Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015
PL 113-164 (H.J.Res.124), enacted 09/19/2014

[113th Congress Public Law 164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 128 STAT. 1867]]

Public Law 113-164
113th Congress

                            Joint Resolution


 
  Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2015, and for other 
         purposes. <<NOTE: Sept. 19, 2014 -  [H.J. Res. 124]>> 

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Continuing 
Appropriations Resolution, 2015.>>  That 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 2015, 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 2014 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 joint resolution, that were conducted in fiscal year 2014, 
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, 2014 
        (division A of Public Law 113-76).
            (2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies 
        Appropriations Act, 2014 (division B of Public Law 113-76).
            (3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014 
        (division C of Public Law 113-76).
            (4) The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies 
        Appropriations Act, 2014 (division D of Public Law 113-76).
            (5) The Financial Services and General Government 
        Appropriations Act, 2014 (division E of Public Law 113-76).
            (6) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 
        2014 (division F of Public Law 113-76).
            (7) The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related 
        Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 (division G of Public Law 113-
        76).
            (8) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
        Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 
        (division H of Public Law 113-76).
            (9) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2014 
        (division I of Public Law 113-76).
            (10) The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and 
        Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 (division J of Public 
        Law 113-76).

[[Page 128 STAT. 1868]]

            (11) The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and 
        Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2014 (division K of Public 
        Law 113-76).
            (12) The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and 
        Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 (division L of Public 
        Law 113-76).

    (b) <<NOTE: Rate reduction.>>  The rate for operations provided by 
subsection (a) is hereby reduced by 0.0554 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 2014 or prior years; (2) the increase in production rates 
above those sustained with fiscal year 2014 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 2014.
    (b) <<NOTE: Contracts.>>  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 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 2014.
    Sec. 105.  Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant to 
this joint resolution 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 joint 
resolution.
    Sec. 106. <<NOTE: Expiration date.>>   Unless otherwise provided for 
in this joint resolution or in the applicable appropriations Act for 
fiscal year 2015, appropriations and funds made available and authority 
granted pursuant to this joint resolution 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 joint 
resolution; (2) the enactment into law of the applicable appropriations 
Act for fiscal year 2015 without any provision for such project or 
activity; or (3) December 11, 2014.

    Sec. 107.  Expenditures made pursuant to this joint resolution 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 joint resolution may be used without 
regard to the time limitations for submission and approval of 
apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United

[[Page 128 STAT. 1869]]

States Code, but nothing in this joint resolution may be construed to 
waive any other provision of law governing the apportionment of funds.
    Sec. 109.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint 
resolution, 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 2015 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 joint resolution that would impinge on final funding 
prerogatives.
    Sec. 110.  This joint resolution shall be implemented so that only 
the most limited funding action of that permitted in the joint 
resolution shall be taken in order to provide for continuation of 
projects and activities.
    Sec. 111. <<NOTE: Extension.>> (a) For entitlements and other 
mandatory payments whose budget authority was provided in appropriations 
Acts for fiscal year 2014, 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 
2014, to be continued through the date specified in section 106(3).

    (b) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  Notwithstanding section 106, obligations 
for mandatory payments due on or about the first day of any month that 
begins after October 2014 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. <<NOTE: Furloughs.>>   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 2014, 
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 joint resolution 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)).
    Sec. 114. (a) Each amount incorporated by reference in this joint 
resolution that was previously designated by the Congress for Overseas 
Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism 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 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 joint resolution shall 
not apply to--
            (1) amounts designated under subsection (a) of this section; 
        or

[[Page 128 STAT. 1870]]

            (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 113-76.

    (c) <<NOTE: Applicability.>>  Section 6 of Public Law 113-76 shall 
apply to amounts designated in subsection (a) for Overseas Contingency 
Operations/Global War on Terrorism.

