Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Bill: 115-hr-3358
Sponsor: Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]
Introduced: 2017-07-24 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Abortion
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Adult education and literacy
Advisory bodies
Appropriations
Birth defects
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Cell biology and embryology
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Child health
Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
Congressional oversight
Corporation for National and Community Service
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Department of Education
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Labor
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disaster relief and insurance
District of Columbia
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment and training programs
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Environmental health
Executive agency funding and structure
Family planning and birth control
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
Federal officials
Financial services and investments
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign labor
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government trust funds
HIV/AIDS
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Human rights
Humanities programs funding
Immunology and vaccination
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Libraries and archives
Medicaid
Medical education
Medical research
Medicare
Mental health
Minority education
National Council on Disability
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
National Mediation Board
National and community service
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
Palau
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public contracts and procurement
Racial and ethnic relations
Railroads
Religion
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Rural conditions and development
Seafood
Sexually transmitted diseases
Social Security Administration
Social security and elderly assistance
Special education
Student aid and college costs
Transportation employees
Unemployment
User charges and fees
Visas and passports
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings
Women's health
Worker safety and health
World health
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: 

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

 
Provides FY2018 appropriations to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and related agencies. 
 

Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2018

 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Labor for: 
 
 
the Employment and Training Administration,
 
the Employee Benefits Security Administration,
 
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 
 
the Wage and Hour Division, 
 
the Office of Labor-Management Standards,
 
the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs,
 
the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs,
 
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 
 
the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 
 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
 
the Office of Disability Employment Policy, and
 
Departmental Management. 
 
 

Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2018

 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for: 
 
 
the Health Resources and Services Administration, 
 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
 
the National Institutes of Health, 
 
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 
 
the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,
 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
 
the Administration for Children and Families, 
 
the Administration for Community Living, and 
 
the Office of the Secretary. 
 
 

Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2018 

 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Education for: 
 
 
Education for the Disadvantaged; 
 
Impact Aid; 
 
School Improvement Programs; 
 
Indian Education; 
 
Innovation and Improvement; 
 
Safe Schools and Citizenship Education; 
 
English Language Acquisition; 
 
Special Education; 
 
Rehabilitation Services; 
 
Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities; 
 
Career, Technical, and Adult Education; 
 
Student Financial Assistance; 
 
Student Aid Administration; 
 
Higher Education; 
 
Howard University; 
 
the College Housing and Academic Facilities Loan Program; 
 
the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program Account; 
 
the Institute of Education Sciences; and 
 
Departmental Management. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to Related Agencies, including: 
 
 
the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, 
 
the Corporation for National and Community Service, 
 
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 
 
the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, 
 
the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, 
 
the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 
 
the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission,
 
the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, 
 
the National Council on Disability, 
 
the National Labor Relations Board, 
 
the National Mediation Board, 
 
the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, 
 
the Railroad Retirement Board, and 
 
the Social Security Administration. 
 
 
Sets forth permissible and prohibited uses for funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts. 
 

 
 

Conscience Protection Act 

of 2017
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to codify the prohibition against the federal government and state and local governments that receive federal financial assistance for health-related activities penalizing or discriminating against a health care provider based on the provider's refusal to be involved in, or provide coverage for, abortion.
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Highlights: 

 
This bill provides FY2018 appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Department of Labor; 
 
 most of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); 
 
 the Department of Education (ED); and 
 
 several related agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the National Labor Relations Board. 
 
 
The bill does not include funding for the Food and Drug Administration, the Indian Health Service, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which are included within HHS, but considered in other appropriations bills.
 
The bill includes both discretionary and mandatory funding. The majority of the funding in the bill is mandatory funding for entitlement programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income that are funded in annual appropriations bills. These programs, known as appropriated entitlements, are included in annual appropriations bills, though the amounts provided for the programs are generally determined by authorizing statutes that control details of the programs such as eligibility rules and benefit levels. 
 
