Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016
PL 114-53 (H.R.719), enacted 09/30/2015

129 STAT. 502 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
Public Law 114–53 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To require the Transportation Security Administration to conform to existing Federal 
law and regulations regarding criminal investigator positions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘TSA Office of Inspection Account-
ability Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Consistent with Federal law and regulations, for law 
enforcement officers to qualify for premium pay as criminal 
investigators, the officers must, in general, spend on average 
at least 50 percent of their time investigating, apprehending, 
or detaining individuals suspected or convicted of offenses 
against the criminal laws of the United States. 
(2) According to the Inspector General of the Department 
of Homeland Security (DHS IG), the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) does not ensure that its cadre of criminal 
investigators in the Office of Inspection are meeting this 
requirement, even though they are considered law enforcement 
officers under TSA policy and receive premium pay. 
(3) Instead, TSA criminal investigators in the Office of 
Inspection primarily monitor the results of criminal investiga-
tions conducted by other agencies, investigate administrative 
cases of TSA employee misconduct, and carry out inspections, 
covert tests, and internal reviews, which the DHS IG asserts 
could be performed by employees other than criminal investiga-
tors at a lower cost. 
(4) The premium pay and other benefits afforded to TSA 
criminal investigators in the Office of Inspection who are incor-
rectly classified as such will cost the taxpayer as much as 
$17 million over 5 years if TSA fails to make any changes 
to the number of criminal investigators in the Office of Inspec-
tion, according to the DHS IG. 
(5) This may be a conservative estimate, as it accounts 
for the cost of Law Enforcement Availability Pay, but not 
the costs of law enforcement training, statutory early retire-
ment benefits, police vehicles, and weapons. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
TSA Office of 
Inspection 
Accountability 
Act of 2015. 
Continuing 
Appropriations 
Act, 2016. 
Sept. 30, 2015 
[H.R. 719] 
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129 STAT. 503 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
(1) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administration’’ means 
the Transportation Security Administration. 
(2) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assistant Secretary’’ 
means the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transpor-
tation Security) of the Department of Homeland Security. 
(3) INSPECTOR
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Inspector General’’ 
means the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland 
Security. 
SEC. 4. INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT. 
(a) AUDIT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Inspector General shall analyze the data 
and methods that the Assistant Secretary uses to identify Office 
of Inspection employees of the Administration who meet the require-
ments of sections 8331(20), 8401(17), and 5545a of title 5, United 
States Code, and provide the relevant findings to the Assistant 
Secretary, including a finding on whether the data and methods 
are adequate and valid. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON HIRING.—If the Inspector General finds 
that such data and methods are inadequate or invalid, the Adminis-
tration shall not hire any new employee to work in the Office 
of Inspection of the Administration until— 
(1) the Assistant Secretary makes a certification described 
in section 5 to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and 
(2) the Inspector General submits to such Committees a 
finding, not later than 30 days after the Assistant Secretary 
makes such certification, that the Assistant Secretary utilized 
adequate and valid data and methods to make such certifi-
cation. 
SEC. 5. TSA OFFICE OF INSPECTION WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION. 
(a) CERTIFICATION
TO CONGRESS.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall, by not later than 90 days after the date the Inspector General 
provides its findings to the Assistant Secretary under section 4(a), 
document and certify in writing to the Committee on Homeland 
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that only 
those Office of Inspection employees of the Administration who 
meet the requirements of sections 8331(20), 8401(17), and 5545a 
of title 5, United States Code, are classified as criminal investigators 
and are receiving premium pay and other benefits associated with 
such classification. 
(b) EMPLOYEE
RECLASSIFICATION.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall reclassify criminal investigator positions in the Office of 
Inspection as noncriminal investigator positions or non-law enforce-
ment positions if the individuals in those positions do not, or are 
not expected to, spend an average of at least 50 percent of their 
time performing criminal investigative duties. 
(c) PROJECTED COST SAVINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary shall estimate 
the total long-term cost savings to the Federal Government 
resulting from the implementation of subsection (b), and provide 
such estimate to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate by not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
Cost estimate. 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
Finding. 
