[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 151 (Thursday, December 11, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H9284-H9290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INSULAR AREAS AND FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES ENERGY DEVELOPMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 83) to require the Secretary of the 
Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts 
to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States 
and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy 
action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, 
including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for 
other purposes, will now resume.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. When proceedings were postponed earlier 
today, 10\1/2\ minutes of debate remained on the bill.
  The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) has 4 minutes remaining, and 
the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) has 6\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), a very distinguished ranking 
member of the Appropriations Committee who is planning to retire. We 
will miss him greatly, and we wish him good luck in his future 
endeavors.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, for roughly 200 years, this government has 
functioned on behalf of the American people. It has functioned through 
the art of compromise. Conservatives, liberals, Democrats, and 
Republicans have gotten together and decided what was in the best 
interest of this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, this appropriations bill is in the best interest of this 
Nation. It does reflect a compromise, but I would say to my colleagues 
on the Democratic side: this is a good bill, this reflects our 
priorities. It is our last chance to have those priorities reflected in 
an appropriations bill.
  One of our staff told me that for 2\1/2\ weeks, she hasn't seen her 
children before they had to go to bed. The reason is that she has been 
working night after night, fighting for our priorities to be included 
in this bill, and she was successful. All of our staff was successful.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 
seconds.
  Mr. MORAN. I want to give a shout-out to Dave Pomerantz, Lesley 
Turner, Will Smith, Jim Kulikowski, Rick Healy, Shalanda Young, and of 
all the people who made this a good bill on both sides of the aisle.
  This is why our government functions: because we are willing to 
compromise and we are willing to look at what is in the best interest 
of all of our constituents, putting partisanship aside.
  This is a bill we should vote for. This bill needs to pass. I thank 
the President and this body for supporting this bill because I trust we 
will, in the long run, do the right thing after we have exhausted all 
the other alternatives.

                              {time}  2100

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters).
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker and Members, we are poised to vote on 
legislation to fund government. Nobody wants to shut down our 
government. Everybody here wants to have an answer, and we could have 
an answer. All the opposite side has to do is to stop supporting a bill 
that would allow the biggest banks in America to rip off the people one 
more time.
  We bailed out the richest banks in America with the people's money. 
The people do not want that anymore, and so this provision that is in 
the bill that would allow them to basically put us all at risk because 
they want to trade these derivatives and be protected with our FDIC 
cannot go on.
  So there are a lot of things in this bill that are unacceptable. I am 
the ranking member of the Financial Services Committee and I worked on 
Dodd-Frank. They are trying to undermine Dodd-Frank. They have been 
trying to get rid of Dodd-Frank piece by piece. We have to fight it 
every day.
  I am not going to let the people down. Democrats are not going to let 
the people down. We are not going to vote for anything that is going to 
give the store to the biggest banks in America one more time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished minority whip.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker and Members, ever since the conference report 
was reported out, Leader Pelosi and I have told everyone how 
objectionable the two provisions that have been discussed are on our 
side of the aisle. We think they should not be in an appropriations 
bill. We think that they should be considered on their merits or 
demerits. Unfortunately, they are in the bill.
  I rise in support of the bill, notwithstanding my vigorous objection 
to these two provisions. I rise because I, frankly, think that pursuing 
CRs, continuing resolutions, on a continuing basis is harmful to our 
economy, harmful to the growth in jobs, harmful to our national 
security.
  I regret that the Homeland Security bill has not been included for a 
year as well. We undermine national security by that limitation. But, 
nevertheless, in a world of alternatives, I have concluded that it is 
better for us to pass this CR/Omnibus, as it is euphemistically 
referred to, than it is to defeat it.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mrs. LOWEY. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. HOYER. So I urge my Members to vote for this CR/Omnibus tonight.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from New York has 3 minutes 
remaining, and the gentleman from Kentucky has 4 minutes remaining.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Farr), a distinguished ranking member of the committee.
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Rogers, the chair of the 
committee, for bringing a bill to the floor. I wish it was the full 
bill and not most of the bill.
  But I also want the world to note that, even though there are some 
poison pills in this issue, this is a very progressive appropriations 
bill, and it shows that when you do reach compromise--and I hope that 
the party that will be in the majority next year will understand that 
we wanted to do a full process. We want it to be vetted. We don't want 
poison pills. But in the end, get the bad language out, which you did, 
and you can have a bill that has bipartisan support. We don't want 
things to get worse in this country, we want it to get better, and a CR 
would be the worst thing that could happen.
  But we also, as a body that believes in exposure and the public's 
right to know, we should never allow these poison pills to be in this 
bill. Hold your nose and make this a better world.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, this bill puts a big bow on a holiday gift 
for the Wall Street contributors who get special treatment in the 
provisions of this

[[Page H9285]]

bill. Once again, here in the holiday season, it is all about stuffing 
the silk stockings.
  These people want to gamble with our money. When these big banks win, 
they get to keep all the money; but when they lose, they look to the 
taxpayer to bail them out. It was wrong to do so before, and this bill 
removes key reforms that are vital to preserving our financial system 
and our economic security.
  We ought not yield to the big bank contributors who, at the same 
time, this same bill frees up additional money for individuals to pour 
into campaigns and pollute our democracy.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, our most important responsibility is to fund government 
operations. This bill does that, but it also contains a number of 
objectionable items that have no place in a spending bill.
  I would like to thank Jim Moran, Ed Pastor, Bill Owens, Frank Wolf, 
Tom Latham, and Jack Kingston. Your friendship and expertise will be 
missed.
  I am pleased that, after weeks of negotiations, we have a package 
that funds 11 of the 12 bills. I hope that in the next Congress we 
avoid such a contentious process and pass bills we are proud to support 
under regular order.
  Mr. Speaker, I will insert the President's statement in support of 
this bill in the Record.
  Mr. Speaker, I am voting for this bill, and I urge your support.
  I yield back the balance of my time..

