[House Report 105-207]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    105-207
_______________________________________________________________________


 
DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED 
             AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, FISCAL YEAR 1998

                                _______
                                

 July 25, 1997.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


    Mr. Rogers, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 2267]

    The Committee on Appropriations submits the following 
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making 
appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1998.



                        INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT

  _____________________________________________________________________


                                                            Page Number

                                                            Bill Report
Title I--Department of Justice.............................     2
                                                                      8
Title II--Department of Commerce and Related Agencies......    38
                                                                     57
        Office of the United States Trade Representative...    38
                                                                     58
        International Trade Commission.....................    39
                                                                     58
        Department of Commerce.............................    39
                                                                     59
Title III--The Judiciary...................................    58
                                                                     96
Title IV--Department of State and Related Agencies.........    65
                                                                    105
        Department of State................................    65
                                                                    106
        Arms Control and Disarmament Agency................    77
                                                                    123
        United States Information Agency...................    78
                                                                    124
Title V--Related Agencies..................................    91
                                                                    132
        Department of Transportation: Maritime 
            Administration.................................    91
                                                                    132
        Commission for the Preservation of America's 
            Heritage Abroad................................    93
                                                                    134
        Commission on Civil Rights.........................    93
                                                                    134
        Commission on Immigration Reform...................    94
                                                                    135
        Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe...    94
                                                                    136
        Equal Employment Opportunity Commission............    94
                                                                    136
        Federal Communications Commission..................    95
                                                                    137
        Federal Maritime Commission........................    96
                                                                    138
        Federal Trade Commission...........................    97
                                                                    139
        Legal Services Corporation.........................    98
                                                                    140
        Marine Mammal Commission...........................   104
                                                                    140
        Ounce of Prevention Council........................
                                                                    140
        Securities and Exchange Commission.................   104
                                                                    141
        Small Business Administration......................   106
                                                                    142
        State Justice Institute............................   109
                                                                    146
Title VI--General Provisions...............................   109
                                                                    146
Assistance to State and Local Governments..................
                                                                    173
Appropriations Not Authorized By Law.......................
                                                                    170
Changes in the Application of Existing Law.................
                                                                    148
Comparison with Budget Resolution..........................
                                                                    172
Comparative Statement of New Budget (obligation) Authority.
                                                                    177
Compliance with Rule XIII--Clause 3........................
                                                                    174
Constitutional Authority...................................
                                                                    172
Five-Year Projection of Outlays............................
                                                                    173
Programs, Projects and Activities..........................
                                                                    173
Rescission of Funds........................................
                                                                    175
Transfer of Funds..........................................
                                                                    175

                Summary of Estimates and Recommendations

    The budget estimates for the departments and agencies 
included in the accompanying bill are contained in the Budget 
of the United States for 1998 submitted on February 6, 1997 (H. 
Doc. 105-3), budget amendments submitted on March 17, 1997 (H. 
Doc. 105-56) and April 29, 1997 (H. Doc. 105-78), and in a 
letter of transmittal from the State Justice Institute (dated 
February 5, 1997). This organization has the authority to 
transmit its budget directly to the Congress. In addition, a 
budget amendment was transmitted on July 17, 1997, and referred 
to the Committee on Appropriations on July 22, 1997, the day 
the bill was being considered by the Committee, which was not 
timely to be incorporated into this report, and will be 
considered as the bill progresses.
    The Committee recommends a total $25,965,357,000 in general 
purpose discretionary budget authority for the departments and 
agencies funded in the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill 
for fiscal year 1998, and $5,258,750,000 in discretionary 
budget authority from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund 
for the Department of Justice and the Judiciary. The Committee 
also recommends $504,336,000 for mandatory programs funded 
within this bill.
    For general purpose discretionary programs, the Committee 
recommendation is $352,427,000 below the President's budget 
request and $764,457,000 above the amounts enacted for the 
current fiscal year. The majority of this increase has been 
provided for law enforcement programs in the Department of 
Justice and the Judiciary to annualize the increase provided in 
fiscal year 1997 and to fund key initiatives in drug law 
enforcement, juvenile crime and control of our borders.
    For Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund programs, the 
Committee recommendation provides $5,258,750,000, which is 
$20,750,000 above the budget request and $733,750,000 above the 
amounts provided in the current fiscal year. The majority of 
this increase has been provided for assistance to State and 
local law enforcement agencies to address juvenile crime, 
domestic violence and local crime fighting needs and for 
reimbursement to States for the incarceration of criminal 
aliens.
    The Committee was faced with extremely difficult decisions 
in determining the funding levels for the various programs 
funded in this bill. In order to annualize and sustain the 
level of effort provided in fiscal year 1997 for law 
enforcement and Justice programs required an increase of 
approximately $1,000,000,000. In order to fund needed 
initiatives in the areas of law enforcement, drugs, juvenile 
crime and immigration as well as maintain the ability of our 
Federal court system to respond to its increasing workload, it 
has been necessary to scrutinize all other parts of the bill. 
The Committee bill has prioritized by providing, and even 
increasing funding, for the highest priority programs involving 
law enforcement, and reducing and in a number of cases 
terminating low priority programs.
    The following table provides a comparison of the new budget 
authority and outlays recommended in the accompanying bill with 
the amounts appropriated for fiscal year 1997, and with the 
budget request for fiscal year 1998:

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             1998 recommendation
                                                                                                compared with   
                                                            1997       1998        1998    ---------------------
                                                          enacted    request   recommended     1997       1998  
                                                                                             enacted    request 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discretionary..........................................  \1\ 25,20                                              
                                                                 1     26,318      25,965        +764       -353
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.....................      4,525      5,238       5,259        +734        +21
Mandatory..............................................        522        502         504         -18         +2
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total............................................     30,248     32,058      31,728      +1,480       -330
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes emergency appropriations.                                                                          

                         Highlights of the Bill

    Major initiatives and highlights of the bill contained in 
the Committee recommendations follow:

                         Department of Justice

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             1998 recommendation
                                                                                                compared with   
                                                            1997       1998        1998    ---------------------
                                                          enacted    request   recommended     1997       1998  
                                                                                             enacted    request 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I--Department of Justice:                                                                                 
    Discretionary......................................  \1\ 11,79                                              
                                                                 6     11,891      12,238        +442       +347
    Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.................      4,495      5,179       5,219        +724        +40
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes emergency appropriations.                                                                          

    --Over $4.8 billion for State and local law enforcement 
assistance, a $726 million increase, and $738 million more than 
requested by the Administration, including $538 million for 
juvenile crime and prevention programs, $523 million for the 
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant, $1.4 billion for Community 
Policing, $722.5 million for State Prison Grants, $305.5 
million for Violence Against Women Act programs, and $25 
million to develop a National Sexual Offender Registry.
    --Over $7.3 billion for drug enforcement initiatives, 
including a $134 million increase for the Drug Enforcement 
Administration, which is $42 million more than requested by the 
Administration. This includes a new $34 million initiative 
targeted at drug trafficking in the Caribbean and a $50 million 
increase to stop drug trafficking on the Southwest border.
    --Over $3.1 billion, a $372 million increase to enforce our 
immigration laws, including a $257 million increase for the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service to add 1,000 new border 
patrol agents, 500 more than the Administration requested, over 
2,500 additional detention beds, and $25 million to restore 
integrity to the naturalization process through fingerprinting 
and criminal record check initiatives. Also included is $600 
million to reimburse States for the incarceration of illegal 
aliens, a $100 million increase over last year and over the 
amount requested by the Administration.

              Department of Commerce and Related Agencies

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             1998 recommendation
                                                                                                compared with   
                                                            1997       1998        1998    ---------------------
                                                          enacted    request   recommended     1997       1998  
                                                                                             enacted    request 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title II--Department of Commerce and Related Agencies:                                                          
    Discretionary......................................  \1\ 3,863      4,275       4,196        +333        -81
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes emergency appropriations.                                                                          

    --$4.2 billion for the Department of Commerce and related 
agencies, a reduction of $81 million below the request and $333 
million above the fiscal year 1997 appropriation level, 
reflecting the cyclical increases necessary to prepare for the 
2000 decennial census and to preserve core scientific programs 
in accordance with the recent budget agreement, while at the 
same time continuing to refocus the Commerce Department on its 
basic functions, including trade promotion and public safety.
    --Provides $382 million for the decennial census, $298 
million above the fiscal year 1997 appropriation, and $27 
million above the request, but prohibits the expenditure of 
$282 million until the Congress authorizes the methods for 
conducting the 2000 census.
    --Provides $693 million to support the scientific research 
programs of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
the full amount requested, in accordance with the Balanced 
Budget Agreement.
    --Provides $642 million for the National Weather Service, 
including a $15 million increase over fiscal year 1997 
appropriated levels for base operations, and a $17 million 
increase over fiscal year 1997 appropriated levels for 
modernization activities.
    --Does not include $3.5 billion in advance appropriations 
for fiscal years 1999 through 2010 as requested in the budget 
for capital assets acquisition.

                             The Judiciary

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             1998 recommendation
                                                                                                compared with   
                                                            1997       1998        1998    ---------------------
                                                          enacted    request   recommended     1997       1998  
                                                                                             enacted    request 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title III--The Judiciary:                                                                                       
    Discretionary......................................  \1\ 2,971      3,324       3,171        +200       -153
    Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.................         30         50          40         +10        -10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes emergency appropriations.                                                                          

    --$3.2 billion for the discretionary and Crime Trust Fund 
programs of the Federal Judiciary, a 7 percent increase above 
the fiscal year 1997 appropriation level, to allow the Courts 
to keep with their increasing workload. This increase is 
consistent with the increases provided for Federal law 
enforcement agencies funded in this bill, as part of the bill's 
priority on bringing the full force of the law to bear on 
crime, drugs, and illegal immigration.

               Department of State, USIA and Arms Control

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             1998 recommendation
                                                                                                compared with   
                                                            1997       1998        1998    ---------------------
                                                          enacted    request   recommended     1997       1998  
                                                                                             enacted    request 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title IV--Department of State and Related Agencies:                                                             
    Discretionary......................................  \1\ 4,949      5,241       5,015         +66       -226
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes emergency appropriations.                                                                          

    --$5.0 billion for the Department of State, United States 
Information Agency and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency 
appropriations, an increase of $66 million above the current 
fiscal year, and $226 million below the request, conforming 
international spending to budget realities.
    --$40 million to expand broadcasting to China to a 24-hour 
basis.
    --$100 million for international organization arrearages, 
subject to authorization that contains real and substantial 
reform requirements.
    --Implementation of a new cost-recovery system for overseas 
missions, known as the International Cooperative Administrative 
Support System, to assure that all agencies contribute their 
share of the cost of administrative operations, as a major step 
forward in rationalizing the way resources are spent for 
overseas operations.

                            Related Agencies

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             1998 recommendation
                                                                                                compared with   
                                                            1997       1998        1998    ---------------------
                                                          enacted    request   recommended     1997       1998  
                                                                                             enacted    request 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title V--Related Agencies:                                                                                      
    Discretionary......................................      1,675      1,619       1,369        -307       -250
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --$1.37 billion for the related agencies funded in the 
bill, a reduction of $250 million from the request, and $307 
million below the fiscal year 1997 appropriation, preserving 
the core agencies and functions while reducing or eliminating 
low priority agencies to conform spending with fiscal 
realities.
    --Provides $728 million for the Small Business 
Administration, an increase of $28 million above the request, 
and $124 million below the fiscal year 1997 appropriation, 
preserving the core programs to assist small businesses.

            Reprogrammings, Reorganizations, and Relocations

    The House and Senate reports accompanying the 
appropriations bills for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, 
and State, the Judiciary, and the Related Agencies for several 
years have contained language concerning the reprogramming of 
funds between programs and activities. This matter is addressed 
in section 605 of the General Provisions contained in the 
accompanying bill.
    The Committee expects each department and agency to follow 
closely the reprogramming procedures listed below which are the 
same as provisions that applied in statute during fiscal year 
1997. These procedures apply to funds provided under this Act, 
or provided under previous Appropriations Acts that remain 
available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 1998, or 
provided through the collection of fees to the agencies funded 
by this Act.
    The Committee desires and expects that the Chairman of the 
Subcommittee on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies will be notified by 
letter a minimum of 15 days prior to--
    (1) Reprogramming of funds, whether permanent or temporary, 
in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, between 
programs or activities. This provision is also applicable in 
cases where several activities are involved with each receiving 
less than $500,000. In addition, the Committee desires to be 
notified of reprogramming actions which are less than these 
amounts if such actions would have the effect of committing the 
agency to significant funding requirements in future years.
    (2) Increasing funds or personnel by any means for any 
project or activity for which funds have been denied or 
restricted.
    (3) Creating new programs, offices, agencies or commissions 
or substantial augmentation of existing programs, offices, 
agencies or commissions.
    (4) Relocating offices or employees.
    (5) Reorganizing offices, programs, or activities.
    In addition, the Committee desires and expects any 
department or agency funded in the accompanying bill which is 
planning to conduct a reduction-in-force to notify the 
Committee by letter 30 days in advance of the date of the 
proposed personnel action.
    The Committee also expects that any items which are subject 
to interpretation will be reported.
    The Committee is concerned that in some instances, the 
department or agencies funded within this Appropriations Act 
are not adhering to the Committee's reprogramming policy and 
procedures which are set forth in this report and in section 
605 of the accompanying bill. The Committee expects each 
department and agency funded in the bill to follow these 
notification policies precisely and not reallocate resources or 
reorganize activities prior to submitting the required 
notifications to the Committee. The Committee has provided each 
of the departments, the Judiciary, and the United States 
Information Agency with transfer authority, which is the same 
as the transfer authority provided in the fiscal year 1997 
Appropriations Act. The Committee believes such authority, 
together with the traditional reprogramming policy, gives each 
department, the Judiciary, and the United States Information 
Agency the needed discretion to respond to unanticipated 
circumstances and requirements which may arise throughout the 
fiscal year.

           Relationship With Budget and Comptroller's Offices

    Through the years, the Appropriations Committee has 
channeled most of its inquiries and requests for information 
and assistance through the budget offices or comptroller 
organizations of the various departments, agencies, commissions 
and the Judiciary. The Committee has often pointed out the 
natural affinity and relationship between these organizations 
and the Appropriations Committee which makes such a 
relationship imperative. The Committee reiterates its position 
that while it always reserves the right to call upon all 
organizations in the departments, agencies, commissions and the 
Judiciary for information and assistance, the primary 
conjunction between the Committee and these entities must be 
through the budget offices and comptroller organizations.
    The Committee appreciates all of the assistance received 
from each of the departments, agencies, commissions and the 
Judiciary during this past year. The workload generated in the 
budget process is large and growing, and therefore, a positive, 
responsive relationship between the Committee and the budget 
and/or comptroller offices is absolutely essential to the 
appropriations process of the United States Government.

          Staffing and Operations Outside of the United States

    The Committee remains concerned about the lack of 
systematic control over the size and growth of Federal 
department and agency presence outside of the United States, 
raising the likelihood that resources are being misallocated. 
The Committee, in conjunction with the Administration, has 
begun a number of initiatives to improve the situation, 
including the overseas staffing model for the State Department, 
and the new International Cooperative Support Services system, 
to better allocate costs of overseas presence to each agency, 
in order to make the decision to assign personnel overseas 
based on true cost. The Committee has addressed other areas of 
concern in this report.
    This concern is due in large part to the cost implications. 
It costs two to three times as much to maintain an employee 
outside of the United States as it does within the United 
States It is clear that rationalizing and systematizing 
staffing and operations in foreign countries has the potential 
for large budgetary savings.
    The Committee wishes to make it clear that any expansion of 
staffing or presence overseas is to be brought to the attention 
of the Committee at the outset of the planning process, well in 
advance of the proposed use of any funds appropriated in this 
Act, or any prior or subsequent appropriations Acts, preferably 
through the annual budget submission, and as a last resort 
through the reprogramming process. The Committee remains intent 
upon finding the proper way to assure control of the deployment 
of personnel and resources outside of the United States.

                 Government Performance and Results Act

    The Committee considers the full and effective 
implementation of the Government Performance and Results Act, 
Public Law 103-62, to be a priority for all agencies of 
government.
    Starting with fiscal year 1999, the Results Act requires 
each agency to ``prepare an annual performance plan covering 
each program activity set forth in the budget of such agency''. 
Specifically, for each program activity the agency is required 
to ``establish performance goals to define the level of 
performance to be achieved by a program activity'' and 
``performance indicators to be used in assessing the relevant 
outputs, service levels, and outcomes of each program 
activity''.
    The Committee takes this requirement of the Results Act 
very seriously and plans to carefully examine agency 
performance goals and measures during the appropriations 
process. As a result, starting with the fiscal year 1999 
appropriations cycle, the Committee will consider agency 
progress in articulating clear, definitive, and results-
oriented (outcome) goals and measures as it reviews requests 
for appropriations.
    The Committee suggests agencies examine their program 
activities in light of their strategic goals to determine 
whether any changes or realignments would facilitate a more 
accurate and informed presentation of budgetary information. 
Agencies are encouraged to consult with the Committee as they 
consider such revisions prior to finalizing any requests 
pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1104. The Committee will consider any 
requests with a view toward ensuring that fiscal year 1999 and 
subsequent budget emissions display amounts requested against 
program activity structures for which annual performance goals 
and measures have been established.

                     TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

    The Committee recommends $17,571,841,000 in new budget 
(obligational) authority in the accompanying bill for the 
Department of Justice for fiscal year 1998. This amount is 
$1,146,838,000 more than the appropriation for the current 
year, and is $386,620,000 above the budget request for fiscal 
year 1998.
    Of the total amount provided $12,237,588,000 is derived 
from general purpose discretionary funds, which represents an 
increase of $441,413,000 above the current year. The remaining 
$5,218,750,000 is derived from the Violent Crime Reduction 
Trust Fund, which is an increase of $723,750,000 in spending 
from the Trust Fund over the current year.
    The Committee recommendation for the Department of Justice 
reflects the continuing commitment of the Congress to provide 
resources for the Nations' top domestic priority--fighting 
crime. Over the past two years, Congress has increased funding 
for the Department of Justice by over $4,000,000,000, 
representing a 34 percent increase, and the results are 
showing. Crime rates for the most serious crimes are declining, 
communities are safer, and violent criminals are serving longer 
sentences and not being released back into the community. The 
recommendation continues this support for crime fighting 
efforts and places emphasis on empowering communities to fight 
crime and drugs. Funding for State and local law enforcement 
assistance increases by $726,170,000, which is $738,366,000 
more than requested by the President and includes a restoration 
of funding for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program at 
$523,000,000, which the Administration proposed to eliminate. 
The COPs program will continue on the path of providing 100,000 
new police officers and COPs funding will also be allowed for 
innovative technology and drug initiatives. The recommendation 
includes new programs to punish and prevent juvenile crime, 
including a new $300,000,000 new juvenile crime block grant and 
$237,922,000 for juvenile crime prevention programs. The bill 
includes significant funding for law enforcement programs to 
combat drugs. The recommendation includes an increase of 
$134,250,000 for the Drug Enforcement Administration, 
$42,438,000 more than requested by the President, targeted at 
drug trafficking on the Southwest border, the Caribbean, and 
heroin and methamphetamine traffickers. The recommendation also 
continues funding to address the problem of illegal 
immigration, including a $257,357,000 increase for the INS for 
1,000 new border patrol agents and increased detention and 
removal capacity. In addition, $600,000,000 is provided to 
reimburse States for the incarceration of criminal aliens.
    The Congress has done its part to dedicate resources to the 
Department of Justice during a time of severe fiscal 
constraint.

                         General Administration

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends a total of $76,199,000 for General 
Administration for fiscal year 1998. This amount is $3,174,000 
less than the current year appropriation, and is $3,760,000 
below the request.
    This account funds the development of policy objectives and 
the overall management of the Department of Justice. The 
Committee recommendation includes additional funding for 
adjustments to base and provides $426,000 for additional 
staffing for the Office of Professional Responsibility for 
investigations of allegations of attorney misconduct.
    Drug Strategy.--The Committee is concerned about the 
problem of drugs and crime in America, and has increased the 
Department's drug enforcement funding 74% over the last 6 
years, from $4.2 billion in FY 1992 to $7.3 billion in FY 1998. 
Department anti-drug activities are diverse, including 
investigation of drug cartels in source countries, domestic 
drug abuse prevention programs, and investigation, prosecution 
and incarceration of drug users and dealers. This massive 
investment merits a unified, strategic focus, and clearly 
stated outcome goals with interim benchmarks against which 
progress can be measured.
    The Committee directs the Attorney General to develop a 
strategic plan for drug enforcement activities in the 
Department of Justice, with short-term and long-term goals that 
are specific and measurable, for submission to the Committee no 
later than March 30, 1998. In addition, the Committee requests 
that the Attorney General submit bi-annual reports documenting 
progress toward those goals beginning October 1, 1998. The 
Committee recognizes that developing such a unified plan for 
the many existing Department-wide activities (Interagency Crime 
and Drug Enforcement Task Forces, Southwest Border Initiative, 
methamphetamine strategy) will be difficult, but references the 
work to date to develop government-wide anti-drug abuse 
performance measures under the leadership of the Office of 
National Drug Control Policy.
    Restructuring of the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
(INS).--The Committee requested that the Commission on 
Immigration Reform conduct an examination of the organizational 
structure and roles of the various agencies involved in 
immigration-related activities, identify strengths and 
weaknesses, and make recommendations on changes that would 
improve management of the immigration system. The 
recommendations of the Commission will be presented in its 
final report on September 30, 1997. From discussions with the 
Commission, the Committee understands and agrees with the 
Commission that major structural change is needed in the 
management of the immigration system. As described by the 
Commission, the complicated and conflicting missions of certain 
agencies, particularly the Immigration and Naturalization 
Service, impedes effective management. At the same time, the 
diffusion of responsibility for legal immigration matters 
across the Departments of Justice, State and Labor undermines 
efficiency.
    Over the past two years the Committee has provided 
unprecedented funding increases to the INS--over $500,000,000 
each year in 1996 and 1997--and the largest increase for any 
Department of Justice agency. Congress has also provided 
additional authorities to INS to control illegal immigration. 
Despite these increases and new authorities, INS is still not 
handling its responsibilities. The Committee has come to 
believe that INS is suffering from mission overload, that is, 
it is trying to manage too many priorities, including 
conflicting enforcement and customer service roles, that 
require coordination and cooperation with numerous agencies 
that are involved in the management of the immigration system. 
This level of responsibility would be a daunting and probably 
impossible task for any one agency, and is even more so for 
INS, with its history of management problems.
    The Committee directs the Attorney General to review the 
Commission's recommendations for structural changes in the 
immigration system and in consultation with the Secretary of 
State and the Secretary of Labor, and the Office of Management 
and Budget, to develop a restructuring plan for more efficient 
performance of the four core functions of the immigration 
system: (1) border and interior enforcement, (2) enforcement of 
immigration-related employment standards, (3) adjudication of 
immigration and citizenship benefits, and (4) administrative 
review of decisions made by front-line agencies. This plan 
should be submitted to the Committee no later than April 1, 
1998 and should include a plan by the Office of Management 
Budget, for inclusion in the President's budget submission, for 
a new division of responsibilities for immigration matters. The 
Committee expects the Department and INS to take seriously the 
opportunity to develop a plan to transfer some of the 
responsibilities of the INS to other Departments and agencies 
in fiscal year 1999, in order to more effectively manage the 
important responsibility of immigration control. The Committee 
will no longer look favorably on requests that simply add 
resources to the current overloaded system, which has proven to 
be an ineffective way of addressing this responsibility.
    Oversight of the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
(INS) Naturalization Program.--The Committee is aware of the 
aggressive efforts of the Justice Management Division (JMD), to 
direct and oversee the audit and review of persons improperly 
granted citizenship in 1996 as part of Citizenship USA and the 
development of necessary steps to revoke citizenship in those 
cases. Further, the Committee understands that JMD will be 
responsible for oversight of a process to completely redesign 
the naturalization program to guarantee its integrity and 
ensure the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
    In order to sustain these efforts, the Committee directs 
the Attorney General to transfer $5,000,000 from the INS 
Examinations Fee account to the General Administration account, 
to ensure sufficient funds are available to bring these efforts 
to completion and restore the integrity and dignity of the 
naturalization process. The Committee expects the Department to 
keep it fully informed of (1) all changes being proposed to the 
naturalization program as a result of the redesign effort; and 
(2) any new applications of technology to the program that 
could significantly improve its effectiveness.
    Electronic Freedom of Information Act.--The Committee 
recognizes the significant level of Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA) requests received by and pending at the Department of 
Justice. The Committee understands that in order to implement 
the Electronic Freedom of Information Act (EFOIA) Amendments of 
1996, which include time limits for processing FOIA requests 
and restrictions on judicial relief for agencies with large 
backlogs, the Department of Justice has requested through its 
various components, a total of 397 positions and $31,620,000, 
including 239 positions and $20,453,000 for the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation, to meet EFOIA requirements. The Committee 
believes that the Department of Justice should make it a 
priority to meet these new requirements and significantly 
reduce its current backlog of FOIA requests. The Committee 
therefore directs the Department to use unobligated balances 
deposited in the Working Capital Fund for the Department's 
unfunded expenses related to EFOIA.
    The Committee recommends bill language, similar to language 
included in fiscal years 1996 and 1997, that specifies the 
amount of funding provided for Department Leadership and 
Executive Support programs.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, as included in 
previous fiscal years, making up to $3,317,000 of this 
appropriation available until expended for the Facilities 
Program 2000.

                         Counterterrorism Fund

    The Committee recommends $20,000,000 for the 
Counterterrorism Fund which was established in the 1995 
Supplemental Appropriation after the bombing of the Alfred P. 
Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. This Fund is under 
the control and direction of the Attorney General, and is 
available to reimburse any Department of Justice organization 
for the cost incurred from the reestablishment of an office or 
facility damaged or destroyed as a result of a domestic or 
international terrorist incident, and to cover extraordinary 
expenses necessary to counter, investigate or prosecute 
domestic or international terrorism activities.
    The amount recommended, when added to the $3,900,000 likely 
to be available at the end of fiscal year 1997, will provide a 
balance of $23,900,000 available in this Fund for fiscal year 
1998 to cover any expenses that may be necessary as a result of 
terrorist incidents or to engage in planning, and the execution 
of plans, related to upcoming significant events which are 
potential targets of terrorist activity.
    The Attorney General is required to notify the Committees 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate in accordance with section 605 of this Act, prior to the 
obligation of any funds from this account.

                   Administrative Review and Appeals

    The Committee recommends $125,700,000 for fiscal year 1998 
for Administrative Review and Appeals, of which $59,000,000 is 
provided from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. This 
account funds (1) the Executive Office for Immigration Review 
(EOIR), which includes the Board of Immigration Appeals, 
Immigration Judges, and Administrative Law Judges who decide 
through administrative hearings whether to admit or exclude 
aliens seeking to enter the country, and whether to deport or 
adjust the status of aliens whose status has been challenged; 
and (2) the Office of the Pardon Attorney which receives, 
investigates and considers petitions for all forms of Executive 
clemency. Of the total amount provided, the Committee has 
included $124,143,000 for EOIR and $1,557,000 for the Office of 
the Pardon Attorney.
    Immigration Initiatives.--The Committee recommendation 
includes an increase of $14,624,000 over the current year 
appropriation for EOIR, to support additional judges, attorneys 
and support for immigration initiatives and provides the 
following program increases:
          +$2,400,000, the full amount requested, for seven 
        additional immigration judges and 3 Board of 
        Immigration Appeal attorneys and related support to 
        address additional caseload related to deportation 
        provisions in the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death 
        Penalty Act of 1996; and
          +$4,148,000 for 11 immigration judges, 4 attorneys 
        and related support for additional removal of criminal 
        and non-criminal aliens resulting from interior 
        enforcement and border control initiatives.

                      Office Of Inspector General

    The Committee recommends $33,211,000 for the Office of 
Inspector General for fiscal year 1998, the full amount 
requested and $1,251,000 above the amount provided in the 
current year appropriation.
    The Committee recommendation assumes that the Inspector 
General will continue to receive full reimbursement for 
services provided to the U.S. Trustees for audits of the 
various non-appropriated accounts administered by the 
Department. The Committee expects that to the extent audits, 
inspections and investigations are planned for non-appropriated 
accounts of the INS, subject to the reprogramming requirements 
of section 605 of this Act, the Inspector General may be 
reimbursed from these accounts.
    The Committee recommendation also includes language, as 
requested, that allows the Attorney General to transfer up to 
one-tenth of one percent of grant funds provided under the 
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, for the Inspector General 
to audit and review these grant programs.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous fiscal years, which makes: (1) up to 
$10,000 of this appropriation available for emergencies of a 
confidential manner; and (2) funds available for the 
acquisition of motor vehicles.

                         U.S. Parole Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $4,799,000 for the Parole 
Commission for fiscal year 1998, the full amount requested and 
$46,000 less than the current year appropriation.
    This Commission is an independent body within the 
Department of Justice which makes decisions regarding requests 
for parole and supervision of Federal prisoners. As a result of 
legislation that established sentencing guidelines, the Parole 
Commission is phasing down its operations. Public Law 104-232 
extended the termination of the Commission until November 1, 
2003.

                            Legal Activities

                        General Legal Activities

    The Committee recommends a total of $452,969,000 for 
General Legal Activities for fiscal year 1998, of which 
$7,969,000 is provided from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust 
Fund. The total amount recommended is $22,707,000 more than the 
current year appropriation, and $21,557,000 less than the 
request.
    This appropriation supports the Attorney General through 
the establishment of litigation policy, conduct of litigation, 
and various other legal responsibilities, through the Office of 
the Solicitor General, the Tax Division, the Criminal Division, 
the Civil Division, the Environmental and Natural Resources 
Division, the Office of Legal Counsel, the Civil Rights 
Division, INTERPOL--U.S. National Central Bureau, and the 
Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair 
Employment Practices.
    The Committee recommendation provides pay and inflation 
increases for all divisions and the following program 
increases:
    +$1,877,000 for the Criminal Division to support the 
Southwest Border Initiative, Federal capital case prosecutions, 
international extradition, and overseas positions in Manila, 
Brasilia, and Athens;
    +$462,000 for Tax Division prosecutions;
    +$5,483,000 for the Civil Division's defense of claims 
under the Financial Institution Reform, Recovery and 
Enforcement Act (FIRREA).
    In addition, $7,969,000 is recommended from the Violent 
Crime Reduction Trust Fund to support the full cost of 
attorneys and support staff for the Civil Division's Office of 
Immigration Litigation for asylum activities.
    The Committee also understands that $33,700,000 will be 
reimbursed from the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance 
Corporation (FSLIC) resolution trust fund for FIRREA claims and 
$5,670,000 will be reimbursed from the Health Care Fraud Abuse 
Control Account for health care fraud claims.
    The Committee also directs the Attorney General to use 
unobligated balances in the Working Capital Fund to support 
requested program increases for Electronic Freedom of 
Information Act requirements for this account and for 
implementation of the Justice Consolidated Office Network.
    In addition, the Committee is concerned about the 
incidences involving police and minority Americans which have 
had a tendency to escalate into violence. These occurrences can 
undermine police-minority relations in communities across the 
nation. In an effort to ascertain the extent of the problem, 
the Committee expects the Civil Rights Division to look into 
the feasibility of collecting information on outstanding and 
unresolved claims made against police departments by private 
citizens, as well as the process by which those claims are 
disposed.
    The Committee believes the Department of Justice Office of 
Special Investigations--responsible for activities involving 
Nazi criminals--continues to do an excellent job given limited 
resources, an increasing caseload, and a diminishing amount of 
time to close out its cases. In recent weeks, OSI has been 
given 3,000 new names by the German government that must be 
researched. The Committee urges the Attorney General to ensure 
that OSI has adequate resources to accomplish its activities 
and directs the Attorney General to include, in the annual 
budget submission, a specific entry for the Office of Special 
Investigations within the Department of Justice budget.
    Bilateral Prisoner Transfer Treaties.--Sections 330 and 331 
of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility 
Act (IIRIRA) require the Administration to take specific steps 
to increase the effectiveness of bi-lateral prisoner transfer 
treaties as a means of returning aliens convicted of crimes in 
the United States to their home countries for completion of 
their prison sentences. Given the high costs of incarcerating 
alien felons and the need to remove criminal aliens from the 
U.S. as rapidly as possible, an aggressive stance in seeking 
the return of alien convicts to their home countries is 
essential. The Committee urges the Criminal Division of the 
Department of Justice to work with its counterparts in the 
Department of State to fulfill the mandates under sections 330 
and 331 of the IIRIRA.
    The Committee recommends bill language, similar to that 
included in previous fiscal years, which: (1) allows up to 
$20,000 for expenses of collecting evidence; (2) makes up to 
$10,000,000 for litigation support contracts available until 
expended; (3) makes up to $17,525,000 for office automation 
systems available until expended; and (4) makes up to $1,000 
available to the U.S. National Central Bureau--INTERPOL for 
reception and representation expenses.
    The Committee recommendation does not include language 
provided in previous fiscal years that would have permitted the 
acceptance of gifts for hosting the 1998 INTERPOL-United States 
National Central Bureau (USNCB) regional conference. The 
Committee notes that Section 116 of the Department of Justice 
Appropriations Act, 1997, provided the Attorney General with 
permanent gift authority under which the INTERPOL regional 
conference would fall. The Committee supports the Department's 
use of this general gift authority to assist INTERPOL-USNCB in 
hosting the International Stolen Arts Conference in New York 
City, New York in September 1998.

               The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act

    The Committee recommends a reimbursement of $4,028,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust 
Fund to cover Justice Department expenses associated with 
litigating cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury 
Act of 1986. This represents the same level of funding as 
provided in the current year appropriation.

               Salaries and Expenses, Antitrust Division

    The Committee recommendation assumes a total of $94,542,000 
in budget (obligational) authority for the Antitrust Division 
for fiscal year 1998, which is $3,000,000 below the amount 
requested and $2,095,000 above the current year appropriation. 
Of this amount, $70,000,000 will be derived from anticipated 
fee collections in fiscal year 1998, and $10,000,000 will be 
derived from unobligated fiscal year 1997 fee collections, 
resulting in a net direct appropriation of $14,542,000. The 
Committee notes that any use of remaining unobligated fee 
collections above the $10,000,000 anticipated from the prior 
year, is subject to the reprogramming requirements outlined in 
section 605 of this Act.
    This Division acts on antitrust cases before the Supreme 
Court, represents the interests of the United States in cases 
brought under Federal antitrust laws, reviews decisions of 
regulatory commissions, and prepares and files amicus briefs.
    The recommendation includes bill language for the Antitrust 
Division, similar to that included in previous fiscal years, 
which: (1) allows $70,000,000 in fees to be credited to this 
account; (2) reduces appropriated funds as fees are collected; 
and (3) makes fees in excess of $70,000,000 available until 
expended in fiscal year 1999.

             Salaries and Expenses, United States Attorneys

    The Committee recommends a total of $1,035,828,000 for the 
U.S. Attorneys for fiscal year 1998, of which $62,828,000 is 
provided from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. The total 
amount provided is an increase of $57,712,000 above the current 
year appropriation and $33,617,000 below the request.
    This appropriation supports the Executive Office for U.S. 
Attorneys and the 94 U.S. Attorneys Offices which serve as the 
principal litigators for the U.S. Government for criminal, 
civil and debt collection matters.
    The Committee recommendation assumes requested adjustments 
to base, including a decrease of $3,821,000 for resources 
provided in fiscal year 1997 for oversight of the Teamsters 
election, and program increases totaling $30,857,000 for the 
following activities:
    Southwest Border Initiative, Drug Prosecutions and Drug 
Task Forces.--The recommendation provides an increase of 
$15,143,000 for 75 attorneys, $4,625,000 more than requested, 
for drug prosecutions and the Southwest Border Initiative. 
Additional funding, above the President's request, is provided 
for U.S. Attorney-led drug task force projects, including 
support to High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces.
    The Committee is concerned that U.S. Attorney workload 
statistics only reflect a 2.5% increase over the past four 
years in drug prosecutions, despite a 14% increase in U.S. 
Attorney resources for drug prosecutions. The Committee 
understands that the number of prosecutions alone does not 
represent the progress being made in combating drugs; however, 
it is an indicator that should be reviewed to determine whether 
or not there is consistency in Federal application of drug laws 
across the 94 U.S. Attorney districts and whether or not drug 
prosecutions, relative to other caseload, is a priority in all 
districts. The Committee expects that within the report that is 
to be prepared by the Attorney General on the Department of 
Justice's drug strategy, the U.S. Attorneys will address the 
issues of priority and consistency and develop an applicable 
measurement to address accountability for drug resources that 
have been provided and to determine the level of progress being 
made in the drug war.
    Organized Crime Prosecutions.--The recommendation includes 
an increase of $3,779,000 and 27 attorneys, the full amount 
requested, to prosecute organized crime cases, including 
support for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Operation 
Heaven's Gate, a strategic initiative to reduce the La Cosa 
Nostra's influence in a variety of industries.
    Child Support Enforcement.--The recommendation includes an 
increase of $632,000, the full amount requested, for additional 
paralegal staff to allow the U.S. Attorneys Offices to fully 
enforce the provisions of the Child Support Recovery Act of 
1992.
    D.C. Superior Court.--The U.S. Attorneys Office in the 
District of Columbia serves as the ``State'' prosecutor for the 
District of Columbia. In order to address a growing number of 
cases and to implement strategies to reduce crime and violence 
in the District, the Committee recommendation includes an 
increase of $11,678,000, 55 attorneys and 116 support staff to 
address critical staffing needs for D.C. Superior Court. The 
recommendation includes the full amount requested for support 
staff, gang prosecution, unsolved homicide cases, Operation 
Ceasefire and for community prosecutions. In addition, funding 
requested for domestic violence cases will be provided through 
the Violence Against Women Act grant program, and victim and 
witness assistance will be provided through the Crime Victims 
Fund.
    Victim and Witness Assistance.--The recommendation includes 
a portion of the funding and staffing requested by the U.S. 
Attorneys for Federal victim assistance under the Office for 
Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs. 
Pursuant to section 109 of the Act, the Committee intends that 
resources previously set aside in the Crime Victims Fund for 
the establishment of the National Fine Center, will be used to 
support a doubling of the current level of staffing dedicated 
to victim assistance, the establishment of a National 
Notification System to keep victims and witnesses apprised of 
pertinent case developments and the tracking of Federal 
criminal monetary penalties. The Committee expects that the 
additional staffing, although funded through the Office of 
Victims of Crime, will be assigned to U.S. Attorney Offices.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous fiscal years, which: (1) makes up to 
$2,500,000 for debt collection purposes available until 1999; 
(2) makes available up to $8,000 to be used for official 
reception and representation expenses; (3) makes up to 
$10,000,000 for automated litigation support contracts 
available until expended; and (4) specifies the number of 
positions and workyears provided for the U.S. Attorneys. New 
bill language is included which makes up to $6,000,000 for 
office moves, expansions and renovations available until 1999 
and makes up to $1,200,000 for implementation of information 
systems for D.C. Superior Court available until expended.

