Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017

Bill: 115-hr-601
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17]
Introduced: 2017-01-23
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments

Adult education and literacy

Afghanistan

Aging

Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit

Appropriations

Asia

Border security and unlawful immigration

Budget deficits and national debt

Census and government statistics

Child health

Coast guard

Computer security and identity theft

Conflicts and wars

Congressional officers and employees

Congressional oversight

Customs enforcement

Defense spending

Department of Agriculture

Department of Commerce

Department of Defense

Department of Education

Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of the Interior

Disaster relief and insurance

District of Columbia

Education programs funding

Electric power generation and transmission

Elementary and secondary education

Emergency planning and evacuation

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Executive agency funding and structure

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Federal officials

Fires

Floods and storm protection

Food assistance and relief

Foreign aid and international relief

Forests, forestry, trees

General Services Administration

Government lending and loan guarantees

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Health programs administration and funding

Higher education

Housing and community development funding

Iraq

Kentucky

Licensing and registrations

Low- and moderate-income housing

Medical research

Middle East

Military operations and strategy

Multilateral development programs

National Archives and Records Administration

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Natural disasters

Nuclear power

Nutrition and diet

Ohio

Outdoor recreation

Parks, recreation areas, trails

Pest management

Political movements and philosophies

Poverty and welfare assistance

Preschool education

Public contracts and procurement

Radioactive wastes and releases

Research administration and funding

School administration

Senate

Small Business Administration

Small business

State and local finance

State and local taxation

Student aid and college costs

Teaching, teachers, curricula

Tennessee

Terrorism

Transportation safety and security

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Unemployment

User charges and fees

Veterans' medical care

Water quality

Water use and supply

Women's education
Latest action: action_date: 2017-09-08
text: Signed by President.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act</strong></p> <p>This bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to state that it shall be U.S. policy to work with partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations (including faith-based organizations) to promote basic education through programs that: (1) respond to the needs and capacities of developing countries to improve literacy and other basic skills; (2) strengthen educational systems, expand access to safe learning environments (including by breaking down barriers to basic education for women and girls), and support the engagement of parents in their children's education; (3) promote education as a foundation for economic growth; and (4) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries.</p> <p>The President shall: (1) seek to improve the effectiveness of assistance by coordinating relevant executive branch efforts, (2) ensure that assistance is aligned with U.S. foreign policy and economic interests, and (3) submit to Congress by October 1, 2017, a comprehensive FY2018 through FY2022 strategy to promote basic education in partner countries.</p> <p>The bill establishes within the U.S. Agency for International Development the position of Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance, who shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of U.S. government resources and activities relating to the promotion of international basic education. </p> </p> </p>

action_date: 2017-01-24
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><strong>Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act</strong></p> <p> (Sec. 3) This bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to state that it shall be U.S. policy to work with partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations (including faith-based organizations) to promote basic education through programs that: (1) respond to the needs and capacities of developing countries to improve literacy and other basic skills; (2) strengthen educational systems, expand access to safe learning environments (including by breaking down barriers to basic education for women and girls), and support the engagement of parents in their children's education; (3) promote education as a foundation for economic growth; and (4) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries.</p> <p> The President shall: (1) seek to improve the effectiveness of assistance by coordinating relevant executive branch efforts, and (2) ensure that assistance is aligned with U.S. foreign policy and economic interests.</p> <p> (Sec. 4) The President shall submit to Congress by October 1, 2017, a comprehensive FY2018 through FY2022 strategy to promote basic education in partner countries.</p> <p> (Sec. 5) The bill establishes within the U.S. Agency for International Development the position of Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance, who shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of U.S. government resources and activities relating to the promotion of international basic education. </p> <p> (Sec. 6) The President shall ensure that programs carried out under the comprehensive strategy: (1) apply monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities accomplish measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development; and (2) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation. </p> <p> (Sec. 7) The President shall submit to Congress an annual implementation report. </p>

action_date: 2017-08-01
action_desc: Passed Senate amended
text: <p><strong>Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act</strong></p> <p> (Sec. 3) This bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to state that it shall be U.S. policy to work with partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations (including faith-based organizations) to promote basic education through programs that: (1) respond to the needs and capacities of developing countries to improve literacy and other basic skills; (2) strengthen educational systems, expand access to safe learning environments (including by breaking down barriers to basic education for women and girls), and support the engagement of parents in their children's education; (3) promote education as a foundation for economic growth; (4) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries; and (5) promote U.S. values, especially respect for all persons and freedoms of religion, speech, and the press. </p> <p>The President shall: (1) seek to improve the effectiveness of assistance by coordinating relevant executive branch efforts, and (2) ensure that assistance is aligned with U.S. foreign policy and economic interests.</p> <p> (Sec. 4) The President shall submit to Congress within one year after enactment of this bill a comprehensive U.S. strategy to be carried out during the following five fiscal years to promote quality basic education in partner countries by: (1) expanding access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes. </p> <p> (Sec. 5) The bill establishes within the U.S. Agency for International Development the position of Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance, who shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of U.S. government resources and activities relating to the promotion of international basic education. </p> <p> (Sec. 6) The President shall ensure that programs carried out under the comprehensive strategy: (1) apply monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities accomplish measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development; and (2) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation. </p> <p> (Sec. 7) The President shall submit to Congress an annual implementation report which shall include a description of: (1) executive branch efforts to implement the strategy, (2) the extent to which each partner country meets priority criteria, and (3) progress achieved toward meeting strategy goals. </p>

action_date: 2017-09-07
action_desc: Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment
text: <p><strong>Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017</strong></p> <p>DIVISION A--REINFORCING EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY IN DEVELOPMENT ACT </p> <p><em>Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act</em></p> <p>(Sec. 3) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to state that it shall be U.S. policy to work with partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations (including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents) to promote basic education through programs that: (1) respond to the needs and capacities of developing countries to improve literacy and other basic skills; (2) strengthen educational systems, expand access to safe learning environments (including by breaking down barriers to basic education for women and girls), and support the engagement of parents in their children's education; (3) promote education as a foundation for economic growth; (4) monitor and evaluate basic education programs in partner countries; and (5) promote U.S. values, especially respect for all persons and freedoms of religion, speech, and the press. </p> <p> Requires the President to ensure that assistance provided under this bill is aligned with U.S. foreign policy and economic interests and that priority is given to developing countries in which: (1) there is the greatest need and opportunity to expand access to basic education, including for marginalized and vulnerable groups; (2) assistance can produce a substantial impact on children and educational systems; and (3) there is the greatest opportunity to reduce childhood and adolescence exposure to or engagement in violent extremist ideologies. </p> <p>(Sec. 4) Requires the President, within one year, to submit to Congress a comprehensive U.S. strategy to be carried out during the following five fiscal years to promote quality basic education in partner countries by: (1) expanding access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes. Requires the President to provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy.</p> <p>Requires such strategy to seek to: (1) prioritize assistance to U.S. partner countries whose populations are most in need of improved basic education; (2) build the capacity of relevant actors in partner countries to develop national education plans that improve basic education; (3) identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of basic education in conflict settings and in partner countries; (4) develop means to track implementation in partner countries and ensure that such countries are expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms; (5) leverage U.S. capabilities, including through technical assistance, training, and research; and (6) improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant agencies, donors, multilateral and nongovernmental organizations, and partner country governments. </p> <p>(Sec. 5) Establishes within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) the position of Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance, who shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of U.S. government resources and activities relating to the promotion of international basic education. Requires the President to eliminate a USAID position in order to offset costs and eliminate duplication of activities involved in appointing such senior coordinator. </p> <p>(Sec. 6) Requires the President to ensure that programs carried out under the comprehensive strategy: (1) apply monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities accomplish measurable improvements in literacy or other basic skills development; (2) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation; and (3) disaggregate as appropriate all data collected by age, gender, marital status, disability, and location. </p> <p>(Sec. 7) Requires the President to submit to Congress an annual implementation report. </p> <p>DIVISION B--SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2017 </p> <p><em>Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements, 2017 </em></p> <p>Provides $15.25 billion in FY2017 supplemental appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for disaster relief requirements, such as response and recovery efforts from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. </p> <p>Specifies that the $15.25 billion includes: </p> <ul> <li> $7.4 billion for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, </li> <li> $450 million for the SBA's Disaster Loans Program Account, and </li> <li> $7.4 billion for HUD's Community Development Block Grant program. </li> </ul> <p>Designates the funds as an emergency requirement and provides that the funds are only available if the President subsequently designates the funds and transmits the designation to Congress. (Emergency spending is exempt from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.) </p> <p>DIVISION C--TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PUBLIC DEBT RELIEF </p> <p>(Sec. 101) Suspends the public debt limit through December 8, 2017. Increases the limit on December 9, 2017, to accommodate obligations issued during the suspension period. </p> <p>Specifies that adjustments to the debt limit for obligations during the suspension period are limited to obligations necessary to fund a commitment incurred by the federal government that required payment before December 9, 2017. </p> <p>Prohibits the Department of the Treasury from issuing obligations during the suspension period to increase cash balances above normal operating balances. </p> <p>DIVISION D--CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018 </p> <p><em>Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 </em></p> <p>(This division provides continuing appropriations to federal agencies through December 8, 2017, or the enactment of specified appropriations legislation. </p> <p>It is known as a continuing resolution [CR] and prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur when FY2018 begins on October 1, 2017, if the twelve FY2017 regular appropriations bills that fund the federal government have not been enacted. </p> <p>Unless otherwise indicated, all extensions and provisions referenced in the summary of this division are for the duration of the CR.) </p> <p>(Sec. 101) Provides FY2018 appropriations to federal agencies for continuing projects or activities at the levels of, and under the terms and conditions of specified FY2017 appropriations Acts, reduced by 0.6791%. </p> <p>Permits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to use emergency funding provided for wildfire suppression to fully repay amounts previously transferred from other accounts for wildfire suppression. </p> <p>(Sec. 102) Prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from using funds provided by section 101 for starting new programs, entering into multi-year contracts, or increasing production rates. </p> <p>(Sec. 103) Specifies that funds provided by section 101 shall be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided in the pertinent appropriations Act. </p> <p>(Sec. 104) Prohibits any appropriations or funds made available by section 101 from being used to initiate or resume any project or activity which was not funded in FY2017. </p> <p>(Sec. 105) Continues all authorities, requirements, and limitations from FY2017 appropriations Acts through the date in section 106 and permits valid obligations and expenditures during the period of this CR. </p> <p>(Sec. 106) Continues the appropriations provided by this division through the earlier of December 8, 2017, or the enactment of the pertinent appropriations bill. </p> <p>(Sec. 107) Requires expenditures for activities funded in this division to be charged to the relevant account when the applicable appropriations bill becomes law. </p> <p>(Sec. 108) Waives the normal time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments of accounts funded in annual appropriations Acts. </p> <p>(Sec. 109) Limits disbursements for programs that otherwise would have high initial rates of operation or would complete distribution of funding at the beginning of the fiscal year if those actions would impinge on final congressional funding prerogatives. </p> <p>(Sec. 110) Requires this division be implemented so that only the most limited funding action permitted by this division is taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and activities. </p> <p>(Sec. 111) Provides that entitlements and other mandatory payments with budget authority provided in FY2017 appropriations bills and for activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 shall continue at the rate to maintain program levels under current law and under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable FY2017 appropriations Act for up to 30 days after the expiration of the CR. </p> <p>(Sec. 112) Permits funding made available by this division for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department and agency to be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to avoid furloughs. Requires all necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related administrative expenses to be taken prior to using this authority. </p> <p>(Sec. 113) Permits funds appropriated by this division to be obligated and expended notwithstanding specified statutory provisions restricting appropriations for foreign assistance, the Department of State, international broadcasting, and intelligence activities in the absence of prior authorizations. </p> <p>(Sec. 114) Extends designations for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism, disaster relief, and emergency requirements to funds provided by this division that previously carried those designations. </p> <p>Exempts funds for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism, emergency requirements, disaster relief, the Social Security Administration's continuing disability reviews and redeterminations, and the Department of Health and Human Service's Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control account, from the across-the-board reduction included in section 101. </p> <p>Provides that amounts designated for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War Terrorism or as an emergency requirements shall only be available if the President subsequently designates the amounts and transmits the designations to Congress. </p> <p>(Sec. 115) Applies the across-the-board reduction in section 101 to advance appropriations made in prior years that first become available in FY2018. </p> <p>(Sec. 116) Provides a higher rate of operations for USDA's Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which is a domestic food assistance program that predominantly serves low-income elderly individuals. </p> <p>(Sec. 117) Modifies a rescission of certain unobligated balances provided for commodity purchases by USDA under section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935. (Section 32 is a program created to assist agricultural producers of non-price-supported commodities and is funded by a permanent appropriation of a portion of the previous year's customs receipts less certain mandatory transfers to child nutrition and other programs.) </p> <p>(Sec. 118) Permits the funds provided by section 101 for the Census Bureau to be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to maintain the schedule and deliver the required data according to statutory deadlines in the 2020 Decennial Census Program. </p> <p>(Sec. 119) Extends the authority that otherwise expires for the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq. </p> <p>(Sec. 120) Permits funds provided by this division to the Department of Energy for the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund to be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid disruption of continuing projects and activities. (This account primarily funds the decommissioning and environmental remediation of three federal uranium enrichment facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.) </p> <p>(Sec. 121) Extends the authority of the Bureau of Reclamation to provide emergency drought assistance from prior year appropriations. </p> <p>(Sec. 122) Reduces the power purchase and wheeling receipt authority for the Western Area Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Southeastern Power Administration. </p> <p>(Sec. 123) Permits the District of Columbia to spend funds collected through local taxes and other non-federal sources. </p> <p>(Sec. 124) Provides a higher rate of operations for the General Services Administration for Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents. Specifies that no funds are provided by this bill for specified account related to the Presidential transition. </p> <p>Reduces the rate of operations for: </p> <ul> <li> Federal Payments for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia, </li> <li>the National Archives and Records Administration's Operating Expenses account, and </li> <li> the National Park Service's Operation of the National Park System account. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 125) Permits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to obligate funds in a budget structure that transfers administrative activities currently funded across DHS through the Working Capital Fund to specified management accounts. </p> <p>(Sec. 126) Permits funds provided to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service to be apportioned at a rate of operations necessary to maintain the staffing levels in place on September 30, 2017. </p> <p>(Sec. 127) Extends the authority of DHS to use certain procurement agreements for research and development projects with non-traditional government contractors. </p> <p>(Sec. 128) Extends the expedited hiring authority for the Coast Guard's acquisition workforce. </p> <p>(Sec. 129) Permits funds provided to FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund to be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to carry out ongoing disaster response and recovery efforts. </p> <p>(Sec. 130) Extends the authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program. </p> <p>(Sec. 131) Amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to extend through September 30, 2019, the authority of federal agencies to establish, collect, and retain fees on federal recreational lands and waters. </p> <p>(Sec. 132) Extends the authority for the Eisenhower Memorial Commission that otherwise expires at the end of FY2017. </p> <p>(Sec. 133) Provides a higher rate of operations for the Environmental Protection Agency's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program Account for administrative expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs for ongoing water infrastructure programs. </p> <p>(Sec. 134) Extends the authority for the Environmental Protection Agency to collect and spend certain fees related to pesticides. </p> <p>(Sec. 135) Extends the authority for the Department of Education's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. (The committee is responsible for assessing the process of accreditation in higher education and the institutional eligibility and certification of institutions of higher education to participate in federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.) </p> <p>(Sec. 136) Specifies requirements for calculating the base grant amount for Head Start grantees during the period of the CR. </p> <p>(Sec. 137) Extends the authority for a consortium of states to use FY2011 funds to jointly develop unemployment insurance information technology systems. </p> <p>(Sec. 138) Prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from capping the National Institutes of Health's facilities and administrative costs. </p> <p>(Sec. 139) Modifies a funding limitation for the State Children's Health Insurance Program's (CHIP's) Child Enrollment Contingency Fund and a rescission from CHIP.</p> <p>(Sec. 140) Permits the funds provided by section 101 to the Senate's Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper to be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to maintain current Senate cybersecurity capabilities. </p> <p>(Sec. 141) Extends the availability of specified funds provided to the Veterans Administration's Construction, Major Projects account for renovations and repairs as a consequence of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. </p> <p>(Sec. 142) Extends HUD's Mark-to-Market Program. (The program is intended to preserve long-term low-income housing affordability by restructuring FHA-insured or HUD-held mortgages for eligible multifamily housing projects.) </p>