Deadline. 
Certification. 
Deadline. 
Analysis. 
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129 STAT. 504 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
(2) CONTENTS.—Such estimate shall identify savings associ-
ated with the positions reclassified under subsection (b) and 
include, among other factors the Assistant Secretary considers 
appropriate, savings from— 
(A) law enforcement training; 
(B) early retirement benefits; 
(C) law enforcement availability and other premium 
pay; and 
(D) weapons, vehicles, and communications devices. 
SEC. 6. INVESTIGATION OF FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL SERVICE MIS-
CONDUCT. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, or as soon as practicable, the Assistant Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate— 
(1) materials in the possession or control of the Department 
of Homeland Security associated with the Office of Inspection’s 
review of instances in which Federal Air Marshal Service offi-
cials obtained discounted or free firearms for personal use; 
(2) information on specific actions that will be taken to 
prevent Federal Air Marshal Service officials from using their 
official positions, or exploiting, in any way, the Service’s rela-
tionships with private vendors to obtain discounted or free 
firearms for personal use; and 
(3) information on specific actions that will be taken to 
prevent the Federal Air Marshal Service from misusing Govern-
ment resources. 
SEC. 7. STUDY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date that the Assistant 
Secretary submits the certification to Congress under section 5(a), 
the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a study— 
(1) reviewing the employee requirements, responsibilities, 
and benefits of criminal investigators in the TSA Office of 
Inspection with criminal investigators employed at agencies 
adhering to the Office of Personnel Management employee 
classification system; and 
(2) identifying any inconsistencies and costs implications 
for differences between the varying employee requirements, 
responsibilities, and benefits. 
SEC. 8. INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL SERVICE 
PERSONNEL ISSUES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Inspector General shall submit to the Committee 
on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a study that— 
(1) reviews the Federal Air Marshal Service’s existing per-
sonnel policies and procedures for identifying misuse of Govern-
ment resources; and 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
Records. 
Deadline. 
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129 STAT. 505 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
(2) reviews the administration of the Federal Air Marshal 
Service’s existing code of conduct or integrity policies with 
respect to instances of misconduct. 
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 2016, and for other purposes, namely: 
SEC. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate 
for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations Acts 
for fiscal year 2015 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 2015, 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, 2015 
(division A of Public Law 113–235), except section 743 and 
title VIII. 
(2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2015 (division B of Public Law 113–235). 
(3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2015 
(division C of Public Law 113–235), except title X. 
(4) The Energy and Water Development and Related Agen-
cies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division D of Public Law 113– 
235). 
(5) The Financial Services and General Government Appro-
priations Act, 2015 (division E of Public Law 113–235). 
(6) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations 
Act, 2015 (Public Law 114–4). 
(7) The Department of the Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division F of Public 
Law 113–235). 
(8) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 
(division G of Public Law 113–235), except title VI. 
(9) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2015 (divi-
sion H of Public Law 113–235). 
(10) The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division I of Public 
Law 113–235). 
(11) The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and 
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2015 (division J of Public 
Law 113–235), except title IX. 
(12) The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division K of 
Public Law 113–235). 
(13) Section 11 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing 
Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113–235). 
(b) The rate for operations provided by subsection (a) is hereby 
reduced by 0.2108 percent. 
SEC. 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 2015 or prior years; (2) the 
increase in production rates above those sustained with fiscal year 
Rate reduction. 
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129 STAT. 506 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
2015 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 avail-
able during fiscal year 2015. 
(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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 104. Except as otherwise provided in section 102, no 
appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursu-
ant 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 2015. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this Act or in the 
applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2016, 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 2016 without 
any provision for such project or activity; or (3) December 11, 
2015. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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 appor-
tionments 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. 
SEC. 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 appropria-
tions at the beginning of fiscal year 2016 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. 
SEC. 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 activi-
ties. 
Expiration date. 
Contracts. 