The bill decreases discretionary funding compared to FY2017 levels. It also includes provisions that affect polices in areas such as: 
 
 
 implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 
 
 abortion, 
 
 human embryo research, 
 
 fiduciary standards for providing investment advice for pension and retirement plans, 
 
 collective bargaining, and 
 
 needle exchange programs. 
 
 

Full Summary: 

 

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 

 
Provides FY2018 appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and several related agencies. 
 
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 
 

Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2018

 
Provides FY2018 appropriations for agencies and programs within the Department of Labor. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Employment and Training Administration for: 
 
 
 Training and Employment Services, 
 
 the Job Corps, 
 
 Federal Unemployment Benefits and Allowances, 
 
 State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations, 
 
 Advances to the Unemployment Trust Fund and Other Funds, and 
 
 Program Administration. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. 
 
Provides appropriation to Labor for: 
 
 
 the Employee Benefits Security Administration, 
 
 the Wage and Hour Division, 
 
 the Office of Labor-Management Standards, 
 
 the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, 
 
 the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
 
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 
 
 the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 
 
 the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 
 
 the Office of Disability Employment Policy. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for Departmental Management, including: 
 
 
Salaries and Expenses,
 
Veterans Employment and Training, 
 
 IT Modernization, and 
 
 the Office of Inspector General. 
 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits Job Corps funds provided by this bill from being used to pay the salary and bonuses of an individual at a rate that exceeds Executive Level II. 
 
(Sec. 102) Permits specified Labor funds to be transferred between accounts and sets forth requirements for the transfers. 
 
(Sec. 103) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for the procurement of goods and services utilizing forced or indentured child labor. 
 
(Sec. 104) Requires specified funds available for job training grants under the American Competitiveness and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to be used only for competitive grants to train individuals who are over the age of 16 and are not in school within a local educational agency in the occupations and industries for which employers are using H-1B visas to hire foreign workers, and the related activities necessary to support the training. 
 
(Sec. 105) Prohibits a recipient of Employment and Training Administration (ETA) funds from using the funds to pay the salary and bonuses of an individual at a rate in excess of Executive Level II, with an exception for vendors providing goods and services. Permits states to establish lower limits for salaries and bonuses. 
 
(Sec. 106) Permits the ETA to: (1) transfer funds provided for technical assistance services to grantees to Program Administration if the services will be more efficiently performed by federal employees, and (2) transfer specified Program Administration funds to carry out program integrity activities. 
 
(Sec. 107) Limits the funds that may be reserved for evaluation of programs and activities and requires the Chief Evaluation Officer to submit a plan to Congress in advance of transferring funds to be used for evaluations. 
 
(Sec. 108) Permits Labor to select an entity to operate a Civilian Conservation Center on a competitive basis if the center has had consistently low performance. 
 
(Sec. 109) Exempts certain personnel employed to adjust or evaluate claims resulting from or relating to a major disaster from the maximum hours provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 for two years after a state or federal declaration of a disaster or catastrophe. 
 
(Sec. 110) Rescinds specified advance appropriations from the ETA's Dislocated Workers Assistance National Reserve account. 
 
(Sec. 111) Provides employers in the seafood industry with flexibility with respect to bringing H-2B nonimmigrant workers into the United States. (The H-2B program allows U.S. employers or U.S. agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs.) 
 
(Sec. 112) Sets forth requirements for determining the prevailing wage for the H-2B program. 
 
(Sec. 113) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this bill to enforce the definition of corresponding employment or the three-fourths guarantee rule definition found in specified regulations for the H-2B program. Specifies the definition of temporary need that applies for the purpose of regulating admission of temporary workers under the H-2B program. 
 