                   United States Trustee System Fund

    The Committee recommendation provides a total of 
$107,950,000 in budget (obligational) authority for the U.S. 
Trustees for fiscal year 1998, to be entirely funded from 
offsetting fee collections. The amount recommended is the same 
level as provided in fiscal year 1997 and $8,771,000 below the 
request.
    The U.S. Trustees System provides administrative support to 
expeditiously move bankruptcy cases through the bankruptcy 
process and ensures accountability of private trustees 
appointed to administer bankruptcy estates and with regard to 
debtors. Public Law 99-554, the Bankruptcy Judges, U.S. 
Trustees, and Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986, established 
a U.S. Trustee System Fund in the U.S. Treasury, and provided 
for the collection of fees into the Fund to finance program 
operations.
    The recommendation also includes bill language which: (1) 
allows deposits to the U.S. Trustee System Fund to be used to 
pay refunds due depositors; (2) allows $107,950,000 in 
offsetting fee collections to be retained and used for 
necessary expenses in this appropriation; (3) reduces 
appropriated funds as such fees are collected; and (4) makes 
offsetting fee collections in excess of $107,950,000 available 
until expended in fiscal year 1999.

                  Foreign Claims Settlement Commission

    The Committee recommends $1,226,000 for the Foreign Claims 
Settlement Commission for fiscal year 1998. This amount is an 
increase of $273,000 over the current year appropriation and 
the full amount requested. The Commission settles claims of 
American citizens arising out of nationalization, 
expropriation, or other takings of their properties and 
interests by foreign governments.

         Salaries and Expenses, United States Marshals Service

    The Committee recommends $488,497,000 for the United States 
Marshals Service for fiscal year 1998, of which $25,553,000 
will be provided from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. 
This amount represents an increase of $6,002,000 above the 
current year appropriation, and $12,300,000 below the amount 
requested.
    The primary mission of the 94 U.S. Marshals offices is the 
protection of the Federal Judiciary, protection of witnesses, 
execution of warrants and court orders, and the custody and 
transportation of unsentenced prisoners.
    The Committee recommendation assumes requested adjustments 
to base, including the cost of the 1998 pay raise and program 
increases for the following activities:
    Security at New and Expanded Courthouses.--The Committee 
recommendation also includes $2,500,000 for security staffing 
and $2,500,000 for equipment at courthouses anticipated to open 
in 1998. This amount assumes that a number of the courthouses 
scheduled to open in September 1997 will not open until later 
in fiscal year 1998. This assumption is based on the fact that 
of the 11 courthouses scheduled to open in fiscal year 1997, 6 
have extended the opening dates by at least three months.
    The Committee recommendation also includes $3,000,000 for 
fugitive apprehensions and $658,000 for witness security. The 
Committee also assumes $500,000 will be reimbursed from the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service to the U.S. Marshals 
Service to develop a long-term strategy on the requirements of 
the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System. In 
addition, the recommendation does not include a requested 
transfer of $2,300,000 from the Bureau of Prisons to the 
Marshals Service for construction of prisoner holding 
facilities. The Committee believes that responsibility for 
construction of these facilities should remain with the Bureau 
of Prisons.
    The Committee is also aware of the inadequate availability 
of jail space in Utah to address the growing influx of aliens 
and illegal drug trafficking. Both INS and the U.S. Marshals 
contract with facilities in Utah to address the detention needs 
of aliens and pre-sentenced prisoners. As these populations 
continue to grow, the jail space problem in Utah magnifies. The 
Committee requests that the U.S. Marshals evaluate this issue 
in the context of the Department's Detention Planning Committee 
and provide to the Committee a recommendation on alleviating 
jail space problems in Utah.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which (1) allows 
up to $6,000 to be used for official reception and 
representation expenses; (2) allows for the acquisition of 
motor vehicles for police-type use without regard to the 
general purchase price limitation; (3) makes up to $4,000,000 
for development, implementation, maintenance and support, and 
training for an automated prisoner information system, and up 
to $2,200,000 for the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation 
System, available until expended. In addition, language is 
included that makes permanent the provision which allows the 
U.S. Marshals Service to receive reimbursement for the 
maintenance and transport of State, local and territorial 
prisoners by the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation 
System.

                       Federal Prisoner Detention

    The Committee recommendation assumes total budget 
(obligational) authority of $405,262,000 for the Federal 
Prisoner Detention account for fiscal year 1998, which is the 
same level provided in the current year appropriation and 
$57,569,000 below the request.
    Under this program, the U.S. Marshals contract with State 
and local jails and private facilities to house unsentenced 
Federal prisoners for short periods of time, usually before and 
during trial and while awaiting transfer to Federal 
institutions after conviction.
    The Committee understands that in addition to the amounts 
recommended, approximately $68,000,000 will also be available 
for this program from unobligated balances that will carry 
forward from fiscal year 1997, bringing the total availability 
for this account to $473,262,000.

                     Fees and Expenses Of Witnesses

    The Committee recommends $75,000,000 for Fees and Expenses 
of Witnesses for fiscal year 1998, the full amount requested, 
and $25,702,000 less than the current year appropriation. The 
amount recommended is the full budget estimate for the 
mandatory portion of this program, which provides for fees and 
expenses of witnesses who appear on behalf of the Government in 
cases in which the United States is a party, including fact and 
expert witnesses, mental competency examinations, and witness/
informant protection.
    The Committee is concerned that the budget justification 
for this account does not accurately reflect expenses that are 
being paid from this program. The Committee understands that 
funds provided for Private Counsel have been used to pay legal 
expenses of Federal employees who have appeared before 
Congressional Committees for the purpose of Congressional 
investigations. The budget justification indicates that Private 
Counsel funds are used for legal expenses in cases where an 
actual suit has been brought against a Federal employee. The 
Committee is concerned that there is inconsistent criteria for 
use of these resources and believes that the budget 
justification should be updated to reflect the actual purposes 
for which this funding is used.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which allows: 
(1) up to $4,750,000 for protected witness safesites; (2) up to 
$1,000,000 for the purchase and maintenance of armored vehicles 
for prisoner transportation; and (3) up to $4,000,000 available 
for the purchase, installation and maintenance of a secure 
automated information system.

           Salaries and Expenses, Community Relations Service

    The Committee recommends $5,319,000 for the Community 
Relations Service for fiscal year 1998. This amount is the same 
level as the current year appropriation. In addition, the 
recommendation includes a provision which allows the Attorney 
General to transfer $2,000,000 from funds made available to the 
Department of Justice to this account.
    The Community Relations Service (CRS) was established by 
Title X of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide assistance 
to communities in resolving disagreements arising from 
discriminatory practices. The function of resettlement of Cuban 
and Haitian entrants, which was previously performed by CRS was 
transferred to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 
fiscal year 1996. In addition, the transitional care of Mariel 
Cubans paroled from detention was funded from this account in 
previous years, but was transferred to the Federal Prison 
System, Salaries and Expenses appropriation in fiscal year 
1995.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, identical to 
that included in fiscal year 1997, which allows the Attorney 
General to provide additional resources for CRS, through a 
transfer of funds from other Department of Justice programs 
under section 605 of this Act, if emergent circumstances exist.

                         Assets Forfeiture Fund

    The Committee recommends $23,000,000 for the Assets 
Forfeiture Fund for fiscal year 1998, which is the full amount 
requested and the same level as provided in the current year 
appropriation.
    This account provides funds for additional investigative 
expenses of the FBI, DEA, INS and U.S. Marshals, such as 
purchase of evidence, equipping of conveyances and 
investigative expenses leading to seizure. Funds for these 
activities are provided from receipts in the Assets Forfeiture 
Fund resulting from the forfeiture of assets. Expenses related 
to the management and disposal of assets are also provided from 
these receipts in the Assets Forfeiture Fund, by a permanent 
indefinite appropriation.

                    Radiation Exposure Compensation

                        Administrative Expenses

    The Committee recommends $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1998, 
the full amount requested and the same level provided in the 
current year appropriation, for the expenses of the Civil 
Division necessary to handle claims and litigation arising from 
the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. The Committee also 
recommends an advance appropriation of $2,000,000 for this 
program for fiscal year 1999.
    This program was established to permit the payment of 
claims to individuals exposed to radiation as a result of 
atmospheric nuclear tests and uranium mining in accordance with 
the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990.

          Payment to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Fund

    The Committee recommendation includes $4,381,000 for fiscal 
year 1998 to make payments to approved claimants under the 
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990. In addition, the 
Committee recommends an advance appropriation of $29,000,000 
for fiscal year 1999 for these payments.

                      Interagency Law Enforcement

                 Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement

    The Committee recommends $294,967,000 for Interagency Crime 
and Drug Enforcement for fiscal year 1998, the full amount 
requested and $64,463,000 below the current year appropriation 
as a result of funding for Treasury and Transportation programs 
being requested as part of their respective agencies' budget, 
instead of under this account, which has provided the funding 
in the past.
    The Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement program, through 
its nine regional Task Forces, utilizes the combined resources 
and expertise of its 11 member Federal agencies, in cooperation 
with State and local investigators and prosecutors, to target 
and destroy major narcotics trafficking and money laundering 
organizations.
    The Committee recommends bill language, similar to that 
included in previous appropriations acts, which: (1) allows for 
intergovernmental agreements with State and local law 
enforcement agencies; (2) makes $50,000,000 available until 
expended; (3) allows funds to be used under existing 
authorities available to participating organizations; and (4) 
allows the Attorney General to reallocate unobligated balances 
among participating organizations.
    The recommendation provides funds to the following 
agencies:

                        REIMBURSEMENTS BY AGENCY                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    FTE         $(000)  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEA...........................................          987       96,583
FBI...........................................          981      105,703
INS...........................................          102       10,350
Marshals......................................           13        1,376
US Attorneys..................................          847       77,452
Criminal Division.............................            6          738
Tax Division..................................           12        1,257
Administrative Ofc............................           12        1,508
                                               -------------------------
      Total...................................        2,960      294,967
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    Federal Bureau of Investigation

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $2,886,065,000 for the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for fiscal year 1998, which 
includes $179,121,000 from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust 
Fund. This amount is $150,094,000 above the appropriation for 
the current year and $6,804,000 below the request.
    The Committee recommendation provides for adjustments to 
base, including the cost of the 1998 pay raise. Included in 
this amount is $59,977,000 to annualize and sustain 1,539 
positions provided in the 1997 appropriation. The Committee 
recommendation assumes all of these positions will be on-board, 
with the exception of 300 support positions, by the end of the 
current fiscal year. In addition, the recommendation includes 
$40,000,000 which may be deposited in the Telecommunications 
Carrier Compliance Fund for the purpose of reimbursing 
telecommunications carriers pursuant to the Communications 
Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. The recommendation also 
provides for the following program increases:
    Counterterrorism.--The recommendation includes an increase 
of $38,803,000 and 167 new agents to continue to build the 
FBI's capability to counter, investigate and prevent acts of 
terrorism. Included in this amount is:
          +$27,227,000 and 245 positions (including 133 agents) 
        for counterterrorism activities; and
          +$11,576,000 and 56 positions (including 34 agents) 
        to establish new Computer Investigative and 
        Infrastructure Threat Assessment (CITAC) Teams, to 
        identify the nature and scope of the computer crime 
        problem and investigate significant intrusions or 
        threats to major information infrastructures or 
        networks and for technical equipment and contractor 
        support for the CITAC Center for processing evidence 
        left by computer attacks on the National Information 
        Infrastructure.
    In addition, funding is also continued for the following 
programs authorized by the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death 
Penalty Act:
          +$9,500,000 for grants to States to establish, 
        develop, update, or upgrade computerized identification 
        systems that are compatible with NCIC, DNA forensic 
        laboratories, and automated fingerprint identification 
        systems that are compatible with IAFIS; and
          +$5,500,000 for FBI's Combined DNA Identification 
        System (CODIS), to establish standards to facilitate 
        law enforcement exchange of DNA identification 
        information.
    The Committee recommendation does not include additional 
resources for the FBI to expand its legal attache program. The 
Committee is currently undertaking an evaluation of the current 
overseas operations of the FBI and is not recommending any 
increases prior to the completion of this assessment.
    Southwest Border Initiative.--The Committee recommendation 
includes an increase of $19,263,000 and 76 new agents, the full 
amount requested, to investigate major drug organizations and 
public corruption on the U.S.-Mexico border. Included are 
increases for the following activities:
          +$16,717,000 and 138 positions (including 70 agents) 
        to support a joint FBI/DEA investigative initiative 
        targeting the four most significant Mexican Drug 
        Trafficking Organizations and to address white-collar 
        crime, public corruption, and violent crime resulting 
        from the drug trade along the border;
          +$2,546,000 and 6 agents for FBI participation on DEA 
        Task Forces in Mexico;
    Organized Crime/La Cosa Nostra.--The recommendation 
includes an increase of $5,000,000 and 47 positions (28 
agents), the full amount requested, for the Organized Criminal 
Enterprise Program to enhance investigative resources 
addressing the La Cosa Nostra.
    Infrastructure Requirements.--The Committee recommendation 
includes an increase of $10,000,000 for the following 
activities:
          +$8,000,000 to conduct five-year security 
        reinvestigations of all FBI employees; and
          +$2,000,000 to upgrade and strengthen the 
        capabilities of the National Backstopping Centers, 
        which support undercover agents and operations that are 
        critical to many organized crime, drug trafficking, 
        public corruption and national security investigations.
    This year the Committee heard testimony from both the 
Attorney General and the FBI Director in response to a number 
of issues regarding the management and execution of FBI 
responsibilities. Specifically, concerns were expressed over 
the FBI's transmittal of sensitive background files to the 
White House, the handling of the Olympic bombing investigation 
and the false accusation of Richard Jewell, and the critical 
report by the Department of Justice Inspector General regarding 
the practices and operations of the FBI crime laboratory. The 
Committee and the American people expect the FBI to be an 
organization of independence and the highest level of 
integrity. The Committee therefore, intends to continue its 
close oversight of these issues as well as other FBI activities 
for which the Committee has previously expressed concern, 
namely the development and completion of IAFIS and NCIC 2000 
systems, to ensure the resources provided are being 
appropriately spent and to ensure that the independence and 
integrity of the FBI is not compromised.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which allows: 
(1) for purchase of passenger vehicles without regard to 
general purchase price limitations, and the acquisition and 
operation of aircraft; (2) up to $70,000 for unforeseen 
emergencies; (3) up to $50,000,000 for automated data 
processing, telecommunications and technical equipment, and up 
to $1,000,000 for undercover operations to remain available 
until September 30, 1999; (4) not less than $147,081,000 for 
counterterrorism investigations, foreign counterintelligence, 
and national security activities; (5) up to $98,400,000 to 
remain available until expended; (7) up to $10,000,000 to 
reimburse State and local police for assistance related to 
violent crime, terrorism and drug investigations; (6) 
$1,500,000 for an IAFIS program office; and (7) up to $45,000 
for official reception and representation expenses.
    In addition, bill language which specified the amount for 
the Fingerprint Identification System is no longer included. 
However, the Committee expects that of the resources provided, 
$84,400,000 will be used for expenses related to automation of 
fingerprint identification services. Any change to this amount 
requires notification to the Committee pursuant to 
reprogramming requirements outlined in section 605.

               Telecommunications Carrier Compliance Fund

    The Committee recommendation includes $50,000,000 for 
purposes related to national security under the 
Telecommunications Carrier Compliance program to reimburse 
equipment manufacturers and telecommunications carriers and 
providers of telecommunications support services for 
implementation of the Communications Assistance for Law 
Enforcement Act of 1994 (CALEA).
    The Committee supports the implementation of CALEA which 
attempts to respond to the need to assure that 
telecommunications systems are accessible to duly-authorized 
law enforcement wiretaps. The majority of the wiretaps taking 
place in the United States today are conducted in drug cases. 
However, advanced telecommunications technologies are also 
creating problems for the FBI and national security agencies in 
their conduct of foreign counterintelligence and terrorism 
investigations.
    CALEA authorizes $500,000,000 to be appropriated for the 
Attorney General to pay telecommunications carriers for costs 
directly associated with modifying their equipment, services 
and facilities to allow law enforcement to perform court-
authorized wiretaps. Technical advances in telecommunications 
systems such as switch-based call forwarding, voice and speed 
dialing, fiber optic transmission lines and wireless signals, 
have posed enormous challenges to the ability of Federal and 
local law enforcement to conduct wiretaps.
    In fiscal year 1997, $101,000,000 was deposited in the 
Fund, including $60,000,000 from direct appropriations and 
$40,000,000 of unobligated balances from law enforcement 
agencies. The Committee recommendation provides an additional 
$50,000,000 in this account and allows the FBI to deposit an 
additional $40,000,000 into the Fund from its operational 
resources. The Attorney General is still required to notify the 
Committee through the reprogramming procedures included in 
section 605 of this Act, before any expenditure is made from 
the Fund.
    The Committee recognizes that there is still a fundamental 
disagreement between the telecommunications industry and the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation over the functionality required 
by law enforcement to satisfy evidentiary needs dictated by law 
and by the courts. The Committee believes that a resolution of 
these issues will be advanced by providing funding to support 
this project.
    The Committee further believes that the establishment of a 
new working group comprised of the Director of the FBI and 
representatives from affected sectors of the telecommunications 
industry will facilitate discussion and resolution on the 
standards for equipment modification and corresponding cost and 
implementation issues. The FBI is directed to establish this 
working group and report to both the Committees on 
Appropriations and the Judiciary of the House and Senate, any 
outstanding issues and recommendations for resolution by 
November 15, 1997.

                              Construction

    The Committee recommendation includes $38,506,000 for FBI 
construction, which is $10,500,000 below the request and 
$3,133,000 below the current year appropriation. This funding 
is provided to complete construction of a new FBI forensic 
laboratory. In addition, $4,660,000 is provided for renovation 
and realignment of the Los Angeles Field Office to accommodate 
the growth in personnel and to provide enhanced security and 
technical capabilities.

                    Drug Enforcement Administration

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends total budget authority of 
$1,188,268,000 for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 
for fiscal year 1998, of which $58,268,000 is derived from the 
Diversion Control Fund, $310,037,000 is derived from the 
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, and $5,500,000 is included 
under the DEA Construction program. The recommendation provides 
an overall increase of $134,250,000 over the current year 
appropriation and $42,438,000 above the President's request.
    The Committee continues to be concerned with the alarming 
increase in drug use by teenagers and the increasing 
availability of drugs in the United States. Data on supply 
levels indicate record low prices and record high purities for 
heroin and cocaine, record emergency room admissions for drug-
related incidents, and an increase in juvenile drug use by 150% 
since 1992. In response, the Committee has included resources 
above the amount requested, to continue to wage a full-scale 
counternarcotics attack and focuses these resources on 
effective cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine strategies, 
interdiction on the Southwest border and the Caribbean, and 
investigation of major drug trafficking organizations. 
Specifically, the recommended level provides for full 
adjustments to base for pay and inflation and includes the 
following increases:
    Caribbean Anti-Drug Initiative.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $34,217,000 and 60 new agents for a new 
initiative, not requested by the Administration, to address the 
increase in drug trafficking throughout the Caribbean. The 
Committee understands that during the late 1980's, in response 
to law enforcement pressure in South Florida and the Eastern 
Caribbean, Colombian trafficking organizations turned to 
established Mexican trafficking organizations to facilitate the 
shipment of cocaine across the Southwest border. The Committee 
recognizes that, in response, drug interdiction resources in 
the Caribbean were shifted to points focused on the U.S.-Mexico 
border and elsewhere. Further, as a result of enhanced drug 
enforcement attention to the U.S.-Mexico border, South American 
drug traffickers have begun to once again use the Caribbean 
corridor to move cocaine and heroin to the United States. 
Puerto Rico and the Caribbean islands have again become key 
staging and transshipment points for drugs. An estimated 40% of 
all cocaine seized in the United States can be traced to Puerto 
Rico, up from 25-30% a few years ago.
    The Caribbean is difficult for drug enforcement agencies to 
police due to its 6 million square mile area comprising vast, 
open waters and 29 separate countries and territories, each 
with hundreds of miles of rugged coastline. Further, most of 
the drug-running is conducted by small, high-speed boats that 
are virtually impossible to see with the naked eye, and the 
majority of maritime trafficking occurs at night.
    In FY 1997, the Committee added 25 DEA agents to the Puerto 
Rico office, significantly increasing the presence there. The 
Committee recognizes that more still needs to be done, not only 
to enhance DEA's investigative and intelligence collection 
efforts, but also to provide the needed state-of-the-art 
technical support equipment and aviation resources to provide 
adequate interdiction coverage for the vast open waters and 
coastlines of the Caribbean. As such, the Committee's 
recommendation includes the following enhancements:
          +$2,979,000 for 20 additional DEA agents in Puerto 
        Rico, increasing the DEA presence there by 50% over the 
        last two years;
          +$5,998,000 for 40 additional DEA agents in the 
        Northern Caribbean and South Florida;
          +$11,900,000 for 3 helicopters equipped with 
        surveillance equipment and one fixed wing aircraft to 
        be used for surveillance flights and to transport 
        evidence, of which two helicopters will be used by 
        Puerto Rico State law enforcement agencies in 
        coordinated drug operations with DEA;
          +$9,500,000 to purchase five Forward Looking Infrared 
        Systems to be installed on Coast Guard C-130's to 
        provide night vision and wider area coverage during 
        surveillance flights;
          +$1,340,000 for surveillance and electronic intercept 
        equipment, such as portable translation and 
        transcription systems, global satellite tracking 
        systems, and fixed and mobile video transmission and 
        surveillance systems for maritime and other vehicles;
          +$1,500,000 to construct a satellite lab facility in 
        the region to allow drug evidence to be analyzed and or 
        destroyed without having to be transported to other DEA 
        labs; and
          +$1,000,000 for costs associated with field office 
        relocation expenses resulting from the 50% increase in 
        staff over the past two years.
    Southwest Border Initiative.--The Committee is aware that 
illegal drugs are transiting the 2,000 mile Southwest border in 
record levels and that the U.S.-Mexico border has become a 
gateway for all four of the major controlled drugs--cocaine, 
heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The Committee further 
understands that the majority of cocaine that reaches American 
cities and suburbs is coming through the Southwest border and 
that Mexico not only is a major producer of heroin and 
marijuana, but has now become the primary producer and supplier 
of methamphetamine. In fiscal year 1997, the Committee provided 
a $42,588 increase, 129 new agents and 25 attorneys, to 
Department of Justice law enforcement agencies, specifically 
focused on the Southwest border. The Committee recommendation 
for fiscal year 1998 includes an additional $51,000,000, 172 
new agents and 35 attorneys, the full amount requested, across 
various Department of Justice agencies, to stop drug 
trafficking and corruption along the Southwest border. Within 
the amount provided, $29,741,000 is included for the DEA for 
the following activities:
          +$16,241,000 and 96 new agents for additional 
        investigations of Mexican drug trafficking 
        organizations resulting from extensive use of Title III 
        wire intercepts;
          +$9,501,000 and 10 equipment technicians to purchase 
        and install the latest intercept technology in key 
        areas along the Southwest border; and
          +$3,999,000 and 41 intelligence analysts to bolster 
        the intelligence data gathering effort and conduct 
        analyses.
    Methamphetamine Initiative.--The Committee recommendation 
also includes an increase of $11,046,000 and 54 agents targeted 
at methamphetamine production and trafficking. The Committee 
recognizes that methamphetamine is quickly becoming the growth 
drug of the 1990's. Methamphetamine, known on the street as 
``crank'', ``ice'' and ``speed'', is a dangerous stimulant that 
results in the same addiction cycle and physiological trauma 
associated with crack cocaine. Congress recognized the urgency 
of this problem and in fiscal year 1997 provided DEA with an 
additional 30 positions and $2,394,000 to focus on 
methamphetamine trafficking on the Southwest border. The 
recommendation provides a further enhancement, which is almost 
five times the increase provided last year, for the following 
activities:
          +$7,898,000 and 54 new agents for increased 
        enforcement to target major methamphetamine trafficking 
        organizations;
          +$878,000 and 6 new agents to conduct clandestine 
        laboratory training for DEA and State and local law 
        enforcement personnel; and
          +$2,270,000 for hazardous waste removal and 
        laboratory service activities.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes a new 
grant program under the Community Oriented Policing Services 
program solely to address State and local law enforcement 
requirements for methamphetamine enforcement.
    Heroin Strategy.--The Committee recommendation includes 
$5,000,000 and 60 positions, the full amount requested, to 
intensify enforcement efforts against major heroin traffickers 
and to reduce the availability and purity of heroin within the 
United States. The additional resources will allow DEA to 
establish one additional heroin enforcement group (12 agents) 
and provide critically needed intelligence and support staff 
for DEA's 15 existing heroin enforcement groups.
    Investigative and Intelligence Requirements.--The Committee 
recommendation also includes $41,656,000 to address crucial 
infrastructure needs, including the following:
          +$19,425,000 for continued implementation of DEA's 
        FIREBIRD data processing system and MERLIN intelligence 
        system;
          +$4,670,000 for ADP maintenance and equipment;
          +$7,760,000 for 117 additional intelligence analysts, 
        above the number requested;
          +$1,000,000 for DEA support for new High Intensity 
        Drug Trafficking Areas;
          +$7,801,000 for relocation of agents; and
          +$1,000,000 for aircraft replacement.
    Drug Diversion Control Fee Account.--The recommendation 
includes $58,268,000 for DEA's Drug Diversion Control Program 
for fiscal year 1998, the full amount requested, and $5,444,000 
above the amount provided in 1997. The Drug Diversion Control 
Program is responsible for control of diversion, distribution, 
manufacture and abuse of legitimate pharmaceuticals. DEA 
annually registers in excess of 900,000 drug handlers, of which 
over 1,670 are manufacturers, distributors, importers, 
exporters, and others handling large volumes of controlled 
substances. These registrants pay fees which fully support the 
cost of this program. The Committee understands there are no 
plans to raise the registration fees in 1998.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which allows: 
(1) up to $70,000 for unforeseen emergencies; (2) for expenses 
for drug education and training programs; (3) purchase of 
passenger vehicles without regard to general purchase price 
limitations, and acquisition and operation of aircraft; (4) up 
to $1,800,000 for research and up to $15,000,000 for transfer 
to the Drug Diversion Control Fee Account to remain available 
until expended; (5) up to $4,000,000 for evidence and 
information, up to $10,000,000 for automated data processing 
and telecommunications, and up to $2,000,000 for laboratory 
equipment, $4,000,000 for technical equipment and $2,000,000 
for aircraft replacement parts to remain available until 
September 30, 1999; and (6) up to $50,000 for official 
reception and representation expenses. New language regarding 
the purchase of vehicles is not included under the Violent 
Crime Reduction Trust Fund, because the general authority is 
already provided.

                              Construction

    The Committee recommendation includes $5,500,000 for DEA 
construction, the full amount requested for a multi-year 
project to reconstruct five of DEA's eight laboratory 
facilities which are severely deteriorating, have severe space 
shortages and have environmental conditions that pose health 
risks. The Committee understands that DEA will recur this 
funding over the next four years in order to reconstruct these 
facilities.

                 Immigration and Naturalization Service

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends total new budget (obligational) 
authority of $3,586,548,000 for the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service for fiscal year 1998. This is an 
increase of $496,774,000 over the current fiscal year, and 
$65,627,000 below the budget request. Of the total amount 
recommended, $690,957,000 is derived from the Violent Crime 
Reduction Trust Fund, $1,215,191,000 will be derived from 
offsetting fee collections and $70,959,000 is included under 
the INS construction program.
    INS Organization and Management.--The Congress has 
recognized, and has attempted to correct, resource deficiencies 
in the INS which for years has jeopardized the agency's ability 
and effectiveness in controlling illegal immigration and 
providing timely service to those seeking admission under the 
legal immigration system. Over the past two years alone, INS 
has grown by 52%, as a result of Congress providing 
unprecedented increases in resources for INS--over $500 million 
each year in 1996 and 1997--and the largest growth in any 
Department of Justice agency during this period.
    The Committee believes that a lack of adequate resources is 
no longer an acceptable response to INS's inability to 
adequately address its mission responsibilities. Although there 
has been some level of progress on the border, primarily in 
California, control along the U.S.-Mexico border is only one 
facet to the problem of illegal immigration. By recent INS 
estimates, there are 5 million illegal immigrants now living in 
the United States--the same peak level of illegal immigrants in 
the country as 1986, which prompted the passage of the 
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. And yet, today INS 
has triple the resources it had in 1986 to do its job.
    The Committee has directed the Attorney General to review 
recommendations for restructuring, organizing, and managing 
these responsibilities that will be outlined in a report in 
September by the Commission on Immigration Reform, in response 
to a request two years ago by this Committee. The Committee 
expects that any reorganization proposals currently being 
contemplated by INS, will take into consideration future 
actions that may transfer some of the responsibilities of the 
INS to other Departments and agencies in fiscal year 1999.
    The Committee continues to be concerned with the lack of 
accountability for grave management failures that have occurred 
within the INS and the lack of discipline that appears to exist 
at all levels of the agency in implementing policies and 
procedures that are vital to maintaining integrity in the 
immigration system. The Committee was disturbed to learn that 
after new policies and procedures were established to provide 
safeguards in the naturalization process and ensure that 
persons, including criminals, were not improperly provided 
citizenship, a follow-up audit revealed that only one of 
twenty-four field offices reviewed was complying with the new 
procedures. To this date, not one INS manager has been held 
accountable for this failure. The Committee has included a 
provision in the bill that authorizes and directs the Attorney 
General to impose disciplinary actions, including the 
termination of employment, under the same policies and 
procedures applicable to employees of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, for any INS employee who violates Department 
policies and procedures relative to granting citizenship or who 
willfully deceives the Congress or Department Leadership on any 
matter.
    The Committee has also included provisions that reduce the 
level of staffing for the INS Offices of Congressional and 
Public Affairs. The Committee understands that there are 
currently 11 people dedicated to casework within the Office of 
Congressional Affairs and does not intend any of the reduction 
be applied to this staffing.
    In addition, the Committee notes that other major bureaus 
of the Department of Justice--the FBI, DEA, the Bureau of 
Prisons, and the U.S. Marshals (with the exception of the 94 
Presidential-appointed Marshals)--all perform their law 
enforcement mission with one non-career employee. The INS on 
the other hand, currently has eight non-career employees. The 
Committee questions the need for this level of non-career 
staffing for a law enforcement agency and has included a 
provision that reduces in half the number of INS non-career 
positions.
    Naturalization.--The Committee has expressed its 
disappointment with INS's handling of over 1.8 million 
applications for citizenship during fiscal year 1996. The 
Committee provided increases of over $95 million during the 
last two years for INS to handle an expected surge in 
naturalization applications. Although INS was fully aware that 
this workload was increasing, it did not implement critical 
changes to the applicant process to address integrity 
deficiencies which were pointed out as far back as 1994 by both 
the Inspector General and the General Accounting Office. This 
lack of management attention to this most significant 
responsibility is a clear example of the agency trying to 
handle too many priorities at once. The result of this 
management failure to correct the naturalization process, was 
not only the granting of citizenship to ineligible applicants, 
including criminals, but a degradation of this benefit for the 
many applicants who were deserving of citizenship.
    The Committee believes that one of the highest priorities 
for INS should be to address the need to restore integrity to 
the naturalization process and has provided a total of $46 
million in additional resources from both direct appropriations 
and offsetting collections to correct deficiencies, in place of 
some of the other initiatives INS has requested. The Committee 
recommendation also includes a number of measures to respond to 
the failings in the naturalization system that occurred last 
year as well as measures to institute new practices within INS 
to prevent these failings from occurring again.
    Fingerprinting of Applicants and Procedures for Criminal 
Record Checks.--The Committee has included two provisions that 
address the INS fingerprinting process for applicant benefits. 
Bill language is included that requires INS to wait for the FBI 
to complete a full criminal history check before completing the 
adjudication of an application. This will ensure that flawed 
practices, namely waiting 60 days for a response by the FBI on 
a criminal record check and then proceeding with completion of 
an application for citizenship even if the FBI check had not 
been completed, will by law no longer be allowed to occur. In 
addition, in order to establish integrity in the fingerprint 
process, bill language is included that prohibits INS from 
accepting fingerprints for applicant benefits from any outside 
source other than a law enforcement agency, that is all 
applicant fingerprinting must be completed at INS offices or a 
State or local law enforcement agency. In addition, beginning 
March 1, 1998, INS is required to fingerprint all applicants 
for benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act which 
require a criminal record check, who are required to be 
interviewed at an INS office. Fingerprints can still be 
prepared by a State and local law enforcement agency in cases 
where an applicant is not required to be interviewed at an INS 
office. In order to implement this provision, the Committee 
recommendation includes $22,300,000 from direct appropriations 
to support the purchase and installation of live fingerprint 
scanners in all INS field offices and card scanners at the 
Service Centers, additional staff to take fingerprints and 
associated training, additional space and supplies, and staff 
to conduct audit and oversight activities.
    Revocation of Citizenship for Criminals Improperly 
Naturalized.--As a result of the audit review of criminal 
records of 81,000 persons naturalized in 1996, the Committee 
understands that INS plans to initiate proceedings to revoke 
the citizenship of almost 5,000 persons. While the Committee 
understands that this is not the entire number of persons who 
may have been improperly naturalized, this revocation 
initiative alone will be a significant undertaking for the INS, 
which in the past four years has only revoked citizenship for a 
total of 14 persons. The Committee recommendation includes an 
additional $3,391,000 and 27 positions from direct 
appropriations, to ensure that there are adequate resources to 
effect these revocations in a timely manner. The Committee 
expects the INS to not only revoke citizenship for those 
ineligible persons but also to follow through with deportation 
proceedings on any applicant, especially criminals, who are 
deportable. The Committee expects INS to report on a quarterly 
basis on the status of the revocation proceedings and any 
actions that follow for deportation.
    Border Control.--While some level of border control is 
being witnessed on parts of the Southwest border, namely in San 
Diego, the Committee attributes this to a doubling of border 
patrol agents and technology in this region, and a targeted and 
focused plan for deployment of these resources to this 
location. Over the last two years the Committee has added over 
1,800 new agents to the border, despite budget requests 
totaling 1,400 new agents. In addition, the Committee has 
provided additional management, technology, infrastructure and 
training support in order to build the capacity within INS to 
effectively recruit, hire, train and deploy border patrol 
agents and provide these agents with the equipment and 
technology necessary to control the border. The Committee is 
disappointed that the Administration's 1998 budget falls short 
once again of the need required to gain control of the border 
by only including a request for 500 new border patrol agents. 
The Committee recognizes that a large part of the southwest 
border is still experiencing large influxes of illegal 
crossings and requires additional personnel and technology. The 
Committee recommendation includes an increase of 1,138 
positions, 455 FTE and $153,022,000 to enhance border control, 
including:
          +$125,322,000 for 1,000 new border patrol agents and 
        136 support personnel, instead of 500 new agents as 
        requested by the Administration;
          $42,500,000 for border patrol equipment and 
        technology such as infrared scopes, night vision 
        scopes, radios, upgraded sensors, low light television 
        systems, including an increase of $16,200,000 for 
        continued development and deployment of the Enforcement 
        Case Tracking System and the Biometric Identification 
        System; and
          +$11,500,000 for land border automation systems, 
        including installation of automated license plate 
        readers and replacement of Treasury Enforcement 
        Communications Systems primary terminals.
    Interior Enforcement/Removal of Deportable Aliens.--The 
Committee recognizes that addressing illegal border crossings 
is only one facet of the fight against illegal immigration. The 
INS Investigations program and Detention and Deportation 
programs are the primary enforcement programs focused on 
apprehending and removing illegal aliens residing in the United 
States. Over the past two years, Congress has provided 
significant increases to these programs--an additional 662 
positions and $94,576,000 or a 56 percent increase in the 
Investigations program, and an additional 1,086 positions and 
$360,162,000 or a 134 percent increase in the Detention and 
Deportation program. The Committee is aware that INS has 
underutilized these resources. The Committee understands that 
by the end of the fiscal year, INS will fall short in its 
hiring of investigators by 111 positions. In addition, more 
than $120,000,000 in resources available in 1997 for INS 
detention space will be carried over into fiscal year 1998, 
even though Congress provided additional detention funding 
above the Administration's request in order to address INS's 
concerns regarding mandatory detention provisions in the Anti-
Terrorism Act and the Immigration and Responsibility Act of 
1996.
    The Committee also believes that INS needs to revise its 
interior enforcement strategy to focus on the end-outcome of 
deportation, recognizing that deportation is the strongest 
deterrent to illegal immigration. The Committee understands 
that there are currently over 200,000 outstanding orders of 
deportation in which an Immigration Judge has ordered someone 
deported and INS has not located or removed these people from 
the United States. INS's worksite enforcement strategy does not 
focus on the deportation of illegal workers. INS does not track 
and therefore was unable to provide to the Committee 
information on the number of deportations resulting from 
worksite apprehensions.
    The Committee is also aware that the cornerstone of INS's 
strategy to deport criminal aliens--the Institutional Hearing 
Program (IHP)--only produced 10,323 deportations in 1996--23 
percent short of INS's targeted goal, despite increases in 
resources of 696 positions and $80,495,000 over the past two 
years specifically for this program. Currently, less than 30 
percent of eligible prisoners complete IHP processing before 
they leave prison, and an even smaller percentage actually are 
deported. The General Accounting Office estimates that, as a 
result, the INS still spends tens of millions of dollars 
annually in preventable costs of detaining criminal aliens 
after their release.
    The Committee recommendation for interior enforcement 
continues to place emphasis on providing sufficient detention 
space to increase INS's ability to apprehend, detain and deport 
aliens both criminals and non-criminals ordered deported by an 
Immigration Judge, from the United States. The following 
increases are provided:
          +$48,321,000 and 181 positions to provide 1,864 
        additional detention bedspaces at INS facilities in 
        Buffalo, New York and Krome, Florida, a contract 
        facility in San Diego and additional contracts with 
        State and local agencies;
          +$12,073,000 and 42 positions to locate and remove 
        deportable aliens; and
          +$10,000,000 and 45 positions to expand the local 
        jail program to identify deportable aliens who are 
        incarcerated in local jails. The Committee expects that 
        within the total amount provided for the local jail 
        program the INS will continue the successful local jail 
        programs in Anaheim City and Ventura County, 
        California.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes a 
reimbursement of $500,000 to the U.S. Marshals for the Justice 
Alien and Prisoner Transportation System.
    The Committee recommendation assumes continuation of 
$10,000,000 in base funding for verification systems. The 
Committee expects these resources to be used only for 
employment eligibility verification pilot programs that comply 
with program requirements contained in sections 401 through 
405, Subtitle A of Title IV of the Illegal Immigration Reform 
and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.
    The Committee has not included funding from direct 
appropriations for the Law Enforcement Support Center. Funding 
for this Center has been provided through enforcement fines 
collected by INS. The Committee believes that there are 
adequate resources from enforcement fines to continue funding 
for this Center from this source and suggests expanding this 
capability to other locations. In addition, the Committee 
expects that within the resources provided for detention and 
removal of aliens, the INS will continue to support the 
California Criminal Alien Identification and Intervention 
Program, a successful cooperative effort between INS and 
California's Department of Justice and Department of 
Corrections, which allows local law enforcement agencies to 
quickly identify previously deported criminal aliens and refer 
them to the INS for Federal prosecution.
    The Committee is aware of successful interior enforcement 
operations at ``choke points''(e.g. mountain passes) to halt 
illegal aliens heading towards the Southeastern states. The 
Committee believes that INS should deploy personnel to these 
locations to conduct these operations on a seasonal or year-
round basis.
    The Committee is also concerned about recent reports that 
the INS has deported criminal aliens without appropriate escort 
on commerical passenger aircraft, endangering the safety of 
both passengers and flight crews. The Committee understands 
that INS is in the process of revising its criminal alien 
escort policy and expects the INS to inform the Committee 
within 90 days of the progress of implementation of this 
revised policy. In addition, the Committee expects INS to 
consider alternatives to deporting criminal aliens on 
commercial aircraft, where practical, including using the 
National Guard to transport certain criminal aliens, as 
authorized.
    Pilot Project for Reimbursement for Emergency Ambulance 
Services.--The Committee recognizes that section 563 of the 
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 
1996 (IIRIRA) includes authorization for INS to reimburse 
States and localities for costs incurred for emergency 
ambulance services provided to an alien who (1) is injured 
while crossing a land or sea border of the United States 
without inspection or at any time or place other than as 
designated by the Attorney General; or (2) is under the custody 
of a State or locality pursuant to a transfer, request, or 
other action by a Federal authority.
    The Committee directs the INS to establish a pilot project 
in Nogales, Arizona in fiscal year 1998 in order to implement 
section 563 if IIRIRA. Under such project, the INS is 
instructed to cooperate with the city of Nogales to fully 
reimburse the city for providing Border Patrol-requested 
ambulance services to respond to immigrants injured while 
crossing the border illegally. To date, the city of Nogales has 
unsuccessfully attempted to work with the INS to reach 
agreement on the amount of reimbursement owed to the city.
    The Committee also directs the INS to provide a report by 
May 1, 1998 which addresses (1) how INS intends to fully 
implement section 563 of IIRIRA; and (2) concerns and 
recommended solutions with respect to providing ambulance 
services even when the injured undocumented immigrant is not 
formally under the custody of the State or local government.
    Deployment of Resources.--The Committee expects that INS 
will continue to deploy new border patrol agents to the 
Southwest border and southern coastal states to support the 
greatest areas of illegal traffic. The Committee expects this 
personnel to be assigned to the ``front-lines'' on the 
immediate border. The Committee also expects INS to review the 
requirements of States and localities in the central and 
western region of the country in its allocation of additional 
personnel to detain and remove illegal aliens, especially 
criminal aliens involved in drug trafficking and in particular, 
should add support to Drug Task Forces in the tri-state corner. 
The Committee directs INS to consult with the Appropriations 
Committees of both the House and the Senate before a final 
allocation of new positions is determined.