action_date: 2017-09-08
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since the Senate agreed to a House amendment with an amendment on September 7, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017</strong></p> <p>DIVISION A--REINFORCING EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY IN DEVELOPMENT ACT </p> <p><em>Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act</em></p> <p>(Sec. 3) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to state that it shall be U.S. policy to work with partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations (including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents) to promote basic education through programs that: (1) respond to the needs and capacities of developing countries to improve literacy and other basic skills; (2) strengthen educational systems, expand access to safe learning environments (including by breaking down barriers to basic education for women and girls), and support the engagement of parents in their children's education; (3) promote education as a foundation for economic growth; (4) monitor and evaluate basic education programs in partner countries; and (5) promote U.S. values, especially respect for all persons and freedoms of religion, speech, and the press. </p> <p> Requires the President to ensure that assistance provided under this bill is aligned with U.S. foreign policy and economic interests and that priority is given to developing countries in which: (1) there is the greatest need and opportunity to expand access to basic education, including for marginalized and vulnerable groups; (2) assistance can produce a substantial impact on children and educational systems; and (3) there is the greatest opportunity to reduce childhood and adolescence exposure to or engagement in violent extremist ideologies. </p> <p>(Sec. 4) Requires the President, within one year, to submit to Congress a comprehensive U.S. strategy to be carried out during the following five fiscal years to promote quality basic education in partner countries by: (1) expanding access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes. Requires the President to provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy.</p> <p>Requires such strategy to seek to: (1) prioritize assistance to U.S. partner countries whose populations are most in need of improved basic education; (2) build the capacity of relevant actors in partner countries to develop national education plans that improve basic education; (3) identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of basic education in conflict settings and in partner countries; (4) develop means to track implementation in partner countries and ensure that such countries are expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms; (5) leverage U.S. capabilities, including through technical assistance, training, and research; and (6) improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant agencies, donors, multilateral and nongovernmental organizations, and partner country governments. </p> <p>(Sec. 5) Establishes within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) the position of Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance, who shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of U.S. government resources and activities relating to the promotion of international basic education. Requires the President to eliminate a USAID position in order to offset costs and eliminate duplication of activities involved in appointing such senior coordinator. </p> <p>(Sec. 6) Requires the President to ensure that programs carried out under the comprehensive strategy: (1) apply monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities accomplish measurable improvements in literacy or other basic skills development; (2) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation; and (3) disaggregate as appropriate all data collected by age, gender, marital status, disability, and location. </p> <p>(Sec. 7) Requires the President to submit to Congress an annual implementation report. </p> <p>DIVISION B--SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2017 </p> <p><em>Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements, 2017 </em></p> <p>Provides $15.25 billion in FY2017 supplemental appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for disaster relief requirements, such as response and recovery efforts from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. </p> <p>Specifies that the $15.25 billion includes: </p> <ul> <li> $7.4 billion for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, </li> <li> $450 million for the SBA's Disaster Loans Program Account, and </li> <li> $7.4 billion for HUD's Community Development Block Grant program. </li> </ul> <p>Designates the funds as an emergency requirement and provides that the funds are only available if the President subsequently designates the funds and transmits the designation to Congress. (Emergency spending is exempt from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.) </p> <p>DIVISION C--TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PUBLIC DEBT RELIEF </p> <p>(Sec. 101) Suspends the public debt limit through December 8, 2017. Increases the limit on December 9, 2017, to accommodate obligations issued during the suspension period. </p> <p>Specifies that adjustments to the debt limit for obligations during the suspension period are limited to obligations necessary to fund a commitment incurred by the federal government that required payment before December 9, 2017. </p> <p>Prohibits the Department of the Treasury from issuing obligations during the suspension period to increase cash balances above normal operating balances. </p> <p>DIVISION D--CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018 </p> <p><em>Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 </em></p> <p>(This division provides continuing appropriations to federal agencies through December 8, 2017, or the enactment of specified appropriations legislation. </p> <p>It is known as a continuing resolution [CR] and prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur when FY2018 begins on October 1, 2017, if the twelve FY2017 regular appropriations bills that fund the federal government have not been enacted. </p> <p>Unless otherwise indicated, all extensions and provisions referenced in the summary of this division are for the duration of the CR.) </p> <p>(Sec. 101) Provides FY2018 appropriations to federal agencies for continuing projects or activities at the levels of, and under the terms and conditions of specified FY2017 appropriations Acts, reduced by 0.6791%. </p> <p>Permits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to use emergency funding provided for wildfire suppression to fully repay amounts previously transferred from other accounts for wildfire suppression. </p> <p>(Sec. 102) Prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from using funds provided by section 101 for starting new programs, entering into multi-year contracts, or increasing production rates. </p> <p>(Sec. 103) Specifies that funds provided by section 101 shall be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided in the pertinent appropriations Act. </p> <p>(Sec. 104) Prohibits any appropriations or funds made available by section 101 from being used to initiate or resume any project or activity which was not funded in FY2017. </p> <p>(Sec. 105) Continues all authorities, requirements, and limitations from FY2017 appropriations Acts through the date in section 106 and permits valid obligations and expenditures during the period of this CR. </p> <p>(Sec. 106) Continues the appropriations provided by this division through the earlier of December 8, 2017, or the enactment of the pertinent appropriations bill. </p> <p>(Sec. 107) Requires expenditures for activities funded in this division to be charged to the relevant account when the applicable appropriations bill becomes law. </p> <p>(Sec. 108) Waives the normal time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments of accounts funded in annual appropriations Acts. </p> <p>(Sec. 109) Limits disbursements for programs that otherwise would have high initial rates of operation or would complete distribution of funding at the beginning of the fiscal year if those actions would impinge on final congressional funding prerogatives. </p> <p>(Sec. 110) Requires this division be implemented so that only the most limited funding action permitted by this division is taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and activities. </p> <p>(Sec. 111) Provides that entitlements and other mandatory payments with budget authority provided in FY2017 appropriations bills and for activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 shall continue at the rate to maintain program levels under current law and under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable FY2017 appropriations Act for up to 30 days after the expiration of the CR. </p> <p>(Sec. 112) Permits funding made available by this division for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department and agency to be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to avoid furloughs. Requires all necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related administrative expenses to be taken prior to using this authority. </p> <p>(Sec. 113) Permits funds appropriated by this division to be obligated and expended notwithstanding specified statutory provisions restricting appropriations for foreign assistance, the Department of State, international broadcasting, and intelligence activities in the absence of prior authorizations. </p> <p>(Sec. 114) Extends designations for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism, disaster relief, and emergency requirements to funds provided by this division that previously carried those designations. </p> <p>Exempts funds for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism, emergency requirements, disaster relief, the Social Security Administration's continuing disability reviews and redeterminations, and the Department of Health and Human Service's Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control account, from the across-the-board reduction included in section 101. </p> <p>Provides that amounts designated for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War Terrorism or as an emergency requirements shall only be available if the President subsequently designates the amounts and transmits the designations to Congress. </p> <p>(Sec. 115) Applies the across-the-board reduction in section 101 to advance appropriations made in prior years that first become available in FY2018. </p> <p>(Sec. 116) Provides a higher rate of operations for USDA's Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which is a domestic food assistance program that predominantly serves low-income elderly individuals. </p> <p>(Sec. 117) Modifies a rescission of certain unobligated balances provided for commodity purchases by USDA under section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935. (Section 32 is a program created to assist agricultural producers of non-price-supported commodities and is funded by a permanent appropriation of a portion of the previous year's customs receipts less certain mandatory transfers to child nutrition and other programs.) </p> <p>(Sec. 118) Permits the funds provided by section 101 for the Census Bureau to be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to maintain the schedule and deliver the required data according to statutory deadlines in the 2020 Decennial Census Program. </p> <p>(Sec. 119) Extends the authority that otherwise expires for the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq. </p> <p>(Sec. 120) Permits funds provided by this division to the Department of Energy for the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund to be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid disruption of continuing projects and activities. (This account primarily funds the decommissioning and environmental remediation of three federal uranium enrichment facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.) </p> <p>(Sec. 121) Extends the authority of the Bureau of Reclamation to provide emergency drought assistance from prior year appropriations. </p> <p>(Sec. 122) Reduces the power purchase and wheeling receipt authority for the Western Area Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Southeastern Power Administration. </p> <p>(Sec. 123) Permits the District of Columbia to spend funds collected through local taxes and other non-federal sources. </p> <p>(Sec. 124) Provides a higher rate of operations for the General Services Administration for Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents. Specifies that no funds are provided by this bill for specified account related to the Presidential transition. </p> <p>Reduces the rate of operations for: </p> <ul> <li> Federal Payments for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia, </li> <li>the National Archives and Records Administration's Operating Expenses account, and </li> <li> the National Park Service's Operation of the National Park System account. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 125) Permits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to obligate funds in a budget structure that transfers administrative activities currently funded across DHS through the Working Capital Fund to specified management accounts. </p> <p>(Sec. 126) Permits funds provided to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service to be apportioned at a rate of operations necessary to maintain the staffing levels in place on September 30, 2017. </p> <p>(Sec. 127) Extends the authority of DHS to use certain procurement agreements for research and development projects with non-traditional government contractors. </p> <p>(Sec. 128) Extends the expedited hiring authority for the Coast Guard's acquisition workforce. </p> <p>(Sec. 129) Permits funds provided to FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund to be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to carry out ongoing disaster response and recovery efforts. </p> <p>(Sec. 130) Extends the authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program. </p> <p>(Sec. 131) Amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to extend through September 30, 2019, the authority of federal agencies to establish, collect, and retain fees on federal recreational lands and waters. </p> <p>(Sec. 132) Extends the authority for the Eisenhower Memorial Commission that otherwise expires at the end of FY2017. </p> <p>(Sec. 133) Provides a higher rate of operations for the Environmental Protection Agency's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program Account for administrative expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs for ongoing water infrastructure programs. </p> <p>(Sec. 134) Extends the authority for the Environmental Protection Agency to collect and spend certain fees related to pesticides. </p> <p>(Sec. 135) Extends the authority for the Department of Education's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. (The committee is responsible for assessing the process of accreditation in higher education and the institutional eligibility and certification of institutions of higher education to participate in federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.) </p> <p>(Sec. 136) Specifies requirements for calculating the base grant amount for Head Start grantees during the period of the CR. </p> <p>(Sec. 137) Extends the authority for a consortium of states to use FY2011 funds to jointly develop unemployment insurance information technology systems. </p> <p>(Sec. 138) Prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from capping the National Institutes of Health's facilities and administrative costs. </p> <p>(Sec. 139) Modifies a funding limitation for the State Children's Health Insurance Program's (CHIP's) Child Enrollment Contingency Fund and a rescission from CHIP.</p> <p>(Sec. 140) Permits the funds provided by section 101 to the Senate's Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper to be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to maintain current Senate cybersecurity capabilities. </p> <p>(Sec. 141) Extends the availability of specified funds provided to the Veterans Administration's Construction, Major Projects account for renovations and repairs as a consequence of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. </p> <p>(Sec. 142) Extends HUD's Mark-to-Market Program. (The program is intended to preserve long-term low-income housing affordability by restructuring FHA-insured or HUD-held mortgages for eligible multifamily housing projects.) </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 601 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate duplication and waste, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. Sec. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education. Sec. 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education. Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight. Sec. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs. Sec. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress. 2. Definitions (a) Appropriate congressional committees In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate ; (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives ; and (4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (b) Other definitions In this Act, the terms basic education , marginalized children and vulnerable groups , national education plan , partner country , and relevant Executive branch agencies and officials have the meanings given such terms in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education Section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151c ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Assistance To promote sustainable, quality basic education (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Basic education The term basic education includes— (i) measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (ii) workforce development, vocational training, and digital literacy informed by real market needs and opportunities and that results in measurable improvements in employment; (iii) programs and activities designed to demonstrably improve— (I) early childhood, preprimary education, primary education, and secondary education, which can be delivered in formal or nonformal education settings; and (II) learning for out-of-school youth and adults; and (iv) capacity building for teachers, administrators, counselors, and youth workers that results in measurable improvements in student literacy, numeracy, or employment. (B) Communities of learning The term communities of learning means a holistic approach to education and community engagement in which schools act as the primary resource center for delivery of a service to the community at large, leveraging and maximizing the impact of other development efforts and reducing duplication and waste. (C) Gender parity in basic education The term gender parity in basic education means that girls and boys have equal access to quality basic education. (D) Marginalized children and vulnerable groups The term marginalized children and vulnerable groups includes girls, children affected by or emerging from armed conflict or humanitarian crises, children with disabilities, children in remote or rural areas (including those who lack access to safe water and sanitation), religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, married adolescents, and victims of trafficking. (E) National education plan The term national education plan means a comprehensive national education plan developed by partner country governments in consultation with other stakeholders as a means for wide-scale improvement of the country’s education system, including explicit, credible strategies informed by effective practices and standards to achieve quality universal basic education. (F) Nonformal education The term nonformal education means organized educational activities outside the established formal system, whether operating separately or as an important feature of a broader activity, that are intended to provide students with measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce. (G) Partner country The term partner country means a developing country that participates in or benefits from basic education programs under this subsection pursuant to the prioritization criteria described in paragraph (4), including level of need, opportunity for impact, and the availability of resources. (H) Relevant executive branch agencies and officials The term relevant Executive branch agencies and officials means the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the National Security Advisor, and the Director of the Peace Corps. (I) Sustainability The term sustainability means, with respect to any basic education program that receives funding pursuant to this section, the ability of a service delivery system, community, partner, or beneficiary to maintain, over time, such basic education program without the use of foreign assistance. (2) Policy In carrying out this section, it shall be the policy of the United States to work with partner countries, as appropriate, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents, to promote sustainable, quality basic education through programs and activities that— (A) take into consideration and help respond to the needs, capacities, and commitment of developing countries to achieve measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (B) strengthen educational systems, promote communities of learning, as appropriate, expand access to safe learning environments, including by breaking down specific barriers to basic education for women and girls, ensure continuity of education, including in conflict settings, measurably improve teacher skills and learning outcomes, and support the engagement of parents in the education of their children to help partner countries ensure that all children, including marginalized children and other vulnerable groups, have access to and benefit from quality basic education; (C) promote education as a foundation for sustained economic growth and development within a comprehensive assistance strategy that places partner countries on a trajectory toward graduation from assistance provided under this section with clearly defined benchmarks of success that are used as requirements for related procurement vehicles, such as grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements; and (D) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries. (3) Principles In carrying out the policy referred to in paragraph (2), the United States shall be guided by the following principles of aid effectiveness: (A) Alignment Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection shall be aligned with and advance United States foreign policy and economic interests. (B) Country ownership To the greatest extent practicable, assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be aligned with and support the national education plans and country development strategies of partner countries, including activities that are appropriate for and meet the needs of local and indigenous cultures. (C) Coordination (i) In general Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and leverage the unique capabilities and resources of local and national governments in partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents. (ii) Multilateral programs and initiatives Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and support proven multilateral education programs and financing mechanisms, which may include the Global Partnership for Education, that demonstrate commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. (D) Efficiency The President shall seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection by coordinating the related efforts of relevant Executive branch agencies and officials. (E) Effectiveness Programs and activities supported under this subsection— (i) shall be consistent with the policies and principles set forth in this subsection; (ii) shall be designed to achieve specific, measurable goals and objectives that are directly related to the provision of basic education (as defined in this section); and (iii) shall include appropriate targets, metrics, and indicators that— (I) move a country along the path to graduation from assistance provided under this subsection; and (II) can be applied with reasonable consistency across such programs and activities to measure progress and outcomes. (F) Transparency and accountability Programs and activities supported under this subsection shall be subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation, which may include impact evaluations, the results of which shall be made publically available in a fully searchable, electronic format. (4) Priority and other requirements The President shall ensure that assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection is aligned with the foreign policy and economic interests of the United States and, subject to such alignment, priority is given to developing countries in which— (A) there is the greatest need and opportunity to expand access to basic education and to improve learning outcomes, including for marginalized and vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls to ensure gender parity in basic education, or populations affected by conflict or crisis; and (B) such assistance can produce a substantial, measurable impact on children and educational systems. . 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education (a) Strategy required Not later than October 1, 2017, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— (1) seeking to equitably expand access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) measurably improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes. (b) Requirement To consult In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the President shall consult with— (1) the appropriate congressional committees; (2) relevant Executive branch agencies and officials; (3) partner country governments; and (4) local and international nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing students, teachers, and parents, and other development partners engaged in basic education assistance programs in developing countries. (c) Public comment The President shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy required under subsection (a). (d) Elements The strategy required under subsection (a)— (1) shall be developed and implemented consistent with the principles set forth in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3; and (2) shall seek— (A) to prioritize assistance provided under this subsection to countries that are partners of the United States and whose populations are most in need of improved basic education, as determined by indicators such as literacy and numeracy rates; (B) to build the capacity of relevant actors in partner countries, including in government and in civil society, to develop and implement national education plans that measurably improve basic education; (C) to identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of basic education in conflict settings and in partner countries; (D) to project general levels of resources needed to achieve stated program objectives; (E) to develop means to track implementation in partner countries and ensure that such countries are expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting any relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms needed to achieve stated program objectives; (F) to leverage United States capabilities, including through technical assistance, training, and research; and (G) to improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, other donors, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and governments in partner countries. 5. Improving coordination and oversight (a) Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance There is established within the United States Agency for International Development a Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance (referred to in this section as the Senior Coordinator ). The Senior Coordinator shall be appointed by the President, shall be a current USAID employee serving in a career or noncareer position in the Senior Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant Administrator or higher, and shall serve concurrently as the Senior Coordinator. (b) Duties (1) In general The Senior Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all resources and activities of the United States Government relating to the promotion of international basic education programs and activities. (2) Specific duties The Senior Coordinator shall— (A) facilitate program and policy coordination of international basic education programs and activities among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, partner governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations; (B) develop and revise the strategy required under section 4; (C) monitor, evaluate, and report on activities undertaken pursuant to the strategy required under section 4; and (D) establish due diligence criteria for all recipients of funds provided by the United States to carry out activities under this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (c) Offset In order to eliminate duplication of effort and activities and to offset any costs incurred by the United States Agency for International Development in appointing the Senior Coordinator under subsection (a), the President shall, after consulting with appropriate congressional committees, eliminate a position within the United States Agency for International Development (unless otherwise authorized or required by law) that the President determines to be necessary to fully offset such costs and eliminate duplication. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs The President shall seek to ensure that programs carried out under the strategy required under section 4 shall— (1) apply rigorous monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities provided under this subsection accomplish measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (2) include methodological guidance in the implementation plan and support systemic data collection using internationally comparable indicators, norms, and methodologies, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (3) disaggregate all data collected and reported by age, gender, marital status, disability, and location, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (4) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation to enable assessment of the sustainability and scalability of assistance programs; and (5) support the increased use and public availability of education data for improved decision making, program effectiveness, and monitoring of global progress. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress (a) Annual report on the implementation of strategy Not later than each March 31 immediately following a fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) was carried out, the President shall— (1) submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the implementation of such strategy; and (2) make the report described in paragraph (1) available to the public. (b) Matters To be included The report required under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a description of the efforts made by relevant Executive branch agencies and officials to implement the strategy developed pursuant to section 4, with a particular focus on the activities carried out under the strategy; (2) a description of the extent to which each partner country selected to receive assistance for basic education meets the priority criteria specified in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as added by section 3; and (3) a description of the progress achieved over the reporting period toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, and timeframes specified in the strategy developed pursuant to section 4 at the program level, as developed pursuant to monitoring and evaluation specified in section 6, with particular emphasis on whether there are demonstrable student improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce.

