve any regulations 

in fiscal year 2016 using the May 2013, revised July 2015, estimates for the social cost of carbon until a new working group is 

convened. The working group should include the relevant agencies 

and affected stakeholders, reexamine the social cost of carbon using 

the best available science, and revise the estimate using an accurate discount rate and domestic estimate in accordance with Executive Order 12866 and OMB Circular A–4. To increase transparency, 

the working group should solicit public comments prior to finalizing 

any updates. 

Governmentwide General Provisions.—The Committee is concerned that all agencies may not be aware of, and therefore, not 

implementing, the Governmentwide general provisions in title VII 

of the bill. The Committee directs OMB to issue guidance within 

60 days of enactment, notifying all agencies of their responsibilities 

to adhere to these requirements. The Committee expects OMB to 

reinforce awareness among all Federal agencies of the existence of, 

and content of, the Governmentwide general provisions. 

Conferences.—The Committee continues a provision in title VII of 

the bill requiring agencies to report annually to their inspector general or senior ethics officer on conferences costing more than 

$100,000 and to notify the same official of conferences costing more 

than $20,000 within 15 days of a conference. The provision also 

prohibits funding for any travel and conference activities that are 

not in compliance with OMB Memorandum M–12–12. Consistent 

with M–12–12, agencies shall report conference expenditures in excess of $100,000 on agency Web sites and OMB shall notify the 

Committee annually in writing of any agencies failing to report this 

information. 

Travel.—The Committee supports OMB’s efforts to reduce costs 

across Federal agencies by eliminating unnecessary travel expenses. As part of OMB Memorandum M–12–12, Federal agencies 

were directed to reduce their travel expenses by 30 percent below 

the fiscal year 2010 level. The Committee recognizes the need for 

continued oversight of Federal travel expenses and notes OMB’s efforts to work with agencies to increase transparency and make 

smarter travel decisions. In its most recent report to the Committee, OMB notes that the OMB Memorandum M–12–12 transparency model is strong, that the spending thresholds established 

in OMB Memorandum M–12–12 are appropriate and that results 

have demonstrated that these new policies and procedures are having an impact on how agencies plan and execute conferences. The 

Committee also notes that OMB recognizes that travel and conferences have a role to play in agencies carrying out their missions 

and that there are situations in which physical collocation is necessary and that OMB has worked diligently to ensure that the policies and controls implemented through OMB Memorandum M–12– 

12 do not curtail travel or conferences that are mission critical and 

are executed in a cost-effective manner. 

Contractor Bonuses.—The Committee is concerned about the occurrence of contract incentives being given to contractors that fail 

to meet specified cost, schedule, or performance criteria. Although 
48 

OMB has issued guidance to reduce wasteful spending on contractor bonuses, this issue has not been fully addressed. The bill 

includes new contractor payment restrictions to require all departments and agencies funded by this act to link all contracts that 

provide awards to successful acquisition outcomes and to prohibit 

funds to pay for award or incentive fees for contractors with below 

satisfactory performance. 

Enforcement of Cybersecurity Standards.—The Committee directs 

OMB to report not later than February 1 of each year to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in the Senate and the Homeland Security Committee in the House regarding 

the use of budget authority to enforce cybersecurity standards. The 

report shall detail specific actions the Director has taken pursuant 

to section 3553(a)(5) of title 44, United States Code, including any 

actions taken pursuant to section 11303(b)(5) of title 40, United 

States Code. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $22,647,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 20,047,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 20,047,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of National Drug Control Policy [ONDCP], established 

by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, and reauthorized by Public 

Law 109–469, is charged with developing policies, objectives, and 

priorities for the National Drug Control Program. In addition, 

ONDCP administers the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas 

program, the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, and several other related initiatives. 

This account provides funding for personnel compensation, travel, and other basic operations of the Office, and for general policy 

research to support the formulation of the National Drug Control 

Strategy. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $20,047,000 for 

ONDCP’s salaries and expenses. 

Interdiction.—The Committee supports efforts to reduce illegal 

drug use across the United States. In order to stem the tide of illegal drugs coming into this country, interdiction must be a priority. 

A core component of our national drug control strategy must be effective coordination with other Federal agencies to intercept and 

disrupt foreign drug shipments before they get to the United 

States. 

Methamphetamine.—The Committee is concerned about the increased availability of methamphetamine in the United States in 

recent years. Criminal drug trafficking organizations are increasingly producing methamphetamine in Mexico and transporting it 

into and throughout the United States. Within 90 days of enactment of this act, ONDCP shall report to the Committee on the 
49 

steps it is taking to disrupt the production, distribution, and use 

of methamphetamine, particularly in the Southwest border region 

and in the southern United States. 

FEDERAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS

HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $245,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 193,400,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 245,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas [HIDTA] program 

was established by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (Public Law 

100–690) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s reauthorization (Public Law 109–469) to provide assistance to Federal, 

State, and local law enforcement entities operating in those areas 

most adversely affected by drug trafficking. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $245,000,000 for 

the HIDTA program. The Committee directs that funding shall be 

provided for the existing HIDTAs at no less than the fiscal year 

2015 level. 

ONDCP is directed to consult with the HIDTAs in advance of deciding programmatic spending allocations for discretionary (supplemental) funding. 

The Committee recommendation specifies that up to $2,700,000 

may be used for auditing services and associated activities. 

The Committee directs that HIDTA funds be transferred to the 

appropriate drug control agencies expeditiously and includes provisions in the bill to help prevent delay. Transferred funds that are 

no longer necessary for their original purpose may be transferred 

back to the HIDTA program. 

HIDTA funds should not be used to supplant existing support for 

ongoing Federal, State, or local drug control operations normally 

funded out of the operating budgets of each agency. ONDCP is directed to withhold all HIDTA funds from a State until such time 

as a State or locality has met its financial obligation. 

OTHER FEDERAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $107,150,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 95,436,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 108,310,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (Public Law 100–690), and the 

Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act (Public 

Law 109–469) established this account to be administered by the 

Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The funds 
50 

appropriated to the program support high-priority drug control programs and may be transferred to drug control agencies. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $108,310,000 for 

Other Federal Drug Control Programs. Within this amount, the 

Committee provides the following funding levels: 

Amount 

Drug-Free Communities Support Program ........................................................................................................... $93,500,000 

National Community Anti-Drug Coalition training ..................................................................................... 2,000,000 

Drug court training, including standards training, and technical assistance .................................................. 2,000,000 

Anti-doping activities ........................................................................................................................................... 9,500,000 

World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] ....................................................................................................................... 2,060,000 

Activities as authorized by Public Law 109–469, section 1105 ........................................................................ 1,250,000 

Drug-Free Communities Support Program.—ONDCP directs the 

Drug-Free Communities Support Program [DFCSP] in partnership 

with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. DFCSP provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants of up to 

$125,000 to local coalitions that mobilize their communities to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse. Such 

grants support coalitions of youth; parents; media; law enforcement; school officials; faith-based organizations; fraternal organizations; State, local, and tribal government agencies; healthcare professionals; and other community representatives. The DFCSP enables these coalitions to strengthen their coordination and prevention efforts, encourage citizen participation in substance abuse reduction efforts, and disseminate information about effective programs. The Committee provides $93,500,000 for the continuation of 

the DFCSP. 

The Committee includes a provision in the bill directing ONDCP 

to provide $2,000,000 of DFCSP funds for training and related purposes as authorized by section 4 of Public Law 107–82, as amended 

by Public Law 109–469. 

UNANTICIPATED NEEDS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $800,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 800,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

These funds enable the President to meet unanticipated exigencies in support of the national interest, security, or defense. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $800,000, which is the same as the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OVERSIGHT AND REFORM

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $20,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 35,200,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 25,000,000 
51 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The goal of the Information Technology Oversight and Reform 

[ITOR] program is to drive value in Federal IT investments by 

making smarter investment decisions and reducing waste, duplication, and inefficient uses of IT through data-driven investment 

management, deliver digital services to 25 Federal agencies, and 

protect IT assets and information by improving oversight of Federal cybersecurity practices. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $25,000,000 for the ITOR program. 

The Committee appreciates the administration’s comprehensive 

and innovative approach to improving IT development processes 

and maximizing efficiencies across the Federal IT portfolio. The 

Federal Government invests approximately $80,000,000,000 a year 

in IT development for a wide variety of capabilities, spanning, for 

example, from basic desktop computing to a searchable database 

for investigating terrorist financing activity. However, it is clear to 

the Committee that this spending on IT does not produce 

$80,000,000,000 in value for the public as a result of IT projects 

that arrive late or over budget. In fiscal year 2014, the Administration used ITOR funding to pilot the U.S. Digital Service [USDS] by 

recruiting a small group of select private sector tech experts into 

government service. The increase in ITOR funding in fiscal year 

2016 will help to grow the USDS team to enable them to serve as 

a resource across Federal agencies. In addition, the increase in 

funding should be used to support OMB’s newly-formed E–Gov 

Cyber and National Security Unit [OMB E–Gov Cyber] which focuses on strengthening Federal cybersecurity. 

IT Dashboard.—The Committee supports the management and 

enhancement of the IT Dashboard, a Web site that includes cost, 

schedule, and performance data for major IT investments. The 

Committee directs the EOP to make PortfolioStat, which is the 

process where OMB and agencies examine IT portfolios to identify 

duplicative spending and reduce costs, and other technology reform 

savings and performance metrics available to the public on the IT 

dashboard. OMB shall ensure that current and accurate data on 

these investments are available throughout the entire year. The 

Committee directs OMB to use ITOR funding to work with agencies to implement the Federal Information Technology Acquisition 

Reform Act [FITARA], which is designed to improve Federal IT acquisitions. Specifically, the Committee directs OMB to report quarterly to the Committee on Appropriations on the cost savings, 

avoidance, and reductions in duplicative IT investments. 

Digital Service.—The Committee supports the formation of USDS 

and their role in collaborating with Federal agencies to implement 

digital and technology practices on the 10 highest priority IT investment projects that are under development across Federal agencies. The Committee encourages USDS to use the increase in ITOR 

funding to become more fully engaged on each one of the projects. 

In addition, the Committee encourages OMB to provide detail on 

how the 10 highest priority IT investment projects are selected and 
52 

report quarterly to the Committee on Appropriations on the status 

of these projects. 

Cybersecurity.—Recent cybersecurity breaches have demonstrated the need for the Federal Government to safeguard data 

and improve its cybersecurity posture. The Committee expects 

OMB’s E–Gov Cyber will provide oversight of agency cybersecurity 

programs and focus on agencies’ performance relative to the 

Cybersecurity Cross-Agency Priority [CAP] Goal, which was designed to assess agency implementation of basic cybersecurity principles to ensure a common Federal baseline for combating cyber 

threats. It is clear to the Committee that the Federal Government 

lags in IT security best practices. For example, Strong Authentication remains a key challenge, with civilian agencies reporting 42 

percent of their goal. According to GAO [GAO–15–725T], ‘‘While recent government-wide initiatives hold promise for bolstering the 

Federal cybersecurity posture, it is important to note that no single 

technology or set of practices is sufficient to protect against all 

these threats. A ‘defense in depth’ strategy is required that includes well-trained personnel, effective and consistently applied 

processes, and appropriately implemented technologies. While 

agencies have elements of such a strategy in place, more needs to 

be done to fully implement it and to address existing weaknesses. 

In particular, implementing GAO and Inspector General recommendations will strengthen agencies’ ability to protect their systems and information, reducing the risk of a potentially devastating cyber attack.’’ The Committee expects OMB to consult 

with GAO on the Cybersecurity CAP goal key performance indicators and metric targets. In addition, the Committee expects OMB 

as part of its 30-day Cybersecurity Sprint, to submit its Federal Civilian Cybersecurity Strategy to GAO for review. The Committee 

encourages OMB to report on its efforts to ensuring agencies having robust protections in place to address cyber security threats, including the recent breach at OPM. 

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PRESIDENT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,211,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,228,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,211,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This appropriation provides for staff and expenses to enable the 

Vice President to provide assistance to the President in connection 

with the performance of executive duties and responsibilities. 

These funds also support the official activities of the spouse of the 

Vice President. The Vice President also has a staff funded by the 

Senate to assist him in the performance of his legislative duties. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,211,000 for 

special assistance to the President. This amount is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 
53 

OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

OPERATING EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $299,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 299,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 299,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This account supports the care and operation of the Vice President’s residence on the grounds of the Naval Observatory. These 

funds specifically support equipment, furnishings, dining facilities, 

and services required to perform and discharge the Vice President’s 

official duties, functions, and obligations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $299,000 for the 

official residence of the Vice President. This amount is equal to the 

budget request and the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE

PRESIDENT AND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Section 201 continues a provision that provides flexibility in the 

use of funds in accounts under the EOP. 

Section 202 requires the Office of Management and Budget 

[OMB] to report on the costs of implementation the Dodd-Frank 

Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111– 

203). 

Section 203 requires the Director of the OMB to include a statement of budgetary impact with any Executive order issued during 

fiscal year 2016. 
(54) 

TITLE III 

THE JUDICIARY 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Established under Article III of the Constitution, the judicial 

branch of Government is a separate but equal branch. The Federal 

judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, United States Courts of 

Appeals, District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, Court of International Trade, Court of Federal Claims, and several other entities 

and programs. The organization of the judiciary, the district and 

circuit boundaries, the places of holding court, and the number of 

Federal judges are legislated by the Congress and signed into law 

by the President. 

The Committee’s recommended funding levels support the Federal judiciary’s role of providing equal justice under the law and include sufficient funds to support this critical mission. The recommended funding level includes the salaries of judges and support staff and the operation and security of our Nation’s courts. 

The judicial branch is subject to the same funding constraints 

facing the executive and legislative branches. It is imperative that 

the Federal judiciary devote its resources primarily to the retention 

of staff. Further, it is also important that the judiciary contain controllable costs such as travel, construction, and other expenses. 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $74,967,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 75,717,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 75,838,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States Supreme Court consists of nine justices appointed under Article III of the Constitution of the United States, 

one of whom is appointed as Chief Justice of the United States. 

The Supreme Court acts as the final arbiter in the Federal court 

system. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $75,838,000 for 

the salaries and expenses of personnel, and the costs of operating 

the Supreme Court, excluding the care of the building and grounds. 

The recommendation is $871,000 above the fiscal year 2015 funding level and $121,000 above the budget request. 
55 

CARE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $11,640,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 9,953,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,964,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Care of the Building and Grounds, for expenditure by the Architect of the Capitol, provides for the structural and mechanical care 

of the United States Supreme Court Building and Grounds, including maintenance and operation of mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,964,000 for 

personnel and other services related to the Supreme Court building 

and grounds, which is supervised by the Architect of the Capitol. 

The recommendation is $1,676,000 below the fiscal year 2015 funding level and $11,000 above the budget request. 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $30,212,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 30,841,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 30,872,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was 

established on October 1, 1982 under Article III of the Constitution. The court was formed by the merger of the United States 

Court of Customs and Patent Appeals and the appellate division of 

the United States Court of Claims. The court consists of 12 judges 

who are appointed by the President, with the advice and consent 

of the Senate. Judges are appointed to the court under Article III 

of the Constitution of the United States. 

The Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction in a variety of 

subjects, including international trade, Government contracts, patents, certain claims for money from the United States Government, 

Federal personnel, and veterans’ benefits. Appeals to the court 

come from all Federal district courts, the United States Court of 

Federal Claims, the United States Court of International Trade, 

and the United States Court of Veterans Appeals. The court also 

takes appeals of certain administrative agencies’ decisions, including the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Board of Contract Appeals, the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, and the 

Trademark Trial and Appeals Board. Decisions of the United 

States International Trade Commission, the Office of Compliance of 

the United States Congress, and the Government Accountability 

Office Personnel Appeals Board are also reviewable by the court. 
56 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $30,872,000. 

The recommendation is $660,000 above the fiscal year 2015 funding level and $31,000 above the budget request. 

UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $17,807,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 18,145,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 18,160,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States Court of International Trade, located in New 

York City, consists of nine Article III judges. The court has exclusive nationwide jurisdiction over civil actions brought against the 

United States, its agencies and officers, and certain civil actions 

brought by the United States, arising out of import transactions 

and the administration and enforcement of the Federal customs 

and international trade laws. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $18,160,000. 

The recommendation is $353,000 above the fiscal year 2015 funding level and $15,000 above the budget request. 

COURTS OF APPEALS, DISTRICT COURTS, AND OTHER JUDICIAL

SERVICES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,846,818,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 5,036,338,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,960,008,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Salaries and Expenses is one of four accounts that provide total 

funding for the Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services. In addition to funding the salaries of judges and support staff, this account also funds the operating costs of appellate, 

district, and bankruptcy courts, the Court of Federal Claims, and 

probation and pretrial services offices. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,960,008,000 

for salaries and expenses. The recommendation is $113,190,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 funding level and $76,330,000 below the 

budget request and consistent with the judiciary’s most recent 

budget estimate of the needs for this account. 

The Committee is pleased with the judiciary’s ongoing efforts to 

contain costs. For more than 10 years the judiciary has been focused on cost containment and changes made to date have reduced 

current and future costs for: rent, information technology, magistrate judges, compensation of court staff and law clerks, law 
57 

books, probation and pretrial services supervision work, and other 

areas. The Committee understands that further cost containment 

initiatives will expand the use of shared administrative services 

among the courts of appeals, district courts, bankruptcy courts, 

probation and pretrial services offices, and Federal defender organizations to reduce duplicative human resources, procurement, financial management, and information technology activities. The judiciary is also exploring voluntary consolidation of offices and other 

longer-term changes that would further reduce growth in personnel 

and operational costs. Given the constrained Federal budget environment, the Committee encourages the judiciary to continue these 

cost-cutting efforts. 

The Committee’s recommendation includes funding to expand 

evidence-based supervision practices to further reduce recidivism 

rates in the Federal probation and pretrial services system. Evidence-based practices [EBP] are the supervision practices proven to 

produce specific, intended results. EBP is an outcome-based approach that focuses on specific supervision and treatment strategies versus the more traditional contact-driven supervision approach. One of the judiciary’s programs, called Staff Training 

Aimed at Re-Arrest Reduction [STARR], involves exercises and instructions designed to alter the dysfunctional thinking patterns exhibited by many offenders that could lead to new criminal activity. 

The Committee supports the judiciary’s efforts to reduce recidivism 

rates for Federal offenders and expects the judiciary’s fiscal year 

2016 financial plan to include details on how this funding will be 

utilized including how many districts and officers will receive 

STARR training. 

The Committee has also included a cost-saving provision requested by the judiciary which would allow a U.S. probation officer 

who has been appointed in one district to provide supervision services to another district with the consent of both courts. This provision will allow a probation officer appointed in one district to perform services for another district with the consent of the appointing 

court. Further, it will facilitate the sharing across district lines of 

officer positions requiring special knowledge, such as sex-offender 

specialists, cyber-crime specialists, and search team members, 

thereby conserving resources by allowing one or more districts that 

are participating in a sharing arrangement to avoid the higher salary costs associated with specialized officers, which could be 

$15,000 more than a line officer. In addition, this change could 

lower travel costs by allowing officers who work in one district to 

supervise offenders who reside in a neighboring district which has 

its probation office further from where the offenders live. This option may be especially useful in supervising offenders in Indian 

lands, which may straddle multiple districts. 

VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION TRUST FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,423,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 6,045,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 6,045,000 
58 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Enacted by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 

(Public Law 99–660), the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is 

a Federal no-fault program designed to resolve a perceived crisis in 

vaccine tort liability claims that threatened the continued availability of childhood vaccines nationwide. The statute’s primary intention is the creation of a more efficient adjudicatory mechanism 

that ensures a no-fault compensation result for those allegedly injured or killed by certain covered vaccines. This program protects 

the availability of vaccines in the United States by diverting a substantial number of claims from the tort arena. 

Not only did this act create a special fund to pay judgments 

awarded under the act, but it also created the Office of Special 

Masters within the United States Court of Federal Claims to hear 

vaccine injury cases. The act stipulates that up to eight special 

masters may be appointed for this purpose. The special masters expenditures are reimbursed to the judiciary for vaccine injury cases 

from a special fund set up under the Vaccine Act. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,045,000. The 

recommendation is $622,000 above fiscal year 2015 funding level 

and the same as the budget request. 

DEFENDER SERVICES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,016,499,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,057,616,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,042,616,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Defender Services program ensures the right to counsel 

guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, the Criminal Justice Act (18 

U.S.C. 3006A(e)) and other congressional mandates for those who 

cannot afford to retain counsel and other necessary defense services. The Criminal Justice Act provides that courts appoint counsel 

from Federal public and community defender organizations or from 

a panel of private attorneys established by the court. The Defender 

Services program helps to maintain public confidence in the Nation’s commitment to equal justice under the law and ensures the 

successful operation of the constitutionally based adversary system 

of justice by which Federal criminal laws and federally guaranteed 

rights are enforced. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,042,616,000. 

The recommendation is $26,117,000 above the fiscal year 2015 

funding level, $15,000,000 below the budget request, and consistent 

with the Judiciary’s most recent budget estimate of the needs for 

this account. The Committee’s recommendation supports a current 

services operating level for the Defender Services program for fiscal 

year 2016. 
59 

FEES OF JURORS AND COMMISSIONERS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $52,191,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 52,411,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 48,423,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This account provides for the statutory fees and allowances of 

grand and petit jurors and for the compensation of jury and land 

commissioners. Budgetary requirements depend primarily upon the 

volume and the length of jury trials demanded by parties to both 

civil and criminal actions and the number of grand juries being 

convened by the courts at the request of the United States Attorneys. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $48,423,000. The recommendation is $3,768,000 below the fiscal year 2015 funding level. 

COURT SECURITY

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $513,975,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 542,390,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 538,771,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Court Security appropriation was established in 1983 and 

funds the necessary expenses incident to the provision of protective 

guard services, and the procurement, installation, and maintenance 

of security systems and equipment for United States courthouses 

and other facilities housing Federal court operations, including 

building access control, inspection of mail and packages, directed 

security patrols, perimeter security provided by the Federal Protective Service, and other similar activities as authorized by section 

1010 of the Judicial Improvement and Access to Justice Act (Public 

Law 100–702). 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $538,771,000. The recommendation is $24,796,000 above the fiscal year 2015 

funding level and $3,619,000 below the budget request. 

The recommendation includes funding for the phased implementation of additional court security officers at Federal courthouses as 

recommended by the U.S. Marshals Service [USMS]. The USMS 

recommends that an additional 346 court security officers be posted 

at Federal courthouses to strengthen security, phased-in between 

fiscal years 2016 and 2020 (an average of approximately 69 per 

year). This updated staffing standard strengthens security at Federal courthouses by adding court security officers in security control rooms and at garage/loading docks at large courthouses. It also 

includes a crucial exterior ‘‘forward watch’’ position outside courthouse entrances to identify and address threats earlier, before the 

gain entry to the courthouse. 
60 

The Committee is aware of problems with aging and failing physical access control systems [PACS] at Federal courthouses nationwide. PACS systems are designed to control access to facilities and 

secure space for judges, authorized Federal employees, and contractors. The judiciary transmitted reprogramming notifications to the 

Committee in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 to replace additional 

PACS systems. The Committee understands that the USMS has 

engaged the services of an expert contractor to assist in developing 

a longer-term strategy for replacing aging PACS systems judiciarywide. The review is expected to be completed in January 2016 and 

will include a comprehensive, multi-year strategy for PACS replacement, which the judiciary and USMS will use to develop cost 

estimates for implementation. The Committee expects to be kept 

apprised of the results of this review. 

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $84,399,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 87,590,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 86,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Administrative Office [AO] of the United States Courts was 

created in 1939 by an act of Congress. It serves the Federal judiciary in carrying out its constitutional mission to provide equal justice under the law. Beyond providing numerous services to the Federal courts, the AO provides support and staff counsel to the Judicial Conference of the United States and its committees, and implements Judicial Conference policies as well as applicable Federal 

statutes and regulations. The AO is the focal point for communication and coordination within the Federal judiciary and with Congress, the executive branch, and the public on behalf of the judiciary. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $86,000,000. This recommendation is $1,601,000 above the fiscal year 2015 

funding level and $1,590,000 below the budget request. 

Capital Improvement Plan.—The Committee appreciates that the 

Judicial Conference has produced an updated 5-Year Plan that utilizes the Asset Management Planning [AMP] process and 

prioritizes courthouse construction funding requests utilized by 

GSA in its budget request, but is interested in learning more about 

how and with what frequency the Conference will update court location criteria used in the scoring methodology. For new construction projects on the 5-Year Plan, such criteria includes data on security, space functionality, caseload growth, and other factors and 

weights used throughout the process. It also remains unclear how 

the Conference intends to update requests to Congress, either annually or at regular intervals as may be necessary to better inform 

decision-making based on best available information about construction needs. Not more than 45 days after the first meeting of 

the Judicial Conference of the United States following enactment 
61 

of this act, the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. 

Courts shall submit a report to the Committee that includes this 

information, specifically describing the process for updating scores 

and what impact new data might have on current rankings and 

pending requests for appropriated funds. 

FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $26,959,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 27,679,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 27,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Federal Judicial Center, located in Washington, DC, improves the management of Federal judicial dockets and court administration through education for judges and staff, and research, 

evaluation, and planning assistance for the courts and the Judicial 

Conference. The Center’s responsibilities include educating judges 

and other judicial branch personnel about legal developments and 

efficient litigation management and court administration. Additionally, the Center also analyzes the efficacy of case and court management procedures and ensures the Federal judiciary is aware of 

the methods of best practice. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $27,000,000. 

The recommendation is $41,000 above the fiscal year 2015 funding 

level and $679,000 below the budget request. 

UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $16,894,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 17,540,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 17,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States Sentencing Commission establishes, reviews, 

and revises sentencing guidelines, policies, and practices for the 

Federal criminal justice system. The Commission is also required 

to monitor the operation of the guidelines and to identify and report necessary changes to the Congress. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $17,000,000. 

The recommendation is $106,000 above the fiscal year 2015 funding level and $540,000 below the budget request. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—THE JUDICIARY

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends the following administrative provisions for the judiciary: 
62 

Section 301 allows the judiciary to expend funds for the employment of experts and consultative services. 

Section 302 allows the judiciary, subject to the Committee’s reprogramming procedures, to transfer up to 5 percent between appropriations, but limits to 10 percent the amount that may be 

transferred into any one appropriation. 

Section 303 limits official reception and representation expenses 

incurred by the Judicial Conference of the United States to no 

more than $11,000. 

Section 304 grants the judicial branch the same tenant alteration 

authorities as the executive branch. 

Section 305 provides continued authority for a court security 

pilot program. 

Section 306 allows a U.S. probation officer who has been appointed in one district to provide supervision services to another 

district with the consent of both courts. 

Section 307 extends for 1 year the authorization of a temporary 

judgeship in Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, New 

Mexico, Texas, California, and North Carolina. 
(63) 

TITLE IV 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

FEDERAL PAYMENTS

FEDERAL FUNDS

A total of $688,679,000 in Federal funds are estimated to be 

available to the District of Columbia government, the District of 

Columbia Courts, the District of Columbia Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, and other DC entities. This is 

$9,048,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

$71,114,000 below the budget request. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR RESIDENT TUITION SUPPORT

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

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 40,000,000 

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

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Resident Tuition Support program was created by the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 (Public Law 106–98), 

expanded through the District of Columbia College Access Improvement Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–157), and amended and reauthorized through Public Law 110–97. The program provides grants 

of up to $10,000 annually for undergraduate District students to 

attend eligible public 4-year universities and colleges nationwide. 

The grants are applied toward the cost of the difference between 

in-State and out-of-State tuition. Grants of up to $2,500 are provided for students to attend private institutions in the DC metropolitan area, private historically Black colleges and universities nationwide, and public 2-year community colleges nationwide. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $30,000,000 

for the resident tuition support program, the same as the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level. The Committee has also included language 

from the budget request that reduces the annual household income 

threshold for program eligibility to $450,000. 

The Committee directs that the State Superintendent shall include, as a component of the fiscal year 2017 budget justification 

submission, an annual update of the District’s efforts, including research findings, to enhance the retention, persistence, and graduation rates of program participants, including early awareness and 

readiness initiatives to promote academic college preparation, guidance, and other support mechanisms and partnerships. The budget 

justification should also describe the status and effectiveness of 

cost containment measures instituted. 
64 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING AND SECURITY COSTS

IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $12,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 14,900,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 13,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

As the seat of the Federal Government, the District of Columbia 

and its police, fire and emergency personnel have a unique and significant responsibility to protect the property and personnel of the 

government. The Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and 

Security Costs is provided to help address the impact of the Federal presence on public safety in the District. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $13,000,000, 

for the District of Columbia for the costs of providing public safety 

at events related to the presence of the national capital in the District of Columbia, for the costs of providing support requested by 

the United States Secret Service Division in carrying out their protective duties under the direction of the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for the costs of providing support to respond to immediate and specific terrorist threats or attacks in the District of Columbia or surrounding jurisdictions. This is $500,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

The Committee directs the District of Columbia to submit a detailed budget justification for emergency planning and security 

with its funding request for fiscal year 2017. The Committee further directs the District of Columbia to submit, within 60 days of 

the end of fiscal year 2016, a report to the House and the Senate 

Committees on Appropriations detailing the purposes and amounts 

expended using the funds, particularly noting any deviation from 

the original proposed spending. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $245,110,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 274,401,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 246,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Under the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government 

Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–33, title XI), the Federal 

Government is required to finance the District of Columbia Courts, 

the judicial branch of the District of Columbia government. This 

Federal payment to the District of Columbia Courts funds the operations of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Superior Court, 

the Court System, and the Capital Improvement Program. By law, 

the annual budget includes estimates of the expenditures for the 

operations of the Courts prepared by the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration, the Court’s policy-making body, as well as the 

President’s recommendation for funding the Courts’ operations. 
65 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment to the District of 

Columbia Courts of $246,000,000, which is $890,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. This amount includes $14,000,000 for 

the Court of Appeals, $122,000,000 for the Superior Court, 

$72,000,000 for the Court System, and $38,000,000 for capital improvements to courthouse facilities. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR DEFENDER SERVICES IN DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA COURTS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $49,890,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 49,890,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 49,890,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The District of Columbia Courts appoint and compensate attorneys to represent persons who are financially unable to obtain such 

representation. The Defender Services programs provide counsel 

for indigent persons who are charged with criminal offenses, for 

family proceedings involving child abuse, neglect, and termination 

of parental rights, and for guardianship proceedings for protection 

of mentally incapacitated individuals and minors whose parents 

are deceased. 

In addition to legal representation, these programs provide indigent persons with services such as transcripts of court proceedings, 

expert witness testimony, foreign and sign language interpretation, 

and investigations and genetic testing. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $49,890,000 

for Defender Services in the District of Columbia Courts. This is 

the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the same as the 

budget request. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER

SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $234,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 244,763,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 242,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency [CSOSA] 

for the District of Columbia is an independent Federal agency created by the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government 

Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–33, title XI). CSOSA acquired the operational responsibilities for the former District agencies in charge of probation and parole, and houses the Pretrial 

Services Agency within its framework. The mission of CSOSA is to 

increase public safety, prevent crime, reduce recidivism, and support the fair administration of justice in close collaboration with 

the community. In fiscal year 2014, the Community Supervision 

Program supervised approximately 13,250 adult offenders on a 

daily basis and 20,863 different offenders over the course of a year. 
66 

During fiscal year 2014, the Pretrial Services Agency [PSA] supervised 18,656 defendants. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $242,000,000, which is $8,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. Of 

this amount, $61,000,000 is designated for the Pretrial Services 

Agency and $181,000,000 is designated for the Community Supervision Program. 

The Community Supervision Program’s [CSP] challenge in effectively supervising and reducing recidivism among the offender population is substantial. Many offenders have significant needs, are 

a high risk to public safety and are prone to recidivate. In fiscal 

year 2014, 7,724 adult offenders entered supervision; 82 percent of 

those intakes reported having a history of substance abuse, 37 percent had diagnosed or self-reported mental health issues, 35 percent had less than a high school diploma, 41 percent were unemployed and 9 percent were homeless or resided in homeless shelters 

or other emergency housing. Offenders who fail to successfully complete supervision and/or recidivate place an enormous burden on 

the offender’s family, the community and the entire criminal justice 

system. 

The Committee notes that CSP research of offender outcomes has 

shown that, compared to the total supervised population, offenders 

who recidivate are more likely to be younger, test positive for 

drugs, have unstable housing, lack employment, be supervised as 

part of a mental health caseload, and be assessed by CSP at the 

highest risk levels. The Committee supports the CSP’s efforts to 

continue to adjust its programs and reallocate resources toward effective supervision of the highest risk and highest need offenders. 

The Committee also notes the efforts of the Pretrial Services 

Agency to ensure public safety through high quality risk-assessment, supervision and treatment procedures. Funds provided will 

help support efforts to improve identification of defendants who 

pose a higher risk of pretrial failure, enhance supervision and oversight of these defendants, and work with local partners to expand 

services and support for persons with substance dependence and 

mental health needs. 