Offsetting Fee Collections

    The Committee recommends a total of $1,215,191,000 in 
offsetting fee collections, an increase of $239,417,000 over 
the current year, to support activities related to the legal 
admission of persons into the United States. These activities 
are supported primarily by fees paid by persons who are either 
traveling internationally or are applying for immigration 
benefits. The following increases are recommended:
    Inspections User Fees.--The Committee recommendation 
includes $419,296,000 of spending from offsetting collections 
in this account and does not assume the removal of the 
exemption for cruise ship passengers. The Committee 
recommendation provides for the following inspections 
activities:
          +$11,752,000 for pay and inflation base adjustments;
          +$1,715,000 to staff three new air ports of entry in 
        Medford, Oregon, Palm Springs, California and Halifax, 
        Nova Scotia;
          +$2,600,000 to deploy the Enforcement Case Tracking 
        System and Biometric Identification System at air ports 
        of entry;
          +$2,400,000 for increased staffing at airports;
          +$12,930,000 for departure management automation 
        initiatives to monitor the control of aliens departing 
        the United States and to facilitate the pilot of a 
        system of exit controls.
    Automated Arrival/Departure System.--The Committee is aware 
of efforts of the Department of State and INS to automate 
processes and electronically share information for the issuance 
of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and to automate the I-94 
Arrival/Departure Form. The Committee recommendation includes 
$10,423,000, above the amount requested to advance these 
initiatives. Section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that an automated 
I-94 system be in place by October 1, 1998, and that 
information regarding aliens who overstay their visas and 
remain illegally be integrated into the appropriate databases 
of both the INS and the Department of State for use at ports of 
entry and at consular posts. The Committee believes that it is 
critical that the new system successfully identify such aliens 
and efficiently and effectively transmit the appropriate 
information to databases of both agencies. Without such a 
system, no effective enforcement strategy to remove illegal 
aliens who have overstayed their visas will be possible.
    Immigration Examinations Fees.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $667,477,000 of spending from 
offsetting collections from persons applying for immigration 
benefits, including the following program increases:
          +$11,096,000 to improve records infrastructure for 
        eventual transition to electronic filing and electronic 
        A-files;
          +$1,250,000 to enhance INS's centralized computer-
        based information repository, the Central Index System;
          +$1,940,000 for additional FBI fingerprint checks;
          +$2,350,000 for Direct Mail initiatives;
          +$5,210,000 to modify the CLAIMS system to support 
        naturalization case processing; and
          +$1,800,000 for the Cuban Haitian Entrant Program.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation assumes a 
transfer of $57,542,000 of activities currently funded by 
direct appropriations and the Violent Crime Reduction Trust 
Fund. Specifically, the Committee recommendation assumes the 
transfer of $4,177,000 of the Legal Proceedings program that 
has been identified as supporting Exams-Fee related activities 
and the transfer of $53,365,000 of information infrastructure 
and corporate information data systems which are necessary to 
perform adjudication activities.
    Land Border Inspections Fees.--The Committee recommendation 
includes $8,888,000 in spending from the Land Border Inspection 
Fund, a decrease of $2,166,000 over the current year, as a 
result of one-time funding requirements. The current revenues 
generated in this account are from Dedicated Commuter Lanes in 
Blaine and Port Roberts, Washington, Detroit Tunnel and 
Ambassador Bridge, Michigan, and Otay Mesa, California and 
Automated Permit Ports which provide pre-screened local border 
residents border crossing privileges by means of automated 
inspections.
    Immigration Breached Bond/Detention Fund.--The 
recommendation includes $104,471,000 in spending for detention 
of illegal aliens from the Immigration Breached Bond/Detention 
Fund in fiscal year 1998, an increase of $97,858,000 over the 
current year appropriation and the same level as requested. 
Resources available in this Fund are derived from the recovery 
of breached cash and surety bonds in excess of $8,000,000 which 
are deposited in the Fund as offsetting collections. In 
addition, resources are also available in this account from a 
portion of fees charged under section 245(i) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act. The Committee recommendation does not 
include an extension of 245(i) beyond September 30, 1997, 
however carryover balances from fees collected in fiscal year 
1997 remain in this account for expenditure in fiscal year 
1998. The Committee recommendation assumes the transfer of 
$40,138,000 for expenses for alien detention costs from the 
Detention and Deportation Program to this account. The 
resources remaining in this account after this transfer will 
provide for 700 additional detention spaces.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which allows: 
(1) up to $50,000 to meet unforeseen emergencies of a 
confidential nature; (2) for the purchase of motor vehicles for 
police-type use and for uniforms, without regard to general 
purchase price limitations; (3) for the acquisition and 
operation of aircraft; (4) for research related to enforcement 
of and up to $400,000 to be available until expended; (5) up to 
$10,000,000 for basic officer training; (6) up to $5,000,000 
for payments to State and local law enforcement agencies 
engaged in cooperative activities related to immigration; (7) 
up to $30,000 to be paid to individual employees for overtime; 
(8) up to $5,000 to be used for official reception and 
representation expenses; (7) funds in this Act or any other Act 
may not be used for the continued operation of the San Clemente 
and Temecula checkpoints unless the checkpoints are open and 
traffic is being checked on a continuous 24-hour basis; and (8) 
specifies the level of funding for the Office of Legislative 
and Public Affairs. In addition, new bill language is included 
which (1) requires INS to wait for fingerprint checks on all 
applicants for citizenship; (2) prohibits funds from being used 
to contract with outside entities other than State and local 
law enforcement agencies for fingerprinting applicants for 
citizenship or other benefits and requires that beginning March 
1, 1998, INS is required to fingerprint all applicants for 
benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act which 
require a criminal record check, who are required to be 
interviewed at an INS office; (3) limits the amount of funding 
available for non-career positions; and (4) directs and 
authorizes the Attorney General to impose disciplinary actions, 
including termination of employment, for any INS employee who 
violates Department policies and procedures relative to 
granting citizenship or who willfully deceives the Congress or 
Department Leadership on any matter.

                              Construction

    The Committee recommends $70,959,000 for Construction 
projects for the Immigration and Naturalization Service for 
fiscal year 1998. The recommendation is $62,118,000 above the 
current year appropriation and $2,872,000 below the request.
    Border Control Projects.--Of the amount recommended, 
$37,676,000 is for construction and engineering of the 
following border patrol facilities to meet space requirements 
for the additional agents on the Southwest border:
    Full construction and renovation projects--
          --Brownfield, CA, utility connection, $700,000
          --Tucson, AZ, Border Patrol Station, $3,000,000
          --Del Rio, TX, Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, 
        $7,700,000
          --Rio Grande, TX, Border Patrol Station, $4,200,000
          --Laredo-North, TX, Border Patrol Station, $7,670,000
          --Presidio, TX, housing, $1,800,000
          --San Diego, CA, completion of the triple fence, 
        $3,400,000
    Planning/site acquisition/design projects--
          --Yuma, AZ, Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, 
        $922,000
          --El Centro, CA, Border Patrol Station, $666,000
          --El Centro, CA, Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, 
        $450,000
          --Hebbronville, TX, Border Patrol Station, $422,000
          --Sierra Blanca, TX, Border Patrol Station, $322,000
          --Alpine, TX, Border Patrol Station, $308,000
          --Brownsville, TX, Border Patrol Station, $809,000
          --Douglas, AZ, Border Patrol Station, $307,000
    Military Engineering Support Projects for the Border 
Patrol--
          --San Diego Sector, CA, vehicle barriers, $400,000
          --El Centro Sector, CA, fencing and vehicle barriers, 
        $650,000
          --Yuma Sector, AZ, vehicle barriers, $400,000
          --Tuscon Sector, AZ, fencing and vehicle barriers, 
        $750,000
          --El Paso Sector, TX, vehicle barriers, $650,000
          --Del Rio Sector, TX, low-light-level television and 
        drag roads, $1,250,000
          --Laredo Sector, TX, stadium lights, $400,000; and
          --Marfa Sector, TX, border roads, $500,000.
    Detention facilities projects.--Of the amount recommended, 
$14,171,000 is provided for construction of additional 
detention bedspaces, including the following projects:
    New Construction--
          --Krome Lockdown facility, Miami, FL, utility 
        connection, $2,000,000
          --Port Isabel Service Processing Center, Port Isabel, 
        TX, $10,000,000
          Planning/Site/Design Projects--
          --Port Isabel, TX, Service Processing Center, Phase 
        III, $1,000,000
          --El Centro, CA, Service Processing Center, $486,000
          --Florence, AZ, Service Processing Center, $585,000
          --Varick Street, NY, Service Processing Center, 
        $100,000

                         Federal Prison System

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $2,895,777,000 for the Salaries 
and Expenses of the Federal Prison System for fiscal year 1998, 
including $26,135,000 from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust 
Fund for Inmate Drug Treatment programs. This amount is 
$96,000,000 less than the budget request, and is an increase of 
$102,237,000 over total amounts available in the current year.
    The Committee recommendation recognizes the critical 
importance of providing adequate space for the incarceration of 
sentenced and unsentenced Federal prisoners, and the need to 
activate newly constructed prison facilities. The 
recommendation provides for requested adjustments to base, 
including $31,697,000 to annualize 593 additional positions 
provided in 1997 for new prison activations.
    Activation of New Prisons.--The Committee understands that 
due to delays in openings of new facilities anticipated in 1997 
and 1998, $95,820,000 of funds required for full staffing to 
activate these prisons will not be required in fiscal year 
1998. The Committee recommendation includes this adjustment in 
the appropriation required for the Federal Prison System. The 
Committee further understands that the planned activation in 
1998 of the 1,152 bed medium security facility at Beaumont, 
Texas will not occur until February 1999. As a result, the 
Committee recommendation does not assume activation of any new 
facilities in fiscal year 1998. However, the following program 
increases are included in the recommendation:
          +$1,447,000 for intelligence gathering activities to 
        enhance the Bureau of Prison's ability to identify 
        skills, capabilities, and background of inmates 
        entering the Federal Prison System; and
          +$1,452,000 for Electronic Freedom of Information Act 
        requirements.
    The Committee has become aware of evidence of an extremely 
high prevalence of hepatitis C among inmates of Federal and 
State prisons. The Committee is concerned about the health risk 
this may pose to prison inmates, correctional officers, and the 
communities to which inmates will return. The Committee is also 
concerned about the impact of widespread untreated hepatitis C 
infection on the prison health system in the future. The 
Committee urges the Federal Bureau of Prisons to incorporate 
routine screening for heptatis C virus (HCV) as part of any 
mandatory or voluntary blood testing now undertaken in the 
system for either inmates or correctional officers. The 
Committee further urges the Bureau to adopt a policy of 
providing information on the disease and treatment options to 
inmates or employees who test positive for HCV.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which allows: 
(1) for the purchase of motor vehicles for police-type use and 
the purchase of uniforms without regard to the general purchase 
price limitation; (2) for the provision of technical advice to 
foreign governments; (3) for transfer of funds to the Health 
Resources and Services Administration; (4) for the Director to 
enter into contracts to furnish health care; (5) up to $6,000 
for reception and representation expenses; (6) up to 
$90,000,000 for activation of prisons to remain available until 
September 30, 1999; (7) up to $20,000,000 for contract 
confinement expenses for the care and security of Cuban and 
Haitian entrants; and (8) the Federal Prison System to enter 
into contracts and other agreements with private entities for a 
multi-year period for the confinement of Federal prisoners.

                        Buildings and Facilities

    The Committee recommends a total of $255,133,000 for fiscal 
year 1998 for the construction, modernization, maintenance and 
repair of prison and detention facilities housing Federal 
prisoners. This amount is $140,567,000 below the amount 
appropriated for the current fiscal year and $2,300,000 above 
the request.
    The recommendation provides the full request for base 
adjustments and the following program changes:
          +$120,615,000 for construction of a 960 bed high 
        security facility and a 256 bed minimum security 
        facility at Castle Air Force Base, California; and
          +$16,707,000 to convert dormitory style housing into 
        single cells at the U.S. Penitentiaries at Lewisburg, 
        Pennsylvania and Lompoc, California;
    In addition, the Committee recommendation assumes that the 
Bureau of Prisons will continue construction of holding cells 
for use by the U.S. Marshals Service and therefore does not 
include a transfer of $2,300,000 from the Buildings and 
Facilities Account to the U.S. Marshals Service.
    The Committee understands that the Bureau of Prisons and 
the Administration are currently considering options for the 
transfer of District of Columbia sentenced felons to the 
Federal Prison System. The Committee expects to be kept fully 
informed on the options being considered. The Committee also 
understands that the Bureau of Prisons may be required to 
construct additional high, medium, and low security prisons to 
absorb the transfer of D.C. inmates into the Federal system and 
expects the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate appropriate sites 
within a 500 mile radius of the Washington Metropolitan area 
and provide a report to the Committee on site proposals by 
February 1, 1998.
    In addition, the Committee understands that future 
construction will be needed to accommodate the rising Federal 
inmate population especially to reduce overcrowding in high 
security prisons. The Committee understands that the Bureau of 
Prisons has been reviewing sites in the Northeast region for 
construction of a new high security prison and also requests a 
status report and resource plan for this project by February 1, 
1998.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which allows: 
(1) for planning, acquisition of sites, and construction of 
facilities; (2) for leasing a facility in Oklahoma City; (3) 
for acquisition, remodeling, and equipping facilities by 
contract or force account; (4) up to $14,074,000 to construct 
inmate work areas; (5) for use of prisoner labor; (6) up to 10 
percent of this appropriation to be transferred to the Salaries 
and Expenses account; and (7) for up to $2,300,000 for 
renovation and construction of Marshals Service prisoner 
holding facilities.

                Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated

                (Limitation On Administrative Expenses)

    The Committee recommends a limitation on administrative 
expenses of $3,490,000 for the Federal Prison Industries, 
Incorporated for fiscal year 1998, which is $440,000 below the 
amount requested, and $448,000 above the current year 
limitation.

                       Office of Justice Programs

    The Committee recommends a total of $3,448,575,000 in new 
budget (obligational) authority for fiscal year 1998, including 
$2,437,150,000 from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, for 
the various law enforcement assistance programs, juvenile 
prevention programs, and research and statistics programs of 
the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). This amount represents an 
increase of $726,170,000 over the current year appropriation 
and $863,336,000 above the budget request. Included in these 
amounts are funds for programs providing assistance to the 
State and local entities, such as the Local Law Enforcement 
Block Grant program, the State Prison Grant program, the State 
Criminal Alien Assistance program, the Violence Against Women 
Grant program, the Byrne Grant program, the Weed and Seed 
program, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention programs, 
and Victims of Child Abuse programs.

                           Justice Assistance

    The Committee recommends $162,500,000 in direct 
appropriations for Justice Assistance for fiscal year 1998, 
which is $7,165,000 below the amount requested, and $41,071,000 
above the amount provided in the current year appropriation. 
The funding provided for Justice Assistance provides assistance 
to States and localities in the form of research, evaluation, 
statistics, information sharing, emergency assistance, missing 
children assistance and the management and administration of 
all grants provided through the Office of Justice Programs. An 
explanation of the recommendation for each program follows:
    National Institute of Justice.--The Committee 
recommendation provides $42,577,000 for the National Institute 
of Justice (NIJ) for fiscal year 1998, which is $7,522,000 
below the request and $11,148,000 above the current year 
appropriation. In addition, $20,000,000 will be provided to NIJ 
in fiscal year 1998, as was provided in fiscal years 1996 and 
1997, from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant for assisting 
local units to identify, select, develop, modernize, and 
purchase new technologies for use by law enforcement. The NIJ 
is the nation's primary source of research and development in 
the field of criminal justice. NIJ fosters innovation in law 
enforcement technologies and practices, investigative causes 
and patterns of crime, and informs the public of research and 
development findings. Within the total funding level provided 
to NIJ for fiscal year 1998, the Committee has provided 
resources for the following initiatives:
    1. Defense Technology Network.--The Committee is supportive 
of efforts by the Justice Department, in conjunction with the 
Department of Defense, to convert non-lethal defense technology 
to law enforcement use. Within the amount recommended, 
$7,477,000 is provided to continue the law enforcement 
technology center network, that will provide States with 
information on new equipment and technologies, as well as 
assist law enforcement agencies in locating high cost/low use 
equipment for use on a temporary or emergency basis and 
$2,800,000 is provided for the technology commercialization 
initiative at the National Technology Transfer Center that 
works with private industry to develop affordable new products 
for law enforcement. Within the amount provided, funding has 
been included for NIJ to continue the establishment of a 
national forensics entity with a focus on the dual issues of 
arson and explosion technology to enhance the ability of law 
enforcement to combat terrorism and other threats.
    2. Federal Drug Testing Program.--Within the amounts 
provided to NIJ, the Committee recommendation includes the 
requested transfer of $4,700,000 from the General 
Administration account to the National Institute of Justice, 
for continuation of the Federal Drug Testing Program for 
criminal defendants in 25 districts. The recommendation does 
not include an increase of $2,300,000 for this program, as 
requested, because no additional sites have been identified by 
the courts for inclusion in this program.
    3. Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring System (ADAM).--Within 
the amounts provided to NIJ, the Committee recommendation 
includes $4,400,000 to expand NIJ's Drug Use Forecasting System 
from 23 to 35 sites, to provide critical data on changing 
patterns of drug use, drug markets, and related criminal 
activity.
    The Committee is aware of a number of research and 
technology initiatives that will enhance law enforcement 
capabilities. Within the overall amounts recommended for NIJ, 
the Committee expects the Office of Justice Programs to examine 
each of the following proposals, to provide grants if 
warranted, and to submit a report to the Committee on its 
intentions for each proposal:
          --$500,000 to support a grant for the continuation of 
        the national study on the health status of soon-to-be-
        released inmates, which identifies problems areas, 
        particularly as they relate to linkages which exist 
        between correctional institutions and community health 
        resources;
          --$4,500,000 for Phase II of the Facial Recognition 
        Technology initiative started last year, for assisting 
        Federal, State and local law enforcement in locating 
        missing persons, and in particular missing and 
        exploited children; and
          --an appropriate level of resources to review the 
        feasibility, cost effectiveness and possible law 
        enforcement application of interferometric impulse 
        radar technology for detection of underground objects, 
        such as tunnels, buried-body detection, and post-
        disaster search and rescue.
    The Committee is also aware that there are many automated 
information and intelligence systems being utilized by Federal, 
State and local law enforcement agencies and that there is a 
high probability of duplication among these systems. For this 
reason, the Committee supports the Attorney General's recent 
instructions to the NIJ to develop an inventory of Department 
of Justice funded law enforcement automated information 
systems, including the major 25 to 40 systems nationwide, and 
to the Justice Management Division to study a subset of these 
systems to examine their interoperability and 
interconnectivity. The ultimate goal of this review would be to 
develop a strategy that brings together these different systems 
to enable them to communicate effectively and efficiently, 
while guarding against duplication or overlap. The Committee 
directs the Attorney General to use up to $500,000 of 
unobligated balances available in the Working Capital Fund for 
the Justice Management Division study.
    Bureau of Justice Statistics.--The Committee recommendation 
provides $21,529,000 for the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) 
for fiscal year 1998, which is $150,000 above the amount 
provided in the current year appropriation. The BJS is 
responsible for the collection, analysis and publication of 
statistical information on crime, criminal offenders, victims 
of crime, and the operations of the Nation's justice systems.
    National Sexual Offender Registry Grant Program.--The 
Committee recommendation provides $25,000,000 for fiscal year 
1998, the full amount requested, for the establishment of a 
National Sexual Offender Registry Grant program to assist 
States in developing complete and accurate in-State registries 
which meet the requirements of the Jacob Wetterling Act, 
Megan's Law, the Pam Lynchner Sexual Offender Tracking and 
Identification System and related State standards, and to 
assist States in sharing their registry information.
    Missing Children.--The Committee recommendation provides 
$8,656,000 for the Missing Children program for fiscal year 
1998, which is $2,685,000 above the amount provided in the 
current year appropriation and the amount requested. This 
program provides funds to combat crimes against children, 
particularly kidnapping and sexual exploitation. Within the 
amounts provided, the Committee recommendation includes 
$5,000,000 for the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children and $1,185,000 for operations at the Jimmy Ryce Law 
Enforcement Training Center.
    Regional Information Sharing System.--The Committee 
recommendation provides $14,500,000 for fiscal year 1998 for 
the Regional Information Sharing System (RISS), which is the 
same amount provided for the current year appropriation, and 
the full amount requested. In addition, the Committee has 
provided additional funding to enhance this program through a 
technology grant program included under the Community Oriented 
Policing Services Program. The RISS program provides funds to 
maintain six regionally-based information sharing centers 
throughout the United States which are connected electronically 
to form a nationwide network to allow for the automated 
exchange of information between law enforcement entities 
addressing major, multi-jurisdictional crimes.
    White Collar Crime Information Center.--The Committee 
recommends a total of $5,350,000 for the National White Collar 
Crime Center (NWCCC) for fiscal year 1998, which is $1,500,000 
more than the current year appropriation and the amount 
requested. This program provides assistance to State and local 
law enforcement and regulatory agencies in addressing multi-
jurisdictional white collar crimes. The additional funding is 
intended to support the establishment of an Integrated Fraud 
Complaint Analysis and Referral System, which will create a 
national capability for collecting, screening, categorizing, 
and processing complaint and fraud information.
    Grants to Firefighters.--The Committee recommendation 
provides $5,000,000 for local firefighter and emergency service 
training grants as authorized under section 819 of the 
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the full 
amount requested and the same level as the current year 
appropriation. This program provides grants to metropolitan 
fire and emergency services departments to train personnel and 
purchase equipment to enhance their ability to respond to 
terrorist attacks, including nuclear, biological and chemical 
warfare and other explosive incidents.
    Terrorism Training.--The Committee recommendation provides 
$2,000,000 for State and local law enforcement anti-terrorism 
training as authorized under section 822 of the Antiterrorism 
and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the full amount 
requested and the same level as the current year appropriation. 
This program provides funding for the development and 
implementation of anti-terrorism training programs and the 
procurement of necessary equipment for State and local law 
enforcement agencies.
    Development of Counterterrorism Technologies.--The 
Committee recommendation provides $10,000,000 for development 
of counterterrorism technologies to help State and local law 
enforcement combat terrorism as authorized under section 821 of 
the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the 
full amount requested and the same level as the current year 
appropriation. This program provides funding to identify, 
assess and develop technologies that can assist State and local 
law enforcement in combatting terrorism, including technologies 
in the areas of detection of weapons, explosives, chemicals, 
and persons; tracking and surveillance; vulnerability 
assessment; and information technologies.
    Within the amounts provided for counterterrorism 
technologies, the Committee expects Office of Justice Programs 
to examine the feasibility, cost effectiveness and possible law 
enforcement application of Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA) 
Cargo Inspection System technology, an automated non-intrusive 
detection technology that recognizes the presence of hidden 
explosives, drugs and other contraband material in sealed cargo 
containers and trucks.
    Management and Administration.--The Committee 
recommendation provides $27,888,000 for the management and 
administration (M&A) of the Office of Justice Programs, 
including increased funding to support the Arrestee Drug Abuse 
Monitoring System. In addition, reimbursable funding will be 
provided from the Juvenile Justice account, Community Oriented 
Policing Services and the Violent Crime Reduction programs for 
the administration of grants under these activities.
    The Committee is concerned that the current structure of 
administration of grants within the Office of Justice Programs 
(OJP) produces a fragmented and possibly duplicative approach 
to disseminating information to State and local agencies on law 
enforcement programs and developing coordinated law enforcement 
strategies to address drugs, crime and juvenile violence. Since 
1995, funding for grant programs administered by the Office of 
Justice Programs will have grown by 213%, from $1.1 billion to 
over $3.4 billion. In order to ensure careful stewardship of 
these resources, the Committee directs the Assistant Attorney 
General for the OJP to submit a report to the Committee by 
January 1, 1998, which outlines the steps OJP has taken and 
which recommends additional actions, that will ensure 
coordination and reduce the possibility of duplication and 
overlap among the various OJP divisions.

               State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance

    The Committee recommends a total of $2,975,150,000 for 
fiscal year 1998, of which $2,437,150,000 is provided from the 
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, for State and Local Law 
Enforcement Assistance programs. This amount represents an 
increase of $578,000,000 over fiscal year 1997, and 
$822,295,000 above the amount requested. These funds will 
provide assistance to State and local governments in their drug 
control and crime fighting efforts as follows:

 OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE 
                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 1998          1988     
                                    1997       request    recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct Appropriation:                                                   
  Byrne Grants (Discretionary)       60,000  ...........         46,500 
  Weed and Seed (earmark).....     (28,500)     (28,500)   \1\ (40,000) 
  Byrne Grants (Formula)......      301,000  ...........        491,500 
                               -----------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Direct                                                    
     Appropriation:...........      361,000            0        538,000 
                               =========================================
Violent Crime Reduction Trust                                           
 Fund:                                                                  
  Byrne Grants................      199,000      580,000         13,500 
  Local Law Enforcement Block                                           
   Grant......................      523,000  ...........        523,000 
    Boys and Girls Club                                                 
     earmark..................     (20,000)  ...........       (20,000) 
  Juvenile Crime Block Grant..  ...........  ...........        300,000 
  Drug Courts.................       30,000       75,000         30,000 
  Upgrade Criminal Records                                              
   (Brady bill)...............       50,000       45,000         45,000 
  State Prison Grants.........      670,000      710,500        722,500 
  State Criminal Alien                                                  
   Asst.Program...............      330,000      350,000        420,000 
  State Courts Assistance.....  ...........       50,000  ..............
  Violence Against Women                                                
   Grants.....................      196,500      248,750        305,500 
  State Prison Drug Treatment.       30,000       63,000         63,000 
Other Crime Control Programs:                                           
  Turberculosis in Prisons....  ...........        1,000  ..............
  Law Enforcement Family                                                
   Support....................        1,000        2,205          1,000 
  DNA Identification State                                              
   Grants.....................        3,000       15,000         10,000 
  State Technology Grants.....      (9,500)      (9,500)        (9,500) 
  Motor Vehicle Theft                                                   
   Prevention.................          750        1,000            750 
  Senior Citizens/Marketing                                             
   Scams......................        2,000        2,000          2,000 
  Presidential Summit on Crime  ...........          500  ..............
  Assistance for At-Risk                                                
   Youths.....................  ...........        8,000  ..............
  Missing Alzheimer's Patient                                           
   Program....................          900          900            900 
                               -----------------------------------------
    Total Crime Trust Fund:...    2,036,150    2,152,855      2,437,150 
                               =========================================
    Total State and Local                                               
     Assistance...............    2,397,150    2,152,855      2,975,150 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Funding for Weed & Seed is provided from direct appropriations      
  instead of as an earmark from Byrne discretionary grants.             

Direct Appropriations

    Edward Byrne Grants to States.--The Committee 
recommendation provides $551,500,000 for the Edward Byrne 
Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program, of 
which $46,500,000 is for discretionary grants and $505,000,000 
is for formula grants under this program. The recommended level 
is comparable to the full level requested because the 
recommendation assumes direct funding for the Weed and Seed 
program instead of continuing this program as an earmark from 
Byrne discretionary grants.
    Discretionary Grants.--The Committee recommendation 
provides $46,500,000 for discretionary grants under Chapter A 
of the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Assistance Program 
to be administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to 
public or private agencies and nonprofit organizations, for 
educational and training programs, technical assistance, 
improvement of State criminal justice systems, and 
demonstration projects of a multi-jurisdictional nature. Within 
the amount provided for discretionary grants, the Committee 
expects BJA to provide:
          --$4,000,000 for the National Crime Prevention 
        Council to continue and expand the National Citizens 
        Crime Prevention Campaign (McGruff);
          --$1,750,000 to continue and expand the Drug Abuse 
        Resistance Education (DARE AMERICA) program;
          --$2,000,000 for continued funding for the Washington 
        Metropolitan Area Drug Enforcement Task Force;
          --$1,000,000 to SEARCH Group, Inc. to continue and 
        expand the National Technical Assistance Program, which 
        provides support to State and local criminal justice 
        agencies to improve their use of computers and 
        information technology;
          --$1,000,000 for the National Judicial College to 
        provide drug legal education and training to State and 
        local trial judges;
          --$775,000 for Project Return, a correctional options 
        program which has achieved very high rates of 
        employment placement along with few instances of 
        reincarceration for ex-offenders and consideration of 
        additional funds for evaluation; and
          --$2,800,000 for the National Motor Vehicle Title 
        Information System, authorized by the Anti-Car Theft 
        Improvement Act, to modify state computer software, 
        assist joint state research and development and 
        establish network infrastructure.
    Additionally, the Committee is encouraged by OJP and DARE 
AMERICA's commitment to take a fresh look at their curriculum 
through the joint sponsorship of a workshop with the Department 
of Justice and the Department of Education. The Committee will 
be interested in the results of this workshop and the continued 
efforts of DARE to improve their important program.
    In addition, within the amounts appropriated for 
discretionary grants, the Committee also expects BJA to examine 
each of the following proposals, to provide grants if 
warranted, and to submit a report to the Committee on its 
intentions for each proposal:
          --a demonstration and evaluation of the Expanded 
        Community Supervision program which combines community-
        based intermediate sanctions with alcohol and other 
        drug abuse treatment, as an alternative to the 
        traditional incarceration of non-violent felons; and
          --a demonstration and evaluation of community-based 
        alternatives to incarceration for non-violent drug 
        offenders through an established program in an urban, 
        low-income setting, such as the Haymarket House.
    Formula Grants.--The Committee recommendation provides 
$505,000,000 for formula grants to States under the Edward 
Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance 
Program to improve the functioning of the criminal justice 
system with an emphasis on drugs, violent crime and serious 
offenders. This represents the full amount requested and an 
increase of $5,000,000 over the current year appropriation. The 
Committee recommendation does not include requested language 
that would make $30,000,000 of this funding available to States 
exclusively for drug testing programs. However, the Committee 
recommendation does retain language included in the current 
year appropriation which makes drug testing programs an 
allowable use of grants under this program.

Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund Programs

    Local Law Enforcement Block Grant.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $523,000,000 for the Local Law 
Enforcement Block Grant program, which is the same level 
provided in the current year appropriation and $523,000,000 
more than requested by the Administration which eliminated this 
funding for this block grant in its 1998 budget request. This 
program provides grants to localities to reduce crime and 
improve public safety. Of the amount included, $20,000,000 will 
be provided to NIJ for assisting local units to identify, 
select, develop, modernize, and purchase new technologies for 
use by law enforcement. The recommendation also includes 
language that allows up to $20,000,000 of these funds to be 
used for Boys and Girls Clubs.
    The recommendation for funding for the Local Law 
Enforcement Block Grant continues the commitment to provide 
local governments with the resources and flexibility to address 
specific crime problems in their communities with their own 
solutions. The Committee notes the importance of this program 
through the activities which localities used these resources 
for in fiscal year 1996:
          --$293,600,000, 71%, supported law enforcement 
        hiring, overtime and equipment and technology;
          --$33,796,000, supported crime prevention programs;
          --$14,455,000, supported additional drug courts;
          --$16,969,000, supported the adjudication of violent 
        offenders, including violent juvenile offenders;
          --$17,541,000, supported enhanced security measures 
        in and around schools and public locations considered 
        to have a high risk for incidents of crime; and
          --$2,210,000, supported multi-jurisdictional task 
        forces.
    The Committee is aware of the unique relationship that 
exists in the State of Louisiana with regard to parish sheriffs 
and district attorneys and their eligibility for funding under 
the local law enforcement block grant. The Committee intends 
that parish sheriffs and district attorneys receive funding 
under this block grant program and directs OJP to encourage 
parish officials to support the law enforcement requirements 
and needs of sheriffs and district attorneys when allocating 
funds under this program.
    Juvenile Crime Block Grant.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of supporting efforts that will continue to reduce 
juvenile crime. The Committee is encouraged by the decline in 
arrest rates of youths for murder that occurred last year for 
the first time in a decade. This decline is partly attributable 
to efforts by States to ensure that the most truly violent 
youths are treated in a manner in which the punishment fits the 
crime.
    The recommendation includes $300,000,000 for a new juvenile 
crime block grant, subject to passage of authorization 
legislation, to address the needs of State and local entities 
in combating increasing violent crime among juveniles. In order 
to provide communities with the resources and flexibility to 
meet their specific needs, the Committee has provided funding 
for this block grant, instead of including $50,000,000 for a 
new discretionary grant program for Juvenile Courts and 
$100,000,000 for a new discretionary grant program for State 
prosecutors included under the Community Oriented Policing 
Program, requested by the Administration to address juvenile 
crime. The following chart provides a comparison of intended 
uses of funds for the grant program recommended by the 
Committee and the grant programs requested by the 
Administration:

                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1998         1998     
        Program            Authorized Uses      request   recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juvenile Crime Block    Formula Grants.......                           
 Grant                  (1) building/                                   
                         operating juvenile                             
                         detention facilities.                          
                        (2) accountability-                             
                         based sanctions.                               
                        (3) hiring juvenile                             
                         judges, probation                              
                         officers, court-                               
                         appointed defenders.                           
                        (4) hiring                                      
                         prosecutors for                                
                         juvenile crimes.                               
                        (5) technology and                              
                         training to assist                             
                         prosecutors in                                 
                         juvenile crimes and                            
                         gangs.                                         
                        (6) initiatives to                              
                         help prosecutors                               
                         address gangs, drugs                           
                         and youth violence.                            
                        (7) juvenile gun                                
                         courts.                                        
                        (8) drug courts for                             
                         juveniles.                                     
                        (9) interagency                                 
                         information sharing                            
                         programs.                                      
                                                       0       300,000  
Prosecutorial           Discretionary Grants:                           
 Initiatives            (1) hiring                                      
                         prosecutors for                                
                         juvenile crimes.                               
                        (2) technology and                              
                         training to assist                             
                         prosecutors in                                 
                         juvenile crimes and                            
                         gangs.                                         
                        (3) initiatives to                              
                         help prosecutors                               
                         address gangs, drugs                           
                         and youth violence.                            
                        (4) staff support for                           
                         youth gang task                                
                         forces.                                        
                        (5) programs that                               
                         target repeat                                  
                         offenders.                                     
                                                 100,000             0  
Violent Youth Courts    Discretionary Grants.     50,000             0  
                        (1) juvenile gun                                
                         courts.                                        
                        (2) drug courts for                             
                         juveniles.                                     
                        (3) courts of                                   
                         specialized                                    
                         jurisdiction.                                  
                        (4) programs for                                
                         improved                                       
                         adjudication of                                
                         juvenile offenders.                            
                       -------------------------------------------------
    Total Funding         ...................   $150,000      $300,000  
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    National Instant Criminal Background Check System.--The 
recommendation provides $45,000,000 for States to upgrade 
criminal history records so that these records can interface 
with other databases holding information on other categories of 
individuals who are prohibited from purchasing firearms under 
Federal or State statute. This amount represents the full 
amount requested for this program.
    State Prison Grants.--The recommendation provides 
$722,500,000 for the State Prison Grant program, of which 
$180,000,000 is available to States for the incarceration of 
criminal aliens and $25,000,000 is for the Cooperative 
Agreement Program. This program provides grants to States to 
build and expand temporary or permanent correctional 
facilities, boot camps, and jails to increase the capacity for 
confinement of violent criminals. The amount available for 
prison grants is $517,500,000, which is $30,000,000 more than 
provided in fiscal year 1997, and $8,000,000 less than the 
request for this program. In addition, the amount available for 
the Cooperative Agreement Program represents an increase of 
$12,500,000 for this program over the current year 
appropriation and $10,000,000 less than the request.
    State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.--The 
recommendation provides $420,000,000 for the State Criminal 
Alien Assistance Program for the reimbursement to States for 
the costs of incarceration of criminal aliens. This amount is 
in addition to $180,000,000 which is included for this purpose 
under the State Prison Grants program. Thus, the Committee 
recommends a total of $600,000,000 for reimbursement to States 
of alien incarceration, which is $100,000,000 more than the 
amount requested and the current year appropriation.
    State Courts Assistance Program.--The recommendation does 
not include funding for the State Courts Assistance Program, 
which the Administration intended to be used for Violent Youth 
Courts. Funding for juvenile courts is an allowable use under 
the Juvenile Crime Block Grant program included in the 
recommendation.
    Violence Against Women Act.--The Committee recommends 
$305,500,000 for grants to support the Violence Against Women 
Act. This amount represents an increase of $109,000,000 over 
the current year appropriation and $56,750,000 more than the 
amount requested. Grants provided under this recommendation are 
for the following programs:

                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Violence Against Women Act                     1998          1998     
           Programs                 1997       Request    Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 General Grants...............      145,000      160,000        160,000 
Victims of Child Abuse                                                  
 Programs:                                                              
   Court-Appointed Special                                              
   Advocates..................        6,000        7,000          7,000 
  Training for Judicial                                                 
   Personnel..................        1,000        2,000          2,000 
   Grants for Televised                                                 
   Testimony..................          550        1,000          1,000 
Grants to Encourage Arrest                                              
 Policies.....................       33,000       59,000        115,750 
Rural Domestic Violence.......        8,000       15,000         15,000 
National Stalker & Domestic                                             
 Violence.....................        1,750        2,750          2,750 
Federal Victims Counselors \1\      (1,000)      (1,012)        (1,012) 
Training Program..............        1,000        2,000          2,000 
State Database Study..........            0            0              0 
Study on Campus Sexual Assault          200            0              0 
                               -----------------------------------------
     TOTAL--VAWA PROGRAMS.....      196,500      248,750        305,500 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Included under U.S. Attorneys.                                      

    Funding included for Violence Against Women Programs will 
continue to provide resources to expand units of law 
enforcement officers and prosecutors specifically targeted at 
crimes against women, develop and implement effective arrest 
and prosecution policies to prevent, identify and respond to 
violent crimes against women, strengthen programs addressing 
stalking and provide much needed victims services including 
specialized domestic violence court advocates to obtain 
protection orders.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes an 
additional $56,750,000 above the amount requested, for Grants 
to Encourage Arrest Policies, exclusively for the purpose of 
augmenting civil and criminal legal assistance programs to 
address domestic violence.
    The recommendation also provides $7,000,000 for research 
and evaluation of domestic violence programs, and funding to 
support an enhanced domestic prosecution unit within the 
District of Columbia. In addition, to encourage efforts to 
enhance the availability of services to women and children who 
are subjects of domestic violence, the Committee also 
encourages the design and evaluation of training and technical 
assistance programs which result in comprehensive community-
based intervention and prevention programs.
    Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners.--The 
Committee recommends $63,000,000 for grants to States and units 
of local government for development and implementation of 
residential substance abuse treatment programs within State 
correctional facilities, and certain local correctional and 
detention facilities. This amount is the full amount requested 
and $33,000,000 above the amount provided in the current year 
appropriation.
    Law Enforcement Family Support programs.--The 
recommendation includes $1,000,000 for programs that provide 
support services to law enforcement officers and their 
families, the same level as provided in fiscal year 1997.
    Safe Return Program.--The Committee recommendation includes 
$900,000 to continue and expand the national program to locate 
missing Alzheimer patients.
    Tuberculosis in Prisons.--The recommendation does not 
include additional funds for treatment of tuberculosis is 
Federal and State prisons. In fiscal year 1997, no funding was 
provided for this purpose.
    DNA Identification State Grants.--The recommendation 
includes $10,000,000 for grants to States and units of local 
government to support programs and projects to develop or 
improve the capability to analyze DNA in a forensic laboratory. 
The amount provided is $5,000,000 below the amount requested 
and $7,000,000 above the amount provided in fiscal year 1997.
    Assistance for At-Risk Youth.--The recommendation does not 
include $8,000,000 for At-RiskYouth programs. Instead, an 
additional $63,422,000 is provided under the Juvenile Justice 
and Delinquency Prevention Act, to increase amounts available 
to States to implement programs targeted at at-risk youth and 
reducing juvenile crime.
    Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention.--The recommendation 
provides $750,000 for grants to combat motor vehicle theft 
through cooperative partnerships between car owners and State 
and local law enforcement to reduce car theft committed by 
professional auto thieves and to facilitate their recovery. 
This amount is the same level provided in fiscal year 1997 for 
this program.
    Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams.--The 
recommendation includes $2,000,000, the full amount requested, 
for programs to assist law enforcement in preventing and 
stopping marketing scams against the elderly. This amount is 
the same level provided in fiscal year 1997 for this program.
    Presidential Summit on Crime.--The recommendation does not 
provide $500,000, as requested, to conduct a Presidential 
Summit on Crime.

                         Weed and Seed Program

    The Committee recommendation provides $40,000,000 for the 
Weed and Seed program, $11,500,000 above the request and the 
current year appropriation. In addition, funding is provided 
from direct appropriations instead of from an earmark under the 
discretionary grant program of the Edward Byrne Memorial State 
and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program, as provided in 
fiscal year 1997.
    The Committee recognizes that crime disproportionately 
affects disadvantaged neighborhoods and that 10% of 
neighborhoods account for 60% of crimes. The Committee also 
recognizes that the best solutions to crime problems are 
customized to neighborhood needs. The Weed and Seed program 
serves as a crime prevention catalyst, coordinating existing 
anti-crime efforts in high-crime neighborhoods and leveraging 
other resources for activities such as truancy prevention, 
conflict resolution, mentoring, gun abatement, justice 
innovations, jobs for at-risk youth, and anti-gang initiatives. 
This increase will provide 45 new communities with Weed and 
Seed funds, along with training from experienced Weed and Seed 
sites.
    The Committee recognizes the urgency of need at potential 
Weed and Seed sites, and requests that the Executive Office for 
Weed and Seed obligate all funds for this program by July 1, 
1998. In addition, within the amounts provided for this 
program, the Committee expects OJP to provide $190,000 to the 
Gospel Rescue Ministries of Washington, D.C. for the purpose of 
completing the renovation of the former Fulton Hotel to a 
center for drug-addicted women.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous fiscal years, making funds available 
for grants or agreements with State agencies or to reimburse 
Federal agencies in order to execute the Weed and Seed 
strategy, and also allows for the use of other Department of 
Justice funds to support the Weed and Seed Program.

                  Community Oriented Policing Services

              Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund Programs

    The Committee recommendation includes $1,420,000,000 for 
the Community Oriented Policing Services--the COPs Program--for 
fiscal year 1998, including $20,000,000 for the Police Corps 
program. This is the same amount as provided in fiscal year 
1997 and $145,000,000 below the request. In addition, the 
Committee recommendation allows $100,000,000 of unobligated 
balances to be used for innovative community policing programs, 
as authorized under the COPs program, but for which funding was 
not provided in fiscal year 1997.
    Police Hiring Initiatives.--The Committee has provided 
funding over the last three years to support grants for the 
hiring of 64,000 police officers. To date, 61,000 grants have 
been awarded and approximately 31,000 police officers have 
actually been hired. The Committee's recommendation for fiscal 
year 1998 will provide funding for an additional 17,000 officer 
grants, bringing the total number of new police officer grants 
under this program to 81,000. The Committee expects that hiring 
grants will include grants under the Universal Hiring Program 
and the COPs MORE program in order to accomplish this goal.
    Non-Hiring Initiatives.--The Committee is aware that 
$207,900,000 of funds provided for the COPs program in fiscal 
year 1996 carried forward into 1997. As a result of this 
carryover, total funding available for the COPs program in 
fiscal year 1997 was $1,627,900,000. The Committee understands 
that as of April 30, 1997, only $511,500,000 of these funds 
have been obligated and anticipates, that, at a minimum, the 
COPs program will carryover $200,000,000 into fiscal year 1998 
after completion of its hiring grant process for 1997.
    The Committee understands that in fiscal year 1998, some 
local communities that have hired new officers under this 
program will be required to pay the full cost of these new 
officers. These communities, as well as others, have expressed 
the need for funding to support other law enforcement 
requirements to address specific crime problems and critical 
needs, rather than just the hiring of police officers. The 
Committee, therefore believes, that $100,000,000 of unused 
funds from fiscal year 1997 should be used to address these 
critical law enforcement requirements and directs the COPs 
program to establish the following non-hiring grant programs:
    1. COPs Technology Program.--The Committee recommendation 
directs $35,000,000 of unobligated balances to be used for 
continued development of technologies and automated systems to 
assist State and local law enforcement agencies in 
investigating, responding to and preventing crime. In 
particular, the Committee recognizes the importance of sharing 
of criminal information and intelligence among State and local 
law enforcement agencies to address multi-jurisdictional 
crimes.
    Within the amounts made available under this program, the 
Committee expects the COPs office to award grants for the 
following technology programs:
          --$7,500,000 for the Southwest Border States Anti-
        Drug Information System, which will provide for the 
        purchase and deployment of this technology network 
        between all State and local law enforcement agencies in 
        the four southwest border states--California, Arizona, 
        New Mexico, and Texas--to provide information sharing 
        of drug trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border, by 
        linking criminal and intelligence databases of these 
        States, the El Paso Intelligence Center, and certain 
        components of the Regional Information Sharing System;
          --$7,500,000 for the Law Enforcement On-Line system, 
        to add 15,000 State and local users to a secure 
        national interactive computer communications network 
        currently being developed with the FBI; and
          --$7,500,000 to expand the Regional Information 
        Sharing System by providing access to law enforcement 
        member agencies to the RISS Secure Intranet to increase 
        their ability to share and retrieve criminal 
        intelligence information on a real-time basis.
    In addition, the Committee is aware of communications and 
technology needs of various law enforcement agencies. Within 
the overall amounts recommended for the COPs technology 
program, the Committee expects the COPs office to examine each 
of the following proposals, to provide grants if warranted, and 
to submit a report to the Committee on its intentions for each 
proposal:
          --a grant to the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Sheriffs 
        Department for development of enhanced radio 
        communications;
          --a grant for the North Carolina Criminal Justice 
        Information System, to complete development of phase II 
        of a network to integrate data from various criminal 
        justice agencies to meet North Carolina's public safety 
        needs; and
          --a grant to the Fairfax County Police Department for 
        the development of a Regional Gang Tracking System.
    2. COPs Methamphetamine Program.--The Committee directs 
$30,000,000 of unobligated balances in the COPs program to be 
used for State and local law enforcement programs to combat 
methamphetamine production and distribution. The Committee is 
aware that the production, trafficking, and usage of 
methamphetamine, an extremely destructive and addictive 
synthetic drug, is a growing national problem. Available data 
has shown that methamphetamine abuse has risen significantly in 
the West and Southwest, is threatening the Midwest and has 
begun to spread eastward. Despite some successes in the seizure 
of clandestine drug laboratories, limited State and local law 
enforcement resources coupled with the complexity of 
clandestine laboratory enforcement investigation and cleanup 
processes have made the fight against illicit methamphetamine 
manufacturing a difficult one.
    Recognizing the specific problem of methamphetamine in 
California, which has been identified as a ``source country'' 
for the rest of the nation for methamphetamine, within the 
amounts provided for this program, the Committee expects the 
COPs office to award a grant to for the following program:
          --$18,200,000 to the California Bureau of Narcotics 
        Enforcement's Methamphetamine Strategy to support 
        additional law enforcement officers, intelligence 
        gathering and forensic capabilities, training and 
        community outreach programs.
    3. COPs Drug ``Hot Spots'' Initiatives.--The Committee 
directs $35,000,000 of unobligated balances in the COPs program 
to be used to provide grants to policing agencies and 
community-based entities to address drug ``hot spots''. The 
Committee recognizes that most research on crime programs 
concludes that the effective programs seem to share a key 
characteristic--they target specific types of crimes, convicts, 
or potential lawbreakers. The Committee believes that directed 
patrols, proactive arrests and problem solving in drug ``hot 
spots'' will show evidence of drug and crime reduction.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous fiscal years, reflecting the level of 
funding for management and administration of this program, 
which provides for full adjustments to base for the current 
year staffing level.

                       Juvenile Justice Programs

    The Committee recommendation provides a total of 
$237,922,000 for Juvenile Justice Programs for fiscal year 
1998, $7,500,000 more than requested by the Administration and 
$63,422,000 above the amount provided in the current fiscal 
year.
    Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.--The Committee 
recognizes the dramatic increase in juvenile delinquency, 
particularly violent crime committed by juveniles. 
Approximately 20 percent of the individuals arrested for 
committing violent crime are less than 18 years of age and 
weapons offenses and homicides are two of the fastest growing 
crimes committed by juveniles. The Committee also understands 
that addressing juvenile violence requires a combination of 
strategies that involve (1) focusing law enforcement on 
dangerous, violent youths and making sure the punishment fits 
the crime; (2) community intervention to help solve the 
underlying problems of first-time offenders; (3) quality 
prevention programs that are designed to reduce risks and 
develop competencies in at-risk juveniles; and (4) programs 
that hold juveniles accountable for their actions, including 
systems of graduated sanctions, victim restitution and 
community service.
    The Committee further understands that changes to Juvenile 
Justice and Delinquency Prevention Programs are being 
considered in the reauthorization process of the Juvenile 
Justice and Delinquency Act of 1974. The Committee understands 
there is bi-partisan and Administration support for H.R. 1818, 
The Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act of 
1997, which passed the House of Representatives on July 15, 
1997 and provides authorizations for juvenile crime prevention 
funding. As such, the Committee recommendation includes 
language that provides that funding for these programs shall be 
subject to the provisions of authorization legislation that is 
enacted.
    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$225,922,000 for fiscal year 1998, the full amount requested 
and an increase of $55,922,000 over the current year 
appropriation, for grants to States and localities and 
administrative expenses for Juvenile Crime and Delinquency 
Prevention Programs. The recommendation assumes the 
authorizations included in H.R. 1818 as a model, and provides 
funding for the following programs:
    1. $4,922,000 for the Office of Juvenile Crime Control and 
Delinquency Prevention (OJCCDP) (Part A).
    2. $80,000,000 for Formula Grants for assistance to State 
and local programs (Part B).
    3. $100,000,000 for a Juvenile Delinquency Block Grant 
Program (Part C).
    4. $20,500,000 for Research, Evaluation, Technical 
Assistance and Training (Part D)
    The Committee understands that the Office of Juvenile 
Justice and Deliquency Prevention has provided funding for 
research on children exposed to violence at the scene of a 
crime and is evaluating the concept of Child Development 
Community Policing, a model for intervening with these children 
starting at the crime scene. The Committee notes that 
complimentary work is currently being conducted at the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), examining a medical 
model for juvenile delinquency, and urges OJCCDP to coordinate 
its research and violence prevention activities on this topic, 
including the sharing of findings and recommendations, with CDC 
and the Department of Education.
    5. $20,500,000 for Developing, Testing, and Demonstrating 
Promising New Initiatives and Programs (Part E).
    Within the amounts provided for Parts D and E discretionary 
grants, the Committee expects the OJCCDP to provide:
          --$2,300,000 for a grant to continue and expand the 
        National Council of Juvenile and Family Courts which 
        provides continuing legal education in family and 
        juvenile law;
    In addition, the Committee is aware of a number of 
encouraging programs to develop partnerships with local 
communities and help prevent the cycle of abuse and 
delinquency. Within the overall amounts recommended for Part E, 
the Committee expects the OJCCDP to examine each of the 
following proposals, to provide grants if warranted, and to 
submit a report to the Committee on its intentions for each 
proposal:
          --A grant to continue funding for the Hamilton Fish 
        Institute for School/Community Violence which provides 
        technical assistance and forms partnerships with rural 
        and urban communities and their local schools to reduce 
        violence in and around elementary and secondary 
        schools; and
          --A grant to support Project O.A.S.I.S., a program 
        designed to identify and provide accelerated 
        delinquency intervention services to high risk Middle 
        School and Junior High youths;
          --A grant to support the Juvenile Offender Transition 
        Program, a public/private partnership to reduce the 
        rate of recidivism among juvenile offenders by 
        partnering certain offenders with a local college or 
        university student in a mentoring-protege program;
          --A grant to continue to expand the Kids Peace 
        National Center for Kids for its Intensive Treatment 
        Family Program, an innovative community-based approach 
        designed to provide individualized treatment and foster 
        care to seriously emotionally disturbed children and 
        adolescents referred by the juvenile justice system;
          --A grant to Parents Anonymous, which develops 
        partnerships with local communities to build and 
        support strong, safe families and to help break the 
        cycle of abuse and delinquency;
          --A grant to continue funding at current levels for 
        law-related education;
          --A grant to continue successful programs at the 
        Violence Institute in New Jersey that provide research 
        on basic causes of violence and programs designed to 
        prevent the spread of violent crime;
          --A grant to the Suffolk University Center for 
        Juvenile Justice, dedicated to representing children in 
        criminal cases in juvenile court and children and 
        parents in civil matters as well as gang related and 
        abuse cases;
          --A grant to expand Women of Vision, an innovative 
        community-based gender specific juvenile justice 
        program designed to divert first time offenders from 
        the court and probation systems;
          --A grant to the Culinary Arts Job Training Program 
        for at-risk youths; and
          --A grant to the National Training and Information 
        Center to support their communities in action to 
        prevent drug abuse program.
    Drug Prevention Program.--The Committee recognizes that 
while crime is on the decline in certain parts of America, a 
dangerous precursor to crime, namely teenage drug use, is on 
the rise and may soon reach a 20-year high. Nearly a quarter of 
grade school children have been offered drugs, and too many 
children no longer believe drugs are harmful or dangerous. 
Teenage use of marijuana, a ``gateway'' to more serious drugs, 
has more than doubled since 1992.
    The Committee recommendation includes $5,000,000, not 
requested by the Administration, to develop, demonstrate and 
test programs to increase the perception among children and 
youth that drug use is risky, harmful, or unattractive. This 
initiative should be carried out as part of a coordinated, 
government-wide strategy against teenage drug abuse that is 
consistent with existing research findings on effective 
prevention and treatment methods.
    Victims of Child Abuse Act.--The Committee recommends a 
total of $7,000,000 for the various programs authorized under 
the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCA). In addition, funding of 
$7,000,000 is provided for Victims of Child Abuse programs 
under the Violence Against Women Programs funded under State 
and Local Assistance, Violent Crime Reduction Programs. The 
total amounts recommended for Victims of Child Abuse Act 
provide $2,500,000 more than amounts provided in the current 
fiscal year and amounts requested in the budget. The following 
programs are included in the recommendation to improve 
investigations and prosecutions:
          --$1,000,000 to establish Regional Children's 
        Advocacy Centers, as authorized by section 213 of VOCA;
          --$4,000,000 to establish local Children's Advocacy 
        Centers, as authorized by section 214 of VOCA;
          --$1,500,000 for a continuation grant to the National 
        Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse for specialized 
        technical assistance and training programs to improve 
        the prosecution of child abuse cases, as authorized by 
        section 214a of VOCA; and
          --$500,000 for a continuation grant to the National 
        Network of Child Advocacy Centers for technical 
        assistance and training, as authorized by section 214a 
        of VOCA.

                    Public Safety Officers Benefits

    The Committee recommendation includes the requested 
language for death benefits under the Public Safety Officers 
Benefits program for fiscal year 1998, which will fully fund 
anticipated payments. This program provides a lump sum death 
benefit payment to eligible survivors of Federal, State and 
local public safety officers whose death was the direct and 
proximate result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of 
duty.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes 
$2,000,000 for the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Program 
for fiscal year 1998, the full amount requested. This program 
provides payments for education purposes to the children and 
spouses of Federal, civilian law enforcement officers killed or 
disabled in the line of duty.
    The recommendation does not include an additional 
$2,264,000 for lump sum payments to public safety officers who 
are permanently disabled in the line of duty, because there is 
over $4,000,000 currently available for this program from 
unobligated balances that will carry forward into fiscal year 
1998.

               General Provisions--Department of Justice

    The Committee has included the following general provisions 
for the Department of Justice in this bill:
    Section 101 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations acts, which makes up to $45,000 of the funds 
appropriated to the Department of Justice available for 
reception and representation expenses.
    Section 102 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations acts, which continues certain authorities for 
the Justice Department in fiscal year 1998 that were contained 
in the Department of Justice Authorization Act, fiscal year 
1980.
    Section 103 provides language, included in the 
appropriations acts for the last year two years and prior to 
1994, which prohibits the use of funds to perform abortions in 
the Federal Prison System.
    Section 104 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations acts, which prohibits use of the funds in this 
bill to require any person to perform, or facilitate the 
performance of, an abortion.
    Section 105 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations acts, which states that nothing in the previous 
section removes the obligation of the Director of the Bureau of 
Prisons to provide escort services to female inmates who seek 
to obtain abortions outside a Federal facility.
    Section 106 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations acts, which allows the Department of Justice to 
spend up to $10,000,000 for rewards for information regarding 
criminal acts and acts of terrorism against a United States 
person or property at levels not to exceed $2,000,000 per 
award.
    Section 107 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations acts, which allows the Department of Justice, 
subject to the Committee's reprogramming procedures, to 
transfer up to 5 percent between any appropriation, but limits 
to 10 percent the amount that can be transferred into any one 
appropriation.
    Section 108 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations acts, which allows balances remaining in the 
Assets Forfeiture Fund after September 30, 1997 to be available 
to the Attorney General for any authorized purpose of the 
Department of Justice and includes language making this 
provision permanent.
    Section 109 adds new language as proposed by the 
Administration with some modification, which authorizes the use 
of unexpended Crime Victims Fund dollars previously available 
to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for the 
National Fine Center, to be used for Federal system 
improvements to be used to improve services for the benefit of 
crime victims in the Federal criminal justice system.
    The Committee understands that this provision will allow 
$21,000,000 in unexpended Crime Victims Fund monies to become 
available to the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime. 
The Committee directs that funding be available for various 
activities only after the Attorney General notifies the 
Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate in 
accordance with section 605 of this Act. The Committee expects 
the uses of funding to include support for the following 
initiatives:
          --74 victim witness coordinators and advocates to be 
        assigned to various U.S. Attorneys Offices, including 
        victims support for D.C. Superior Court;
          --establishment of an automated victim information 
        and notification system for Federal cases;
          --restitution collection and enforcement; and
          --the processing and tracking of Federal criminal 
        monetary penalties and related litigation activities.

         TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND RELATED AGENCIES

    The Committee recommends a total of $4,195,631,000 for the 
programs of the United States Trade Representative, the 
International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce 
for fiscal year 1998. This amount is $3,565,636,000 below the 
total request and is $332,411,000 above the total amount 
appropriated for the Department and related agencies for fiscal 
year 1997. The funding increases provided for the Department of 
Commerce in fiscal year 1998 reflect the cyclical increases 
necessary to prepare for the 2000 decennial census and 
increases to preserve the core scientific and technical 
expertise of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
in accordance with the Balanced Budget Agreement.
    The Committee has continued a structure initiated in fiscal 
year 1996 under this Title that reflects the fundamental 
functions that will need to be considered as the overall 
administrative structure of these programs is examined. This 
reflects the Committee's effort to identify and prioritize 
programs within these agencies and Departments.

                  TRADE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

                            RELATED AGENCIES

    The Committee has included under this section of Title II, 
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the International 
Trade Commission, and the Department of Commerce agencies 
responsible for trade promotion and enforcement and economic 
infrastructure development.

            Office of the United States Trade Representative

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $21,700,000 
for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 
for fiscal year 1998. This amount is $251,000 above the amount 
appropriated for fiscal year 1997 and $392,000 below the 
request.
    The Committee has maintained funding for the base program 
in order to allow the USTR to continue to apply its resources 
toward monitoring and enforcement of over 180 trade agreements 
which have been negotiated in the last several years. The 
Committee notes that historically, the USTR has relied on the 
assistance from numerous other agencies in negotiating and 
enforcing trade agreements. The Committee recommends that the 
U.S. Trade Representative seek additional detailees from the 
Departments of Commerce, State, and Agriculture, as well as the 
International Trade Commission, if warranted, to assist in 
these important enforcement efforts. The Committee believes 
that trade monitoring and enforcement is critical to ensure the 
success of negotiated free trade agreements. The success of 
this enforcement policy should be reflected in a decline in the 
trade deficit, of which there has not yet been any evidence, 
given the fact that the trade deficit remains at an all time 
high.
    The Office of the United States Trade Representative is 
responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international 
trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and leading or 
directing negotiations with other countries on such matters.

                     International Trade Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $41,400,000 
for the International Trade Commission for fiscal year 1998. 
This amount is $550,000 above the appropriation for the current 
fiscal year and is $580,000 below the budget request. This 
amount, when combined with an estimated carryover of 
approximately $350,000 will allow the Commission to maintain 
its operations and staffing at the current level of 386 full-
time equivalents, as requested.
    In recent years, the importance to the U.S. economy and in 
our trade negotiations of service industries such as 
information, financial, and intellectual property services, 
software and telecommunications has increased dramatically, and 
is expected to continue to increase in the future. Given the 
importance of these issues to the U.S. economy and in our trade 
negotiations, the Committee recommends that the ITC place a 
high priority on its research and analysis functions, 
particularly its capabilities with respect to the service 
industries, and should devote the necessary resources to these 
functions.
    The International Trade Commission is an independent, 
quasi-judicial agency responsible for conducting trade-related 
investigations; providing the Congress and the President with 
independent, expert technical advice to assist in the 
development and implementation of U.S. international trade 
policy; responding to the Congress and the President on various 
matters affecting international trade; maintaining the 
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System of 
internationally accepted product nomenclature; providing 
technical assistance to eligible small businesses seeking 
remedies and benefits under the trade laws; and performing 
other specific statutory responsibilities ranging from research 
and analysis to quasi-judicial functions on trade-related 
matters.

                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

                   International Trade Administration

                     Operations and Administration

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $279,500,000 
for the programs of the Commerce Department's International 
Trade Administration (ITA). The amount provided is an increase 
of $7,864,000 above the request and an increase of $9,500,000 
above the amounts provided for fiscal year 1997. The 
recommendation assumes an estimated carryover of $5,000,000, 
resulting in total of $284,500,000 available to ITA in fiscal 
year 1998.
    The recommendation reflects the Committee's continuing 
support for our nation's core trade promotion, enforcement and 
related activities. The following table reflects the 
distribution of the Committee recommendation by subactivity:

                                                                                                                
                                     [By fiscal year, dollars in thousands]                                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       1997                  1998        1998   
                                                                     enacted   1998 base   request   recommended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade Development.................................................    $59,400    $50,204    $50,204     $58,900 
Market Access and Compliance......................................     17,100     18,395     18,892      18,500 
Import Administration.............................................     29,500     30,400     30,932      30,900 
US&FCS............................................................    168,200    171,608    171,608     176,200 
Estimated Carryover...............................................    (4,200)          0          0     (5,000) 
                                                                   ---------------------------------------------
    Total, ITA....................................................    270,000    270,607    271,636     279,500 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.--The Committee 
continues to believe that the focus of ITA should be to assist 
small and medium-sized companies who would be unable to 
successfully export without the assistance of ITA. While the 
Committee understands the importance of increased trade 
opportunities for all companies, the Committee is concerned 
that the increased focus being placed on advocacy efforts on 
behalf of large companies is detracting from ITA's core mission 
to assist small and medium-sized companies. The Committee notes 
that ITA's advocacy efforts have increased over the last three 
years, while staffing at the overseas and domestic offices for 
the US & Foreign Commercial Service, the primary mechanism for 
assisting small and medium-sized businesses, has declined. The 
Committee is disappointed that the FY 1998 budget proposed 
additional reductions in staffing for the US & FCS.
    Therefore, the Committee has provided an increase above the 
request for the US & FCS through a combination of fiscal year 
1998 appropriations and carryover balances. The recommendation 
includes language in the bill designating the amount of the 
fiscal year 1998 appropriation for the US & FCS. In addition, 
the Committee is aware that the ITA will again have carryover 
from unexpended balances provided to the US & FCS in previous 
years. The Committee expects that the direct appropriation, 
combined with carryover, will be used to increase resources and 
staffing at US & FCS overseas and domestic field offices.
    In addition, the Committee expects ITA to utilize a portion 
of the increase for the Rural Export Initiative with a focus on 
assisting small businesses in rural areas with electronic 
commerce and trade development activities, as well as other 
activities which utilize electronic commerce to assist small 
businesses in increasing their export opportunities.
    Trade Development.--The recommendation provides funding 
under Trade Development to continue two export promotion 
programs related to the textile and apparel industries at the 
same levels provided in fiscal year 1997. In addition, the 
Committee expects ITA to continue its current support for 
activities to assist small businesses to improve their 
international competitiveness. The Committee expects that any 
reductions in Trade Development be taken from the Advocacy 
Center.
    Market Access and Compliance.--Within the amounts provided 
for Market Access and Compliance, the Committee recommendation 
has set aside $3,500,000 for the Trade Compliance Center (TCC). 
Further, the Committee directs ITA that in no case should the 
TCC be taxed for overhead at a rate greater than 10%.
    ITA budget execution.--The Committee is concerned about the 
manner in which overhead is assessed among ITA units and 
subunits. The Committee expects administrative and other 
central overhead costs to accurately reflect the units', and 
subunits', allocable share of the costs, and in no case should 
such charges exceed 10% in fiscal year 1998. Further, the 
Committee directs the ITA in its fiscal year 1999 budget to 
present the total charges for administrative and other 
assessments for each unit and subunit separately.
    The Committee reminds ITA that any changes from the funding 
distribution provided in this report, including carryover 
balances, are subject to the standard reprogramming procedures 
set forth in section 605 of this Act. In addition, ITA is 
directed to report to the Committee, not later than November 
15, 1997, a spending plan for all ITA units, which incorporates 
any carryover of funds.
    Unfair Trade Practices.--The Committee supports efforts to 
ensure fair trading practices among all trading partners. The 
Committee reiterates its concern that the Department not permit 
circumvention of unfair trade relief. The Committee encourages 
the Department to utilize specific criteria in considering 
whether certain imports should be included within the scope of 
an order because of circumvention, regardless of whether the 
merchandise was excluded during the original investigation. 
Moreover, if the Department finds sufficient evidence of 
circumvention has been presented to warrant the initiation of 
an investigation, the burden should be on respondents to 
demonstrate they are not circumventing unfair trade relief.
    Trade Missions.--The Committee is supportive of the 
initiative of the Secretary to establish a transparent trade 
mission policy, and expects such policy to be vigorously 
implemented and enforced. As the primary trade agency of the 
Federal Government, the Committee believes that ITA should be 
the lead agency in coordinating all trade missions. For years, 
the Committee has expressed concerns about the fragmentation of 
trade policy and promotion activities among Federal agencies. 
In addition, the Committee has become aware that other Commerce 
Department agencies have, or plan to, sponsor trade missions. 
The Committee believes that, as the Commerce Department agency 
responsible for all trade promotion and enforcement, all trade 
missions should be initiated, coordinated, and executed by ITA. 
The Committee expects the Department to adopt such a policy, 
and report back to the Committee on its efforts. Further, as 
the chair of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, the 
Committee expects the Secretary of Commerce to work to further 
consolidate and coordinate trade missions throughout other 
Federal Government agencies. The Committee expects the 
Department to report, not later that February 2, 1998, the 
status of efforts to increase coordination among trade missions 
sponsored by the Federal Government.
    Security Upgrades.--In fiscal year 1997, in response to 
heightened concerns over acts of terrorism, $9,400,000 was 
provided to upgrade security at ITA facilities overseas. The 
Committee requests that ITA submit a report to the Committee, 
not later than February 2, 1998, on its expenditures to date, 
as well as its current spending plans for the balances of these 
funds.