(Sec. 114) Nullifies a Department of Labor rule published on April 8, 2016, relating to the definition of the term "fiduciary" and the conflict of interest rule with respect to retirement investment advice. (The rule defines who is a fiduciary with respect to pension and retirement plans. Under current law, a person who provides investment advice has a fiduciary obligation that requires the person to provide advice in the sole interest of plan participants and beneficiaries. The rule changed the definition of "investment advice" to treat people who provide investment advice to pension and retirement plans for a fee or other compensation as fiduciaries in a wider array of advice relationships.) 
 
 TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 
 

Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2018

 
Provides FY2018 appropriations for agencies and programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 
 
Provides appropriations to the Health Resources and Services Administration for: 
 
 
 Primary Health Care, 
 
 the Health Workforce, 
 
 Maternal and Child Health, 
 
 the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, 
 
 Health Care Systems, 
 
 Rural Health, 
 
 Program Management, and 
 
 the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Trust Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for: 
 
 
 Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; 
 
 HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Tuberculosis Prevention; 
 
 Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; 
 
 Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; 
 
 Birth Defects, Developmental Disabilities, Disabilities and Health; 
 
 Public Health Scientific Services; 
 
 Environmental Health; 
 
 Injury Prevention and Control; 
 
 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 
 
 the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program; 
 
 Global Health; 
 
 Public Health Preparedness and Response; 
 
 Buildings and Facilities; and 
 
 CDC-Wide Activities and Program Support. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for: 
 
 
 the National Cancer Institute;
 
 the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; 
 
 the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; 
 
 the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 
 
 the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; 
 
 the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; 
 
 the National Institute of General Medical Sciences; 
 
 the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 
 
 the National Eye Institute; 
 
 the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; 
 
 the National Institute on Aging; 
 
 the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; 
 
the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders; 
 
 the National Institute of Nursing Research; 
 
 the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; 
 
 the National Institute on Drug Abuse; 
 
 the National Institute of Mental Health; 
 
 the National Human Genome Research Institute; 
 
 the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; 
 
 the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health; 
 
 the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; 
 
 the John E. Fogarty International Center; 
 
 the National Library of Medicine; 
 
 the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences;
 
 the Office of the Director; 
 
 Buildings and Facilities; and 
 
 the NIH Innovation Account. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for: 
 
 
 Mental Health, 
 
 Substance Abuse Treatment, 
 
 Substance Abuse Prevention, and 
 
 Health Surveillance and Program Support. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for: 
 
 
 Grants to States for Medicaid, 
 
Payments to Health Care Trust Funds, 
 
 Program Management, and 
 
 the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Administration for Children and Families for: 
 
 
 Payments to States for Child Support Enforcement and Family Support Programs, 
 
 Low Income Home Energy Assistance, 
 
 Refugee and Entrant Assistance, 
 
 Payments to States for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, 
 
 the Social Services Block Grant, 
 
 Children and Families Services Programs, 
 
 Promoting Safe and Stable Families, and 
 
 Payments for Foster Care and Permanency. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Administration for Community Living for Aging and Disability Services Programs. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Office of the Secretary for: 
 
 
 General Departmental Management, 
 
 the State Response to the Opioid Abuse Crisis Account, 
 
 the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, 
 
 the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 
 
 the Office of Inspector General, 
 
 the Office for Civil Rights, 
 
 Retirement Pay and Medical Benefits for Commissioned Officers, and 
 
 the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. 
 
 
(Sec. 201) Limits the funds provided by this title that may be used for official reception and representation expenses. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to pay the salary of an individual, through a grant or other extramural mechanism, in excess of Executive Level II. 
 
(Sec. 203) Restricts HHS's use of funds for program evaluation activities unless a report is submitted to Congress regarding the proposed use of the funds or the funds are specifically provided in this bill. 
 
(Sec. 204) Permits up to 2.4% of the funds provided for programs authorized under the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) to be used for the evaluation (directly, or by grants or contracts) and the implementation and effectiveness of programs funded in this title. 
 
(Sec. 205) Sets forth restrictions and requirements for the transfer of HHS funds between appropriations accounts. 
 