The Committee supports the request to allow $3,159,000 of 

CSOSA funding to remain available until September 30, 2018 for 

the relocation of an offender supervision field office. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE FOR THE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $41,231,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 40,889,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 40,889,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Public Defender Service [PDS] for the District of Columbia, 

an independent organization established by a District of Columbia 

statute (16 D.C. Code 2–1601–1608), has a distinct mission to provide and promote quality legal representation services within the 

District of Columbia justice system. PDS provides legal representa-
67 

tion to indigent adults and children facing loss of liberty and provides support in the form of training, consultation, and legal reference services to members of the local bar appointed as counsel 

in criminal, juvenile, and mental health cases involving indigent 

individuals. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment to the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia of $40,889,000, which 

is $342,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the same 

as the budget request. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND

SEWER AUTHORITY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $14,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 24,300,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 14,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Approximately one-third of the District of Columbia is served by 

a combined sewer system, constructed by the Federal Government 

in 1890, in which both sanitary waste and storm water flow 

through the same pipes. When the collection system or the Blue 

Plains treatment plant reach capacity, typically during periods of 

heavy rainfall, the system is designed to overflow the excess water. 

This mixture of sewage and storm water runoff is discharged to the 

Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, Rock Creek, and tributary waters 

between 60 and 75 times each year. Under a judicial consent decree entered on March 23, 2005, the Water and Sewer Authority 

is undertaking a 20-year, $2,600,000,000 sewer construction program to reduce combined sewer overflows [CSO]. The Clean Rivers 

Project includes deep underground storage tunnels, side tunnels to 

reduce flooding, pump station rehabilitation, and the elimination of 

over a dozen CSO outfalls along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers 

and Rock Creek. When completed in 2025, this project is expected 

to vastly improve water quality and significantly reduce contaminated discharges into and debris in our Nation’s capital waterways 

as well as improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $14,000,000 to 

be matched by at least $14,000,000 provided by the Water and 

Sewer Authority (DC Water), to continue implementation of the 

Long-Term Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan. This is the 

same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING

COUNCIL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,900,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,900,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,900,000 
68 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for the District of Columbia [CJCC] is the primary forum in which District of Columbia 

criminal justice agencies can identify and address interagency coordination on issues such as illegal drugs, juvenile justice, halfway 

houses, information technology, and identification of arrestees to 

improve public safety in the District of Columbia for its residents, 

visitors, victims, and offenders. 

The CJCC was originally established pursuant to a memorandum 

of agreement in May 1998 and functions as an independent working group to foster cooperation among the more than a dozen Federal and local governmental agencies which have law enforcement 

responsibility in our Nation’s capital. Under a local enactment in 

August 2001, the CJCC was established as an independent agency 

within the District of Columbia. 

The CJCC maintains the Justice Integrated Information System 

[JUSTIS] using technology that allows for the seamless sharing of 

information at critical decision points throughout the justice system. JUSTIS connects Federal agencies, the District government, 

and court information systems, so that criminal activity can be easily monitored across an array of participating agencies. Agencies 

currently using JUSTIS include the Metropolitan Police Department, the D.C. Department of Corrections, D.C. Superior Court, the 

U.S. Park Police, the U.S. Capitol Police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pretrial Services Agency, CSOSA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, 

and the D.C. and Maryland Public Defenders Service. No other system provides this range of access to Federal and local information 

in the District. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $1,900,000 to 

CJCC. This is the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

the same as the budget request. 

The Committee directs the CJCC to submit annual performance 

measures in an annual report to accompany the fiscal year 2017 

budget justification, which should also describe progress made on 

specific CJCC initiatives. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR JUDICIAL COMMISSIONS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $565,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 565,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 565,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure provides 

support to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and Superior 

Court through reviewing and investigating allegations of judicial 

misconduct warranting disciplinary action; involuntary judicial retirements due to health; evaluation of judges seeking reappointment to the bench; and evaluation of retired judges seeking to continue service as a senior judge. The mission of the Commission on 

Judicial Disabilities and Tenure is to maintain public confidence in 
69 

an independent, impartial, fair, and qualified judiciary, and to enforce the high standards of conduct judges must adhere to both on 

and off the bench. The Judicial Nomination Commission recommends candidates to the President of the United States for nomination to judicial vacancies in these courts. In accordance with the 

National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement 

Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–33), the Federal Government is responsible for financing of the District of Columbia Courts, including 

the operations of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Superior Court, the Court System, and the Capital Improvement Program. Although independent of the Courts by design, these two 

Commissions provide important functions within the judicial 

branch of local government in the District of Columbia. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $565,000 as a Federal payment for 

the judicial commissions, of which $270,000 is designated for the 

Judicial Nomination Commission and $295,000 is designated for 

the Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure. This amount 

is the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the budget 

request. Funds shall remain available until September 30, 2017. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $45,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 43,200,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 45,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

As authorized by Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act 

(SOAR Act) and as part of a three-part comprehensive funding 

strategy, the District of Columbia receives funds for District of Columbia Public Schools, Public Charter Schools and Opportunity 

Scholarships. The intent of this comprehensive funding approach 

was to ensure progress and improvement of DCPS and public charter schools, while ensuring continued funding to support the Opportunity Scholarship Program for students to attend private schools. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $45,000,000 

for school improvement which is the same as the fiscal year 2015 

enacted level and $1,800,000 above the budget request. These 

funds are allocated as follows: $15,000,000 for District of Columbia 

Public Schools, $15,000,000 for Public Charter Schools and 

$15,000,000 for Opportunity Scholarships. 

The Administration proposed and the recommendation provides 

$3,200,000, within the total provided, for the administrative, parental assistance, student academic assistance, and evaluation 

costs of the opportunity scholarship program. The level of funding 

for these activities is above the levels authorized by SOAR. However, the Committee supports the Administration’s request and believes that it is critical that additional funding be provided to effectively administer the program, to increase parental assistance and 

outreach, and to provide academic assistance to students. 
70 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR THE D.C. NATIONAL GUARD

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $435,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 435,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 435,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The D.C. National Guard is a Federal, rather than a local, entity 

and responds to orders of the President of the United States who 

is the Commander-in-Chief of the D.C. National Guard pursuant to 

law (District of Columbia Official Code sections 49–409 and Executive Order No. 11485 (October 1, 1969)). Unlike a Governor of a 

State, the Mayor is not authorized to deploy the National Guard 

under any circumstances. The District of Columbia National Guard 

is specifically trained to support law enforcement during critical 

missions, such as demonstrations, Presidential inaugurations and 

funerals, and emergency services for weather-related contingencies. 

However, residency restrictions preclude a significant number of 

Guard members from eligibility for tuition assistance programs, 

which has severely hampered recruitment and retention efforts. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $435,000 for 

the D.C. National Guard designated for the Major General David 

F. Wherley, Jr. District of Columbia National Guard Retention and 

College Access Program, a tuition assistance program for nonresident District of Columbia National Guard members. This 

amount is the same as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the 

same as the budget request. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR HIV/AIDS PREVENTION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 5,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Based on the national HIV/AIDS case based reporting system, 

the District has among the highest AIDS diagnosis rates in the 

country. Currently, 2.5 percent of the population was diagnosed 

and is living with HIV. The District has established an evidencebased strategy of expanding routine HIV screening and early diagnosis, linkage and retention into care and treatment and population-level interventions that achieve large prevention impact. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation includes a Federal payment of 

$5,000,000 to support testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ........................... 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... $750,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 
71 

The budget requests a special Federal payment for development 

of a climate change adaptation plan to identify climate risks to the 

District of Columbia, vulnerabilities, and mitigation options. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee is unable to support the request for a new special 

Federal payment to the District of Columbia for a climate risk 

management plan. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR DC SOLAR POWER INITIATIVE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ........................... 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... $1,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 

The budget requests a special Federal payment of $1,000,000 for 

the expansion of the DC Department of Energy’s EnergySmart DC 

Solar Initiative. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee is unable to support the request for a new special 

Federal payment to the District of Columbia. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR ST. ELIZABETHS EAST CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ........................... 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... $9,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 

The budget requests a special Federal payment of $9,800,000 for 

establishment of the St. Elizabeths Research and Development Innovation Center on the East Campus of the St. Elizabeths campus 

in Washington, DC. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee is unable to support the request for a new special 

Federal payment to the District of Columbia. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ........................... 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... $6,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 

The budget requests a special payment for the District of Columbia for construction of new transitional housing units for homeless 

families in the District of Columbia. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee is unable to support the request for a new special 

Federal payment to the District of Columbia. The Committee urges 

the District to fully explore and exhaust other Federal grant options and private sources to augment local investments to support 

this program in fiscal year 2016. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS GRANTS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ........................... 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... $1,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 
72 

The budget requests a special payment to the District of Columbia Commission on Arts and Humanities for competitive grants for 

general operating support for District-based organizations whose 

primary function is the exhibition or presentation of, or training in, 

fine arts and humanities in the District of Columbia. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee is unable to support the request for a new special 

Federal payment to the District of Columbia. 

FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR MASS TRANSIT INNOVATION PLAN

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ........................... 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... $1,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 

The budget requests a special payment to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to fund a strategic plan for regional 

mass transit innovation, $1,000,000. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee is unable to support the request for a new special 

Federal payment to the District of Columbia. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FUNDS

The Committee recommends, for the operating expenses of the 

District of Columbia, the amount which will be submitted to Congress by the government of the District of Columbia as set forth in 

the enrolled version of the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request Act of 

2015, District of Columbia Bill 21–157, as may be amended. The 

local budget proposed by the Mayor provides an appropriation of 

$12,947,956,559 for operations of the District of Columbia. This 

amount includes estimated funding of $7,327,736,018 of local 

funds, $2,141,369,984 in Medicaid payments, and the remainder 

from other Federal and local funds. 
(73) 

TITLE V 

INDEPENDENT AGENCIES 

ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,100,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 3,207,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,100,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Administrative Conference of the United States [ACUS] is 

an independent agency and advisory committee created to study 

administrative processes in order to recommend improvements to 

Congress and agencies. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $3,100,000 for ACUS for fiscal year 

2016. 

BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

The Committee supports strong and effective consumer protection. The Committee strongly believes it is important that consumers do not encounter unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or discrimination. 

However, under the current structure of the Consumer Financial 

Protection Bureau [CFPB], the Director enjoys unprecedented regulatory and budgetary authority without meaningful appropriations 

oversight to ensure that the Director is effectively managing public 

money. 

The appropriations process provides an important check on agency expenditures and fosters accountability and transparency. While 

protecting consumers is and should remain a government priority, 

the unfettered authority granted to the CFPB Director precludes 

meaningful congressional oversight to ensure that the agency does 

not engage in wasteful or inappropriate spending. 

The Committee’s experience with the Federal Trade Commission, 

the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and 

other Federal agencies with powers to protect consumers or investors leads the Committee to conclude that a five-member commission is more suitable for guiding the CFPB than a single director. 

A commission ensures that multiple disciplines, experiences, and 

perspectives are brought to bear on CFPB rules, policies, and enforcement actions. The appointment and removal process, and stag-
74 

gered terms of commissioners, provide checks and balances, and a 

measure of continuity that a single head cannot. 

The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 

2015 requires the CFPB to notify certain congressional committees 

when a request for a transfer for funds is made to the Board of 

Governors of the Federal Reserve System in accordance with section 1017 of Public Law 111–203. However, the Committee is disappointed with the lack of transparency from the CFPB about how 

the funds would be spent. The Committee directs the CFPB to provide to the Committee on Appropriations on the date that a request 

is made for a transfer of funds a detailed spend plan that includes, 

but is not limited to, a break down by program and object class of 

how the funds would be spend during the time period covered by 

such request. 

Budget Briefing.—Given the need for transparency and accountability in the Federal budgeting process, the Committee directs the 

Bureau to provide an informal, nonpublic full briefing at least annually before the relevant Appropriations subcommittee on the Bureau’s finances and expenditures. 

The Committee includes the following provisions in the bill: 

Section 501. The Committee repeals the prohibition against the 

Committees on Appropriations reviewing transfers from the Federal Reserve System to the CFPB. Congress has a duty to examine 

the expenditures of the CFPB, especially since its funding would 

otherwise be returned to the Treasury to reduce our growing Federal debt. 

Section 502. The Committee changes the CFPB’s source of funding from transfers from the Federal Reserve System to annual appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2017. 

Section 503. The Committee continues a provision enacted in fiscal year 2015, with modification, that requires CFPB to notify the 

Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate, the Committee on Financial Services of the House and the Committee on 

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate of requests for 

a transfer of funds from the Federal Reserve System. Additionally, 

the Committee includes a provision that requires these notifications be made available on the CFPB’s public Web site. 

Section 504. The Committee directs the CFPB to submit quarterly reports on its activities and to testify on its activities when 

requested. The report shall include, among other things, how the 

CFPB allocates its funds and staff. 

Section 505. The Committee changes the CFPB leadership structure to a five-member commission. 

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

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

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 322,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 250,000,000 
75 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission [CFTC] was established as an independent agency by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 1389; 7 U.S.C. 4a). The Commission administers the Commodity Exchange Act, 7 U.S.C. section 

1, et seq. 

The CFTC oversees our Nation’s futures, options and swaps markets. The Commission’s mission is to foster transparent, open, competitive and financially sound derivatives markets. Effective oversight by the CFTC protects market participants from fraud, manipulation and abusive practices, and protects the public and our economy from systemic risk related to derivatives. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $250,000,000 for 

the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to remain available 

until September 30, 2017. 

The Committee recommendation includes $51,000,000 for the 

purchase of information technology. The Committee highlights the 

crucial need for the CFTC to make mission-critical investments in 

technology to sort through the vast volume of data and information 

generated daily by markets. The CFTC’s responsibilities to conduct 

effective oversight and analysis of the swaps and futures markets 

requires greater attention to and investments in its information 

technology systems. 

Practice varies across agencies regarding whether certain overhead expenses are charged to inspectors general and paid out of 

the appropriation they receive or whether the costs are borne by 

the agency. In fiscal year 2015, the Committee provided $2,620,000 

to the CFTC Office of Inspector General [OIG] with the expectation 

that a portion of this funding would be used to pay for the Inspector General’s share of overhead expenses that are charged to all 

CFTC divisions. The Committee presumes the CFTC’s practice of 

charging overhead to each division, including the OIG, will continue in fiscal year 2016. The Committee recommendation for fiscal 

year 2016 includes $2,620,000 for the OIG. Of this amount, not 

more than $322,000 shall be for overhead expenses. 

The Committee remains concerned that the CFTC has made 

long-term budgetary and leasing decisions based on the agency’s requested budget level rather than on its enacted appropriation. 

Given the agency’s budget request has far exceeded the appropriated amount it received in recent years, the CFTC Inspector 

General has criticized the agency for allowing ‘‘hope to trump experience’’ in long-term budgeting decisions. 

The Committee is aware of negotiations at the Commission concerning a collective bargaining agreement for agency employees. 

The Committee notes that under the Financial Institutions Reform, 

Recovery and Enforcement Act [FIRREA], the CFTC and a small 

number of financial regulatory agencies already provide significantly higher salaries and increased benefits compared to other departments and agencies under the General Schedule and Senior 

Executive Service salary scale. Most of the agencies covered by 

FIRREA are outside the appropriations process. However, the 
76 

CFTC’s budget is set by the Committee, and under the terms of the 

Anti-Deficiency Act, an agency may not commit to pay any expense 

for which it has not received sufficient appropriations. Furthermore, the Anti-Deficiency Act requires that agencies ensure that 

the cost of agreements made in collective bargaining be constrained 

by the dollar limitations of their appropriations. The Committee directs the CFTC to not increase agency personnel or benefit costs 

through excessive hiring or collective bargaining agreement negotiations that would result in furloughs, reductions-in-force, or a hiring freeze that could compromise the agency’s ability to carry out 

its mission of fostering open and transparent markets and protecting market users from fraud, manipulation, and abusive practices. 

Leasing and Occupancy Levels.—The Committee is deeply concerned with the vacant office space and low space utilization rates 

at the CFTC. In 2014, the CFTC Inspector General estimated that 

the Commission will pay tens of millions of dollars for vacant office 

space over the life of the CFTC’s four current leases if the agency 

does not take remedial action. 

According to the Inspector General, the CFTC claimed that their 

lease of vacant offices had been and remained a justifiable expense 

‘‘on the basis of the CFTC’s requested budgets since 2011—if only 

they were appropriated—would be sufficient to fill the vacant 

space.’’ The Office of Inspector General stated that this was ‘‘an instance of hope trumping experience... Given the shortfall between CFTC budget requests and Congress-approved budgets since 

fiscal year 2012, we do not believe that the ‘realm of possibility’ is 

the appropriate metric by which CFTC Management should base 

its decision to spend taxpayer dollars on vacant offices.’’ 

Given the agency’s recurring appeals for additional funding, the 

Committee remains concerned that a significant amount of taxpayer money that could otherwise be used to protect investors and 

ensure our markets are free from fraud, manipulation and other 

abuses is instead spent on unneeded office space. The Committee 

directs the CFTC to report to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this act on steps the agency is taking to dispose of excess space and reduce rental costs in each building currently leased 

by the Commission. 

The Committee also reminds the CFTC that it is required to consult with the General Services Administration [GSA] before seeking 

new office space or making alterations to existing office space pursuant to Section 618 of Division E of Public Law 113–235. The 

Committee directs the Commission to continue consulting with 

GSA in fiscal year 2016 prior to issuing a solicitation for offers of 

new leases or construction contracts and before entering into negotiations for succeeding leases. 

Spending Plan.—The Committee directs the CFTC to submit, 

within 30 days of enactment, a detailed spending plan for the allocation of the funds made available, displayed by discrete program, 

project, and activity, including staffing projections, specifying both 

FTEs and contractors, and planned investments in information 

technology. 

Regulatory Coordination and Harmonization.—The Committee 

believes it is important for the CFTC and SEC to ensure optimum 
77 

harmonization with each other in executing the respective oversight responsibilities of each agency with respect to over-thecounter derivative products. The Committee expects the CFTC and 

the SEC to consult and coordinate, to the greatest extent possible, 

in order to limit inconsistent regulation of similar entities, products, and markets. 

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $123,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 129,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 123,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Consumer Product Safety Commission [CPSC] is an independent regulatory agency that was established on May 14, 1973, 

and is responsible for protecting the public against unreasonable 

risks of injury from consumer products; assisting consumers to 

evaluate the comparative safety of consumer products; developing 

uniform safety standards for consumer products and minimizing 

conflicting State and local regulations; and promoting research and 

investigation into the causes and prevention of product-related 

deaths, illnesses, and injuries. 

In carrying out its mandate, the CPSC establishes mandatory 

product safety standards, where appropriate, to reduce the unreasonable risk of injury to consumers from consumer products; helps 

industry develop voluntary safety standards; bans unsafe products 

if it finds that a safety standard is not feasible; monitors recalls of 

defective products; informs and educates consumers about product 

hazards; conducts research and develops test methods; collects and 

publishes injury and hazard data; and promotes uniform product 

regulations by governmental units. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $123,000,000 for the Consumer 

Product Safety Commission. 

Antideficiency Act Violations.—Since fiscal year 2014, the CPSC 

has reported Antideficiency Act [ADA] violations on three separate 

occasions. While these reports are troubling, the Committee is also 

concerned that the CPSC neglected to notify Congress of the violations in a timely manner. 

Most notably, one series of violations occurred from approximately January 1, 1996, to September 25, 2013. According to the 

Inspector General, more than $1,200,000 in appropriated funds 

were expended without legal authority since fiscal year 2007; however, the agency is unable to determine the full extent of the violation dating back to 1996 because it no longer has the relevant financial records. 

The Committee notes that according to the Inspector General, 

the CPSC has taken corrective action to address the ADA violations. However, the Committee remains concerned that there is 

need for additional improvements to the agency’s accounting practices. Therefore, the Committee requests that the Government Ac-
78 

countability Office conduct an evaluation of the CPSC’s internal 

controls including its policies and procedures with respect to its 

field investigative workforce, salaries and expenses, travel, and 

training to determine the degree to which necessary safeguards 

have been implemented and to consider any improvements that 

could be made to the agency’s internal controls as necessary. 

Flame Retardant Chemicals.—As the Commission considers new 

upholstered furniture flammability standards, the Committee encourages the Commission to take steps to reduce or limit the use 

of flame retardant chemicals pursuant to its consumer products 

safety rule authority (15 U.S.C. 2058). In 2012, the Commission released a study that indicates that flame retardant chemicals, as 

currently used in upholstered furniture foam, have no practical impact on flammability. 

Furniture Tip-Overs.—Furniture tip-overs, particularly televisions, remain a serious risk to children and consumers. The Committee encourages the Commission to continue to engage with industry, consumer groups, and the public to increase efforts to limit 

or mitigate the risk associated with furniture tip-overs. 

Recreational Off-highway Vehicles.—The Committee is concerned 

with the Commission’s decision to pursue a rulemaking regarding 

recreational off-highway vehicles [ROVs]. The Committee notes the 

ROV industry recently updated its voluntary standards and continues to evaluate potential design enhancements to improve rider 

safety. Numerous industry groups, stakeholders, and lawmakers 

have expressed concerns regarding the Commission’s methods of 

evaluating data and ensuring an open and transparent process. 

The bill includes provisions in title VI to require the National 

Academy of Sciences, in consultation with the National Highway 

Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Defense, to 

examine the proposed mandatory design standards prior to CPSC 

finalizing any rulemaking. 

Youth Sports Concussion.—Within 180 days of enactment, CPSC 

shall report to the Committee on voluntary industry standards and 

product labeling requirements for youth sports protective headgear 

and helmets, including Commission participation and Commission 

employee involvement in voluntary standards activities. 

ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $10,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 9,600,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,600,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Election Assistance Commission [EAC] was created by the 

Help America Vote Act of 2002 [HAVA] (Public Law 107–252) and 

is charged with implementing provisions of that act relating to the 

reform of Federal election administration. 
79 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee provides $9,600,000 for EAC’s administrative expenses, which is $400,000 less than the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and the same as the budget request. The Committee bill requires that $1,500,000 of these funds be transferred to the National 

Institute for Standards and Technology [NIST] for technical assistance related to the development of voluntary State voting systems 

guidelines. 

Within 30 days of the transfer, the Director of NIST (or designee) 

shall provide to the Executive Director (or Acting) of the EAC and 

the Committee an expenditure plan for the funds that includes: (1) 

the number and position title and office of each staff person doing 

work and amount of time each staff person spends on that work; 

(2) the specific tasks accomplished including length of time needed 

to accomplish the task; (3) an explanation of expenditures, including contracts and grants, and use of the EAC funding transferred 

to NIST (including enumeration of funds); and (4) an explanation 

of how the work accomplished relates to mandated activities under 

HAVA. Finally, the Executive Director (or Acting) of the EAC and 

Director of NIST (or designee) shall work together to set priorities 

for the work outlined in order to meet timelines. 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $339,844,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 388,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 364,168,497 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Federal Communications Commission [FCC] is charged with 

regulating interstate and international communications by radio, 

television, wire, satellite, and cable. The FCC is also charged with 

promoting the safety of life and property through wire and radio 

communications. The mandate of the FCC under the Communications Act is to make available to all people of the United States a 

rapid, efficient, nationwide, and worldwide wire and radio communication service. The FCC performs five major functions to fulfill 

this charge: (1) spectrum allocation; (2) creating rules to promote 

fair competition and protect consumers where required by market 

conditions; (3) authorization of service; (4) enhancing public safety 

and homeland security; and (5) enforcement. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $320,000,000 for 

the Salaries and Expenses of the FCC for fiscal year 2016. In addition, the Committee provides $44,168,497 dedicated solely to moving expenses associated with the FCC’s expiring lease for its headquarters building and that will be utilized to either relocate operations to a new facility with substantially reduced square footage 

and lower rental expenses or to significantly reduce the agency’s 

leased space at its current location and restack employees within 

the smaller footprint. In recent years, the Commission has 
80 

prioritized politically polarizing rulemaking at the expense of the 

agency’s mission-critical work. It is the Committee’s hope that the 

Commission will better allocate the resources it receives in fiscal 

year 2016 to more effectively fulfill the agency’s core responsibilities under the Communications Act. The total appropriation of 

$364,168,497 will be derived from offsetting collections. 

Open Internet.—The Committee is greatly concerned that the 

Open Internet Order adopted on February 26, 2015, will stifle innovation and investment in broadband Internet service. Of particular 

concern is the possibility that title II of the Communications Act 

will now be utilized to regulate broadband Internet rates. While 

statements that the Open Internet Order is not intended to regulate rates are positive developments, the Committee remains concerned that the Order may be interpreted by the Commission to 

provide such authority. The Committee has included provisions in 

title VI to address these concerns. 

The Committee also recommends that up to $117,000,000 be retained from spectrum auction activities to fund the administrative 

expenses of conducting such auctions. 

The Committee has included language (section 510) to extend 

FCC’s exemption from the Anti-deficiency Act [ADA] until December 31, 2017. 

The Committee has included language (section 511) that prohibits the FCC from enacting certain recommendations regarding 

universal service that were made by the Joint Board of FCC members and State utility commissioners. 

Standalone Broadband.—The Committee recognizes the growing 

demand for broadband services in high cost areas of the country. 

Furthermore, the committee recognizes that an increasing number 

of consumers prefer to obtain broadband service in place of traditional voice service. Currently, there is no mechanism in place for 

rural rate-of-return carries to recover costs from the Universal 

Service Fund for broadband only customers. As such, the Committee directs the FCC to propose rules that carefully update existing Universal Service Fund mechanisms to provide sufficient support where consumers in areas served by smaller rural carriers 

choose to adopt only broadband services. 

Wireless Support.—The Committee includes a provision that 

would provide certainty to rural wireless broadband users and carriers across the Nation as the Federal Communications Commission continues to develop a new framework for parts of the Universal Service Fund. The provision reaffirms the intent of current 

regulations adopted by the Commission (47 CFR 54.307(e)(5) and 

(e)(6)) that provide that competitive eligible telecommunications 

carriers will continue to receive reliable support until Mobility 

Fund Phase II is implemented. The Committee preserves the Commission’s flexibility to develop nationwide replacement mechanisms 

for high-cost support, which could include Mobility Fund Phase II, 

another support mechanism, or set of support mechanisms and a 

separate but complimentary Alaska-specific support mechanism. 

The Committee does not intend that this section will limit the 

Commission’s consideration, development, or adoption of a replacement mechanism other than Mobility Fund Phase II or a separate 

Alaska-specific support mechanism. 
81 

Enhanced Underwriting Announcements.—The Committee understands that in the current economic environment, Non-Commercial 

Educational [NCE] Public Interest Obligation [PIO] license holders 

are facing financial challenges and looking for new and efficient 

ways of operating. It is important to ensure that NCE PIO standards for enhanced underwriting announcements are applied uniformly for all such stations. Therefore, the Committee encourages 

the FCC to work with all broadcasters to consider their intent 

when reviewing and interpreting the NCE PIO guidelines and to 

provide parity in treatment to all stations. 

Earthquake Alert System.—The FCC shall submit a report to 

Congress within 9 months of enactment of this act detailing all regulatory and statutory changes that would be necessary to ensure 

that earthquake-related emergency alerts using the Integrated 

Public Alert and Warning System and other associated alerting 

systems can be delivered to and received by the public in fewer 

than 3 seconds. The report shall include an analysis of signals, cell 

phone protocols, geographic targeting, and limitations on message 

length and content, as well as similar parameters associated with 

the dissemination of alerts by non-wireless providers. 

Call Completion in Rural Areas.—The FCC shall report to the 

Committee within 90 days of enactment of this act detailing the 

Commission’s efforts to resolve call completion issues and to prevent discriminatory delivery of calls to any area of the country. The 

report shall include information on the number of call completion 

complaints filed with the Commission in the previous 12 months 

and on the Commission’s resulting enforcement actions. 

Incentive Auction.—The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–96) authorized the FCC to conduct a voluntary broadcast incentive auction, and Congress allocated $1,750,000,000 to reimburse the service and equipment costs 

of channel relocation incurred by the television broadcast industry, 

such as changes to antennas, transmitters, transmission lines, and 

towers. The Committee is concerned about the relocation costs that 

broadcasters may face due to the realignment of channels and spectrum during the incentive auction. The Committee supports the incentive auction and expects the FCC to continue to work toward its 

success. The Committee strongly encourages the FCC to continue 

to work with broadcasters to develop a reasonable framework for 

repacking to ensure a successful voluntary auction. 

Broadband Connectivity on Tribal Lands.—The Committee remains concerned about the lack of access to broadband services on 

tribal lands. According to data collected by the FCC, only 63 percent of residents on rural, tribal lands have access to fast 

broadband service, which is eight times worse than the national average. The Committee urges the FCC to take action to increase access to broadband on tribal lands, and recommends $300,000 to 

support consultation with federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and corporations, and entities related to Hawaiian home lands. 

Commission Transparency.—The Committee directs the FCC to 

identify any changes made to an item after its adoption by the 

Commission, at the time such item is published. 
82 

Consumer Complaints Database.—The Committee encourages the 

FCC to analyze information from the consumer complaints database to identify potential enforcement actions and/or changes to 

current FCC policies. 

Electronic Comment Filing System.—The FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System [EFCS] serves as the repository for official 

records in the FCC’s docketed proceedings and rulemakings from 

1992 to the present. Although it is intended to allow consumers to 

research, retrieve, view, and print any document in the system, 

EFCS is cumbersome and difficult to use. The Committee encourages the FCC to modernize EFCS as part of its overall information 

technology reform efforts. 

Positive Train Control (PTC).—The Committee is aware of the 

FCC’s efforts to expedite and approve PTC spectrum swaps or purchases, as well as historic preservation and environmental reviews, 

in order to accelerate the deployment of PTC on all U.S. rail lines. 

The Committee understands that as a result of this effort, FCC 

now has sufficient capacity to handle requests for reviews. The 

deadline for PTC implementation is December 2015, and the Committee will continue to monitor this issue closely. 

Information Technology Reform.—The Committee supports the 

FCC’s efforts to improve its information technology [IT] investments and directs the Commission to report to the Committee 

within 6 months on how it will prioritize future IT reform efforts 

and identify the most important IT systems to be modernized. 

National Broadband Map.—The Committee urges the FCC to 

continue to improve the National Broadband Map’s accuracy and 

granularity. 

Universal Service Reform.—The Committee encourages the FCC 

to continue prioritizing the expansion of broadband availability in 

rural areas through the Connect America Fund. 

Coordination on Rural Communications Services.—The Committee recognizes the FCC’s vital role in preserving and advancing 

universal communications services. The Committee encourages the 

FCC to coordinate efforts with the Rural Utility Service to optimize 

the use of limited resources and promote broadband deployment in 

rural America. 

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $34,568,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 34,568,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 34,568,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [FDIC] Office of Inspector General [OIG] conducts audits, investigations, and other reviews to assist and augment the FDIC’s contribution to the stability of, and public confidence in, the Nation’s financial system. A 

separate appropriation more effectively ensures the OIG’s independence consistent with the Inspector General Act of 1978 and 

other legislation. 
83 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $34,568,000 for the FDIC inspector 

general, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level. Funds are to be derived from the Deposit Insurance Fund and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation resolution fund. 

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $67,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 76,119,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 72,500,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Federal Election Commission [FEC] was created through the 

1974 Amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 

(Public Law 93–443). Consistent with its duty of executing our Nation’s Federal campaign finance laws, and in pursuit of its mission 

of maintaining public faith in the integrity of the Federal campaign 

finance system, the FEC conducts three major regulatory programs: (1) providing public disclosure of funds raised and spent to 

influence Federal elections; (2) enforcing compliance with restrictions on contributions and expenditures made to influence Federal 

elections; and (3) administering public financing of Presidential 

campaigns. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $72,500,000 for the Federal Election 

Commission. The recommendation includes $5,000,000 to cover expenses associated with the expiration of the FEC’s leases. 

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $25,548,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 26,550,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 25,548,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Federal Labor Relations Authority [FLRA] is an independent 

administrative Federal agency created by title VII of the Civil 

Service Reform Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–454) with a mission to 

carry out five statutory responsibilities in relation to the Federal 

workforce: (1) determining the appropriateness of units for labor organization representation; (2) resolving complaints of unfair labor 

practices; (3) adjudicating exceptions to arbitrator’s awards; (4) adjudicating legal issues relating to the duty to bargain; and (5) resolving impasses during negotiations. 

The FLRA’s authority is divided by law and by delegation among 

a three-member authority and an Office of General Counsel, appointed by the President and subject to Senate confirmation; and 

the Federal Service Impasses Panel, which consists of seven parttime members appointed by the President. 
84 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $25,548,000 for 

the Federal Labor Relations Authority. 

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $293,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 309,206,000 

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

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Federal Trade Commission [FTC] administers a variety of 

Federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. Activities in the 

antitrust area include detection and elimination of illegal collusion, 

anticompetitive mergers, unlawful single-firm conduct, and injurious vertical agreements. The FTC enforces consumer protection 

laws involving advertising, marketing, and financial practices; 

fights consumer fraud; and addresses privacy and identity protection concerns. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation provides $300,000,000 for the 

salaries and expenses of the FTC for fiscal year 2016. 

The Congressional Budget Office estimates $124,000,000 of collections from Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger filing fees and 

$14,000,000 of collections from Do-Not-Call fees will partially offset 

the appropriation requirement for this account. The total amount 

of direct appropriations for this account is therefore $162,000,000. 

The Committee recognizes the FTC’s mission to preserve competition in the marketplace and protect consumers, including efforts to improve the security of consumer financial transactions. 

The recommended funding increase will support necessary endeavors to enhance data security and mitigate cybersecurity risks. The 

recommendation includes funding for the FTC Do-Not-Call initiative, of which the entire amount is to be derived from the collection 

of fees. 

Sports Concussion.—According to the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention, a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury 

that can occur in any sport or recreation activity. 