                         Export Administration

                     Operations and Administration

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $41,000,000 
for the Operations and Administration appropriation of the 
Bureau of Export Administration. The amount provided is an 
increase of $1,100,000 above the amount appropriated for fiscal 
year 1997 and $2,126,000 below the amount requested.
    The Committee has provided an increase above fiscal year 
1997 to enable the BXA to continue the counterterrorism 
activities provided for through emergency appropriations in 
fiscal year 1997, as well as for increased export control 
responsibilities transferred from the Department of State in 
fiscal year 1997. In addition, the Committee expects that a 
portion of the increase will be used by the Bureau to begin 
activities related to its responsibilities under the Chemical 
Weapons Convention (CWC) Treaty. The Committee notes that while 
the CWC Treaty has been ratified by the Senate, the Congress 
has not yet enacted the necessary implementation legislation 
for this treaty. Therefore, the Committee has not provided the 
full $2,330,000 requested for CWC implementation. However, the 
Committee expects that a portion of the increase will be made 
available to continue on-going planning activities related to 
the CWC. Further, should implementation legislation be enacted, 
the Committee is willing to entertain a reprogramming of funds 
for this purpose.

                  Economic Development Administration

    The accompanying bill provides a total of $361,000,000 for 
the programs and administrative expenses of the Economic 
Development Administration (EDA) for fiscal year 1998, as 
described below:

                Economic Development Assistance Programs

    A total of $340,000,000 is recommended for fiscal year 1998 
for Economic Development Assistance Programs. This amount is a 
$63,700,000 decrease from the total amounts available in fiscal 
year 1997 and $21,000,000 above the request.
    The recommendation reflects the Committee's continued 
support for the programs of the Economic Development 
Administration, and the continuing need for EDA assistance in 
communities struggling to adapt to sudden and severe economic 
dislocation, as well as long-term economic dislocation.
    Of the amounts provided, $178,000,000 is for the Title I 
Public Works program, $29,900,000 is for Title IX Economic 
Adjustment Assistance, $89,000,000 is for Defense Conversion, 
$24,000,000 is for planning, $9,100,000 is for technical 
assistance, including university centers, $9,500,000 is for 
trade adjustment assistance, and $500,000 is for research. The 
Committee expects EDA to continue its efforts to assist 
communities impacted by economic dislocations related to coal 
industry downswings, as well as to assist additional 
communities impacted by timber industry downturns due to 
environmental concerns.
    The Committee commends EDA for its efforts to follow the 
Committee's directive to reform its programs to ensure that 
funds provided under this account be targeted to the most 
severely distressed areas, which, absent the assistance 
provided by the EDA, would have little or no access to 
resources for critical infrastructure development and capacity 
building. However, such actions by EDA do not diminish the 
Committee's support for enactment of reauthorization 
legislation, such as those currently being considered by the 
authorization committees, to reform EDA programs and provide 
for the continuation of the basic program to provide 
infrastructure investments, revolving loan funds, and technical 
assistance to economically distressed areas, particularly rural 
areas. The Committee believes such a program provides the 
``seed capital'' to distressed areas to allow local communities 
to increase their ability to create new economic opportunities 
and jobs in accordance with local priorities.
    The Committee continues its directive for EDA to 
discontinue the use of single purpose grant loans.
    Language is included in the bill which allows the Secretary 
of Commerce to provide financial assistance to projects located 
on military bases closed or scheduled for closure even prior to 
the grantee having taken title of the property in question. The 
language has been carried in the bill for the last three years.

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $21,000,000 for the salaries and 
expenses of the Economic Development Administration. The amount 
provided is $3,028,000 below the request and $964,000 above the 
amounts provided in fiscal year 1997 level. The Committee notes 
that funding for this account has decreased by almost 35% since 
fiscal year 1995, resulting in staffing decreases for the 
agency of approximately 30%. The Committee understands that 
reduced funding has required the agency to streamline, 
downsize, and increase its efficiency. The Committee will 
continue to work with EDA to support its streamlining efforts, 
while ensuring appropriate levels of service are maintained.
    The Committee has included language in the bill which 
provides the authority to use this appropriation to monitor 
projects approved under Title I of the Public Works Employment 
Act of 1976, Title II of the Trade Act of 1974, and the 
Community Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1977.

                  Minority Business Development Agency

                     Minority Business Development

    The Committee recommends $25,000,000 for the Minority 
Business Development Agency (MBDA) for fiscal year 1997. This 
amount is $2,811,000 below the budget request and is $3,000,000 
less than the amount available for fiscal year 1998.
    The recommendation reflects the Committee's continued 
concern that many of MBDA's programs and activities are 
duplicative of, or similar to, programs of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA). In response to these concerns, in fiscal 
year 1997, the Committee provided $2,000,000 in funding under 
this account, and an additional $1,000,000 in funding under the 
SBA Salaries and Expenses account, for projects jointly 
developed, implemented and administered by the two agencies. 
The Committee is disappointed that the MBDA and the Small 
Business Administration have not made sufficient progress to 
work to eliminate duplication and increase coordination among 
their programs, and therefore does not recommend continued 
funding for this initiative in fiscal year 1998.
    The Committee recommendation assumes that the 
Entrepreneurial Technology Apprenticeship Program (ETAP) will 
continue to be supported at its current level.

                ECONOMIC AND INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE

    The Committee has included under this section of the bill 
the Department of Commerce agencies responsible for the 
nation's basic economic and technical information 
infrastructure, as well as the administrative functions which 
oversee the development of telecommunications and information 
policy.

                   Economic and Statistical Analysis

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The bill provides $47,000,000 for the economic and 
statistical analysis programs of the Department of Commerce, 
including the Bureau of Economic Analysis, for fiscal year 
1998. This amount is $5,196,000 less than the budget request 
and $1,100,000 above the amount appropriated for fiscal year 
1997.
    The Committee is concerned that the current national 
economic statistical accounts are out-dated, particularly in 
the areas of foreign trade and fast-growing economic sectors. 
The Committee applauds the BEA for its efforts to prioritize 
its programs and privatize or eliminate lower priority 
activities. The Committee believes highest priority should be 
given to improvement of the national economic statistical 
accounts, and has provided an increase above the current year's 
funding to enable the BEA to continue these activities. In 
addition, the Committee intends that none of the funds provided 
under this appropriation, or under the Bureau of Census 
appropriation accounts, be used to carry out the Integrated 
Environmental-Economic Accounting or ``Green GDP'' initiative.
    The Economic and Statistics Administration (ESA) is 
responsible for the collection, tabulation and publication of a 
wide variety of economic, demographic and social statistics and 
provides support to the Secretary of Commerce and other 
Government officials in interpreting the state of the economy 
and developing economic policy. The Bureau of Economic Analysis 
and Under Secretary for Economic Affairs are funded in this 
account.

         Economics and Statistics Administration Revolving Fund

    The Committee has included in the bill language necessary 
for the continuation of a self-supporting revolving fund for 
data products of the Economics and Statistics Administration, 
as requested.
    The Economic and Statistics Administration operates a 
revolving fund for the payment of expenses incurred in the 
electronic dissemination of data, including the acquisition and 
public sale of domestic, federally-funded and foreign business, 
trade and economic information.

                          Bureau of The Census

    The Committee recommends a total of $686,625,000 for the 
Bureau of the Census for fiscal year 1998. This amount is an 
increase of $25,443,000 above the budget request, and an 
increase of $341,125,000 above the amount provided for the 
current fiscal year.

                         salaries and expenses

    The bill provides $136,499,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Bureau of the Census for fiscal year 1998. This 
amount is $1,557,000 less than the budget request, and 
$1,499,000 above the amount provided for fiscal year 1997. It 
is the Committee's intention that the increase provided above 
the current year be applied to programs for the core current 
economic statistics as part of the Bureau's effort to provide 
improved data related to the national economic accounts. In 
addition, the Committee continues to believe that the Bureau 
must undertake additional efforts to streamline and prioritize 
its programs funded under this account to ensure that the 
highest priority activities are supported. Further, the 
Committee expects the Bureau to be fully reimbursed for any 
survey requested by any other Federal agency or private 
organization.
    This appropriation provides for the current statistical 
programs of the Bureau of the Census, which include the 
measurement of the Nation's economy and the demographic 
characteristics of the population. These programs are intended 
to provide a broad base of economic, demographic, and social 
information used for decision making by governments, private 
organizations and individuals.

                     Periodic Censuses and Programs

    The Committee recommends a total of $550,126,000 for all 
periodic censuses and related programs funded under this 
heading in fiscal year 1998, an increase of $339,626,000 above 
the current fiscal year, and $27,000,000 above the request.
    The Committee recommendation provides two separate 
appropriations under this account for decennial census programs 
and for other non-decennial periodic censuses and programs as 
follows:
    Decennial Census.--The recommendation includes $381,800,000 
as a separate appropriation under this account for fiscal year 
1998 for decennial census programs, an increase of $27,000,000 
above the budget request and $297,690,000 above the amount 
provided for fiscal year 1997. The recommendation provides the 
full amount necessary in fiscal year 1998 to prepare for the 
taking of the 2000 decennial census.
    The Committee is aware that the Administration has proposed 
the unprecedented use of a series of complex and controversial 
statistical sampling procedures as an alternative to 
traditional methods that rely primarily upon the physical 
counting of persons. This proposed methodology has never before 
been used to determine the official population count for the 
purposes of apportionment, and represents a dramatic departure 
from the manner in which all other previous censuses have been 
conducted. As a result, significant concerns and questions have 
been raised regarding the reliability, legality and 
constitutionality of the proposed methodology. In order to 
protect both the integrity of the decennial census and the 
multi-billion dollar investment necessary to conduct the 
census, the Committee believes these serious questions and 
concerns must be resolved by the Congress and the Executive 
Branch prior to the expenditure of significant additional 
resources. However, the Committee also believes that the most 
critical activities necessary in fiscal year 1998 should 
continue, while these questions are resolved. Therefore the 
Committee has provided funds for the decennial census above the 
amount requested, but restricted their use as follows:
          --$100,000,000 is designated in the bill to enable 
        the Bureau to continue on-going activities related to 
        the decennial census, an increase of $15,900,000 above 
        the current level. Language is included in the bill 
        prohibiting any of these funds from being used for 
        activities related to the design, planning, testing or 
        implementation of the use of sampling or any other 
        statistical procedure, including statistical 
        adjustment, in determining the population for the 
        purposes of apportionment. The Committee has provided 
        funding above the Bureau's current operating level to 
        allow for increased address list development 
        activities, which are the fundamental cornerstone of 
        the decennial census, regardless of the manner in which 
        the census is conducted.
          --$281,800,000 is designated in the bill to implement 
        activities once agreement is reached on the methods to 
        be used to conduct the 2000 decennial census. Bill 
        language is included making these funds available only 
        upon the enactment of a subsequent Act authorizing the 
        methods for conducting the decennial census for the 
        purposes of apportionment.
    The Committee expects the Administration to utilize all 
tools at its disposal to increase its ability to hire 
enumerators from within the local community, particularly in 
hard-to-count areas, as such actions will help improve the 
accuracy of the census. For the 1990 census, the Committee is 
aware that administrative actions were taken to encourage 
individuals to become temporary census enumerators. Therefore, 
the Committee directs the Department, the Bureau, and the 
Office of Management and Budget to report back to the Committee 
not later than February 2, 1998 on the administrative actions 
it has taken, or intends to take, to recruit and retain 
qualified enumerators for the 2000 census.
    Other Periodic Censuses and Programs.--The Committee 
recommends $168,326,000 for other periodic census and programs, 
an increase of $39,536,000 above the amounts provided in fiscal 
year 1997, and an amount equal to the request. This increase is 
being provided to enable the Bureau to conduct the seven core 
quinquennial economic censuses, the census of governments, and 
other related programs. The following table represents the 
distribution of funds provided for other non-decennial periodic 
censuses and related programs:

Economic Censuses.......................................     $63,700,000
Census of Governments...................................       2,836,000
Intercensal Demographic Estimates.......................       5,200,000
Continuous Measurement..................................      19,000,000
Sample Redesign.........................................       3,800,000
CASIC...................................................       6,000,000
Geographic Support......................................      43,000,000
Data Processing Systems.................................      24,790,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................     168,326,000

    Continuous Measurement.--While the recommendation provides 
the amount requested for this activity, which is intended to 
replace the decennial census long form in the year 2010, the 
Committee believes significant policy and budgetary 
ramifications have yet to be fully considered by the Congress 
regarding this program. For example, the Bureau intends to 
collect the same amount of data through continuous measurement 
that is currently collected on the long form. For years, the 
Committee has admonished the Bureau to work with the Office of 
Management and Budget to reduce the burden of data collection 
and pursue cost recovery from other Federal agencies for these 
activities. Despite these admonitions, the Bureau has been 
unable to make significant progress on either of these issues. 
Further, the Committee is aware that concerns have been raised 
regarding a potential bias in data among urban and rural areas. 
Therefore, the Committee expects the Bureau to work with the 
Committee to address these policy and budget issues prior to 
full scale implementation of this program.
    This appropriation account provides for decennial and 
quinquennial censuses, and other programs which are cyclical in 
nature. Additionally, individual surveys are conducted for 
other Federal agencies on a reimbursable basis.

       National Telecommunications and Information Administration

    The Committee recommends a total of $55,340,000 for the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) for fiscal year 1998. This amount is an increase of 
$3,600,000 above the amount provided in fiscal year 1997, and 
$1,266,000 above the budget request.

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $17,100,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses appropriation of the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration. This amount is a reduction of 
$974,000 from the budget request, and an increase of $2,100,000 
above the amount appropriated for fiscal year 1997. The 
Committee recommendation assumes an additional $7,500,000 will 
be available to the NTIA through reimbursements from other 
agencies for the costs of providing spectrum management, 
analysis and research services to those agencies. The Committee 
notes that the actual cost to NTIA for providing spectrum-
related services to its customers is in excess of $12,000,000. 
While the Committee understands that certain overall policy-
related activities are most appropriately funded through NTIA's 
direct appropriation, the Committee expects NTIA to work with 
the Office of Management and Budget and its Federal customers 
to achieve increased reimbursement of not less than 80% of 
total spectrum management, analysis and research services, and 
expects the fiscal 1999 budget to reflect this level of 
reimbursement. Bill language is included, as carried in fiscal 
year 1997, requiring reimbursement for these services.

       Public Broadcasting Facilities, Planning and Construction

    The Committee recommends $16,750,000 for planning and 
construction grants for public television, radio and non-
broadcast facilities. The Committee recommendation is 
$1,500,000 above the amount appropriated for this program in 
fiscal year 1997, and an increase of $16,750,000 above the 
budget request. This amount will provide for the continuation 
of the existing equipment and facilities replacement program.
    The Committee has included language in the bill which 
permits not to exceed $1,500,000 to be available for program 
administration as authorized by law, as well as language 
carried in the appropriations bill for many years which permits 
prior year unobligated balances to be available for grants for 
projects for which applications have been submitted and 
approved during any fiscal year.

                   Information Infrastructure Grants

    The Committee recommends $21,490,000 for the Information 
Infrastructure Grant program under NTIA for demonstrations of 
new telecommunications technology applications. The 
recommendation is equal to the amount appropriated in fiscal 
year 1997, and is $14,510,000 below the budget request.
    The Committee continues to believe the National Information 
Infrastructure program is an important component to the 
development of the national information superhighway, and 
continues to believe the information superhighway will be of 
particular value to underserved and rural areas by allowing 
more remote areas to gain access to enhanced education, health 
care, and social services, as well as provide enhanced economic 
opportunities.
    However, the Committee is also aware that the universal 
service requirements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 
(Public Law 104-104) will provide significant new opportunities 
for bringing the information superhighway to schools and 
libraries, which were not previously envisioned when this 
program was created. It is the Committee's expectation that 
this action will reduce the burden on the NII program. The 
Committee expects NTIA to give particular consideration to 
applications which would lead to increased telecommunications 
access in areas where such service is not readily available, 
and for those activities for which assistance is not available 
through other mechanisms.
    The Committee has also included bill language making 
$3,000,000 of the funds provided under this heading available 
for program administration and related program support 
activities. The bill also includes recommended bill language 
which will allow up to five percent of this appropriation to be 
available for telecommunications research activities directly 
related to the development of a national information 
infrastructure (NII).

                      Patent and Trademark Office

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The bill provides $27,000,000 for the Salaries and Expenses 
direct appropriation of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), 
an amount equal to the request, and $34,252,000 below the 
direct appropriation provided from the Fund in fiscal year 
1997. The amount provided is to be appropriated from amounts 
paid into the Patent Fee Surcharge Fund. The direct 
appropriation, when combined with anticipated offsetting fee 
collections of $664,000,000, as estimated by the Congressional 
Budget Office, and carryover of $18,000,000, as estimated by 
the Department of Commerce, will result in a total availability 
of $709,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 to the PTO, a five percent 
increase over the estimated operating budget of $675,000,000 
for the current fiscal year, and an 8% increase over the budget 
request.
    The Committee recognizes the critical role the PTO plays in 
spurring technological development and U.S. competitiveness. 
However, as has been the practice in previous years, the 
Committee has not provided the total amount available in the 
Patent Fee Surcharge Fund for fiscal year 1998. The Committee 
is scored against its overall funding allocation for 
appropriating fees from this Special Fund and must give this 
account the same consideration as other funding requests when 
determining appropriate funding levels. The Committee notes 
that this situation was created under the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1990, under which the increase in patent 
fees was diverted to offset the Federal deficit. However, 
legislation is pending in Congress to establish the PTO as an 
independent Government entity, which would make discretionary 
appropriations from the General Fund for this account 
unnecessary by returning patent fees to the PTO, rather than to 
the Treasury for deficit reduction, beginning in fiscal year 
1999. In light of the continuing budgetary constraints 
impacting overall discretionary spending, the Committee hopes 
that progress is made on this legislation.
    The Committee acknowledges that adequate training is a 
critical component to ensuring the highest quality workforce 
for the PTO. The Committee is aware of concerns regarding 
training provided for patent examiners, and notes that the 
original fiscal year 1998 budget submission assumed reductions 
in this area. In light of the increase in the expected 
operating level for the PTO in fiscal year 1998, the Committee 
expects the PTO to provide appropriate training opportunities 
to further the development and retention of qualified patent 
examiners, and to report back to the Committee by February 2, 
1998, on its training plans for fiscal year 1998.
    The Patent and Trademark Office is charged with 
administering the patent and trademark laws of the United 
States. PTO examines patent applications, grants patent 
protection for qualified inventions and disseminates 
technological information disclosed in patents. PTO also 
examines trademark applications and provides Federal 
registration to owners of qualified trademarks.

                         SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

                       Technology Administration

       Office of the Under Secretary/Office of Technology Policy

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $8,500,000 for the Technology 
Administration's Office of the Under Secretary/Office of 
Technology Policy. This amount is a reduction of $730,000 from 
the budget request, and $1,000,000 below the amount 
appropriated for the current fiscal year.
    The Committee recommendation provides $1,600,000 in fiscal 
year 1998 for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
Technology (EPSCoT) program, and $6,900,000 for the base 
program of the Technology Administration (TA). The Committee is 
aware that TA is continuing a series of on-going discussions 
and workshops regarding implementation of this new initiative. 
The Committee expects TA to work with existing planning 
entities to carry out this new initiative, and to report back 
to the Committee with its plans for implementing this program 
prior to the expenditure of funds provided in fiscal year 1998, 
in accordance with section 605 of this Act. Bill language is 
included allowing $1,600,000 to remain available until 
September 30, 1999.
    The Committee recommendation does not provide an increase 
of $350,000 requested to support the Administration's foreign 
policy initiatives. In addition, the Committee has reduced TA's 
base operating budget to reflect the elimination of TA's 
support for this initiative. The Committee notes that the TA is 
the coordinator of domestic civilian technology initiatives and 
believes it inappropriate for TA to be using its resources to 
support foreign policy programs, and intends that no funds 
provided to TA be used for this purpose. However the Committee 
would be willing to permit the TA to provide technical 
assistance to other agencies, more appropriately involved in 
foreign assistance programs should these activities be provided 
on a reimbursable basis using funds from other Federal sources 
outside of the Department of Commerce's budget.

             National Institute of Standards and Technology

    The Committee recommends a total of $692,544,000 for the 
appropriations accounts under the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) for fiscal year 1998. The 
recommendation is equal to the budget request, and is an 
increase of $111,544,000 above the amount appropriated for 
fiscal year 1997. The Committee recommendation reflects the 
priority accorded to NIST programs in the Balanced Budget 
Agreement. A description of each account and the Committee 
recommendation follows:

             Scientific and Technical Research and Services

    The Committee has provided $282,852,000 for the Scientific 
and Technical Research and Services (core programs) 
appropriation of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology. This amount is an increase of $6,000,000 above the 
budget request, and $14,852,000 above the amount appropriated 
for fiscal year 1997. The amounts provided for this account 
reflect the Committee's continuing commitment to funding basic 
research programs that benefit the nation's industries.
    The following is a breakdown of the amounts provided under 
this account by activity, reflecting the priorities included in 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Authorization Act of 1997 (H.R.1274), which passed the House of 
Representatives by voice vote on April 24, 1997:

Electronics and Electrical Engineering..................     $38,104,000
Manufacturing Engineering...............................      18,925,000
Chemical Science and Technology.........................      31,791,000
Physics.................................................      30,372,000
Material Sciences and Engineering.......................      50,914,000
Building and Fire Research..............................      13,404,000
Computer Science & Applied Mathematics..................      47,227,000
Technology Assistance...................................      19,376,000
Baldridge Quality Awards................................       4,135,000
Research Support........................................      28,604,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, STRS.......................................     282,852,000

    Computer Security.--The Committee has included a $4,000,000 
increase in the Computer Science and Applied Mathematics 
program to augment the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology's (NIST) work in the field of computer security. The 
Committee recognizes the need to improve computer security 
throughout Federal civilian agencies. As in the private sector, 
the Federal Government is increasingly relying on electronic 
information technologies to store and transmit sensitive data. 
Ensuring this data is protected from theft and corruption is a 
difficult but essential task. The General Accounting Office 
identified Federal efforts to secure electronic information as 
a ``high risk'' activity in its 1997 High Risk Series. Under 
the Computer Security Act of 1987 (P.L.100-235), NIST has the 
primary responsibility for developing security standards and 
technical guidelines for civilian government agencies' computer 
security. The additional resources should assist NIST in its 
task.
    International Standards.--The Committee remains concerned 
about the rapid growth of overseas personnel from agencies 
other than the Department of State. The Committee continues its 
directive included in last year's report disapproving the 
placement of any additional NIST personnel overseas, or NIST 
support for foreign service nationals overseas.
    Quality Program.--The Committee has provided $4,135,000 for 
the NIST Quality Program, which includes the Malcolm Baldridge 
National Quality Award. While an increase has been provided in 
fiscal year 1998 to expand this program to health care and 
education, the Committee continues to believe that these 
activities are most appropriately funded through the Department 
of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. 
The Committee expects NIST to work with these agencies to 
achieve full reimbursement for NIST's participation in these 
two programs in fiscal year 1999.
    Language is included in the bill allowing funds to be 
transferred to the NIST Working Capital Fund.

                     Industrial Technology Services

    The Committee recommends $298,600,000 for the Industrial 
Technology Services appropriation of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology. This amount is $14,400,000 below the 
current appropriation available for fiscal year 1997, and is 
$100,400,000 below the budget request.
    Advanced Technology Program.--The Committee provides 
$185,100,000 for the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), the 
same level approved in the House-passed reauthorization bill 
for this program (H.R.1274). The recommendation reflects 
changes to the program agreed to in the fiscal year 1997 
supplemental Appropriations Act, enacted subsequent to the 
fiscal year 1998 budget submission. The Committee's 
recommendation will provide $74,100,000 in new awards in fiscal 
year 1998, $2,000,000 more than originally requested in the 
budget for fiscal year 1998, and $39,100,000 more than was 
provided for in fiscal year 1997.
    The Committee recommendation provides the following 
distribution for fiscal year 1998 funds: (1) $68,000,000 for 
continuation of prior year awards made using funds provided in 
fiscal years 1996 and 1997; (2) $74,100,000 for new awards in 
fiscal year 1998; and (3) $43,000,000 for administration, 
internal lab support and Small Business Innovation Research 
requirements. In addition, language is included in the bill 
designating the amounts available for new ATP awards, pursuant 
to the agreement reached in fiscal year 1997. The Committee 
reminds NIST that changes to this funding distribution, 
including changes resulting from carryover, recoveries and 
project cancellations, are subject to the reprogramming 
requirements set forth in section 605 of this Act.
    The Committee notes that the recently passed House 
authorization made several important changes to the program, 
including increasing the matching requirement to 60% for ATP 
grants for certain grant recipients and ensuring that Federal 
funds do not supplant private sector capital. In addition, on 
July 11, 1997, the Secretary of Commerce submitted to the 
Congress a series of recommendations and changes to the 
program. The Committee encourages the Department and the 
authorization committees to work to implement the appropriate 
changes to this program. The Committee believes that such 
changes will enable NIST to further leverage the appropriation 
provided for this program.
    Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.--The Committee 
has included $113,500,000 for the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership (MEP) Program, an increase of $18,500,000 above the 
amounts provided in fiscal year 1997. The recommendation 
provides the following:

Regional Programs.......................................    $105,000,000
Administration..........................................       8,500,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, MEP........................................     113,500,000

    The recommendation provides the full amount requested for 
continuation of all existing centers, including the rollover 
costs of the remaining Centers originally funded under the 
Technology Reinvestment Program under the Defense Department, 
as well as those centers which have reached their statutory 
six-year time limit. However, the bill does not include 
proposed statutory language to lift the statutory six-year time 
limitation. As stated in the conference report on the fiscal 
year 1997 bill, the Committee believes such change is more 
appropriately addressed through the authorization process. The 
Committee notes that the House of Representatives recently 
passed a reauthorization for the MEP program which addresses 
this matter, and encourages NIST and the Department to work 
with the authorization committees on the enactment of such 
legislation.
    The Committee recommendation does not include funding 
requested for special projects related to supply chain 
optimization, information technology, and technology infusion. 
While these projects are worthwhile, the Committee is concerned 
that these programs are not required to meet the same 
requirements as the Regional Centers program, including cost 
share requirements. Given that many of these projects are 
targeted to selected industry sectors and problems, the 
Committee expects that MEP centers should be able to obtain the 
funds for these purposes from local, State, or private-sector 
sources.
    Language is included in the bill allowing funds provided 
for ATP and MEP to be transferred to the NIST Working Capital 
Fund.

                  Construction of Research Facilities

    The Committee recommendation includes $111,092,000 for 
construction, renovation, and maintenance of NIST facilities. 
This amount is an increase of $94,400,000 above the budget 
request, and $111,092,000 above the amount provided for in 
fiscal year 1997.
    In accordance with the direction provided last year by the 
Committee, NIST is in the process of completing a long-term 
master plan to address its facilities maintenance, 
rehabilitation and construction requirements to support its 
mission.
    Therefore, the Committee has included funding above the 
request to address NIST's facilities requirements identified in 
this plan, but has included language in the bill providing for 
the release of the $94,400,000 increase only upon submission of 
a spending plan in accordance with section 605 of this Act. 
This spending plan should reflect the priorities identified in 
a long-term facilities master plan. Such master plan should 
include both a five-year and a ten-year facilities improvement 
plan that contains the following: (1) a detailed analysis of 
NIST office and laboratory space requirements, including an 
assessment of any unused space in existing facilities (owned or 
leased), and a detailed description of all assumptions on which 
the analysis is based; (2) a prioritized list of maintenance 
projects; (3) a prioritized list of new construction projects; 
(4) a prioritized list of renovation projects; and (5) an 
annualized breakdown of the costs associated with each proposed 
construction, renovation, and maintenance project.
    The recommendation reflects the Committee's belief that the 
technical obsolescence of NIST facilities must be addressed to 
enable NIST to fulfill its mission, and must therefore be 
reflected in the overall budgetary priorities of NIST. This 
program supports all NIST activities by providing the 
facilities necessary to carry out the NIST mission in 
compliance with more stringent science and engineering program 
requirements.

            National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    The Committee recommends a total of $1,865,392,000 in new 
budget (obligational) authority for the five appropriation 
items of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA), transfers totaling $62,381,000 and fees totaling 
$3,000,000. This amount is a decrease of $3,598,214,000 below 
the budget request for these items and a decrease of 
$53,571,000 below the regular amounts appropriated under these 
accounts for fiscal year 1997.

                  Operations, Research, and Facilities

                     (including transfers of funds)

    The bill includes $1,406,400,000 in new budget 
(obligational) authority for the fisheries, marine, weather, 
environmental, satellite, and other programs funded in this 
appropriation. This amount is a reduction of $69,845,000 from 
the budget request.
    The Committee's recommendation reflects significant changes 
in the account structure for NOAA, as requested in the budget, 
through the creation of a new separate account for capital 
assets acquisition activities. Capital assets acquisition 
activities, including systems acquisition and new construction, 
which previously had been funded within the NOAA Operations, 
Research, and Facilities (ORF) account are now provided for in 
a new account under the heading ``Capital Assets Acquisition.'' 
In addition, non-capital acquisition activities previously 
provided for in the NOAA ``Construction'' and ``Fleet 
Modernization, Shipbuilding, and Conversion'' accounts have 
been provided for within the ORF account, as proposed. Language 
is included in the bill, as requested, to make the necessary 
technical changes to reflect the establishment of this account.
    In addition to the new budget authority provided for the 
NOAA ORF account, the Committee recommends a transfer of 
$62,381,000 from balances in the account entitled, ``Promote 
and Develop Fishery Products and Research Pertaining to 
American Fisheries.'' This amount is equal to the budget 
request, and will support a $4,000,000 Saltonstall-Kennedy 
grant program, in addition to any carryover realized in the 
Fund from fiscal year 1997. The total amount provided also 
includes a transfer of $5,200,000 from the Damage Assessment 
Revolving Fund, as included in the budget request. In addition, 
the recommendation expects NOAA to use $1,700,000 from the 
Federal Ship Financing Fund to cover administrative expenses 
related to that account, and reflects prior year deobligations 
and carryover funding totaling $24,000,000.
    Language is included in the bill which allows NOAA to 
collect additional fees to recover some of the costs of 
administering the aeronautical charting program. The language 
allows these fees to be credited to this appropriation as 
offsetting collections, and will result in a final General Fund 
appropriation of $1,403,400,000. The bill also includes 
language allowing NOAA to retain gifts and contributions made 
under the Marine Sanctuary Program. The Committee expects NOAA 
to fully utilize the authorities provided for both of these 
programs.
    Language is also included in the bill specifying the total 
amount of direct obligations available for each of the six NOAA 
line offices and other related activities funded through this 
account. The Committee has taken this action to provide greater 
clarity and accountability in budgeting and management for the 
diverse activities funded in this account.
    The Committee repeats its concern regarding the failure of 
NOAA to respond to its requests for cooperation in certain 
matters, and failure to follow up on information requests made 
by the Committee. In addition, the Committee reminds NOAA that 
it expects NOAA to follow the direction given in this section 
of the report as well as the sections addressing the 
Committee's reprogramming requirements.
    NOAA Budgetary and Financial Management.--The Committee is 
concerned about NOAA's lack of progress in addressing the 
serious budgetary and financial management problems which have 
been highlighted by this Committee for the last two years. The 
Committee remains frustrated by NOAA's inability to project its 
funding requirements for any given fiscal year. Further, the 
Committee was disturbed to learn of actions by some NOAA line 
offices which appeared to be deliberate attempts to provide 
misleading information to the Committee regarding funding 
requirements. Based on audits conducted by the Inspector 
General and by the General Accounting Office (GAO), the 
Committee was made aware that the National Marine Fisheries 
Service inappropriately obligated approximately $10,000,000 in 
funds in excess of its current fiscal year requirements in 
order to reduce the carryover balances reported to the 
Committee. In addition, the Inspector General found that the 
National Environmental Data and Information Service (NESDIS) 
transferred $101.3 million to NASA in excess of its program 
requirements, including the inappropriate transfer to NASA of 
$28.1 million totally unrelated to the NASA satellites program, 
also in an attempt to reduce the amount of unobligated balances 
reported to the Committee.
    In addition, the Committee is concerned that NOAA failed to 
respond to the direction included in both the fiscal year 1996 
and 1997 House Reports and Statement of Managers of the 
conference reports accompanying the fiscal years 1996 and 1997 
appropriations Acts, for the Department of Commerce and NOAA to 
develop a revised budget structure that displays the amounts 
requested under a true program office and activity structure. 
This budget structure should identify and segregate amounts 
requested for headquarters and field office components of 
various activities as well as indicate the amounts intended for 
external grants and contracts. The Committee reiterates its 
directive regarding this matter and expects NOAA's fiscal year 
1999 budget submission to reflect such a revised budget 
structure, developed in consultation with the Committee and the 
appropriate authorization committees.
    Further, the Committee notes that the fiscal year 1996 
independent audit of NOAA's consolidated financial statements 
found significant material weakness resulting in the auditors 
being unable to express an opinion on NOAA's financial 
statements. In addition, NOAA continues to refuse to follow the 
recommendation of both its independent auditors and the 
Inspector General that its financial information be presented 
under a true program office and activity structure to allow for 
better oversight and management of its resources.
    Therefore, the Committee directs NOAA, through the 
Department of Commerce, to take the following actions to 
improve its budgetary and financial management practices: (1) 
submit to the Committee, not later than December 1, 1997, an 
operating plan for expenditure of funds available to NOAA in 
fiscal year 1998 based on the Committee's distribution shown in 
the accompanying table, and report to the Committee on a 
quarterly basis the status of obligations against the 
Committee's distribution; (2) provide a report to the 
Committee, not later than September 1, 1997, as to the progress 
of development of a revised budget structure; and (3) provide 
to the Committee a plan for implementing the independent 
auditor's recommendations regarding the presentation of its 
financial information.
    NOAA Corps.--On January 25, 1996, in response to the Vice-
President's reinventing government initiative, the 
Administrator of NOAA announced the elimination of the NOAA 
Commissioned Corps by October 1, 1997. Despite this stated 
policy, the Administration failed to transmit to the Congress 
the necessary legislation and plans to implement this 
initiative. The President's fiscal year 1998 budget now assumes 
elimination of the NOAA Corps by October 1, 1998. 
Unfortunately, the Administration again failed to transmit the 
necessary legislation in a timely manner for consideration by 
the Congress prior to development of the fiscal year 1998 
appropriations bill. The Committee encourages the 
Administration and the appropriate authorization committees to 
continue to work to resolve this issue.
    In light of the uncertainty surrounding the future of the 
NOAA Corps, the Committee believes it is inappropriate for NOAA 
to increase the size of the Corps, or bring new officers into 
the Corps. Therefore, the Committee recommendation includes 
language in the accompanying bill, similar to that carried in 
previous years, placing a ceiling of not to exceed 270 
commissioned officers as of September 30, 1998. The Committee 
notes that there are currently 287 commissioned officers on-
board as of June 1997, of which 115 are currently eligible for 
retirement if the agency makes use of all retirement 
authorities statutorily provided. Therefore, the Committee 
recommendation assumes the Corps will be able to meet the 
ceiling included in the recommendation through the normal 
retirement process.
    The following table compares the Committee recommendation 
to the 1997 enacted appropriation and the fiscal year 1998 
budget request for the activities, sub-activities, and projects 
funded in this appropriation.

 NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION FISCAL YEAR 1998 BUDGET
                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Fiscal years--             
                              ------------------------------------------
                                    1997          1998          1998    
                               appropriation     request     recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE                                              
                                                                        
Navigation Services:                                                    
    Mapping and Charting.....        32,000        30,100        30,100 
        Address Survey                                                  
         Backlog/Contracts...         6,000         6,000        13,900 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        38,000        36,100        44,000 
                                                                        
    Geodesy..................        20,167        19,159        21,100 
    Tide and Current Data....        12,500        11,000        11,350 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Navigation                                                 
       Services..............        70,667        66,259        76,450 
                              ==========================================
Ocean Resources Conservation                                            
 and Assessment:                                                        
    Estuarine and Coastal                                               
     Assessment..............         2,674         2,674         2,674 
        Ocean assessment                                                
         program.............        27,300        28,425        27,600 
        Damage assessment....         2,200         3,000         3,000 
        Transfer from Damage                                            
         Assessment Fund.....         5,276         6,700         6,700 
        Oil Pollution Act of                                            
         1990................         1,000         1,000         1,000 
        Ocean Services.......         2,500         2,800         2,500 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        40,950        44,599        43,474 
                              ==========================================
    Coastal Ocean Science,                                              
     Coastal ocean program...        15,200        15,200        15,200 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Subtotal...............        15,200        15,200        15,200 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Ocean Resources                                            
       Conserv. & Assess.....        56,150        59,799        58,674 
                              ==========================================
Ocean and Coastal Management:                                           
    Coastal Management:                                                 
        CZM grants...........        46,200        65,732        55,000 
        Estuarine research                                              
         reserve system......         1,300         4,300         1,000 
        Nonpoint pollution                                              
         control.............  .............        1,000   ............
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        47,500        71,032        56,000 
                              ==========================================
    Ocean Management, Marine                                            
     sanctuary program.......        11,685        13,200        14,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        11,685        13,200        14,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Ocean and                                                  
       Coastal Management....        59,185        84,232        70,000 
                              ==========================================
Acquisition of Data..........        18,200        14,546        14,500 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, NOS.............       204,202       224,836       219,624 
                              ==========================================
                                                                        
  NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES                                             
           SERVICE                                                      
                                                                        
Information Collection &                                                
 Analyses:                                                              
    Resource Information.....        91,330        92,992        88,344 
        Antarctic research...         1,200         1,200         1,200 
        Chesapeake Bay                                                  
         Studies.............         1,890         1,500         1,890 
        Right whale research.           250           200           250 
        MARFIN...............         3,000         3,000         3,000 
        SEAMAP...............         1,200         1,200         1,200 
        Alaskan goundfish                                               
         surveys.............           661           661           661 
        Bering Sea pollock                                              
         research............           945           945           945 
        West Coast groundfish           780           780           780 
        New England stock                                               
         depletion...........         1,000         1,000         1,000 
        Hawaii stock                                                    
         management plan.....           500   ............          500 
        Yukon River chinook                                             
         salmon..............           700           700           700 
        Atlantic salmon                                                 
         research............           710           710           710 
        Gulf of Maine                                                   
         groundfish survey...           567           567           565 
        Dolphin/Yellowfin                                               
         Tuna Research.......           250           250           250 
        Habitat research/                                               
         evaluation..........           450           450           450 
        Pacific salmon treaty                                           
         program.............         5,587         5,587         5,587 
        Fisheries Cooperative                                           
         Inst................           410           410           410 
        Hawaiian monk seals..           500           500           500 
        Stellar sea lion                                                
         recovery plan.......         1,770         1,440         1,440 
        Hawaiian sea turtles.           248           248           243 
        Bluefish/Striped Bass           785   ............          800 
        Halibut/Sablefish....         1,200         1,200         1,200 
        Gulf of Mexico                                                  
         Mariculture.........           300   ............  ............
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........       116,233       115,540       112,625 
                              ==========================================
    Fishery Industry                                                    
     Information:                                                       
        Fish statistics......        13,000        13,400        13,000 
        Alaska groundfish                                               
         monitoring..........         5,200         5,200         5,200 
        PACFIN/catch effort                                             
         data................         3,000         3,000         4,700 
        Rec. fishery harvest                                            
         monitoring..........         3,400         3,100         3,900 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        24,600        24,700        26,800 
                              ==========================================
Information Analyses &                                                  
 Dissemination...............        20,900        21,200        20,900 
    Computer hardware and                                               
     software................         4,000         4,000         4,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        24,900        25,200        24,900 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Info.,                                                     
       Collection, & Analyses       165,733       165,440       164,325 
                              ==========================================
Conservation and Management                                             
 Operations:                                                            
    Fisheries Management                                                
     Programs................        22,000        29,300        24,500 
        Columbia River                                                  
         hatcheries..........        10,955        10,300        10,300 
        Columbia River end.                                             
         species studies.....           288           288           288 
        Regional councils....        10,200        11,700        11,700 
        International                                                   
         fisheries                                                      
         commissions.........           950           400           400 
        Management of                                                   
         George's Bank.......           478           478           461 
        Beluga whale                                                    
         committee...........           200           200           200 
        Pacific tuna                                                    
         management..........         1,900         1,500         1,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        46,971        54,166        48,849 
                              ==========================================
    Protected Species                                                   
     Management..............         5,700         6,750         5,700 
        Driftnet Act                                                    
         implementation......         3,278         3,278         3,278 
        Marine Mammal                                                   
         Protection Act......         9,125         9,500         9,500 
        Endangered Species                                              
         Act recovery plan...        13,500        20,200        15,500 
        Fishery observer                                                
         training............           417   ............          417 
        East Coast observers.           350           350           350 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        32,370        40,078        34,745 
                              ==========================================
    Habitat Conservation.....         8,000         9,800         8,000 
    Enforcement &                                                       
     Surveillance............        16,500        18,200        17,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Conservation and                                           
       Mgmt. Opns............       103,841       122,244       108,594 
                              ==========================================
    State and Industry                                                  
     Assistance Programs:                                               
        Interjurisdictional                                             
         fisheries grants....         2,600         2,600         2,600 
        Anadromous grants....         2,108         2,108         2,100 
        Anadromous fishery                                              
         project.............  .............          250   ............
        Interstate fish                                                 
         commissions.........         5,000         4,000         6,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........         9,708         8,958        10,700 
                              ==========================================
    Fisheries Development                                               
     Program:                                                           
        Product quality and                                             
         safety/Seafood                                                 
         Inspection..........        14,624        14,624        14,624 
        Hawaiian Fisheries                                              
         Development.........           750   ............  ............
        Marine Biotechnology.         1,900         1,900         1,900 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        17,274        16,524        16,524 
                              ==========================================
      Total, State & Industry                                           
       Assist. Progs.........        26,982        25,482        27,224 
                              ==========================================
Acquisition of Data..........        26,840        25,098        26,800 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, NMFS............       323,396       338,264       326,943 
                              ==========================================
                                                                        
   OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC                                              
           RESEARCH                                                     
                                                                        
Climate and Air Quality                                                 
 Research:                                                              
    Interannual & Seasonal/                                             
     Climate & Global........        68,000        74,900        70,000 
    GLOBE....................         6,000         7,000   ............
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        74,000        81,900        70,000 
                                                                        
    Long-Term Climate & Air                                             
     Quality Research........        28,372        29,402        28,300 
        High Performance                                                
         Computing...........         7,500         7,500         6,500 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        35,872        36,902        34,800 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Climate and Air                                            
       Quality...............       109,872       118,802       104,800 
                              ==========================================
Atmospheric Programs:                                                   
    Weather Research.........        33,613        33,613        33,613 
    Wind profiler............         4,350         4,350         4,350 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        37,963        37,963        37,963 
                              ==========================================
    Solar/Geomagnetic                                                   
     Research................         5,493         5,493         5,700 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Atmospheric                                                
       Programs..............        43,456        43,456        43,663 
                              ==========================================
Ocean and Great Lakes                                                   
 Programs:                                                              
    Marine Prediction                                                   
     Research................        15,651        12,126        14,000 
        GLERL................         5,200         5,200         5,200 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        20,851        17,326        19,200 
    Sea Grant:                                                          
        Sea grant college                                               
         program.............        54,300        50,182        55,300 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        54,300        50,182        55,300 
    National Undersea                                                   
     Research Program........        12,000         5,400            -- 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........        12,000         5,400            -- 
                              ==========================================
      Total, Ocean & Great                                              
       Lakes Programs........        87,151        72,908        74,500 
                              ==========================================
Acquisition of Data..........        12,690        12,884        14,500 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, OAR.............       253,169       248,050       237,463 
                              ==========================================
                                                                        
   NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE                                             
                                                                        
Operations and Research:                                                
    Local Warnings and                                                  
     Forecasts...............       298,538       308,000       313,800 
    MARDI....................        91,462        73,674        73,674 
    Radiosonde replacement...         1,500           910            -- 
    Susquehanna River Basin                                             
     Flood Sys...............         1,000           619         1,120 
    Aviation forecasts.......        35,596        35,596        35,596 
    Regional climate centers.         2,000            --         2,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
          Subtotal...........       430,096       418,799       426,190 
                              ==========================================
    Central Forecast Guidance        28,700        29,543        29,543 
    Atmospheric and                                                     
     Hydrological Research...         2,000         2,489         2,489 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Operations and                                             
       Research..............       460,796       450,831       458,222 
                              ==========================================
Systems Operations:                                                     
    Public Warning and                                                  
     Forecast Systems:                                                  
        NEXRAD...............        53,145        39,591        39,591 
        ASOS.................        10,056         5,341         5,341 
        AWIPS/NOAAPort.......       100,000   ............  ............
        Computer Facility                                               
         Upgrades............        14,000         8,000         8,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Systems                                                    
       Operations \1\........       177,201        52,932        52,932 
                              ==========================================
      Total, NWS.............       637,997       503,763       511,154 
                              ==========================================
                                                                        
    NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL                                              
     SATELLITE, DATA, AND                                               
     INFORMATION SERVICE                                                
                                                                        
Satellite Observing Systems:                                            
    Polar spacecraft                                                    
     launching...............       147,300   ............  ............
    Polar convergence/IPO....        29,000        51,503        25,000 
    Geostationary spacecraft                                            
     and launching...........       171,480   ............  ............
    Ocean remote sensing.....         4,000         3,800         1,000 
    Environmental observing                                             
     services................        51,000        50,347        50,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Satellite                                                  
       Observing Systems \1\.       402,780       105,650        76,000 
                              ==========================================
Environmental Data Management                                           
 Systems.....................        30,002        27,500        27,500 
    Data and Information                                                
     Services................        14,800        16,335        16,335 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, EDMS............        44,802        43,835        43,835 
                              ==========================================
      Total, NESDIS..........       447,582       149,485       119,835 
                              ==========================================
                                                                        
       PROGRAM SUPPORT                                                  
                                                                        
Administration and Services:                                            
    Executive direction and                                             
     administration..........        19,200        19,911        19,200 
    Systems Program Office                                              
     (SPO)...................         1,497         1,497         1,418 
                              ------------------------------------------
        Subtotal.............        20,697        21,408        20,618 
                              ==========================================
    Central Administrative                                              
     Support.................        33,000        31,850        31,850 
    Retired Pay Commissioned                                            
     Officers................         8,000        14,000         9,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Administration                                             
       and Services..........        61,697        67,258        61,468 
                              ==========================================
    Aircraft Services........        10,000         9,900         9,900 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Aircraft                                                   
       Services..............        10,000         9,900         9,900 
                              ==========================================
    Rent Savings.............  .............       (4,656)       (4,656)
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, PS..............        71,697        72,502        66,712 
                              ==========================================
                                                                        
Fleet Maintenance & Planning                                            
 \2\.........................  .............       11,823         5,000 
                                                                        
          FACILITIES                                                    
                                                                        
NOAA Facilities Maintenance..  .............        4,488         2,000 
Sandy Hook Lease.............  .............        2,000         2,000 
Environmental Compliance.....  .............        3,700         2,000 
WFO Maintenance..............  .............        2,950         2,950 
Columbia River Facilities....  .............        4,465         3,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
      Total, Facilities \3\..  .............       17,603        11,950 
                              ==========================================
Direct Obligations...........     1,938,043     1,566,326     1,498,681 
                              ==========================================
Reimbursable Obligations.....       313,515       317,015       317,015 
New offsetting collections                                              
 (data sales)................         1,200         2,400         2,400 
Anticipated Collections......         3,000         3,000         3,000 
                              ------------------------------------------
        Subtotal--Reimbursabl                                           
         es..................       317,715       322,415       322,415 
                              ==========================================
      Total Obligations......     2,255,758     1,888,741     1,821,096 
                              ==========================================
                                                                        
          FINANCING                                                     
                                                                        
Deobligations................       (14,000)      (24,000)      (24,000)
Unobligated balance                                                     
 transferred, net............  .............       (1,500)       (2,000)
Federal Ship Financing Fund                                             
 expenses....................        (1,700)  ............       (1,700)
New offsetting collections                                              
 (data sales)................        (1,200)       (2,400)       (2,400)
Anticipated offsetting                                                  
 collections.................        (3,000)       (3,000)       (3,000)
Federal funds................      (282,500)     (172,000)     (172,000)
Non-federal funds............       (31,015)     (145,015)     (145,015)
                              ------------------------------------------
        Subtotal--Financing..      (333,415)     (347,915)     (350,115)
                              ==========================================
Budget Authority.............     1,922,343     1,540,826     1,470,981 
                                                                        
        FINANCING FROM                                                  
                                                                        
Promote and develop American                                            
 fisheries...................       (66,000)      (62,381)      (62,381)
Damage assessment &                                                     
 restoration revolving fund..        (5,276)       (5,200)       (5,200)
                              ==========================================
Appropriation, ORF...........     1,851,067     1,473,245     1,403,400 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Funding for the systems acquisition items within this activity is   
  addressed in the Capital Assets Acquisition account.                  
\2\ Funding for this activity was previously provided in a separate     
  account.                                                              
\3\ Funding for this activity was previously provided in a separate     
  account.                                                              

                         National Ocean Service

    The Committee has included a total of $219,624,000 for 
activities of the National Ocean Service (NOS) for fiscal year 
1998, instead of $204,202,000 provided for fiscal year 1997 and 
$224,836,000 as requested.
    Navigation Services.--The Committee has included 
$76,450,000 for NOAA's navigation services programs. This 
amount represents a $5,783,000 increase over the current fiscal 
year, and $10,191,000 above the request for these activities 
and programs. The Committee recommendation reflects a base 
transfer of $14,481,000 and 129 full time equivalents (FTE) to 
the Federal Aviation Administration for the aeronautical 
charting program, as requested after a review by the Inspectors 
General of the Departments of Commerce and Transportation. The 
budget assumes a two year transfer period for this program, 
with NOAA continuing to operate the program in fiscal year 1998 
on a reimbursable basis, but in fiscal year 1999 NOAA's 
responsibility for this program will end and the FTE will be 
transferred to the FAA. The Committee expects NOAA to work with 
the FAA to ensure an orderly transition of this program, and 
directs NOAA to report on the progress of this transition as 
part of the fiscal year 1999 budget submission. In addition, 
the recommendation includes $12,581,000 and 68 FTE to replace 
funds formerly received from the National Imaging and Mapping 
Agency, as requested.
    Mapping and Charting.--The recommendation includes 
$44,000,000 for mapping and charting activities, an increase of 
$7,900,000 above the request and $6,000,000 above the amounts 
provided in fiscal year 1997. The recommendation reflects the 
Committee's continued commitment to the navigation safety 
programs of NOS, and its concerns for ability of the NOS to 
continue to meet its mission requirements over the long term.
    However, the Committee remains concerned that the NOAA and 
NOS have not taken sufficient steps to plan for its long term 
mission requirements, given that overall fiscal constraints 
will preclude major investments to replace NOAA vessels. It is 
clear that the future of NOAA's hydrographic program lies in 
increased outsourcing to meet its nautical charting needs. 
While the Committee understands the need for NOAA to ensure the 
quality, standards and specifications for nautical charts, the 
Committee is concerned that NOAA has not taken vigorous steps 
to make this transition to outsourcing as an alternative method 
of meeting its needs.
    Therefore, the Committee has provided $13,900,000 under the 
line item Address Survey Backlog/Contracts exclusively for 
contracting out with the private sector for data acquisition 
needs. Further, additional funding has not been provided in 
fiscal year 1998 under Fleet Maintenance for the procurement of 
additional equipment to modernize its in-house capabilities. 
However, the Committee would be willing to entertain a 
reprogramming of prior year carryover for this purpose after 
the submission of a satisfactory long-term plan to the 
Committee to meet the Nation's nautical charting needs. Such 
plan should include, at a minimum, the following: (1) NOAA's 
short and long-term plans for utilization of its existing 
hydrographic fleet, including the timeline for decommissioning 
these vessels; (2) mechanisms and alternatives for NOAA to 
maintain a core set of capabilities for appropriate oversight, 
technical guidance, standards development and specifications 
for ensuring data quality; and (3) a plan to acquire not less 
than 50% of its hydrographic data through private contract or 
long-term leases by fiscal year 1999. The Committee expects 
NOAA to work with all interested parties in developing this 
plan.
    Geodesy.--The Committee has included $21,100,000 for NOAA's 
geodesy programs. Of the amount provided, $1,000,000 is for the 
National Geodetic Survey (NGS) to conduct a National Height 
Modernization Study to demonstrate the effectiveness of this 
work in California and in western North Carolina. The Committee 
expects the NGS to conduct this study in consultation with 
state and local governments and the private sector, and provide 
the results of this study to the Committee not later than April 
1, 1998.
    Tide and Current Data.--The recommendation provides 
$11,350,000 for this line item, $350,000 above the request. The 
Committee expects NOS to provide $350,000 of this amount to 
Galveston-Houston for the initial operation of the physical 
oceanographic real time system (PORTS) through January 1, 1999. 
The Committee does not anticipate and will not consider future 
requests for operational assistance for this system.
    Clean Water Initiative/Coastal Zone Managment.--The 
Committee recommendation provides a total of $8,000,000 under 
the National Ocean Service for the Clean Water Initiative. Of 
this amount, $2,000,000 is provided under the NOS Ocean 
Assessment Program for the Community Right to Know Initiative 
which is intended to provide the public with comprehensive 
information on the health of U.S. coastal and Great Lakes 
waters by providing electronically-based national coastal water 
quality reporting services and other types of ``one-stop'' 
access to information on pollutants and water quality in 
coastal waters. In addition, the Committee has provided a total 
of $55,000,000 for section 306 and 306(A) grants under the 
Coastal Zone Management program, an increase of $8,800,000 
above fiscal year 1997. Of this amount, $2,800,000 is for an 
increase to accommodate new states coming into the CZM program 
in fiscal year 1998, and $6,000,000 is for grants to States to 
implement plans associated with the Clean Water Initiative. The 
Committee has not provided the additional $12,000,000 requested 
for new activities under Section 310 of the Coastal Zone 
Management Act for which there is no authorization for these 
specific purposes.
    Ocean Assessment Program.--The Committee recommendation 
provides $27,600,000 for this line item. The amount provided 
includes $12,000,000 for the NOAA Coastal Services Center, 
$2,000,000 for the Community Right to Know Initiative as part 
of the Clean Water Initiative, and $13,600,000 for the base 
program. Further, the Committee directs NOAA to develop a study 
plan describing a collaborative research effort between NOAA 
and the U.S. Geological Survey on the risks and costs 
associated with coastal hazards, particularly from extreme 
storms, and report the findings to the Committee by February 1, 
1998.
    Damage Assessment Restoration Program.--The Committee has 
included a $1,424,000 increase over appropriated amounts for 
the Damage Assessment program in fiscal year 1998, the full 
amount requested, to offset the reductions in funds available 
for transfer from the Damage Assessment Restoration Revolving 
Fund.
    Coastal Ocean Program.--The recommendation includes 
$15,200,000 for this program, an amount equal to the request. 
Within the funds provided, the Committee expects the Coastal 
Ocean managers to give maximum priority to responding to the 10 
year old problem of algae bloom in the Peconic, Moriches and 
adjacent Long Island bays and waterways that devastated the 
area's recreational and commercial fishing industry through 
continued efforts to understand the physiology of the brown 
tide organism, identify continued contaminants and other 
conditions that could promote the growth of the algae and 
determine a solution to this problem. In addition, the 
Committee urges the COP to continue its efforts to establish a 
National Harmful Algal Bloom program that will expand the 
current geographic scope of studies on the ecology and 
oceanography of harmful algal blooms (ECOHAB) to additional 
geographic areas and conduct research on the means to prevent, 
control, and mitigate blooms and their effects. This program 
will provide a comprehensive multi-agency national capability 
for understanding and controlling bloom events in coastal 
waters. The Committee understands that the COP efforts are 
cooperative with other Federal agencies and requests a report 
outlining these interagency efforts and progress no later than 
February 1, 1998. In addition, the Committee recommendation 
assumes $1,300,000 will be utilized for restoration of the 
South Florida Ecosystems, and expects that any program be 
conducted utilizing the expertise of university partners in the 
area.
    Marine Sanctuary Program.--The Committee has included 
$14,000,000 for the National Marine Sanctuary Program, an 
increase of $800,000 above the request. The Committee intends 
that a portion of the funds provided above the request be 
provided to the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study 
on the role of marine sanctuaries in marine resource 
conservation. Further, the Committee continues to believe that 
NOAA should redouble its efforts to pursue revenue enhancement 
initiatives to explore other voluntary, innovative means to 
identify partners and raise additional resources for the 
sanctuaries. In addition, the bill includes language, carried 
in previous years, allowing the collection of user fees for the 
sanctuaries. The Committee believes that, given these tools, 
and with continued diligence, additional resources could be 
made available to provide support to the sanctuaries program.
    National Estuarine Research Reserve.--In addition, the 
Committee has provided $1,000,000 for the National Estuarine 
Research Reserve program under this account, and an additional 
$3,300,000 under the separate appropriation from the Coastal 
Zone Management Fund, resulting in a total program level of 
$4,300,000, the same amount provided in the current fiscal 
year.

                   National Marine Fisheries Service

    The Committee has provided a total of $326,943,000 for the 
programs of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as 
compared to $323,396,000 provided in fiscal year 1997.
    The recommendation reflects the Committee's commitment to 
building sustainable fisheries by providing increases for 
programs and activities which will enable NMFS and its resource 
management partners to have access to the necessary information 
to make fishery management decisions, and implement these 
decisions.
    Resource Information.--The Committee recommendation 
includes $88,344,000 for this item, of which $900,000 is for a 
one-time study of potential new fisheries in the Bering Sea, 
and $2,000,000 is for the Gulf and Atlantic Fisheries 
Development Foundation to establish and administer a 
comprehensive program for data collection and analyses for the 
recreational finfish fishing effort, red snapper stock 
assessment, red drum stock assessment, and shrimp fishing 
effort. Such efforts by the Foundation should be in 
consultation with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, 
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and commercial 
and recreational fishing industry representatives. It is the 
Committee's intention that these data collections efforts not 
be duplicated within NMFS or the Council. NMFS is directed to 
submit to the Committee a plan for the implementation of this 
effort, and recommendations and alternative methods for data 
collection for all remaining Gulf of Mexico fisheries programs, 
by November 15, 1997.
    Sea Turtle Protection.--The Committee expects NMFS to 
continue to improve its activities in the area of protecting, 
recovering and improving beach monitoring of the Kemps Ridley 
and other sea turtles. The Committee directs NMFS to provide 
not less than $250,000, within the amounts provided for 
conservation and management activities, to continue ongoing 
efforts at Rancho Nuevo to protect and enhance sea turtle 
recovery efforts, and $100,000 for loggerhead nesting and 
research programs in Florida and Georgia. Despite the 
Committee's direction for the last two years, NMFS has yet to 
establish a standardized statistical Sea Turtle Stranding 
Network. The Committee is adamant and directs NMFS to 
immediately implement the Committee's direction using available 
funds and in direct consultation with the commercial fishing 
industry and conservation groups, and report back to the 
Committee no later than November 15, 1997 of its progress in 
meeting this directive.
    The Committee has twice before directed that NMFS establish 
an independent panel to review the November 14, 1994 Biological 
Opinion regarding shrimp fishing and turtle interaction. NMFS 
has ignored the Committee direction on this matter. The 
Committee has expressed reservations about the scientific data 
collection and analyses on which NOAA and NMFS base their 
regulatory decisions, as well as concerns that such collection 
and analyses involve all impacted and interested parties. The 
Committee is aware of NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
policy stated in the Federal Register, July 1, 1994, that 
allows the use of outside expertise and the best scientific and 
commercial data available to issue biological opinions. 
Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Commerce not 
to develop or implement any new or revised biological opinions 
regarding shrimp fishing and turtle interaction until the 
Secretary establishes a shrimp-turtle panel to directly assist 
in developing such biological opinions. This panel shall 
consist of academic, conservation, shrimp fishing industry and 
departmental representatives with equal representation being 
provided to the shrimp fishing industry. The panel shall first 
review, and provide analyses to the Secretary and the 
Committee, the November 14, 1994 and June 11, 1996 biological 
opinions regarding shrimp fishing and turtle interactions. The 
Secretary is directed, not later than October 31, 1997, to 
submit an implementation plan to the Committee regarding this 
direction. Further, the Secretary shall consult with the 
Committee on the establishment and composition of this panel 
prior to its establishment and prior to the submission of the 
implementation plan.
    Bycatch Reduction.--The Committee is concerned about the 
possible implementation of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council's Amendment 9 to the fishery management plan 
for the shrimp fishery requiring the use of fish excluder or 
bycatch reduction devices in shrimp nets. Since the Gulf of 
Mexico Council's approval of this amendment in November, 1996, 
significant scientific and commercial data has become available 
and the Council subsequently adopted a measure in March, 1997 
recommending a one year delay in the use of bycatch reduction 
devices to allow the industry and NMFS to test and approve 
bycatch reduction devices and to conduct technology transfer 
and education programs. Therefore, the Committee directs the 
Secretary of Commerce to immediately conduct testing, 
technology transfer and education activities regarding bycatch 
reduction or fish excluder devices, and immediately implement 
an independent working group as recommended March 27, 1997 by 
industry representatives to NMFS to recommend changes to the 
current methods of red snapper bycatch analyses. The Secretary 
of Commerce is directed to report back to the Committee, no 
later than September 5, 1997, as to the status of implementing 
the Committee's direction.
    Atlantic Bluefish/Striped Bass.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $800,000 in funding under Resource 
Information, instead of $250,000 as proposed in the budget 
under State and Industry Assistance Programs, to study the 
decline of nearshore Atlantic bluefish stocks, including an 
examination of the relationship between bluefish and striped 
bass populations, changes in bluefish food stocks, and whether 
the stocks have declined or merely moved offshore, and other 
relevant factors.
    PACFIN/catch effort data.--The Committee has provided 
$4,700,000 for this activity, an increase of $1,700,000 above 
the request, to fund the Alaska Fisheries Information Network.
    RECFIN.--The Committee has provided $3,900,000 for the 
RECFIN program, an increase of $800,000 above the request, and 
$500,000 above the fiscal year 1997 level. The Committee 
expects that the programs for the West Coast, Atlantic States, 
and Gulf States shall each receive one-third of these funds. 
Funding for any supplemental region-specific projects is to be 
derived from the overall ``Fish Statistics'' line item.
    Interstate Fish Commissions.--The recommendation includes 
$6,000,000 for interstate fish commissions, an increase of 
$2,000,000 above the request, and $1,000,000 above the amount 
provided in fiscal year 1997. The Committee directs that 
$750,000 be provided to the three interstate commissions, with 
the remaining funds to be provided for implementation of the 
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act.
    Conservation Management and Operations.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $108,594,000 for the programs funded 
under this activity, an increase of $4,753,000 above the fiscal 
year 1997 level. Increases have been provided for Fisheries 
Management Programs, Regional Councils, and Protected Species 
Management to enable NMFS and its management partners to begin 
to address requirements related to the recent passage of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act, as well 
as for other related activities. Within the amounts provided 
under Protected Species Management, the Committee expects the 
NMFS to work with the States and other interested parties to 
complete an investigation into the impacts of California sea 
lions and harbor seals on salmonids and the West Coast 
ecosystem, as well as assist in efforts related to Atlantic 
salmon conservation. In addition, the Committee expects NMFS to 
study the feasibility of establishing a permanent marine 
research and stranding center on the East Coast of the United 
States.
    Further, within the amounts provided for Fisheries 
Management Programs, the Committee expects NMFS to continue to 
provide support for the Alaska Native comanagement activities, 
including the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission.
    Acquisition of Data.--The Committee recommendation includes 
$26,800,000, instead of $25,098,000 as requested. Of the 
amounts available to NMFS for acquisition of data, not less 
than $4,100,000 shall be used to contract with the private 
sector for data collection activities.
    The Committee expects NOAA to include as a priority under 
the Saltonstall-Kennedy grant program, proposals for research 
and education efforts directed at the protection of high-risk 
consumers from naturally occurring bacteria associated with raw 
molluscan shellfish. Specifically, the Committee expects 
$250,000 in S-K funds to be provided to support ongoing efforts 
by the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) in 
addressing concerns associated with Vibrio vulnificus.

                    Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

    The Committee has provided a total of $237,463,000 for the 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Programs of NOAA, instead of 
$248,050,000 as requested.
    The Committee recommendations includes the following 
amounts for basic laboratory research and support under Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research: $8,000,000 for the base Interannual 
and Seasonal Climate research program (exclusive of climate and 
global change funding); $34,800,000 for Long-term Climate and 
Air Quality Research; $33,613,000 for Weather research; and 
$9,626,000 for the base Marine Prediction research program. In 
addition, the Committee recommendation provides $5,700,000, an 
increase over the request, for solar/geomagnetic research.
    The Committee has provided $70,000,000 for Interannual and 
Seasonal Climate research. This amount includes funding for the 
Climate and Global Change program. Again this year, the 
Committee has merged these activities to ensure that climate 
change research is focused on near- to mid-term climatic events 
such as the El Nino phenomenon. The Committee believes this 
research provides the most immediate return on the investment, 
particularly in its value to the U.S. agricultural community. 
The Committee intends that the increase provided above the 
fiscal year 1997 level be used for the Health of the Atmosphere 
program and to continue to implement the International Research 
Institute program and related regional application centers.
    The Committee has provided no funding for the undersea 
research program and no funding for the Global Learning 
Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program.
    The Committee recommendation also includes $55,300,000 for 
the Sea Grant program, an increase of $5,118,000 above the 
budget request, and $1,000,000 above the current year's 
funding. The Committee expects NOAA to continue to fund oyster 
disease research and zebra mussel research at not less than the 
levels provided in fiscal year 1995, and has provided an 
additional $1,000,000 above fiscal year 1997 funding for the 
Gulf of Mexico Oyster Initiative.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes funds 
under Marine Prediction Research to continue the Arctic 
Research initiative at a level of $1,500,000, and to provide 
$1,000,000 to undertake the highest priority research and 
technology demonstration activities related to aquatic 
nuisances in accordance with the National Invasive Species Act.
    Acquisition of Data.--The Committee recommends $14,500,000 
under this item for data collection and research activities. Of 
this amount, not less than $2,600,000 shall be used only to 
contract with the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory 
System (UNOLS) fleet to meet NOAA's oceanographic ship 
requirements.

                        National Weather Service

    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$511,154,000 under this heading for the operational programs of 
the National Weather Service (NWS) for fiscal year 1998, an 
increase of $7,391,000 above the budget request. Further, an 
additional $130,781,000 has been provided within a separate new 
Capital Assets Acquisition account for NWS systems acquisition 
and related activities which were previously funded under this 
heading in this account. Moreover, the Committee has also 
provided $16,773,000 elsewhere in this account and in the 
Capital Assets Acquisition account for NWS construction and 
facilities maintenance.
    Local Warnings and Forecasts/Base Operations.--The 
Committee recommendation provides $313,800,000 for the base 
operations of the National Weather Service, an increase of 
$15,262,000 above the amounts provided in fiscal year 1997, and 
$5,800,000 above the request. The recommendation includes 
$10,800,000, as requested, for mandatory inflationary cost 
increases, additional training, spare parts procurement, and 
systems maintenance. The Committee is aware that the Secretary 
of Commerce has recently ordered a sixty day review of the 
National Weather Service operational and budgetary requirements 
to ensure that the core missions of the NWS are provided for. 
The Committee intends to work closely with the Department, 
NOAA, and NWS as this review is completed to ensure that a 
modernized weather service is fully supported. In the interim, 
the Committee has provided an additional $5,800,000 above the 
request to reflect the fact that the bill does not include 
language, requested in the budget, to change the statutory 
certification requirements for office closures, and to ensure 
adequate resources are available during the transition to a 
modernized system. Of the amounts available, $300,000 is 
provided to carry out the recommendations pursuant to direction 
in the fiscal year 1997 Statement of Managers relating to NOAA 
Weather Radio coverage in the eastern U.S. The recommendation, 
combined with a $5,400,000 reprogramming provided in fiscal 
year 1997, should provide the necessary resources to meet NWS 
requirements.
    Further, while the NWS no longer provides specialized 
forecasts for agriculture, the Committee expects the National 
Weather Service to make available its existing basic data and 
information to the agricultural community for their use.
    The Committee is aware that concerns have been expressed 
regarding weather data buoys due to the elimination of funding 
for buoys previously supported by agencies other than the NWS. 
The Committee understands that a review is currently on-going 
to determine the appropriate composition and location of a 
national system of weather data buoys necessary to support the 
critical coastal and marine weather warning functions of the 
NWS. The Committee expects NWS to report to back to the 
Committee upon completion of this review. Until completion of 
this study, the Committee expects the NWS to continue operating 
and maintaining all data buoys and coastal marine automated 
network stations currently funded by the NWS in fiscal year 
1997.
    Modernization and Associated Restructuring Demonstration 
(MARDI) Program.--The Committee recommendation provides 
$73,674,000, the full amount requested, and a decrease of 
$17,788,000 below the amount provided in fiscal year 1997. 
Reductions from the current year reflect the non-recurrence of 
one-time contract costs associated with the NOAA Weather Radio 
Console Replacement system, as well as consolidation of field 
offices in accordance with the modernization plans. Within the 
amounts provided for this activity, funding has been provided, 
as requested, to fully fund the operational costs associated 
with mitigation activities recommended in the Secretary's 
report to Congress on areas of concern under the NWS 
modernization program.
    The Committee reminds NOAA that all office closures, 
including the closure of weather service offices under the 
modernization plan, are subject to the Committee's standard 
reprogramming procedures included in section 605 of the bill. 
NOAA is expected to submit an independent analysis of the 
adequacy of coverage with the required reprogramming 
notification.
    The recommendation does not provide funding for the NOAA 
radiosonde network replacement program. While the Committee 
recognizes the need to modernize this network, the Committee 
notes that current legislative proposals regarding spectrum 
auctions will require the consolidation and reallocation of 
spectrum among Federal users, which may have a significant 
impact on the NWS radiosonde program. Therefore, the Committee 
believes that it prudent to withhold additional investments in 
the radiosonde modernization program until such time as the 
issues regarding the future availability of spectrum for this 
program are resolved.

     National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service

    The Committee has included $119,835,000 for the operational 
and research and development programs of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 
(NESDIS), a decrease of $29,650,000 below the budget request. 
In addition, $298,896,000 is provided in a new ``Capital Assets 
Acquisition'' account for satellite systems acquisition and 
related activities previously provided for under this heading 
within the Operations, Research, and Facilities account.
    Polar Convergence.--The recommendation includes $25,000,000 
for the research and development activities related to the 
Polar Convergence program/Interagency Program Office, a 
$4,000,000 decrease below the current fiscal year and 
$26,503,000 below the request. The Committee believes the 
recommendation of $25,000,000 provides the necessary funding to 
ensure the timely progression of the Polar convergence program.
    The Committee is concerned that the current program plan 
may not allow the original cost savings from convergence of 
$1,300,000,000 to be achieved. The Committee remains fully 
supportive of the polar convergence program (NPOESS), but is 
concerned about the implications of proposed significant 
upgrades for instrumentation, proposed early availability of 
satellites, and disproportional funding requests in the 
Departments of Commerce and Defense as included in the fiscal 
year 1998 budget submission. The Committee believes that it is 
imperative that both Departments carefully review and 
prioritize NPOESS requirements, and encourages strong 
departmental oversight, to ensure that all expected benefits 
from convergence are realized. The Committee expects the 
Secretary of Commerce, not later than February 2, 1998, to 
submit a report on the current program plan and funding profile 
which details the operational benefits and cost savings to be 
achieved from convergence.
    Environmental Data Management Systems.--The Committee has 
provided a total of $43,835,000 for this account, the same 
amount requested, and $967,000 below the current level.

                            Program Support

    The Committee has included $66,712,000 for Program Support. 
This amount is a decrease of $5,790,000 from the request, and 
$4,985,000 below the current year. This reduction reflects 
$4,656,000 in rent savings attributable from reduced space 
requirements and consolidations in the Washington, D.C. area.

                     Fleet Maintenance and Planning

    The Committee has included $5,000,000 for this activity in 
the Operations, Research, and Facilities account, instead of 
$11,823,000 included in the budget request, and $8,000,000 
provided in fiscal year 1997. Funding for this activity was 
previously provided in a separate Fleet Modernization, 
Shipbuilding, and Conversion account. The recommendation 
provides sufficient funding to provide routine maintenance of 
the existing NOAA fleet. No funds are provided to modernize the 
existing fleet, initiate major repairs to extend the life of 
vessels, or to purchase new equipment to upgrade an existing 
vessel. The Committee has addressed the issue of equipment 
upgrades elsewhere in this account under the National Ocean 
Service.
    In addition, the Committee has taken action, reflected 
elsewhere in the bill to begin the transition from a NOAA-owned 
and operated research fleet. The Committee wishes to advise 
NOAA that insufficient funding will be available to provide for 
a major investment in new vessels. The Committee urges NOAA to 
take action now to find creative alternatives to a NOAA-owned 
and operated fleet, including, but not limited to, increased 
cooperation and coordination with the existing University-
National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) vessels, and 
greater reliance on out-sourcing to the private sector.

                               Facilities

    The Committee recommendation includes $11,950,000 for 
facilities maintenance, lease costs, and environmental 
compliance. Of the amounts provided: $2,000,000 is for NOAA 
facilities maintenance, $2,000,000 is for the lease costs of 
the Sandy Hook facility, $2,000,000 is for environmental 
compliance activities, $2,950,000 is for Weather Forecast 
Office maintenance, and $3,000,000 is for Columbia River 
facilities maintenance. The Committee notes that $10,800,000 
was recently provided in the fiscal year 1997 Supplemental 
Appropriations Act for Columbia River facilities requirements, 
and has therefore slightly reduced the fiscal year 1998 funding 
for this activity.