    Sec. 115.  During the period covered by this joint resolution, 
discretionary amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2015 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 and Nutrition 
Service--Commodity Assistance Program'' at a rate for operations of 
$275,701,000, of which $208,682,000 shall be for the Commodity 
Supplemental Food Program.
    Sec. 117.  For ``Department of Health and Human Services--Food and 
Drug Administration--Salaries and Expenses'', amounts shall be made 
available by this joint resolution as if ``outsourcing facility fees 
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-62,'' were included after ``21 U.S.C. 
381,'' in the second paragraph under such heading in division A of 
Public Law 113-76.
    Sec. 118.  Amounts made available by section 101 for ``Department of 
Commerce--National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Procurement, 
Acquisition and Construction'' may be apportioned up to the rate for 
operations necessary to maintain the planned launch schedules for the 
Joint Polar Satellite System and the Geostationary Operational 
Environmental Satellite system.
    Sec. 119.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except 
sections 106 and 107 of this joint resolution, for ``Department of 
Defense--Overseas Contingency Operations--Operation and Maintenance--
Operation and Maintenance, Army'', up to $50,000,000, to be derived by 
reducing the amount otherwise made available by section 101 for such 
account, may be used to conduct surface and subsurface clearance of 
unexploded ordnance at closed training ranges used by the Armed Forces 
of the United States in Afghanistan: Provided, <<NOTE: Afghanistan.>>  
That such funds may only be used if the training ranges are not 
transferred to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for use by its armed 
forces: <<NOTE: Extension.>>  Provided further, That the authority 
provided by this section shall continue in effect through the earlier of 
the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution or the 
date of the enactment of an Act authorizing appropriations for fiscal 
year 2015 for military activities of the Department of Defense: Provided 
further, That such amount is designated as provided under section 114 
for such account.

    Sec. 120. <<NOTE: Extension.>>   The following authorities shall 
continue in effect through the earlier of the date specified in section 
106(3) of this joint resolution or the date of the enactment of an Act 
authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2015 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense:
            (1) Section 1004 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
        for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 374 note).
            (2) Section 1215 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
        for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

[[Page 128 STAT. 1871]]

            (3) Section 127b of title 10, United States Code, 
        notwithstanding subsection (c)(3)(C) of such section.
            (4) Subsection (b) of section 572 of the National Defense 
        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (20 U.S.C. 7703b(b)), 
        notwithstanding paragraph (4) of such subsection.

    Sec. 121. (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) <<NOTE: Notification. Deadline.>>  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. 122. (a) Funds made available by section 101 for ``Department 
of Energy--Environmental and Other Defense Activities--Defense 
Environmental Cleanup'' for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant may be 
obligated at a rate for operations necessary to assure timely execution 
of activities necessary to restore and upgrade the repository.
    (b) <<NOTE: Notification.>>  The Secretary of Energy shall notify 
the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate on each use of the spending rate authority provided in this 
section that exceeds customary apportionment allocations.

    Sec. 123.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint 
resolution, except section 106, the District of Columbia may expend 
local funds under the heading ``District of Columbia Funds'' for such 
programs and activities under title IV of H.R. 5016 (113th Congress), as 
passed by the House of Representatives on July 16, 2014, at the rate set 
forth under ``District of Columbia Funds--Summary of Expenses'' as 
included in the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request Act of 2014 (D.C. Act 
20-370), as modified as of the date of the enactment of this joint 
resolution.
    Sec. 124.  Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for 
``Office of Special Counsel--Salaries and Expenses'' at a rate for 
operations of $22,939,000.
    Sec. 125.  The third proviso under the heading ``Small Business 
Administration--Business Loans Program Account'' in division E of Public 
Law 113-76 <<NOTE: Ante, p. 223.>>  is amended by striking 
``$17,500,000,000'' and inserting ``$18,500,000,000'': Provided, That 
amounts made available by section 101 for such proviso under such 
heading may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to 
accommodate increased demand for commitments to general business loans 
under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act: <<NOTE: Effective date.>>  
Provided further, That this section shall become effective upon 
enactment of this joint resolution.

    Sec. 126. <<NOTE: Applicability.>>   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 specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for 
``November 1, 2014''.

    Sec. 127. <<NOTE: Applicability.>>   Section 550(b) of Public Law 
109-295 (6 U.S.C. 121 note) shall be applied by substituting the date 
specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for ``October 4, 
2014''.

    Sec. 128. <<NOTE: Extension.>>   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 joint 
resolution.