Given the potential for real injury to children, the Committee encourages the FTC to remain vigilant in its enforcement efforts 

against potential unfair and deceptive practices related to sports 

concussion. The FTC should review any National Academies’ report 

on sports-related concussions in youth for any matter that may inform efforts to protect consumers from unfair or deceptive practices 

in or affecting commerce. 

Agency Overlap.—The Committee is aware that on March 12, 

2015, the FTC and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [CFPB] 

reauthorized their ongoing Memorandum of Understanding designed to facilitate interagency coordination on efforts to protect 

consumers. The Committee directs the FTC to continue to maxi-
85 

mize efficiencies and avoid duplication of Federal law enforcement 

and regulatory efforts. 

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The General Services Administration [GSA] was established by 

the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (Public Law 81–152) when Congress mandated the consolidation of the 

Federal Government’s real property and administrative services. 

GSA is organized into the Public Buildings Service, the Federal Acquisition Service, the Office of Governmentwide Policy, and the Office of Citizen Services. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

Data Center Consolidation.—The Committee appreciates GSA’s 

efforts to reduce information technology costs by utilizing cloud 

computing and consolidating data centers. GSA recently eliminated 

and/or re-purposed 12,000 square feet of floor space, decommissioned over 230 servers, and moved more than 200 servers to other 

data centers. Given existing budget constraints and limited IT 

funding, data center consolidation can present significant savings 

opportunities to curb spending on underutilized infrastructure, and 

the Committee commends GSA for seeking cost-effective alternatives. The Committee encourages GSA to continue to explore further consolidation to existing data centers and available infrastructure in order to increase efficiency through economies of scale. 

FBI Headquarters Consolidation.—The FBI headquarters consolidation is expected to result in a full consolidation of FBI headquarters so that employees currently located at the J. Edgar Hoover building may be co-located with colleagues who are currently 

spread out across 20 leased offices in the region. GSA has begun 

this important process and narrowed the field down to a short list 

of three possible sites. GSA is expected to move forward in a timely 

and transparent way so that the agency does not fall behind its acquisition timeline, seeking the appropriate authorization and appropriation as required as the agency works to complete the 

project. 

Construction Contractors.—The Committee remains concerned 

about the high unemployment rate of the Nation’s construction industry. Despite the efforts of the Office of Federal Procurement 

Policy to increase communication between procurement officers and 

industry, the Committee believes that local contractors very often 

do not know about nor have the opportunity to compete for local 

construction projects. Therefore, the Committee directs the GSA 

Administrator to ensure that regional offices responsible for construction projects inform and engage local construction industry 

contractors, especially small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses, about Federal procurement 

opportunities and the bidding process. The Committee requests a 

clear outreach plan from GSA no later than 90 days after enactment of this act. This plan should modernize traditional outreach 

methods to reach a broader group of local contractors. 
86 

Courthouse Construction.—The Committee is concerned about 

the backlog of courthouse infrastructure projects under GSA control. In many instances, these projects have been pending for more 

than 5 years. The localities where these projects will be located are 

suffering economic harm from the delay, as valuable real estate sits 

unused and tax revenue bases are reduced. The Committee directs 

the GSA to provide Congress with a report on the cost of delays 

for new Federal courthouse construction projects pending on the 

Judiciary’s courthouse priority list. This report shall be due no 

later than 60 days after the enactment of this act and must provide 

analysis of the annual and cumulative 5-year loss of tax revenue 

to the Federal, State and local government. 

Innovative Partnerships.—The Committee directs the Administrator of General Services to submit a report, not more than 60 

days after the date of enactment, on the extent to which innovative 

partnerships, including those with non-Federal public or private 

sector entities, can expedite delivery for courthouse construction 

projects in accordance with the Judiciary’s courthouse priorities. 

The report shall identify the specific legal and regulatory hurdles 

that currently prevent GSA from considering innovative public-private finance models and detail the criteria for a potential pilot program to build Federal courthouses using a public-private partnership model. The report shall also provide a draft framework for soliciting proposals from interested partners in a fair and transparent manner. 

Border Ports of Entry.—The Committee is aware that GSA, as a 

member of the U.S.-Mexico Joint Working Committee on Transportation Planning, has been working with stakeholders on both sides 

of the border to produce Regional Border Master Plans, prioritized 

assessments of border Port of Entry needs for regions along the 

Southwest border. It is important that the GSA’s budget submissions accurately reflect not only input from other Federal agencies 

but incorporate data from the Master Plan process and prioritized 

project list. Within 90 days of the date of enactment, GSA is directed to provide to the Committee a detailed report on land port 

of entry projects identified in either regional Master Plans or related border-wide products for which Federal appropriations or assistance may be necessary; the status of commitments from the 

government of Mexico, where necessary; whether those projects 

have been incorporated into the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan included in the most recent annual budget request, and if not, a detailed justification describing why the project has been omitted. 

Land Border Partnerships.—While new authority first provided 

in fiscal year 2014 improves public and private sector opportunities 

to advance much needed land port of entry improvements, the process has not yet yielded a successful proposal despite strong stakeholder interest. The Committee is concerned that if GSA does not 

improve review practices and responsiveness, a significant opportunity to demonstrate that this authority can deliver results will 

have been missed and future interest from non-Federal entities in 

improving land border infrastructure will be effectively discouraged. Not more than 60 days after the date of enactment, GSA is 

directed to report, after consultation with relevant Federal agencies, on proposed steps to strengthen and improve the review proc-
87 

ess, including imposition of specific deadlines for inter-agency reviews and response to pending proposals, and incorporation of an 

evaluation process for assessing impacts to non-Federal stakeholders and international trading partners, for donation proposals 

under the provisions of the relevant provisions of section 559 of division F of Public Law 113–76, as amended, as well as the traditional gift acceptance process provided for under 40 U.S.C. 3175. 

Sustainable Roofing Systems.—The Committee recognizes the importance of providing energy efficient, sustainable, and cost effective measures that address more effectively the infrastructure 

needs of Federal agencies. The Committee directs GSA to study 

and report to the Committee within 180 days on the agency’s longterm Federal building roofing requirements and to assess the viability and advisability of sustainable roofing systems that protect 

the environment, conserve energy, and extend the useful life of the 

roof asset. In conducting this study, GSA shall consider the efficacy 

of multi-year and long-term lease acquisition models to obtain 

high-quality sustainable roofing systems that could possibly provide considerable cost savings over the standard purchase of traditional roof systems. As an essential component of this study GSA 

should consider implementing a pilot program utilizing sustainable 

roof systems under a multi-year lease model, while also determining whether longer term leases could provide additional cost 

savings to the Government. 

Revolutionary War Commemoration.—The Administrator of the 

General Services Administration is directed to issue a report to 

Congress within 90 days of enactment of this act on the status of 

commemorative work honoring slaves and free Black persons who 

served in the Revolutionary War as authorized by section 2860 of 

Public Law 112–239. The report should include a history of GSA’s 

involvement in the project and the corresponding legal requirements. 

GAO Report on the National Capital Region Rental Rates.—The 

Committee directs the Government Accountability Office [GAO] to 

submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations within 1 year 

of enactment concerning GSA’s policies and procedures in determining the boundaries of the National Capital Region and for establishing rental rate caps for leased buildings in the National 

Capital Region. The study should examine how the caps are determined, the degree to which the rates vary within the region and 

if so, why, whether these caps have any impact on local governments in the region and consider any improvements that could be 

made to lease cap policies and procedures in and around the National Capital Region. 

GAO Report on the National Capital Region Per Diem.—The 

Committee directs GAO to submit a report to the Committees on 

Appropriations within 1 year of enactment in setting per diem 

rates for hotels in the National Capital Region and for neighboring 

counties with borders that touch the National Capital Region. The 

report should compare GSA and DOD’s per diem policies for the 

National Capital Region and consider any improvements that could 

be made to per diem policies and procedures in and around the National Capital Region. 
88 

FEDERAL BUILDINGS FUND—LIMITATIONS ON AVAILABILITY OF

REVENUE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Limitation on availability of revenue: Limitation on availability, 2015 .................................................... $9,238,310,000 

Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 2016 ....................... 10,372,195,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 8,304,422,000 

The Federal Buildings Fund [FBF] finances the activities of the 

Public Buildings Service, which provides space and services for 

Federal agencies in a relationship similar to that of landlord and 

tenant. The FBF, established in 1975, replaces direct appropriations by using income derived from rent assessments, which approximate commercial rates for comparable space and services. The 

Committee makes funds available through a process of placing limitations on obligations from the FBF as a way of allocating funds 

for various FBF activities. 

CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION

Limitation on availability, 2015 ........................................................... $509,670,000 

Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 2016 .............................. 1,257,997,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 181,500,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The construction and acquisition fund finances the site, design, 

construction, management, and inspection costs of new Federal facilities. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a limitation of $181,500,000 for construction and acquisition in fiscal year 2016. 

The Committee recommendation includes full funding for the 

United States Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, as proposed in 

the President’s fiscal year 2016 budget request. Funding for this facility is the top construction priority of the Judicial Conference of 

the United States and would resolve severe security, space, and 

operational deficiencies in the existing facility. 

REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS

Limitation on availability, 2015 ........................................................... $818,160,000 

Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 2016 .............................. 1,247,067,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 357,189,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Under this activity, the General Services Administration [GSA] 

executes its responsibility for repairs and alterations [R&A] of both 

Government-owned and -leased facilities under the control of GSA. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a limitation of $357,189,000 for repairs and alterations in fiscal year 2016. 

Major Repairs and Alterations.—The Committee recommends 

$157,189,000 for repairs and alterations to the Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building in New York City, New York, and the Edward 
89 

J. Schwartz Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in San Diego, 

California, as requested in the President’s budget for fiscal year 

2016. These projects were identified in GSA’s budget request as the 

top two major repairs and alterations priorities of the Public Buildings Service for fiscal year 2016. The Committee also recommends $200,000,000 for Basic Repairs 

and Alterations, Consolidation Activities, the Judiciary Capital Security Program, and the Fire and Life Safety Program. 

RENTAL OF SPACE

Limitation on availability, 2015 ........................................................... $5,666,348,000 

Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 2016 .............................. 5,579,055,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,521,601,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The rental of space program funds lease payments made to privately owned buildings, temporary space for Federal employees 

during major repair and alteration projects, and relocations from 

Federal buildings due to forced moves and relocations as a result 

of health and safety conditions. GSA is responsible for leasing general purpose space and land incident thereto for Federal agencies, 

except in cases where GSA has delegated its leasing authority. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a limitation of $5,521,601,000 for 

rental of space. 

BUILDING OPERATIONS

Limitation on availability, 2015 ........................................................... $2,244,132,000 

Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 2016 .............................. 2,288,076,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,244,132,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This activity provides for the operation of all Government-owned 

facilities under the jurisdiction of GSA and building services in 

GSA-leased space where the terms of the lease do not require the 

lessor to furnish such services. Services included in building operations are cleaning, protection, maintenance, payments for utilities 

and fuel, grounds maintenance, and elevator operations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a limitation of $2,244,132,000 for 

building operations. 

GOVERNMENTWIDE POLICY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $58,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 62,022,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 58,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Governmentwide Policy [OGP], working cooperatively with other agencies, provides the leadership needed to develop and evaluate policies associated with high-performance green 

buildings and real property, acquisition policy, personal property, 
90 

travel and transportation management, vehicles and aircraft, committee and regulations management, and management of Federal 

spending data. OGP collaborates with partner agencies and other 

stakeholders to improve public access to policy information and 

support data, and improve transparency in Government. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $58,000,000 for 

Governmentwide Policy. 

AbilityOne.—The Committee appreciates the benefits that the 

AbilityOne program provides to persons with disabilities and the 

impact it has on the U.S. economy. However, the Committee is concerned about GSA markups to the price of AbilityOne products and 

the considerable frequency at which GSA vendors sell ‘‘Essentially 

the Same’’ [ETS] products. The Committee understands that GSA, 

in collaboration with AbilityOne, National Industries for the Blind, 

and SourceAmerica, has reduced the number of ETS products 

available for purchase. However, the Committee believes that more 

can be done to reduce markups to AbilityOne products and ensure 

ETS products are not replacing AbilityOne products. The Committee directs GSA to report to the Committees on Appropriations 

of the House and Senate within 90 days of enactment of this act 

on its efforts to price AbilityOne products and services according to 

approved Fair Market Prices established by the U.S. Ability One 

Commission and certify that GSA contractors are barred from selling products on their contracts that are equivalent as AbilityOne 

products and services. 

OPERATING EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $61,049,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 58,560,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 58,560,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Operating Expenses supports a variety of operational activities 

which are not feasible or appropriate for a user fee arrangement. 

Major programs include the personal property utilization and donation activities of the Federal Acquisition Service; the real property 

utilization and disposal activities of the Public Buildings Service; 

the activities of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals; and the 

Management and Administration activities, including support of 

Governmentwide emergency response and recovery activities, and 

top-level agency-wide management, administration, and communications activities. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $58,560,000 for 

Operating Expenses. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $65,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 67,803,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 65,000,000 
91 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This appropriation provides agency-wide audit and investigative 

functions to identify and correct management and administrative 

deficiencies within the General Services Administration [GSA], 

which create conditions for existing or potential instances of fraud, 

waste, and mismanagement. The audit function provides internal 

audit and contract audit services. Contract audits provide professional advice to GSA contracting officials on accounting and financial matters relative to the negotiation, award, administration, repricing, and settlement of contracts. Internal audits review and 

evaluate all facets of GSA operations and programs, test internal 

control systems, and develop information to improve operating efficiencies and enhance customer services. The investigative function 

provides for the detection and investigation of improper and illegal 

activities involving GSA programs, personnel, and operations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $65,000,000 for 

the Office of Inspector General. The recommendation includes 

$2,000,000 in no-year funding. In addition, the Office of Inspector 

General has access to unobligated no-year funds that were appropriated in fiscal year 2014. 

ALLOWANCES AND OFFICE STAFF FOR FORMER PRESIDENTS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,250,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 3,277,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,277,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This appropriation provides pensions, office staffs, and related 

expenses for former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, 

William Clinton, and George W. Bush, and for postal franking 

privileges for the widow of former President Ronald Reagan. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $3,277,000 for allowances and office 

staff for former Presidents. 

FEDERAL CITIZEN SERVICES FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $53,294,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 1 ......................................................................... 58,428,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 55,894,000 

1The budget includes funding for the E-Gov Fund under this account. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Federal Citizen Services Fund provides for the salaries and 

expenses of the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies [OCSIT]. OCSIT provides the means for citizens, businesses, other governments, and the media to obtain information 

and services easily from the Government via the Web, email, printed media, and telephone. OCSIT leads several interagency groups 

to share best practices and develop strategies for improving the 

way Government provides services to the American public. 
92 

The Federal Citizen Services [FCS] Fund is financed from annual 

appropriations to pay for the salaries and expenses of OCSIT staff 

and Citizens Services programs. Reimbursements from Federal 

agencies pay for the direct costs of information services OCSIT provides on their behalf. The FCS Fund also receives funding from 

user fees for publications ordered by the public, payments from private entities for services rendered, and gifts from the public. All income is available without regard to fiscal year limitations, but is 

subject to an annual aggregate expenditure limit as set forth in appropriation acts. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $55,894,000 for the Federal Citizen 

Services Fund, $2,600,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

PRE-ELECTION PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ........................... 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... $13,278,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 13,278,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the Pre-Election Transition Act of 2010, this 

appropriation will enable GSA to provide transition services to eligible major party candidates before the general election. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $13,278,000 for 

pre-election presidential transition. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Section 520 authorizes GSA to use funds for the hire of passenger motor vehicles. 

Section 521 authorizes GSA to transfer funds within the Federal 

buildings fund to meet program requirements. 

Section 522 requires that the fiscal year 2017 budget request 

meet certain standards. 

Section 523 provides that no funds may be used to increase the 

amount of occupiable square feet, provide cleaning services, security enhancements, or any other service usually provided, to any 

agency which does not pay the requested rate. 

Section 524 continues the provision that permits GSA to pay 

small claims less than $250,000 made against the Government. 

Section 525 provides that certain lease agreements must conform 

to an approved prospectus. 

Section 526 requires a GSA spending plan for certain accounts 

and programs. 

Section 527 stipulates certain requirements for the FBI headquarters consolidation. 
93 

HARRY S TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $750,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... ........................... 

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

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation is an independent 

agency established by Congress in 1975 (Public Law 93–642) to encourage exceptional college students to pursue careers in public 

service through the Truman Scholarship program. The Truman 

Scholarship is a merit-based award available to college juniors who 

plan to pursue careers in Government or elsewhere in public service. 

The Foundation Trust Fund was established with a one-time 

$30,000,000 appropriation in 1976. The authorizing legislation directed that this endowment be invested solely in U.S. Treasury Securities, the interest from which has funded the Foundation’s operating budget. With the decline in interest rates, the annual yield 

from the trust fund has declined by 63 percent over the past decade. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,000,000 for 

the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation. 

MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $45,085,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 47,415,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 45,085,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Merit Systems Protection Board [MSPB] was established by 

the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. MSPB is an independent 

quasi-judicial agency manifested to protect Federal merit systems 

against partisan political and other prohibited personnel practices 

and to ensure adequate protection for employees against abuses by 

agency management. 

MSPB assists Federal agencies in running a merit-based civil 

service system. This is accomplished on a case-by-case basis 

through hearing and deciding employee appeals and on a systemic 

basis by reviewing significant actions and regulations of the Office 

of Personnel Management [OPM] and conducting studies of the 

civil service and other merit systems. The intended results of 

MSPB’s efforts are to assure that personnel actions taken against 

employees are processed within the law and that actions taken by 

OPM and other agencies support and enhance Federal merit principles. 
94 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $45,085,000 for the MSPB. The recommendation includes not more than $2,345,000 

for adjudicating retirement appeals through an appropriation from 

the trust fund consistent with past practice. 

MORRIS K. UDALL AND STEWART L. UDALL FOUNDATION

MORRIS K. UDALL AND STEWART L. UDALL TRUST FUND

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,995,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,995,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,995,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The General Fund payment to the Morris K. Udall and Stewart 

L. Udall Trust Fund is invested in Treasury securities with maturities suitable to the needs of the Fund. Interest earnings from the 

investments are used to carry out the activities of the Morris K. 

Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The Foundation awards 

scholarships, fellowships, and grants, and funds activities of the 

Udall Center. 

The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation also supports training programs for professionals in health care policy and 

public policy, such as the Native Nations Institute [NNI]. NNI, 

based at the University of Arizona, provides Native Americans with 

leadership and management training, and analyzes policies relevant to tribes. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,995,000 for 

the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund. 

The Committee appreciates the progress made by the Udall 

Foundation to strengthen its internal controls related to contract 

oversight and personnel management. The Committee directs the 

Foundation to report semiannually to the Committee regarding its 

continued work in instituting reformed internal controls, including 

milestones achieved. Finally, the Committee provides that $200,000 

shall be transferred to the Inspector General of the Department of 

the Interior to conduct annual audits and investigations of the 

Foundation and submit reports of its findings to the Committee in 

order to ensure that the Foundation’s spending, management, and 

other activities are subject to regular oversight and review. 

ENVIRONMENTAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,400,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 3,420,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,400,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution is a 

Federal program established by Public Law 105–156 to assist parties in resolving environmental, natural resource, and public lands 
95 

conflicts. The Institute is part of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart 

L. Udall Foundation and serves as an impartial, nonpartisan institution providing professional expertise, services, and resources to 

all parties involved in such disputes. The Institute helps parties determine whether collaborative problem solving is appropriate for 

specific environmental conflicts, how and when to bring all the parties together for discussion, and whether a third-party facilitator or 

mediator might be helpful in assisting the parties in their efforts 

to reach consensus or to resolve the conflict. In addition, the Institute maintains a roster of qualified facilitators and mediators with 

substantial experience in environmental conflict resolution and can 

help parties in selecting an appropriate neutral professional. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,400,000 for 

the Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund. 

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

The National Archives and Records Administration [NARA] is 

the national recordkeeper, managing the Government’s archives 

and records, and operating the Presidential libraries. NARA is an 

independent agency created by statute in 1934 and tasked with the 

unique mission to identify, access, protect, preserve, and make 

available for use the important documents and records of all three 

branches of the Federal Government. NARA administers the Information Security Oversight Office, is the publisher of the Federal 

Register, and makes grants for historical documentation through 

the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. In 

addition, NARA is charged with additional responsibilities including mediating Freedom of Information Act disputes and coordinating controlled unclassified information. 

OPERATING EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $365,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 372,393,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 372,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This account provides for basic operations dealing with management of the Federal Government’s archives and records, operation 

of Presidential libraries, review for declassification of classified security information, and other duties. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $372,000,000 for operating expenses 

of the National Archives and Records Administration for fiscal year 

2016. This amount is $7,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and $393,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee’s recommendation supports initiatives to 

strengthen NARA’s record management leadership role; address archival storage needs; continue to develop, build, and expand the IT 

infrastructure to conduct the business of the National Declassification Center established in Executive Order 13526; operate and 
96 

maintain the Electronic Records Archive [ERA]; and improve research room holdings protection. 

The Committee notes that security of NARA’s collections and 

holdings has been identified as a material weakness by the Archivist and cited as a management challenge by the Inspector General. The Committee directs and expects NARA to institute, maintain, and enforce effective inventory controls and adequate levels of 

security within its facilities to reduce the risk of loss, damage, or 

destruction of irreplaceable historic documents and artifacts. 

The Committee believes that providing reliable access to electronic records far into the future, regardless of advancements in 

technology, is of utmost importance. The Committee strongly urges 

NARA, as it operates and maintains the ERA, to ensure effective 

and efficient preservation, appraisal, scheduling, and routine transfer of electronic records by Federal agencies. The Committee expects NARA to prioritize its efforts to accelerate user adoption of 

the ERA system, including providing instructional guidance and 

training materials. 

The Committee notes that that National Archive and Records 

Administration [NARA] is taking steps to reduce costs by reducing 

its real property footprint. However, the Committee recognizes that 

NARA facilities play an important role in providing citizens with 

access to archival Federal records, and is concerned that NARA’s 

plans to relocate records out of the State where they are currently 

stored will require researchers to travel significant distances to access original records. The Committee continues to encourage NARA 

to digitize and post on-line archival records that are relocated as 

a result of a facility closure. The Committee directs NARA to report, within 90 days of enactment, on its plans to make significant 

continued progress to digitize and preserve physical access to archival records that have been or will be relocated to another State by 

any facility closure occurring in fiscal year 2014 and 2015 or 

planned for fiscal year 2016. The report shall: (1) describe NARA’s 

digitization priorities for any relocated archival records; and (2) include a timeline for digitization and posting on-line. The Committee further directs NARA to give due consideration and appropriate adjudication, within the limits of the Federal Records Act 

and all applicable laws, of any request to review archival records 

that are relocated as a result of a facility closure, to determine 

whether those records continue to require permanent preservation 

in the National Archives. 

Space Needs.—The Committee is concerned that NARA is not 

prepared to accept, process, and safely store the large volumes of 

archival records that will come into its legal custody over the next 

15 years. The Committee understands that NARA could receive an 

additional 1 million to 2.5 million cubic feet of archival records over 

this period, which would require at least 450,000 square feet of 

new storage space. While the Committee notes the steps NARA has 

taken to reduce its real property footprint over the past several 

years, the Committee urges NARA to consider future transfer of 

records when planning its real property needs. NARA is directed 

to report, not later than 180 days after enactment of this act, on 

the volume and type of archival records the agency expects to receive over the next 15 years and the greatest challenges to acquir-
97 

ing or otherwise providing appropriate storage space for those 

records. 

Recordkeeping.—The Committee is concerned about the ability of 

Federal agencies to effectively manage email and other electronic 

Federal records so that essential records are available when required by Congress in order to fulfill its oversight responsibilities. 

The executive branch must assure the American public that records 

documenting Government decisions and actions are retained for the 

appropriate time period and can be retrieved and provided to Congress in a timely manner and as required by law. The Presidential 

and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2014 (Public Law 113– 

187) modernized the Federal records management statutes to include emails and electronic records and to reinforce that the executive branch must manage these records with greater care and stewardship than what has been observed in recent months and years. 

The Committee expects the Archivist of the United States to expediently amend existing guidance and introduce new rules as 

needed to ensure that all executive agencies comply with Public 

Law 113–187 and other recordkeeping laws. The Committee urges 

NARA to continue to analyze, assess, and report publicly on executive branch compliance with Federal recordkeeping statutes, with 

special emphasis on agency management of email and electronic 

records. The Committee directs NARA to increase oversight over 

executive branch records management by establishing a formal program of reporting, physical inspections, and systems audits of 

agency recordkeeping systems, and to report to the Committees on 

Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the 

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the 

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs 

any instances of substantial non-compliance by executive agencies 

or significant risk to Federal records that are identified in the 

course of NARA oversight activities. 

Office of Government Information Services.—The Committee is 

concerned that funding for the Office of Government Information 

Services [OGIS] under the National Archives and Records Administration [NARA] is well below levels sufficient for OGIS to fulfill its 

statutory duties. The Federal Government spends approximately 

$400,000,000 annually processing document requests under the 

Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] and over $20,000,000 annually 

litigating FOIA disputes. The Committee believes that OGIS, if 

properly funded, could play a key role in reducing these conflicts 

and yield substantial cost savings. When OGIS was created, the 

Congressional Budget Office projected that OGIS would require 

$7,000,000 annually to fulfill its statutory duties. Yet, OGIS funding has remained well below $2,000,000. This limited funding increases taxpayer dollars spent on FOIA processing and litigation 

elsewhere. Accordingly the Committee directs the National Archives and Records Administration to report within 60 days after 

the enactment of this act on the specific allocation of appropriated 

funds to OGIS in fiscal year 2016, the level of services this allocated amount will support, and a comparison of the estimated cost 

savings and the other benefits to the Federal Government that will 

be achieved under this level of services versus the savings and ben-
98 

efits projected under a scenario where annual funding for OGIS is 

provided at the level identified by the CBO. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,130,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,180,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,180,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Office of Inspector General [OIG] is to ensure 

that NARA safeguards and preserves the records of our Government while providing the American people with access to the essential documentation of their rights and the actions of their Government. The OIG accomplishes this by combating fraud, waste, and 

abuse through high-quality objective audits and investigations covering all aspects of agency operations at facilities nationwide. The 

OIG also serves as an independent, internal advocate for the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of NARA and its operations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $4,180,000 for the Office of Inspector General [OIG]. This amount is $50,000 above the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. The Committee 

supports a distinct account for the OIG in order to clearly identify 

the resources necessary to staff and operate the expanding missioncritical oversight and accountability functions performed by the 

OIG to ensure responsible NARA stewardship over public records. 

REPAIRS AND RESTORATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $7,600,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 7,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 7,500,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This account provides for the repair, alteration, and improvement 

of Archives facilities and Presidential libraries nationwide, and provides adequate storage for holdings. Funding made available will 

better enable NARA to maintain its facilities in proper condition 

for public visitors, researchers, and NARA employees, and also 

maintain the structural integrity of the buildings. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $7,500,000 for the repairs and restoration account. This amount is $100,000 below the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee appreciates NARA’s submission of an update of 

its comprehensive capital needs assessment for its entire infrastructure of Presidential libraries and records facilities, as part of 

the fiscal year 2016 budget submission and urges NARA to include 

an appropriate level of funding for repair of valuable historic Presidential libraries in the fiscal year 2017 budget request. 
99 

NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS COMMISSION

GRANTS PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 5,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission 

[NHPRC] provides grants nationwide to preserve and publish 

records that document American history. Administered within the 

National Archives, which preserves Federal records, NHPRC helps 

State, local, and private institutions preserve non-Federal records, 

helps publish the papers of major figures in American history, and 

helps archivists and records managers improve their techniques, 

training, and ability to serve a range of information users. Since 

1964, the NHPRC has funded nearly 5,000 projects at local government archives, colleges and universities, and other nonprofit institutions to facilitate use of public records and other collections by 

scholars, family and local historians, journalists, documentary 

filmmakers, and many others. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $5,000,000 for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission [NHPRC]. This amount 

is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee supports the central role the NHPRC program 

plays in the preservation and dissemination of the Nation’s documentary heritage and its success in leveraging private sector contributions. 

The Committee commends the National Archives and Records 

Administration and the National Historical Publications and 

Records Commission for their work to ensure the publication and 

recording of our Nation’s history. The Committee urges the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to continue 

to support the completion of documentary editions through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission Grants Program and to support the scholarly presentation of our country’s 

most treasured historical documents. 

The Committee notes that the funding provided will enable 

NARA, through the NHPRC, to undertake a variety of initiatives, 

including advancing archives preservation, access, and digitization 

projects within the interlocking repositories of historic records and 

hidden collections; ensuring public access to some of the most important historical resources that are maintained outside of Federal 

repositories; and digitizing nationally significant historic records 

collections to facilitate round-the-clock Internet availability. 
100 

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REVOLVING LOAN FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Community Development Revolving Loan Fund [CDRLF] 

program was established in 1979 to assist officially designated 

‘‘low-income’’ credit unions in providing basic financial services to 

low-income communities. Low-interest loans and deposits are made 

available to assist these credit unions. Loans or deposits are normally repaid in 5 years, although shorter repayment periods may 

be considered. Technical assistance grants [TAGs] are also available to low-income credit unions for improving operations as well 

as addressing safety and soundness issues. Credit unions use TAG 

funds for specific initiatives, including taxpayer assistance, financial education, home ownership initiatives, and training assistance. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $2,000,000 for technical assistance 

grants to community development credit unions. This funding level 

is equal to the budget request and equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. The Committee expects the CDRLF to continue making 

loans from available funds derived from repaid loans and interest 

earned on previous loans to designated credit unions. 

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $15,420,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 15,742,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 15,420,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Government Ethics [OGE], a separate agency within the executive branch, was established by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–521). The OGE is charged by law 

to provide overall direction of executive branch policies designed to 

prevent conflicts of interest and ensure high ethical standards for 

executive branch employers. The OGE carries out these responsibilities by promulgating and maintaining enforceable standards of 

ethical conduct for nearly 2.7 million civilian employees in more 

than 130 executive branch agencies and the White House; overseeing a financial disclosure system that reaches 27,000 public and 

over 370,000 confidential financial disclosure report filers; ensuring 

that executive branch ethics programs are in compliance with applicable ethics laws and regulations; providing direct education and 

training products to more than 5,000 ethics officials executive 

branch-wide; conducting outreach to the general public, the private 

sector, and civil society; and providing technical assistance to, 

State, local, and foreign governments, and international organizations. 
101 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $15,420,000 for 

salaries and expenses of the OGE in fiscal year 2016. 

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $96,039,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 120,688,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 119,239,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Personnel Management [OPM] was established by 

Public Law 95–454, the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, enacted 

on October 13, 1978. OPM is responsible for management of Federal human resources policy and oversight of the merit civil service 

system. Although individual agencies are largely responsible for 

personnel operations, OPM provides a Governmentwide framework 

for human resources policy, advises and assists agencies (often on 

a reimbursable basis) with workforce planning and personnel matters, and ensures that agency operations are consistent with requirements of law on issues such as veterans preference and merit 

system compliance. OPM oversees examination of applicants for 

employment in the competitive service; issues regulations and policies on recruitment, hiring, classification and pay, training, and 

other aspects of personnel management; and manages the process 

for personnel security and background checks for suitability and 

national security clearances. OPM is also responsible for administering the retirement, health benefits, and life insurance programs affecting most Federal employees, retired Federal employees, and their families and survivors. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a general fund appropriation of $119,239,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Office of Personnel Management. 

Data Security.—Numerous breaches of OPM systems and contractor databases continue to raise grave concerns about the agency’s ability to protect sensitive data. Of particular concern is that 

OPM failed to protect this information despite frequent warnings 

from the Inspector General and repeated attempts to breach the 

agency’s systems in recent years. The agency had advance notice 

that hackers were trying to access sensitive personnel and security 

clearance data, yet OPM was ineffective in stopping them. Disappointingly, OPM management has failed to accept responsibility 

for the agency’s failures, and instead has tried to place blame solely 

on the hackers. 

OPM disclosed in June that 4,200,000 current, former, and retired Federal workers were affected by a data breach to Federal 

personnel records. OPM subsequently announced in July that 

21,500,000 Americans were affected by a breach to its background 

investigation systems. While many of the details relating to the 
102 

cyberattacks are uncertain, what remains undeniable is that any 

confidence government employees may have had in OPM’s ability 

to protect their data was clearly misplaced. The President has requested $21,000,000 in additional funding in 

fiscal year 2016 for OPM to improve its IT security and infrastructure. While rewarding bad behavior with additional money is an illadvised practice, sensitive data held by OPM must be protected. 

Despite the agency’s repeated cyber security failures, the Committee recommendation includes full funding of the $21,000,000 requested by the President for IT security improvement. However, 

the Committee is under no illusion that additional money for OPM 

is the solution to their problems. While much attention has centered on OPM’s legacy systems, the Committee notes that the modern systems in which OPM has invested millions of dollars in recent years were also breached. Prior to obligating any of the 

$21,000,000, OPM is directed to consult with the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Digital Service, the Department of 

Homeland Security, and other Federal partners that possess the financial management capabilities and critical cyber security expertise that is lacking within OPM in order to ensure these funds are 

spent wisely. 