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129 STAT. 507 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
SEC. 111. (a) For entitlements and other mandatory payments 
whose budget authority was provided in appropriations Acts for 
fiscal year 2015, 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 condi-
tions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 
2015, to be continued through the date specified in section 106(3). 
(b) Notwithstanding section 106, obligations for mandatory pay-
ments due on or about the first day of any month that begins 
after October 2015 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. 
SEC. 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 2015, 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. 
SEC. 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 Authori-
ties Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2680), section 313 of the Foreign Rela-
tions 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)). 
SEC. 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 pursuant to sec-
tion 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 
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; 
or 
(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 G of Public Law 113–235; 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 G of Public Law 113–235. 
(c) Section 6 of Public Law 113–235 shall apply to amounts 
designated in subsection (a) for Overseas Contingency Operations/ 
Global War on Terrorism. 
SEC. 115. During the period covered by this Act, discretionary 
amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2016 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). 
SEC. 116. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided 
for ‘‘Department of Agriculture—Domestic Food Programs—Food 
Applicability. 
Terrorism. 
Disaster 
assistance. 
Furloughs. 
Deadline. 
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129 STAT. 508 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
and Nutrition Service—Commodity Assistance Program’’ at a rate 
for operations of $288,317,000, of which $221,298,000 shall be for 
the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. 
SEC. 117. Amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Depart-
ment of Agriculture—Rural Housing Service—Rental Assistance 
Program’’ may be apportioned up to the rate for operations nec-
essary to pay ongoing debt service for the multi-family direct loan 
programs under sections 514 and 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 
(42 U.S.C. 1484 and 1485): Provided, That the Secretary may waive 
the prohibition in the second proviso under such heading in division 
A of Public Law 113–235 with respect to rental assistance contracts 
entered into or renewed during fiscal year 2015. 
SEC. 118. Amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Depart-
ment of Commerce—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion—Procurement, Acquisition and Construction’’ may be appor-
tioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain the 
planned launch schedules for the Joint Polar Satellite System. 
SEC. 119. (a) The first proviso under the heading ‘‘United States 
Marshals Service—Federal Prisoner Detention’’ in title II of division 
B of Public Law 113–235 shall not apply during the period covered 
by this Act. 
(b) The limitation in section 217(c) of division B of Public 
Law 113–235 on the amount of excess unobligated balances avail-
able under section 524(c)(8)(E) of title 28, United States Code, 
shall not apply under this Act to the use of such funds for ‘‘United 
States Marshals Service—Federal Prisoner Detention’’. 
SEC. 120. (a) The authority regarding closeout of Space Shuttle 
contracts and associated programs provided by language under 
the heading ‘‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration— 
Administrative Provisions’’ in the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 
2009 (Public Law 111–8) shall continue in effect through fiscal 
year 2021. 
(b) This section shall be applied as if it were in effect on 
September 30, 2015. 
SEC. 121. (a) Notwithstanding section 1552 of title 31, United 
States Code, funds made available, including funds that have 
expired but have not been cancelled, and identified by Treasury 
Appropriation Fund Symbol 13–09/10–0554 shall remain available 
for expenditure through fiscal year 2020 for the purpose of liqui-
dating valid obligations of active grants. 
(b) For the purpose of subsection (a), grants for which the 
period of performance has expired but are not finally closed out 
shall be considered active grants. 
(c) This section shall be applied as if it were in effect on 
September 30, 2015. 
SEC. 122. The following provisions shall be applied by sub-
stituting ‘‘2016’’ for ‘‘2015’’ 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 2016 for military 
activities of the Department of Defense: 
(1) 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 1237 of the Carl 
Levin and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291). 
(2) Section 127b(c)(3)(C) of title 10, United States Code. 
Applicability. 
Applicability. 
Effective date. 
Grants. 
Applicability. 
Effective date. 
Contracts. 
Extension date. 
Time period. 
Waiver authority. 
Contracts. 
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129 STAT. 509 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
SEC. 123. (a) Funds made available by section 101 for ‘‘Depart-
ment of Energy—Energy Programs—Uranium Enrichment Decon-
tamination 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). 