Passed the House of Representatives January 24, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 601 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 30, 2017 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations AN ACT To enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate duplication and waste, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. Sec. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education. Sec. 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education. Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight. Sec. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs. Sec. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress. 2. Definitions (a) Appropriate congressional committees In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate ; (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives ; and (4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (b) Other definitions In this Act, the terms basic education , marginalized children and vulnerable groups , national education plan , partner country , and relevant Executive branch agencies and officials have the meanings given such terms in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education Section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151c ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Assistance To promote sustainable, quality basic education (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Basic education The term basic education includes— (i) measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (ii) workforce development, vocational training, and digital literacy informed by real market needs and opportunities and that results in measurable improvements in employment; (iii) programs and activities designed to demonstrably improve— (I) early childhood, preprimary education, primary education, and secondary education, which can be delivered in formal or nonformal education settings; and (II) learning for out-of-school youth and adults; and (iv) capacity building for teachers, administrators, counselors, and youth workers that results in measurable improvements in student literacy, numeracy, or employment. (B) Communities of learning The term communities of learning means a holistic approach to education and community engagement in which schools act as the primary resource center for delivery of a service to the community at large, leveraging and maximizing the impact of other development efforts and reducing duplication and waste. (C) Gender parity in basic education The term gender parity in basic education means that girls and boys have equal access to quality basic education. (D) Marginalized children and vulnerable groups The term marginalized children and vulnerable groups includes girls, children affected by or emerging from armed conflict or humanitarian crises, children with disabilities, children in remote or rural areas (including those who lack access to safe water and sanitation), religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, married adolescents, and victims of trafficking. (E) National education plan The term national education plan means a comprehensive national education plan developed by partner country governments in consultation with other stakeholders as a means for wide-scale improvement of the country’s education system, including explicit, credible strategies informed by effective practices and standards to achieve quality universal basic education. (F) Nonformal education The term nonformal education means organized educational activities outside the established formal system, whether operating separately or as an important feature of a broader activity, that are intended to provide students with measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce. (G) Partner country The term partner country means a developing country that participates in or benefits from basic education programs under this subsection pursuant to the prioritization criteria described in paragraph (4), including level of need, opportunity for impact, and the availability of resources. (H) Relevant executive branch agencies and officials The term relevant Executive branch agencies and officials means the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the National Security Advisor, and the Director of the Peace Corps. (I) Sustainability The term sustainability means, with respect to any basic education program that receives funding pursuant to this section, the ability of a service delivery system, community, partner, or beneficiary to maintain, over time, such basic education program without the use of foreign assistance. (2) Policy In carrying out this section, it shall be the policy of the United States to work with partner countries, as appropriate, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents, to promote sustainable, quality basic education through programs and activities that— (A) take into consideration and help respond to the needs, capacities, and commitment of developing countries to achieve measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (B) strengthen educational systems, promote communities of learning, as appropriate, expand access to safe learning environments, including by breaking down specific barriers to basic education for women and girls, ensure continuity of education, including in conflict settings, measurably improve teacher skills and learning outcomes, and support the engagement of parents in the education of their children to help partner countries ensure that all children, including marginalized children and other vulnerable groups, have access to and benefit from quality basic education; (C) promote education as a foundation for sustained economic growth and development within a comprehensive assistance strategy that places partner countries on a trajectory toward graduation from assistance provided under this section with clearly defined benchmarks of success that are used as requirements for related procurement vehicles, such as grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements; and (D) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries. (3) Principles In carrying out the policy referred to in paragraph (2), the United States shall be guided by the following principles of aid effectiveness: (A) Alignment Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection shall be aligned with and advance United States foreign policy and economic interests. (B) Country ownership To the greatest extent practicable, assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be aligned with and support the national education plans and country development strategies of partner countries, including activities that are appropriate for and meet the needs of local and indigenous cultures. (C) Coordination (i) In general Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and leverage the unique capabilities and resources of local and national governments in partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents. (ii) Multilateral programs and initiatives Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and support proven multilateral education programs and financing mechanisms, which may include the Global Partnership for Education, that demonstrate commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. (D) Efficiency The President shall seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection by coordinating the related efforts of relevant Executive branch agencies and officials. (E) Effectiveness Programs and activities supported under this subsection— (i) shall be consistent with the policies and principles set forth in this subsection; (ii) shall be designed to achieve specific, measurable goals and objectives that are directly related to the provision of basic education (as defined in this section); and (iii) shall include appropriate targets, metrics, and indicators that— (I) move a country along the path to graduation from assistance provided under this subsection; and (II) can be applied with reasonable consistency across such programs and activities to measure progress and outcomes. (F) Transparency and accountability Programs and activities supported under this subsection shall be subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation, which may include impact evaluations, the results of which shall be made publically available in a fully searchable, electronic format. (4) Priority and other requirements The President shall ensure that assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection is aligned with the foreign policy and economic interests of the United States and, subject to such alignment, priority is given to developing countries in which— (A) there is the greatest need and opportunity to expand access to basic education and to improve learning outcomes, including for marginalized and vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls to ensure gender parity in basic education, or populations affected by conflict or crisis; and (B) such assistance can produce a substantial, measurable impact on children and educational systems. . 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education (a) Strategy required Not later than October 1, 2017, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— (1) seeking to equitably expand access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) measurably improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes. (b) Requirement To consult In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the President shall consult with— (1) the appropriate congressional committees; (2) relevant Executive branch agencies and officials; (3) partner country governments; and (4) local and international nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing students, teachers, and parents, and other development partners engaged in basic education assistance programs in developing countries. (c) Public comment The President shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy required under subsection (a). (d) Elements The strategy required under subsection (a)— (1) shall be developed and implemented consistent with the principles set forth in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3; and (2) shall seek— (A) to prioritize assistance provided under this subsection to countries that are partners of the United States and whose populations are most in need of improved basic education, as determined by indicators such as literacy and numeracy rates; (B) to build the capacity of relevant actors in partner countries, including in government and in civil society, to develop and implement national education plans that measurably improve basic education; (C) to identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of basic education in conflict settings and in partner countries; (D) to project general levels of resources needed to achieve stated program objectives; (E) to develop means to track implementation in partner countries and ensure that such countries are expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting any relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms needed to achieve stated program objectives; (F) to leverage United States capabilities, including through technical assistance, training, and research; and (G) to improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, other donors, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and governments in partner countries. 5. Improving coordination and oversight (a) Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance There is established within the United States Agency for International Development a Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance (referred to in this section as the Senior Coordinator ). The Senior Coordinator shall be appointed by the President, shall be a current USAID employee serving in a career or noncareer position in the Senior Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant Administrator or higher, and shall serve concurrently as the Senior Coordinator. (b) Duties (1) In general The Senior Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all resources and activities of the United States Government relating to the promotion of international basic education programs and activities. (2) Specific duties The Senior Coordinator shall— (A) facilitate program and policy coordination of international basic education programs and activities among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, partner governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations; (B) develop and revise the strategy required under section 4; (C) monitor, evaluate, and report on activities undertaken pursuant to the strategy required under section 4; and (D) establish due diligence criteria for all recipients of funds provided by the United States to carry out activities under this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (c) Offset In order to eliminate duplication of effort and activities and to offset any costs incurred by the United States Agency for International Development in appointing the Senior Coordinator under subsection (a), the President shall, after consulting with appropriate congressional committees, eliminate a position within the United States Agency for International Development (unless otherwise authorized or required by law) that the President determines to be necessary to fully offset such costs and eliminate duplication. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs The President shall seek to ensure that programs carried out under the strategy required under section 4 shall— (1) apply rigorous monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities provided under this subsection accomplish measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (2) include methodological guidance in the implementation plan and support systemic data collection using internationally comparable indicators, norms, and methodologies, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (3) disaggregate all data collected and reported by age, gender, marital status, disability, and location, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (4) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation to enable assessment of the sustainability and scalability of assistance programs; and (5) support the increased use and public availability of education data for improved decision making, program effectiveness, and monitoring of global progress. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress (a) Annual report on the implementation of strategy Not later than each March 31 immediately following a fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) was carried out, the President shall— (1) submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the implementation of such strategy; and (2) make the report described in paragraph (1) available to the public. (b) Matters To be included The report required under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a description of the efforts made by relevant Executive branch agencies and officials to implement the strategy developed pursuant to section 4, with a particular focus on the activities carried out under the strategy; (2) a description of the extent to which each partner country selected to receive assistance for basic education meets the priority criteria specified in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as added by section 3; and (3) a description of the progress achieved over the reporting period toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, and timeframes specified in the strategy developed pursuant to section 4 at the program level, as developed pursuant to monitoring and evaluation specified in section 6, with particular emphasis on whether there are demonstrable student improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce.