The Committee directs GAO to report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate not less than 6 months after 

enactment of this Act evaluating the steps taken to prevent, mitigate, and respond to data breaches involving sensitive personnel 

records and information; OPM’s cybersecurity policies and procedures in place, including policies and procedures relating to IT best 

practices such as data encryption, multifactor authentication, and 

continuous monitoring; OPM’s oversight of contractors providing IT 

services; and OPM’s compliance with government-wide initiatives 

to improve cybersecurity. The report should consider any improvements that could be made to assist the agency in addressing 

cybersecurity challenges. 

Retirement Processing.—The Committee acknowledges OPM’s actions to address the backlog of retirement claims and supports continued efforts to eliminate the backlog. OPM is directed to continue 

to inform the Committee of its progress. 

Retirement Modernization.—The Committee directs OPM to continue providing reports and status update briefings on modernization efforts and the strategic technology plan, as developments and 

milestones occur, and future plans are determined. 

Retirement Calculations.—The Committee has heard concerns 

about annuities of Federal retirees in non-foreign areas who retired 

prior to 2009. Prior to 2010, Federal employees in non-foreign areas 

were not eligible to receive locality-based comparability payments, 

which constitute basic pay for computing retirement benefits. Rather, these employees received cost-of-living allowances [COLAs], 

which are not creditable for retirement purposes. This has resulted 

in differences in the total pay and retirement benefits of Federal 

employees in non-foreign areas in relation to pay and retirement 

benefits of employees in the contiguous states. The Committee directs the Office of Personnel Management to submit a report no 

later than 6 months from enactment regarding COLAs, localitybased comparability payments, and the computation of Federal re-
103 

tirement benefits of employees stationed in the non-foreign areas, 

including the exclusion of non-foreign area COLAs in employee’s 

basic pay and average salary used in the computation of Federal 

retirement benefits. OPM should take all reasonable steps to provide an estimate of the total number of current Federal annuitants 

who (or whose spouse) retired from the Federal civil service from 

1994 to 2014 by each non-foreign area and by year of retirement. 

Federal Security Clearances.—The Committee notes that in light 

of misconduct involving Federal contractor personnel under OPM’s 

Federal Investigative Services, there has been increased scrutiny 

into the process of conducting quality reviews for security clearance 

background investigations. The Committee recognizes the inherent 

conflict of interest when Federal security clearance contractors are 

contractually permitted to conduct quality reviews of their own 

work and urges the OPM Director to prevent future occurrences 

through stricter contractual control mechanisms. The Committee 

notes that preventing such inherent conflicts of interest with Federal contractors conducting security clearances significantly mitigates risk, a critical element to good governance and U.S. national 

security. Therefore, the Committee includes a provision in title VI 

preventing such contractors from conducting quality reviews of 

their own work. To ensure that contractor work is conducted properly, OPM should ensure that internal controls are implemented to 

prevent investigations from being closed prematurely. 

LIMITATION

(TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS)

Limitation, 2015 ..................................................................................... $118,425,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 124,550,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 118,425,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

These funds will be transferred from the appropriate trust funds 

of the Office of Personnel Management to cover administrative expenses for the retirement and insurance programs. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a limitation of $118,425,000 for administrative expenses. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,384,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,365,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,384,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Inspector General is charged with establishing policies for conducting and coordinating efforts which promote economy, efficiency, and integrity in the Office of Personnel Management’s activities which prevent and detect fraud, waste, and mis-
104 

management in the agency’s programs. Contract audits provide 

professional advice to agency contracting officials on accounting 

and financial matters regarding the negotiation, award, administration, repricing, and settlement of contracts. Internal agency audits review and evaluate all facets of agency operations, including 

financial statements. Evaluation and inspection services provide 

detailed technical evaluations of agency operations. Insurance audits review the operations of health and life insurance carriers, 

healthcare providers, and insurance subscribers. The investigative 

function provides for the detection and investigation of improper 

and illegal activities involving programs, personnel, and operations. 

Administrative sanctions debar from participation in the health insurance program those healthcare providers whose conduct may 

pose a threat to the financial integrity of the program itself or to 

the well-being of insurance program enrollees. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,384,000 for 

salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector General in fiscal 

year 2016. 

The Committee appreciates the audit work the Inspector General 

has conducted on OPM’s IT security programs and practices and 

supports the Inspector General’s recommendations to improve 

OPM’s technical security controls. The Committee remains concerned about OPM’s security posture as it overhauls its technology 

infrastructure. The Committee encourages the Inspector General to 

continue monitoring OPM’s infrastructure improvement process. 

The Committee is also concerned about the ability of contractors to 

effectively provide assistance to millions of Americans that were affected by the data breach in addition to security controls with its 

existing vendors. The Committee encourages the Inspector General 

to continue to conduct oversight on OPM’s contracting and procurement practices. 

Semiannual Report to Congress.—The Committee encourages the 

Inspector General to regularly report in its Semiannual Report to 

Congress OPM’s efforts to improve and address cybersecurity challenges including steps taken to prevent, mitigate, and respond to 

data breaches involving sensitive personnel records and information; OPM’s cybersecurity policies and procedures in place, including policies and procedures relating to IT best practices such as 

data encryption, multifactor authentication, and continuous monitoring; OPM’s oversight of contractors providing IT services; and 

OPM’s compliance with government-wide initiatives to improve 

cybersecurity. 

(LIMITATION ON TRANSFER FROM TRUST FUNDS)

Limitation, 2015 ..................................................................................... $21,340,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 22,479,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 22,479,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a limitation on transfers from the 

trust funds in support of the Office of Inspector General [OIG] activities totaling $22,479,000 for fiscal year 2016. 
105 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 1 ........................................................................... $22,939,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 24,119,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 23,500,000 

1Does not reflect use of prior year balances as permitted under Public Law 113–76, div. E. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel [OSC] provides a safe channel 

for Federal employees to report waste, fraud, abuse, and threats to 

public health and safety. 

The OSC was first established on January 1, 1979. From 1979 

until 1989, it operated as an autonomous investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Merit Systems Protection Board [MSPB]. In 

1989, Congress enacted the Whistleblower Protection Act (Public 

Law 101–12), which made OSC an independent agency within the 

executive branch. In 1994, the Uniformed Services Employment 

and Reemployment Rights Act [USERRA] (Public Law 103–353) became law. It defined employment-related rights of persons in connection with military service, prohibited discrimination against 

them because of that service, and gave OSC new authority to pursue remedies for violations by Federal agencies. 

Enactment of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act 

(Public Law 112–199) in November 2012 significantly expanded the 

jurisdiction of the OSC and the types of cases the OSC is required 

by law to investigate. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $23,500,000 for 

OSC. 

Veterans Affairs.—Approximately 40 percent of all OSC cases in 

2015 were from Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] employees, up 

from approximately twenty percent of cases in 2009, 2010, and 

2011. Although OSC continues to obtain relief for VA whistleblowers, the Committee is concerned with the significant increase 

of VA whistleblower cases in a short amount of time. Therefore, the 

Committee believes that OSC should apply its budget proportionally with the percentage of cases that it receives from the VA. 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $14,700,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 15,500,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 15,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Postal Regulatory Commission [PRC] is an independent 

agency that has exercised regulatory oversight over the United 

States Postal Service since its creation by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. For over 3 decades, that oversight consisted pri-
106 

marily of conducting public, on-the-record hearings concerning proposed rates, mail classification, and major service changes, and recommended decisions for action to the Postal Service Board of Governors. The mission of the PRC is to ensure transparency and accountability of the United States Postal Service and foster a vital 

and efficient universal mail system. 

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Public Law 

109–435) assigned significant responsibilities to the PRC. These enhanced authorities include providing regulatory oversight of the 

pricing of Postal Service products and services, ensuring Postal 

Service transparency and accountability, consulting on delivery 

service standards and performance measures, consulting on international postal policies, preventing cross-subsidization or other 

anticompetitive postal practices, and serving as a forum to act on 

complaints with postal products and services. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation, out of the Postal Fund, of $15,000,000 for the Postal Regulatory Commission. 

The Committee urges the PRC, which is funded from the Postal 

Service Fund and derived directly from postal rates and fees paid 

by postal customers, to optimize efficient use of its resources, including exercising prudent decisionmaking and strict accountability 

for travel expenditures. 

PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $7,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 23,297,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 23,297,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board [PCLOB] is an 

independent agency within the executive branch established by the 

Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 

2007 (Public Law 110–53). The Board is the successor to the Board 

created within the Executive Office of the President under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public 

Law 108–458) as recommended in the July 22, 2004 report of the 

National Commission on Terrorist Acts Upon the United States 

(the 9/11 Commission). 

The Board’s purpose is to review and analyze actions the executive branch takes to protect the Nation from terrorism, ensuring 

the need for such actions is balanced with the need to protect privacy and civil liberties; and to ensure that liberty concerns are appropriately considered in the development and implementation of 

laws, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the Nation against terrorism. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $23,297,000 for 

the PCLOB. This amount is $15,797,000 above the fiscal year 2015 

enacted level and equal to the budget request. 
107 

The Committee’s recommended funding level includes a one-time 

increase of $13,216,000, intended to support the Board’s required 

physical move in 2016. The recommended funding will also enable 

it to improve operating efficiency while maintaining information 

technology infrastructure and solutions that advance the Board’s 

mission. 

The Committee believes it is important to ensure that funds are 

used efficiently during the required move. The Committee directs 

the Board to work with the General Services Administration to 

minimize relocation costs and to report regularly to the Committee 

regarding relocation efforts. 

RECOVERY ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY BOARD

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $18,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... ........................... 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board [Recovery 

Board] was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [Recovery Act] to ensure accountability and transparency in the expenditure of Recovery Act funds and to minimize 

fraud, waste, and mismanagement. The Recovery Board’s responsibilities under the Recovery Act sunsetted on September 30, 2013. 

The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (Public Law 113– 

2) required the Recovery Board to detect and remediate waste, 

fraud, and abuse of Federal spending related to the impact of Hurricane Sandy. The Recovery’s Board’s responsibilities under the 

Disaster Relief Appropriations Act will sunset on September 30, 

2015. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends no appropriation for the Recovery 

Board, as the board will sunset on September 30, 2015. The recommendation is the same as the budget request. 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,500,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,722,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,500,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] is an independent agency responsible for administering many of the Nation’s 

laws regulating the areas of securities and finance. 

The mission of the SEC is to administer and enforce Federal securities laws in order to protect investors, maintain fair, honest, 

and efficient markets, and promote capital formation. This includes 

ensuring full disclosure of appropriate financial information, regu-
108 

lating the Nation’s securities markets, and preventing and policing 

fraud and malpractice in the securities and financial markets. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a total budget (obligational) author- ity of $1,500,000,000 for the salaries and expenses of the SEC, to 

be fully derived from fee collections. At the end of fiscal year 2014, the SEC had $74,000,000 in unobligated balances that it carried forward into 2015. In addition, Public Law 113–235 increased the SEC’s budget by $150,000,000 for 

fiscal year 2015. Despite this significant increase in available funding for the Commission, the Committee is concerned that the agency’s elevated hiring rate is unsustainable and unsupported by its 

appropriation level. The SEC has a history of accounting weaknesses and Antideficiency Act violations, and the Committee will 

continue to closely monitor the agency’s hiring rate, target FTE 

level, and unobligated balances to ensure it is appropriately and effectively utilizing available resources. 

Unobligated Balances Report.—In contrast to many agencies, the 

Committee provides the SEC with no-year funds that remain available until expended by the Commission. The Committee is concerned with a lack of transparency about agency projections for the 

level of funding that will be unobligated at year end and carried 

forward into the following fiscal year. At the end of each quarter, 

the SEC is directed to report to the Committee on its current unobligated balances and its estimate of unobligated balances that will 

remain available at the end of the fiscal year. 

Fee Offset Nature of Account.—Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, 

transaction fees receipts are treated as offsetting collections equal 

to the amount of the appropriation. 

Reserve Fund Notifications.—The Committee appreciates the 

SEC’s adherence to its obligation to notify Congress of the date, 

amount, and purpose of any obligation from the Fund within 10 

days of such obligation. The Committee directs the SEC, in its written notifications to Congress required by 15 U.S.C. 78d(i)(3) regarding amounts obligated from the SEC Reserve Fund, to specify: (1) 

the balance in the fund remaining available after the obligation is 

deducted; (2) the estimated total cost of the project for which 

amounts are being deducted; (3) the total amount for all projects 

that have withdrawn funding from the Reserve Fund since fiscal 

year 2012; and (4) the estimated amount, per project, that will be 

required to complete all ongoing projects which use funding derived 

from the Reserve Fund. 

Spending Plan.—The Committee directs the SEC to submit, 

within 30 days of enactment, a detailed spending plan for the allocation of appropriated funds displayed by discrete program, project, 

and activity, including staffing projections, specifying both FTEs 

and contractors, and planned investments in information technology. The Committee also directs the SEC to submit, within 30 

days of enactment, a detailed spending plan for the allocation of expenditures from the Reserve Fund. 

Cybersecurity.—The Committee highlights the importance of 

cybersecurity and the challenges it raises for securities market infrastructure. The recent halt in trading on the New York Stock Ex-
109 

change caused uncertainty for investors and demonstrated the 

Commission’s limited response capacity. While the Commission is 

not equipped to resolve external technical glitches at stock exchanges, self-regulatory organizations or financial institutions, the 

Committee expects the SEC to set expectations for organizations to 

manage cyber threats and mitigate the effects of cybersecurity incidents. 

Industry Guide 7.—The Committee strongly encourages the SEC 

to update the Industry Guide 7 containing the SEC’s basic disclosure policy for mining in accordance with international modern 

practices. 

Business Development Companies.—Congress created Business 

Development Companies [BDCs] in 1980 to facilitate capital formation in small and medium-sized businesses. In late 2005, the SEC 

adopted rules relating to Securities Offering Reform, which modernized the registration offering process for public companies. 

BDCs were left out of these reforms leaving them on an uneven 

playing field with other public companies seeking to access the capital markets. Relieving the current restrictions on BDCs will make 

the capital raising process for BDCs more flexible, more efficient, 

and less expensive-while also saving time and resources. The Committee recommends that the SEC issue proposed rules making several offering reforms for BDCs. 

Regulatory Coordination and Harmonization.—The Committee 

believes it is important for the SEC and CFTC to ensure optimum 

harmonization with each other in executing the respective oversight responsibilities of each agency with respect to over-thecounter derivative products. The Committee expects the SEC and 

the CFTC to consult and coordinate, to the greatest extent possible, 

in order to limit inconsistent regulation of similar entities, products, and markets. 

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $22,500,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 22,900,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 22,703,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Selective Service System is an independent Federal agency, 

operating with permanent authorization under the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.). The agency is not part 

of the Department of Defense, but its basic mission is to be prepared to supply manpower to the Armed Forces adequate to ensure 

the security of the United States during a time of national emergency. Since 1973, the Armed Forces have relied on volunteers to 

fill military manpower requirements. However, the Selective Service System remains the primary vehicle by which personnel will be 

brought into the military if Congress and the President should authorize a return to the draft. 

In December 1987, Selective Service was tasked by law (Public 

Law 100–180) to develop plans for a postmobilization healthcare 

personnel delivery system capable of providing the necessary criti-
110 

cally skilled healthcare personnel to the Armed Forces in time of 

emergency. An automated system capable of handling mass registration and inductions is now complete, together with necessary 

draft legislation, a draft Presidential proclamation, prototype forms 

and letters, and other products. These products will be available 

should the need arise. The development of supplemental standby 

products, such as a compliance system for healthcare personnel, 

continues using very limited existing resources. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $22,703,000 for 

the Selective Service System. 

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $887,604,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 860,130,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 849,092,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Small Business Administration [SBA] provides American entrepreneurs access to capital, Federal contracting opportunities, 

and entrepreneurial education in order to grow businesses and create jobs. SBA also provides disaster assistance for businesses of all 

sizes, non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation provides $849,092,000 for the 

Small Business Administration [SBA]. The amount provided will 

support the same level or higher of lending but requires fewer Government subsidy dollars due to fewer loan defaults. The recommendation includes $158,829,000 for the Disaster Loans Program Account designated by Congress as disaster relief pursuant 

to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, 

as amended. Funding is distributed among the SBA appropriation 

accounts as described below. 

ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $220,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 206,250,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 220,150,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SBA’s Entrepreneurial Development Programs support non-credit 

business assistance to entrepreneurs. The appropriation includes 

funding for a vast network of resource partners located throughout 

the Nation, including Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE (previously Service Corps of Retired 

Executives) chapters, and Veterans Business Outreach centers. 

This resource network and several other SBA programs provide 

training, counseling, and technical assistance to entrepreneurs. 
111 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation provides $220,150,000 for the 

SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs. 

The Committee recommendations, by program, are displayed in 

the following table: 

ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Committee 

recommendation 

7(j) Technical Assistance ..................................................................................................................................... 2,800 

Entrepreneurship Education ................................................................................................................................. 11,000 

HUBZone Program ................................................................................................................................................ 3,000 

Microloan Technical Assistance ........................................................................................................................... 25,000 

National Women’s Business Council ................................................................................................................... 1,000 

Native American Outreach ................................................................................................................................... 2,000 

Regional Innovation Clusters ............................................................................................................................... 6,000 

SCORE .................................................................................................................................................................. 10,500 

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) ................................................................................................... 115,000 

State & Trade Export Promotion (STEP) .............................................................................................................. 17,400 

Veterans Outreach ................................................................................................................................................ 11,450 

Women’s Business Centers (WBC) ....................................................................................................................... 15,000 

Total, Entrepreneurial Development Programs ....................................................................................... 220,150 

The Committee directs that the amounts provided for SBA’s Entrepreneurial Development Programs, as specified in the table 

above, shall be administered in the same manner as previous years 

and shall not be reduced, reallocated, or reprogrammed to provide 

additional funds for other programs, initiatives, or activities. 

Small Business Development Centers.—The Committee continues 

to support the Small Business Development Center [SBDC] Program and recommends $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2016. SBDCs 

play an integral role in the SBA resource partner network that 

supports 1,200,000 small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs each year. Through more than 900 service centers, 

SBDCs provide management and technical assistance in key areas 

to small business clients throughout the Nation. As the economy 

struggles, SBDCs have reported a significant increase in demand 

for their expertise as businesses seek guidance on how to weather 

the economic conditions and as newly unemployed Americans look 

for advice on starting a small business as a new career path. Providing support for SBDCs is more critical than ever as our economy 

works to recover and grow. The Committee directs SBA to 

prioritize the continuation of a robust SBDC network and to partner with the network and SBA’s other resource partners in the implementation of all of SBA’s lending, entrepreneurial development, 

and procurement programs. 

The Committee directs that, subject to the availability of funds, 

the Administrator of the SBA shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that a small business development center is appropriately reimbursed within the same fiscal year in which the expenses are 

submitted for reimbursement for any and all legitimate expenses 

incurred in carrying out activities under section 21(a)(1) et seq. of 

the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(1) et seq.). 
112 

Veterans Programs.—The Committee supports funding for vet- erans programs and provides $11,450,000 for veterans outreach, 

which includes funding for Veterans Business Outreach Centers 

[VBOC], Boots to Business, Veteran-Women Igniting the Spirit of 

Entrepreneurship [V–WISE], Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities [EBV], and Boots to Business Reboot. This 

level is equal to the budget request. 

Native American Outreach.—SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs works to ensure that American Indians, Alaska Natives, and 

Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop, and expand small 

businesses have full access to SBA’s entrepreneurial development, 

lending, and procurement programs. The Committee recommends 

$2,000,000 for SBA’s Native American outreach programs. The 

Committee directs SBA to submit a spending plan within 60 days 

of enactment detailing planned spending on Native American outreach programs in fiscal year 2016. 

Microloan Program.—The Committee recommends $25,000,000 

for grants to Microloan intermediaries under the Microloan program for marketing, management, and technical assistance provided to borrowers. An additional $3,338,172 is recommended 

under the heading ‘‘Business Loans Program Account’’ to support 

estimated lending volume of $35,000,000 under the Microloan program. 

HUBZone.—The Historically Underutilized Business Zones 

[HUBZone] program helps small businesses in urban and rural 

communities gain preferential access to Federal procurement opportunities. The Committee recommends $3,000,000 for the 

HUBZone program. This program is a critical resource for distressed communities, especially those surrounding military bases 

closed under the Base Realignment and Closure [BRAC] process. 

The Committee is aware that businesses located in a BRAC 

HUBZone face unique challenges in qualifying for the program and 

competing for Federal procurement opportunities, and directs the 

SBA to examine ways to address these issues in any future revisions of the Small Business Act or other legislation. 

Regional Innovation Clusters.—The Committee recommends 

$6,000,000 for SBA’s regional innovation clusters. The Committee 

encourages SBA to support nonprofit organizations that provide 

business development services designed to accelerate industry sectors built on regional assets under the initiative. The Committee 

encourages SBA to support initiatives that promote a culture of innovative entrepreneurship and provide services and support directly to early-stage and high-tech innovation opportunities. 

State Trade and Export Program [STEP].—The Committee recommends $17,400,000 for STEP for fiscal year 2016. STEP provides 

grants to states to supplement their export promotion programs 

with the goal of increasing the number of small businesses that are 

exporting and raising the value of exports for small businesses that 

are already exporting. States provide matching funds for STEP 

grants and have used funds to support trade missions, international marketing efforts, export counseling, and export trade 

show exhibits. 

Entrepreneurial Education.—The Committee recommends 

$11,000,000 for the entrepreneurial education program. This 
113 

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

equal to the budget request. The recommendation will allow SBA 

to expand its entrepreneurial education initiative to provide intensive training to small business owners with existing small businesses that have completed the ‘‘start up’’ phase and are facing 

common, solvable challenges to sustain and grow their businesses. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $257,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 281,938,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 257,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Salaries and Expenses appropriation provides for the overall 

operating expenses of the SBA, including compensation and benefits for staff located at headquarters, regional, and district offices, 

rent and other agency-wide costs, and operating costs for program 

offices, including the Office of Capital Access, Office of Credit Risk 

Management, Office of Entrepreneurial Development, Office of Investments and Innovation, Office of Government Contracting and 

Business Development, Office of International Trade, Office of 

Management and Administration, and for other program and supporting offices. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation provides $257,000,000 for salaries and expenses of the SBA. The Committee recommends $12,000,000 for SBA’s Office of 

Credit Risk Management [OCRM] for lender oversight and riskbased reviews. In support of its mission to analyze and manage the 

risk of SBA’s loan portfolio, OCRM performs performance analytics 

to identify and understand lender performance trends and assess 

the quality of the overall loan portfolio. The Committee finds that 

OCRM plays a key role in eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in 

SBA lending programs and protecting taxpayer losses on loans by 

ensuring lenders comply with procedures that mitigate the risk of 

loss under SBA’s loan programs. 

The Committee is concerned about the quality of lender oversight 

activities at SBA, particularly considering the magnitude of SBA’s 

loan portfolio, and notes that SBA’s Office of Inspector General has 

identified weaknesses in SBA’s lender oversight process. SBA loan 

programs rely on numerous outside parties (e.g., private lenders, 

local economic development organizations, nonprofit community 

lenders, and venture capital investors) to complete loan transactions, and many of SBA’s loans are made by lenders to whom 

SBA has delegated loan-making authority. 

Finally, the Committee finds that the Loan and Lender Monitoring System [L/LMS] is a vital component of the SBA’s technical 

capability to provide oversight of its largest lending programs, the 

7(a) and 504 loan programs. OCRM uses L/LMS as a tool for managing the risk in the loan and lender portfolios of more than 4,500 

lenders, who have approximately 320,000 active loans valued at 

more than $80 billion in current dollars. The SBA is directed to 

continue its use of the Loan and Lender Monitoring System [L/ 
114 

LMS] to ensure that lenders are employing sound financial risk 

management techniques to manage and monitor risk within their 

SBA loan portfolios. SBA is directed to continue to maintain the 

current capability and capacity of the L/LMS system, and to strongly consider ways to upgrade the system to improve lender oversight. 

The Committee recognizes that the three current exceptions for 

the North American Industry Classification System [NAICS] Code 

541712 are vastly similar. Therefore, the SBA should look at the 

impact of consolidating the current exceptions into one with an employee cap of 1,500. 

SBIC Program Licensing.—The Committee believes the SBA Investment Division should consider reorganizing the Small Business 

Investment Company [SBIC] licensing process and personnel to 

more efficiently use the resources allocated. In particular, SBA 

should: combine the licensing and Management Assessment Questionnaire [MAQ] staff; reduce the number of licensing committees 

and steps for all applicants; and create a meaningful fast track 

process for repeat licensees that takes no longer than 6 weeks, 

which will allow SBA to focus their resources on first funds and ensure that there is a written record of the decisions made by the Investment Division for applicants and any court that might review 

such licensing decisions. 

Federal and State Technology Partnership Program.—The Committee recommends $3,000,000 for the Federal and State Technology [FAST] Partnership Program in fiscal year 2016. The Committee supports the FAST program’s efforts to reach innovative, 

technology-driven small businesses and to leverage the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technology 

Transfer [STTR] program to stimulate economic development. The 

FAST program is particularly important in States that are seeking 

to build high technology industries but are underrepresented in the 

SBIR/STTR programs. The Committee recognizes that Small Business and Technology Development Centers [SBTDCs] serve small 

businesses in these fields and are accredited to provide intellectual 

property and technology commercialization assistance to businesses 

in high technology industries. Of the amount provided, $1,000,000 

shall be for FAST awards in States led by SBTDCs. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $19,400,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 19,900,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 19,900,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The SBA Office of Inspector General conducts audits to identify 

wasteful expenditures and program mismanagement, investigates 

fraud and other wrongdoing, and takes other actions to deter and 

detect waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiencies in SBA programs and 

operations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation provides $19,900,000 for the Office of Inspector General. 
115 

The Committee directs the Inspector General to continue routine 

analysis and reporting on SBA’s modernization of its loan management and accounting systems, including acquisition, contractor 

oversight, implementation, and progress regarding budget and 

schedule. 

OFFICE OF ADVOCACY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $9,120,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 9,120,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,120,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Advocacy, an independent office within SBA, solicits 

and represents the views, concerns, and interests of small businesses before Congress, the White House, Federal agencies, Federal 

courts, and State policymakers. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation provides $9,120,000 for the Office of Advocacy. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

BUSINESS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $195,226,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 156,064,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 156,064,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SBA administers a variety of loan programs to expand entrepreneurs’ access to capital to start and grow small businesses. The 

7(a) loan program is the Federal Government’s primary business 

loan program to assist small businesses in obtaining financing 

when they do not qualify for traditional credit. Under 7(a), SBA 

guarantees a portion (typically 75 to 90 percent) of loans made by 

private lenders. Under the 504 program, SBA supports loans to 

small businesses for financing major fixed assets such as real estate and major equipment. The 504 program combines SBA guaranteed loans made by nonprofit Certified Development Companies 

[CDCs] with loans from private lenders to provide financing for 

small businesses. 

Under the Small Business Investment Company [SBIC] program, 

SBA partners with professionally managed investment funds, 

called SBICs. The SBICs combine their own capital with funds borrowed with an SBA guarantee to make investments in small businesses. 

Finally, under the Microloan program, SBA provides funds to 

specialized nonprofit, community-based intermediary lenders which 

provide small loans for working capital, inventory, and other operating expenses. The maximum microloan is $50,000 and the average loan made under the program is $14,215. 
116 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation provides $156,064,000 for the 

Business Loans Program Account for fiscal year 2016. The recommendation is equal to the budget request. The amount provided 

for loan subsidies is reduced from the fiscal year 2015 level because 

subsidy rates have declined. The amount provided will support the 

same level or higher of lending but requires fewer Government subsidy dollars. The recommendation provides $152,725,828 for administrative 

expenses, which may be transferred to and merged with SBA salaries and expenses to cover the common overhead expenses associated with the business loans programs. The recommendation provides $3,338,172 for the Microloan direct loan program to support lending volume estimated at $35,000,000. 

An additional amount of $25,000,000 is recommended under the 

heading ‘‘Entrepreneurial Development Programs’’ for technical assistance grants to Microlending intermediaries. 

Business loan programs provide crucial access to capital for new 

and expanding small businesses, but the approval process can be 

challenging and overly burdensome. The SBA should solicit input 

from loan recipients seeking ways to streamline the loan review 

and approval process for small businesses. The Committee directs 

the SBA to report to the Committees on Appropriations and Small 

Business and Entrepreneurship within 180 days on the results of 

this solicitation, including legislative changes, requests for additional resources, or other areas that SBA may pursue in order to 

make the loan application and approval process more efficient for 

applicants. 

DISASTER LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $186,858,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 186,858,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 186,858,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SBA provides low-interest, long-term loans to businesses of all 

sizes, homeowners, renters, and nonprofit organizations affected by 

disasters. SBA disaster loans are the primary form of Federal assistance for the repair and rebuilding of non-farm, private sector 

disaster losses. SBA makes two types of disaster loans. Physical 

disaster loans are for permanent rebuilding and replacement of uninsured or underinsured disaster-damaged privately owned real 

and/or personal property and are available to businesses of all 

sizes, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters. Economic 

Injury Disaster Loans provide necessary working capital for small 

businesses and nonprofit organizations until normal operations resume after a disaster. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $186,858,000 for the administrative 

costs of the Disaster Loans program. This amount is equal to the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the budget request. Of the total 
117 

recommendation, $158,829,000 is designated by Congress as disaster relief pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Section 530 continues a provision concerning transfer authority 

and availability of funds. 

Section 531 continues a provision waiving loan guarantee fees on 

certain loans issued to veterans and their spouses. 

Section 532 authorizes SBA to carry out section 1122 of Public 

Law 111–240 during fiscal year 2016. 

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

PAYMENT TO THE POSTAL SERVICE FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $70,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 67,234,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 49,923,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States Postal Service does not depend upon taxpayer 

subsidies through discretionary appropriations for its operations 

but generates nearly all of its more than $65,000,000,000 in annual 

gross operating revenue by charging users of the mail for the costs 

of postage, products, and services. Funds provided to the Postal 

Service in the Payment to the Postal Service Fund include appropriations for revenue forgone including providing free mail for the 

blind, and for overseas absentee voting. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends appropriations totaling $49,923,000 

for payment to the Postal Service Fund. 

This amount constitutes an advance appropriation for fiscal year 

2017 to compensate for revenue forgone on free mail for the blind 

and for overseas voters. 

The Committee includes provisions in the bill to ensure that mail 

for overseas voting and mail for the blind shall continue to be free; 

that 6-day delivery and rural delivery of mail shall continue without reduction; and that none of the funds provided be used to consolidate or close small rural and other small post offices in fiscal 

year 2016. 

On May 27, 2015, the Postal Service announced its decision to 

defer most of the mail processing plant consolidations scheduled to 

take place in summer 2015 as the final stage of its Network Rationalization Initiative. The Postal Service is encouraged to update 

the Area Mail Processing feasibility studies for these plants using 

the most recent available data in advance of implementing the proposed consolidations. 

Further, the Committee directs the Postal Regulatory Commission and Postal Service to work together to expand the methodology to report mail delivery performance to specifically include 

mail delivery from rural towns to other rural towns; from rural 
118 

towns to urban areas; and from urban areas to rural towns. The 

Committee requests this methodology within 60 days of enactment 

of the act, with a subsequent report on the data gathered using 

this methodology to be provided to the Committee no later than 

March 1, 2016. 

In rural America, contract stations are vital for connectivity and 

serve a function that cannot be replaced. However, these posts are 

under considerable threats of phase-outs due to misplaced priorities 

and lack of recognition. Particularly, with an aging population with 

lower mobility, postal contract units in rural areas are more important than ever. The Committee encourages the USPS to, in good 

faith, either renew contract postal unit agreements upon expiration 

or find a suitable alternative service provider in rural areas. 

Breast Cancer Research Stamp.—The Committee recognizes the 

important contribution of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp in 

raising over $80,700,000 for breast cancer research since 1998. The 

Committee requests that the United States Postal Service [USPS] 

display, to the extent practicable, publicly visible signage regarding 

the stamp at retail post office locations highlighting the availability 

of these stamps for purchase. The Committee requests USPS to 

provide annual reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the 

Senate regarding the total number of first class one ounce postage 

stamps sold and the number of Breast Cancer Research Stamps 

sold. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $243,883,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 250,729,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 243,883,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General 

[OIG] is an independent organization established in 1996 and 

charged with reporting to Congress on the overall efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of Postal Service programs and operations. 

The OIG plays a key role in maintaining the integrity and accountability of America’s postal service, its revenue and assets, and its 

employees. The OIG meets this responsibility by conducting and 

supervising objective and independent audits, investigations, and 

other reviews. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation, out of the Postal 

Fund, of $243,883,000 for the United States Postal Service Office 

of Inspector General. 
119 

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $51,300,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 53,600,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 51,300,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Tax Court is an independent judicial body in the legislative branch established in 1969 under Article I of the Constitution of the United States. The Court was created to provide a national forum for the resolution of disputes between taxpayers and 

the Internal Revenue Service, to resolve cases expeditiously while 

giving careful consideration to the merits of each matter, and to ensure the uniform interpretation of the Internal Revenue Code. 

The Tax Court is one of three courts in which taxpayers can 

bring suit to contest IRS liability determinations, and the only one 

in which taxpayers can do so without prepaying any portion of the 

disputed taxes. The matters over which the Court has jurisdiction 

are set forth in various sections of title 26 of the United States 

Code. 

The Court is composed of 19 judges, one of whom the judges elect 

as chief judge. Tax Court judges are appointed to 15-year terms by 

the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. In their 

judicial duties the judges are assisted by senior judges, who participate in the adjudication of regular cases, and by special trial 

judges, who hear small tax cases and certain regular cases assigned to them by the chief judge. 