[[Page 128 STAT. 1872]]

    Sec. 129. (a) Amounts made available by section 101 for the 
Department of Homeland Security for ``U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection--Salaries and Expenses'', ``U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection--Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology'', 
``U.S. Customs and Border Protection--Air and Marine Operations'', 
``U.S. Customs and Border Protection--Construction and Facilities 
Management'', and ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Salaries 
and Expenses'' shall be obligated at a rate for operations as necessary 
to respectively--
            (1) sustain the staffing levels of U.S. Customs and Border 
        Protection officers and Border Patrol agents in accordance with 
        the provisos under the heading ``U.S. Customs and Border 
        Protection--Salaries and Expenses'' in division F of Public Law 
        113-76;
            (2) sustain border security and immigration enforcement 
        operations;
            (3) sustain necessary Air and Marine operations; and
            (4) <<NOTE: Compliance.>>  sustain the staffing levels of 
        U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, equivalent to 
        the staffing levels achieved on September 30, 2014, and comply 
        with the fifth proviso under the heading ``U.S. Immigration and 
        Customs Enforcement--Salaries and Expenses'' in division F of 
        Public Law 113-76.

    (b) <<NOTE: Notification.>>  The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate on each use of the authority provided in 
this section.

    Sec. 130. <<NOTE: Applicability.>>   Section 810 of the Federal 
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) shall be applied by 
substituting ``on the date that is 1 year after the date specified in 
section 106(3) of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015'' for 
``10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act''.

    Sec. 131. <<NOTE: Extension.>> (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 
joint resolution.

    (b) For the period covered by this joint resolution, 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. 132. <<NOTE: Extension.>>   Activities authorized under part A 
of title IV and section 1108(b) of the Social Security Act (other than 
under section 413(h) of such Act) shall continue through the date 
specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution, in the manner 
authorized for fiscal year 2014 (except that the amount appropriated for 
section 403(b) of such Act shall be $598,000,000, and the requirement to 
reserve funds provided for in section 403(b)(2) of such Act shall not 
apply with respect to this section), and out of any money in the 
Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are 
hereby appropriated such sums as may be necessary for such purpose. 
Grants and payments may be made pursuant to this authority through the 
applicable portion of the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 at the pro 
rata portion of the level provided for such activities through the first 
quarter of fiscal year 2014.

    Sec. 133.  Amounts allocated to Head Start grantees from amounts 
identified in the seventh proviso under the heading ``Department of 
Health and Human Services--Administration for

[[Page 128 STAT. 1873]]

Children and Families--Children and Families Services Programs'' in 
Public Law 113-76 shall not be included in the calculation of the ``base 
grant'' in fiscal year 2015, as such term is used in section 
640(a)(7)(A) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)(7)(A)).
    Sec. 134. <<NOTE: Applicability.>>   The first proviso under the 
heading ``Department of Health and Human Services--Administration for 
Children and Families--Low Income Home Energy Assistance'' in division H 
of Public Law 113-76 shall be applied to amounts made available by this 
joint resolution by substituting ``2015'' for ``2014''.

    Sec. 135.  Amounts provided by this joint resolution for 
``Department of Health and Human Services--Administration for Children 
and Families--Refugee and Entrant Assistance'' may be apportioned up to 
the rate for operations necessary to maintain program operations at the 
level provided in fiscal year 2014.
    Sec. 136. <<NOTE: Ebola virus.>>   In addition to the amount 
otherwise provided by this joint resolution for ``Department of Health 
and Human Services--Office of the Secretary--Public Health and Social 
Services Emergency Fund'', there is appropriated $58,000,000 for an 
additional amount for fiscal year 2015, to remain available until 
September 30, 2015, for expenses necessary to support acceleration of 
countermeasure and product advanced research and development pursuant to 
section 319L of the Public Health Service Act for addressing Ebola.

    Sec. 137. <<NOTE: Ebola virus. Africa.>>   In addition to the amount 
otherwise provided by this joint resolution for ``Department of Health 
and Human Services--Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--Global 
Health'', there is appropriated $30,000,000 for an additional amount for 
fiscal year 2015, to remain available until September 30, 2015, for 
expenses necessary to support the responses of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (referred to in this section as the ``CDC'') to 
the outbreak of Ebola virus in Africa: Provided, That such funds shall 
be available for transfer by the Director of the CDC to other accounts 
of the CDC for such support: <<NOTE: Notification.>>  Provided further, 
That the Director of the CDC shall notify the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later 
than 30 days after the date of any transfer under the preceding proviso.