(Sec. 206) Permits National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program contracts to be cancelled up to 60 days after the execution of a contract awarded in FY2018. 
 
(Sec. 207) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being made available under title X (Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs) of the PHS Act unless the applicant certifies that it: (1) encourages family participation in the decision of minors to seek family planning services, and (2) provides counseling to minors on resisting attempts to coerce minors into engaging in sexual activities. 
 
(Sec. 208) Specifies that no provider of services under title X of the PHS Act may be exempt from any state law requiring notification or the reporting of child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, or incest. 
 
(Sec. 209) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for the Medicare Advantage program if HHS denies participation to an otherwise eligible entity because it will not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or provide referrals for abortions. 
 
(Sec. 210) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to advocate or promote gun control. 
 
(Sec. 211) Limits the number of Public Health Service employees that may be assigned to assist in child survival activities and to work in AIDS programs through and with funds provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, or the World Health Organization. 
 
(Sec. 212) Permits HHS to exercise specified spending authority to carry out international health activities, including HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease, chronic and environmental disease, and other health activities abroad during FY2018. 
 
(Sec. 213) Permits the NIH, jointly with the Office of AIDS Research, to transfer specified HIV research funds among NIH institutes and centers if Congress is notified in advance. 
 
(Sec. 214) Makes NIH funds for HIV research available to the Office of AIDS Research. 
 
(Sec. 215) Permits the NIH: (1) to use specified funds to enter into certain transactions to carry out research in support of the NIH Common Fund; and (2) utilize peer review procedures, as determined to be appropriate by the NIH and in lieu of what would otherwise be required under the PHS Act, to obtain assessments of scientific and technical merit. (The NIH Common Fund supports cross-cutting, trans-NIH programs that require participation by at least two NIH Institutes or Centers or would otherwise benefit from strategic planning and coordination.) 
 
(Sec. 216) Limits the funds that the NIH may use for the alteration, repair, or improvement of facilities. 
 
(Sec. 217) Transfers specified funds provided to the NIH for National Research Service Awards (NRSA) to: (1) the Health Resources and Services Administration to make NRSA awards for research in primary medical care, and (2) to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to make NRSA awards for health service research. 
 
(Sec. 218) Permits the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to enter into multiyear contracts of up to 10 years for the purchase of research services or of security countermeasures, subject to specified requirements. 
 
(Sec. 219) Requires HHS to establish a publicly accessible website that provides details regarding expenditures from the Prevention and Public Health Fund established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). 
 
(Sec. 220) Requires the HHS budget justifications to include specified details regarding federal employees and contractors involved in activities related to PPACA. 
 
(Sec. 221) Requires HHS to include in the FY2019 budget specified details regarding: (1) the uses of funds by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for health insurance exchanges for each year since the enactment of PPACA, and (2) the proposed uses of the funds for FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 222) Requires HHS to report to Congress on: (1) monthly enrollment figures from exchanges established under PPACA, and (2) any new or competitive grant awards authorized under section 330 (Health Centers) of the PHS Act. 
 
(Sec. 223) Prohibits specified funds provided by this bill from being used for payments relating to the risk corridors program established by PPACA. 
 
(Sec. 224) Requires HHS to include in the FY2019 budget justification an analysis of how a provision of the PHS Act related to coverage of preventive health services will impact eligibility for discretionary HHS programs. 
 
(Sec. 225) Transfers mandatory funds from the Prevention and Public Health Fund created by PPACA to accounts within HHS activities outlined under the heading ''Prevention and Public Health Fund'' in the report accompanying this bill. 
 
(Sec. 226) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to carry out title X (Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs) of the PHS Act. 
 
(Sec. 227) Requires HHS to use the recommendations last issued before 2009 to administer any law referring to the current recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for breast cancer screening, mammography, and prevention. 
 
(Sec. 228) Requires the NIH, in making federal financial assistance, to continue to apply the provisions relating to indirect costs in specified regulations, including with respect to the approval of deviations from negotiated rates, as the NIH applied the provisions in the third quarter of FY2017. 
 