                       Capital Assets Acquisition

                     (including transfer of funds)

    The recommendation includes $460,600,000 in fiscal year 
1998 for a new Capital Assets Acquisition account, as 
requested. The recommendation does not include an advance 
appropriation of $3,485,517,000 for fiscal years 1999-2010, 
requested in the budget. This new account funds capital assets 
acquisition activities, including systems acquisition and new 
construction, previously funded within the NOAA Operations, 
Research and Facilities account and the Construction account. 
Language is included in the bill to make the necessary 
technical changes to reflect the establishment of this account. 
The following distribution reflects the activities funded 
within this account:

AWIPS...................................................    $116,910,000
ASOS....................................................       4,494,000
NEXRAD..................................................       4,377,000
Computer Facilities Upgrades............................       5,000,000
Polar Spacecraft and Launching..........................      82,905,000
Geostationary Spacecraft and Launching..................     215,991,000
Boulder Lab Above Standard Costs........................       1,900,000
WFO Construction........................................      13,823,000
Santa Cruz Fisheries Lab................................      15,200,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Total, Capital Assets Acquisition...................     460,600,000

    Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS).--
The Committee has included $116,910,000, the full amount 
requested, for AWIPS acquisition. The recommendation also 
includes language in the bill designating amounts available 
under this account for AWIPS, and making the availability of 
these funds contingent upon the certification by the Secretary 
of Commerce that overall program costs will not exceed the 
$550,000,000 cost cap agreed to in January, 1997. The Committee 
notes that the AWIPS program has been plagued by cost growth, 
scheduling delays, management changes and slow technical 
progress. The Committee reminds NOAA that the original plans 
for AWIPS estimated the total cost at $350,000,000 with a 
completion date of 1995; the current cost estimate is 
$547,635,000 with a delivery date of 1999. The Committee 
supports the successful completion of this system, and 
understands AWIPS is a critical component to the modernization 
effort and expects the system to be completed within the agreed 
upon cost cap. Further, the Committee reminds NOAA that the 
Committee expects to be fully consulted prior to any decision 
to procure and deploy additional AWIPS systems beyond the 
initial 25 agreed to as part of the limited deployment decision 
in January, 1997.
    Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD).--The Committee 
recommendation includes $4,377,000 for continued acquisition 
activities associated with three additional NEXRAD systems for 
installation in areas recommended by the Secretary of Commerce 
as a result of the National Research Council's study regarding 
NEXRAD coverage and possible degradation of service. The 
recommendation provides the full amount requested for these 
activities.
    In addition, the Committee understands that the NWS is in 
the process of completing follow-on studies as recommended in 
the Secretary's October 12, 1995 Report to Congress regarding 
the adequacy of NEXRAD coverage in certain areas. The Committee 
urges the Department, NOAA and NWS to expeditiously complete 
these assessments so that the Congress can provide the 
necessary resources for mitigation activities, if warranted. 
Therefore, the Committee expects the Department to report to 
the Committee no later than September 5, 1997 on the timeline 
for completion of these studies and transmittal of final 
recommendations to the Congress. Further, the Committee notes 
that should additional mitigation activities be required in 
fiscal year 1998, the Committee would be willing to entertain a 
reprogramming of funds in accordance with section 605 of this 
Act to address this matter.
    The Committee has not included $7,000,000 for the planned 
product improvement initiative. While the Committee appreciates 
the need to ensure adequate upgrade and improvement of the 
modernized weather system, the first priority must be to 
provide the resources and attention necessary to first complete 
the original modernization as planned.
    Santa Cruz Fisheries Laboratory.--The Committee has 
included $15,200,000 for relocation of the Tiburon, CA 
laboratory to a new facility to be constructed at Santa Cruz. 
As presented in the President's budget, the total cost for all 
activities necessary to complete this project, including 
relocation and equipment expenses totals $19,400,000. The 
Committee expects the total cost to relocate the Tiburon lab to 
a new facility at Santa Cruz will not exceed the amount 
included in the budget request, and expects NOAA to provide a 
plan prior to the expenditure of these funds, in accordance 
with section 605 of this Act, for completing the relocation 
within the amounts requested.
    Goddard Facility.--The recommendation does not include 
$12,572,000 requested to begin planning and design work for the 
construction of a new headquarters building, which is estimated 
to cost $101,609,000. The Committee is concerned that NOAA has 
not sufficiently pursued lower cost options for meeting its 
space requirements, and expects NOAA to work with GSA to 
develop other alternatives.

                      Coastal Zone Management Fund

    The Committee has included language in the bill which makes 
available $7,800,000 in the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Fund 
for administration of the CZM program, and for State 
Development Grants in accordance with the authorization set 
forth in Section 308(b)(2)(A) and 308(b)(2)(B)(v) of the 
Coastal Zone Management Act, and the National Estuarine Reserve 
program set forth in Section 315(e) of the Coastal Zone 
Management Act. The amount provided is equal to the budget 
request and the current funding level. The budget requested 
funds to be provided only for CZM program management and other 
purposes authorized by section 308 of the CZMA.
    The Committee intends that $4,000,000 shall be available 
from the Fund for program administration, and that $500,000 
shall be available for State development grants. The Committee 
intends that the remaining $3,300,000 shall be available for 
the National Estuarine Research Reserve program.

            Fishing Vessel and Gear Damage Compensation Fund

    The Committee recommends no funding for the Fishing Vessel 
and Gear Damage Compensation Fund, and requested, and is a 
decrease of $200,000 below the amount available for fiscal year 
1997.
    The Fishing Vessel and Gear Damage Fund provides 
compensation to U.S. fishermen whose vessels have been lost, 
damaged, or destroyed by foreign or domestic vessels. The Fund 
indemnifies domestic fishermen against commercially uninsurable 
losses of fishing gear caused by foreign or domestic vessels 
and a portion of associated economic loss. Monies paid into the 
Fund include: (1) surcharges not to exceed 20 percent of the 
fee imposed for any foreign fishing vessel permit issued under 
the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act; (2) 
administrative fees paid by claimants; (3) revenues from 
deposits or investments of Fund balances not immediately 
required; and (4) funds not to exceed $5,000,000 borrowed from 
the Treasury in the event the Fund balance is insufficient to 
pay claims.
    No foreign fishing vessel permit surcharges have been 
collected since 1984, thus the fund has operated on existing 
balances and interest on investments. However, in fiscal year 
1997, the fund will be totally depleted and the program will 
cease to operate. The budget did not request to borrow funds 
from the General Treasury to continue operating the fund, and 
the Committee has accepted this proposal.

                      Fishermen's Contingency Fund

    The Committee recommends $953,000 for the Fishermen's 
Contingency Fund, which is $47,000 below the amount provided 
for the current year, and equal to the budget request.
    The Fishermen's Contingency Fund provides compensation to 
U.S. fishermen for damage or loss of fishing gear and any 
resulting loss because of natural or manmade obstructions 
related to oil and gas exploration, development, and production 
on the Outer Continental Shelf. The Secretary of Commerce is 
authorized to establish an area account within the fund for any 
area within the Outer Continental Shelf. A holder of a lease, 
permit, easement or right-of-way in such area is required to 
pay a fee into the appropriate area account in the fund. Each 
area account, if depleted, will be replenished by assessment. 
The authorization stipulates that amounts available in each 
area account can be disbursed only to the extent provided by 
appropriations Acts. Since receipts collected may not be 
sufficient for this appropriation, the Committee has included 
language which provides that the sums necessary to eliminate 
the insufficiency may be derived from the General Fund of the 
Treasury.

                     Foreign Fishing Observer Fund

    The Committee recommends $189,000 for the Foreign Fishing 
Observer Fund for fiscal year 1998. This amount is equal to the 
request, and is $7,000 below the amount appropriated for the 
current fiscal year.
    Fees paid into the Fund are collected from owners and 
operators of certain foreign fishing vessels that fish within 
the United States Fishery Conservation Zone and are intended to 
be used by the Secretary of Commerce to finance the cost of 
placing United States observers aboard such fishing vessels. 
The observers collect scientific information on the foreign 
catch and monitor compliance by foreign fishing crews in 
accordance with the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, as amended. The Act permits 
foreign governments to contract directly for observer services 
from contractors approved by the Secretary of Commerce. The 
appropriation provides the authority necessary to pay the 
salaries of United States observers and program support 
personnel, other administrative costs, and the cost of data 
management and analysis.

                   Fisheries Finance Program Account

    The Committee recommends $250,000 in subsidy amounts for 
the Fisheries Finance Program account, previously the Fishing 
Vessel Obligation Guarantees account. This amount is an 
increase of $12,000 above the budget request, and the same 
amount appropriated in fiscal year 1997 for the activities 
funded under this account. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, converted this program from a 
guaranteed loan program to a direct loan program. The 
recommendation reflects these changes. In addition, language is 
continued, which was carried in previous years, prohibiting 
loans under this account from being made to purchase any new 
vessel that would increase the harvesting capacity of any U.S. 
fishery, as requested.

                         General Administration

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $28,490,000 for the Commerce 
Department's Salaries and Expenses appropriation for fiscal 
year 1998. This amount is a decrease of $1,595,000 below the 
budget request, and is equal to the amount appropriated for the 
current fiscal year. The recommendation assumes that savings 
will be achieved as a result of the Secretary's decision to 
reduce the number of non-career personnel at the Department by 
the end of the current fiscal year.
    This appropriation provides for the Office of the Secretary 
and for staff offices of the Department which assist in the 
formulation of policy, management, and administration.

                      Office Of Inspector General

    The Committee recommends $20,140,000 for the Commerce 
Department's Office of Inspector General for fiscal year 1998. 
This amount is a decrease of $1,537,000 below the request, and 
equal to the amount appropriated for the current fiscal year.
    The Committee is supportive of the work being carried out 
by the Department's Inspector General, and looks forward to 
working more closely with the IG to follow up on matters of 
mutual concern.

            National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

                  Operations, Research and Facilities

                              (rescission)

    The Committee recommendation includes a rescission of 
$5,000,000 from the NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities 
account under this title. The Committee expects this rescission 
to be taken from the satellite programs within the National 
Environmental, Satellite, Data and Information Service. The 
Committee understands that reestimation of program requirments 
has resulted in excess funds in these programs.

               General Provisions--Department of Commerce

    The Committee has included the following General Provisions 
for the Department of Commerce that were included in the fiscal 
year 1997 Appropriations Act (Public Law 104-208).
    Section 201 makes Commerce Department funds in the bill 
available for advanced payments only upon certification of 
officials designated by the Secretary that such payments are 
considered to be in the public interest.
    Section 202 makes appropriations for the Department in the 
bill for Salaries and Expenses available for hire of passenger 
motor vehicles, and for services, uniforms and allowances as 
authorized by law.
    Section 203 prohibits any of the funds in the bill to be 
used to support hurricane reconnaissance aircraft and 
activities that are under the control of the United States Air 
Force or the United States Air Force Reserve.
    Section 204 prohibits the use of Commerce Department funds 
in this or any previous Act from being used for the purpose of 
reimbursing the Unemployment Trust Fund or any other account of 
the Treasury to pay unemployment compensation for temporary 
Census workers for services performed after April 20, 1990.
    Section 205 provides the authority to transfer funds 
between Department of Commerce appropriation accounts. The 
language provides that no account may be decreased by more than 
5 percent or increased by more than 10 percent. The language 
also makes the transfers subject to the Committee's standard 
reprogramming procedures.
    Section 206 provides that should legislation be enacted to 
reorganize the Department of Commerce, the Secretary shall 
submit a plan for transferring such functions in accordance 
with the standard reprogramming procedures in this Act, and 
such reprogramming will not be subject to the limitations set 
forth in the standard procedures.
    Section 207 provides that any costs incurred by the 
Department in response to funding reductions shall be absorbed 
within the total budgetary resources available to the 
Department and shall not be subject to the reprogramming 
limitations in this Act.
    Section 209, renumbered as Section 208, allows the 
Secretary to award contracts for certain mapping and charting 
activities in accordance with the Federal Property and 
Administrative Services Act.
    The recommendation does not include new provisions, 
requested in the budget, to change the current statutory 
requirements regarding certification procedures related to 
National Weather Service modernization activities, and to 
provide seizure authority to the Secretary of Commerce. In 
addition, the recommendation does not include a new provision, 
requested in the budget, to allow the Department of Commerce 
franchise fund to retain a percentage of earnings from services 
provided.

                        TITLE III--THE JUDICIARY

    The funds recommended by the Committee in Title III of the 
accompanying bill are for the operation and maintenance of the 
United States Courts and include the salaries of judges, 
magistrates, supporting personnel and other expenses of the 
Federal judiciary.
    The appropriation request submitted for fiscal year 1998 
for the judiciary totals $3,638,896,000. Of this amount, 
$264,898,000 is associated with the salaries and retirement 
expenses of Supreme Court Justices, Article III Judges and 
Bankruptcy Judges and payments to judiciary retirement funds 
and is considered mandatory for scorekeeping purposes. The 
remainder of the request, $3,373,998,000, which is considered 
discretionary for scorekeeping purposes, represents an increase 
of $365,412,000, or 12.1 percent, over the enacted amounts for 
fiscal year 1997. Of this amount, $50,000,000 is requested from 
the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
    The Committee recommendation provides $266,898,000 for 
mandatory salary and retirement expenses of the Justices and 
judges, $2,000,000 above the request. The Committee 
recommendation also provides $3,210,918,000 for the 
discretionary programs of the judiciary, including $40,000,000 
from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. This amount is 
$163,080,000 below the request, but is $202,332,000, or 6.7% 
above the amount provided for the current fiscal year. This 
increase is provided to pay the estimated fiscal year 1998 
costs of the ongoing activities of the federal courts, to allow 
program enhancements in response to increasing caseloads, and 
to bring court security up to current standards.
    Optimal Utilization of Judicial Resources.--In response to 
the request of the Committee in both the House and Conference 
reports accompanying the FY 1996 appropriations bill, the 
Judicial Conference submitted a report to the Congress in 
November, 1996 on the optimal utilization of judicial 
resources.
    The request arose out of concerns about the ability of the 
Congress to sustain the current appropriations level of the 
Judicial Branch in the context of the desire of the American 
public to balance the budget and reduce the deficit. The 
Committee wanted to receive information on a number of issues 
that could lead to the more rational deployment of resources, 
including the fact that some courts face disproportionately 
high caseloads, while others may be underutilized, and that 
approximately 80 court facilities have no resident judges or 
staff, and are used on a visiting basis for less that 45 days 
per year.
    While the Committee encouraged the report to be used to 
address possible improvements in any aspect of the judiciary 
and its functions, the Committee specifically asked that the 
following issues be addressed:
          --The extent to which the current judicial workload 
        corresponds to the distribution of judicial resources;
          --The extent to which underutilized court facilities 
        could be closed, or the sharing of courtroom space 
        expanded, without appreciably affecting the delivery of 
        justice, and the potential for savings in space costs 
        that could be realized;
          --The extent to which the use of contract services 
        might be substituted for non-judge employees in the 
        courts and what, if any, savings could be realized;
          --The extent to which savings and efficiencies can be 
        realized through enhanced use of automation and other 
        high technology initiatives; and
          --The extent to which the judiciary is pursuing 
        improvements and cost efficiencies in other areas.
    The report submitted to the Congress provided a 
comprehensive review of these topics. It confirmed, for 
instance, that distribution of judicial resources varies from 
what judicial workload would indicate, and that there are 
savings to be obtained from underutilized space, which the 
judiciary has begun to achieve. With respect to contract 
services, it found a substantial effort underway to obtain 
efficiencies, and identified six additional areas to be 
explored. The report also described the automation efforts 
underway and identified videoconferencing, video training, and 
computer based training as areas that could reduce the need for 
travel. In order to put this report to full use, the Committee 
requests that the judiciary follow up this report with an 
annual update in conjunction with submission of the budget 
request on further efficiencies arising out of the report that 
have been achieved, together with the amount of savings, and 
provide a list of recommendations for achieving efficiencies 
that the judiciary will undertake in fiscal year 1998 as well 
as a list of recommendations for achieving efficiencies that 
require legislative action. The more concrete this list is, the 
more helpful it is likely to be.
    For fiscal year 1998, the judiciary submitted its budget 
request on the basis of total obligational authority, to 
provide a more complete description of the total budgetary 
resources available to the judiciary, including fees and carry-
over of prior year fees and appropriations. The Committee 
believes this is a helpful development and commends the 
judiciary for making this refinement in its budget 
presentation.
    While progress has been made in the budget presentation, 
problems remain in the budgets of Defender Services and Court 
Security, for which large increases are again requested for 
fiscal year 1998. The Committee believes these areas require 
additional attention over the next year by the Judicial 
Conference and the Administrative Office of the Courts, to 
assure that the budgets for these activities are receiving the 
scrutiny and management that they appear to require.

                   Supreme Court of the United States

    The Committee recommends a total of $32,678,000 for the 
Supreme Court of the United States for fiscal year 1998. The 
total amount is provided in two separate appropriation accounts 
as follows:

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $29,278,000 for fiscal year 1998 
for the Salaries and Expenses of the Justices, their supporting 
personnel, and the cost of operating the Supreme Court, 
excluding the care of the building and grounds. The Committee 
recommendation is $2,121,000 more than the current year 
appropriation, and is equal to the budget request for this 
account. It provides the amount required to maintain the 
current level of activities, and provides for six additional 
police officers for security purposes and an enhanced police 
radio system, as requested. The Committee believes it is 
important to provide the resources required to maintain the 
security of the Supreme Court.

                    Care Of The Building and Grounds

    The Committee recommends $3,400,000 for fiscal year 1998 
for personnel and other services relating to the Supreme Court 
building and grounds, which is supervised by the Architect of 
the Capitol. The recommendation is $600,000 more than the 
current year appropriation and $597,000 below the request for 
fiscal year 1998. This includes an increase of $75,000 to 
maintain current services, and an increase of $525,000 for 
capital improvements.
    Within the amount provided for current services, the 
Committee has provided $140,000 for miscellaneous improvements. 
The Committee expects to be provided an accounting of the 
expenditure of these funds.
    The budget request included $1,112,000 for capital 
improvements, but two projects for which $150,000 was requested 
were subsequently withdrawn. The recommendation includes 
$525,000 for the following requested projects: schematic design 
of building improvements and utility systems upgrade, emergency 
electrical distribution system, fire alarm system upgrade, and 
fire pump electric feeders upgrade.
    The schematic design of building improvements and utility 
systems upgrade is the first step in a process that could lead 
to major renovations of the Supreme Court building. The 
Committee was surprised to learn that the estimate for the 
ultimate cost of these renovations had grown from $7,000,000 in 
fiscal year 1997 to $22,000,000 in fiscal year 1998. The 
Committee will want to see the results of the schematic design 
prior to taking any further steps on this project.
    The Committee notes the inclusion of a five-year capital 
budget in this year's budget submission. This provides a useful 
tool for looking at the capital needs of the Supreme Court, and 
commends the Architect's Office for this innovation.
    Language in the bill allows $410,000 of the appropriation 
to remain available until expended, compared with $485,000 
requested in the budget. The Committee has provided that 
$75,000 of the miscellaneous improvements funding remain 
available until expended, instead of the $150,000 included in 
the budget request.

         United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $15,507,000 for fiscal year 1998 
for the Salaries and Expenses of the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Committee recommendation 
is $494,000 more than the current year appropriation, and is 
$649,000 less than the request.
    The Committee recommendation should provide the amount 
required to maintain current services, taking into account 
existing vacancies, but does not include the increase requested 
for 12 additional positions for the Court.

               United States Court of International Trade

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $11,478,000 for fiscal year 1998 
for the Salaries and Expenses of the United States Court of 
International Trade, the amount of the budget request, and an 
increase of $364,000 over the amount provided in fiscal year 
1997. The recommendation provides funding to maintain current 
activities, and does not provide for any program increases.

    Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $2,700,069,000 for this account 
for fiscal year 1998, an increase of $134,069,000 over fiscal 
year 1997 and a reduction of $141,771,000 from the request. 
This account provides for the salaries of judges, magistrates, 
and all other officers and employees of the federal judiciary 
not otherwise provided for, and for all necessary expenses 
including rental charges for space and facilities.
    The judiciary's budget request for each new fiscal year is 
workload driven, and is currently based on a formula that 
assumes staffing at 84 percent of the level that would be 
required to fully staff the projected workload. As cases and 
filings increase, staffing requirements increase, and the 
funding increases requested in the budget are based on those 
trends. Currently, for example, the judiciary is experiencing 
large increases in the workload of bankruptcy courts, due to 
the dramatic increase in bankruptcy filings.
    The budget request assumes a total funding requirement for 
fiscal year 1998 of $3,067,449,000, of which $2,841,840,000 is 
derived from the appropriation from this account, and 
$225,609,000 is derived from other sources of funding, 
including fee collections, carryover from fiscal year 1997, and 
funds from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. Since 
submission of the budget, the judiciary's latest financial 
review has resulted in an increase in the estimated carryover 
from fiscal year 1997 of $97,549,000, an increase in 
anticipated fiscal year 1998 fee collections of $5,030,000 and 
a reduction of $18,382,000 in the total funding requirement for 
fiscal year 1998, resulting in a decrease in the appropriation 
needed to support this account of $120,961,000, to a level of 
$2,720,879,000. The Committee recommendation of $2,700,069,000 
is $20,810,000 below that revised funding level, and is 
sufficient to provide the increase of $143,288,000 needed to 
fund the current level of operation of the activities supported 
by this account, adjusted for factors such as increases in 
cost, inflation, annualization of positions, and conversion of 
judges to senior status, and $64,363,000 of the requested 
$85,193,000 in workload and program increases.
    The budget request assumes creation of 13 new magistrate 
judge positions in New York (2), Louisiana, California (4), 
Tennessee, Arizona, Oregon, Alabama, and Florida (2).
    In addition, this account provides rental payments to the 
General Services Administration for court space and facilities. 
New space is expected to be delivered in fiscal year 1998 in 
the following locations: Portland, Oregon; Tampa, Florida; 
Trenton, New Jersey; Fargo, North Dakota; Charleston, West 
Virginia; Lubbock, Texas; Sacramento, California; Kansas City, 
Missouri; Bismarck, North Dakota; Knoxville, Tennessee; Boston, 
Massachusetts; Fort Myers, Florida; and Old San Juan, Puerto, 
Rico.
    Also, certain above-standard facility costs for courtroom 
and other requirements that are not covered by GSA regulations 
are funded from this account, for which $8,727,000 is included 
in the budget request, including the following: Boston, 
Massachusetts; Concord, New Hampshire; Hartford, Connecticut; 
Brooklyn, New York City, and Islip, New York; Camden, New 
Jersey; Cleveland, Ohio; Greeneville and Knoxville, Tennessee; 
Little Rock, Arkansas; St. Louis, Missouri; Fargo, North 
Dakota; Sacramento, California; Eugene, Oregon; and Denver, 
Colorado.
    The Committee understands that the judiciary is studying 
how best to integrate technological advances into courthouses 
currently being planned and constructed, as well as into 
existing facilities. In addition to providing the computer 
information infrastructure necessary for handling a court's 
workflow, recent attention has been given to applying 
technology to court proceedings. Emerging technologies that can 
facilitate court proceedings include videoconferencing under 
certain circumstances, realtime computer-assisted transcription 
of proceedings, and a variety of technologies that aid the 
presentation of evidence. The Committee understands that the 
judiciary is undertaking a study of such technologies and 
intends to establish guidelines for their acquisition and use. 
The Committee encourages the judiciary to make use of emerging 
technologies to the extent practicable, particularly if their 
use will result in more efficient use of judicial resources. 
Funding should be provided from the amounts available, 
consistent with the priorities established in annual financial 
operating plans and existing policies and regulations.
    In the language in the bill, the amount of funds for space 
alteration projects that is permitted to remain available until 
expended is retained at the fiscal year 1997 level of 
$13,454,000, rather than the level of $16,500,000 requested in 
the budget. In addition, language included in the fiscal year 
1997 bill is deleted, as requested in the budget, relating to 
funding of a Commission on Structural Alternatives for the 
Federal Courts of Appeals, making available until expended 
$500,000 for acquisition of books and periodicals, and 
providing $10,000,000 under an emergency designation.

               the national childhood vaccine injury act

    The Committee recommends a reimbursement of $2,450,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 from the Special Fund to cover expenses of the 
Claims Court associated with processing cases under the 
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. This is equal to 
the budget request and an increase of $60,000 over the amount 
appropriated for the current fiscal year.

                    violent crime reduction programs

    The Committee recommends $40,000,000 for the judiciary from 
the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, an increase of 
$10,000,000 over the amount provided in fiscal year 1997 and a 
decrease of $10,000,000 from the budget request. The Committee 
intends that amounts provided be used to offset base 
expenditures related to carrying out the provisions of the 
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the 
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, and to 
fund requested program increases related to certain provisions 
of that Act, such as activities related to mandatory drug 
testing, increasing requirements for supervised release and 
increases in workload generated by increasing federal 
prosecution of crimes under those acts. The Committee expects 
the judiciary to transmit a notification detailing the proposed 
distribution of the amounts provided under the Violent Crime 
Reduction Trust Fund.

                           defender services

    The Committee recommends $329,529,000 for fiscal year 1998, 
the amount requested in the budget, for the operation of the 
Federal Public Defender and Community Defender organizations 
and for compensation and reimbursement of expenses of panel 
attorneys appointed pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, as 
amended, for representation in criminal cases. This represents 
a increase of $21,529,000 over the appropriation provided in 
fiscal year 1997. In addition, the budget requests $24,953,000 
to be transferred to this account from the Violent Crime 
Reduction Trust Fund. While the Committee has provided 
$40,000,000 for Violent Crime Reduction Programs, it has not 
specifically allocated those funds, although those funds can be 
applied, by reprogramming, to this account.
    In the fiscal year 1997 appropriation, the Committee called 
attention to the rising costs of this account, driven in large 
part by the increasing cost per representation, which is 
rising, even in non-capital cases, faster than inflation, and 
asked for a report. Although in monetary terms a relatively 
small part of the cost of this account, the most dramatic 
increase in costs relates to panel attorney representation in 
capital cases, which has grown from $62,128 per case in fiscal 
year 1995 to an estimated $175,989 per case in fiscal year 
1997. The report was notably short on statistical analysis of 
the actual factors contributing to the increase and on actual 
steps taken to control the rise in total costs and in cost per 
representation. It seems apparent that the need to understand 
and provide possible solutions has not been taken sufficiently 
seriously. As a result, the Committee requests a comprehensive 
statistical analysis of the actual factors in the increase in 
the cost per representation in this account for the three major 
types of cases--non-capital cases, capital cases, and capital 
habeas corpus cases--by type of representation--federal public 
defender organization, community defender organization, and 
panel attorneys--as well as a series of concrete 
recommendations for control of costs, by February 2, 1998, with 
the expectation that all necessary resources will be utilized 
to provide this report. The Administrative Office is expected 
to consult with the General Accounting Office in designing this 
analysis. In addition, the Committee is concerned about the 
apparent incongruity in the average cost per capital habeas 
representation between the various judicial districts and 
circuits. The Committee understands that in some circuits the 
average cost per representation in capital habeas 
representations may be as much as two times the national 
average cost. The Committee expects the Judiciary to examine 
and explain this disparity in average costs of capital habeas 
representations between the circuits and districts. The 
Committee also expects the Judiciary to identify possible ways 
to reduce those costs.
    While the recommendation provides funding at the requested 
level in fiscal year 1998, the Committee has not provided for 
increases in the rate for panel attorneys or for program 
increases, because of indications that the costs that will be 
incurred by Defender Services programs could exceed the 
requested amount for fiscal year 1998. Before taking steps that 
will increase the cost of these programs further, the Committee 
believes it is incumbent upon the judiciary to first bring the 
rate of increase in the cost of these programs under control.

                    fees of jurors and commissioners

    The Committee recommends $66,196,000 for fiscal year 1998 
for the fees and allowances of grand and petit jurors and for 
the compensation of land commissioners and jury commissioners. 
This represents a decrease of $804,000 from the amount 
appropriated in fiscal year 1997, and a decrease of $3,455,000 
from the budget request. The recommendation is based on the 
latest estimate from the judiciary of the requirements for this 
account.

                             court security

    The Committee recommends $167,214,000 for Court Security 
for fiscal year 1998 to provide for the necessary expenses of 
security and protective services for the United States Courts 
in courtrooms and adjacent areas. This is $40,214,000 more than 
was appropriated in fiscal year 1997, and $3,090,000 less than 
the budget request. The recommendation is based on the latest 
estimate by the judiciary of the requirements for this account.
    Total funds available in this account in fiscal year 1998 
are $26,421,000 move than estimated obligations for fiscal year 
1997. In fiscal year 1997, $127,000,000 was appropriated for 
this account, but an additional $14,462,000 was available in 
fiscal year 1997 as a result of carryover from judiciary fees 
and prior year appropriations, and the use of $4,000,000 from 
the $10,000,000 emergency appropriation for implementation of 
the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.
    The recommendation is intended to provide all necessary 
court security officers to bring court facilities up to the 
applicable security standards. The recommendation is sufficient 
to provide 310 security officers for existing facilities and 77 
officers for court facilities coming on line, as well as 
required equipment. The Committee was surprised at the size of 
the increase requested to bring security up to standard, in 
light of the significant increases that have been provided in 
previous years. Upon examination, over the past several years, 
the number of security officers hired by the U.S. Marshals 
Service, which administers this account, has netted at 147 less 
than was appropriated for, and the reason for the shortfall 
involves budgetary mistakes and underestimates and a decision 
to use some of the funds for equipment rather than personnel. 
Obviously, the Committee is not pleased with this development, 
and directs the Administrative Office of the Courts and the 
U.S. Marshals Service to provide a report by no later than 
November 1, 1997 of how this occurred. Nonetheless, the 
Committee believes that resources necessary for security of 
court facilities need to be provided, and has recommended the 
amount required to bring court facility security up to 
standard. If for any reason the recommended funding is not 
sufficient, the judiciary and the Marshals Service will be 
expected to absorb any additional costs from within their 
existing budgets.
    In last year's report, the Committee requested a report on 
whether reimbursements from other agencies would be appropriate 
in those facilities where building security is provided to 
other agencies. The Committee directs the judiciary to seek 
reimbursement in those situations and to report back to the 
Committee on the results of its efforts.

           Administrative Office of the United States Courts

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $52,000,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Administrative Office of the United States 
Courts for fiscal year 1998, an increase of $2,550,000 over the 
appropriation for fiscal year 1997, and a decrease of 
$2,108,000 from the budget request. This account is responsible 
for the administration of the United States Courts, including 
the probation and bankruptcy systems.
    The recommendation is sufficient to fund pay and benefit 
cost adjustments for the current operations of the 
Administrative Office, and to provide approximately $800,000 to 
fund a portion of the 23 additional positions requested in the 
budget. Given the critical need for improved data and analysis 
of the costs of the Defender Services program, and the need for 
greater oversight of the Court Security budget currently 
managed by the U.S. Marshals Service, as discussed under those 
headings, the Committee intends that these additional positions 
be used to strengthen the Administrative Office's capabilities 
to manage these accounts and to assure that the information 
required by Congress to oversee these programs is being 
provided.

                        Federal Judicial Center

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $17,495,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Federal Judicial Center for fiscal year 1998, 
which is the same as the amount provided in fiscal year 1997, 
and $930,000 below the budget request. The Federal Judicial 
Center improves the management of federal judicial dockets and 
court administration through education for judges and staff and 
research, evaluation, and planning assistance for the courts 
and the Judicial Conference.
    The Committee believes the Center is making progress in 
using innovative and less costly training through increasing 
use of video training techniques to help control costs, and 
expects the Center to continue with this effort.

                       Judicial Retirement Funds

                    Payment To Judiciary Trust Funds

    The Committee recommends $34,200,000 for the payment to the 
Judicial Officers' Retirement Fund and the Claims Court Judges 
Retirement Fund for fiscal year 1997. This amount is $2,000,000 
above the budget request, and is $4,000,000 above the current 
year appropriation for this account, which is considered 
mandatory for budget scorekeeping purposes. The increase is 
based on the latest estimate of the requirements for the Fund.
    These funds will cover the estimated annuity payments to be 
made to retired bankruptcy judges and magistrate judges, Claims 
Court judges and spouses and dependent children of deceased 
judicial officers.

                  United States Sentencing Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $9,000,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the United States Sentencing Commission for fiscal 
year 1998, an increase of $510,000 above the amount provided 
for the current fiscal year and a reduction of $480,000 below 
the budget request.
    The Committee recommendation is intended to provide the 
funding required to maintain the operations of the Sentencing 
Commission at the current level, assuming the on-board level of 
employment in place in fiscal year 1997.
    The purpose of the Commission is to establish, review and 
revise sentencing guidelines, policies and practices for the 
Federal criminal justice system. The Commission is also 
required to monitor the operation of the guidelines and to 
identify and report necessary changes to the Congress.

                   General Provisions--The Judiciary

    The Committee has included the following general provisions 
in the bill for the Judiciary:
    Section 301 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations Acts, to permit funds in the bill for salaries 
and expenses for the Judiciary to be available for employment 
of experts and consultant services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 
3109.
    Section 302 provides language, included in previous 
appropriations Acts, which permits up to five percent of any 
appropriation made available for fiscal year 1998 to be 
transferred between Judiciary appropriation accounts with the 
proviso that no appropriation shall be decreased by more than 5 
percent or increased by more than 10 percent by any such 
transfer except in certain circumstances. In addition, the 
language provides that any such transfer shall be treated as a 
reprogramming of funds under section 605 of the accompanying 
bill and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure 
except in compliance with the procedures set forth in that 
section.
    Section 303 provides language included in previous 
appropriations acts permitting not to exceed a total of $10,000 
for expenses of official reception and representation expenses 
incurred by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

           TITLE IV--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCIES

    In total, the recommendation in this Title for the 
Department of State, the United States Information Agency 
(USIA) and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) 
includes $5,145,119,000, which is $225,768,000 below the budget 
request, and $69,943,000 above the amount available in fiscal 
year 1997. The major area of reduction from the budget request 
is due to the fact that the Administration requested a change 
to the way machine readable visa fees are accounted for, that 
would have required the appropriation of an additional 
$140,000,000, but that change was not made part of the final 
balanced budget discussions, and consequently, the additional 
appropriation is not required. Once that adjustment to the 
budget request is taken into account, the recommendation is 
$85,768,000 below the budget request.
    In addition, the amounts recommended in this Title are 
below the authorized levels set forth in the authorization 
bill, H.R. 1757, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, 
Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999, and European Security Act of 1997, 
which passed the House on June 11, 1997, by $18,601,000, and 
funding for the programs authorized in that bill is either at 
or below the authorized levels.
    H.R. 1757 included (as Division A) the ``Foreign Affairs 
Agencies Consolidation and Reinvention Act of 1997'' which 
requires the submission of a reorganization plan for foreign 
affairs agencies no later than 60 days after the enactment of 
that Act. H.R. 1757 requires abolition of the Arms Control and 
Disarmament Agency and the transfer of its functions to the 
Department of State by no later than October 1, 1998, and 
abolition of the United States Information Agency and the 
transfer of its functions to the Department of State by no 
later than October 1, 1999. The Committee expects to be 
consulted regularly as the plans for reorganization are 
developed, particularly with respect to funding issues and the 
use of appropriated funds for reorganization purposes as well 
as for funding of the consolidated functions. The Committee 
expects all standard procedures to be employed with respect to 
changes from the budget justifications submitted to the 
Committee as part of the fiscal year 1998 budget request.

                          DEPARTMENT OF STATE

    The Committee recommends a total of $4,011,691,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 for the Department of State. This amount is 
$235,208,000 less than the budget request for fiscal year 1998, 
of which $140,000,000 is attributable to machine readable visa 
fees remaining an offsetting collection, and $37,425,000 more 
than the amounts appropriated for fiscal year 1997 for the 
Department.
    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$2,718,306,000 for the appropriation accounts under 
Administration of Foreign Affairs; $1,241,452,000 for the 
appropriation accounts under International Organizations and 
Conferences; $43,933,000 for International Commissions; and 
$8,000,000 for Other activities. The Committee's recommended 
priorities for the Department of State are delineated in the 
following paragraphs.