                   Statement of Administration Policy


 H.R. 83--Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015

                   (Rep. Rogers, R-KY, Dec. 11, 2014)

       The Administration supports House passage of H.R. 83, 
     making appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2015, and for 
     other purposes. The Administration appreciates the bipartisan 
     effort to include full-year appropriations legislation for 
     most Government functions that allows for planning and 
     provides certainty, while making progress toward 
     appropriately investing in economic growth and opportunity, 
     and adequately funding national security requirements. The 
     Administration also appreciates the authorities and funding 
     provided to enhance the U.S. Government's response to the 
     Ebola epidemic, and to implement the Administration's 
     strategy to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, 
     as well as investments for the President's early education 
     agenda, Pell Grants, the bipartisan, Manufacturing Institutes 
     initiative, and extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance 
     program.
       However, the Administration objects to the inclusion of 
     ideological and special interest riders in the House bill. In 
     particular, the Administration is opposed to the inclusion of 
     a rider that would amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform 
     and Consumer Protection Act and weaken a critical component 
     of financial system reform aimed at reducing taxpayer risk. 
     Additionally, the Administration is opposed to inclusion of a 
     rider that would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to 
     allow individual donors to contribute to national political 
     party committee accounts for conventions, buildings and 
     recounts in amounts that are dramatically higher than what 
     the law currently permits.
       Furthermore, the Administration is disappointed that the 
     bill would fund the Department of Homeland Security through 
     February 27, 2015, at last year's levels. Short-term 
     continuing resolution funding measures are disruptive, create 
     uncertainty, and impede efficient resource planning and 
     execution.
       The Administration urges the Congress to enact 
     comprehensive full-year appropriations legislation for all 
     Government functions free of provisions that have no place in 
     annual appropriations bills.

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to vote for this bill and keep the 
government open. It is a good bill. Vote for it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the work Chairman Rogers, 
Ranking Member Lowey and their staffs put towards drafting legislation 
to fund the federal government. Sadly, I cannot support the finished 
product due to extraneous provisions that have no business being in an 
appropriations bill. These riders, included at the last minute with no 
debate and no input from Democratic members, circumvent the will of 
American voters, harm retirees, put taxpayer dollars at risk, and allow 
a privileged few to have even more influence over our elections.
  These extraneous provisions have nothing to do with funding the 
government. Instead, they will cut benefits to seniors and roll back 
critical Dodd-Frank provisions to protect taxpayer dollars. They will 
also increase the amount of money that special interests, private 
corporations, and wealthy donors can spend on political conventions and 
other election activities, when we know that more money in politics is 
not the solution, it's the problem.
  Rhode Islanders are still recovering from the financial crisis of 
2008, and I cannot in vote for a return to the status quo, which helped 
bring about the crisis in the first place. The derivatives provision is 
a Christmas gift to big banks at the expense of American taxpayers. It 
would remove restrictions included in Dodd-Frank that prevent these 
banks from gambling with our constituents' money by using taxpayer-
insured bank deposits in risky derivatives transactions.
  I am greatly disappointed that I am not able to support what is in 
many other ways a solid bill. This legislation includes funding for 
important investments to our infrastructure, the National Institutes of 
Health, Ebola response efforts, spinal cord injury research, the 
peerless Virginia-class submarines, and so many other initiatives and 
programs that are critical to our national defense and our future as a 
nation--not to mention that it provides for the brave men and women in 
our armed services and intelligence community who are in harm's way 
even as we speak. Regrettably, these priorities were eclipsed by 
poisonous provisions that could greatly undermine the important work 
voters elected us to do--restore the economic certainty we need to keep 
our economy growing and our businesses hiring.
  Mr. Speaker. I have supported numerous bipartisan efforts in the past 
to fund the government, and I know what can be accomplished when 
Democrats and Republicans sit down and negotiate in good faith. But the 
price Republicans are trying to exact this time is simply too high, and 
I will not sacrifice my principles and the interests of my 
constituents.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge the majority to live up to its 
professed support for the principles of federalism, limited government, 
and local control of local affairs by not interfering in the local laws 
of the District of Columbia. The bill limits the District's authority 
over its local marijuana laws, and prohibits D.C. from spending its 
local funds on abortion services for low-income women.
  I am here to put on the record that the Republican-led House 
Appropriations Committee's stated view that the bill's D.C. marijuana 
rider blocks the D.C. marijuana legalization initiative from taking 
effect is not the view of the entire House, as well as to preserve the 
ability of the District and its lawyers to review, analyze and 
interpret the rider's effect for themselves.
  Based on a plain reading of the bill and principles of statutory 
interpretation, it is arguable that the rider does not block D.C. from 
carrying out its marijuana legalization initiative. The House-passed 
D.C. marijuana rider, introduced by Representative Andy Harris, and 
this bill's D.C. marijuana rider are not identical. Unlike the Harris 
rider, this bill's rider does not block D.C. from ``carrying out'' 
enacted marijuana policies. D.C.'s Initiative 71, it can be argued, was 
enacted when it was approved overwhelmingly by voters in November and 
is self-executing--i.e., it did not require enactment of any rules for 
its implementation. Therefore, it can be argued that the legalization 
of small amounts of marijuana in D.C. can proceed.
  The District legalized marijuana primarily to combat racial 
injustice, after two independent studies, one by the American Civil 
Liberties Union of the Nation's Capital and the other by the Washington 
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, found shocking 
racial disparities in the enforcement of marijuana laws in D.C. In 
D.C., Whites and Blacks use marijuana at the same rates, and Blacks 
compromise slightly less than 50% of the population, but Blacks are 
eight times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than 
non-Blacks, and 91% of all marijuana arrests are of Blacks. These 
disparities exist in urban areas throughout the country.
  Arrests and convictions for marijuana possession ruin lives, 
especially those of Black males. An arrest or conviction for marijuana 
possession often condemns Blacks, particularly those from low-income 
neighborhoods, to joblessness. Losing the ability to find legitimate 
work can lead a person to the underground economy, even to selling 
drugs, rather than mere possession. The Black community itself pays the 
price because men without the prospect of employment often do not form 
stable families.
  There may be some misconceptions about the District's legalization 
law. The District has the narrowest and strictest marijuana 
legalization law in the country. D.C. will not become a regional or 
national haven for marijuana use or transactions. Unlike D.C., the four 
states that have legalized marijuana permit the sale and purchase of 
marijuana. Under D.C.'s marijuana legalization law, possession and home 
cultivation are permitted, but all the following are not permitted: 
sales or purchase, retail stores, smoking in public, and possession by 
those under 21 years of age.
  The bill also blocks the District from spending its local funds to 
provide abortion services for low-income women. We are talking about

[[Page H9286]]