Prohibits the NIH from using funds provided by this bill to develop or implement a modified approach to such provisions, or to intentionally or substantially expand the fiscal effect of the approval of the deviations from negotiated rates beyond the proportional effect of the approvals in the quarter. 
 
(Sec. 229) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for the Navigators program, which was created by PPACA to carry out public education activities, provide information to prospective enrollees about insurance options and federal assistance, and examine enrollees' eligibility for other federal or state health care programs, such as Medicaid. 
 
TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
 

Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2018

 
Provides appropriations for agencies and programs within the Department of Education (ED). 
 
Provides appropriations to ED for: 
 
 
 Education for the Disadvantaged, 
 
 Impact Aid, 
 
 School Improvement Programs, 
 
Indian Education, 
 
 Innovation and Improvement, 
 
 Safe Schools and Citizenship Education, 
 
 English Language Acquisition, 
 
 Special Education, and 
 
 Rehabilitation Services. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities, including: 
 
 
 the American Printing House for the Blind, 
 
 the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and 
 
 Gallaudet University. 
 
 
Provides Appropriations to ED for: 
 
 
 Career, Technical, and Adult Education, 
 
 Student Financial Assistance, 
 
 Student Aid Administration, 
 
 Higher Education, 
 
 Howard University, 
 
 the College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Program, 
 
 the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program Account, and 
 
 the Institute of Education Sciences. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for Departmental Management, including: 
 
 
 Program Administration, 
 
 the Office for Civil Rights, and 
 
 the Office of Inspector General. 
 
 
(Sec. 301) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to transport teachers or students in order to: (1) overcome racial imbalance in any school, or (2) carry out a racial desegregation plan. 
 
(Sec. 302) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to require the transportation of students to a school other than the school nearest to the student's home, except for students who require special education, in order to comply with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 
 
(Sec. 303) Specifies that no funds provided by this bill may be used to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in public schools. 
 
(Sec. 304) Permits ED to transfer certain funds between accounts, subject to specified restrictions and requirements. 
 
(Sec. 305) Amends the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 to permit the Republic of Palau to continue to receive certain federal funds. 
 
(Sec. 306) Permits funds provided by this bill and consolidated for evaluation purposes under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to be obligated from July 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. 
 
(Sec. 307) Permits certain institutions of higher education to continue to use endowment income for student scholarships, subject to specified limits and requirements. Applies this section until titles III and V of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) are reauthorized. 
 
(Sec. 308) Extends the authorization of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity through 2018. 
 
(Sec. 309) Extends through 2018 ED's authority to provide account maintenance fees to guaranty agencies for federal student loans. 
 
(Sec. 310) Rescinds specified discretionary unobligated balances from the Pell grant program. 
 
TITLE IV--RELATED AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for: 
 
 
 Operating Expenses, 
 
 Payment to the National Service Trust, 
 
 Salaries and Expenses, and 
 
 the Office of Inspector General. 
 
 
(Sec. 401) Requires the CNCS to make any significant changes to program requirements or policy through rulemaking. Prohibits CNCS employees from disclosing specified information during a grant selection process to any person other than an officer or employee of CNCS that is authorized by CNCS to receive the information 
 
(Sec. 402) Sets forth minimum share requirements for AmeriCorps programs receiving grants under the National Service Trust program. 
 
(Sec. 403) Requires certain donations made to the CNCS to be used to supplement and not supplant current programs and operations. 
 
(Sec. 404) Requires certain education awards at GI bill-eligible institutions to be limited to veterans. 
 
(Sec. 405) Permits State Commissions on National and Community Service established under the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to receive criminal history record information. under the terms of the National Child Protection Act. 
 
Provides appropriations for other related agencies, including: 
 
 
 the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 
 
 the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, 
 
 the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, 
 
 the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 
 
 the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, 
 
 the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, 
 
 the National Council on Disability, and 
 
 the National Labor Relations Board. 
 