SEC. 124. 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, 
2015 (title IV of division E of Public Law 113–235) at the rate 
set forth under ‘‘District of Columbia Funds—Summary of 
Expenses’’ as included in the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request 
Act of 2015 (D.C. Act 21–99), as modified as of the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 125. Notwithstanding section 101, no funds are provided 
by this Act for ‘‘Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board— 
Salaries and Expenses’’. 
SEC. 126. Amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Small 
Business Administration—Business Loans Program Account’’ may 
be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to accommo-
date increased demand for commitments for general business loans 
authorized under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
636(a)). 
SEC. 127. Sections 1101(a) and 1104(a)(2)(A) of the Internet 
Tax Freedom Act (title XI of division C of Public Law 105–277; 
47 U.S.C. 151 note) shall be applied by substituting the date speci-
fied in section 106(3) of this Act for ‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 
SEC. 128. Section 101 shall be applied by assuming that section 
7 of Public Law 113–235 was enacted as part of title VII of division 
E of Public Law 113–235. 
SEC. 129. The authority provided by section 831 of the Home-
land Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391) shall continue in effect 
through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act. 
SEC. 130. Section 401(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform 
and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) 
shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) 
of this Act for ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 
SEC. 131. Section 610(b) of the Departments of Commerce, 
Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropria-
tions Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) shall be applied by substituting 
the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for ‘‘September 
30, 2015’’. 
SEC. 132. Subclauses 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II) and (III) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II) and 
(III)) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in section 
106(3) of this Act for ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 
SEC. 133. Section 220(c) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Technical Corrections Act of 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note) shall be 
applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this 
Act for ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 
SEC. 134. Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhance-
ment Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) is amended by striking all that follows 
after ‘‘shall terminate’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017.’’. 
Applicability. 
Extension date. 
Applicability. 
Extension date. 
Applicability. 
Extension date. 
Applicability. 
Extension date. 
Extension date. 
Applicability. 
Applicability. 
Extension date. 
Notification. 
Deadline. 
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129 STAT. 510 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
SEC. 135. In addition to the amount otherwise provided by 
section 101 for ‘‘Department of Agriculture—Forest Service— 
Wildland Fire Management’’, there is appropriated $700,000,000 
for an additional amount for fiscal year 2016, to remain available 
until expended, for urgent wildland fire suppression activities: Pro-
vided, That such funds shall only become available if funds pre-
viously provided for wildland fire suppression will be exhausted 
imminently and the Secretary of Agriculture notifies the Commit-
tees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate in writing of the need for these additional funds: Provided 
further, That such funds are also available for transfer to other 
appropriations accounts to repay amounts previously transferred 
for wildfire suppression: Provided further, That such amount is 
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, except that such amount shall be 
available only if the President subsequently so designates such 
amount and transmits such designation to the Congress. 
SEC. 136. The authorities provided by sections 117 and 123 
of division G of Public Law 113–76 shall continue in effect through 
the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act. 
SEC. 137. (a) 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. 
(b) For the period covered by this Act, the authority provided 
by the provisos under the heading ‘‘Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial 
Commission—Capital Construction’’ in division E of Public Law 
112–74 shall not be in effect. 
SEC. 138. Section 3096(2) of the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2015 is amended by inserting ‘‘for fiscal year 2015’’ after 
‘‘$37,000,000’’. 
SEC. 139. Funds made available in prior appropriations Acts 
for construction and renovation of facilities for the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention may also be used for construction 
on leased land. 
SEC. 140. Subsection (b) of section 163 of Public Law 111– 
242, as amended, is further amended by striking ‘‘2015–2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2016–2017’’. 
SEC. 141. Section 101 shall be applied by assuming that section 
139 of Public Law 113–164 was enacted as part of division G 
of Public Law 113–235, and section 139 of Public Law 113–164 
shall be applied by adding at the end the following: ‘‘and of the 
unobligated balance of amounts deposited or available in the Child 
Enrollment Contingency Fund from appropriations to the Fund 
under section 2104(n)(2)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act and the 
income derived from investment of those funds pursuant to 
2104(n)(2)(C) of that Act, $1,664,000,000 is rescinded’’. 