The Court is headquartered in Washington, DC, and conducts 

trial sessions in 74 cities throughout the United States, including 

Hawaii and Alaska. Decisions by the Court are reviewable by the 

U.S. Courts of Appeals and, if certiorari is granted, by the Supreme 

Court. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $51,300,000 for 

the U.S. Tax Court. 

STATEMENT CONCERNING GENERAL PROVISIONS 

The Financial Services and General Government appropriations 

bill includes general provisions which govern both the activities of 

the agencies covered by the bill, and, in some cases, activities of 

agencies, programs, and general government activities that are not 

specifically covered by the bill. 

The bill contains a number of general provisions that have been 

carried in this bill for many years and which are routine in nature 

and scope. General provisions in the bill are explained under this 

section of the report. Those general provisions that deal with a single agency only are shown as administrative provisions immediately following that particular agency’s or department’s appropriation accounts in the bill. Those provisions that address activities or directives affecting all of the agencies covered in this bill are 

contained in title VI. General provisions that are Governmentwide 
120 

in scope are specified in title VII of this bill. General provisions applicable to the District of Columbia are set forth in title VIII of this 

bill. 
(121) 

TITLE VI 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—THIS ACT 

Section 601 continues the provision prohibiting pay and other expenses of non-Federal parties intervening in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this act. 

Section 602 continues the provision prohibiting obligations beyond the current fiscal year and prohibits transfers of funds unless 

expressly provided. 

Section 603 continues the provision limiting expenditures for any 

consulting service through procurement contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection. 

Section 604 continues the provision prohibiting funds in this act 

from being transferred without express authority. 

Section 605 continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds 

to engage in activities that would prohibit the enforcement of section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act (46 Stat. 590). 

Section 606 continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds 

unless the recipient agrees to comply with the Buy American Act. 

Section 607 continues the provision prohibiting funding for any 

person or entity convicted of violating the Buy American Act. 

Section 608 continues the provision authorizing the reprogramming of funds and specifies the reprogramming procedures for 

agencies funded by this act. 

Section 609 continues the provision ensuring that 50 percent of 

unobligated balances may remain available for certain purposes. 

Section 610 continues the provision restricting the use of funds 

for the Executive Office of the President to request official background reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation without 

the written consent of the individual who is the subject of the report. 

Section 611 continues the provision ensuring that the cost accounting standards shall not apply with respect to a contract under 

the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. 

Section 612 continues the provision allowing use of certain funds 

relating to nonforeign area cost of living allowances. 

Section 613 continues the provision prohibiting the expenditure 

of funds for abortions under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. 

Section 614 continues the provision providing an exemption from 

section 613 if the life of the mother is in danger or the pregnancy 

is a result of an act of rape or incest. 

Section 615 continues the provision waiving restrictions on the 

purchase of nondomestic articles, materials, and supplies in the 

case of acquisition by the Federal Government of information technology. 
122 

Section 616 continues a provision on the acceptance by agencies 

or commissions funded by this act, or by their officers or employees, 

of payment or reimbursement for travel, subsistence, or related expenses from any person or entity (or their representative) that engages in activities regulated by such agencies or commissions. 

Section 617 continues a provision permitting the Securities and 

Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to fund a joint advisory committee to advise on emerging 

regulatory issues, notwithstanding section 708 of this act. 

Section 618 continues the provision requiring agencies covered by 

this act with independent leasing authority to consult with the 

General Services Administration before seeking new office space or 

making alterations to existing office space. 

Section 619 provides for several appropriated mandatory accounts, where authorizing language requires the payment of funds. 

The budget request assumes the following estimated cost for the 

programs addressed in this provision: $450,000 for Compensation 

of the President including $50,000 for expenses, $132,000,000 for 

the Judicial Retirement Funds (Judicial Officers’ Retirement Fund, 

Judicial Survivors’ Annuities Fund, and the United States Court of 

Federal Claims Judges’ Retirement Fund), $11,908,000,000 for the 

Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Health Benefits, 

$49,000,000 for the Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Life Insurance, and $8,872,000,000 for Payment to the Civil 

Service Retirement and Disability Fund. In addition, language is 

included for certain retirement, healthcare and survivor benefits 

required by 3 U.S.C. 102 note. 

Section 620 continues a provision allowing the Public Company 

Accounting Oversight Board to obligate amounts collected from 

monetary penalties for the purpose of funding scholarships for accounting students, as authorized by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 

(Public Law 107–204). 

Section 621 continues the provision prohibiting funds for the 

Federal Trade Commission to complete the draft report on food 

marketed to children unless certain requirements are met. 

Section 622 continues the provision prohibiting funds for certain 

positions. 

Section 623 continues a provision addressing conflicts of interest 

by preventing contractor security clearance-related background investigators from undertaking final Federal reviews of their own 

work. 

Section 624 is a new provision requiring that agency budget justifications include a separate table and explanations relating to 

management challenges identified by Inspectors General. 

Section 625 continues the provision providing authority for Chief 

Information Officers over information technology spending. 

Section 626 continues the provision prohibiting funds from being 

used in contravention of the Federal Records Act. 

Section 627 rescinds $25,000,000 from the Securities and Exchange Commission Reserve Fund. 

Section 628 is a new provision to require all departments and 

agencies funded by this act to link all contracts that provide 

awards to successful acquisition outcomes. 
123 

Section 629 is a new provision to prohibit funds to pay for award 

or incentive fees for contractors with below satisfactory performance. 

Section 630 is a new provision related to coordination of political 

expenditures. 

Section 631 is a new provision related to electronic filing of campaign finance reports by Senators and candidates seeking election 

to the Senate. 

Section 632 is a new provision related to grandfathering existing 

joint sales agreements. 

Section 633 is a new provision addressing the regulation of 

broadband Internet rates. 

Section 634 is a new provision related to recreational off-highway 

vehicles. 

Section 635 is a new provision that makes a technical correction 

relating to the Election Assistance Commission. 

Section 636 is a new provision relating to Universal Service Fund 

payments for wireless providers. 

Section 637 is a new provision making conforming changes related to section 505 of the bill. 

Section 638 is a new provision relating to financing of sales of 

agriculture commodities to Cuba. 

Section 639 is a new provision relating to financial institutions 

that provide financial services to certain entities engaged in commercial activities related to marijuana. 

Section 640 is a new provision relating to individuals affected by 

the data breach of systems of OPM. 

Section 641 is a new provision relating to travel to Cuba. 

Section 642 is a new provision relating to vessels entering a port 

or place in Cuba. 
(124) 

TITLE VII 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—GOVERNMENTWIDE 

DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND CORPORATIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Section 701 continues the provision requiring agencies to administer a policy designed to ensure that all of its workplaces are free 

from the illegal use of controlled substances. 

Section 702 continues the provision setting specific limits on the 

cost of passenger vehicles purchased by the Federal Government 

with exceptions for police, heavy duty, electric hybrid, and clean 

fuels vehicles with an exception for commercial vehicles that operate on emerging motor vehicle technology. 

Section 703 continues the provision allowing funds made available to agencies for travel to also be used for quarters allowances 

and cost-of-living allowances. 

Section 704 continues the provision prohibiting the Government, 

with certain specified exceptions, from employing non-U.S. citizens 

whose posts of duty would be in the continental United States. 

Section 705 continues the provision ensuring that agencies will 

have authority to pay the General Services Administration for 

space renovation and other services. 

Section 706 continues the provision allowing agencies to use receipts from the sale of materials for acquisition, waste reduction 

and prevention, environmental management programs, and other 

Federal employee programs. 

Section 707 continues the provision providing that funds for administrative expenses may be used to pay rent and other service 

costs in the District of Columbia. 

Section 708 continues the provision precluding interagency financing of groups absent prior statutory approval. 

Section 709 continues the provision prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for enforcing regulations disapproved in accordance 

with the applicable law of the United States. 

Section 710 continues the provision limiting the amount that can 

be used for redecoration of offices under certain circumstances. 

Section 711 continues the provision that permits interagency 

funding of national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications initiatives, which benefit multiple Federal departments, agencies, and entities. 

Section 712 continues the provision requiring agencies to certify 

that a schedule C appointment was not created solely or primarily 

to detail the employee to the White House. 

Section 713 continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds 

to prevent Federal employees from communicating with Congress 
125 

or to take disciplinary or personnel actions against employees for 

such communication. 

Section 714 continues the provision prohibiting Federal training 

not directly related to the performance of official duties. 

Section 715 continues the provision prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for publicity or propaganda designed to support or 

defeat legislation pending before Congress. 

Section 716 continues the provision prohibiting the use of appropriated funds by an agency to provide home addresses of Federal 

employees to labor organizations, absent employee authorization, or 

court order. 

Section 717 continues the provision prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to provide nonpublic information such as mailing or 

telephone lists to any person or organization outside of the Government without approval of the Committees on Appropriations. 

Section 718 continues the provision prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for publicity or propaganda purposes within the 

United States not authorized by Congress. 

Section 719 continues the provision directing agencies’ employees 

to use official time in an honest effort to perform official duties. 

Section 720 continues the provision authorizing the use of current fiscal year funds to finance an appropriate share of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board administrative costs. 

Section 721 continues a provision authorizing the transfer of 

funds to the General Services Administration to finance an appropriate share of various Governmentwide boards and councils under 

certain conditions. 

Section 722 continues the provision authorizing breastfeeding at 

any location in a Federal building or on Federal property. 

Section 723 continues the provision permitting interagency funding of the National Science and Technology Council, and requiring 

an OMB report on the budget and resources of the Council. 

Section 724 continues the provision requiring identification of the 

Federal agencies providing Federal funds and the amount provided 

for all proposals, solicitations, grant applications, forms, notifications, press releases, or other publications related to the distribution of funding to a State. 

Section 725 continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds 

to monitor personal information relating to the use of Federal 

Internet sites. 

Section 726 continues the provision regarding contraceptive coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. 

Section 727 continues the provision recognizing that the United 

States is committed to ensuring the health of the Olympic, Pan 

American and Paralympic athletes, and supports the strict adherence to antidoping in sport activities. 

Section 728 continues the provision allowing departments and 

agencies to use official travel funds to participate in the fractional 

aircraft ownership pilot programs. 

Section 729 continues the provision prohibiting funds for implementation of OPM regulations limiting detailees to the legislative 

branch and placing certain limitations on the Coast Guard Congressional Fellowship program. 
126 

Section 730 continues the provision prohibiting the expenditure 

of funds for the acquisition of certain additional Federal law enforcement training facilities. 

Section 731 continues a provision that prohibits executive branch 

agencies from creating or funding prepackaged news stories that 

are broadcast or distributed in the United States unless specific notification conditions are met. 

Section 732 continues a provision prohibiting funds used in contravention of the Privacy Act, section 552a of title 5, United States 

Code or section 522.224 of title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 

Section 733 continues a provision prohibiting funds in this or any 

other act from being used for Federal contracts with inverted domestic corporations or other corporations using similar inverted 

structures, unless the contract preceded this act or the Secretary 

grants a waiver in the interest of national security. 

Section 734 continues a provision requiring agencies to remit to 

the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund an amount equal 

to the Office of Personnel Management’s average unit cost of processing a retirement claim for the preceding fiscal year to be available to the Office of Personnel Management for the cost of processing retirements of employees who separate under Voluntary 

Early Retirement Authority or who receive Voluntary Separation 

Incentive Payments. 

Section 735 continues a provision prohibiting funds to require 

any entity submitting an offer for a Federal contract to disclose political contributions. 

Section 736 continues a provision prohibiting funds for the painting of a portrait of an employee of the Federal Government including the President, the Vice President, a Member of Congress, the 

head of an executive branch agency, of the head of an office of the 

legislative branch. 

Section 737 continues a provision limiting the pay increases of 

certain prevailing rate employees. 

Section 738 continues a provision eliminating automatic statutory pay increases for the Vice President, political appointees paid 

under the executive schedule, ambassadors who are not career 

members of the Foreign Service, politically appointed (noncareer) 

Senior Executive Service employees, and any other senior political 

appointee paid at or above level IV of the executive schedule. 

Section 739 continues a provision requiring reports to Inspectors 

General concerning expenditures for agency conferences. 

Section 740 continues a provision prohibiting the use of funds to 

increase, eliminate, or reduce a program or project unless such 

change is made pursuant to reprogramming or transfer provisions. 

Section 741 continues a provision prohibiting the Office of Personnel Management or any other agency from using funds to implement regulations changing the competitive areas under reductionsin-force for Federal employees. 

Section 742 continues a provision that prohibits the use of funds 

to begin or announce a study or a public-private competition regarding the conversion to contractor performance of any function 

performed by civilian Federal employees pursuant to Office of Man-
127 

agement and Budget Circular A–76 or any other administrative 

regulation, directive, or policy. 

Section 743 continues a provision that ensures that contractors 

are not prevented from reporting waste, fraud, or abuse by signing 

confidentiality agreements that would prohibit such disclosure. 

Section 744 continues a provision prohibiting funds to any corporation with certain unpaid Federal tax liabilities unless an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and 

made a determination that this further action is not necessary to 

protect the interests of the Government. 

Section 745 continues a provision prohibiting funds to any corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation within 

the preceding 24 months unless an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a determination 

that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of 

the Government. 

Section 746 continues a provision prohibiting the expenditure of 

funds for the implementation of agreements in certain nondisclosure policies unless certain provisions are included in the policies. 

Section 747 is a new provision relating to Executive Order 13690. 

Section 748 continues a provision that addresses possible technical scorekeeping differences for fiscal year 2016 between the Office of Management and Budget and the Congressional Budget Office. 

Section 749 continues a provision declaring the inapplicability of 

these general provisions to title IV and title VIII. 
(128) 

TITLE VIII 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Section 801 continues the provision that allows the use of local 

funds for refunding overpayments of taxes collected and for paying 

settlements and judgments against the District of Columbia government. 

Section 802 continues the provision that prohibits the use of Federal funds for publicity or propaganda designed to support or defeat 

legislation before Congress or any State legislature. 

Section 803 continues the provision that establishes notification 

requirements for certain reprogramming and transfer requirements 

with respect to funds and specifies a timeframe for approval and 

execution of requests to reprogram and transfer local funds. 

Section 804 continues the provision that prohibits the use of Federal funds for salaries, expenses, or other costs associated with the 

offices of U.S. Senator or Representative under section 4(d) of the 

D.C. Statehood Constitutional Convention Initiatives of 1979. 

Section 805 continues, with a modification, the provision that restricts the use of official District of Columbia government vehicles 

to official duties and not between a residence and workplace, except 

under certain circumstances. 

Section 806 continues the provision that prohibits the use of Federal funds by the District of Columbia Attorney General or any 

other officer or entity of the District government to provide assistance for any petition drive or civil action which seeks to require 

Congress to provide for voting representation in Congress for the 

District of Columbia. 

Section 807 continues the provision that prohibits the use of Federal funds in this act to distribute, for the purpose of preventing 

the spread of blood borne pathogens, sterile needles or syringes in 

any location that has been determined by local public health officials or local law enforcement authorities to be inappropriate for 

such distribution. 

Section 808 continues the provision that includes a ‘‘conscience 

clause’’ on legislation that pertains to contraceptive coverage by 

health insurance plans. 

Section 809 restricts the use of Federal funds for abortion, with 

certain exceptions. 

Section 810 continues the provision requiring the CFO to submit 

a revised operating budget for agencies the CFO certifies as requiring a reallocation to address unanticipated program needs. 

Section 811 continues the provision requiring the CFO to submit 

a revised appropriated funds budget for the District of Columbia 

Schools that aligns the schools’ budgets to actual enrollment. 
129 

Section 812 continues the provision authorizing the transfer of 

local funds between operating funds and capital and enterprise 

funds. 

Section 813 continues the provision prohibiting obligations beyond the current fiscal year and prohibits transfers of funds unless 

expressly provided. 

Section 814 continues the provision that ensures that 50 percent 

of unobligated balances may remain available for certain purposes. 

Section 815 continues a provision that appropriates local funds 

during fiscal year 2017 if there is an absence of a continuing resolution or regular appropriation for the District of Columbia. Funds 

are provided under the same authorities and conditions and in the 

same manner and extent as provided for fiscal year 2016. 

Section 816 is a new provision establishing additional requirements for schools participating in the private scholarship program 

funded in the bill. 

Section 817 is a new provision requested by the President that 

amends the D.C. College Access Act of 1999 to reduce the income 

threshold for D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant recipients. 

Section 818 continues the provision which limits references to 

‘‘this act’’ in this title or title IV as referring to only this title and 

title IV. 
(130) 

TITLE IX 

FINANCIAL REGULATORY IMPROVEMENTS 

Title IX contains provisions that provide regulatory relief for 

community banks and credit unions as well as targeted reforms 

that reduce the level of risk in the financial system. 
(131) 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Paragraph 7 of rule XVI requires that Committee reports on general appropriations bills identify each Committee amendment to 

the House bill ‘‘which proposes an item of appropriation which is 

not made to carry out the provisions of an existing law, a treaty 

stipulation, or an act or resolution previously passed by the Senate 

during that session.’’ 

The Committee is filing an original bill, which is not covered 

under this rule, but reports this information in the spirit of full disclosure. 

Items providing funding for fiscal year 2016 which lack authorization are as follows: 

Department of the Treasury 

Departmental Offices 

Department-wide Systems and Capital Investments 

Office of the Inspector General 

Inspector General for Tax Administration 

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 

Fiscal Service 

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau 

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund 

Internal Revenue Service: 

Taxpayer Services 

Enforcement 

Operations Support 

Business Systems Modernization 

Executive Office of the President 

Office of Management and Budget 

Office of National Drug Control Policy 

District of Columbia 

Federal Payment for Resident Tuition Support 

Federal Payment for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer 

Authority 

Federal Payment for Judicial Commissions 

Federal Payment for the D.C. National Guard 

Independent Agencies 

Administrative Conference of the United States 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission 

Election Assistance Commission 

Federal Communications Commission 

Federal Election Commission 

Federal Trade Commission 
132 

1Deposits into the Federal Buildings Fund are available for real property management and 

related activities in the amounts specified in annual appropriations laws, as provided by 40 

U.S.C. 592. 

General Services Administration: 

Federal Buildings Fund 1

Merit Systems Protection Board 

National Archives and Records Administration, National Historical Publications and Records Commission 

National Credit Union Administration: Community Development 

Revolving Loan Fund 

Office of Government Ethics 

Office of Special Counsel 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on July 23, 2015, the 

Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill (S. 1910) 

making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other 

purposes, provided that the bill be subject to amendment and that 

the bill be consistent with its budget allocation, by a recorded vote 

of 16–14, a quorum being present. The vote was as follows: 

Yeas Nays 

Chairman Cochran Ms. Mikulski 

Mr. McConnell Mr. Leahy 

Mr. Shelby Mrs. Murray 

Mr. Alexander Mrs. Feinstein 

Ms. Collins Mr. Durbin 

Ms. Murkowski Mr. Reed 

Mr. Graham Mr. Tester 

Mr. Kirk Mr. Udall 

Mr. Blunt Mrs. Shaheen 

Mr. Moran Mr. Merkley 

Mr. Hoeven Mr. Coons 

Mr. Boozman Mr. Schatz 

Mrs. Capito Ms. Baldwin 

Mr. Cassidy Mr. Murphy 

Mr. Lankford 

Mr. Daines 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports on 

a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute or part 

of any statute include ‘‘(a) the text of the statute or part thereof 

which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a comparative print of 

that part of the bill or joint resolution making the amendment and 

of the statute or part thereof proposed to be amended, showing by 

stricken-through type and italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical devices the omissions and insertions which 

would be made by the bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form 

recommended by the Committee.’’ 
133 

In compliance with this rule, changes in existing law proposed to 

be made by the bill are shown as follows: existing law to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets; new matter is printed in italic; and 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman. 

With respect to title IX of this bill, it is the opinion of the Committee that it is necessary to dispense with these requirements in 

order to expedite the business of the Senate. 

TITLE 12—BANKS AND BANKING 

CHAPTER 16—FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

§ 1812. Management 

(a) Board of Directors 

(1) In general 

The management of the Corporation shall be vested in a Board 

of Directors consisting of 5 members— 

(A) * * * 

(B) 1 of whom shall be the øDirector of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau¿ Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; and 

* * * * * * * 

(d) Vacancy 

(1) In general 

* * * * * * * 

(2) Acting officials may serve 

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Comptroller of the 

Currency or the office of øDirector of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau¿ Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and pending the appointment of a successor, or during the absence or disability of the 

Comptroller of the Currency or the øDirector of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau¿ Chairperson of the Board of Directors 

of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the acting Comptroller of the Currency or the acting øDirector of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau¿ Chairperson of the Board of Directors 

of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, as the case may 

be, shall be a member of the Board of Directors in the place of the 

øComptroller or Director¿ Comptroller or Chairperson. 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 27—REAL ESTATE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES

§ 2604. Home buying information booklets 

(a) Preparation and distribution 

The øDirector of¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (hereafter in this section referred to as 

the ‘‘øDirector¿ Board’’) shall prepare, at least once every 5 years, 

a booklet to help consumers applying for federally related mortgage 

loans to understand the nature and costs of real estate settlement 

services. The øDirector¿ Board shall prepare the booklet in various 
134 

languages and cultural styles, as the øDirector¿ Board determines 

to be appropriate, so that the booklet is understandable and accessible to homebuyers of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. 

The øDirector¿ Board shall distribute such booklets to all lenders 

that make federally related mortgage loans. The øDirector¿ Board 

shall also distribute to such lenders lists, organized by location, of 

homeownership counselors certified under section 1701x(e) of this 

title for use in complying with the requirement under subsection (c) 

of this section. 

(b) Contents 

Each booklet shall be in such form and detail as the øDirector¿ 

Board shall prescribe and, in addition to such other information as 

the øDirector¿ Board may provide, shall include in plain and understandable language the following information: 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(6) A brief explanation of the nature of a variable rate mortgage 

and a reference to the booklet entitled ‘‘Consumer Handbook on 

Adjustable Rate Mortgages’’, published by the øDirector¿ Board, or 

to any suitable substitute of such booklet that the øDirector¿ 

Board may subsequently adopt pursuant to such section. 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 29—HOME MORTGAGE DISCLOSURE

§ 2806. Compliance improvement methods 

(a) In general 

(1) Consultation required 

The øDirector of the Bureau of Consumer¿ Board of Directors 

of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, with the assistance of the Secretary, the Director of the Bureau of the Census, the 

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and such other persons as the Bureau 

deems appropriate, shall develop or assist in the improvement of, 

methods of matching addresses and census tracts to facilitate compliance by depository institutions in as economical a manner as 

possible with the requirements of this chapter. 

* * * * * * * 

(3) Contracting authority 

The øDirector of the Bureau of Consumer¿ Board of Directors 

of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection is authorized to 

utilize, contract with, act through, or compensate any person or 

agency in order to carry out this subsection. 

(b) Recommendations to Congress 

The øDirector of the Bureau of Consumer¿ Board of Directors 

of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection shall recommend 

to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 

Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 

Representatives, such additional legislation as the øDirector of the 

Bureau of Consumer¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Con-
135 

sumer Financial Protection deems appropriate to carry out the purpose of this chapter. 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 34—FEDERAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS EXAMINATION

COUNCIL

§ 3303. Financial Institutions Examination Council 

(a) Establishment; composition 

There is established the Financial Institutions Examination 

Council which shall consist of— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(4) the øDirector of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau¿ Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Bureau of 

Consumer Financial Protection, 

TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE 

CHAPTER 41—CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION

SUBCHAPTER VI—ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFERS

§ 1693o–2. Reasonable fees and rules for payment card transactions 

(a) Reasonable interchange transaction fees for electronic 

debit transactions 

(1) Regulatory authority over interchange transaction fees 

* * * * * * * 

(4) Considerations; consultation 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(C) consult, as appropriate, with the Comptroller of the 

Currency, the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, the National Credit Union Administration Board, the 

Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the 

øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of 

Consumer Financial Protection. 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 42—INTERSTATE LAND SALES

§ 1701. Definitions 

For the purposes of this chapter, the term— 

(1) ø‘‘Director’’ means the Director¿ ‘‘Board’’ means the 

Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; 

* * * * * * * 
136 

§ 1702. Exemptions 

(a) Sale or lease of lots generally 

* * * * * * * 

(b) Sale or lease of lots subject to other statutory registration and disclosure requirements 

Unless the method of disposition is adopted for the purpose of 

evasion of this chapter, the provisions requiring registration and 

disclosure (as specified in section 1703(a)(1) of this title and sections 1704 through 1707 of this title) shall not apply to— 

* * * * * * * 

(2) the sale or lease of lots in a subdivision if, within the 

twelve-month period commencing on the date of the first sale 

or lease of a lot in such subdivision after the effective date of 

this subsection, or on such other date within that twelvemonth period as the øDirector¿ Board may prescribe, not more 

than twelve lots are sold or leased, and the sale or lease of the 

first twelve lots in such subdivision in any subsequent twelvemonth period, if not more than twelve lots have been sold or 

leased in any preceding twelve-month period after the effective 

date of this subsection; 

* * * * * * * 

(8) the sale or lease of a lot in a subdivision containing 

fewer than three hundred lots if— 

(A) * * * 

(B) the lot is free and clear of liens (such as mortgages, deeds of trust, tax liens, mechanics liens, or judgments) at the time of the signing of the contract or agreement and until a deed is delivered to the purchaser or the 

lease expires. As used in this subparagraph, the term 

‘‘liens’’ does not include (i) United States land patents and 

similar Federal grants or reservations, (ii) property reservations which land developers commonly convey or dedicate to local bodies or public utilities for the purpose of 

bringing public services to the land being developed, (iii) 

taxes and assessments imposed by a State, by any other 

public body having authority to assess and tax property, or 

by a property owners’ association, which, under applicable 

State or local law, constitute liens on the property before 

they are due and payable or beneficial property restrictions which would be enforceable by other lot owners or 

lessees in the subdivision, or (iv) other interests described 

in regulations prescribed by the øDirector¿ Board; 

* * * * * * * 

(G) the developer executes a written affirmation to the 

effect that he has complied with the provisions of this 

paragraph, such affirmation to be given on a form provided 

by the øDirector¿ Board, which shall include the following: 

the name and address of the developer; the name and address of the purchaser or lessee; a legal description of the 

lot; an affirmation that the provisions of this paragraph 

have been complied with; a statement that the developer 
137 

submits to the jurisdiction of this title with regard to the 

sale or lease; and the signature of the developer; or 

* * * * * * * 

(c) Rules and regulations 

The øDirector¿ Board may from time to time, pursuant to 

rules and regulations issued øby him¿ by the Board, exempt from 

any of the provisions of this chapter any subdivision or any lots in 

a subdivision, if øhe¿ the Board finds that the enforcement of this 

chapter with respect to such subdivision or lots is not necessary in 

the public interest and for the protection of purchasers by reason 

or the small amount involved or the limited character of the public 

offering. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1704. Registration of subdivisions 

(a) Filing of statement of record 

A subdivision may be registered by filing with the øDirector¿ 

Board a statement of record, meeting the requirements of this 

chapter and such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the 

øDirector¿ Board in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter. 

A statement of record shall be deemed effective only as to the lots 

specified therein. 

(b) Payment of fees; use by øDirector¿ Board 

At the time of filing a statement of record, or any amendment 

thereto, the developer shall pay to the øDirector¿ Board a fee, not 

in excess of $1,000, in accordance with a schedule to be fixed by 

the regulations of the øDirector¿ Board, which fees may be used by 

the øDirector¿ Board to cover all or part of the cost of rendering 

services under this chapter, and such expenses as are paid from 

such fees shall be considered nonadministrative. 

(c) Filing deemed to have taken place upon receipt of statement of record accompanied by fee 

The filing with the øDirector¿ Board of a statement of record, 

or of an amendment thereto, shall be deemed to have taken place 

upon the receipt thereof, accompanied by payment of the fee required by subsection (b) of this section. 

(d) Availability of information to public 

The information contained in or filed with any statement of 

record shall be made available to the public under such regulations 

as the øDirector¿ Board may prescribe and copies thereof shall be 

furnished to every applicant at such reasonable charge as the øDirector¿ Board may prescribe. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1705. Information required in statement of record 

The statement of record shall contain the information and be 

accompanied by the documents specified hereinafter in this section— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 
138 

(11) such certified and uncertified financial statements of 

the developer as the øDirector¿ Board may require; and 

(12) such other information and such other documents and 

certifications as the øDirector¿ Board may require as being 

reasonably necessary or appropriate for the protection of purchasers. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1706. Effective date of statements of record and amendments thereto 

(a) Thirtieth day after filing or such earlier date as determined by øDirector¿ Board; consolidation of subsequent statement with earlier recording 

Except as hereinafter provided, the effective date of a statement of record, or any amendment thereto, shall be the thirtieth 

day after the filing thereof or such earlier date as the øDirector¿ 

Board may determine, having due regard to the public interest and 

the protection of purchasers. If any amendment to any such statement is filed prior to the effective date of the statement, the statement shall be deemed to have been filed when such amendment 

was filed; except that such an amendment filed with the consent 

of the øDirector¿ Board, or filed pursuant to an order of the øDirector¿ Board, shall be treated as being filed as of the date of the filing of the statement of record. When a developer records additional 

lands to be offered for disposition, he may consolidate the subsequent statement of record with any earlier recording offering subdivided land for disposition under the same promotional plan. At 

the time of consolidation the developer shall include in the consolidated statement of record any material changes in the information 

contained in the earlier statement. 

(b) Incomplete or inaccurate statements of record 

If it appears to the øDirector¿ Board that a statement of 

record, or any amendment thereto, is on its face incomplete or inaccurate in any material respect, the øDirector¿ Board shall so advise the developer within a reasonable time after the filing of the 

statement or the amendment, but prior to the date the statement 

or amendment would otherwise be effective. Such notification shall 

serve to suspend the effective date of the statement or the amendment until thirty days after the developer files such additional information as the øDirector¿ Board shall require. Any developer, 

upon receipt of such notice, may request a hearing, and such hearing shall be held within twenty days of receipt of such request by 

the øDirector¿ Board. 

(c) Amendment of statement of record 

If, at any time subsequent to the effective date of a statement 

of record, a change shall occur affecting any material fact required 

to be contained in the statement, the developer shall promptly file 

an amendment thereto. Upon receipt of any such amendment, the 

øDirector¿ Board may, if øhe¿ the Board determines such action to 

be necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of purchasers, suspend the statement of record until the 

amendment becomes effective. 
139 

(d) Suspension of statement of record containing untrue 

statement or omission to state material fact; notice 

and hearing; termination of order of suspension 

If it appears to the øDirector¿ Board at any time that a statement of record, which is in effect, includes any untrue statement 

of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to 

be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not 

misleading, the øDirector¿ Board may, after notice, and after opportunity for hearing (at a time fixed by the øDirector¿ Board) 

within fifteen days after such notice, issue an order suspending the 

statement of record. When such statement has been amended in accordance with such order, the øDirector¿ Board shall so declare 

and thereupon the order shall cease to be effective. 

(e) Examination to determine issuance of order; access to 

records; order suspending statement of record upon 

failure to cooperate 

The øDirector¿ Board is hereby empowered to make an examination in any case to determine whether an order should issue 

under subsection (d) of this section. In making such examination, 

the øDirector¿ Board or anyone designated by øhim¿ the Board 

shall have access to and may demand the production of any books 

and papers of, and may administer oaths and affirmations to and 

examine, the developer, any agents or any other person, in respect 

of any matter relevant to the examination. If the developer or any 

agents shall fail to cooperate, or shall obstruct or refuse to permit 

the making of an examination, such conduct shall be proper ground 

for the issuance of an order suspending the statement of record. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1707. Property report 

(a) Contents of report 

A property report relating to the lots in a subdivision shall contain such of the information contained in the statement of record, 

and any amendments thereto, as the øDirector¿ Board may deem 

necessary, but need not include the documents referred to in paragraphs (7) to (11), inclusive, of section 1705 of this title. A property 

report shall also contain such other information as the øDirector¿ 

Board may by rules or regulations require as being necessary or 

appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of purchasers. 

(b) Promotional use 

The property report shall not be used for any promotional purposes before the statement of record becomes effective and then 

only if it is used in its entirety. No person may advertise or represent that the øDirector¿ Board approves or recommends the subdivision or the sale or lease of lots therein. No portion of the property report shall be underscored, italicized, or printed in larger or 

bolder type than the balance of the statement unless the øDirector¿ 

Board requires or permits it. 

* * * * * * * 
140 

§ 1708. Certification of substantially equivalent State law 

(a) Criteria; request by State 

(1) A State shall be certified if the øDirector¿ Board determines— 

* * * * * * * 

(2) In the case of any State which is not certified under paragraph (1), such State shall be certified if the øDirector¿ Board determines— 

* * * * * * * 

(b) Filing of State disclosure materials and related documentation for purposes of Federal statement of record 

and property report requirements; acceptance by øDirector¿ Board 

After the øDirector¿ Board has certified a State under subsection (a) of this section, the øDirector¿ Board shall accept for filing under sections 1704 through 1707 of this title (and declare effective as the Federal statement of record and property report 

which shall be used in all States in which the lots are offered for 

sale or lease) disclosure materials found acceptable, and any related documentation required, by State authorities in connection 

with the sale or lease of lots located within the State. The øDirector¿ Board may accept for such filing, and declare effective as the 

Federal statement of record and property report, such materials 

and documentation found acceptable by the State in connection 

with the sale or lease of lots located outside that State. Nothing in 

this subsection shall preclude the øDirector¿ Board from exercising 

the authority conferred by subsections (d) and (e) of section 1706 

of this title. 