Passed the House of Representatives January 24, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 601 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 23, 2017 Mrs. Lowey (for herself and Mr. Reichert ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate duplication and waste, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. Sec. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education. Sec. 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education. Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight. Sec. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs. Sec. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress. 2. Definitions (a) Appropriate congressional committees In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate ; (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives ; and (4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (b) Other definitions In this Act, the terms basic education , marginalized children and vulnerable groups , national education plan , partner country , and relevant Executive branch agencies and officials have the meanings given such terms in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education Section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151c ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Assistance To promote sustainable, quality basic education (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Basic education The term basic education includes— (i) measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (ii) workforce development, vocational training, and digital literacy informed by real market needs and opportunities and that results in measurable improvements in employment; (iii) programs and activities designed to demonstrably improve— (I) early childhood, preprimary education, primary education, and secondary education, which can be delivered in formal or nonformal education settings; and (II) learning for out-of-school youth and adults; and (iv) capacity building for teachers, administrators, counselors, and youth workers that results in measurable improvements in student literacy, numeracy, or employment. (B) Communities of learning The term communities of learning means a holistic approach to education and community engagement in which schools act as the primary resource center for delivery of a service to the community at large, leveraging and maximizing the impact of other development efforts and reducing duplication and waste. (C) Gender parity in basic education The term gender parity in basic education means that girls and boys have equal access to quality basic education. (D) Marginalized children and vulnerable groups The term marginalized children and vulnerable groups includes girls, children affected by or emerging from armed conflict or humanitarian crises, children with disabilities, children in remote or rural areas (including those who lack access to safe water and sanitation), religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, married adolescents, and victims of trafficking. (E) National education plan The term national education plan means a comprehensive national education plan developed by partner country governments in consultation with other stakeholders as a means for wide-scale improvement of the country’s education system, including explicit, credible strategies informed by effective practices and standards to achieve quality universal basic education. (F) Nonformal education The term nonformal education means organized educational activities outside the established formal system, whether operating separately or as an important feature of a broader activity, that are intended to provide students with measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce. (G) Partner country The term partner country means a developing country that participates in or benefits from basic education programs under this subsection pursuant to the prioritization criteria described in paragraph (4), including level of need, opportunity for impact, and the availability of resources. (H) Relevant executive branch agencies and officials The term relevant Executive branch agencies and officials means the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the National Security Advisor, and the Director of the Peace Corps. (I) Sustainability The term sustainability means, with respect to any basic education program that receives funding pursuant to this section, the ability of a service delivery system, community, partner, or beneficiary to maintain, over time, such basic education program without the use of foreign assistance. (2) Policy In carrying out this section, it shall be the policy of the United States to work with partner countries, as appropriate, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents, to promote sustainable, quality basic education through programs and activities that— (A) take into consideration and help respond to the needs, capacities, and commitment of developing countries to achieve measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (B) strengthen educational systems, promote communities of learning, as appropriate, expand access to safe learning environments, including by breaking down specific barriers to basic education for women and girls, ensure continuity of education, including in conflict settings, measurably improve teacher skills and learning outcomes, and support the engagement of parents in the education of their children to help partner countries ensure that all children, including marginalized children and other vulnerable groups, have access to and benefit from quality basic education; (C) promote education as a foundation for sustained economic growth and development within a comprehensive assistance strategy that places partner countries on a trajectory toward graduation from assistance provided under this section with clearly defined benchmarks of success that are used as requirements for related procurement vehicles, such as grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements; and (D) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries. (3) Principles In carrying out the policy referred to in paragraph (2), the United States shall be guided by the following principles of aid effectiveness: (A) Alignment Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection shall be aligned with and advance United States foreign policy and economic interests. (B) Country ownership To the greatest extent practicable, assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be aligned with and support the national education plans and country development strategies of partner countries, including activities that are appropriate for and meet the needs of local and indigenous cultures. (C) Coordination (i) In general Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and leverage the unique capabilities and resources of local and national governments in partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents. (ii) Multilateral programs and initiatives Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and support proven multilateral education programs and financing mechanisms, which may include the Global Partnership for Education, that demonstrate commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. (D) Efficiency The President shall seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection by coordinating the related efforts of relevant Executive branch agencies and officials. (E) Effectiveness Programs and activities supported under this subsection— (i) shall be consistent with the policies and principles set forth in this subsection; (ii) shall be designed to achieve specific, measurable goals and objectives that are directly related to the provision of basic education (as defined in this section); and (iii) shall include appropriate targets, metrics, and indicators that— (I) move a country along the path to graduation from assistance provided under this subsection; and (II) can be applied with reasonable consistency across such programs and activities to measure progress and outcomes. (F) Transparency and accountability Programs and activities supported under this subsection shall be subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation, which may include impact evaluations, the results of which shall be made publically available in a fully searchable, electronic format. (4) Priority and other requirements The President shall ensure that assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection is aligned with the foreign policy and economic interests of the United States and, subject to such alignment, priority is given to developing countries in which— (A) there is the greatest need and opportunity to expand access to basic education and to improve learning outcomes, including for marginalized and vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls to ensure gender parity in basic education, or populations affected by conflict or crisis; and (B) such assistance can produce a substantial, measurable impact on children and educational systems. . 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education (a) Strategy required Not later than October 1, 2017, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— (1) seeking to equitably expand access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) measurably improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes. (b) Requirement To consult In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the President shall consult with— (1) the appropriate congressional committees; (2) relevant Executive branch agencies and officials; (3) partner country governments; and (4) local and international nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing students, teachers, and parents, and other development partners engaged in basic education assistance programs in developing countries. (c) Public comment The President shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy required under subsection (a). (d) Elements The strategy required under subsection (a)— (1) shall be developed and implemented consistent with the principles set forth in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3; and (2) shall seek— (A) to prioritize assistance provided under this subsection to countries that are partners of the United States and whose populations are most in need of improved basic education, as determined by indicators such as literacy and numeracy rates; (B) to build the capacity of relevant actors in partner countries, including in government and in civil society, to develop and implement national education plans that measurably improve basic education; (C) to identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of basic education in conflict settings and in partner countries; (D) to project general levels of resources needed to achieve stated program objectives; (E) to develop means to track implementation in partner countries and ensure that such countries are expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting any relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms needed to achieve stated program objectives; (F) to leverage United States capabilities, including through technical assistance, training, and research; and (G) to improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, other donors, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and governments in partner countries. 5. Improving coordination and oversight (a) Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance There is established within the United States Agency for International Development a Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance (referred to in this section as the Senior Coordinator ). The Senior Coordinator shall be appointed by the President, shall be a current USAID employee serving in a career or noncareer position in the Senior Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant Administrator or higher, and shall serve concurrently as the Senior Coordinator. (b) Duties (1) In general The Senior Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all resources and activities of the United States Government relating to the promotion of international basic education programs and activities. (2) Specific duties The Senior Coordinator shall— (A) facilitate program and policy coordination of international basic education programs and activities among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, partner governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations; (B) develop and revise the strategy required under section 4; (C) monitor, evaluate, and report on activities undertaken pursuant to the strategy required under section 4; and (D) establish due diligence criteria for all recipients of funds provided by the United States to carry out activities under this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (c) Offset In order to eliminate duplication of effort and activities and to offset any costs incurred by the United States Agency for International Development in appointing the Senior Coordinator under subsection (a), the President shall, after consulting with appropriate congressional committees, eliminate a position within the United States Agency for International Development (unless otherwise authorized or required by law) that the President determines to be necessary to fully offset such costs and eliminate duplication. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs The President shall seek to ensure that programs carried out under the strategy required under section 4 shall— (1) apply rigorous monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities provided under this subsection accomplish measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (2) include methodological guidance in the implementation plan and support systemic data collection using internationally comparable indicators, norms, and methodologies, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (3) disaggregate all data collected and reported by age, gender, marital status, disability, and location, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (4) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation to enable assessment of the sustainability and scalability of assistance programs; and (5) support the increased use and public availability of education data for improved decision making, program effectiveness, and monitoring of global progress. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress (a) Annual report on the implementation of strategy Not later than each March 31 immediately following a fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) was carried out, the President shall— (1) submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the implementation of such strategy; and (2) make the report described in paragraph (1) available to the public. (b) Matters To be included The report required under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a description of the efforts made by relevant Executive branch agencies and officials to implement the strategy developed pursuant to section 4, with a particular focus on the activities carried out under the strategy; (2) a description of the extent to which each partner country selected to receive assistance for basic education meets the priority criteria specified in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as added by section 3; and (3) a description of the progress achieved over the reporting period toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, and timeframes specified in the strategy developed pursuant to section 4 at the program level, as developed pursuant to monitoring and evaluation specified in section 6, with particular emphasis on whether there are demonstrable student improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 116 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 601 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 30, 2017 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations June 5, 2017 Reported by Mr. Corker , with amendments Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic AN ACT To enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate duplication and waste, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. Sec. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education. Sec. 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education. Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight. Sec. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs. Sec. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress. 2. Definitions (a) Appropriate congressional committees In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate ; (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives ; and (4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (b) Other definitions In this Act, the terms basic education , marginalized children and vulnerable groups , national education plan , partner country , and relevant Executive branch agencies and officials have the meanings given such terms in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education Section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151c ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Assistance To promote sustainable, quality basic education (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Basic education The term basic education includes— (i) measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (ii) workforce development, vocational training, and digital literacy informed by real market needs and opportunities and that results in measurable improvements in employment; (iii) programs and activities designed to demonstrably improve— (I) early childhood, preprimary education, primary education, and secondary education, which can be delivered in formal or nonformal education settings; and (II) learning for out-of-school youth and adults; and (iv) capacity building for teachers, administrators, counselors, and youth workers that results in measurable improvements in student literacy, numeracy, or employment. (B) Communities of learning The term communities of learning means a holistic approach to education and community engagement in which schools act as the primary resource center for delivery of a service to the community at large, leveraging and maximizing the impact of other development efforts and reducing duplication and waste. (C) Gender parity in basic education The term gender parity in basic education means that girls and boys have equal access to quality basic education. (D) Marginalized children and vulnerable groups The term marginalized children and vulnerable groups includes girls, children affected by or emerging from armed conflict or humanitarian crises, children with disabilities, children in remote or rural areas (including those who lack access to safe water and sanitation), religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, married adolescents, and victims of trafficking. (E) National education plan The term national education plan means a comprehensive national education plan developed by partner country governments in consultation with other stakeholders as a means for wide-scale improvement of the country’s education system, including explicit, credible strategies informed by effective practices and standards to achieve quality universal basic education. (F) Nonformal education The term nonformal education means organized educational activities outside the established formal system, whether operating separately or as an important feature of a broader activity, that are intended to provide students with measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce. (G) Partner country The term partner country means a developing country that participates in or benefits from basic education programs under this subsection pursuant to the prioritization criteria described in paragraph (4), including level of need, opportunity for impact, and the availability of resources. (H) Relevant executive branch agencies and officials The term relevant Executive branch agencies and officials means the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the National Security Advisor, and the Director of the Peace Corps. (I) Sustainability The term sustainability means, with respect to any basic education program that receives funding pursuant to this section, the ability of a service delivery system, community, partner, or beneficiary to maintain, over time, such basic education program without the use of foreign assistance. (2) Policy In carrying out this section, it shall be the policy of the United States to work with partner countries, as appropriate, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents, to promote sustainable, quality basic education through programs and activities that— (A) take into consideration and help respond to the needs, capacities, and commitment of developing countries to achieve measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (B) strengthen educational systems, promote communities of learning, as appropriate, expand access to safe learning environments, including by breaking down specific barriers to basic education for women and girls, ensure continuity of education, including in conflict settings, measurably improve teacher skills and learning outcomes, and support the engagement of parents in the education of their children to help partner countries ensure that all children, including marginalized children and other vulnerable groups, have access to and benefit from quality basic education; (C) promote education as a foundation for sustained economic growth and development within a comprehensive assistance strategy that places partner countries on a trajectory toward graduation from assistance provided under this section with clearly defined benchmarks of success that are used as requirements for related procurement vehicles, such as grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements; and (D) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries. (3) Principles In carrying out the policy referred to in paragraph (2), the United States shall be guided by the following principles of aid effectiveness: (A) Alignment Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection shall be aligned with and advance United States foreign policy and economic interests. (B) Country ownership To the greatest extent practicable, assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be aligned with and support the national education plans and country development strategies of partner countries, including activities that are appropriate for and meet the needs of local and indigenous cultures. (C) Coordination (i) In general Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and leverage the unique capabilities and resources of local and national governments in partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents. (ii) Multilateral programs and initiatives Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and support proven multilateral education programs and financing mechanisms, which may include the Global Partnership for Education, that demonstrate commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. (D) Efficiency The President shall seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection by coordinating the related efforts of relevant Executive branch agencies and officials. (E) Effectiveness Programs and activities supported under this subsection— (i) shall be consistent with the policies and principles set forth in this subsection; (ii) shall be designed to achieve specific, measurable goals and objectives that are directly related to the provision of basic education (as defined in this section); and (iii) shall include appropriate targets, metrics, and indicators that— (I) move a country along the path to graduation from assistance provided under this subsection; and (II) can be applied with reasonable consistency across such programs and activities to measure progress and outcomes. (F) Transparency and accountability Programs and activities supported under this subsection shall be subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation, which may include impact evaluations, the results of which shall be made publically available in a fully searchable, electronic format. (4) Priority and other requirements The President shall ensure that assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection is aligned with the foreign policy and economic interests of the United States and, subject to such alignment, priority is given to developing countries in which— (A) there is the greatest need and opportunity to expand access to basic education and to improve learning outcomes, including for marginalized and vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls to ensure gender parity in basic education, or populations affected by conflict or crisis; and (B) such assistance can produce a substantial, measurable impact on children and educational systems. . 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education (a) Strategy required Not later than October 1, 2017, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during the following five fiscal years to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— (1) seeking to equitably expand access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) measurably improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes. (b) Requirement To consult In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the President shall consult with— (1) the appropriate congressional committees; (2) relevant Executive branch agencies and officials; (3) partner country governments; and (4) local and international nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing students, teachers, and parents, and other development partners engaged in basic education assistance programs in developing countries. (c) Public comment The President shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy required under subsection (a). (d) Elements The strategy required under subsection (a)— (1) shall be developed and implemented consistent with the principles set forth in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3; and (2) shall seek— (A) to prioritize assistance provided under this subsection to countries that are partners of the United States and whose populations are most in need of improved basic education, as determined by indicators such as literacy and numeracy rates; (B) to build the capacity of relevant actors in partner countries, including in government and in civil society, to develop and implement national education plans that measurably improve basic education; (C) to identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of basic education in conflict settings and in partner countries; (D) to project general levels of resources needed to achieve stated program objectives; (E) to develop means to track implementation in partner countries and ensure that such countries are expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting any relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms needed to achieve stated program objectives; (F) to leverage United States capabilities, including through technical assistance, training, and research; and (G) to improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, other donors, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and governments in partner countries. 5. Improving coordination and oversight (a) Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance There is established within the United States Agency for International Development a Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance (referred to in this section as the Senior Coordinator ). The Senior Coordinator shall be appointed by the President, shall be a current USAID employee serving in a career or noncareer position in the Senior Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant Administrator or higher, and shall serve concurrently as the Senior Coordinator. (b) Duties (1) In general The Senior Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all resources and activities of the United States Government relating to the promotion of international basic education programs and activities. (2) Specific duties The Senior Coordinator shall— (A) facilitate program and policy coordination of international basic education programs and activities among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, partner governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations; (B) develop and revise the strategy required under section 4; (C) monitor, evaluate, and report on activities undertaken pursuant to the strategy required under section 4; and (D) establish due diligence criteria for all recipients of funds provided by the United States to carry out activities under this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (c) Offset In order to eliminate duplication of effort and activities and to offset any costs incurred by the United States Agency for International Development in appointing the Senior Coordinator under subsection (a), the President shall, after consulting with appropriate congressional committees, eliminate a position within the United States Agency for International Development (unless otherwise authorized or required by law) that the President determines to be necessary to fully offset such costs and eliminate duplication. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs The President shall seek to ensure that programs carried out under the strategy required under section 4 shall— (1) apply rigorous monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities provided under this subsection accomplish measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (2) include methodological guidance in the implementation plan and support systemic data collection using internationally comparable indicators, norms, and methodologies, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (3) disaggregate all data collected and reported by age, gender, marital status, disability, and location, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (4) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation to enable assessment of the sustainability and scalability of assistance programs; and (5) support the increased use and public availability of education data for improved decision making, program effectiveness, and monitoring of global progress. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress (a) Annual report on the implementation of strategy Not later than each March 31 immediately following a fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) was carried out, the President shall— Not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) is carried out, the President shall— (1) submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the implementation of such strategy; and (2) make the report described in paragraph (1) available to the public. (b) Matters To be included The report required under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a description of the efforts made by relevant Executive branch agencies and officials to implement the strategy developed pursuant to section 4, with a particular focus on the activities carried out under the strategy; (2) a description of the extent to which each partner country selected to receive assistance for basic education meets the priority criteria specified in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as added by section 3; and (3) a description of the progress achieved over the reporting period toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, and timeframes specified in the strategy developed pursuant to section 4 at the program level, as developed pursuant to monitoring and evaluation specified in section 6, with particular emphasis on whether there are demonstrable student improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce.