100% local D.C. funds, not federal funds. D.C. raises almost $7 billion 
per year in local funds through taxes and fees. As with marijuana, the 
District is being singled out for unfair treatment. Seventeen states, 
including Arizona, Alaska, and West Virginia, spend their local funds 
on abortion services for low-income women. The bill does not block them 
from doing so. When the D.C. abortion rider was re-imposed in April 
2011, many low-income D.C. women had to immediately cancel their 
scheduled appointments for reproductive health services, because, 
unlike wealthier D.C. women, they relied on D.C. to pay for their 
health care services.
  I urge Congress to respect the local laws of the 650,000 American 
citizens who live in the District of Columbia.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, the intent of Division N, Section 101 is to 
establish separate limits for funds raised into separate, segregated 
accounts established by national political party committees for certain 
specified purposes. All of these funds are ``hard money'' subject to 
all of the source limitations, prohibitions, and disclosure provisions 
of the Act.
  The first account, described in section 315(a)(9)(A) of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (``FECA'') (as amended), is intended to 
allow a national committee of a political party (other than a national 
congressional campaign committee) to defray expenses related to a 
presidential nominating convention using funds raised under separate, 
increased limits. Section 315(a)(9)(A) also caps the aggregate amount 
of expenditures a national political party committee may make from such 
account with respect to any convention at $20,000,000. This section is 
intended to provide national political party committees with a means of 
acquiring additional resources to be used specifically in connection 
with the funding of presidential nominating conventions because such 
conventions may no longer be paid for with public funds. It is the 
intent to allow these funds to be used in the same manner as the former 
public funds could have been used, as well as to pay for the costs of 
fundraising for this segregated account.
  The second account, described in section 315(a)(9)(B) of FECA (as 
amended), is intended to permit a national committee of a political 
party (including a national congressional campaign committee of a 
political party) to defray expenses incurred with respect to the 
construction, purchase, renovation, operation and furnishing of party 
headquarters buildings located throughout the United States, including 
the cost of fundraising for this segregated account, using funds raised 
under separate, increased limits. Funds in these accounts also may be 
used to repay loans and other obligations incurred for the purpose of 
defraying such building expenses, including loans and obligations 
incurred two years before the date of the enactment of this Act.
  The third account, described in section 315(a)(9)(C) of FECA (as 
amended), is intended to permit a national committee of a political 
party (including a national congressional campaign committee of a 
political party) to defray expenses incurred with respect to the 
preparation for and the conduct of election recounts and contests and 
other legal proceedings, including the costs of fundraising for this 
segregated account, using funds raised under a separate limit Section 
101 of Division N is not intended to modify Federal Election Commission 
precedent permitting the raising and spending of funds by campaign or 
state or national party committees. See FEC Advisory Opinions 2006-24, 
2009-4. Section 101 is also intended to permit the national parties to 
use such funds for costs, fees, and disbursements associated with other 
legal proceedings.
  Finally, under current law coordinated limits do not apply even 
absent these provisions to the existing accounts as described in 
section 315 of FECA and therefore it is the intent of the amendments 
contained herein that expenditures made from the accounts described in 
section 315(a)(9) of FECA, many of which (such as recount and legal 
proceeding expenses) are not for the purpose of influencing federal 
elections, do not count against the coordinated party expenditure 
limits described in section 315(d) of FECA.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank the 
Chairman and Ranking Democrat of the House Education and Workforce 
Committee, Rep. John Kline and Rep. George Miller, for their efforts to 
seek a bipartisan solution for the problems facing the nation's 
multiemployer pension plans. I am very familiar with those problems, 
having constituents who are both active workers and retirees who are 
participants in those multiemployer plans.
  The legislation being advanced today will allow Plan Trustees of 
these troubled plans to have additional tools to maintain the solvency 
of the plans. Specifically, the legislation will allow trustees to 
better align benefit levels to available resources; it will clarify 
that the PBGC has the ability to assist plans well before they reach 
insolvency; and finally, to facilitate plan mergers. Taken together, 
these initiatives will assist troubled plans in avoiding insolvency.
  However, I do have a concern regarding the timeline for 
implementation of the new legislation. Some of these troubled plans 
need to move on with the needed benefit adjustments, along with the 
authority to merger and receive financial assistance from the PBGC, 
sooner rather than later. I would strongly urge the Treasury 
Department, along with the Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit 
Guarantee Corporation, to move quickly on implementation of this 
legislation. For some plans, time is not on their side.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following for the Record:

                                OVERVIEW

       The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 
     (``Cromnibus'') is comprised of: 1. 11 FY2015 Appropriations 
     bills; and 2. Continuing Resolution maintaining the current 
     rate of Homeland Security funding until February 27, 2015.
       Discretionary budget authority: $1.014 Trillion.
       Overseas Contingency Operations (Defense): $64 billion.
       Overseas Contingency Operations (State): $9.258 billion.
       Total OCO: $73.258 billion.
       Emergency Ebola funding: $2.72 billion (L-HHS-Ed); $2.530 
     billion (SFOPS); $112 million (Defense).
       Total emergency Ebola funding: $5.484 billion.
       1. Agriculture Division of 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act
       2014 Total enacted level: $20.9 billion
       2015 Committee mark: $20.9 billion
       2015 Omnibus: $20.6 billion


                       HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS

       $6.6 billion for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 
     Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which is sufficient to 
     meet expected need in 2015.
       $1.47 billion for Food for Peace (P.L. 480) grants, which 
     is the same as the 2014 enacted level and $66 million above 
     the request.
       $2.6 billion for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 
     which is $37 million more than the 2014 enacted level and $4 
     million more than the request.
       $1.016 billion for the USDA food safety and inspection 
     program, which is $6 million more than the 2014 enacted level 
     and $15 million more than the request.
       $1.51 billion for the Farm Service Agency, which is $22 
     million more than the 2014 enacted level and $61 million over 
     the request.
       $25 million for FDA in emergency spending, which fully 
     funds the administration's Ebola request.


                             POLICY ISSUES

       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     allowing schools to receive waivers from complying with 
     improved lunch and breakfast nutrition standards in the 
     Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act. The agreement allows states to 
     grant exemptions from whole grain standards to schools that 
     demonstrate hardship in procuring specific products, and 
     requires further study on reduced sodium standards, similar 
     to the Senate provisions.
       The agreement does not include a House policy rider making 
     potatoes unconditionally available in the WIC program. The 
     agreement, while making potatoes available, requires that the 
     ultimate decision on their availability be based on review by 
     the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and USDA.
       The agreement includes Democratic amendments to ban horse 
     slaughter for human consumption, and prohibit funding for 
     processed poultry products imported from China in the school 
     lunch, breakfast, summer food service, and child and adult 
     care food programs.
       2. COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE DIVISION OF 2015 OMNIBUS 
     APPROPRIATIONS ACT
       2014 enacted level: $51.6 billion.
       2015 budget request: $51 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $50.1 billion.