(c) Notice to State upon failure to meet requirements and 

remedial action necessary for certification 

If a State fails to meet the standards for certification pursuant 

to subsection (a) of this section, the øDirector¿ Board shall notify 

the State in writing of the changes in State law, regulation, or administration that are needed in order to obtain certification. 

(d) Periodic review of certified States’ laws, regulations, and 

administration; withdrawal of certification 

The øDirector¿ Board shall periodically review the laws and 

regulations, and the administration thereof, of States certified 

under subsection (a) of this section, and may withdraw such certification upon a determination that such laws, regulations, and the 

administration thereof, taken as a whole, no longer meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section. 

(e) State and local governmental authorities affected; cooperation with State authorities 

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prevent or limit 

the authority of any State or local government to enact and enforce 

with regard to the sale of land any law, ordinance, or code not in 

conflict with this chapter. In administering this chapter, the øDirector¿ Board shall cooperate with State authorities charged with 
141 

the responsibility of regulating the sale or lease of lots which are 

subject to this chapter. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1710. Court review of orders 

(a) Petition; jurisdiction; findings of øDirector¿ Board; additional evidence; finality 

Any person, aggrieved by an order or determination of the øDirector¿ Board issued after a hearing, may obtain a review of such 

order or determination in the court of appeals of the United States, 

within any circuit wherein such person resides or has his principal 

place of business, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the 

District of Columbia, by filing in such court, within sixty days after 

the entry of such order or determination, a written petition praying 

that the order or determination of the øDirector¿ Board be modified or be set aside in whole or in part. A copy of such petition shall 

be forthwith transmitted by the clerk of the court to the øDirector¿ 

Board, and thereupon the øDirector¿ Board shall file in the court 

the record upon which the order or determination complained of 

was entered, as provided in section 2112 of title 28. No objection 

to an order or determination of the øDirector¿ Board shall be considered by the court unless such objection shall have been urged 

before the øDirector¿ Board. The finding of the øDirector¿ Board 

as to the facts, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive. If either party shall apply to the court for leave to adduce 

additional evidence, and shall show to the satisfaction of the court 

that such additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for failure to adduce such evidence in the hearing 

before the øDirector¿ Board, the court may order such additional 

evidence to be taken before the øDirector¿ Board and to be adduced upon a hearing in such manner and upon such terms and 

conditions as to the court may seem proper. The øDirector¿ Board 

may modify øhis findings¿ its findings as to the facts by reason of 

the additional evidence so taken, and shall file such modified or 

new findings, which, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be 

conclusive, and øhis recommendation¿ a recommendation, if any, 

for the modification or setting aside of the original order. Upon the 

filing of such petition, the jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment and decree, affirming, modifying, or setting 

aside, in whole or in part, any order of the øDirector¿ Board, shall 

be final, subject to review by the Supreme Court of the United 

States upon certiorari or certification as provided in section 1254 

of title 28. 

(b) Stay of order 

The commencement of proceedings under subsection (a) of this 

section shall not, unless specifically ordered by the court, operate 

as a stay of the øSecretary’s order¿ order of the Board. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1712. Contrary stipulations void 

Any condition, stipulation, or provision binding any person acquiring any lot in a subdivision to waive compliance with any pro-
142 

vision of this chapter or of the rules and regulations of the øDirector¿ Board shall be void. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1714. Investigations, injunctions, and prosecution of offenses 

(a) Permanent or temporary injunction or restraining order; 

jurisdiction 

Whenever it shall appear to the øDirector¿ Board that any 

person is engaged or about to engage in any acts or practices which 

constitute or will constitute a violation of the provisions of this 

chapter, or of any rule or regulation prescribed pursuant thereto, 

øhe may, in his discretion¿ the Board may, at the discretion of the 

Board, bring an action in any district court of the United States, 

or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to 

enjoin such acts or practices, and, upon a proper showing, a permanent or temporary injunction or restraining order shall be granted 

without bond. The øDirector¿ Board may transmit such evidence as 

may be available concerning such acts or practices to the Attorney 

General who may, øin his discretion¿ at the discretion of the Board, institute the appropriate criminal proceedings under this chapter. 

(b) Investigations; publication of information concerning 

violations 

The øDirector¿ Board may, øin his discretion¿ at the discretion 

of the Board, make such investigations as øhe¿ the Board deems 

necessary to determine whether any person has violated or is about 

to violate any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation 

prescribed pursuant thereto, and may require or permit any person 

to file with øhim¿ the Board a statement in writing, under oath or 

otherwise as the øDirector¿ Board shall determine, as to all the 

facts and circumstances concerning the matter to be investigated. 

The øDirector¿ Board is authorized, øin his discretion¿ at the discretion of the Board, to publish information concerning any such 

violations, and to investigate any facts, conditions, practices, or 

matters which øhe¿ the Board may deem necessary or proper to aid 

in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, in the prescribing of rules and regulations thereunder, or in securing information to serve as a basis for recommending further legislation 

concerning the matters to which this chapter relates. 

(c) Oaths and affirmations; subpena power 

For the purpose of any such investigation, or any other proceeding under this chapter; the øDirector¿ Board, or any officer 

designated by øhim¿ the Board, is empowered to administer oaths 

and affirmations, subpena witnesses, compel their attendance, take 

evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memorandums, or other records which the øDirector¿ 

Board deems relevant or material to the inquiry. Such attendance 

of witnesses and the production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States or any State at any designated place of hearing. 

(d) Contempt; court order requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses; jurisdiction 
143 

In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena issued 

to, any person, the øDirector¿ Board may invoke the aid of any 

court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such person resides or carries on business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, correspondence, memorandums, and other records and documents. And such 

court may issue an order requiring such person to appear before 

the øDirector¿ Board or any officer designated by the øDirector¿ 

Board, there to produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony 

touching the matter under investigation or in question; and any 

failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such 

court as a contempt thereof. All process in any such case may be 

served in the judicial district whereof such person is an inhabitant 

or wherever he may be found. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1715. Administration 

(a) Delegation of functions, duties, and powers; scope of delegations; appointment, etc., of delegates; right of appeal 

The authority and responsibility for administering this chapter 

shall be in the øDirector¿ Board øof the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection¿ who may delegate any of øhis functions, duties, 

and powers¿ the functions, duties, and powers of the Board to employees of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection or to 

boards of such employees, including functions, duties, and powers 

with respect to investigating, hearing, determining, ordering, or 

otherwise acting as to any work, business, or matter under this 

chapter. The persons to whom such delegations are made with respect to hearing functions, duties, and powers shall be appointed 

and shall serve in the Bureau in compliance with sections 3105, 

3344, 5372, and 7521 of title 5. The øDirector¿ Board shall by rule 

prescribe such rights of appeal from the decisions of øhis administrative law judges¿ the administrative law judges of the Bureau of 

Consumer Financial Protection to other administrative law judges 

or to other officers in the Bureau, to boards of officers or to øhimself¿ the Board, as shall be appropriate and in accordance with 

law. 

* * * * * * * 

(c) Procedures applicable 

The øDirector¿ Board shall conduct all actions with respect to 

rulemaking or adjudication under this chapter in accordance with 

the provisions of chapter 5 of title 5. Notice shall be given of any 

adverse action or final disposition and such notice and the entry of 

any order shall be accompanied by a written statement of supporting facts and legal authority. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1716. Unlawful representations 

The fact that a statement of record with respect to a subdivision has been filed or is in effect shall not be deemed a finding by 
144 

the øDirector¿ Board that the statement of record is true and accurate on its face, or be held to mean the øDirector¿ Board has in 

any way passed upon the merits of, or given approval to, such subdivision. It shall be unlawful to make, or cause to be made, to any 

prospective purchaser any representation contrary to the foregoing. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1717a. Civil money penalties 

(a) In general 

(1) Authority 

Whenever any person knowingly and materially violates any of 

the provisions of this chapter or any rule, regulation, or order 

issued under this chapter, the øDirector¿ Board may impose a civil 

money penalty on such person in accordance with the provisions of 

this section. The penalty shall be in addition to any other available 

civil remedy or any available criminal penalty, and may be imposed 

whether or not the øDirector¿ Board imposes other administrative 

sanctions. 

(2) Amount of penalty 

The amount of the penalty, as determined by the øDirector¿ 

Board, may not exceed $1,000 for each violation, except that the 

maximum penalty for all violations by a particular person during 

any 1-year period shall not exceed $1,000,000. Each violation of 

this chapter, or any rule, regulation, or order issued under this 

chapter, shall constitute a separate violation with respect to each 

sale or lease or offer to sell or lease. In the case of a continuing 

violation, as determined by the øDirector¿ Board, each day shall 

constitute a separate violation. 

(b) Agency procedures 

(1) Establishment 

The øDirector¿ Board shall establish standards and procedures 

governing the imposition of civil money penalties under subsection 

(a) of this section. The standards and procedures— 

(A) * * * 

(B) may provide for review by the øDirector¿ Board of any 

determination or order, or interlocutory ruling, arising from a 

hearing. 

(2) Final orders 

If no hearing is requested within 15 days of receipt of the notice of opportunity for hearing, the imposition of the penalty shall 

constitute a final and unappealable determination. If the øDirector¿ Board reviews the determination or order, the øDirector¿ 

Board may affirm, modify, or reverse that determination or order. 

If the øDirector¿ Board does not review the determination or order 

within 90 days of the issuance of the determination or order, the 

determination or order shall be final. 

(3) Factors in determining amount of penalty 

In determining the amount of a penalty under subsection (a) 

of this section, consideration shall be given to such factors as the 

gravity of the offense, any history of prior offenses (including offenses occurring before December 15, 1989), ability to pay the pen-
145 

alty, injury to the public, benefits received, deterrence of future violations, and such other factors as the øDirector¿ Board may determine in regulations to be appropriate. 

(4) Reviewability of imposition of penalty 

øThe Secretary’s determination or order¿ A determination or 

order of the Board imposing a penalty under subsection (a) of this 

section shall not be subject to review, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section. 

(c) Judicial review of agency determination 

(1) In general 

After exhausting all administrative remedies established by 

the øDirector¿ Board under subsection (b)(1) of this section, a person aggrieved by a final order of the øDirector¿ Board assessing a 

penalty under this section may seek judicial review pursuant to 

section 1710 of this title. 

(2) Order to pay penalty 

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any such review, the court shall have the power to order payment of the penalty imposed by the øDirector¿ Board. 

(d) Action to collect penalty 

If any person fails to comply with the determination or order 

of the øDirector¿ Board imposing a civil money penalty under subsection (a) of this section, after the determination or order is no 

longer subject to review as provided by subsections (b) and (c) of 

this section, the øDirector¿ Board may request the Attorney General of the United States to bring an action in any appropriate 

United States district court to obtain a monetary judgment against 

the person and such other relief as may be available. The monetary 

judgment may, in the discretion of the court, include any attorneys 

fees and other expenses incurred by the United States in connection with the action. In an action under this subsection, the validity and appropriateness of øthe Secretary’s determination or order¿ 

a determination or order of the Board imposing the penalty shall 

not be subject to review. 

(e) Settlement by Director 

The øDirector¿ Board may compromise, modify, or remit any 

civil money penalty which may be, or has been, imposed under this 

section. 

* * * * * * * 

(g) Regulations 

The øDirector¿ Board shall issue such regulations as the øDirector¿ Board deems appropriate to implement this section. 

(h) Use of penalties for administration 

Civil money penalties collected under this section shall be paid 

to the øDirector¿ Board and, upon approval in an appropriation 

Act, may be used by the øDirector¿ Board to cover all or part of 

the cost of rendering services under this chapter. 

* * * * * * * 
146 

§ 1718. Rules, regulations, and orders 

The øDirector¿ Board shall have authority from time to time 

to make, issue, amend, and rescind such rules and regulations and 

such orders as are necessary or appropriate to the exercise of the 

functions and powers conferred upon øhim¿ the Board elsewhere in 

this chapter. For the purpose of øhis rules and regulations¿ the 

rules and regulations of the Board, the øDirector¿ Board may classify persons and matters within øhis jurisdiction¿ the jurisdiction 

of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and prescribe different requirements for different classes of persons or matters. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1719. Jurisdiction of offenses and suits 

The district courts of the United States, the United States 

courts of any territory, and the United States District Court for the 

District of Columbia shall have jurisdiction of offenses and violations under this chapter and under the rules and regulations prescribed by the øDirector¿ Board pursuant thereto, and concurrent 

with State courts, of all suits in equity and actions at law brought 

to enforce any liability or duty created by this chapter. Any such 

suit or action may be brought to enforce any liability or duty created by this chapter. Any such suit or action may be brought in the 

district wherein the defendant is found or is an inhabitant or 

transacts business, or in the district where the offer or sale took 

place, if the defendant participated therein, and process in such 

cases may be served in any other district of which the defendant 

is an inhabitant or wherever the defendant may be found. Judgments and decrees so rendered shall be subject to review as provided in sections 1254 and 1291 of title 28. No case arising under 

this chapter and brought in any State court of competent jurisdiction shall be removed to any court of the United States, except 

where the United States or any officer or employee of the United 

States in his official capacity is a party. No costs shall be assessed 

for or against the øDirector¿ Board or any member of the Board in 

any proceeding under this chapter brought by or against øhim¿ the 

Board or any member of the Board in the Supreme Court or such 

other courts. 

TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE 

CHAPTER 69—CUBAN DEMOCRACY

§ 6005. Sanctions 

(a) Prohibition on certain transactions between certain 

United States firms and Cuba 

* * * * * * * 

(b) Prohibitions on vessels 

ø(1) Vessels engaging in trade 

øBeginning on the 61st day after October 23, 1992, a vessel 

which enters a port or place in Cuba to engage in the trade of 

goods or services may not, within 180 days after departure from 
147 

such port or place in Cuba, load or unload any freight at any place 

in the United States, except pursuant to a license issued by the 

Secretary of the Treasury.¿ 

ø(2)¿ (1) Vessels carrying goods or passengers to or from 

Cuba 

Except as specifically authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury, a vessel carrying goods or passengers to or from Cuba or carrying goods in which Cuba or a Cuban national has any interest 

may not enter a United States port. 

ø(3)¿ (2) Inapplicability of ship stores general license 

No commodities which may be exported under a general license 

described in section 771.9 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, 

as in effect on May 1, 1992, may be exported under a general license to any vessel carrying goods or passengers to or from Cuba 

or carrying goods in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest. 

ø(4)¿ (3) Definitions 

As used in this subsection— 

(A) the term ‘‘vessel’’ includes every description of water 

craft or other contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a 

means of transportation in water, but does not include aircraft; 

(B) the term ‘‘United States’’ includes the territories and 

possessions of the United States and the customs waters of the 

United States (as defined in section 1401 of title 19; and 

(C) the term ‘‘Cuban national’’ means a national of Cuba, 

as the term ‘‘national’’ is defined in section 515.302 of title 31, 

Code of Federal Regulations, as of August 1, 1992. 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 79—TRADE SANCTIONS REFORM AND EXPORT

ENHANCEMENT

§ 7207. Prohibition on United States assistance øand financing¿ 

(a) øProhibition on United States assistance 

ø(1) In general 

øNotwithstanding¿ IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

provision of law, no United States Government assistance, including United States foreign assistance, United States export assistance, and any United States credit or guarantees shall be available 

for exports to Cuba or for commercial exports to Iran, Libya, North 

Korea, or Sudan. 

ø(2)¿ (b) Rule of construction 

Nothing in øparagraph (1)¿ subsection (a) shall be construed to 

alter, modify, or otherwise affect the provisions of section 6039 of 

this title or any other provision of law relating to Cuba in effect 

on the day before October 28, 2000. 

ø(3)¿ (c) Waiver 

The President may waive the application of øparagraph (1)¿ 

subsection (a) with respect to Iran, Libya, North Korea, and Sudan 
148 

to the degree the President determines that it is in the national security interest of the United States to do so, or for humanitarian 

reasons. 

ø(b) Prohibition on financing of agricultural sales to Cuba 

ø(1) In general 

øNo United States person may provide payment or financing 

terms for sales of agricultural commodities or products to Cuba or 

any person in Cuba, except in accordance with the following terms 

(notwithstanding part 515 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, 

or any other provision of law): 

ø(A) Payment of cash in advance. 

ø(B) Financing by third country financial institutions (excluding United States persons or Government of Cuba entities), 

except that such financing may be confirmed or advised by a 

United States financial institution. 

øNothing in this paragraph authorizes payment terms or trade financing involving a debit or credit to an account of a person located 

in Cuba or of the Government of Cuba maintained on the books of 

a United States depository institution. 

ø(2) Penalties 

øAny private person or entity that violates paragraph (1) shall 

be subject to the penalties provided in the Trading With the Enemy 

Act for violations under that Act. 

ø(3) Administration and enforcement 

øThe President shall issue such regulations as are necessary to 

carry out this section, except that the President, in lieu of issuing 

new regulations, may apply any regulations in effect on October 28, 

2000, pursuant to the Trading With the Enemy Act, with respect 

to the conduct prohibited in paragraph (1). 

ø(4) Definitions 

øIn this subsection— 

ø(A) the term ‘‘financing’’ includes any loan or extension of 

credit; 

ø(B) the term ‘‘United States depository institution’’ means 

any entity (including its foreign branches or subsidiaries) organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United 

States, or any agency, office or branch located in the United 

States of a foreign entity, that is engaged primarily in the 

business of banking (including a bank, savings bank, savings 

association, credit union, trust company, or United States bank 

holding company); and 

ø(C) the term ‘‘United States person’’ means the Federal 

Government, any State or local government, or any private 

person or entity of the United States.¿ 
149 

TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 

PART II—CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 

CHAPTER 229—POSTSENTENCE ADMINISTRATION

SUBCHAPTER A—PROBATION

§ 3602. Appointment of probation officers 

(a) APPOINTMENT.—A district court of the United States shall 

appoint qualified persons to serve, with or without compensation, 

as probation officers within the jurisdiction and under the direction 

of the court making the appointment. A person appointed as a probation officer in one district may serve in another district with the 

consent of the appointing court and the court in the other district. 

The appointing court may, for cause, remove a probation officer appointed to serve with compensation, and may, in its discretion, remove a probation officer appointed to serve without compensation. 

TITLE 40—PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS 

SUBTITLE II—PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS 

PART A—GENERAL

CHAPTER 33—ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, AND ALTERATION

§ 3314. Delegation 

(a) WHEN ALLOWED.—The carrying out of the duties and powers of the Administrator of General Services under this chapter, in 

accordance with standards the Administrator prescribes— 

(1) shall, except for the authority contained in section 

3305(b) of this title, be delegated on request to the appropriate 

øexecutive¿ Federal agency when the estimated cost of the 

project does not exceed $100,000; and 

(2) may be delegated to the appropriate øexecutive¿ Federal agency when the Administrator determines that delegation will promote efficiency and economy. 

TITLE 44—PUBLIC PRINTING AND DOCUMENTS 

CHAPTER 35—COORDINATION OF FEDERAL INFORMATION POLICY

SUBCHAPTER I—FEDERAL INFORMATION POLICY

§ 3513. Director review of agency activities; reporting; agency response 

(a) * * * 

(c) COMPARABLE TREATMENT.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director shall treat or review a rule or order prescribed or proposed by the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection on the same 
150 

terms and conditions as apply to any rule or order prescribed or 

proposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 

TITLE 52—VOTING AND ELECTIONS 

SUBTITLE III—FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE 

CHAPTER 301—FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

SUBCHAPTER I—DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS

§ 30101. Definitions 

When used in this Act: 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(8)(A) The term ‘‘contribution’’ includes— 

(i) any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of 

money or anything of value made by any person for the 

purpose of influencing any election for Federal office; øor¿ 

(ii) the payment by any person of compensation for the 

personal services of another person which are rendered to 

a political committee without charge for any purposeø.¿ ; 

or 

(iii) any payment by a political committee of a political 

party for the direct costs of a public communication (as defined in paragraph (22)) made on behalf of a candidate for 

Federal office who is affiliated with such party, but only if 

the communication is controlled by, or made at the direction of, the candidate or an authorized committee of the 

candidate. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 30102. Organization of political committees 

(a) Treasurer; vacancy; official authorizations 

* * * * * * * 

ø(g) Filing with and receipt of designations, statements, and 

reports by Secretary of Senate; forwarding to Commission; filing requirements with Commission; public inspection and preservation of designations, etc. 

ø(1) Designations, statements, and reports required to be filed 

under this Act by a candidate for the office of Senator, by the principal campaign committee of such candidate, and by the Republican 

and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committees shall be filed 

with the Secretary of the Senate, who shall receive such designations, statements, and reports, as custodian for the Commission. 

ø(2) The Secretary of the Senate shall forward a copy of any 

designation, statement, or report filed with the Secretary under 

this subsection to the Commission as soon as possible (but no later 

than 2 working days) after receiving such designation, statement, 

or report. 
151 

ø(3) All designations, statements, and reports required to be 

filed under this Act, except designations, statements, and reports 

filed in accordance with paragraph (1), shall be filed with the Commission. 

ø(4) The Secretary of the Senate shall make the designations, 

statements, and reports received under this subsection available for 

public inspection and copying in the same manner as the Commission under section 30111(a)(4) of this title, and shall preserve such 

designations, statements, and reports in the same manner as the 

Commission under section 30111(a)(5) of this title.¿ 

(g) FILING WITH THE COMMISSION.—All designations, statements, and reports required to be filed under this Act shall be filed 

with the Commission. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 30116. Limitations on contributions and expenditures 

(a) Dollar limits on contributions 

* * * * * * * 

(d) Expenditures by national committee, State committee, or 

subordinate committee of State committee in connection with general election campaign of candidates for 

Federal office 

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law with respect to limitations on expenditures or limitations on contributions, the national committee of a political party and a State 

committee of a political party, including any subordinate committee of a State committee, may make expenditures in connection with the general election campaign of candidates for 

Federal office, subject to the limitations contained in øparagraphs (2), (3), and (4)¿ paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection. 

* * * * * * * 

ø(4) INDEPENDENT VERSUS COORDINATED EXPENDITURES BY

PARTY.— 

ø(A) IN GENERAL.—On or after the date on which a political party nominates a candidate, no committee of the 

political party may make— 

ø(i) any coordinated expenditure under this subsection with respect to the candidate during the election cycle at any time after it makes any independent 

expenditure (as defined in section 30101(17) of this 

title) with respect to the candidate during the election 

cycle; or 

ø(ii) any independent expenditure (as defined in 

section 30101(17) of this title) with respect to the candidate during the election cycle at any time after it 

makes any coordinated expenditure under this subsection with respect to the candidate during the election cycle.¿ 

(4) SPECIAL RULE FOR DIRECT COSTS OF COMMUNICATIONS.—The direct costs incurred by a political committee of a 
152 

political party for a communication made in connection with 

the campaign of a candidate for Federal office shall not be subject to the limitations contained in paragraphs (2) and (3) unless the communication is controlled by, or made at the direction of, the candidate or an authorized committee of the candidate. 

COMPETITIVE EQUALITY BANKING ACT OF 1987, 

PUBLIC LAW 100–86 

TITLE VI—EXPEDITED FUNDS AVAILABILITY 

SEC. 603. EXPEDITED FUNDS AVAILABILITY SCHEDULES. 

(a) NEXT BUSINESS DAY AVAILABILITY FOR CERTAIN DEPOSITS.— 

* * * * * * * 

(d) TIME PERIOD ADJUSTMENTS.— 

(1) REDUCTION GENERALLY.—Notwithstanding any other 

provision of law, the Board, jointly with the øDirector of the 

Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, shall, by regulation, reduce the time periods established under subsections (b), (c), and (e) of this section to as 

short a time as possible and equal to the period of time achievable under the improved check clearing system for a receiving 

depository institution to reasonably expect to learn of the nonpayment of most items for each category of checks. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 604. SAFEGUARD EXCEPTIONS. 

(a) NEW ACCOUNTS.—Notwithstanding section 4002 of this 

title, in the case of any account established at a depository institution by a new depositor, the following provisions shall apply with 

respect to any deposit in such account during the 30-day period (or 

such shorter period as the Board, jointly with the øDirector of the 

Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial 

Protection, may establish) beginning on the date such account is established— 

* * * * * * * 

(b) LARGE OR REDEPOSITED CHECKS; REPEATED OVERDRAFTS.— 

The Board, jointly with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, may, by 

regulation, establish reasonable exceptions to any time limitation 

established under subsection (a)(2), (b), (c), or (e) of section 4002 of 

this title for— 

* * * * * * * 

(c) REASONABLE CAUSE EXCEPTION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with regulations which the 

Board, jointly with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, shall 

prescribe, subsections (a)(2), (b), (c), and (e) of section 4002 of 

this title shall not apply with respect to any check deposited 
153 

in an account at a depository institution if the receiving depository institution has reasonable cause to believe that the check 

is uncollectible from the originating depository institution. For 

purposes of the preceding sentence, reasonable cause to believe 

requires the existence of facts which would cause a wellgrounded belief in the mind of a reasonable person. Such reasons shall be included in the notice required under subsection 

(f) of this section. 

* * * * * * * 

(d) EMERGENCY CONDITIONS.—Subject to such regulations as 

the Board, jointly with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, may prescribe, subsections (a)(2), (b), (c), and (e) of section 4002 of this title 

shall not apply to funds deposited by check in any receiving depository institution in the case of— 

* * * * * * * 

(e) PREVENTION OF FRAUD LOSSES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board, jointly with the øDirector of 

the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, may, by regulation or order, suspend the 

applicability of this chapter, or any portion thereof, to any classification of checks if the Board, jointly with the øDirector of 

the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, determines that— 

* * * * * * * 

(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

(A) NOTICE OF EACH SUSPENSION.—Within 10 days of 

prescribing any regulation or issuing any order under 

paragraph (1), the Board, jointly with the øDirector of the 

Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, shall transmit a report of such action 

to the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs 

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. 

(B) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(ii) evidence considered by the Board, jointly with 

the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the 

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, in making 

the determination under paragraph (1) with respect to 

such regulation or order; and 

* * * * * * * 

(f) NOTICE OF EXCEPTION; AVAILABILITY WITHIN REASONABLE

TIME.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(B) except where other time periods are specifically 

provided in this chapter, the availability of the funds de-
154 

posited shall be governed by the policy of the receiving depository institution, but shall not exceed a reasonable period of time as determined by the Board, jointly with the 

øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau 

of Consumer Financial Protection. 

(2) TIME FOR NOTICE.—* * * 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(C) In the case of a deposit to which subsection (d) or 

(e) of this section applies, notice shall be provided by the 

depository institution in accordance with regulations of the 

Board, jointly with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of 

Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 605. DISCLOSURE OF FUNDS AVAILABILITY POLICIES. 

(a) NOTICE FOR NEW ACCOUNTS.—* * * 

(b) PREPRINTED DEPOSIT SLIPS.—All preprinted deposit slips 

that a depository institution furnishes to its customers shall contain a summary notice, as prescribed by the Board, jointly with the 

øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, in regulations, that deposited items 

may not be available for immediate withdrawal. 

* * * * * * * 

(d) POSTING OF NOTICE.— 

(1) SPECIFIC NOTICE AT MANNED TELLER STATIONS.—* * * 

(2) GENERAL NOTICE AT AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES.—In 

the case of any automated teller machine at which any funds 

are received for deposit in an account at any depository institution, the Board, jointly with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ 

Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, shall prescribe, by regulations, that the owner or operator 

of such automated teller machine shall post or provide a general notice that funds deposited in such machine may not be 

immediately available for withdrawal. 

* * * * * * * 

(f) MODEL DISCLOSURE FORMS.— 

(1) PREPARED BY BOARD AND BUREAU.—The Board, jointly 

with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, shall publish model 

disclosure forms and clauses for common transactions to facilitate compliance with the disclosure requirements of this section and to aid customers by utilizing readily understandable 

language. 

(2) USE OF FORMS TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE.—* * * 

(A) uses any appropriate model form or clause as published by the Board, jointly with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection,, or 

* * * * * * * 
155 

(3) VOLUNTARY USE.—Nothing in this chapter requires the 

use of any such model form or clause prescribed by the Board, 

jointly with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of 

the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, under this subsection. 

(4) NOTICE AND COMMENT.—Model disclosure forms and 

clauses shall be adopted by the Board, jointly with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, only after notice duly given in the 

Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment in accordance with section 553 of title 5. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 609. REGULATIONS AND REPORTS BY BOARD. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—After notice and opportunity to submit comment in accordance with section 553(c) of title 5, the Board, jointly 

with the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau 

of Consumer Financial Protection, shall prescribe regulations— 

* * * * * * * 

(e) CONSULTATIONS.—In prescribing regulations under subsections (a) and (b), the Board and the øDirector of the Bureau¿ 

Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, 

in the case of subsection (a), and the Board, in the case of subsection (b), shall consult with the Comptroller of the Currency, the 

Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 

and the National Credit Union Administration Board. 

JUDICIAL IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1990, 

PUBLIC LAW 101–650 

SEC. 203. APPOINTMENT AND NUMBER OF DISTRICT JUDGES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) TEMPORARY JUDGESHIPS.—The President shall appoint, by 

and with the advice and consent of the Senate— 

(1) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of 

California; 

* * * * * * * 

(12) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of 

Virginia. 

Except with respect to the district of Kansas, the western district 

of Michigan, the eastern district of Pennsylvania, the district of 

Hawaii, and the northern district of Ohio, the first vacancy in the 

office of district judge in each of the judicial districts named in this 

subsection, occurring 10 years or more after the confirmation date 

of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created by this 

subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the district of Kansas occurring ø24 years and 6 

months¿ 25 years and 6 months or more after the confirmation 

date of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created for 

such district under this subsection, shall not be filled. The first va-
156 

cancy in the office of district judge in the western district of Michigan, occurring after December 1, 1995, shall not be filled. The first 

vacancy in the office of district judge in the eastern district of 

Pennsylvania, occurring 5 years or more after the confirmation 

date of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created for 

such district under this subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the northern district of Ohio 

occurring 19 years or more after the confirmation date of the judge 

named to fill the temporary judgeship created under this subsection shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of the district judge in the district of Hawaii occurring 21 years and 6 

months or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to 

fill the temporary judgeship created under this subsection shall not 

be filled. For districts named in this subsection for which multiple 

judgeships are created by this Act, the last of those judgeships 

filled shall be the judgeships created under this section. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS ACT OF 1999, 

PUBLIC LAW 106–98 

SEC. 3. PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAM. 

(a) GRANTS.— 

* * * * * * * 

(c) DEFINITIONS.—* * * 

(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(2) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.—* * * 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(G)(i) for individuals who began an undergraduate 

course of study prior to school year 2015–2016, is from a 

family with a taxable annual income of less than 

$1,000,000 and (ii) for individuals who begin an undergraduate course of study in or after school year 2016–2017, 

is from a family with a taxable annual income of less than 

$450,000. Beginning with school year 2017–2018, the 

Mayor shall adjust the amounts in clauses (i) and (ii) for 

inflation, as measured by the percentage increase, if any, 

from the preceding fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index 

for All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. 

21ST CENTURY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATON ACT, PUBLIC LAW 107–273 

SEC. 312. ADDITIONAL FEDERAL JUDGESHIPS. 

(a) PERMANENT DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS.— 

* * * * * * * 

(c) TEMPORARY JUDGESHIPS.— 
157 

(1) IN GENERAL.* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(2) VACANCIES NOT FILLED.—The first vacancy in the office 

of district judge in each of the offices of district judge authorized by this subsection, except in the case of the central district 

of California and the western district of North Carolina, occurring ø13 years¿ 14 years or more after the confirmation date 

of the judge named to fill the temporary district judgeship created in the applicable district by this subsection, shall not be 

filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the 

central district of California occurring ø12 years and 6 

months¿ 13 years and 6 months or more after the confirmation 

date of the judge named to fill the temporary district judgeship 

created in that district by this subsection, shall not be filled. 

The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the western 

district of North Carolina occurring ø11 years¿ 12 years or 

more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the 

temporary district judgeship created in that district by this 

subsection, shall not be filled. 

FAIR AND ACCURATE CREDIT TRANSACTIONSACT OF 

2003, PUBLIC LAW 108–159 

TITLE V—FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EDUCATION 

IMPROVEMENT 

SEC. 513. ESTABLISHMENT OF FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EDUCATION 

COMMISSION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be composed of— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(C) the øDirector¿ Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; and 

* * * * * * * 

(d) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall serve 

as the Chairperson. The øDirector¿ Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection shall serve 

as the Vice Chairman. 

UNIVERSAL SERVICE ANTIDEFICIENCY TEMPORARY 

SUSPENSION ACT, PUBLIC LAW 108–494 

TITLE III—UNIVERSAL SERVICE 

SEC. 302. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN TITLE 31 PROVISIONS TO UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—During the period beginning on the date of 

enactment of this Act and ending on øDecember 31, 2016¿ Decem-
158 

ber 31, 2017, section 1341 and subchapter II of chapter 15 of title 

31, United States Code, do not apply— 

* * * * * * * 

(b) POST-2005 FULFILLMENT OF PROTECTED OBLIGATIONS.—Section 1341 and subchapter II of chapter 15 of title 31, United States 

Code, do not apply after øDecember 31, 2016¿ December 31, 2017, 

to an expenditure or obligation described in subsection (a)(2) made 

or authorized during the period described in subsection (a). 

TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, HOUSING AND URBAN 

DEVELOPMENT, THE JUDICIARY, THE DISTRICT OF 

COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006, PUBLIC LAW 109–115 

TITLE IV 

THE JUDICIARY 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—THE JUDICIARY

SEC. 406. The existing judgeship for the eastern district of Missouri authorized by section 203(c) of the Judicial Improvements Act 

of 1990 (Public Law 101–650, 104 Stat. 5089) as amended by Public 

Law 105–53, as of the effective date of this Act, shall be extended. 

The first vacancy in the office of district judge in this district occurring ø22 years and 6 months¿ 23 years and 6 months or more after 

the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary 

judgeship created by section 203(c) shall not be filled. 

HOUSING AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACTOF 2008, 

PUBLIC LAW 110–289 

TITLE V—S.A.F.E. MORTGAGE LICENSING ACT 

SEC. 1503. DEFINITIONS. 

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall 

apply: 

(1) BUREAU.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(6) NATIONWIDE MORTGAGE LICENSING SYSTEM AND REGISTRY.—The term ‘‘Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and 

Registry’’ means a mortgage licensing system developed and 

maintained by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and 

the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators 

for the State licensing and registration of State-licensed loan 

originators and the registration of registered loan originators 

or any system established by the øDirector¿ Board under section 5108 of this title. 

* * * * * * * 
159 

(10) øDIRECTOR¿ BOARD.—The term ø‘‘Director’’ means the 

Director¿ ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of Directors of the Bureau 

of Consumer Financial Protection. 

* * * * * * * 

(12) STATE-LICENSED LOAN ORIGINATOR.—The term ‘‘Statelicensed loan originator’’ means any individual who— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(C) is licensed by a State or by the øDirector¿ Board 

under section 5107 of this title and registered as a loan 

originator with, and maintains a unique identifier through, 

the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1508. BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BACKUP 

AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH LOAN ORIGINATOR LICENSING SYSTEM. 

(a) BACKUP LICENSING SYSTEM.—If, by the end of the 1-year 

period, or the 2-year period in the case of a State whose legislature 

meets only biennially, beginning on July 30, 2008, or at any time 

thereafter, the øDirector¿ Board determines that a State does not 

have in place by law or regulation a system for licensing and registering loan originators that meets the requirements of sections 

5104 and 5105 of this title and subsection (d) of this section, or 

does not participate in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System 

and Registry, the øDirector¿ Board shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of a system for the licensing and registration by the øDirector¿ Board of loan originators operating in such 

State as State-licensed loan originators. 

(b) LICENSING AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.—The system 

established by the øDirector¿ Board under subsection (a) for any 

State shall meet the requirements of sections 5104 and 5105 of this 

title for State-licensed loan originators. 

(c) UNIQUE IDENTIFIER.—The øDirector¿ Board shall coordinate 

with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry to 

establish protocols for assigning a unique identifier to each loan 

originator licensed by the øDirector¿ Board as a State-licensed loan 

originator that will facilitate electronic tracking and uniform identification of, and public access to, the employment history of and 

the publicly adjudicated disciplinary and enforcement actions 

against loan originators. 

(d) STATE LICENSING LAW REQUIREMENTS.—For purposes of 

this section, the law in effect in a State meets the requirements of 

this subsection if the øDirector¿ Board determines the law satisfies 

the following minimum requirements: 

* * * * * * * 

(e) TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PERIOD.—The øDirector¿ Board 

may extend, by not more than 24 months, the 1-year or 2-year period, as the case may be, referred to in subsection (a) for the licensing of loan originators in any State under a State licensing law 

that meets the requirements of sections 5104 and 5105 of this title 

and subsection (d) if the øDirector¿ Board determines that such 
160 

State is making a good faith effort to establish a State licensing 

law that meets such requirements, license mortgage originators 

under such law, and register such originators with the Nationwide 

Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1509. BACKUP AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A NATIONWIDE MORTGAGE LICENSING AND REGISTRY SYSTEM. 

If at any time the øDirector¿ Board determines that the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry is failing to meet 

the requirements and purposes of this chapter for a comprehensive 

licensing, supervisory, and tracking system for loan originators, the 

øDirector¿ Board shall establish and maintain such a system to 

carry out the purposes of this chapter and the effective registration 

and regulation of loan originators. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1512. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION. 

(a) SYSTEM CONFIDENTIALITY.—Except as otherwise provided in 

this section, any requirement under Federal or State law regarding 

the privacy or confidentiality of any information or material provided to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry 

or a system established by the øDirector¿ Board under section 

5108 of this title, and any privilege arising under Federal or State 

law (including the rules of any Federal or State court) with respect 

to such information or material, shall continue to apply to such information or material after the information or material has been 

disclosed to the system. Such information and material may be 

shared with all State and Federal regulatory officials with mortgage industry oversight authority without the loss of privilege or 

the loss of confidentiality protections provided by Federal and State 

laws. 

(b) NONAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.—* * * 

(1) * * * 

(2) subpoena or discovery, or admission into evidence, in 

any private civil action or administrative process, unless with 

respect to any privilege held by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry or the øDirector¿ Board with respect to such information or material, the person to whom such 

information or material pertains waives, in whole or in part, 

in the discretion of such person, that privilege. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1513. LIABILITY PROVISIONS. 

The Bureau, any State official or agency, or any organization 

serving as the administrator of the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing 

System and Registry or a system established by the øDirector¿ 

Board under section 5108 of this title, or any officer or employee 

of any such entity, shall not be subject to any civil action or proceeding for monetary damages by reason of the good faith action 

or omission of any officer or employee of any such entity, while acting within the scope of office or employment, relating to the collection, furnishing, or dissemination of information concerning per-
161 

sons who are loan originators or are applying for licensing or registration as loan originators. 

SEC. 1514. ENFORCEMENT BY THE BUREAU. 

(a) SUMMONS AUTHORITY.—The øDirector¿ Board may— 

(1) examine any books, papers, records, or other data of 

any loan originator operating in any State which is subject to 

a licensing system established by the øDirector¿ Board under 

section 5107 of this title; and 

(2) summon any loan originator referred to in paragraph 

(1) or any person having possession, custody, or care of the reports and records relating to such loan originator, to appear 

before the øDirector¿ Board or any delegate of the øDirector¿ 

Board at a time and place named in the summons and to 

produce such books, papers, records, or other data, and to give 

testimony, under oath, as may be relevant or material to an investigation of such loan originator for compliance with the requirements of this chapter. 

(b) EXAMINATION AUTHORITY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—If the øDirector¿ Board establishes a licensing system under section 5107 of this title for any State, 

the øDirector¿ Board shall appoint examiners for the purposes 

of administering such section. 

(2) POWER TO EXAMINE.—Any examiner appointed under 

paragraph (1) shall have power, on behalf of the øDirector¿ 

Board, to make any examination of any loan originator operating in any State which is subject to a licensing system established by the øDirector¿ Board under section 5107 of this title 

whenever the øDirector¿ Board determines an examination of 

any loan originator is necessary to determine the compliance 

by the originator with this chapter. 

(3) REPORT OF EXAMINATION.—Each examiner appointed 

under paragraph (1) shall make a full and detailed report of 

examination of any loan originator examined to the øDirector¿ 

Board. 

(4) ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS; EVIDENCE.—In connection with examinations of loan originators 

operating in any State which is subject to a licensing system 

established by the øDirector¿ Board under section 5107 of this 

title, or with other types of investigations to determine compliance with applicable law and regulations, the øDirector¿ Board 

and examiners appointed by the øDirector¿ Board may administer oaths and affirmations and examine and take and preserve testimony under oath as to any matter in respect to the 

affairs of any such loan originator. 

(5) ASSESSMENTS.—The cost of conducting any examination 

of any loan originator operating in any State which is subject 

to a licensing system established by the øDirector¿ Board 

under section 5107 of this title shall be assessed by the øDirector¿ Board against the loan originator to meet the øSecretary’s 

expenses¿ expenses of the Board in carrying out such examination. 

(c) CEASE AND DESIST PROCEEDING.— 
162 

(1) AUTHORITY OF øDIRECTOR¿ BOARD.—If the øDirector¿ 

Board finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that any 

person is violating, has violated, or is about to violate any provision of this chapter, or any regulation thereunder, with respect to a State which is subject to a licensing system established by the øDirector¿ Board under section 5107 of this title, 

the øDirector¿ Board may publish such findings and enter an 

order requiring such person, and any other person that is, was, 

or would be a cause of the violation, due to an act or omission 

the person knew or should have known would contribute to 

such violation, to cease and desist from committing or causing 

such violation and any future violation of the same provision, 

rule, or regulation. Such order may, in addition to requiring a 

person to cease and desist from committing or causing a violation, require such person to comply, or to take steps to effect 

compliance, with such provision or regulation, upon such terms 

and conditions and within such time as the øDirector¿ Board 

may specify in such order. Any such order may, as the øDirector¿ Board deems appropriate, require future compliance or 

steps to effect future compliance, either permanently or for 

such period of time as the øDirector¿ Board may specify, with 

such provision or regulation with respect to any loan originator. 

(2) HEARING.—The notice instituting proceedings pursuant 

to paragraph (1) shall fix a hearing date not earlier than 30 

days nor later than 60 days after service of the notice unless 

an earlier or a later date is set by the øDirector¿ Board with 

the consent of any respondent so served. 

(3) TEMPORARY ORDER.—Whenever the øDirector¿ Board 

determines that the alleged violation or threatened violation 

specified in the notice instituting proceedings pursuant to 

paragraph (1), or the continuation thereof, is likely to result in 

significant dissipation or conversion of assets, significant harm 

to consumers, or substantial harm to the public interest prior 

to the completion of the proceedings, the øDirector¿ Board may 

enter a temporary order requiring the respondent to cease and 

desist from the violation or threatened violation and to take 

such action to prevent the violation or threatened violation and 

to prevent dissipation or conversion of assets, significant harm 

to consumers, or substantial harm to the public interest as the 

øDirector¿ Board deems appropriate pending completion of 

such proceedings. Such an order shall be entered only after notice and opportunity for a hearing, unless the øDirector¿ Board 

determines that notice and hearing prior to entry would be impracticable or contrary to the public interest. A temporary 

order shall become effective upon service upon the respondent 

and, unless set aside, limited, or suspended by the øDirector¿ 

Board or a court of competent jurisdiction, shall remain effective and enforceable pending the completion of the proceedings. 

(4) REVIEW OF TEMPORARY ORDERS.— 

(A) REVIEW BY øDIRECTOR¿ BOARD.—At any time after 

the respondent has been served with a temporary cease 

and desist order pursuant to paragraph (3), the respondent 
163 

may apply to the øDirector¿ Board to have the order set 

aside, limited, or suspended. If the respondent has been 

served with a temporary cease and desist order entered 

without a prior hearing before the øDirector¿ Board, the 

respondent may, within 10 days after the date on which 

the order was served, request a hearing on such application and the øDirector¿ Board shall hold a hearing and 

render a decision on such application at the earliest possible time. 

(B) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Within— 

(i) 10 days after the date the respondent was 

served with a temporary cease and desist order entered with a prior hearing before the øDirector¿ 

Board; or 

(ii) 10 days after the øDirector¿ Board renders a 

decision on an application and hearing under paragraph (1), with respect to any temporary cease and desist order entered without a prior hearing before the 

øDirector¿ Board, the respondent may apply to the 

United States district court for the district in which 

the respondent resides or has its principal place of 

business, or for the District of Columbia, for an order 

setting aside, limiting, or suspending the effectiveness 

or enforcement of the order, and the court shall have 

jurisdiction to enter such an order. A respondent 

served with a temporary cease and desist order entered without a prior hearing before the øDirector¿ 

Board may not apply to the court except after hearing 

and decision by the Director on the respondent’s application under subparagraph (A). 

(C) NO AUTOMATIC STAY OF TEMPORARY ORDER.—The 

commencement of proceedings under subparagraph (B) 

shall not, unless specifically ordered by the court, operate 

as a stay of the øSecretary’s order¿ order of the Board. 

(5) AUTHORITY OF THE øDIRECTOR¿ BOARD TO PROHIBIT

PERSONS FROM SERVING AS LOAN ORIGINATORS.—In any cease 

and desist proceeding under paragraph (1), the øDirector¿ 

Board may issue an order to prohibit, conditionally or unconditionally, and permanently or for such period of time as the øDirector¿ Board shall determine, any person who has violated 

this chapter or regulations thereunder, from acting as a loan 

originator if the conduct of that person demonstrates unfitness 

to serve as a loan originator. 

(d) AUTHORITY OF THE øDIRECTOR¿ BOARD TO ASSESS MONEY

PENALTIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The øDirector¿ Board may impose a civil 

penalty on a loan originator operating in any State which is 

subject to a licensing system established by the øDirector¿ 

Board under section 5107 of this title, if the øDirector¿ Board 

finds, on the record after notice and opportunity for hearing, 

that such loan originator has violated or failed to comply with 

any requirement of this chapter or any regulation prescribed 
164 

by the øDirector¿ Board under this chapter or order issued 

under subsection (c). 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1516. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS. 

(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after July 30, 

2008, and annually thereafter, the øDirector¿ Board shall submit 

a report to Congress on the effectiveness of the provisions of this 

chapter, including legislative recommendations, if any, for 

strengthening consumer protections, enhancing examination standards, streamlining communication between all stakeholders involved in residential mortgage loan origination and processing, and 

establishing performance based bonding requirements for mortgage 

originators or institutions that employ such brokers. 

(b) LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 6 months 

after July 30, 2008, the øDirector¿ Board shall make recommendations to Congress on legislative reforms to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, that the øDirector¿ Board deems appropriate to promote more transparent disclosures, allowing consumers to better shop and compare mortgage loan terms and settlement costs. 

SEC. 1517. STUDY AND REPORTS ON DEFAULTS AND FORECLOSURES. 

(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The øDirector¿ Board shall conduct an 

extensive study of the root causes of default and foreclosure of 

home loans, using as much empirical data as is available. 

(b) PRELIMINARY REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 

months after July 30, 2008, the øDirector¿ Board shall submit to 

Congress a preliminary report regarding the study required by this 

section. 

(c) FINAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 12 months 

after July 30, 2008, the øDirector¿ Board shall submit to Congress 

a final report regarding the results of the study required by this 

section, which shall include any recommended legislation relating 

to the study, and recommendations for best practices and for a 

process to provide targeted assistance to populations with the highest risk of potential default or foreclosure. 

DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER 

PROTECTION ACT, PUBLIC LAW 111–203 

TITLE I—FINANCIAL STABILITY 

SUBTITLE A—FINANCIAL STABILITY OVERSIGHT COUNCIL

SEC. 111. FINANCIAL STABILITY OVERSIGHT COUNCIL ESTABLISHED. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—* * * 

(b) MEMBERSHIP.—* * * 

(1) VOTING MEMBERS.—* * * 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 
165 

(D) the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Chairperson of the 

Board of Directors of the Bureau; 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE X—BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION 

SEC. 1002. DEFINITIONS. 

Except as otherwise provided in this title, for purposes of this 

title, the following definitions shall apply: 

(1) AFFILIATE.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(10) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director 

of the Bureau.¿ 

(10) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. 

* * * * * * * 

(29) TRANSMITTING OR EXCHANGING FUNDS.—The term 

‘‘transmitting or exchanging funds’’ means receiving currency, 

monetary value, or payment instruments from a consumer for 

the purpose of exchanging or transmitting the same by any 

means, including transmission by wire, facsimile, electronic 

transfer, courier, the Internet, or through bill payment services 

or through other businesses that facilitate third-party transfers 

within the United States or to or from the United States. 

(30) CHAIRPERSON.—The term ‘‘Chairperson’’ means the 

Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. 

SUBTITLE A—BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

SEC. 1011. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION. 

(a) BUREAU ESTABLISHED.—There is established in the Federal 

Reserve System, an independent bureau to be known as the ‘‘Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’’, which shall regulate the 

offering and provision of consumer financial products or services 

under the Federal consumer financial laws. The Bureau shall be 

considered an Executive agency, as defined in section 105 of title 

5. Except as otherwise provided expressly by law, all Federal laws 

dealing with public or Federal contracts, property, works, officers, 

employees, budgets, or funds, including the provisions of chapters 

5 and 7 of title 5, shall apply to the exercise of the powers of the 

Bureau. 

ø(b) DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR.— 

ø(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established the position of the 

Director, who shall serve as the head of the Bureau. 

ø(2) APPOINTMENT.—Subject to paragraph (3), the Director 

shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 

and consent of the Senate. 

ø(3) QUALIFICATION.—The President shall nominate the 

Director from among individuals who are citizens of the United 

States. 
166 

ø(4) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall be compensated 

at the rate prescribed for level II of the Executive Schedule 

under section 5313 of title 5. 

ø(5) DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—There is established the position 

of Deputy Director, who shall— 

ø(A) be appointed by the Director; and 

ø(B) serve as acting Director in the absence or unavailability of the Director.¿ 

ø(c) TERM.— 

ø(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall serve for a term of 

5 years. 

ø(2) EXPIRATION OF TERM.—An individual may serve as Director after the expiration of the term for which appointed, 

until a successor has been appointed and qualified. 

ø(3) REMOVAL FOR CAUSE.—The President may remove the 

Director for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.¿ 

ø(d) SERVICE RESTRICTION.—No Director or Deputy Director 

may hold any office, position, or employment in any Federal reserve bank, Federal home loan bank, covered person, or service 

provider during the period of service of such person as Director or 

Deputy Director.¿ 

(b) MANAGEMENT OF THE BUREAU.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The management of the Bureau shall be 

vested in a Board of Directors consisting of 5 members, who 

shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 

consent of the Senate, from among individuals who— 

(A) are citizens of the United States; and 

(B) have developed strong competency and understanding of, and have experience working with, financial 

products and services. 

(2) TERMS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B), each member of the Board, including the Chairperson, 

shall serve for a term of 5 years. 

(B) STAGGERED TERMS.—The members of the Board 

shall serve staggered terms, which shall initially be for 

terms of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively, and such members shall be appointed such that, after the appointments of 

the initial 5 members of the Board, members of different 

political parties are appointed alternately. 

(C) REMOVAL.—The President may remove any member 

of the Board for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance 

in office. 

(D) VACANCIES.—Any member of the Board appointed 

to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term 

to which the predecessor of that member was appointed (including the Chairperson) shall be appointed only for the remainder of the term. 
167 

(E) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE.—Each member of the 

Board may continue to serve after the expiration of the term 

of office to which that member was appointed until a successor has been appointed by the President and confirmed 

by the Senate, except that a member may not continue to 

serve more than 1 year after the date on which the term of 

that member would otherwise expire. 

(F) SUCCESSIVE TERMS.—A member of the Board may 

not be reappointed to a second consecutive term, except that 

an initial member of the Board appointed for less than a 

5-year term may be reappointed to a full 5-year term and 

a future member appointed to fill an unexpired term may 

be reappointed for a full 5-year term. 

(3) AFFILIATION.—Not more than 3 members of the Board 

shall be members of any 1 political party. 

(4) CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD.— 

(A) APPOINTMENT.—The President shall appoint 1 of 

the 5 members of the Board to serve as Chairperson of the 

Board. 

(B) AUTHORITY.—The Chairperson shall be the principal executive officer of the Bureau, and shall exercise all 

of the executive and administrative functions of the Bureau, 

including with respect to— 

(i) the supervision of personnel employed by the 

Bureau (other than personnel employed regularly and 

full time in the immediate offices of members of the 

Board other than the Chairperson); 

(ii) the distribution of business among personnel 

appointed and supervised by the Chairperson and 

among administrative units of the Bureau; and 

(iii) the use and expenditure of funds. 

(C) LIMITATION.—In carrying out any of the functions 

of the Chairperson under this paragraph, the Chairperson 

shall be governed by general policies of the Bureau and by 

such regulatory decisions, findings, and determinations as 

the Bureau may by law be authorized to make. 

(D) REQUESTS OR ESTIMATES RELATED TO APPROPRIA- TIONS.—Any request or estimate for regular, supplemental, 

or deficiency appropriations on behalf of the Bureau, including any request for a transfer of funds under section 

1017(a), may not be submitted by the Chairperson without 

the prior approval of the Board. 

(E) VACANCY.—The President may designate a member 

of the Board to serve as Acting Chairperson in the event of 

a vacancy in the office of the Chairperson. 

(5) COMPENSATION.— 

(A) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson shall receive compensation at the rate prescribed for level I of the Executive 

Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code. 

(B) OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.—The 4 members 

of the Board other than the Chairperson shall each receive 
168 

compensation at the rate prescribed for level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States 

Code. 

(6) OTHER EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITED.—A member of the 

Board may not engage in any other business, vocation, or employment. 

ø(e)¿ (c) OFFICES.—The principal office of the Bureau shall be 

in the District of Columbia. The Director may establish regional offices of the Bureau, including in cities in which the Federal reserve 

banks, or branches of such banks, are located, in order to carry out 

the responsibilities assigned to the Bureau under the Federal consumer financial laws. 

SEC. 1012. EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS. 

(a) POWERS OF THE BUREAU.—* * * 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(8) the distribution of business among personnel øappointed and supervised by the Director¿ appointed by the 

Board and supervised by the Chairperson and among administrative units of the Bureau; 

* * * * * * * 

(b) DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.—The øDirector¿ Board of the 

Bureau may delegate to any duly authorized employee, representative, or agent any power vested in the Bureau by law. 

(c) AUTONOMY OF THE BUREAU.— 

(1) COORDINATION WITH THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS.—* * * 

(2) AUTONOMY.—Notwithstanding the authorities granted 

to the Board of Governors under the Federal Reserve Act, the 

Board of Governors may not— 

(A) intervene in any matter or proceeding before the 

øDirector¿ Board, including examinations or enforcement 

actions, unless otherwise specifically provided by law; 

* * * * * * * 

(4) RECOMMENDATIONS AND TESTIMONY.—No officer or 

agency of the United States shall have any authority to require 

øthe Director¿ any member of the Board or any other officer of 

the Bureau to submit legislative recommendations, or testimony or comments on legislation, to any officer or agency of 

the United States for approval, comments, or review prior to 

the submission of such recommendations, testimony, or comments to the Congress, if such recommendations, testimony, or 

comments to the Congress include a statement indicating that 

the views expressed therein are those of øthe Director¿ any 

member of the Board or such officer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board of Governors or the President. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1013. ADMINISTRATION. 

(a) PERSONNEL.— 

(1) APPOINTMENT.— 
169 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The øDirector¿ Board may fix the 

number of, and appoint and direct, all employees of the 

Bureau, in accordance with the applicable provisions of 

title 5. 

(B) EMPLOYEES OF THE BUREAU.—The øDirector¿ 

Board is authorized to employ attorneys, compliance examiners, compliance supervision analysts, economists, statisticians, and other employees as may be deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Bureau. Unless otherwise provided expressly by law, any individual appointed 

under this section shall be an employee as defined in section 2105 of title 5 and subject to the provisions of such 

title and other laws generally applicable to the employees 

of an Executive agency. 

(C) WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—In making any appointment 

under subparagraph (A), the øDirector¿ Board may 

waive the requirements of chapter 33 of title 5, and 

the regulations implementing such chapter, to the extent necessary to appoint employees on terms and conditions that are consistent with those set forth in section 11(1) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 

248(1)), while providing for— 

* * * * * * * 

(ii) VETERANS PREFERENCES.—In implementing 

this subparagraph, the øDirector¿ Board shall comply 

with the provisions of section 2302(b)(11),1 regarding 

veterans’ preference requirements, in a manner consistent with that in which such provisions are applied 

under chapter 33 of title 5. The authority under this 

subparagraph to waive the requirements of that chapter 33 shall expire 5 years after July 21, 2010. 

(2) COMPENSATION.—Notwithstanding any otherwise applicable provision of title 5 concerning compensation, including 

the provisions of chapter 51 and chapter 53, the following provisions shall apply with respect to employees of the Bureau: 

(A) The rates of basic pay for all employees of the Bureau may be set and adjusted by the øDirector¿ Board. 

(B) The øDirector¿ Board shall at all times provide 

compensation (including benefits) to each class of employees that, at a minimum, are comparable to the compensation and benefits then being provided by the Board of Governors for the corresponding class of employees. 

* * * * * * * 

(b) SPECIFIC FUNCTIONAL UNITS.— 

(1) RESEARCH.—The øDirector¿ Board shall establish a 

unit whose functions shall include researching, analyzing, and 

reporting on— 

* * * * * * * 

(2) COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.—The øDirector¿ Board shall establish a unit whose functions shall include providing informa-
170 

tion, guidance, and technical assistance regarding the offering 

and provision of consumer financial products or services to traditionally underserved consumers and communities. 

(3) COLLECTING AND TRACKING COMPLAINTS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The øDirector¿ Board shall establish 

a unit whose functions shall include establishing a single, 

toll-free telephone number, a website, and a database or 

utilizing an existing database to facilitate the centralized 

collection of, monitoring of, and response to consumer complaints regarding consumer financial products or services. 

The øDirector¿ Board shall coordinate with the Federal 

Trade Commission or other Federal agencies to route complaints to such agencies, where appropriate. 

* * * * * * * 

(C) REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS.—The øDirector¿ 

Board shall present an annual report to Congress not later 

than March 31 of each year on the complaints received by 

the Bureau in the prior year regarding consumer financial 

products and services. Such report shall include information and analysis about complaint numbers, complaint 

types, and, where applicable, information about resolution 

of complaints. 

* * * * * * * 

(c) OFFICE OF FAIR LENDING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The øDirector¿ Board shall establish 

within the Bureau the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity. 

(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity shall have such powers and duties as the øDirector¿ 

Board may delegate to the Office, including— 

* * * * * * * 

(3) ADMINISTRATION OF OFFICE.—There is established the 

position of øAssistant Director¿ Head of Office of the Bureau 

for Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity, who— 

(A) shall be appointed by øthe Director¿ the Board; 

and 

(B) shall carry out such duties as øthe Director¿ the 

Board may delegate to such øAssistant Director¿ Head of 

Office. 

(d) OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The øDirector¿ Board shall establish 

an Office of Financial Education, which shall be responsible for 

developing and implementing initiatives intended to educate 

and empower consumers to make better informed financial decisions. 

* * * * * * * 

(3) COORDINATION.—* * * 

(A) * * * 
171 

(B) working with the research unit established by the 

øDirector¿ Board to conduct research related to consumer 

financial education and counseling. 

(4) REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after the designated transfer date, and annually thereafter, the øDirector¿ 

Board shall submit a report on its financial literacy activities 

and strategy to improve financial literacy of consumers to— 

* * * * * * * 

(e) OFFICE OF SERVICE MEMBER AFFAIRS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The øDirector¿ Board shall establish an 

Office of Service Member Affairs, which shall be responsible for 

developing and implementing initiatives for service members 

and their families intended to— 

* * * * * * * 

(2) COORDINATION.— 

(A) REGIONAL SERVICES.—The øDirector¿ Board is authorized to assign employees of the Bureau as may be 

deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Office of 

Service Member Affairs, including by establishing and 

maintaining the functions of the Office in regional offices 

of the Bureau located near military bases, military treatment facilities, or other similar military facilities. 

(B) AGREEMENTS.—The øDirector¿ Board is authorized 

to enter into memoranda of understanding and similar 

agreements with the Department of Defense, including any 

branch or agency as authorized by the department, in 

order to carry out the business of the Office of Service 

Member Affairs. 

* * * * * * * 

(g) OFFICE OF FINANCIAL PROTECTION FOR OLDER AMERICANS.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Before the end of the 180-day period 

beginning on the designated transfer date, the øDirector¿ 

Board shall establish the Office of Financial Protection for 

Older Americans, the functions of which shall include activities 

designed to facilitate the financial literacy of individuals who 

have attained the age of 62 years or more (in this subsection, 

referred to as ‘‘seniors’’) on protection from unfair, deceptive, 

and abusive practices and on current and future financial 

choices, including through the dissemination of materials to 

seniors on such topics. 

(2) øASSISTANT DIRECTOR¿ HEAD OF THE OFFICE.—The Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans (in this subsection referred to as the ‘‘Office’’) shall be headed by øan assistant director¿ the Head of the Office of Financial Protection 

for Older Americans. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1014. CONSUMER ADVISORY BOARD. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT REQUIRED.—The øDirector¿ Board shall establish a Consumer Advisory Board to advise and consult with the 
172 

Bureau in the exercise of its functions under the Federal consumer 

financial laws, and to provide information on emerging practices in 

the consumer financial products or services industry, including regional trends, concerns, and other relevant information. 

(b) MEMBERSHIP.—In appointing the members of the Consumer 

Advisory Board, the øDirector¿ Board shall seek to assemble experts in consumer protection, financial services, community development, fair lending and civil rights, and consumer financial products or services and representatives of depository institutions that 

primarily serve underserved communities, and representatives of 

communities that have been significantly impacted by higherpriced mortgage loans, and seek representation of the interests of 

covered persons and consumers, without regard to party affiliation. 

Not fewer than 6 members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the regional Federal Reserve Bank Presidents, on 

a rotating basis. 

(c) MEETINGS.—The Consumer Advisory Board shall meet from 

time to time at the call of the øDirector¿ Board, but, at a minimum, shall meet at least twice in each year. 

(d) COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.—* * * 

(1) be entitled to receive compensation at a rate fixed by 

the øDirector¿ Board while attending meetings of the Consumer Advisory Board, including travel time; and 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1016. APPEARANCES BEFORE AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

(a) APPEARANCES BEFORE CONGRESS.—The øDirector of the Bureau¿ Chairperson shall appear before the Committee on Banking, 

Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

Financial Services and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 

the House of Representatives at semi-annual hearings regarding 

the reports required under subsection (b). 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1017. FUNDING; PENALTIES AND FINES. 

(a) TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM BOARD OF GOVERNORS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each year (or quarter of such year), beginning on the designated transfer date, and each quarter 

thereafter, the Board of Governors shall transfer to the Bureau 

from the combined earnings of the Federal Reserve System, the 

amount determined by the øDirector¿ Board to be reasonably 

necessary to carry out the authorities of the Bureau under 

Federal consumer financial law, taking into account such other 

sums made available to the Bureau from the preceding year (or 

quarter of such year). 

(2) FUNDING CAP.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(C) øREVIEWABILITY.—Notwithstanding any other provision in this title, the funds derived from the Federal Reserve System pursuant to this subsection shall not be sub-
173 

ject to review by the Committees on Appropriations of the 

House of Representatives and the Senate.¿ [Repealed.] 

* * * * * * * 

(4) BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.— 

(A) FINANCIAL OPERATING PLANS AND FORECASTS.—The 

øDirector shall¿ Board shall provide to the Director of the 

Office of Management and Budget copies of the financial 

operating plans and forecasts of the øDirector,¿ Board, as 

prepared by the øDirector in¿ Board in the ordinary 

course of the operations of the Bureau, and copies of the 

quarterly reports of the financial condition and results of 

operations of the Bureau, as prepared by the øDirector in¿ 

Board in the ordinary course of the operations of the Bureau. 

* * * * * * * 

(D) ASSERTION OF INTERNAL CONTROLS.—The øDirector¿ Board shall provide to the Comptroller General of the 

United States an assertion as to the effectiveness of the internal controls that apply to financial reporting by the Bureau, using the standards established in section 3512(c) of 

title 31. 

(E) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—This subsection may not 

be construed as implying any obligation on the part of the 

øDirector to¿ Board to consult with or obtain the consent 

or approval of the Director of the Office of Management 

and Budget with respect to any report, plan, forecast, or 

other information referred to in subparagraph (A) or any 

jurisdiction or oversight over the affairs or operations of 

the Bureau. 

* * * * * * * 

(5) AUDIT OF THE BUREAU.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(C) ASSISTANCE AND COSTS.—For the purpose of conducting an audit under this subsection, the Comptroller 

General may, in the discretion of the Comptroller General, 

employ by contract, without regard to section 6101 of title 

41, professional services of firms and organizations of certified public accountants for temporary periods or for special purposes. Upon the request of the Comptroller General, the øDirector of the Bureau¿ Chairperson shall transfer to the Government Accountability Office from funds 

available, the amount requested by the Comptroller General to cover the full costs of any audit and report conducted by the Comptroller General. The Comptroller General shall credit funds transferred to the account established for salaries and expenses of the Government Accountability Office, and such amount shall be available 

upon receipt and without fiscal year limitation to cover the 

full costs of the audit and report. 

* * * * * * * 
174 

(c) USE OF FUNDS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Funds obtained by, transferred to, or 

credited to the Bureau Fund shall be immediately available to 

the Bureau and under the control of the øDirector,¿ Board, 

and shall remain available until expended, to pay the expenses 

of the Bureau in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. 

The compensation of the øDirector and¿ the members of the 

Board and other employees of the Bureau and all other expenses thereof may be paid from, obtained by, transferred to, 

or credited to the Bureau Fund under this section. 

* * * * * * * 

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; ANNUAL REPORT.— 

(1) DETERMINATION REGARDING NEED FOR APPROPRIATED

FUNDS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The øDirector¿ Board is authorized 

to determine that sums available to the Bureau under this 

section will not be sufficient to carry out the authorities of 

the Bureau under Federal consumer financial law for the 

upcoming year. 

(B) REPORT REQUIRED.—When making a determination 

under subparagraph (A), the øDirector¿ Board shall prepare a report regarding the funding of the Bureau, including the assets and liabilities of the Bureau, and the extent 

to which the funding needs of the Bureau are anticipated 

to exceed the level of the amount set forth in subsection 

(a)(2). The øDirector¿ Board shall submit the report to the 

President and to the Committee on Appropriations of the 

Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

of Representatives. 