 
(Sec. 406) Prohibits the National Labor Relations Board from using funds to provide employees with electronic voting to determine a collective bargaining representative. 
 
(Sec. 407) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to enforce the National Labor Relations Act against any Indian tribe, including any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on its Indian lands. 
 
(Sec. 408) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from be used for specified administrative activities and proceedings based on joint employer standards set forth by the National Labor Relations Board in Browning-Ferris Industries of California, Inc., 362 NLRB No. 186 (August 27, 2015).
 
(Sec. 409) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for any standard for initial bargaining unit determinations that conflicts with the standard articulated in the majority opinion in Wheeling Island Gaming Inc. and United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 23,355 NLRB 127 (August 27, 2010), subject to specified exceptions. 
 
Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for any standard for initial bargaining unit determinations that utilizes the overwhelming community of interest test except in accretion cases. 
 
Provides appropriations to the National Mediation Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Railroad Retirement Board for: 
 
 
 the Dual Benefits Payments Account, 
 
 Federal Payments to the Railroad Retirement Accounts, 
 
 Administration, and 
 
 the Office of Inspector General. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for: 
 
 
 Payments to Social Security Trust Funds, 
 
 the Supplemental Security Income Program, 
 
 Administrative Expenses, and 
 
 the Office of Inspector General. 
 
 
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 501) Permits Labor, HHS, and ED to transfer certain unexpended balances to accounts to be used for the same purposes as the original appropriation. 
 
(Sec. 502) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless otherwise specified. 
 
(Sec. 503) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this bill for lobbying and related activities. 
 
(Sec. 504) Limits the official reception and representation expenses for specified departments and agencies. 
 
(Sec. 505) Requires grantees receiving federal funds provided by this bill to clearly state specified details regarding the federal funding and non-governmental funding sources in documents related to federally funded projects. 
 
(Sec. 506) Prohibits funds provided by this bill or in any trust fund which received funds in this bill from being used for: (1) abortions, or (2) health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. 
 
(Sec. 507) Provides an exception to the prohibition on funding for abortion if: (1) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest; or (2) a woman suffers from a physical disorder, injury, or illness that would place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. Bars the availability of funds to a federal agency or program, or to a state or local government, if it subjects any institutional or individual health care entity to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions. 
 
(Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this bill for certain research involving human embryos. 
 
(Sec. 509) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this bill for promoting the legalization of controlled substances. Includes an exception when there is medical evidence of a therapeutic advantage to the use of the drug or federally sponsored clinical trials are being conducted to determine therapeutic advantage. 
 
(Sec. 510) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for regulations to provide a unique health identifier for an individual (except in an individual's capacity as an employer or a health care provider), until legislation is enacted specifically approving the standard. 
 
(Sec. 511) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to enter into or renew a contract with a contractor that has not submitted to Labor a required annual report concerning employment of certain veterans. 
 
(Sec. 512) Prohibits the transfer of funds provided by this bill to any federal department, agency, or instrumentality, except pursuant to an appropriations Act. 
 
(Sec. 513) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for libraries unless they are in compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act. 
 
(Sec. 514) Sets forth requirements, procedures, and restrictions for the reprogramming of funds. 
 
(Sec. 515) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this bill to: (1) require candidates for scientific advisory committees to disclose their political activities, or (2) disseminate information that is deliberately false or misleading. 
 
(Sec. 516) Requires departments and agencies funded in this bill to submit operating plans. 
 
(Sec. 517) Requires Labor, HHS, and ED to report to Congress on the number and amounts of certain contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements awarded on a non-competitive basis. 
 
(Sec. 518) Prohibits the SSA from processing earnings for work performed under a fraudulent Social Security number if the performance of the work has formed the basis of a conviction for violating specified provisions of the Social Security Act. 
 