                       HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS

       $5.4 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration (NOAA), which is $126.4 million more than the 
     2014 enacted level.
       $954.2 million for National Weather Service operations, 
     which is $526,000 above the 2014 enacted level.
       $1.1 billion for the Census Bureau, which is $143 million 
     more than the FY 2014 enacted level and $123.4 million less 
     than the budget request.
       $3.5 billion for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 
     (PTO), which is equal to CBO's projection of PTO's FY 2015 
     fee revenue collections, and $434 million above the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $863.9 million for the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology (NIST), which is $13.9 million more than the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $8.44 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
     (FBI), which is $93.3 million more than the 2014 enacted 
     level.
       $2.03 billion for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which 
     is $15.3 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $1.2 billion for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 
     and Explosives, which is $22 million more than the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $6.82 billion for the Bureau of Prisons, Salaries and 
     Expenses account, which is $46 million more than the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $376 million for Byrne-JAG grants, which is the same as the 
     2014 enacted level.
       $208 million for the COPS program, which is $6 million less 
     than the 2014 enacted level.

[[Page H9287]]

       $430 million for Violence Against Women Prevention and 
     Prosecution Programs, which is $13 million above the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $18.01 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration (NASA), which is $363.7 million more than the 
     2014 enacted level.
       $7.34 billion for the National Science Foundation, which is 
     $172.3 million above the 2014 enacted level.
       $125 million for the ongoing DNA Initiative program which 
     funds the testing of sexual assault kits, the same the FY 
     2014 level and $25 million above the request. In addition, 
     $41 million is included for the new Community Sexual 
     Assault Kit Backlog Reduction program.
       $73 million for the National Instant Criminal Background 
     Check System (NICS), which is $14.5 million more than the 
     2014 level and $18 million more than the request.
       $375 million for the Legal Services Corporation, which is 
     $10 million above the 2014 level.


                             POLICY ISSUES

       The agreement rejects House policy riders to: 1) block 
     reporting requirements on multiple sales of rifles/shotguns 
     to the same person, and 2) make permanent two annual riders 
     related to firearms.
       The agreement rejects a House rider to defund certain NSF 
     research related to climate change.
       The agreement rejects House riders to prohibit entering 
     into trade agreements establishing limits on greenhouse gas 
     emissions, and includes a provision prohibiting 
     implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty absent its 
     ratification by the Senate.
       The agreement rejects a House rider to defund grants to 
     state or local law enforcement on the basis of local 
     immigration policy.
       The agreement rejects a House rider prohibiting the 
     Department of Justice from enforcing certain parts of the 
     Fair Housing Act.
       Extends the authorization of the nonprofit, public-private 
     Corporation for Travel Promotion, commonly known as Brand 
     USA, through 2020, including its ability to finance its 
     efforts to promote tourist travel to the United States 
     through the collection of a modest fee on tourists from Visa 
     Waiver Program countries;
       Extends the authorization of the Economic Development 
     Administration (EDA)'s Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms 
     program for an additional year, allowing the program to 
     service both existing and new client companies in the U.S. 
     that have been negatively impacted by trade agreements; and
       Includes the text of the Revitalize American Manufacturing 
     and Innovation Act, which (1) directs the Secretary of 
     Commerce to establish a Network for Manufacturing Innovation 
     Program to help improve the competitiveness of U.S. 
     manufacturing and stimulate U.S. leadership in advanced 
     manufacturing, research, innovation, and technology, and (2) 
     extends through 2019 the authorization of the EDA's Regional 
     Innovation Program, designed to encourage and support the 
     development of regional innovation strategies, including 
     region innovation clusters.
       3. Defense Division of 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act:
       2014 total enacted level: $572 billion.
       2015 total budget request: $554.3 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $554.1 billion.


                       HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS

       $64 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), 
     which is $21.2 billion less than the 2014 enacted level.
       $490.1 billion for the base portion of Department of 
     Defense funding, which is $3.3 billion more than the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $128 billion for Military Personnel, which is $800 million 
     less than the 2014 enacted level.
       $161.7 billion for Operation and Maintenance, which is $1.8 
     billion more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $93.8 billion for Procurement, which is $1.0 billion more 
     than the 2014 enacted level.
       $63.7 billion for Research and Development, which is $700 
     million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       Multiple provisions focused on eliminating sexual assault 
     in the Department of Defense and supporting victims, 
     including: Fully funds request of $275 million for Sexual 
     Assault and Prevention Office (SAPRO) services; and $25 
     million above the request to continue implementation of a 
     Sexual Assault Special Victims Program.
       Several important health programs receive increases above 
     the President's request, including increases of $281 million 
     for cancer research, $125 million for traumatic brain injury 
     and psychological health research, and $39 million for 
     suicide prevention outreach programs.
       To facilitate integration of electronic health records 
     between DOD and VA the agreement restricts funding for the 
     Defense Healthcare Management Systems Modernization (DHMSM) 
     program pending a report on cost, schedule, and adherence to 
     data standards and acquisition guidance.
       Fully funds Peer Reviewed Medical Research Programs and 
     includes $125 million above the request for Traumatic Brain 
     Injury (TBI) and Psychological Health research and $4 million 
     above the request for alcohol and substance abuse research.
       $20 million above the request for suicide prevention and 
     outreach.
       $172 million above the request for Israeli Cooperative 
     Missile Defense programs, and $175 million above the request 
     for Iron Dome.
       $225 million above the request for the Defense Rapid 
     Innovation Program to incorporate small business developments 
     into DOD programs.
       $1.2 billion above the request to enhance National Guard 
     and Reserve equipment.
       $1 billion above the request for a San Antonio Class 
     Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD-17) and $483.6 million for 
     refueling overhaul for the USS George Washington (CVN-73) 
     aircraft carrier.
       The agreement supports the President's Budget Request for a 
     1% pay raise for military and civilian personnel.
       The agreement also fully funds the Department of Defense 
     portion of the emergency funding request for Ebola efforts at 
     $112 million.
       The agreement includes $810 million for the European 
     Reassurance Initiative, of which $175 million is for support 
     to the Baltics and Ukraine for training, equipment and 
     associated support.
       The agreement includes a provision as proposed by the House 
     and funding as proposed by the Senate to continue operations 
     of the A-10.
       The agreement includes $3.4 billion for Department of 
     Defense operations targeting ISIL, as well as funds to train 
     and equip Iraqi security forces and the Syrian opposition.
       The legislation prohibits funding for transfers of 
     Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. or its territories, 
     prohibits funding to modify any facility in the U.S. to house 
     detainees, and places conditions on the release of detainees 
     to other countries.
       4. Energy & Water Division of 2015 Omnibus Appropriations 
     Act
       2014 Total enacted level: $34.1 billion.
       2015 Committee mark: $34.0 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $34.2 billion.