(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—If the øDirector¿ 

Board makes the determination and submits the report pursuant to paragraph (1), there are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Bureau, for the purposes of carrying out the authorities granted in Federal consumer financial law, 

$200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 

and 2014. 

* * * * * * * 

(4) ANNUAL REPORT.—The øDirector¿ Board shall prepare 

and submit a report, on an annual basis, to the Committee on 

Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives regarding the financial 

operating plans and forecasts of the øDirector¿ Board, the financial condition and results of operations of the Bureau, and 

the sources and application of funds of the Bureau, including 

any funds appropriated in accordance with this subsection. 

* * * * * * * 

SUBTITLE B—GENERAL POWERS OF THE BUREAU

SEC. 1022. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—* * * 
175 

(b) RULEMAKING, ORDERS, AND GUIDANCE.— 

(1) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The øDirector¿ Board may prescribe rules and issue orders and guidance, as may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Bureau to administer and 

carry out the purposes and objectives of the Federal consumer 

financial laws, and to prevent evasions thereof. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1024. SUPERVISION OF NONDEPOSITORY COVERED PERSONS. 

(a) SCOPE OF COVERAGE.— 

* * * * * * * 

(b) SUPERVISION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(5) PRESERVATION OF AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this title 

may be construed as limiting the authority of the øDirector¿ 

Board to require reports from persons described in subsection 

(a)(1), as permitted under paragraph (1), regarding information 

owned or under the control of such person, regardless of 

whether such information is maintained, stored, or processed 

by another person. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1025. SUPERVISION OF VERY LARGE BANKS, SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS, AND CREDIT UNIONS. 

(a) SCOPE OF COVERAGE.— 

* * * * * * * 

(b) SUPERVISION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(4) PRESERVATION OF AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this title 

may be construed as limiting the authority of the øDirector¿ 

Board to require reports from a person described in subsection 

(a), as permitted under paragraph (1), regarding information 

owned or under the control of such person, regardless of 

whether such information is maintained, stored, or processed 

by another person. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1026. OTHER BANKS, SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS, AND CREDIT 

UNIONS. 

(a) SCOPE OF COVERAGE.— 

* * * * * * * 

(b) REPORTS.—The øDirector¿ Board may require reports from 

a person described in subsection (a), as necessary to support the 

role of the Bureau in implementing Federal consumer financial 

law, to support its examination activities under subsection (c), and 

to assess and detect risks to consumers and consumer financial 

markets. 
176 

(1) USE OF EXISTING REPORTS.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(2) PRESERVATION OF AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this subsection may be construed as limiting the authority of the øDirector¿ Board from requiring from a person described in subsection (a), as permitted under paragraph (1), information 

owned or under the control of such person, regardless of 

whether such information is maintained, stored, or processed 

by another person. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1027. LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITIES OF THE BUREAU; PRESERVATION OF AUTHORITIES. 

(a) EXCLUSION FOR MERCHANTS, RETAILERS, AND OTHER SELLERS OF NONFINANCIAL GOODS OR SERVICES.— 

* * * * * * * 

(c) EXCLUSION FOR MANUFACTURED HOME RETAILERS AND

MODULAR HOME RETAILERS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The øDirector¿ Board may not exercise 

any rulemaking, supervisory, enforcement, or other authority 

over a person to the extent that— 

* * * * * * * 

(l) EXCLUSION FOR ACTIVITIES RELATING TO CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The øDirector¿ Board and the Bureau 

may not exercise any rulemaking, supervisory, enforcement, or 

other authority, including authority to order penalties, over 

any activities related to the solicitation or making of voluntary 

contributions to a tax-exempt organization as recognized by the 

Internal Revenue Service, by any agent, volunteer, or representative of such organizations to the extent the organization, agent, volunteer, or representative thereof is soliciting or 

providing advice, information, education, or instruction to any 

donor or potential donor relating to a contribution to the organization. 

* * * * * * * 

SUBTITLE C—SPECIFIC BUREAU AUTHORITIES

SEC. 1035. PRIVATE EDUCATION LOAN OMBUDSMAN. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consultation with the 

øDirector¿ Board, shall designate a Private Education Loan Ombudsman (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Ombudsman’’) within 

the Bureau, to provide timely assistance to borrowers of private 

education loans. 

(b) PUBLIC INFORMATION.—The Secretary and the øDirector¿ 

Board shall disseminate information about the availability and 

functions of the Ombudsman to borrowers and potential borrowers, 

as well as institutions of higher education, lenders, guaranty agencies, loan servicers, and other participants in private education student loan programs. 
177 

(c) FUNCTIONS OF OMBUDSMAN.—* * * 

(1) in accordance with regulations of the øDirector¿ Board, 

receive, review, and attempt to resolve informally complaints 

from borrowers of loans described in subsection (a), including, 

as appropriate, attempts to resolve such complaints in collaboration with the Department of Education and with institutions 

of higher education, lenders, guaranty agencies, loan servicers, 

and other participants in private education loan programs; 

* * * * * * * 

(4) make appropriate recommendations to the øDirector¿ 

Board, the Secretary, the Secretary of Education, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives. 

* * * * * * * 

SUBTITLE F—TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS AND PERSONNEL; 

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 1061. TRANSFER OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION FUNCTIONS. 

(a) DEFINED TERMS.—For purposes of this part— 

* * * * * * * 

(c) AUTHORITIES OF THE PRUDENTIAL REGULATORS.— 

(1) EXAMINATION.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(2) ENFORCEMENT.—* * * 

(A) LIMITATION.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(C) STATUTORY ENFORCEMENT.—* * * 

(i) the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1751 

et seq.), by the National Credit Union Administration 

Board with respect to any covered person or service 

provider that is an insured credit union, or service 

provider thereto, or any affiliate of an insured credit 

union, who is subject to the jurisdiction of øthe Board¿ 

the National Credit Union Administration Board 

under that Act; and 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1066. INTERIM AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to perform the 

functions of the Bureau under this part until the first Director of 

the Bureau is confirmed by the Senate in accordance with section 

5491 of this title. 

* * * * * * * 
178 

SUBTITLE G—REGULATORY IMPROVEMENTS

SEC. 1073. REMITTANCE TRANSFERS. 

(a) TREATMENT OF REMITTANCE TRANSFERS.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(e) REPORT ON FEASIBILITY OF AND IMPEDIMENTS TO USE OF

REMITTANCE HISTORY IN CALCULATION OF CREDIT SCORE.—Before 

the end of the 365-day period beginning on the date of enactment 

of this Act, the øDirector¿ Board shall submit a report to the President, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of 

the Senate, and the Committee on Financial Services of the House 

of Representatives regarding— 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1077. REPORT ON PRIVATE EDUCATION LOANS AND PRIVATE 

EDUCATIONAL LENDERS. 

(a) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the øDirector¿ Board and the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Commissioners of the Federal 

Trade Commission, and the Attorney General of the United States, 

shall submit a report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

Urban Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 

Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services 

and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, on private education loans (as that term is defined in 

section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1650)) and private educational lenders (as that term is defined in such section). 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1079. REVIEW, REPORT, AND PROGRAM WITH RESPECT TO EXCHANGE FACILITATORS. 

(a) REVIEW.—The øDirector¿ Board shall review all Federal 

laws and regulations relating to the protection of consumers who 

use exchange facilitators for transactions primarily for personal, 

family, or household purposes. 

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the designated transfer date, the øDirector¿ Board shall submit to Congress a report 

describing— 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE XIV—MORTGAGE REFORM AND ANTI-PREDATORY 

LENDING ACT 

SUBTITLE D—OFFICE OF HOUSING COUNSELING

SEC. 1447. DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE DATABASE 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the øDirector¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau, in 

consultation with the Federal agencies responsible for regulation of 

banking and financial institutions involved in residential mortgage 

lending and servicing, shall establish and maintain a database of 

information on foreclosures and defaults on mortgage loans for one- 
179 

to four-unit residential properties and shall make such information 

publicly available, subject to subsection (e). 

* * * * * * * 

(c) REQUIREMENTS.—Information collected and made available 

through the database shall include— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(6) such other information as the Secretary of Housing and 

Urban Development and the øDirector¿ Board of Directors of 

the Bureau consider appropriate. 

* * * * * * * 

(e) PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY.—In establishing and maintaining the database described in subsection (a), the Secretary of 

Housing and Urban Development and the øDirector¿ Board of Directors of the Bureau shall— 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011, PUBLIC LAW 

112–10 

DIVISION C—SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OPPORTUNITY AND 

RESULTS ACT 

SEC. 3007. USE OF FUNDS. 

(a) OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(4) PARTICIPATING SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.—* * * 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(E) has financial systems, controls, policies, and procedures to ensure that funds are used according to this division; øand¿ 

(F) ensures that, with respect to core academic subjects (as such term is defined in section 9101(11) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

7801(11)), participating students are taught by a teacher 

who has a baccalaureate degree or equivalent degree, 

whether such degree was awarded in or outside of the 

United Statesø.¿ ; 

(G)(i) is provisionally or fully accredited by a national 

or regional accrediting agency that is recognized in the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 (sec. 38– 

1802.02(16)(A)–(G), D.C. Official Code) or any other accrediting body deemed appropriate by the Office of the State 

Superintendent for Schools for the purposes of accrediting 

an elementary or secondary school; or 

(ii) in the case of a school that is a participating school 

as of the day before the date of enactment of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program School Certification Re-
180 

quirements Act and, as of such day, does not meet the requirements of clause (i)— 

(I) by not later than 1 year after such date of enactment, is pursuing accreditation by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized in the District of 

Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 (sec. 38– 

1802.02(16)(A)–(G), D.C. Official Code) or any other accrediting body deemed appropriate by the Office of the 

State Superintendent for Schools for the purposes of 

accrediting an elementary or secondary school; and 

(II) by not later than 5 years after such date of enactment, is provisionally or fully accredited by such accrediting agency, except that an eligible entity may 

grant not more than one 1-year extension to meet this 

requirement for each participating school that provides 

evidence to the eligible entity from such accrediting 

agency that the school’s application for accreditation is 

in process and the school will be awarded accreditation 

before the end of the 1-year extension period; 

(H) conducts criminal background checks on school employees who have direct and unsupervised interaction with 

students; and 

(I) complies with all requests for data and information 

regarding the reporting requirements described in section 

3010. 

(5) NEW PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.—If a school is not a participating school as of the date of enactment of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program School Certification Requirements 

Act, the school shall not become a participating school and none 

of the funds provided under this division for opportunity scholarships may be used by an eligible student to enroll in that 

school unless the school— 

(A) is actively pursuing provisional or full accreditation by a national or regional accrediting agency that is 

recognized in the District of Columbia School Reform Act 

of 1995 (sec. 38–1802.02(16)(A)–(G), D.C. Official Code) or 

any other accrediting body deemed appropriate by the Office of the State Superintendent for Schools for the purposes 

of accrediting an elementary or secondary school; and 

(B) meets all of the other requirements for participating 

schools under this Act. 

(6) ENROLLING IN ANOTHER SCHOOL.—An eligible entity 

shall assist the parents of a participating eligible student in 

identifying, applying to, and enrolling in an another participating school for which opportunity scholarship funds may be 

used, if— 

(A) such student is enrolled in a participating private 

school and may no longer use opportunity scholarship 

funds for enrollment in that participating private school because such school fails to meet a requirement under paragraph 4, or any other requirement of this Act; or 
181 

(B) a participating eligible student is enrolled in a 

school that ceases to be a participating school. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 3010. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 

(a) ACTIVITIES REPORTS.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) REPORTS TO PARENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(2) PROHIBITING DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.— 

No report under this subsection may contain any personally 

identifiable information, except as to the student who is the 

subject of the report to that student’s parent. 

(d) REPORTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The eligible entity receiving funds under section 3004(a) shall ensure that each participating 

school under this division submits to the eligible entity beginning 

not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of the D.C. 

Opportunity Scholarship Program School Certification Requirements Act, a certification that the school has been awarded provisional or full accreditation, or has been granted an extension by the 

eligible entity in accordance with section 3007(a)(4)(G). 

ø(d)¿ (e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 months after 

the first appropriation of funds under section 3014, and each succeeding year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations, Education and the Workforce, and Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and 

the Committees on Appropriations, Health, Education, Labor, and 

Pensions, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 

Senate, an annual report on the findings of the reports submitted 

under subsections (a) and (b). 
182 

BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL 

PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 

308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93–344, AS AMENDED 

[In millions of dollars] 

Budget authority Outlays 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee allocation for 2016: Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government: 

Mandatory ............................................................... 21,512 21,512 21,505 1 21,505 

Discretionary ........................................................... 20,556 20,715 22,235 1 22,349 

Security .......................................................... 46 46 NA NA 

Nonsecurity .................................................... 20,510 20,669 NA NA 

Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on 

Terrorism ............................................................ .................... .................... .................... ....................

Projection of outlays associated with the recommendation: 

2016 ........................................................................ .................... .................... .................... 2 38,372 

2017 ........................................................................ .................... .................... .................... 3,224 

2018 ........................................................................ .................... .................... .................... 116 

2019 ........................................................................ .................... .................... .................... −485 

2020 and future years ........................................... .................... .................... .................... −3,718 

Financial assistance to State and local governments 

for 2016 ...................................................................... NA 449 NA 2 444 

1 Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

2 Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

NA: Not applicable. 

NOTE.—Consistent with the funding recommended in the bill for disaster relief funding and in accordance with section 

251(b)(2)(D) of the BBEDCA of 1985, the Committee anticipates that the Budget Committee will provide a revised 302(a) allocation 

for the Committee on Appropriations reflecting an upward adjustment of $159,000,000 in budget authority plus associated outlays. 
183 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Departmental Offices 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 210,000 331,837 325,900 ∂115,900 ¥5,937 

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence ................................................................................................. ............................ (109,609 ) (112,500 ) (∂112,500 ) (∂2,891 ) 

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence .......................................................................................................... 112,500 ............................ ............................ ¥112,500 ............................Department-wide Systems and Capital Investments Programs ................................................................................ 2,725 10,690 5,000 ∂2,275 ¥5,690 Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 35,351 35,416 35,416 ∂65 ............................Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration ................................................................................................... 158,210 167,275 167,275 ∂9,065 ............................Special Inspector General for TARP ........................................................................................................................... 34,234 40,671 36,671 ∂2,437 ¥4,000 Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ..................................................................................................................... 112,000 112,979 112,979 ∂979 ............................

Subtotal, Departmental Offices .................................................................................................................... 665,020 698,868 683,241 ∂18,221 ¥15,627 

Treasury Forfeiture Fund (rescission) ......................................................................................................................... ¥769,000 ¥875,000 ¥700,000 ∂69,000 ∂175,000 

Total, Departmental Offices .......................................................................................................................... ¥103,980 ¥176,132 ¥16,759 ∂87,221 ∂159,373 

Bureau of the Fiscal Service ...................................................................................................................................... 348,184 363,850 356,000 ∂7,816 ¥7,850 Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau ............................................................................................................. 100,000 101,439 101,439 ∂1,439 ............................Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Program Account .................................................................. 230,500 233,523 221,000 ¥9,500 ¥12,523 Payment of Government Losses in Shipment ............................................................................................................ 2,000 2,000 2,000 ............................ ............................

Total, Department of the Treasury, non-IRS ................................................................................................ 576,704 524,680 663,680 ∂86,976 ∂139,000 

Internal Revenue Service 

Taxpayer Services ....................................................................................................................................................... 2,156,554 2,408,803 2,246,554 ∂90,000 ¥162,249 Enforcement ................................................................................................................................................................ 4,860,000 5,047,732 4,500,000 ¥360,000 ¥547,732 

Program integrity initiatives ............................................................................................................................. ............................ 352,100 ............................ ............................ ¥352,100 
184 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 4,860,000 5,399,832 4,500,000 ¥360,000 ¥899,832 

Operations Support ..................................................................................................................................................... 3,638,446 4,428,061 3,468,446 ¥170,000 ¥959,615 

Program integrity initiatives ............................................................................................................................. ............................ 315,197 ............................ ............................ ¥315,197 

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 3,638,446 4,743,258 3,468,446 ¥170,000 ¥1,274,812 

Business Systems Modernization ............................................................................................................................... 290,000 379,178 260,000 ¥30,000 ¥119,178 

Total, Internal Revenue Service .................................................................................................................... 10,945,000 12,931,071 10,475,000 ¥470,000 ¥2,456,071 Total, title I, Department of the Treasury .................................................................................................... 11,521,704 13,455,751 11,138,680 ¥383,024 ¥2,317,071 

Appropriations ...................................................................................................................................... (12,290,704 ) (14,330,751 ) (11,838,680 ) (¥452,024 ) (¥2,492,071 ) Rescissions .......................................................................................................................................... (¥769,000 ) (¥875,000 ) (¥700,000 ) (∂69,000 ) (∂175,000 ) 

TITLE II—EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT 

The White House 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 55,000 55,214 55,000 ............................ ¥214 Executive Residence at the White House: 

Operating expenses ........................................................................................................................................... 12,700 12,723 12,700 ............................ ¥23 White House repair and restoration .................................................................................................................. 625 750 625 ............................ ¥125 

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 13,325 13,473 13,325 ............................ ¥148 

Council of Economic Advisers .................................................................................................................................... 4,184 4,201 4,184 ............................ ¥17 National Security Council and Homeland Security Council ....................................................................................... 12,600 13,069 12,600 ............................ ¥469 Office of Administration ............................................................................................................................................. 111,300 96,116 96,116 ¥15,184 ............................

Total, The White House ................................................................................................................................. 196,409 182,073 181,225 ¥15,184 ¥848 
185 

Office of Management and Budget ........................................................................................................................... 91,750 97,441 91,750 ............................ ¥5,691 

Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 22,647 20,047 20,047 ¥2,600 ............................High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program ......................................................................................................... 245,000 193,400 245,000 ............................ ∂51,600 Other Federal Drug Control Programs ........................................................................................................................ 107,150 95,436 108,310 ∂1,160 ∂12,874 

Total, Office of National Drug Control Policy ............................................................................................... 374,797 308,883 373,357 ¥1,440 ∂64,474 

Unanticipated needs .................................................................................................................................................. 800 1,000 800 ............................ ¥200 Information technology oversight and reform ............................................................................................................ 20,000 35,200 25,000 ∂5,000 ¥10,200 Special Assistance to the President and Official Residence of the Vice President: 

Salaries and expenses ...................................................................................................................................... 4,211 4,228 4,211 ............................ ¥17 Operating expenses ........................................................................................................................................... 299 299 299 ............................ ............................

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 4,510 4,527 4,510 ............................ ¥17 Total, title II, Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President ....................... 688,266 629,124 676,642 ¥11,624 ∂47,518 

TITLE III—THE JUDICIARY 

Supreme Court of the United States 

Salaries and Expenses: 

Salaries of Justices ........................................................................................................................................... 2,527 2,557 2,557 ∂30 ............................Other salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................. 74,967 75,717 75,838 ∂871 ∂121 

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 77,494 78,274 78,395 ∂901 ∂121 

Care of the building and grounds ............................................................................................................................. 11,640 9,953 9,964 ¥1,676 ∂11 

Total, Supreme Court of the United States .................................................................................................. 89,134 88,227 88,359 ¥775 ∂132 

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 

Salaries and Expenses: 

Salaries of judges ............................................................................................................................................. 2,893 2,922 2,922 ∂29 ............................Other salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................. 30,212 30,841 30,872 ∂660 ∂31 

Total, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit .................................................................... 33,105 33,763 33,794 ∂689 ∂31 
186 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

United States Court of International Trade 

Salaries and Expenses: 

Salaries of judges ............................................................................................................................................. 1,981 2,005 2,005 ∂24 ............................Other salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................. 17,807 18,145 18,160 ∂353 ∂15 

Total, U.S. Court of International Trade ....................................................................................................... 19,788 20,150 20,165 ∂377 ∂15 

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services 

Salaries and Expenses: 

Salaries of judges and bankruptcy judges ....................................................................................................... 412,000 417,000 417,000 ∂5,000 ............................Other salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................. 4,846,818 5,036,338 4,960,008 ∂113,190 ¥76,330 

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 5,258,818 5,453,338 5,377,008 ∂118,190 ¥76,330 

Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund .................................................................................................................. 5,423 6,045 6,045 ∂622 ............................Defender services ....................................................................................................................................................... 1,016,499 1,057,616 1,042,616 ∂26,117 ¥15,000 Fees of jurors and commissioners ............................................................................................................................. 52,191 52,411 48,423 ¥3,768 ¥3,988 Court security ............................................................................................................................................................. 513,975 542,390 538,771 ∂24,796 ¥3,619 

Total, Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services ....................................................... 6,846,906 7,111,800 7,012,863 ∂165,957 ¥98,937 

Administrative Office of the United States Courts 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 84,399 87,590 86,000 ∂1,601 ¥1,590 

Federal Judicial Center 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 26,959 27,679 27,000 ∂41 ¥679 
187 

United States Sentencing Commission 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 16,894 17,540 17,000 ∂106 ¥540 

Total, title III, the Judiciary .......................................................................................................................... 7,117,185 7,386,749 7,285,181 ∂167,996 ¥101,568 

TITLE IV—DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

Federal Payment for Resident Tuition Support .......................................................................................................... 30,000 40,000 30,000 ............................ ¥10,000 Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia .................................... 12,500 14,900 13,000 ∂500 ¥1,900 Federal Payment to the District of Columbia Courts ................................................................................................ 245,110 274,401 246,000 ∂890 ¥28,401 Federal Payment for Defender Services in District of Columbia Courts ................................................................... 49,890 49,890 49,890 ............................ ............................Federal Payment to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia ................ 234,000 244,763 242,000 ∂8,000 ¥2,763 Federal Payment to the District of Columbia Public Defender Service .................................................................... 41,231 40,889 40,889 ¥342 ............................Federal Payment to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority ................................................................ 14,000 24,300 14,000 ............................ ¥10,300 Federal Payment to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council ................................................................................ 1,900 1,900 1,900 ............................ ............................Federal Payment for Judicial Commissions ............................................................................................................... 565 565 565 ............................ ............................Federal Payment for School Improvement ................................................................................................................. 45,000 43,200 45,000 ............................ ∂1,800 Federal Payment for the D.C. National Guard ........................................................................................................... 435 435 435 ............................ ............................Federal payment for Mass Transit Innovation Plan .................................................................................................. ............................ 1,000 ............................ ............................ ¥1,000 Federal payment for Climate Risk Management ....................................................................................................... ............................ 750 ............................ ............................ ¥750 Federal payment for Solar Power Initiative ............................................................................................................... ............................ 1,000 ............................ ............................ ¥1,000 Federal Payment for Redevelopment of the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Campus ......................................................... ............................ 9,800 ............................ ............................ ¥9,800 Federal payment for Permanent Supportive Housing ................................................................................................ ............................ 6,000 ............................ ............................ ¥6,000 Federal Payment for Testing and Treatment of HIV/AIDS ......................................................................................... 5,000 5,000 5,000 ............................ ............................Federal Payment for D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Grants ............................................................ ............................ 1,000 ............................ ............................ ¥1,000 

Total, Title IV, District of Columbia ............................................................................................................. 679,631 759,793 688,679 ∂9,048 ¥71,114 

TITLE V—OTHER INDEPENDENT AGENCIES 

Administrative Conference of the United States ....................................................................................................... 3,100 3,207 3,100 ............................ ¥107 Commodity Futures Trading Commission .................................................................................................................. 250,000 322,000 250,000 ............................ ¥72,000 Consumer Product Safety Commission ...................................................................................................................... 123,000 129,000 123,000 ............................ ¥6,000 

Election Assistance Commission 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 10,000 9,600 9,600 ¥400 ............................

Federal Communications Commission 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 339,844 388,000 364,168 ∂24,324 ¥23,832 
188 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

Offsetting fee collections—current year ................................................................................................................... ¥339,844 ¥388,000 ¥364,168 ¥24,324 ∂23,832 

Direct appropriation ...................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Office of Inspector General (by transfer) ................................................... (34,568 ) (34,568 ) (34,568 ) ............................ ............................

Deposit Insurance Fund (transfer) .................................................................................................................... (¥34,568 ) (¥34,568 ) (¥34,568 ) ............................ ............................

Federal Election Commission ..................................................................................................................................... 67,500 76,119 72,500 ∂5,000 ¥3,619 Federal Labor Relations Authority .............................................................................................................................. 25,548 26,550 25,548 ............................ ¥1,002 

Federal Trade Commission 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 293,000 309,206 300,000 ∂7,000 ¥9,206 Offsetting fee collections—current year ................................................................................................................... ¥100,000 ¥124,000 ¥124,000 ¥24,000 ............................Offsetting fee collections, telephone database ......................................................................................................... ¥14,000 ¥14,000 ¥14,000 ............................ ............................

Direct appropriation ...................................................................................................................................... 179,000 171,206 162,000 ¥17,000 ¥9,206 

General Services Administration 

Federal Buildings Fund 

Limitations on Availability of Revenue: 

Construction and acquisition of facilities ........................................................................................................ 509,670 1,257,997 181,500 ¥328,170 ¥1,076,497 Repairs and alterations .................................................................................................................................... 818,160 1,247,067 357,189 ¥460,971 ¥889,878 Rental of space ................................................................................................................................................. 5,666,348 5,579,055 5,521,601 ¥144,747 ¥57,454 Building operations ........................................................................................................................................... 2,244,132 2,288,076 2,244,132 ............................ ¥43,944 

Subtotal, Limitations on availability of revenue .......................................................................................... 9,238,310 10,372,195 8,304,422 ¥933,888 ¥2,067,773 

Rental income to fund ............................................................................................................................................... ¥9,917,667 ¥9,807,722 ¥9,807,722 ∂109,945 ............................

Total, Federal Buildings Fund ...................................................................................................................... ¥679,357 564,473 ¥1,503,300 ¥823,943 ¥2,067,773 

Government-wide Policy ............................................................................................................................................. 58,000 62,022 58,000 ............................ ¥4,022 
189 

Operating expenses .................................................................................................................................................... 61,049 58,560 58,560 ¥2,489 ............................

Uniform Procurement Instrument Identifier ...................................................................................................... ............................ 3,000 ............................ ............................ ¥3,000 

Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 65,000 67,803 65,000 ............................ ¥2,803 Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents .................................................................................................. 3,250 3,277 3,277 ∂27 ............................Federal Citizen Services Fund .................................................................................................................................... 53,294 58,428 55,894 ∂2,600 ¥2,534 Pre-Election Presidential transition ........................................................................................................................... ............................ 13,278 13,278 ∂13,278 ............................

Total, General Services Administration ........................................................................................................ ¥438,764 830,841 ¥1,249,291 ¥810,527 ¥2,080,132 

Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation ................................................................................................................... 750 ............................ 1,000 ∂250 ∂1,000 

Merit Systems Protection Board 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 42,740 45,070 42,740 ............................ ¥2,330 Limitation on administrative expenses ...................................................................................................................... 2,345 2,345 2,345 ............................ ............................

Total, Merit Systems Protection Board ......................................................................................................... 45,085 47,415 45,085 ............................ ¥2,330 

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation 

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund ...................................................................................................... 1,995 1,995 1,995 ............................ ............................Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund .................................................................................................................... 3,400 3,420 3,400 ............................ ¥20 

Total, Morris K. Udall and Stewart L Udall Foundation ............................................................................... 5,395 5,415 5,395 ............................ ¥20 

National Archives and Records Administration 

Operating expenses .................................................................................................................................................... 365,000 372,393 372,000 ∂7,000 ¥393 

Reduction of debt .............................................................................................................................................. ¥19,514 ¥21,208 ¥21,208 ¥1,694 ............................

Subtotal ......................................................................................................................................................... 345,486 351,185 350,792 ∂5,306 ¥393 

Office of the Inspector General .................................................................................................................................. 4,130 4,180 4,180 ∂50 ............................Repairs and restoration ............................................................................................................................................. 7,600 7,500 7,500 ¥100 ............................National Historical Publications and Records Commission Grants Program ............................................................ 5,000 5,000 5,000 ............................ ............................

Total, National Archives and Records Administration ................................................................................. 362,216 367,865 367,472 ∂5,256 ¥393 

National Credit Union Administration 

Community Development Revolving Loan Fund ......................................................................................................... 2,000 2,000 2,000 ............................ ............................Office of Government Ethics ...................................................................................................................................... 15,420 15,742 15,420 ............................ ¥322 
190 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

2016 

appropriation Budget estimate 

Office of Personnel Management 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 96,039 120,688 119,239 ∂23,200 ¥1,449 

Limitation on administrative expenses ............................................................................................................. 118,425 124,550 118,425 ............................ ¥6,125 

Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 4,384 4,365 4,384 ............................ ∂19 

Limitation on administrative expenses ............................................................................................................. 21,340 22,479 22,479 ∂1,139 ............................

Total, Office of Personnel Management ....................................................................................................... 240,188 272,082 264,527 ∂24,339 ¥7,555 

Office of Special Counsel ........................................................................................................................................... 22,939 24,119 23,500 ∂561 ¥619 Postal Regulatory Commission ................................................................................................................................... 14,700 15,500 15,000 ∂300 ¥500 Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board .............................................................................................................. 7,500 23,297 23,297 ∂15,797 ............................Recovery and Accountability Transparency Board ..................................................................................................... 18,000 ............................ ............................ ¥18,000 ............................Securities and Exchange Commission ....................................................................................................................... 1,500,000 1,722,000 1,500,000 ............................ ¥222,000 

SEC fees ............................................................................................................................................................ ¥1,500,000 ¥1,722,000 ¥1,500,000 ............................ ∂222,000 SEC Reserve Fund (rescission) ......................................................................................................................... ¥25,000 ............................ ¥25,000 ............................ ¥25,000 

Selective Service System ............................................................................................................................................ 22,500 22,900 22,703 ∂203 ¥197 

Small Business Administration 

Salaries and expenses ............................................................................................................................................... 257,000 281,938 257,000 ............................ ¥24,938 Entrepreneurial Development Programs ..................................................................................................................... 220,000 206,250 220,150 ∂150 ∂13,900 Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 19,400 19,900 19,900 ∂500 ............................Office of Advocacy ...................................................................................................................................................... 9,120 9,120 9,120 ............................ ............................Business Loans Program Account: 

Direct loans subsidy .......................................................................................................................................... 2,500 3,338 3,338 ∂838 ............................Guaranteed loans subsidy ................................................................................................................................. 45,000 ............................ ............................ ¥45,000 ............................Administrative expenses .................................................................................................................................... 147,726 152,726 152,726 ∂5,000 ............................

Total, Business loans program account ....................................................................................................... 195,226 156,064 156,064 ¥39,162 ............................
191 

Disaster Loans Program Account: 

Administrative expenses .................................................................................................................................... 186,858 28,029 28,029 ¥158,829 ............................

Disaster relief category ............................................................................................................................ ............................ 158,829 158,829 ∂158,829 ............................

Total, Small Business Administration .......................................................................................................... 887,604 860,130 849,092 ¥38,512 ¥11,038 

United States Postal Service 

Payment to the Postal Service Fund .......................................................................................................................... 29,000 ............................ ............................ ¥29,000 ............................

Advance appropriations ..................................................................................................................................... 41,000 67,234 49,923 ∂8,923 ¥17,311 

Total, Payment to the Postal Service Fund .................................................................................................. 70,000 67,234 49,923 ¥20,077 ¥17,311 

Office of Inspector General ........................................................................................................................................ 243,883 250,729 243,883 ............................ ¥6,846 

Total, United States Postal Service .............................................................................................................. 313,883 317,963 293,806 ¥20,077 ¥24,157 

United States Tax Court ............................................................................................................................................. 51,300 53,600 51,300 ............................ ¥2,300 

Total, title V, Independent Agencies ............................................................................................................ 2,203,864 3,596,551 1,351,054 ¥852,810 ¥2,245,497 

Appropriations ...................................................................................................................................... (2,187,864 ) (3,370,488 ) (1,167,302 ) (¥1,020,562 ) (¥2,203,186 ) Rescissions .......................................................................................................................................... (¥25,000 ) ............................ (¥25,000 ) ............................ (¥25,000 ) Disaster relief category ........................................................................................................................ ............................ (158,829 ) (158,829 ) (∂158,829 ) ............................Advances .............................................................................................................................................. (41,000 ) (67,234 ) (49,923 ) (∂8,923 ) (¥17,311 ) (By transfer) ......................................................................................................................................... (34,568 ) (34,568 ) (34,568 ) ............................ ............................

TITLE VI—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Mandatory appropriations (Sec. 617) ........................................................................................................................ 20,980,050 20,961,450 20,961,450 ¥18,600 ............................

Grand total .................................................................................................................................................... 43,190,700 46,789,418 42,101,686 ¥1,089,014 ¥4,687,732 

Appropriations ...................................................................................................................................... (43,943,700 ) (47,438,355 ) (42,617,934 ) (¥1,325,766 ) (¥4,820,421 ) Rescissions .......................................................................................................................................... (¥794,000 ) (¥875,000 ) (¥725,000 ) (∂69,000 ) (∂150,000 ) Disaster relief category ........................................................................................................................ ............................ (158,829 ) (158,829 ) (∂158,829 ) ............................Advances .............................................................................................................................................. (41,000 ) (67,234 ) (49,923 ) (∂8,923 ) (¥17,311 ) (By transfer) ......................................................................................................................................... (34,568 ) (34,568 ) (34,568 ) ............................ ............................

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