    Sec. 138.  Amounts made available by this joint resolution for 
``Department of Education--Rehabilitation Services and Disability 
Research'', ``Department of Education--Departmental Management--Program 
Administration'', and ``Department of Health and Human Services--
Administration for Community Living--Aging and Disability Services 
Programs'' may be obligated in the account and budget structure set 
forth in section 491 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (42 
U.S.C. 3515e).
    Sec. 139. <<NOTE: Rescission.>>   Of the unobligated balance of 
amounts provided by section 108 of Public Law 111-3, $4,549,000,000 is 
rescinded.

    Sec. 140. <<NOTE: Applicability.>>   Section 113 of division H of 
Public Law 113-76 shall be applied by substituting the date specified in 
section 106(3) for ``September 30, 2014''.

    Sec. 141. (a) Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are made 
available for accounts in title I of division J of Public Law 113-76 at 
an aggregate rate for operations of $6,558,223,500.
    (b) <<NOTE: Deadline. Reports.>>  Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this joint resolution, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and

[[Page 128 STAT. 1874]]

the Senate a report delineating the allocation of budget authority in 
subsection (a) by account and project.

    Sec. 142.  Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for 
``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental Administration--General 
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'' at a rate for 
operations of $2,524,254,000.
    Sec. 143.  Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for 
``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental Administration--Office of 
Inspector General'' at a rate for operations of $126,411,000.
    Sec. 144. <<NOTE: Applicability.>>   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 
joint resolution for ``September 30, 2014''.

    Sec. 145.  Amounts made available by section 101 for ``Broadcasting 
Board of Governors--International Broadcasting Operations'', ``Bilateral 
Economic Assistance--Funds Appropriated to the President--Economic 
Support Fund'', ``International Security Assistance--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 Appropriated to the 
President--Foreign Military Financing Program'' shall be obligated at a 
rate for operations as necessary to sustain assistance for Ukraine and 
independent states of the Former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern 
Europe to counter external, regional aggression and influence.
    Sec. 146. <<NOTE: Applicability.>>   Section 7081(4) of division K 
of Public Law 113-76 shall be applied to amounts made available by this 
joint resolution by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of 
this joint resolution for ``September 30, 2014''.

    Sec. 147. <<NOTE: Applicability.>>   The Export-Import Bank Act of 
1945 (12 U.S.C. 635 et seq.) shall be applied through June 30, 2015, by 
substituting such date for ``September 30, 2014'' in section 7 of such 
Act.

    Sec. 148. (a) Section 44302(f) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``September 30, 2014'' and inserting ``the date 
specified in section 106(3) of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 
2015''.
    (b) Section 44303(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2014'' and inserting ``the date specified in 
section 106(3) of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015''.
    (c) Section 44310(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2014'' and inserting ``the date specified in 
section 106(3) of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015''.
    Sec. 149. <<NOTE: Syria.>>  (a) The Secretary of Defense is 
authorized, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to provide 
assistance, including training, equipment, supplies, and sustainment, to 
appropriately vetted elements of the Syrian opposition and other 
appropriately vetted Syrian groups and individuals for the following 
purposes:
            (1) Defending the Syrian people from attacks by the Islamic 
        State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and securing territory 
        controlled by the Syrian opposition.

[[Page 128 STAT. 1875]]

            (2) Protecting the United States, its friends and allies, 
        and the Syrian people from the threats posed by terrorists in 
        Syria.
            (3) Promoting the conditions for a negotiated settlement to 
        end the conflict in Syria.

    (b) <<NOTE: Deadline. Reports.>>  Not later than 15 days prior to 
providing assistance authorized under subsection (a) to vetted 
recipients for the first time--
            (1) the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 
        Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees and leadership of the House of 
        Representatives and Senate a report, in unclassified form with a 
        classified annex as appropriate, that contains a description 
        of--
                    (A) <<NOTE: Plan.>>  the plan for providing such 
                assistance;
                    (B) the requirements and process used to determine 
                appropriately vetted recipients; and
                    (C) the mechanisms and procedures that will be used 
                to monitor and report to the appropriate congressional 
                committees and leadership of the House of 
                Representatives and Senate on unauthorized end-use of 
                provided training and equipment and other violations of 
                relevant law by recipients; and
            (2) the President shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees and leadership of the House of 
        Representatives and Senate a report, in unclassified form with a 
        classified annex as appropriate, that contains a description of 
        how such assistance fits within a larger regional strategy.