                       HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS

       $1.937 billion for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, 
     which is $25 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $5.071 billion for the Department of Energy Office of 
     Science, which is the same as the 2014 enacted level.
       $280 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency--
     Energy (ARPA-E), which is the same as the 2014 enacted level.
       $5.9 billion for environmental cleanup activities, which is 
     $51 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $8.2 billion for National Nuclear Security Administration 
     (NNSA) Weapons Activities, which is $387 million more than 
     the 2014 enacted level and $83 million less than the 
     President's budget request.
       $1.6 billion for Nuclear Nonproliferation, which is $313 
     million less than the 2014 enacted level and $86 million more 
     than the President's budget request.
       $1.239 billion for Naval Reactors, which is $144 million 
     more than the 2014 enacted level and $139 million less than 
     the President's budget request.
       $5.455 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, which is 
     $13 million less than the 2014 enacted level, and $922 
     million more than the President's budget request.
       $1.14 billion for water resources projects within the 
     Department of Interior, which is $27 million more than the 
     2014 enacted level.


                             POLICY ISSUES

       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting the Army Corps of Engineers from clarifying which 
     waters are protected by the Clean Water Act.
       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting restrictions against firearms on land owned by 
     the Army Corps of Engineers.
       The agreement does not include prohibitions on funding for 
     loan guarantees for the Cape Wind offshore wind project, 
     National Ocean Policy, Social Cost of Carbon and ceiling fan 
     standards.
       The agreement continues a House policy rider prohibiting 
     the Army Corps of Engineers from changing regulations 
     pertaining to the definitions of the terms ``fill material'' 
     or ``discharge of fill material'' under the Clean Water Act 
     for this fiscal year.
       The agreement includes a House policy rider prohibiting 
     funds to require permits for certain agricultural activities 
     under the Clean Water Act for this fiscal year.
       The agreement includes a policy rider requiring the 
     withdrawal of the EPA and Corps of Engineers interpretive 
     rule regarding regulation agricultural activities.
       5. Financial Services Division of 2015 Appropriations Act:
       2014 Total enacted level: $22.07 billion.
       2015 Committee mark: $20.35 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $21.82 billion.


                       HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS

       $11.5 billion for the Department of the Treasury, which is 
     $373 million less than the 2014 enacted level.
       $10.95 billion for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 
     which is $346 million less than the 2014 enacted level.
       $6.7 billion for the Judiciary, which is $182 million more 
     than the 2014 enacted level.
       $679.6 million for the District of Columbia, which is $6.4 
     million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $1.5 billion for the Securities and Exchange Commission 
     (SEC), which is $150 million more than the 2014 enacted 
     level.
       $887.6 million for the Small Business Administration (SBA), 
     which is $41 million less than the 2014 enacted level as a 
     result of reduced loan subsidy costs.
       $688.3 million for the Executive Office of the President, 
     which is $18.9 million more than the 2014 enacted level.

[[Page H9288]]

       $9.24 billion for the General Services Administration (GSA) 
     Federal Buildings Fund (FBF), which is $132 million less than 
     the 2014 enacted level.
       $10 million for the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), 
     which is the same level as the 2014 enacted level.
       $250 million for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
     (CFTC), which is $35 million more than the 2014 enacted level 
     and $30 million less than the request.


                             POLICY ISSUES

       The agreement does not include the following House policy 
     riders:
       1. Prohibiting funds to subsidize abortion services in 
     connection with a multi-state plan offered under the 
     Affordable Care Act exchanges negotiated by OPM.
       2. Prohibiting transfers from HHS to IRS.
       3. Prohibiting implementation of individual mandate.
       4. Preventing IRS from clarifying standards for determining 
     the tax exempt status of 501(c)4 organizations; and 
     preventing SEC from requiring disclosure of political 
     contributions, contributions to tax-exempt organizations, or 
     dues paid to trade associations.
       5. Prohibiting travel to Cuba for educational exchanges not 
     involving academic study pursuant to a degree program.
       6. Prohibiting funds to implement guidance issued by the 
     U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding coal-fired power 
     plants.
       7. Impeding the President from fulfilling executive 
     functions.
       8. Blocking the District of Columbia from enforcing its own 
     firearms laws.
       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting decriminalization of possession of small amounts 
     of marijuana. The agreement prohibits use of federal and 
     local funds from being used to implement the recent 
     referendum legalizing recreational use of marijuana in DC.
       The agreement includes a House provision amending Dodd-
     Frank with respect to the prohibition against certain federal 
     assistance to swaps entities, namely the use of any advances 
     from specified Federal Reserve credit facilities or discount 
     windows, or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) 
     insurance or guarantees.
       6. Homeland Security Continuing Resolution in 2015 Omnibus 
     Appropriations Act: The agreement includes a Continuing 
     Resolution until February 27th for agencies within the 
     Homeland Security Subcommittee. The agreement maintains the 
     Fiscal Year 2014 spend rate of $39.270 billion.
       Additional Provisions in the current CR and carried forward 
     under the new CR:
       Extends the authorization for the Chemical Facility 
     Antiterrorism Standards (CFATS) program;
       Extends the authority for the Science & Technology 
     Directorate to enter into Other Transaction Agreements (OTA);
       Provides authority for ICE and CBP to obligate funding at 
     rates necessary to sustain staffing, border security and 
     immigration enforcement operations, and Air and Marine 
     operations, and requires compliance with the 34,000 detention 
     bed mandate.
       Additional provisions included under the new CR:
       Provides authority for the Secret Service to obligate 
     funding at a rate necessary for Presidential candidate 
     nominee protection (hiring and training agents);
       Directs DHS to continue preparations to award a 
     construction contract for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense 
     Facility by May 1, 2015.
       7. Interior & Environment Division of 2015 Appropriations 
     Act:
       2014 enacted level: $30.058 billion.
       2015 budget request: $30.620 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $30.044 billion.


                       HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS

       $3.554 billion for wildland fire, which fully funds the 10-
     year average for fire costs.
       $4.642 billion for the Indian Health Service, which is $207 
     million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $2.601 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is 
     $70 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $8.140 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency 
     (EPA), which is $60 million less than the 2014 enacted level.
       $2.615 billion for the National Park Service, which is $55 
     million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $1.086 billion for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
     which is $13 million more than the FY 2014 enacted level.
       $1.440 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
     which is $13 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $2.402 billion for the U.S. Forest Service (non-fire), 
     which is equal to the 2014 enacted level.
       $146 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts 
     and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which is equal 
     to their 2014 enacted levels.