SEC. 142. Section 114(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1011c(f)) shall be applied by substituting the date speci-
fied in section 106(3) of this Act for ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 
SEC. 143. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
there is appropriated for payment to Tori B. Nunnelee, widow 
of Alan Nunnelee, late a Representative from the State of Mis-
sissippi, $174,000. 
Applicability. 
Extension date. 
Applicability. 
20 USC 7801 
note. 
128 Stat. 3882. 
Time period. 
Extension date. 
Extension date. 
President. 
Designation. 
Wildland fires. 
Notification. 
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129 STAT. 511 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
SEC. 144. Of the discretionary unobligated balances of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs from fiscal year 2015 or prior 
fiscal years, or discretionary amounts appropriated in advance for 
fiscal year 2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may transfer 
up to $625,000,000 to ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs—Depart-
mental Administration—Construction, Major Projects’’, to be merged 
with the amounts available in such account: Provided, That no 
amounts may be transferred from amounts that were designated 
by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to the 
Concurrent Resolution on the Budget, the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, or the Statutory Pay-As- 
You-Go Act of 2010: Provided further, That no amounts may be 
transferred until the Secretary submits to the Committees on Appro-
priations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a request 
for, and receives from the Committees written approval of, such 
transfers: Provided further, That the Secretary shall specify in 
such request the donor account and amount of each proposed 
transfer, the fiscal year of each appropriation to be transferred, 
the amount of unobligated balances remaining in the account after 
the transfer, and the project or program impact of the transfer. 
SEC. 145. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided 
for ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs—Departmental Administra-
tion—General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administra-
tion’’ at a rate for operations of $2,697,734,000. 
SEC. 146. Notwithstanding section 101, section 226(a) of division 
I of Public Law 113–235 shall be applied to amounts made available 
by this Act by substituting ‘‘division I of Public Law 113–235’’ 
for ‘‘division J of Public Law 113–76’’ and by substituting ‘‘2015’’ 
for ‘‘2014’’. 
SEC. 147. Section 209 of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6436) shall be applied by substituting the 
date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for ‘‘September 30, 
2015’’. 
SEC. 148. Amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Broad-
casting Board of Governors—International Broadcasting Oper-
ations’’, ‘‘Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the 
President—Economic Support Fund’’, ‘‘International Security Assist-
ance—Department of State—International Narcotics Control and 
Law Enforcement’’, ‘‘International Security Assistance—Department 
of State—Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related 
Programs’’, and ‘‘International Security Assistance—Funds Appro-
priated to the President—Foreign Military Financing Program’’ 
shall be obligated at a rate for operations as necessary to sustain 
assistance for Ukraine to counter external, regional aggression and 
influence, including for the costs of authorized loan guarantees. 
SEC. 149. Section 1334 of the Foreign Affairs Reform and 
Restructuring Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6553) shall be applied by 
substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for 
‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 
SEC. 150. (a) Funds made available by section 101 for ‘‘Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development—Management and 
Administration—Administrative Support Offices’’ may be appor-
tioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain the 
planned schedule for the New Core Shared Services Project. 
(b) Not later than 3 days before the first use of the apportion-
ment authority in subsection (a), each 30 days thereafter, and 
3 days after the authority expires under this Act, the Secretary 
Deadline. 
Applicability. 
Applicability. 
Extension date. 
Transfer request. 
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129 STAT. 512 
PUBLIC LAW 114–53—SEPT. 30, 2015 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 719: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 114–111 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 
Feb. 10, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 17, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Sept. 24, House concurred in Senate amendment with an amendment pursu-
ant to H. Res. 434. Senate considered concurring in House amendment with 
an amendment. 
Sept. 28, 29, Senate considered concurring in House amendment with an 
amendment. 
Sept. 30, Senate considered and concurred in House amendment with an 
amendment. House concurred in Senate amendment. 
of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the Committees 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
a report specifying each use of the authority through the date 
of the report. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Continuing Appropriations Act, 
2016’’. 
Approved September 30, 2015. 
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