June 5, 2017 Reported with amendments

tv_txt: 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.R. 601 In the Senate of the United States, August 1, 2017. Amendments:

That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 601) entitled An Act to enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate duplication and waste, and for other purposes. , do pass with the following (1) On page 8, line 20, strike ; and and insert ; (2) On page 8, line 23, strike the period at the end and insert ; and . (3) On page 8, between lines 23 and 24, insert the following: (E) promote United States values, especially respect for all persons and freedoms of religion, speech, and the press. (4) On page 12, line 14, strike ; and and insert ; (5) On page 12, strike line 17 and insert educational systems; and . (6) On page 12, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following: (C) there is the greatest opportunity to reduce childhood and adolescence exposure to or engagement in violent extremism or extremist ideologies. . (7) On page 12, line 20, strike everything after Not to line 25 and insert the following: later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during the following five fiscal years to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— (8) On page 18, line 11, strike everything after Not to line 14 and insert the following: later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) is carried out, the President shall—

Secretary

tv_txt: 115th CONGRESS 1st Session In the House of Representatives, U. S., September 6, 2017 HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE AMENDMENT:

That the House agree to the amendments numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 601) entitled An Act to enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate duplication and waste, and for other purposes. and be it further That the House agree to the amendment numbered 6 of the Senate to the aforementioned bill, with the following In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the amendment numbered 6 of the Senate, insert the following: (C) there is the greatest opportunity to reduce childhood and adolescence exposure to or engagement in violent extremism or extremist ideologies. . DIVISION B—DISASTER RELIEF APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017 The following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for disaster relief for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes, namely: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund For an additional amount for Disaster Relief Fund for major disasters declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), $7,400,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided , That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further , That the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Disaster Loans Program Account (Including Transfer of Funds) For an additional amount for the Disaster Loans Program Account for the cost of direct loans authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act, $450,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided , That up to $225,000,000 may be transferred to and merged with Salaries and Expenses for administrative expenses to carry out the disaster loan program authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act: Provided further , That none of the funds provided under this heading may be used for indirect administrative expenses: Provided further , That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further , That the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. This division may be cited as the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 .

Lorraine Miller Clerk.