                             POLICY ISSUES

       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting EPA's Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule.
       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting EPA's rule clarifying which waters are protected 
     by the Clean Water Act.
       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting EPA from changing the way discharge of fill 
     material is regulated.
       The agreement includes a House policy rider prohibiting 
     regulation of lead in ammunition.
       The agreement includes a House policy rider prohibiting the 
     issuance of final and proposed rules related to Sage Grouse.
       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting EPA from ensuring mining companies are 
     financially capable of cleaning up pollution rather than 
     taxpayers, but includes report language on the matter.
       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting EPA from enforcing a rule on safe removal and 
     renovation of lead paint, but includes report language on the 
     matter.
       The agreement does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting funding for the development or revisions of 
     regulations regarding imported ivory.
       8. Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Division of 
     2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act:
       2014 enacted level: $156.8 billion.
       2015 Request: $158.1 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $156.8 billion.
       2015 emergency funding for Ebola: $2.7 billion.


                       HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS

       $2.7 billion for emergency funding related to the Ebola 
     outbreak.
       $30.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health, which 
     is $150 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $6.9 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention (CDC), which is $21 million more than the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $2.6 billion for job training through WIA Training and 
     Employment Formula Grant program, which is $36 million more 
     than the 2014 enacted level, and boosts the Governor's set 
     aside to ten percent.
       $1.6 billion for worker protection agencies at the 
     Department of Labor, which is $9 million more than the FY 
     2014 level.
       $2.4 billion for Child Care Block Grants, which is $75 
     million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $8.6 billion for Head Start, which is the same as the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $14.4 billion for Title I Grants to school districts, which 
     is $25 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $11.5 billion for Special Education state grants (IDEA), 
     which is $25 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $1.3 billion for Impact Aid, which is equal to the FY 2014 
     level and $67 million more than the President's budget 
     request.
       $250 million for Preschool Development Grants, which is 
     equal to the FY 2014 enacted level.
       $445 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting 
     (CPB), which is the same funding level as was provided in the 
     FY 2014 bill.
       $815 million for Seniors' Nutrition programs, which is the 
     same as the 2014 enacted level.
       $948 million for the Unaccompanied Minor Children program 
     at HHS, which is $80 million more than the FY 2014 enacted 
     level.
       $3.4 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance 
     Program (LIHEAP), which is equal to the comparable FY 2014 
     operating level.
       $1.1 billion for Mental Health programs, which is $10 
     million less than the 2014 enacted level and $27 million more 
     than the Administration's request.
       $672 million for program integrity efforts in the Medicare 
     and Medicaid programs, which is $378 million more than the FY 
     2014 level.
       $1.1 billion for the Corporation for National and Community 
     Service, which is $5 million more than the FY 2014 level.
       The agreement maintains the discretionary portion of the 
     maximum Pell grant award level at $4,860 for the 2015-2016 
     school year. After addition of the mandatory supplement, the 
     maximum award is projected to increase by $100 to $5,830.
       The agreement maintains level-funding for the Affordable 
     Care Act.
       The agreement includes a new provision expanding the 
     eligibility of students enrolled in career pathways programs 
     to qualify for financial aid.
       The agreement includes a new provision to exempt disaster 
     claims adjustors from elements of the Fair Labor Standards 
     Act following the response to a natural disaster.
       The agreement extends Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) assistance 
     to dislocated workers through fiscal year 2015, including 
     workers who are certified for TAA after December 31, 2014.
       9. Legislative Branch Division of 2015 Omnibus 
     Appropriations Act:
       2014 enacted level: $4.26 billion.
       2015 budget request: $4.47 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $4.30 billion.


                       highlights and key points

       $1.181 billion for the House of Representatives, which is 
     equal to the 2014 enacted level and $19.8 million less than 
     the request.
       $10.1 million for the Joint Committee on Taxation, which is 
     $91,000 more than the 2014 enacted level but $54,000 less 
     than the request. Cost-of-living increases are provided for 
     in order to maintain current services.
       $348 million for the Capitol Police, which is $9.5 million 
     more than the 2014 enacted level and $7.7 million less than 
     the request.
       $45.7 million for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 
     which is equal to the 2014 enacted level and $378,000 less 
     than the request.
       $522.0 million for the Government Accountability Office 
     (GAO), which is $16.6 million more than the 2014 enacted 
     level and $3.12 million less than the request.
       $600.3 million for the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), 
     which is $1.8 million less than the

[[Page H9289]]

     2014 enacted level and $76.4 million less than the request.
       $590.9 million for the Library of Congress, which is $11.9 
     million more than the 2014 enacted level and $2.1 million 
     less than the request.
       $120 million for the Government Printing Office (GPO), 
     which is $693,000 less than the 2014 enacted level and $8.9 
     million less than the request.


                             policy issues

       The agreement changes the name of the Government Printing 
     Office to the Government Publishing Office.
       The agreement includes report language requiring the House 
     Chief Administrative Officer develop and disseminate online 
     sexual harassment training.
       The agreement gives the Botanic Garden authority to work 
     with nonprofits on special exhibits and programming.
       The agreement establishes a Center for Audit Excellence at 
     GAO.
       The agreement allows the Office of Compliance to email, 
     rather than mail, certain notifications to employees.
       The agreement restricts incentives and award payments to 
     AOC contractors if their work is behind schedule or over 
     budget.
       The agreement restricts participation in the Open World 
     Leadership exchange program for Russian participants to allow 
     only those who are engaging in free market development, 
     humanitarian activities, and civic engagement. They also 
     cannot be officials of the central government.
       10. MILCON/VA Division of 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act:
       2014 enacted level: $73.2 billion.
       2015 base budget request: $71.9 billion.
       2015 Omnibus base: $71.8 billion.
       2015 OCO: $221 million.


                       highlights and key points

       $6.5 billion for Military Construction projects, which is 
     $3.2 billion less than the 2014 enacted level, including:
       1. $1.1 billion for Family Housing construction, which is 
     $325 million less than the 2014 enacted level.
       2. $315 million for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 
     account, which is $45 million more than the fiscal year 2015 
     budget request.
       3. $205.2 million in rescissions from prior Appropriations 
     Acts due to savings on projects.
       4. $221 million for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) 
     and the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI).
       $65 billion in discretionary funding for Veterans Affairs, 
     which is $1.7 billion more than the 2014 enacted level, 
     including:
       1. As authorized by Congress in 2009, VA medical services 
     accounts are provided funding one year in advance. The 
     agreement includes the budget request for fiscal year 2016 
     advance funding of $58.6 billion.
       2. The agreement includes an additional $40 million, above 
     the budget request, to hire additional claims and support 
     personnel at the regional offices; to expand the Veterans 
     Claims Intake Program records scanning system; and to 
     implement the centralized mail initiative.
       3. $3.9 billion for information technology systems, which 
     is $200 million more than the 2014 enacted level.
       4. $588.9 million for prosthetic research, which is $3.2 
     million above the 2014 enacted level.