    (c) The plan required in subsection (b)(1) shall include a 
description of--
            (1) the goals and objectives of assistance authorized under 
        subsection (a);
            (2) the concept of operations, timelines, and types of 
        training, equipment, and supplies to be provided;
            (3) the roles and contributions of partner nations;
            (4) the number of United States Armed Forces personnel 
        involved;
            (5) any additional military support and sustainment 
        activities; and
            (6) any other relevant details.

    (d) <<NOTE: Deadlines. Reports.>>  Not later than 90 days after the 
Secretary of Defense submits the report required in subsection (b)(1), 
and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Secretary of State, shall provide the appropriate congressional 
committees and leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
with a progress report. Such progress report shall include a description 
of--
            (1) any updates to or changes in the plan, strategy, vetting 
        requirements and process, and end-use monitoring mechanisms and 
        procedures, as required in subsection (b)(1);
            (2) statistics on green-on-blue attacks and how such attacks 
        are being mitigated;
            (3) the groups receiving assistance authorized under 
        subsection (a);
            (4) the recruitment, throughput, and retention rates of 
        recipients and equipment;
            (5) any misuse or loss of provided training and equipment 
        and how such misuse or loss is being mitigated; and

[[Page 128 STAT. 1876]]

            (6) an assessment of the effectiveness of the assistance 
        authorized under subsection (a) as measured against subsections 
        (b) and (c).

    (e) <<NOTE: Definitions. Applicability.>>  For purposes of this 
section, the following definitions shall apply:
            (1) The term ``appropriately vetted'' means, with respect to 
        elements of the Syrian opposition and other Syrian groups and 
        individuals, at a minimum, assessments of such elements, groups, 
        and individuals for associations with terrorist groups, Shia 
        militias aligned with or supporting the Government of Syria, and 
        groups associated with the Government of Iran. Such groups 
        include, but are not limited to, the Islamic State of Iraq and 
        the Levant (ISIL), Jabhat al Nusrah, Ahrar al Sham, other al-
        Qaeda related groups, and Hezbollah.
            (2) The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
                on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and 
                the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
                House of Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
                on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, 
                and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.

    (f) The Department of Defense may submit a reprogramming or transfer 
request to the congressional defense committees for funds made available 
by section 101(a)(3) of this joint resolution and designated in section 
114 of this joint resolution to carry out activities authorized under 
this section notwithstanding sections 102 and 104 of this joint 
resolution.
    (g) The Secretary of Defense may accept and retain contributions, 
including assistance in-kind, from foreign governments to carry out 
activities as authorized by this section which shall be credited to 
appropriations made available by this joint resolution for the 
appropriate operation and maintenance accounts, except that any funds so 
accepted by the Secretary shall not be available for obligation until a 
reprogramming action is submitted to the congressional defense 
committees: Provided, That amounts made available by this subsection are 
designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global 
War on Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: <<NOTE: President.>>  
Provided further, That such amounts shall be available only if the 
President so designates such amounts and transmits such designations to 
the Congress.

    (h) <<NOTE: Extension.>>  The authority provided in this section 
shall continue in effect through the earlier of the date specified in 
section 106(3) of this joint resolution or the date of the enactment of 
an Act authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2015 for military 
activities of the Department of Defense.

    (i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to constitute a 
specific statutory authorization for the introduction of United States 
Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations wherein hostilities are 
clearly indicated by the circumstances.
    (j) Nothing in this section supersedes or alters the continuing 
obligations of the President to report to Congress pursuant to section 4 
of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543) regarding the use of 
United States Armed Forces abroad.

[[Page 128 STAT. 1877]]

     This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Continuing 
Appropriations Resolution, 2015''.

    Approved September 19, 2014.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.J. Res. 124:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
            Sept. 16, 17, considered and passed House.
            Sept. 18, considered and passed Senate.

                                  <all>