tv_txt: I One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America At the First Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third day of January, two thousand and seventeen H. R. 601 AN ACT Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 . 2. Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Sec. 3. References. DIVISION A—Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act DIVISION B—Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 DIVISION C—Temporary Extension of Public Debt Relief DIVISION D—Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 3. References Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to this Act contained in any division of this Act shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division. A—REINFORCING EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY IN DEVELOPMENT ACT 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act or the READ Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. Sec. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education. Sec. 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education. Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight. Sec. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs. Sec. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress. 2. Definitions (a) Appropriate congressional committees In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate ; (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives ; and (4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (b) Other definitions In this Act, the terms basic education , marginalized children and vulnerable groups , national education plan , partner country , and relevant Executive branch agencies and officials have the meanings given such terms in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3. 3. Assistance to promote sustainable, quality basic education Section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151c ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Assistance To promote sustainable, quality basic education (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Basic education The term basic education includes— (i) measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (ii) workforce development, vocational training, and digital literacy informed by real market needs and opportunities and that results in measurable improvements in employment; (iii) programs and activities designed to demonstrably improve— (I) early childhood, preprimary education, primary education, and secondary education, which can be delivered in formal or nonformal education settings; and (II) learning for out-of-school youth and adults; and (iv) capacity building for teachers, administrators, counselors, and youth workers that results in measurable improvements in student literacy, numeracy, or employment. (B) Communities of learning The term communities of learning means a holistic approach to education and community engagement in which schools act as the primary resource center for delivery of a service to the community at large, leveraging and maximizing the impact of other development efforts and reducing duplication and waste. (C) Gender parity in basic education The term gender parity in basic education means that girls and boys have equal access to quality basic education. (D) Marginalized children and vulnerable groups The term marginalized children and vulnerable groups includes girls, children affected by or emerging from armed conflict or humanitarian crises, children with disabilities, children in remote or rural areas (including those who lack access to safe water and sanitation), religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, married adolescents, and victims of trafficking. (E) National education plan The term national education plan means a comprehensive national education plan developed by partner country governments in consultation with other stakeholders as a means for wide-scale improvement of the country’s education system, including explicit, credible strategies informed by effective practices and standards to achieve quality universal basic education. (F) Nonformal education The term nonformal education means organized educational activities outside the established formal system, whether operating separately or as an important feature of a broader activity, that are intended to provide students with measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce. (G) Partner country The term partner country means a developing country that participates in or benefits from basic education programs under this subsection pursuant to the prioritization criteria described in paragraph (4), including level of need, opportunity for impact, and the availability of resources. (H) Relevant executive branch agencies and officials The term relevant Executive branch agencies and officials means the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the National Security Advisor, and the Director of the Peace Corps. (I) Sustainability The term sustainability means, with respect to any basic education program that receives funding pursuant to this section, the ability of a service delivery system, community, partner, or beneficiary to maintain, over time, such basic education program without the use of foreign assistance. (2) Policy In carrying out this section, it shall be the policy of the United States to work with partner countries, as appropriate, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents, to promote sustainable, quality basic education through programs and activities that— (A) take into consideration and help respond to the needs, capacities, and commitment of developing countries to achieve measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (B) strengthen educational systems, promote communities of learning, as appropriate, expand access to safe learning environments, including by breaking down specific barriers to basic education for women and girls, ensure continuity of education, including in conflict settings, measurably improve teacher skills and learning outcomes, and support the engagement of parents in the education of their children to help partner countries ensure that all children, including marginalized children and other vulnerable groups, have access to and benefit from quality basic education; (C) promote education as a foundation for sustained economic growth and development within a comprehensive assistance strategy that places partner countries on a trajectory toward graduation from assistance provided under this section with clearly defined benchmarks of success that are used as requirements for related procurement vehicles, such as grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements; (D) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries; and (E) promote United States values, especially respect for all persons and freedoms of religion, speech, and the press. (3) Principles In carrying out the policy referred to in paragraph (2), the United States shall be guided by the following principles of aid effectiveness: (A) Alignment Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection shall be aligned with and advance United States foreign policy and economic interests. (B) Country ownership To the greatest extent practicable, assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be aligned with and support the national education plans and country development strategies of partner countries, including activities that are appropriate for and meet the needs of local and indigenous cultures. (C) Coordination (i) In general Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and leverage the unique capabilities and resources of local and national governments in partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents. (ii) Multilateral programs and initiatives Assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection should be coordinated with and support proven multilateral education programs and financing mechanisms, which may include the Global Partnership for Education, that demonstrate commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. (D) Efficiency The President shall seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection by coordinating the related efforts of relevant Executive branch agencies and officials. (E) Effectiveness Programs and activities supported under this subsection— (i) shall be consistent with the policies and principles set forth in this subsection; (ii) shall be designed to achieve specific, measurable goals and objectives that are directly related to the provision of basic education (as defined in this section); and (iii) shall include appropriate targets, metrics, and indicators that— (I) move a country along the path to graduation from assistance provided under this subsection; and (II) can be applied with reasonable consistency across such programs and activities to measure progress and outcomes. (F) Transparency and accountability Programs and activities supported under this subsection shall be subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation, which may include impact evaluations, the results of which shall be made publically available in a fully searchable, electronic format. (4) Priority and other requirements The President shall ensure that assistance provided under this section to support programs and activities under this subsection is aligned with the foreign policy and economic interests of the United States and, subject to such alignment, priority is given to developing countries in which— (A) there is the greatest need and opportunity to expand access to basic education and to improve learning outcomes, including for marginalized and vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls to ensure gender parity in basic education, or populations affected by conflict or crisis; (B) such assistance can produce a substantial, measurable impact on children and educational systems; and (C) there is the greatest opportunity to reduce childhood and adolescence exposure to or engagement in violent extremism or extremist ideologies. . 4. Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education (a) Strategy required Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during the following five fiscal years to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— (1) seeking to equitably expand access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) measurably improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes. (b) Requirement To consult In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the President shall consult with— (1) the appropriate congressional committees; (2) relevant Executive branch agencies and officials; (3) partner country governments; and (4) local and international nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing students, teachers, and parents, and other development partners engaged in basic education assistance programs in developing countries. (c) Public comment The President shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy required under subsection (a). (d) Elements The strategy required under subsection (a)— (1) shall be developed and implemented consistent with the principles set forth in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3; and (2) shall seek— (A) to prioritize assistance provided under this subsection to countries that are partners of the United States and whose populations are most in need of improved basic education, as determined by indicators such as literacy and numeracy rates; (B) to build the capacity of relevant actors in partner countries, including in government and in civil society, to develop and implement national education plans that measurably improve basic education; (C) to identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of basic education in conflict settings and in partner countries; (D) to project general levels of resources needed to achieve stated program objectives; (E) to develop means to track implementation in partner countries and ensure that such countries are expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting any relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms needed to achieve stated program objectives; (F) to leverage United States capabilities, including through technical assistance, training, and research; and (G) to improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, other donors, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and governments in partner countries. 5. Improving coordination and oversight (a) Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance There is established within the United States Agency for International Development a Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance (referred to in this section as the Senior Coordinator ). The Senior Coordinator shall be appointed by the President, shall be a current USAID employee serving in a career or noncareer position in the Senior Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant Administrator or higher, and shall serve concurrently as the Senior Coordinator. (b) Duties (1) In general The Senior Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all resources and activities of the United States Government relating to the promotion of international basic education programs and activities. (2) Specific duties The Senior Coordinator shall— (A) facilitate program and policy coordination of international basic education programs and activities among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, partner governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations; (B) develop and revise the strategy required under section 4; (C) monitor, evaluate, and report on activities undertaken pursuant to the strategy required under section 4; and (D) establish due diligence criteria for all recipients of funds provided by the United States to carry out activities under this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (c) Offset In order to eliminate duplication of effort and activities and to offset any costs incurred by the United States Agency for International Development in appointing the Senior Coordinator under subsection (a), the President shall, after consulting with appropriate congressional committees, eliminate a position within the United States Agency for International Development (unless otherwise authorized or required by law) that the President determines to be necessary to fully offset such costs and eliminate duplication. 6. Monitoring and evaluation of programs The President shall seek to ensure that programs carried out under the strategy required under section 4 shall— (1) apply rigorous monitoring and evaluation methodologies to determine if programs and activities provided under this subsection accomplish measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce; (2) include methodological guidance in the implementation plan and support systemic data collection using internationally comparable indicators, norms, and methodologies, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (3) disaggregate all data collected and reported by age, gender, marital status, disability, and location, to the extent practicable and appropriate; (4) include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation to enable assessment of the sustainability and scalability of assistance programs; and (5) support the increased use and public availability of education data for improved decision making, program effectiveness, and monitoring of global progress. 7. Transparency and reporting to Congress (a) Annual report on the implementation of strategy Not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) is carried out, the President shall— (1) submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the implementation of such strategy; and (2) make the report described in paragraph (1) available to the public. (b) Matters To be included The report required under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a description of the efforts made by relevant Executive branch agencies and officials to implement the strategy developed pursuant to section 4, with a particular focus on the activities carried out under the strategy; (2) a description of the extent to which each partner country selected to receive assistance for basic education meets the priority criteria specified in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as added by section 3; and (3) a description of the progress achieved over the reporting period toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, and timeframes specified in the strategy developed pursuant to section 4 at the program level, as developed pursuant to monitoring and evaluation specified in section 6, with particular emphasis on whether there are demonstrable student improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce. B Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units of Government for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes, namely: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal emergency management agency DISASTER RELIEF FUND For an additional amount for Disaster Relief Fund for major disasters declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), $7,400,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided , That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further , That the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Disaster loans program account (including transfer of funds) For an additional amount for the Disaster Loans Program Account for the cost of direct loans authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act, $450,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided , That up to $225,000,000 may be transferred to and merged with Salaries and Expenses for administrative expenses to carry out the disaster loan program authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act: Provided further , That none of the funds provided under this heading may be used for indirect administrative expenses: Provided further , That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further , That the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Community planning and development COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS) For an additional amount for Community Development Fund , $7,400,000,000, to remain available until expended, for necessary expenses for activities authorized under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared in 2017 pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.): Provided , That funds shall be awarded directly to the State or unit of general local government at the discretion of the Secretary: Provided further , That as a condition of making any grant, the Secretary shall certify in advance that such grantee has in place proficient financial controls and procurement processes and has established adequate procedures to prevent any duplication of benefits as defined by section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5155 ), to ensure timely expenditure of funds, to maintain comprehensive websites regarding all disaster recovery activities assisted with these funds, and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds: Provided further , That prior to the obligation of funds a grantee shall submit a plan to the Secretary for approval detailing the proposed use of all funds, including criteria for eligibility and how the use of these funds will address long-term recovery and restoration of infrastructure and housing and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas: Provided further , That such funds may not be used for activities reimbursable by, or for which funds are made available by, the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Army Corps of Engineers: Provided further , That funds allocated under this heading shall not be considered relevant to the non-disaster formula allocations made pursuant to section 106 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5306 ): Provided further , That a State or subdivision thereof may use up to 5 percent of its allocation for administrative costs: Provided further, That in administering the funds under this heading, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with the obligation by the Secretary or the use by the recipient of these funds (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment), if the Secretary finds that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative requirement and such waiver or alternative requirement would not be inconsistent with the overall purpose of title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974: Provided further , That, notwithstanding the preceding proviso, recipients of funds provided under this heading that use such funds to supplement Federal assistance provided under section 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, or 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) may adopt, without review or public comment, any environmental review, approval, or permit performed by a Federal agency, and such adoption shall satisfy the responsibilities of the recipient with respect to such environmental review, approval or permit: Provided further , That, notwithstanding section 104(g)(2) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2) ), the Secretary may, upon receipt of a request for release of funds and certification, immediately approve the release of funds for an activity or project assisted under this heading if the recipient has adopted an environmental review, approval or permit under the preceding proviso or the activity or project is categorically excluded from review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.): Provided further , That the Secretary shall publish via notice in the Federal Register any waiver, or alternative requirement, to any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers pursuant to title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 no later than 5 days before the effective date of such waiver or alternative requirement: Provided further , That of the amounts made available under this heading, up to $10,000,000 may be transferred, in aggregate, to Department of Housing and Urban Development—Program Office Salaries and Expenses—Community Planning and Development for necessary costs, including information technology costs, of administering and overseeing the obligation and expenditure of amounts under this heading: Provided further , That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further , That the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. This division may be cited as the Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements, 2017 . C Temporary extension of public debt limit 101. (a) In general Section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code, shall not apply for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on December 8, 2017. (b) Special