                             policy issues

       The agreement creates the authority to provide advance 
     appropriations for three mandatory VA programs within the 
     Veterans Benefits Administration: (1) Compensation and 
     Pensions; (2) Readjustment Benefits; and (3) Veterans 
     Insurance and Indemnities.
       The agreement continues to provide tools and resources to 
     address the backlog of veterans disability claims by 
     increasing personnel, enhancing training and quality 
     oversight, and strengthening accountability.
       The agreement continues the requirement first enacted for 
     fiscal year 2014 to provide rigorous, publicly available Web-
     based monthly reports to the Committees on performance 
     measures for each regional office, including the number of 
     backlogged claims, the average number of days to complete a 
     claim, and error rates.
       The agreement continues the practice of restricting VA's 
     obligation of information technology funds until the VA 
     reports detailed plans on budget, timeline, and testing to 
     ensure reliable interoperability between current and future 
     Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems between the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
       The agreement clarifies that the payment rates used by the 
     VA for VA medical care in the State of Alaska and in those 
     States with an all-payer model agreement under the Social 
     Security Act that became effective on January 1, 2014, should 
     also be used in implementation of the Veterans Access, 
     Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014.
       11. State and Foreign Operations Division of 2015 Omnibus 
     Appropriations Act:
       2014 Total enacted level: $49.0 billion.
       2015 Committee mark: $48.29 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $49.27 billion (not including $2.526 billion 
     in emergency funds for Ebola).


                       highlights and key points

       $9.258 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), 
     which is $2.738 billion more than the 2014 enacted level.
       $7.8 billion for Diplomatic and Consular Programs which is 
     $185 million less than the 2014 enacted level and the same as 
     the Administration's request.
       $5.4 billion for the protection of diplomatic missions, 
     embassies, and personnel, which is $1 million more than the 
     2014 level and $46 million more than the Administration's 
     request.
       $2.32 billion for Embassy Security, Construction and 
     Maintenance, which is $46 million more than the 
     Administration's request and $350 million less than the 2014 
     enacted level.
       $8.45 billion for Global Health, which is $15 million more 
     than the 2014 enacted level and $404 million more than the 
     Administration's request.
       $2.51 billion for Development Assistance, which is the same 
     as the 2014 enacted level but $113 million less than the 
     Administration's request.
       $4.75 billion for Economic Support Fund (ESF), which is 
     $108 million more than the 2014 enacted level and $430 
     million less than the Administration's request.
       $5.9 billion for Foreign Military Financing (FMF), which is 
     $39 million less than the 2014 enacted level and $92 million 
     less than the Administration's request.
       $1.2 billion in base funding for USAID Operating Expenses, 
     which is $76 million more than the 2014 enacted level and 
     $168 million less than the Administration's request.
       $899.5 million for the Millennium Challenge Corporation 
     (MCC), which is $1.3 million more than the 2014 enacted level 
     and $110.5 million below the Administration's request.
       $5 billion in total funding for humanitarian assistance 
     accounts, which is $94 million more than the 2014 enacted 
     level and $1.52 billion more than the Administration's 
     request.
       $575 million for bilateral family planning, which is equal 
     to the 2014 enacted level.
       $379.5 million for Peace Corps, which is roughly equal to 
     the 2014 enacted level and the Administration's request.
       $2.526 billion for emergency international response to 
     fight Ebola, which is $370 million less than the 
     Administration's request.


                             policy issues

       The Omnibus does not include a House policy rider codifying 
     the ``Global Gag Rule,'' which prohibits non-governmental 
     organizations (NG0s) receiving federal funds from providing 
     women information about the full range of health services.
       The Omnibus does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting U.S. contributions to the UN Population Fund 
     (UNFPA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 
     (IPCC).
       The Omnibus includes health care equity for Peace Corps 
     volunteers.
       The Omnibus does not lift the cap on U.S. assessments for 
     international peacekeeping missions, and does not include IMF 
     quota reform.
       The Omnibus includes prohibitions on OPIC and the Export-
     Import Bank from fully implementing their clean energy 
     policies.
       12. Transportation and Housing and Urban Development 
     Division of 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act:
       2014 Omnibus: $50.9 billion.
       2015 Request: $59.9 billion.
       2015 Omnibus: $53.8 billion.


                       highlights and key points

       $9.74 billion for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
     Operations, which is $90 million more than the 2014 enacted 
     level and $9.3 million less than the President's budget 
     request.
       $500 million for National Infrastructure Investments 
     (TIGER), which is $100 million less than the 2014 enacted 
     level and $750 million less than the President's budget 
     request.
       $2.1 billion for Capital Investment Grants, which is $177 
     million more than the 2014 enacted level and $380 million 
     less than the President's budget request.
       $1.39 billion for Amtrak capital and operating expenses, 
     which freezes funding at the 2014 enacted level and $1.06 
     billion less than the President's budget request.
       $830 million for the National Highway Traffic Safety 
     Administration (NHTSA), which is $11 million more than the 
     2014 enacted level and $21 million below the President's 
     budget request.
       $30 million for initiatives to increase the safety and 
     oversight of the transport of energy products, including $10 
     million for grade crossing and track improvement grants on 
     rail routes that carry energy products.
       $17.5 billion for Section 8 Tenant Based Rental Assistance 
     renewals, which would meet projected need.
       $9.52 billion for Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance 
     renewals, which would meet projected need.
       $75 million for HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing 
     (HUD-VASH), which is the same as the 2014 enacted level and 
     the President's budget request.
       $4.44 billion for Public Housing Operating Fund, which is 
     $40 million more than the 2014 enacted level and $160 million 
     below the President's budget request.
       $1.9 billion for Public Housing Capital Fund, which is the 
     same as the 2014 enacted level and $50 million below the 
     President's budget request.
       $3 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), 
     which is $30 million less than the 2014 enacted level but 
     $200 million more than the President's budget request.
       $900 million for HOME Investment Partnerships, which is 
     $100 million less than the 2014 enacted level and $50 million 
     less than the President's budget request.