(Sec. 519) Prohibits the SSA from using funds provided by this bill to establish totalization arrangements between the U.S. Social Security system and the social security system of Mexico. (A totalization agreement coordinates the payment of Social Security taxes and benefits for workers who divide their careers between two countries.) 
 
(Sec. 520) Restricts the use of funds provided by this bill to purchase sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug. 
 
(Sec. 521) Requires computer networks of agencies funded by this bill to block pornography, subject to an exception for law enforcement activities. 
 
(Sec. 522) Prohibits funds from being provided to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, allied organizations, or successors. 
 
(Sec. 523) Sets forth reporting requirements for spending on conferences. 
 
(Sec. 524) Requires agencies funded by this bill to clearly state within the text, audio, or video used for advertising or educational purposes, that the communication is printed, published, or produced and disseminated at U.S. taxpayer expense. 
 
(Sec. 525) Permits funds provided by this bill to be used to carry out up to 10 Performance Partnership Pilots that: (1) are designed to improve outcomes for disconnected youth; (2) include communities that have recently experienced civil unrest; and (3) involve federal programs targeted on disconnected youth, or designed to prevent youth from disconnecting from school or work, or that provide education, training, employment, and other related social services. 
 
(Sec. 526) Requires Labor, HHS, ED, and SSA to submit specified reports to Congress on the status of balances of appropriations. 
 
(Sec. 527) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to implement, administer, or enforce provisions of PPACA and related laws, with specified exceptions. 
 
(Sec. 528) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to conduct or support research using human fetal tissue if the tissue is obtained pursuant to an induced abortion. 
 
(Sec. 529) Restricts funding for certain essential community providers and tax-exempt organizations that perform abortions, or provide any funds to any other entity that performs abortions. 
 
Includes exceptions for an abortion performed: (1) in the case of a pregnancy that is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (2) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life endangering physical condition caused by, or arising from, the pregnancy itself. 
 
(Sec. 530) Rescinds specified unobligated balances from the HHS Nonrecurring Expenses Fund. 
 
(Sec. 531) Rescinds funds previously provided for the Independent Payment Advisory Board. 
 
(Sec. 532) Prohibits specified amounts in the Child Enrollment Contingency Fund from being obligated during the current fiscal year. 
 
(Sec. 533) Rescinds specified unobligated balances of funds provided by PPACA for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Program. 
 
(Sec. 534) Rescinds specified funds from the Children's Health Insurance Program Performance Bonus Fund. 
 
(Sec. 535) Rescinds specified funds previously provided for the Children's Health Insurance (CHIP) Program. 
 

Conscience Protection Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 536) Amends the Public Health Service Act to codify the prohibition against the federal government and state and local governments that receive federal financial assistance for health-related activities penalizing or discriminating against a health care provider based on the provider's refusal to be involved in, or provide coverage for, abortion. 
 
(Sec. 537) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to implement, administer, or enforce Labor's "Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors" regulation, with respect to federal contracts or permits related to seasonal recreational services or equipment rental for the general public in connection with federal property or land. Includes an exception for lodging and food services associated with seasonal recreation services. 
 
(Sec. 538) Establishes a spending reduction account for the amount by which spending proposed in this bill exceeds the subcommittee's allocation under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Specifies that the amount is $0. (Under the Rules of the House of Representatives, any savings included in the spending reduction account are not available for further appropriation during consideration of the bill.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-05
text: Committee on Appropriations Senate Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-277.
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 176.
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 115-244, by Mr. Cole.
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 115-244, by Mr. Cole.
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-27
text: Committee on Appropriations Senate Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-277.
action_date: 2017-06-22
text: Committee on Appropriations Senate Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-277.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Committee on Appropriations Senate Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-277.
action_date: 2017-06-06
text: Committee on Appropriations Senate Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-277.
action_date: 2017-03-15
text: Committee on Appropriations Senate Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-277.
action_date: 2017-03-08
text: Committee on Appropriations Senate Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-277.
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Committee on Appropriations Senate Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-277.