rule relating to obligations issued during extension period Effective on December 9, 2017, the limitation in effect under section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code, shall be increased to the extent that— (1) the face amount of obligations issued under chapter 31 of such title and the face amount of obligations whose principal and interest are guaranteed by the United States Government (except guaranteed obligations held by the Secretary of the Treasury) outstanding on December 9, 2017, exceeds (2) the face amount of such obligations outstanding on the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Restoring Congressional Authority over the national debt (1) Extension limited to necessary obligations An obligation shall not be taken into account under section 101(b)(1) unless the issuance of such obligation was necessary to fund a commitment incurred pursuant to law by the Federal Government that required payment before December 9, 2017. (2) Prohibition on creation of cash reserve during extension period The Secretary of the Treasury shall not issue obligations during the period specified in section 101(a) for the purpose of increasing the cash balance above normal operating balances in anticipation of the expiration of such period. D Continuing appropriations act, 2018 The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units of Government for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes, namely: 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2017 and under the authority and conditions provided in such Acts, for continuing projects or activities (including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Act, that were conducted in fiscal year 2017, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in the following appropriations Acts: (1) The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division A of Public Law 115–31 ) and section 193 of Public Law 114–223 , as amended by division A of Public Law 114–254 . (2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division B of Public Law 115–31 ), except section 540. (3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (division C of Public Law 115–31 ). (4) The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division D of Public Law 115–31 ). (5) The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017 (division E of Public Law 115–31 ). (6) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2017 (division F of Public Law 115–31 ), except section 310. (7) The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division G of Public Law 115–31 ), except that the language under the heading FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund in the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior shall be applied by adding at the end the following: Provided further , That notwithstanding the first proviso under the heading and notwithstanding the FLAME Act of 2009, 43 U.S.C. 1748a(e) , such funds shall be available to be transferred to and merged with other appropriations accounts to fully repay amounts previously transferred for wildfire suppression . (8) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division H of Public Law 115–31 ) and sections 171, 194, and 195 of Public Law 114–223 , as amended by division A of Public Law 114–254 . (9) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2017 (division I of Public Law 115–31 ) and section 175 of Public Law 114–223 , as amended by division A of Public Law 114–254 . (10) The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division A of Public Law 114–223 ), except for appropriations for fiscal year 2017 in the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading Medical Community Care , and division L of Public Law 115–31 . (11) The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017 (division J of Public Law 115–31 ). (12) The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division K of Public Law 115–31 ), except sections 420 and 421. (13) The Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (division B of Public Law 114–254 ). (b) The rate for operations provided by subsection (a) is hereby reduced by 0.6791 percent. 102. (a) No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be used for: (1) the new production of items not funded for production in fiscal year 2017 or prior years; (2) the increase in production rates above those sustained with fiscal year 2017 funds; or (3) the initiation, resumption, or continuation of any project, activity, operation, or organization (defined as any project, subproject, activity, budget activity, program element, and subprogram within a program element, and for any investment items defined as a P–1 line item in a budget activity within an appropriation account and an R–1 line item that includes a program element and subprogram element within an appropriation account) for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during fiscal year 2017. (b) No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be used to initiate multi-year procurements utilizing advance procurement funding for economic order quantity procurement unless specifically appropriated later. 103. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided by the pertinent appropriations Act. 104. Except as otherwise provided in section 102, no appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to initiate or resume any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during fiscal year 2017. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant to this Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures incurred for any project or activity during the period for which funds or authority for such project or activity are available under this Act. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this Act or in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2018, appropriations and funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this Act shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs: (1) the enactment into law of an appropriation for any project or activity provided for in this Act; (2) the enactment into law of the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2018 without any provision for such project or activity; or (3) December 8, 2017. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this Act shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is contained is enacted into law. 108. Appropriations made and funds made available by or authority granted pursuant to this Act may be used without regard to the time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United States Code, but nothing in this Act may be construed to waive any other provision of law governing the apportionment of funds. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, except section 106, for those programs that would otherwise have high initial rates of operation or complete distribution of appropriations at the beginning of fiscal year 2018 because of distributions of funding to States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, such high initial rates of operation or complete distribution shall not be made, and no grants shall be awarded for such programs funded by this Act that would impinge on final funding prerogatives. 110. This Act shall be implemented so that only the most limited funding action of that permitted in the Act shall be taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and activities. 111. (a) For entitlements and other mandatory payments whose budget authority was provided in appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2017, and for activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, activities shall be continued at the rate to maintain program levels under current law, under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017, to be continued through the date specified in section 106(3). (b) Notwithstanding section 106, obligations for mandatory payments due on or about the first day of any month that begins after October 2017 but not later than 30 days after the date specified in section 106(3) may continue to be made, and funds shall be available for such payments. 112. Amounts made available under section 101 for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department and agency may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid furloughs within such department or agency, consistent with the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017, except that such authority provided under this section shall not be used until after the department or agency has taken all necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related administrative expenses. 113. Funds appropriated by this Act may be obligated and expended notwithstanding section 10 of Public Law 91–672 ( 22 U.S.C. 2412 ), section 15 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 ( 22 U.S.C. 2680 ), section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 ( 22 U.S.C. 6212 ), and section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3094(a)(1) ). 114. (a) Each amount incorporated by reference in this Act that was previously designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or as being for disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act is designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of such Act or as being for disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act, respectively. (b) The reduction in section 101(b) of this Act shall not apply to— (1) amounts designated under subsection (a) of this section; (2) amounts made available by section 101(a) by reference to the second paragraph under the heading Social Security Administration—Limitation on Administrative Expenses in division H of Public Law 115–31 ; or (3) amounts made available by section 101(a) by reference to the paragraph under the heading Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account in division H of Public Law 115–31 . (c) Section 6 of Public Law 115–31 shall apply to amounts designated in subsection (a) for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement. 115. During the period covered by this Act, discretionary amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2018 that were provided in advance by appropriations Acts shall be available in the amounts provided in such Acts, reduced by the percentage in section 101(b). 116. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for Department of Agriculture—Domestic Food Programs—Food and Nutrition Service—Commodity Assistance Program at a rate for operations of $317,139,000, of which $238,120,000 shall be for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. 117. The final proviso in section 715 of division A of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied during the period covered by this Act by adding from amounts first made available for fiscal year 2018 after unobligated balances and as if the following were struck from such proviso: the carryover amounts authorized in the first proviso of this section for section 32 and . 118. Amounts made available by section 101 for Department of Commerce—Bureau of the Census—Periodic Censuses and Programs may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain the schedule and deliver the required data according to statutory deadlines in the 2020 Decennial Census Program. 119. Section 1215(f)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 ( Public Law 112–81 ; 10 U.S.C. 113 note), as most recently amended by section 1223 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 ( Public Law 114–328 ), shall be applied by substituting 2018 for 2017 through the earlier of the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act or the date of the enactment of an Act authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense. 120. (a) Funds made available by section 101 for Department of Energy—Energy Programs—Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid disruption of continuing projects or activities funded in this appropriation. (b) The Secretary of Energy shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later than 3 days after each use of the authority provided in subsection (a). 121. Section 104(c) of the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 ( 43 U.S.C. 2214(c) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) for September 30, 2017 . 122. (a) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso under the heading Power Marketing Administrations—Operation and Maintenance, Southeastern Power Administration in division D of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $51,000,000 for $60,760,000 . (b) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso under the heading Power Marketing Administrations—Operation and Maintenance, Southwestern Power Administration in division D of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $10,000,000 for $73,000,000 . (c) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso under the heading Power Marketing Administrations—Construction, Rehabilitation, Operation and Maintenance, Western Area Power Administration in division D of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $179,000,000 for $367,009,000 . 123. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, except section 106, the District of Columbia may expend local funds under the heading District of Columbia Funds for such programs and activities under the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2017 (title IV of division E of Public Law 115–31 ) at the rate set forth under Part A—Summary of Expenses as included in the Fiscal Year 2018 Local Budget Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22–99), as modified as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 124. (a) Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for General Services Administration—Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents to carry out the provisions of the Act of August 25, 1958 ( 3 U.S.C. 102 note), at a rate for operations of $4,754,000. (b) Notwithstanding section 101, no funds are provided by this Act for General Services Administration—Expenses, Presidential Transition and Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President—Presidential Transition Administrative Support . (c) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading District of Columbia—Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia in division E of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $14,900,000 for $34,895,000 and the first proviso under that heading shall not apply during the period covered by this Act. (d) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading National Archives and Records Administration—Operating Expenses in division E of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $375,784,000 for $380,634,000 . (e) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading Department of the Interior—National Park Service—Operation of the National Park System in division G of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $2,420,818,000 for $2,425,018,000 . 125. Amounts made available by section 101 for Department of Homeland Security—Office of the Secretary and Executive Management—Operations and Support , Department of Homeland Security—Management Directorate—Operations and Support , and Department of Homeland Security—Intelligence, Analysis, and Operations Coordination—Operations and Support may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to carry out activities previously funded under Department of Homeland Security—Working Capital Fund , consistent with the fiscal year 2018 President's Budget. 126. Amounts made available by section 101 for U.S. Customs and Border Protection—Operations and Support , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—Operations and Support , Transportation Security Administration—Operations and Support , and United States Secret Service—Operations and Support accounts of the Department of Homeland Security may be apportioned at a rate for operations necessary to maintain not less than the number of staff achieved on September 30, 2017. 127. The authority provided by section 831 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 391 ) shall continue in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act. 128. Section 404 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–281 ; 124 Stat. 2950), as amended, shall be applied in subsection (b) by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) for September 30, 2017 . 129. Amounts made available by section 101 for Department of Homeland Security—Federal Emergency Management Agency—Disaster Relief Fund may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to carry out response and recovery activities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 130. Sections 1309(a) and 1319 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4016(a) and 4026) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for September 30, 2017 . 131. Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act ( 16 U.S.C. 6809 ) is amended by striking September 30, 2018 and inserting September 30, 2019 . 132. The authority provided by subsection (m)(3) of section 8162 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 ( 40 U.S.C. 8903 note; Public Law 106–79 ) shall continue in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act. 133. In addition to the amounts otherwise provided by section 101, an additional amount is provided for Environmental Protection Agency—Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program Account for administrative expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, notwithstanding section 5033 of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, at a rate for operations of $3,000,000. 134. (a) The following sections of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act shall continue in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution— (1) subparagraphs (C) through (E) of section 4(i)(1) ( 7 U.S.C. 136a–1(i)(1)(C) –(E)); (2) section 4(k)(3) ( 7 U.S.C. 136a–1(k)(3) ); (3) section 4(k)(4) ( 7 U.S.C. 136a-1(k)(4) ); and (4) section 33(c)(3)(B) ( 7 U.S.C. 136w–8(c)(3)(B) ). (b) (1) Section 4(i)(1)(I) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( 7 U.S.C. 136a–1(i)(1)(I) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for September 30, 2017 . (2) Notwithstanding section 33(m)(2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( 7 U.S.C. 136w–8(m)(2) ), section 33(m)(1) of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 136w–8(m)(1) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for September 30, 2017 . (c) Section 408(m)(3) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 346a(m)(3) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for September 30, 2017 . 135. Section 114(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1011c(f) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for September 30, 2017 . 136. The second proviso under the heading Department of Health and Human Services—Administration for Children and Families—Children and Families Services Programs in title II of division H of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied during the period covered by this Act as if the following were struck from such proviso: , of which $80,000,000 shall be available for a cost of living adjustment notwithstanding section 640(a)(3)(A) of such Act . 137. The proviso at the end of paragraph (1) under the heading Department of Labor—Employment and Training Administration—State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations in title I of division G of Public Law 113–235 shall be applied through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act by substituting seven for six . 138. In making Federal financial assistance, the National Institutes of Health shall continue through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act to apply the provisions relating to indirect costs in part 75 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, including with respect to the approval of deviations from negotiated rates, to the same extent and in the same manner as the National Institutes of Health applied such provisions in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be used to develop or implement a modified approach to such provisions, or to intentionally or substantially expand the fiscal effect of the approval of such deviations from negotiated rates beyond the proportional effect of such approvals in such quarter. 139. (a) Section 529 of division H of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting prior to the beginning of fiscal year 2018 under section 2104(n)(2) for from the appropriation to the Fund for the first semiannual allotment period for fiscal year 2017 under section 2104(n)(2)(A)(ii) ; and (b) section 532 of division H of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting 2,652,000,000 for 1,132,000,000 . 140. Notwithstanding 2 U.S.C. 4577 , amounts made available by section 101 for Legislative Branch—Senate—Salaries, Officers and Employees—Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain current Senate cybersecurity capabilities. 141. (a) The remaining unobligated balances of funds made available under the heading Department of Veterans Affairs—Departmental Administration—Construction, Major Projects in division A of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 and Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 ( Public Law 113–2 ) are hereby rescinded: Provided , That the amounts rescinded pursuant to this section that were previously designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to that section of that Act. (b) In addition to the amount otherwise provided by section 101 for Department of Veterans Affairs—Departmental Administration—Construction, Major Projects , there is appropriated for an additional amount for fiscal year 2017, to remain available until September 30, 2022, an amount equal to the unobligated balances rescinded pursuant to subsection (a), for renovations and repairs as a consequence of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy: Provided , That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and design and major medical facility construction not otherwise authorized by law: Provided further , That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. (c) Each amount designated in this section by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available (or rescinded, if applicable) only if the President subsequently so designates all such amounts and transmits such designations to the Congress. (d) This section shall become effective immediately upon enactment of this Act. 142. Sections 579(a)(1) and (b) of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f note) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) for October 1, 2017 . This division may be cited as the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 .