[[Page H9290]]

       $330 million for Housing Opportunities for People with 
     AIDS, which is the same as the 2014 enacted level and $2 
     million less than the President's budget request.
       $110 million for Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, 
     which is the same as the 2014 enacted level and $10 million 
     less than the President's budget request.
       The Omnibus includes provision (Section 166) inserted by 
     Congressman Culberson (R-TX) providing that ``None of the 
     funds in this or any other Act 20 may be available to advance 
     in any way a new light or heavy rail project towards a full 
     funding grant agreement as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5309 for the 
     Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas if the 
     proposed capital project is constructed on or planned to be 
     constructed on Richmond Avenue west of South Shepherd Drive 
     or on Post Oak Boulevard north of Richmond Avenue in Houston, 
     Texas.
       The Omnibus does not include Jackson Lee Amendment negating 
     provision (Section 166) inserted by Congressman Culberson (R-
     TX).


                             policy issues

       The Omnibus includes House policy riders to create 
     exemptions from truck weight standards for Wisconsin, 
     Kentucky, and Mississippi, but rejects an exemption for 
     Idaho.
       The Omnibus suspends a portion of regulations requiring a 
     minimum number of hours of rest for truck drivers.
       The Omnibus does not include House policy riders to 
     prohibit funding for California high speed rail.
       The Omnibus does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting transit and passenger rail from eligibility for 
     TIGER grants.
       The Omnibus does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting implementation, issuance, or enforcement of an 
     ``Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing'' rule.
       The Omnibus does not include a House policy rider 
     prohibiting DOT from issuing rules to increase minimum 
     insurance requirements for motor carriers.
       The agreement expands HUD-VASH to Native Americans living 
     on tribal lands.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 776, the previous question is ordered.
  The question is on the motion by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. 
Rogers).
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on the motion to concur will be followed by a 5-minute vote 
on the motion to suspend the rules on H.R. 5699.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 219, 
nays 206, not voting 10, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 563]

                               YEAS--219

     Aderholt
     Amodei
     Bachus
     Barber
     Barletta
     Barr
     Barrow (GA)
     Benishek
     Bera (CA)
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Black
     Boehner
     Boustany
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Brooks (IN)
     Brownley (CA)
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Bustos
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Camp
     Capito
     Carney
     Carter
     Cassidy
     Chabot
     Chaffetz
     Clay
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coffman
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Connolly
     Cook
     Costa
     Cramer
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Daines
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Rodney
     Delaney
     Denham
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart
     Dingell
     Duffy
     Ellmers
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fincher
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Foster
     Foxx
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Gardner
     Gerlach
     Gibbs
     Gibson
     Gingrey (GA)
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (MO)
     Griffin (AR)
     Grimm
     Guthrie
     Hanna
     Harper
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hastings (WA)
     Heck (NV)
     Herrera Beutler
     Himes
     Holding
     Horsford
     Hoyer
     Hudson
     Huizenga (MI)
     Hultgren
     Hunter
     Issa
     Jenkins
     Johnson (OH)
     Jolly
     Joyce
     Kaptur
     Kelly (PA)
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kinzinger (IL)
     Kline
     Kuster
     Lance
     Latham
     Latta
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Long
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Maffei
     Maloney, Sean
     Marino
     Matheson
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul
     McHenry
     McKeon
     McMorris Rodgers
     Meehan
     Meeks
     Messer
     Mica
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, George
     Moran
     Mullin
     Murphy (FL)
     Murphy (PA)
     Noem
     Norcross
     Nugent
     Nunes
     Nunnelee
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Pastor (AZ)
     Paulsen
     Pearce
     Perlmutter
     Peters (CA)
     Peters (MI)
     Petri
     Pittenger
     Pitts
     Price (GA)
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Reed
     Reichert
     Renacci
     Ribble
     Richmond
     Rigell
     Roby
     Roe (TN)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rokita
     Rooney
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothfus
     Royce
     Ruiz
     Runyan
     Ruppersberger
     Ryan (WI)
     Scalise
     Schneider
     Schock
     Schwartz
     Scott, David
     Sessions
     Sewell (AL)
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sinema
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Southerland
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Terry
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tiberi
     Tipton
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walorski
     Wasserman Schultz
     Wenstrup
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Womack
     Woodall
     Yoder
     Yoho
     Young (AK)
     Young (IN)

                               NAYS--206

     Adams
     Amash
     Bachmann
     Barton
     Bass
     Beatty
     Becerra
     Bentivolio
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Bonamici
     Braley (IA)
     Brat
     Bridenstine
     Brooks (AL)
     Broun (GA)
     Brown (FL)
     Burgess
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Cardenas
     Carson (IN)
     Cartwright
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clawson (FL)
     Cohen
     Conaway
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Cotton
     Courtney
     Crawford
     Cummings
     Davis, Danny
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     DeSantis
     DesJarlais
     Deutch
     Doggett
     Doyle
     Duncan (SC)
     Duncan (TN)
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Engel
     Enyart
     Eshoo
     Esty
     Farenthold
     Fleming
     Flores
     Frankel (FL)
     Franks (AZ)
     Fudge
     Gabbard
     Garcia
     Garrett
     Gohmert
     Gosar
     Gowdy
     Grayson
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Griffith (VA)
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hahn
     Hanabusa
     Hastings (FL)
     Heck (WA)
     Higgins
     Hinojosa
     Holt
     Honda
     Huelskamp
     Huffman
     Hurt
     Israel
     Jackson Lee
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones
     Jordan
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     King (IA)
     Kirkpatrick
     Labrador
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Langevin
     Lankford
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee (CA)
     Levin
     Lewis
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Lujan Grisham (NM)
     Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
     Lummis
     Lynch
     Maloney, Carolyn
     Marchant
     Massie
     Matsui
     McAllister
     McClintock
     McCollum
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McIntyre
     McKinley
     McNerney
     Meadows
     Meng
     Michaud
     Miller (FL)
     Moore
     Mulvaney
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neugebauer
     Nolan
     O'Rourke
     Olson
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perry
     Peterson
     Pingree (ME)
     Pocan
     Poe (TX)
     Polis
     Pompeo
     Posey
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Rice (SC)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rohrabacher
     Roybal-Allard
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salmon
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sanford
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, Austin
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Shea-Porter
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Speier
     Stutzman
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Titus
     Tonko
     Tsongas
     Van Hollen
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz
     Waters
     Waxman
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Welch
     Williams
     Wilson (FL)
     Wittman
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--10

     Campbell
     Capuano
     Cleaver
     Duckworth
     Hall
     Hensarling
     Miller, Gary
     Negrete McLeod
     Smith (WA)
     Stockman

                              {time}  2137

  Messrs. LANKFORD and WAXMAN changed their vote from ``aye'' to 
``no.''
  So the Senate amendment was concurred in.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________