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.

tv_txt: 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.R. 601 In the Senate of the United States, September 7, 2017. Senate Amendment to House Amendment to Senate Amendment:

That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 601) entitled An Act to enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate duplication and waste, and for other purposes. , do pass with the following In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted, insert the following: “(C) there is the greatest opportunity to reduce childhood and adolescence exposure to or engagement in violent extremism or extremist ideologies.”. B Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units of Government for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes, namely: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal emergency management agency DISASTER RELIEF FUND For an additional amount for Disaster Relief Fund for major disasters declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), $7,400,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided further , That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further , That the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Disaster loans program account (including transfer of funds) For an additional amount for the Disaster Loans Program Account for the cost of direct loans authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act, $450,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided , That up to $225,000,000 may be transferred to and merged with Salaries and Expenses for administrative expenses to carry out the disaster loan program authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act: Provided further , That none of the funds provided under this heading may be used for indirect administrative expenses: Provided further , That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further , That the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Community planning and development COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS) For an additional amount for Community Development Fund , $7,400,000,000, to remain available until expended, for necessary expenses for activities authorized under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared in 2017 pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.): Provided , That funds shall be awarded directly to the State or unit of general local government at the discretion of the Secretary: Provided further , That as a condition of making any grant, the Secretary shall certify in advance that such grantee has in place proficient financial controls and procurement processes and has established adequate procedures to prevent any duplication of benefits as defined by section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5155 ), to ensure timely expenditure of funds, to maintain comprehensive websites regarding all disaster recovery activities assisted with these funds, and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds: Provided further , That prior to the obligation of funds a grantee shall submit a plan to the Secretary for approval detailing the proposed use of all funds, including criteria for eligibility and how the use of these funds will address long-term recovery and restoration of infrastructure and housing and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas: Provided further , That such funds may not be used for activities reimbursable by, or for which funds are made available by, the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Army Corps of Engineers: Provided further , That funds allocated under this heading shall not be considered relevant to the non-disaster formula allocations made pursuant to section 106 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5306 ): Provided further , That a State or subdivision thereof may use up to 5 percent of its allocation for administrative costs: Provided further, That in administering the funds under this heading, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with the obligation by the Secretary or the use by the recipient of these funds (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment), if the Secretary finds that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative requirement and such waiver or alternative requirement would not be inconsistent with the overall purpose of title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974: Provided further , That, notwithstanding the preceding proviso, recipients of funds provided under this heading that use such funds to supplement Federal assistance provided under section 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, or 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) may adopt, without review or public comment, any environmental review, approval, or permit performed by a Federal agency, and such adoption shall satisfy the responsibilities of the recipient with respect to such environmental review, approval or permit: Provided further , That, notwithstanding section 104(g)(2) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2) ), the Secretary may, upon receipt of a request for release of funds and certification, immediately approve the release of funds for an activity or project assisted under this heading if the recipient has adopted an environmental review, approval or permit under the preceding proviso or the activity or project is categorically excluded from review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.): Provided further , That the Secretary shall publish via notice in the Federal Register any waiver, or alternative requirement, to any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers pursuant to title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 no later than 5 days before the effective date of such waiver or alternative requirement: Provided further , That of the amounts made available under this heading, up to $10,000,000 may be transferred, in aggregate, to Department of Housing and Urban Development—Program Office Salaries and Expenses—Community Planning and Development for necessary costs, including information technology costs, of administering and overseeing the obligation and expenditure of amounts under this heading: Provided further , That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further , That the amount designated under this heading as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. This division may be cited as the Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements, 2017 . C Temporary extension of public debt limit 101. (a) In general Section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code, shall not apply for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on December 8, 2017. (b) Special rule relating to obligations issued during extension period Effective on December 9, 2017, the limitation in effect under section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code, shall be increased to the extent that— (1) the face amount of obligations issued under chapter 31 of such title and the face amount of obligations whose principal and interest are guaranteed by the United States Government (except guaranteed obligations held by the Secretary of the Treasury) outstanding on December 9, 2017, exceeds (2) the face amount of such obligations outstanding on the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Restoring Congressional Authority over the national debt (1) Extension limited to necessary obligations An obligation shall not be taken into account under section 101(a) unless the issuance of such obligation was necessary to fund a commitment incurred pursuant to law by the Federal Government that required payment before December 9, 2017. (2) Prohibition on creation of cash reserve during extension period The Secretary of the Treasury shall not issue obligations during the period specified in section 101(a) for the purpose of increasing the cash balance above normal operating balances in anticipation of the expiration of such period. D Continuing appropriations act, 2018 The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units of Government for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes, namely: 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2017 and under the authority and conditions provided in such Acts, for continuing projects or activities (including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Act, that were conducted in fiscal year 2017, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in the following appropriations Acts: (1) The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division A of Public Law 115–31 ) and section 193 of Public Law 114–223 , as amended by division A of Public Law 114–254 . (2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division B of Public Law 115–31 ), except section 540. (3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (division C of Public Law 115–31 ). (4) The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division D of Public Law 115–31 ). (5) The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017 (division E of Public Law 115–31 ). (6) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2017 (division F of Public Law 115–31 ), except section 310. (7) The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division G of Public Law 115–31 ), except that the language under the heading FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund in the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior shall be applied by adding at the end the following: Provided further , That notwithstanding the first proviso under the heading and notwithstanding the FLAME Act of 2009, 43 U.S.C. 1748a(e) , such funds shall be available to be transferred to and merged with other appropriations accounts to fully repay amounts previously transferred for wildfire suppression . (8) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division H of Public Law 115–31 ) and sections 171, 194, and 195 of Public Law 114–223 , as amended by division A of Public Law 114–254 . (9) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2017 (division I of Public Law 115–31 ) and section 175 of Public Law 114–223 , as amended by division A of Public Law 114–254 . (10) The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division A of Public Law 114–223 ), except for appropriations for fiscal year 2017 in the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading Medical Community Care , and division L of Public Law 115–31 . (11) The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017 (division J of Public Law 115–31 ). (12) The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (division K of Public Law 115–31 ), except sections 420 and 421. (13) The Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (division B of Public Law 114–254 ). (b) The rate for operations provided by subsection (a) is hereby reduced by 0.6791 percent. 102. (a) No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be used for: (1) the new production of items not funded for production in fiscal year 2017 or prior years; (2) the increase in production rates above those sustained with fiscal year 2017 funds; or (3) the initiation, resumption, or continuation of any project, activity, operation, or organization (defined as any project, subproject, activity, budget activity, program element, and subprogram within a program element, and for any investment items defined as a P–1 line item in a budget activity within an appropriation account and an R–1 line item that includes a program element and subprogram element within an appropriation account) for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during fiscal year 2017. (b) No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be used to initiate multi-year procurements utilizing advance procurement funding for economic order quantity procurement unless specifically appropriated later. 103. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided by the pertinent appropriations Act. 104. Except as otherwise provided in section 102, no appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to initiate or resume any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during fiscal year 2017. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant to this Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures incurred for any project or activity during the period for which funds or authority for such project or activity are available under this Act. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this Act or in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2018, appropriations and funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this Act shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs: (1) the enactment into law of an appropriation for any project or activity provided for in this Act; (2) the enactment into law of the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2018 without any provision for such project or activity; or (3) December 8, 2017. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this Act shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is contained is enacted into law. 108. Appropriations made and funds made available by or authority granted pursuant to this Act may be used without regard to the time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United States Code, but nothing in this Act may be construed to waive any other provision of law governing the apportionment of funds. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, except section 106, for those programs that would otherwise have high initial rates of operation or complete distribution of appropriations at the beginning of fiscal year 2018 because of distributions of funding to States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, such high initial rates of operation or complete distribution shall not be made, and no grants shall be awarded for such programs funded by this Act that would impinge on final funding prerogatives. 110. This Act shall be implemented so that only the most limited funding action of that permitted in the Act shall be taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and activities. 111. (a) For entitlements and other mandatory payments whose budget authority was provided in appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2017, and for activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, activities shall be continued at the rate to maintain program levels under current law, under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017, to be continued through the date specified in section 106(3). (b) Notwithstanding section 106, obligations for mandatory payments due on or about the first day of any month that begins after October 2017 but not later than 30 days after the date specified in section 106(3) may continue to be made, and funds shall be available for such payments. 112. Amounts made available under section 101 for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department and agency may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid furloughs within such department or agency, consistent with the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017, except that such authority provided under this section shall not be used until after the department or agency has taken all necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related administrative expenses. 113. Funds appropriated by this Act may be obligated and expended notwithstanding section 10 of Public Law 91–672 ( 22 U.S.C. 2412 ), section 15 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 ( 22 U.S.C. 2680 ), section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 ( 22 U.S.C. 6212 ), and section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3094(a)(1) ). 114. (a) Each amount incorporated by reference in this Act that was previously designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or as being for disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act is designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of such Act or as being for disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act, respectively. (b) The reduction in section 101(b) of this Act shall not apply to— (1) amounts designated under subsection (a) of this section; (2) amounts made available by section 101(a) by reference to the second paragraph under the heading Social Security Administration—Limitation on Administrative Expenses in division H of Public Law 115–31 ; or (3) amounts made available by section 101(a) by reference to the paragraph under the heading Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account in division H of Public Law 115–31 . (c) Section 6 of Public Law 115–31 shall apply to amounts designated in subsection (a) for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement. 115. During the period covered by this Act, discretionary amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2018 that were provided in advance by appropriations Acts shall be available in the amounts provided in such Acts, reduced by the percentage in section 101(b). 116. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for Department of Agriculture—Domestic Food Programs—Food and Nutrition Service—Commodity Assistance Program at a rate for operations of $317,139,000, of which $238,120,000 shall be for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. 117. The final proviso in section 715 of division A of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied during the period covered by this Act by adding from amounts first made available for fiscal year 2018 after unobligated balances and as if the following were struck from such proviso: the carryover amounts authorized in the first proviso of this section for section 32 and . 118. Amounts made available by section 101 for Department of Commerce—Bureau of the Census—Periodic Censuses and Programs may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain the schedule and deliver the required data according to statutory deadlines in the 2020 Decennial Census Program. 119. Section 1215(f)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 ( Public Law 112–81 ; 10 U.S.C. 113 note), as most recently amended by section 1223 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 ( Public Law 114–328 ), shall be applied by substituting 2018 for 2017 through the earlier of the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act or the date of the enactment of an Act authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense. 120. (a) Funds made available by section 101 for Department of Energy—Energy Programs—Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid disruption of continuing projects or activities funded in this appropriation. (b) The Secretary of Energy shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later than 3 days after each use of the authority provided in subsection (a). 121. Section 104(c) of the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 ( 43 U.S.C. 2214(c) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) for September 30, 2017 . 122. (a) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso under the heading Power Marketing Administrations—Operation and Maintenance, Southeastern Power Administration in division D of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $51,000,000 for $60,760,000 . (b) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso under the heading Power Marketing Administrations—Operation and Maintenance, Southwestern Power Administration in division D of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $10,000,000 for $73,000,000 . (c) Notwithstanding section 101, the third proviso under the heading Power Marketing Administrations—Construction, Rehabilitation, Operation and Maintenance, Western Area Power Administration in division D of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $179,000,000 for $367,009,000 . 123. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, except section 106, the District of Columbia may expend local funds under the heading District of Columbia Funds for such programs and activities under the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2017 (title IV of division E of Public Law 115–31 ) at the rate set forth under Part A—Summary of Expenses as included in the Fiscal Year 2018 Local Budget Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22–99), as modified as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 124. (a) Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for General Services Administration—Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents to carry out the provisions of the Act of August 25, 1958 ( 3 U.S.C. 102 note), at a rate for operations of $4,754,000. (b) Notwithstanding section 101, no funds are provided by this Act for General Services Administration—Expenses, Presidential Transition and Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President—Presidential Transition Administrative Support . (c) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading District of Columbia—Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia in division E of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $14,900,000 for $34,895,000 and the first proviso under that heading shall not apply during the period covered by this Act. (d) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading National Archives and Records Administration—Operating Expenses in division E of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $375,784,000 for $380,634,000 . (e) Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading Department of the Interior—National Park Service—Operation of the National Park System in division G of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting $2,420,818,000 for $2,425,018,000 . 125. Amounts made available by section 101 for Department of Homeland Security—Office of the Secretary and Executive Management—Operations and Support , Department of Homeland Security—Management Directorate—Operations and Support , and Department of Homeland Security—Intelligence, Analysis, and Operations Coordination—Operations and Support may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to carry out activities previously funded under Department of Homeland Security—Working Capital Fund , consistent with the fiscal year 2018 President's Budget. 126. Amounts made available by section 101 for U.S. Customs and Border Protection—Operations and Support , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—Operations and Support , Transportation Security Administration—Operations and Support , and United States Secret Service—Operations and Support accounts of the Department of Homeland Security may be apportioned at a rate for operations necessary to maintain not less than the number of staff achieved on September 30, 2017. 127. The authority provided by section 831 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 391 ) shall continue in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act. 128. Section 404 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–281 ; 124 Stat. 2950), as amended, shall be applied in subsection (b) by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) for September 30, 2017 . 129. Amounts made available by section 101 for Department of Homeland Security—Federal Emergency Management Agency—Disaster Relief Fund may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to carry out response and recovery activities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 130. Sections 1309(a) and 1319 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4016(a) and 4026) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for September 30, 2017 . 131. Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act ( 16 U.S.C. 6809 ) is amended by striking September 30, 2018 and inserting September 30, 2019 . 132. The authority provided by subsection (m)(3) of section 8162 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 ( 40 U.S.C. 8903 note; Public Law 106–79 ) shall continue in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act. 133. In addition to the amounts otherwise provided by section 101, an additional amount is provided for Environmental Protection Agency—Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program Account for administrative expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, notwithstanding section 5033 of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, at a rate for operations of $3,000,000. 134. (a) The following sections of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act shall continue in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution— (1) subparagraphs (C) through (E) of section 4(i)(1) ( 7 U.S.C. 136a–1(i)(1)(C) –(E)); (2) section 4(k)(3) ( 7 U.S.C. 136a–1(k)(3) ); (3) section 4(k)(4) ( 7 U.S.C. 136a-1(k)(4) ); and (4) section 33(c)(3)(B) ( 7 U.S.C. 136w–8(c)(3)(B) ). (b) (1) Section 4(i)(1)(I) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( 7 U.S.C. 136a–1(i)(1)(I) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for September 30, 2017 . (2) Notwithstanding section 33(m)(2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( 7 U.S.C. 136w–8(m)(2) ), section 33(m)(1) of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 136w–8(m)(1) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for September 30, 2017 . (c) Section 408(m)(3) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 346a(m)(3) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for September 30, 2017 . 135. Section 114(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1011c(f) ) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for September 30, 2017 . 136. The second proviso under the heading Department of Health and Human Services—Administration for Children and Families—Children and Families Services Programs in title II of division H of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied during the period covered by this Act as if the following were struck from such proviso: , of which $80,000,000 shall be available for a cost of living adjustment notwithstanding section 640(a)(3)(A) of such Act . 137. The proviso at the end of paragraph (1) under the heading Department of Labor—Employment and Training Administration—State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations in title I of division G of Public Law 113–235 shall be applied through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act by substituting seven for six . 138. In making Federal financial assistance, the National Institutes of Health shall continue through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act to apply the provisions relating to indirect costs in part 75 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, including with respect to the approval of deviations from negotiated rates, to the same extent and in the same manner as the National Institutes of Health applied such provisions in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be used to develop or implement a modified approach to such provisions, or to intentionally or substantially expand the fiscal effect of the approval of such deviations from negotiated rates beyond the proportional effect of such approvals in such quarter. 139. (a) Section 529 of division H of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting prior to the beginning of fiscal year 2018 under section 2104(n)(2) for from the appropriation to the Fund for the first semiannual allotment period for fiscal year 2017 under section 2104(n)(2)(A)(ii) ; and (b) section 532 of division H of Public Law 115–31 shall be applied by substituting 2,652,000,000 for 1,132,000,000 . 140. Notwithstanding 2 U.S.C. 4577 , amounts made available by section 101 for Legislative Branch—Senate—Salaries, Officers and Employees—Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain current Senate cybersecurity capabilities. 141. (a) The remaining unobligated balances of funds made available under the heading Department of Veterans Affairs—Departmental Administration—Construction, Major Projects in division A of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 and Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 ( Public Law 113–2 ) are hereby rescinded: Provided , That the amounts rescinded pursuant to this section that were previously designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to that section of that Act. (b) In addition to the amount otherwise provided by section 101 for Department of Veterans Affairs—Departmental Administration—Construction, Major Projects , there is appropriated for an additional amount for fiscal year 2017, to remain available until September 30, 2022, an amount equal to the unobligated balances rescinded pursuant to subsection (a), for renovations and repairs as a consequence of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy: Provided , That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and design and major medical facility construction not otherwise authorized by law: Provided further , That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. (c) Each amount designated in this section by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available (or rescinded, if applicable) only if the President subsequently so designates all such amounts and transmits such designations to the Congress. (d) This section shall become effective immediately upon enactment of this Act. 142. Sections 579(a)(1) and (b) of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f note) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) for October 1, 2017 . This division may be cited as the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 .

Secretary