                   Administration of Foreign Affairs

                    diplomatic and consular programs

    The Committee recommends $1,739,977,000 for the Diplomatic 
and Consular Programs account, including $23,700,000 set aside 
to continue the funding for counterterrorism requirements 
overseas that was included in the fiscal year 1997 
appropriation as an emergency requirement. This appropriation 
account provides for the formulation and execution of United 
States foreign policy, including the conduct of diplomatic and 
consular relations with foreign countries, diplomatic relations 
with international organizations and related activities. The 
account includes funding for all of the program and operations 
bureaus and offices of the Department of State and the Foreign 
Service, with the exception of the domestic operations of the 
Department, which are funded under the Salaries and Expenses 
account.
    The recommendation represents a reduction of $147,000,000 
from the budget request for the functions funded in this 
account and an increase of $14,677,000 over the current year 
appropriation. This will provide a steady-state budget, 
providing funds for operation of the activities funded under 
this account at their current level.
    The Administration's budget request for fiscal year 1998 
proposed a major change in the way funds are appropriated to 
the State Department. The budget proposed to reduce the direct 
appropriation to $1,291,277,000, and to provide the balance of 
the request, $595,000,000 through appropriation of fees. The 
majority of these fees, totaling $455,000,000, derived from 
passport fees, immigrant visa fees, and fees from overseas 
citizen services are currently paid into the General Fund of 
the Treasury. The balance of the fees, $140,000,000 from 
machine readable visa fees, are currently credited as an 
offsetting collection to the Diplomatic and Consular Programs 
account, and are used to fund the Border Security program. The 
Administration's budget request would have changed this fee 
from an offsetting collection, which does not require the funds 
to be appropriated, to a government receipt dedicated to 
discretionary spending, which would require the funds to be 
appropriated. However, in the discussions connected with the 
Balanced Budget Agreement of 1997, the Administration's 
proposal to fund part of the operation of the Department from 
fees was not agreed to. Furthermore, agreement has been reached 
to return the machine readable visa fee to its current category 
of offsetting collection. Consequently, the Committee has not 
provided for the appropriation of $595,000,000 in fees 
requested in the budget, and has instead provided funding for 
this account in the same manner as in previous years.
    The Committee has included requested language in the bill 
which will provide not to exceed $700,000 in registration fees 
collected pursuant to section 45 of the State Department Basic 
Authorities Act for activities of the Office of Defense Trade 
Controls. The Committee has also included language provisions 
under this heading which provide $1,252,000 in fees collected 
from other Executive Branch agencies for lease or use of 
facilities at the International Center Complex, as authorized 
by law, and $490,000 to be derived from the reserves. In 
addition, the Committee has included language that provides not 
to exceed $15,000 from reimbursements, surcharges, and fees for 
use of Blair House facilities in accordance with the State 
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956.
    The bill includes a provision which permits up to 20 
percent of the amounts made available in the Diplomatic and 
Consular Programs account and Salaries and Expenses account to 
be transferred between such appropriations accounts in order to 
provide administrative flexibility to the Department.
    The bill also includes a provision that states that all 
machine readable visa fees are to be deposited as an offsetting 
collection under this account.
    The bill retains and updates a provision included in the 
fiscal year 1997 appropriations bill that sets forth the 
funding for the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service of 
$24,856,000 for existing base services and not to exceed 
$17,312,000 for program enhancements.
    Finally, the bill contains a separate paragraph providing 
$23,700,000, to remain available until expended, to continue 
the funding for counterterrorism requirements overseas that was 
included in the fiscal year 1997 appropriation as an emergency 
requirement.
    Changes from the Budget Request.--The Committee 
recommendation does not include the requested increases for 
program expansions, with the exception of an increase of 
$250,000 for the International Telecommunications Union 
plenipotentiary conference. The Committee believes there are 
foreign currency exchange rate gains available to the 
Department in approximately the amount of its requested program 
increases, and the Department will have the ability to propose 
that these exchange rate gains be used for needs not covered by 
the recommendation through the normal processes.
    Reform.--The Committee continues to be insistent that the 
Department move forward to reform and make more efficient its 
operations. As the Department develops its reorganization plan, 
in conjunction with the other foreign affairs agencies, the 
Committee believes the Department should use the opportunity to 
take a top to bottom review of the Department's structure, and 
eliminate unneeded positions and bureaus. With 29 bureaus, 18 
assistant secretaries, and another 13 assistant secretary 
equivalents, there are ample opportunities for streamlining. 
The Committee is concerned that the State Department suffers 
from weak management systems and processes and notes that 
``State Department Reinvention'' is one of the eight Task 
Forces that have been formed to work on the Department's 
consolidation plan. The National Performance Review Senior 
Advisor indicated that restructuring is critical to the broader 
reorganization process and stated that ``reinvention at the 
State Department is an a priori qualification for doing any 
consolidations of other agencies.'' The Committee urges the 
State Department to make State Department reinvention a top 
priority and requests a report of specific actions recommended 
by the State Department Reinvention Task Force no later than 
October 1, 1997.
          --ICASS reform.--In sections 403 and 404 of this 
        bill, the Committee has included the budget amendment 
        requested by the Administration to implement the 
        International Cooperative Administrative Support 
        Services system. This will put into place a major 
        reform of the way agencies pay the costs of their 
        overseas presence in return for an equal voice in the 
        way administrative services are provided in each 
        overseas post. The intention of this reform is to make 
        each agency responsible for its overseas costs, in 
        order to require each agency to make decisions about 
        the number of people and resources to put overseas on 
        the basis of actual cost, through a cost-benefit 
        analysis. For the past two years, the Committee has 
        insisted upon measures to rationalize the expenditure 
        of resources overseas, where it costs at least twice as 
        much as in the United States to support a position, and 
        believes this will be a major step forward in 
        controlling costs. The Committee directs that ICASS be 
        implemented fully in fiscal year 1998 and wishes to be 
        informed immediately of any circumstances that might 
        cause a delay. The Office of Management and Budget is 
        directed to ensure that in the fiscal year 1999 budget 
        submission, each Federal agency budget for the cost of 
        its overseas presence in accordance with ICASS. The 
        provision is further described under sections 403 and 
        404 of the State Department and Related Agencies 
        General Provisions.
          --Overseas Staffing Model Reform.--In addition to 
        ICASS, the Department has worked with the Committee to 
        institute an Overseas Staffing Model to rationalize the 
        State Department's assignment of resources to its 160 
        embassies overseas. This has entailed an effort to 
        right-size posts and embassies by establishing a model 
        staffing profile based on seven different categories of 
        posts. The Department is expected to report to the 
        Committee by February 1, 1998 on how implementation of 
        this staffing model has changed the deployment of 
        resources, and how the model is integrated both into 
        the financial plan and mission planning process for 
        fiscal year 1998, and the budget request for fiscal 
        year 1999.
          --Government-wide deployment of resources.--The next 
        logical step to try to assure that resources are being 
        spent overseas where they are most needed to further 
        American foreign policy objectives is to create an 
        inter-agency process to help decide what agencies need 
        to be at what overseas posts, and at what level of 
        resources. Currently, the only controls are what an 
        agency wants to do within its budget, and what the 
        ambassador to a particular country is willing to agree 
        to. While that control is better than no control at 
        all, it does nothing to guarantee that an agency's 
        presence at a particular post is the most rational 
        deployment of resources. Consequently, the Committee 
        urges the Department and the Administration to move 
        forward on this next step toward rationalizing presence 
        overseas, by developing a plan for a coordinated 
        planning process for deployment of resources overseas, 
        and to report to the Committee on the status of that 
        plan by February 2, 1998.
          --Logistics.--The Department is planning a 
        consolidation of its logistics activities, including 
        the movement of people and personnel among the 
        approximately 250 posts overseas, consolidating a 
        number of offices. The Committee believes that the 
        Department needs to set goals for this consolidation in 
        terms of personnel and budget savings, in order to 
        provide a yardstick to determine what benefits this 
        reorganization brings, and to provide those goals to 
        the Committee prior to the beginning of the fiscal 
        year.
          --Inspector General Recommendations.--The Inspector 
        General has provided a consolidated list of particular 
        position reduction and economy measures it has 
        recommended, and improvements required in the mission 
        planning process, as a result of its reviews of posts 
        and bureaus, that is included in the Committee hearing 
        record. The Department is requested to report on the 
        actions it has taken in response to those 
        recommendations by February 2, 1998.
    Diplomatic Security.--Within the total amount provided for 
this account, the recommendation contains a separate set-aside 
of $23,700,000 to continue the funding for counterterrorism 
requirements overseas that was included in the fiscal year 1997 
appropriation as an emergency requirement. This funding was 
provided in fiscal year 1997 with the intention that it would 
supplement, not supplant, funding for diplomatic security 
needs. The Committee believes strongly that within the amount 
recommended for the overall account, sufficient funds must be 
provided for Diplomatic Security, not only to continue current 
operations, but to address any unmet requirements. These 
requirements are expected to be addressed in the financial plan 
which the Department submits to indicate its plans for spending 
the amounts provided through this appropriation.
    Consular Affairs.--The other area that the Committee has 
received indications that there are resource shortfalls is in 
the operations of consular affairs functions in overseas 
missions, particularly in high volume missions. Thus far, the 
Department has been using resources from machine readable visa 
fees to replace funding required from appropriations, and not 
to augment operations, where needed, of consular offices. As 
part of its financial plan, the Department is directed to 
examine the sufficiency of resources for consular offices, and 
to include recommendations for increasing resources at posts 
where the need is greatest.
    Diplomatic Telecommunications Service.--The plan for the 
development of a coordinated telecommunications service (DTS) 
providing more economic communications services to all agencies 
at post appears to be faltering. The Committee believes that 
unless the plan for such service is reinvigorated within the 
next year, it will simply succumb to inertia. The Committee 
expects a report by February 2, 1998 on the current status of 
the DTS and plans for the future. One problem in moving toward 
the direction of coordinated service is that agencies do not 
separately keep track of their communications costs overseas, 
and therefore are not able to quantify savings that would 
accrue from a coordinated communication plan. The Department is 
expected to work with the Office of Management and Budget to 
develop a mechanism to break out separately the costs of 
overseas communications for all agencies, so that there is a 
basis for a comparison with the costs of a coordinated 
communication system, and to include the results of that effort 
in the report.
    Machine Readable Visa fees.--The machine readable visa fee 
is a fee instituted in 1994 on all visa applicants to finance 
the development of a computerized name-check system and other 
technology enhancements at posts throughout the world to 
exclude persons that pose a threat to the United States, and to 
implement an improved border security program. Those fees are 
expected to amount to no less than $140,000,000 in fiscal year 
1998, and, with carryover, allow a border security program of 
nearly $200,000,000. Because of the significant resources now 
provided through these fees, it is essential that a full 
justification for the use of those fees be included in the 
Department's annual budget request, and that the activities 
funded from these fees be integrated into the Department's 
overall budget justifications, in order to provide a complete 
picture of the resources that are funding the operations of the 
Department.
    Economic and political officers.--The Committee understands 
that in posts where both State Department and United States and 
Foreign Commercial Service officers are present, the Department 
is moving in the direction of combining the functions of 
economic and political officers into a single operation to 
handle all policy issues. The Committee urges the Department to 
continue in this direction, as it should assist in removing the 
overlap between economic officers and US&FCS officers in 
reporting on economic matters that affect U.S. business, which 
is primarily within the purview of the US&FCS.
    Other issues.--The Committee understands that the Inspector 
General has made a recent recommendation to establish some form 
of permanent presence in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, such as 
hiring a local resident as a consular agent. The Committee 
urges the Department to pursue this recommendation.
    Within the recommendation for this account, sufficient 
funds have been provided to assure in combination with other 
available resources continued funding for National Law Center 
for Inter-American Free Trade.

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $363,513,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses account of the Department of State. This amount is the 
same as the budget request, and an increase of $11,213,000 
above the fiscal year 1997 level. This is the amount required 
to support the current operating level, and does not provide 
any program increases.
    This appropriation provides for the management, 
administrative, and support functions of the Department of 
State, including the Office of the Secretary.
    As previously discussed, the Committee expects the 
Department to use the reorganization planning process to review 
its own operations and structure. One of the issues that will 
be pending is the issue of how to handle congressional and 
public affairs functions from the three agencies under the 
jurisdiction of the Commerce, Justice, State Subcommittee, that 
will be combined. As long ago as January of 1995, the Vice 
President, as part of his National Performance Review, 
indicated that duplicative public affairs and congressional 
relations staff would be eliminated. The Committee expects that 
any reorganization plans will include savings and net staff 
reductions in these areas.
    The Committee expects that the Department will provide 
sufficient funds for Diplomatic Security, not only to continue 
current operations, but to address any unmet requirements, as 
part of the financial plan for fiscal year 1998 that the 
Department will submit to the Committee based on final funding 
levels.
    The Committee commends the consolidated Overseas Schools 
Assistance Program for its many accomplishments in enhancing 
educational opportunities for children of American families 
living overseas and furthering mutual understanding between the 
people of the United States and the people of other countries. 
Funded from the Salaries and Expenses appropriations of the 
Department of State, the United States Information Agency, and 
the Agency for International Development, the program meets its 
dual objectives by supporting quality education for American 
school-age dependents overseas and demonstrating American 
educational philosophy and practice to other nationals. The 
Committee also commends the Overseas School Advisory Council 
and its Program for Educational Assistance in generating U.S. 
corporate and foundation financial support and volunteer 
activities for American-sponsored overseas schools.

                        Capital Investment Fund

    The Committee recommends $50,600,000 for the Capital 
Investment Fund, $26,000,000 above fiscal year 1997 and 
$14,000,000 below the request. In addition, approximately 
$18,000,000 in expedited passport fees are available for 
information technology requirements related to passports. In 
January, 1997, the Department submitted its long-awaited 
Strategic and Performance Management Plan for fiscal years 
1997-2001 and a Tactical Plan for fiscal years 1997 and 1998. 
The overall plan calls for an infrastructure modernization 
effort through fiscal year 2001 totaling $2,716,000,000, of 
which approximately $600,000,000 is funding required over and 
above the Department's Information Resource Management funding 
base. This is obviously an enormous undertaking.
    The question is not whether the Department's computer and 
technology systems need modernization, because they do. The 
question is whether the Department has the capacity and 
capability to handle this effort. The General Accounting Office 
has been requested to evaluate this question, and after some 
initial rebuffs from the Department, the effort appears to be 
underway.
    One of the issues that has been raised is whether the 
Department has the management structure to assure coordination 
among the many bureaus, and to assure that the plan is adhered 
to and management decisions are in fact carried out. The 
Committee requests a report by February 2, 1998 detailing the 
management structures that are in place to assure that plans 
and decisions made by the Chief Information Officer will be 
carried out.
    The amount recommended by the Committee is sufficient to 
start the modernization effort, and to address the most 
critical needs required in fiscal year 1998, including the year 
2000 problem. However, before providing additional resources, 
the Committee will want assurances on the Department's 
capability and capacity to carry out this project over the long 
term.

                      Office of Inspector General

    The Committee recommends $28,300,000 for the Office of 
Inspector General, the amount requested in the budget, and 
$805,000 above fiscal year 1997. The Inspector General conducts 
oversight at the State Department, the Arms Control and 
Disarmament Agency, and the United States Information Agency.
    The Committee believes that the impact of the Inspector 
General could be magnified if the Office provided more timely 
information to the Congress.
    The bill includes language, as in previous years, waiving 
the statutory requirement that every post be inspected every 
five years, in order to provide greater flexibility to the 
Inspector General to utilize resources in the most productive 
areas.

                       Representation Allowances

    The Committee recommends $4,300,000 for representation 
allowances authorized by section 905 of the Foreign Service Act 
of 1980. This is the same as the amount requested in the 
budget, and $190,000 below fiscal year 1997. These funds are 
used to reimburse Foreign Service Officers for expenditures 
incurred in their official capacities abroad in establishing 
and maintaining relations with officials of foreign governments 
and appropriate members of local communities.

              Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials

    The Committee recommends a total of $7,900,000 for the 
Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials account. This 
amount is the same as the budget request, and $432,000 less 
than the appropriation provided for fiscal year 1997.
    This account reimburses local governments and communities 
for the extraordinary costs incurred in providing protection 
for international organizations, foreign missions and 
officials, and foreign dignitaries under certain circumstances. 
The Committee believes that local jurisdictions which incur 
such costs must submit a certified billing for such costs in 
accordance with program regulations. The Committee also 
believes that in those circumstances where a local jurisdiction 
will realize a financial benefit from a visit from a foreign 
dignitary through increased tax revenues, that such 
circumstances should be taken into account by the Department in 
assessing the need for reimbursement under this program. The 
Committee expects the Department to treat such submissions 
diligently and provide reimbursement to local jurisdictions on 
a timely basis if claims are fully justified.
    Of the total amount recommended, $1,283,000 is available 
for protection of foreign diplomats and their families 
throughout the United States. The Foreign Missions Act of 1982 
authorizes the provision of such services when necessary either 
at the request of a foreign mission or on the initiative of the 
Secretary of State. In these situations, where State and local 
authorities cannot provide the security required, the Act 
permits the Department of State to employ the services of 
private security firms.
    Of the total amount recommended, $6,617,000 is allocated to 
reimburse New York City for the protection of foreign missions 
and officials credited to the United Nations and other 
international organizations. These funds provide for the costs 
of guard posts and security escort and motorcade services to 
foreign missions and personnel assigned to the United Nations.
    The bill includes language making these funds available 
until September 30, 1999, as requested in the budget.

           Security and Maintenance of United States Missions

    The Committee recommends a total appropriation of 
$373,081,000 for Security and Maintenance of United States 
Missions. This is the same as the amount requested in the 
budget, and a reduction of $16,239,000 from the amount provided 
in the current fiscal year. The language in the bill includes a 
provision carried in the bill in previous years which prohibits 
funds from being used for acquisition of furniture and 
furnishings and generators for other departments and agencies.
    The recommendation provides no funding for new capital 
projects. The funding is to be used to allow the Department to 
manage U.S. Government real property in over 200 countries 
worth an estimated $12,500,000,000, including maintaining 2,792 
Government-owned and long-term leased properties at 250 posts, 
and leasing approximately 1,200 office and functional 
facilities and 4,800 residential units, not only for the 
Department of State, but for all U.S. employees overseas. The 
Department's latest inspection and survey identified 4,100 
maintenance needs, with an estimated cost of $250,000,000. In 
addition, it has identified 64 major facility rehabilitation 
projects that need to be implemented over the next five years 
at an estimated cost of $260,000,000. The need appears to be 
far greater than the available funding.
    The requested funding is for the following purposes:

 Fiscal Year 1998 Recommended Security and Maintenance of United States 
                                Missions

        Activities
Capital Program...............................................         0
Leasehold Program.............................................   119,898
Functional Programs:
    Physical Security Upgrades................................     5,000
    Fire Life Safety..........................................     7,905
    Energy Conservation.......................................     3,700
    Power Support Program.....................................     5,147
    Seismic Program...........................................       675
    Post Communications Support...............................     5,000
    Hazardous Material Inspection.............................     2,600
    Maintenance of Buildings..................................    62,782
    Facility Rehabilitation...................................    48,315
    Facility Maintenance Assistance...........................    32,107
    Interior Planning and Design..............................     7,331
    Program Execution.........................................    29,479
    Construction Security.....................................    20,638
Administration................................................    22,504
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total Recommended.......................................   373,081

    Management of existing real estate portfolio.--The 
Committee has insisted that the Department exercise much 
greater management over excess and underutilized property, and 
taken steps to assure the disposal of such property. In fiscal 
year 1997, the Committee required the establishment of an 
advisory board on real property sales, consisting of real 
estate experts both inside and outside of the State Department 
to compile a list of properties recommended for sale. In the 
first two quarters of fiscal year 1997, the Committee 
understands that the Department has already sold twice as much 
as it sold in all of fiscal year 1996. The Department is 
expected to continue to submit a quarterly report on its 
transactions, in order to permit the Committee to continue its 
scrutiny of the Department's record on this issue.
    The Committee is disappointed that no action has yet been 
taken to follow the recommendation of the General Accounting 
Office and this Committee to dispose of the Hamilton, Bermuda 
facility. The Committee would like a report on the status of 
this facility by no later than February 2, 1998, and to be 
notified in advance if there is any indication that obstacles 
have arisen that will make sale of that property difficult.
    The Committee expects the Department to notify it 
immediately if there are any facilities that the Department 
believes pose serious security risks.

           Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service

    The Committee recommends $5,500,000 to enable the Secretary 
of State to meet unforeseen emergencies arising in the 
Diplomatic and Consular Service. This amount is the same as the 
budget request, and is $300,000 less than the amount 
appropriated for fiscal year 1997.
    The Committee has included a provision in the bill which 
permits up to $1,000,000 to be transferred from this account to 
the Repatriation Loans Program account, as requested in the 
budget. This provision will ensure an adequate level of 
resources for loans to American citizens through the 
Repatriation Loans Program account should that account require 
additional funds in fiscal year 1998 due to an unanticipated 
increase in the number of loans needed.
    The appropriation provides resources for the Department of 
State to meet emergency requirements in the conduct of foreign 
affairs. The Committee recommendation provides funds for: (1) 
travel and subsistence expenses for relocation of American, 
United States Government employees and their families from 
troubled areas to the United States and/or safe-haven posts; 
(2) allowances granted to State Department employees and their 
dependents evacuated to the United States for the convenience 
of the Government; and (3) payment of rewards for information 
concerning terrorist activities.

                   Repatriation Loans Program Account

    The Committee has included $593,000 for the subsidy cost of 
repatriation loans, which is the same as in the current fiscal 
year and the budget request, and $607,000 for administrative 
costs of the program as authorized by 22 U.S.C. 2671, which is 
the same as in the budget request, and a decrease of $56,000 
below the current fiscal year.
    As in fiscal year 1997, the recommendation includes the 
total amount required for all administrative costs associated 
with this program, based on the recommendation of the Inspector 
General.
    This account provides emergency loans to assist destitute 
Americans abroad who have no other source of funds to return to 
the United States.

              Payment to the American Institute in Taiwan

    The accompanying bill includes $14,000,000 for the 
appropriation entitled, ``Payment to the American Institute in 
Taiwan''. This amount is $490,000 below the budget request and 
the amount provided in fiscal year 1997, and is taken because 
the Committee is still awaiting the resolution of audits which 
indicate that financial management of spending of the Institute 
is weak and in need of improvement.
    In addition to the appropriated amount, the Institute has 
the authority to collect fees and reimbursements to cover the 
cost of operations of the Institute, which are expected to 
total $18 million in fiscal year 1998.
    The Taiwan Relations Act requires that programs concerning 
Taiwan be carried out by the American Institute in Taiwan and 
authorizes funds to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 
to carry out the provisions of the Act. The Institute 
administers programs in the areas of economic and commercial 
services, cultural affairs, travel services, and logistics. The 
Department of State contracts with the American Institute in 
Taiwan to carry out these activities.

     Payment to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund

    The Committee recommends $129,935,000 for the appropriation 
entitled, ``Payment to the Foreign Service Retirement and 
Disability Fund''. This amount is the full budget request and 
is $3,444,000 more than the amount appropriated for fiscal year 
1997. The increase provided in the Committee recommendation is 
required to amortize the unfunded liability in the system, as 
documented by the annual evaluation of Fund balances.
    This appropriation, which is considered mandatory for 
budget scorekeeping purposes, is authorized by the Foreign 
Service Act of 1980 which provides for an appropriation to the 
Fund in 30 equal annual installments of the amount required for 
the unfunded liability created by new benefits, new groups of 
beneficiaries or increased salaries on which benefits are 
computed. The Retirement Fund is maintained through 
contributions by participants; matching government 
contributions; special government contributions, including this 
account; interest on investments; and voluntary contributions.

              International Organizations and Conferences

              Contributions to International Organizations

    The bill includes a total of $978,952,000 for payment of 
the obligations of United States membership in international 
organizations as authorized by conventions, treaties, or 
specific Acts of Congress for fiscal year 1998, including 
$54,000,000 for payment of arrearages, subject to enactment of 
authorization legislation. This is $44,048,000 below the 
request, and $86,952,000 above the fiscal year 1997 
appropriation, which did not contain a payment for arrearages 
in this account.
    Within the $978,952,000, the bill provides $924,952,000 for 
current year assessments for U.S. membership in international 
organizations. This is $44,048,000 below the budget request for 
this activity, but is sufficient to pay all assessments due in 
fiscal year 1998, and avoid creation of further arrearages. The 
reason this amount is sufficient is because of foreign currency 
exchange rate gains. The Department of State submitted its 
latest estimate for the cost of assessments, based on May, 1997 
exchange rates, which indicated that the rising value of the 
dollar in relation to other major currencies, has lowered the 
requirement for funding of this account by $44,048,000, because 
many of the assessments for international organizations are 
payable in the currency in which the headquarters of the 
organizations are located.
    In addition, the bill provides $54,000,000 for payment of 
arrearages, the amount requested in the budget for 
international organization arrearages, subject to enactment of 
an authorization bill that conditions payment of arrearages on 
the achievement of real and substantial reforms at the United 
Nations and other international organizations. This $54,000,000 
is for payment of arrearages to the United Nations regular 
budget, and will pay completely all the arrearages that the 
Administration states the United States owes with respect to 
the U.N. regular budget. These arrearages arose in fiscal year 
1989, and since then, the United States has paid what the 
Department of State has determined is the full assessment for 
the U.N. regular budget. The remaining U.N. arrearages are in 
the areas of U.N. peacekeeping and other international 
organizations.
    This is the second year that this bill has provided for 
payment of arrearages. In total, together with the amounts 
provided under Contributions for International Peacekeeping 
Activities, the bill provides $100,000,000 for payment of 
arrearages, the amount of the budget request, and $50,000,000 
more than was provided in fiscal year 1997. As in fiscal year 
1997, payment of these arrearages is subject to real and 
substantial reform conditions.
    The bill explicitly states that none of the funds provided 
in the bill for arrearages may be obligated or expended unless 
such obligation or expenditure is authorized by the enactment 
of a subsequent act that makes payment of arrearages contingent 
upon reforms that should include the following, which are the 
major reforms pending in S. 903, the State Department 
authorization bill as passed by the Senate, and supported by 
the Administration:
          --a reduction in the United States assessed share of 
        the United Nations regular budget to 20 percent and of 
        peacekeeping operations to 25 percent;
          --reimbursement for goods and services provided by 
        the United States to the United Nations;
          --certification that the United Nations and its 
        specialized or affiliated agencies have not taken any 
        action to infringe on the sovereignty of the United 
        States;
          --a ceiling on United States contributions to 
        international organizations after fiscal year 1998 of 
        $900,000,000;
          --establishment of a merit-based personnel system at 
        the United Nations that includes a code of conduct and 
        a personnel evaluation system;
          --United States membership on the Advisory Committee 
        on Administrative and Budgetary Questions that oversees 
        the United Nations budget;
          --access to United Nations financial data by the 
        General Accounting Office;
          --achievement of a negative growth budget and the 
        establishment of independent inspectors general for 
        affiliated organizations;
          --and improved consultation procedures with the 
        Congress.
    The intention is to indicate that the Committee will 
provide this funding for payment of arrearages only if an 
authorization bill is enacted and signed into law that 
conditions payment upon the achievement of real and substantial 
reforms in the United Nations and other international 
organizations.
    The Committee notes that reform of the United Nations and 
other international organizations must remain a top priority 
for the U.S., and that arrears payments cannot be made in the 
absence of reform. The U.S. must continue to work with the 
United Nations to streamline its bureaucracy, increase the 
efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its programs, reduce the 
U.S. assessment rate, and provide for meaningful and 
independent oversight. By keeping the United Nations' budget in 
check, and reducing the U.S. assessment rate, the long-term 
costs of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to the 
American taxpayer can be significantly reduced.
    Failure to move forward on resolving the arrearage issue 
bears the risk of diminishing U.S. influence in the United 
Nations, and making it more difficult to achieve far-reaching 
reform at the United Nations. Moving forward on the arrearage 
issue will help maintain U.S. influence, promote U.S. interests 
and assure that the U.S. will continue to play a leading role 
in reforming the United Nations and its specialized agencies.
    The Committee notes that this recommendation for payment of 
arrearages is in accord with the agreement reached as part of 
the Balanced Budget negotiations and included in the fiscal 
year 1998 budget resolution. That agreement anticipates funding 
in future years for paying the balance of arrearages. Assuming 
that agreement is reached on authorization legislation, and 
that the Administration and the United Nations follow through 
on their parts to make reforms happen, the Committee will seek 
to do its part in fully resolving the arrearages issue.
    A key provision with respect to future funding is the 
provision that in future years, the Administration would commit 
to a funding level of no greater than $900,000,000. The 
Committee notes that this $900,000,000 was based on July, 1996 
exchange rates, and that the comparable figure, based on 
current exchange rates is $861,000,000.
    The bill includes language carried in previous years 
stating that payment of arrearages shall be directed toward 
special activities that are mutually agreed upon by the U.S. 
and the respective international organization.
    Current year assessments for international organizations.--
As indicated, the amount provided for current year assessments 
is sufficient to fully pay all assessments at current exchange 
rates, including those that the Committee has identified in 
previous years as being the highest priority--the United 
Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization and the related North Atlantic 
Assembly, and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
    Within this total, there is likely to be in excess of 
$4,000,000 of funding that is not required to be paid out. 
Membership in two organizations, for which assessments are 
proposed, has not yet been ratified--the International Seabed 
Authority, proposed in the request at $1,250,000, and the 
International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea, proposed in the 
request at $1,489,000. In addition, the Administration has 
announced withdrawal from a small organization, the OECD 
Development Center, that has been paid for out of the 
assessment for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development, saving $1,165,506. Furthermore, the Committee has 
been informed that because no resolution of a disputed 
assessment increase for the Interparliamentary Union has 
occurred, the contribution to the IPU will be limited to 
$500,000, compared to the estimated assessment of $1,075,000.
    The bill includes language, similar to language included in 
the fiscal year 1997 bill, proposed for deletion, that would 
allow transfer of up to $4,000,000 to the International 
Conferences and Contingencies account, to provide a limited 
amount of funding, should it be required, for provisional 
international organizations in fiscal year 1998.
    Current year United Nations assessment.--Up until the 
recent negotiations concerning payment of arrearages in return 
for reform, a basic reform that has been achieved is the 
requirement that the United Nations live within a no-growth 
budget as a condition for payment of the full amount of the 
current year assessment. In March of this year, the Secretary 
General pledged to find savings of $123,000,000 from the 1998-
1999 biennial budget. While the budget for the next biennium 
has not been finally agreed to, the most recent briefing 
provided by the State Department indicated that the U.N. budget 
is likely to be $2,533,000,000, a reduction from the 1996-1997 
biennial budget of $2,608,000,000, although partly attributable 
to accounting changes. Consequently, the bill contains 
language, similar to that contained in previous years, that 
conditions release of $100,000,000 of the current year 
assessment for the United Nations on a semi-annual 
certification by the Secretary of State that the United Nations 
has taken no action to increase funding for any United Nations 
program without identifying an offsetting decrease elsewhere in 
the United Nations budget and cause the United Nations to 
exceed its 1998-1999 budget of $2,533,000,000. This provision 
is similar to a provision in the Senate-passed State Department 
authorization legislation that was negotiated with the 
Administration.
    Another basic reform that has been achieved is the creation 
of the equivalent of an Inspector General at the U.N., and the 
bill continues language contained in previous years requiring a 
certification that an effective and independent Inspector 
General is in place.
    Other issues.--The U.S.-Israel relationship is an historic 
commitment of two nations to the cause of peace, freedom, and 
security. Israel and the United States share a similar world 
view and have similar foreign policy goals. With Israel voting 
more than 85 percent of the time in the U.N. with the United 
States, it is the Committee's belief that it should be the 
policy of the U.S. to promote an end to the persistent inequity 
experienced by Israel in the United Nations whereby Israel is 
the only long-standing member of the organization to be denied 
acceptance into any of the United Nation's regional blocs. The 
Committee concurs with the House Committee on International 
Relations and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in 
their desire to have the U.N. enter into an agreement with 
Israel to ensure and promote full and equal participation in 
the United Nations via membership in a regional bloc and have 
the U.S. Representative to the United Nations vote in support 
of Israel's acceptance into the Western Europe and Other Group 
(WEOG) regional bloc.
    The Committee remains concerned about the direction of the 
negotiation of a protocol, amendment, or any other agreement to 
the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, since any 
agreement will have a significant impact on U.S. trade, 
competitiveness, and jobs. The Committee reiterates the request 
from the current year for information and a report by the 
Department of State, in coordination with all other affected 
agencies, providing a detailed economic analysis evaluating the 
impact of any proposed agreement on the overall U.S. economy, 
specific industrial sectors, and jobs within those sectors, 
prior to proposal of any proposed protocol or amendment, in 
order to be able to evaluate the proposal.
    Within the amount provided under this heading, no funding 
is provided for support of world-wide conferences.

        Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities

    The Committee recommends a total of $261,000,000, for 
United States payments for Contributions for International 
Peacekeeping Activities for fiscal year 1998, a reduction of 
$91,400,000 from the amount provided in fiscal year 1997, and a 
reduction of $25,000,000 from the amount requested in the 
budget.
    Within this amount, the recommendation includes 
$215,000,000 for current year assessments, $87,000,000 below 
the amount provided in fiscal year 1997 and $25,000,000 below 
the administration request. This amount is sufficient to cover 
anticipated requirements in fiscal year 1998. The budget 
included a request for $15,000,000 for a mission in Afghanistan 
which does not appear to be imminent; $25,000,000 for the 
mission in Angola, which the U.S. anticipates will now cost 
$7,000,000, as well as an increase in the contingency fund 
requested for Africa, which has not been utilized thus far this 
year. As a result, the Committee is confident that even with a 
reduction from the request, the recommended level of funding is 
sufficient.
    The recommendation also provides $46,000,000 for payment of 
peacekeeping arrearages, a reduction of $4,000,000 from the 
amount provided in fiscal year 1997, and equal to the budget 
request, subject to enactment of an authorization bill that 
conditions payment of arrearages on the achievement of real and 
substantial reforms at the United Nations and other 
international organizations. The funding for arrearages under 
this account is provided subject to identical conditions 
applicable to arrearages provided under the previous account, 
Contributions to International Organizations. Those conditions 
are fully explained in the previous section of this report.
    The peacekeeping arrearages for which funding has been 
requested arose primarily in fiscal year 1995, when spending 
for peacekeeping missions exceeded the appropriated amount by 
$672,000,000. The Administration proposed a supplemental 
appropriation in fiscal year 1995, but failed to identify 
offsets to pay for it, and as a result, the Congress did not 
act on the request. Since that time, $34,644,000 became 
available in fiscal year 1996 for net payment of arrearages, 
due to the fact that billings for fiscal year 1996 assessments 
totaled below what was anticipated, and $50,000,000, subject to 
conditions relating to reform, was provided in fiscal year 
1997. The recommendation to provide $46,000,000 toward 
peacekeeping arrearages in fiscal year 1998, subject to 
conditions, is the amount that was anticipated in the Balanced 
Budget negotiations, and so is being provided within agreed-
upon budget ceilings, and is being provided in connection with 
the institution of reforms at the U.N.
    Fiscal Year 1998 assessments.--The amount recommended for 
fiscal year 1998 assessments for peacekeeping, $215,000,000 
indicates how far the cost of peacekeeping has decreased. In 
fiscal year 1995, the annual cost of peacekeeping to the United 
States amounted to approximately $1,100,000,000. Assessments 
will be paid at the rate of 25 percent, which is one of the 
major reforms that has been achieved in the peacekeeping area
    Within the amount provided, the Committee does not 
specifically approve the amounts requested for certain 
peacekeeping missions whose mandate is expiring, and for which 
information on future plans has not been provided, including 
Western Sahara, and Bosnia. With respect to Bosnia, the mandate 
for the current mission, paid for out of the fiscal year 1997 
appropriation, expires in December, 1997, and the Committee has 
been provided no information as to what the plans are beyond 
the expiration of the mandate. Funding for these missions in 
fiscal year 1998 from within the overall amount available in 
this appropriation account is subject to reprogramming. As was 
the case in fiscal year 1997, any proposal to use contingency 
funds provided for African crises is covered under the language 
in the bill requiring 15 day advance notice.
    The bill retains language enacted in fiscal year 1996, 
requiring 15-day advance notice of any new or expanded mission, 
together with a statement of cost, duration, exit strategy, 
national interest, and source of funds to pay the cost. The 
bill also retains bill language requiring certification that 
American manufacturers and suppliers are provided equal 
procurement opportunities.

              International Conferences and Contingencies

    The Committee recommends $1,500,000 to fund U.S. 
participation in multilateral intergovernmental conferences, 
$3,441,000 less than the budget request. In addition, up to 
$4,000,000 is available by transfer from the Contributions to 
International Organizations account for the costs of 
provisional international organizations. These funds were 
requested in the budget as part of the Arms Control and 
Disarmament Agency (ACDA) request. In fiscal year 1997, no 
funds were appropriated in this account, but up to $10,000,000 
was made available by transfer from Contributions to 
International Organizations account to fund both participation 
in multilateral conferences and the costs of provisional 
international organizations. Language in the bill provides that 
the $1,500,000 is available only upon submission of a plan for 
the expenditure of the funds under standard reprogramming 
procedures.
    International Conferences.--As stated in the Committee 
report accompanying the fiscal year 1997 appropriations bill, 
this account has not functioned, as the Committee believes it 
should, to coordinate or control the number of participants in 
conferences. The Committee continues to believe that a 
mechanism is required to coordinate overall cost and 
participation in conferences. The Department's submission of a 
plan for the expenditure of funds in this account should 
include descriptions of: (1) the mechanism proposed to 
coordinate and control overall conference participation and 
costs, and (2) the criteria for prioritizing attendance among 
specific conferences.
    New or Provisional Organizations.--The other purpose of 
this account is to provide contingency funds for new or 
provisional international organizations. To assure that such 
funds are available, language is included under the 
Contributions to International Organizations account to allow 
the transfer of up to $4,000,000 to this account for the 
purpose of providing such funds. In addition to funds for 
several small organizations and activities traditionally funded 
under this account, funds were requested under ACDA for the 
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty preparatory commission in the 
amount of $2,800,000 and for the Nonproliferation Treaty Review 
Conference, in the amount of $250,000, which are more properly 
funded under this account. However, as the current year's 
experience and hearing record document, ACDA has a record of 
vastly underestimating the costs of these activities and of 
having no plan for the payment of these costs once they become 
apparent. It appears this will be a continuing problem in 
fiscal year 1998, and the Committee does not understand how it 
can be expected to formulate a budget under these 
circumstances.

                       International Commissions

 international boundary and water commission, united states and mexico

    The bill includes a total of $23,953,000 for the 
International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and 
Mexico (IBWC). This amount is $2,000,000 more than the amount 
provided in fiscal year 1997, and $1,000,000 less than the 
total budget request for fiscal year 1998. The total amount 
provided includes $17,490,000 for Salaries and Expenses and 
$6,463,000 for Construction. Funding allowed for representation 
expenses is maintained at the fiscal year 1997 level.

                         salaries and expenses

    The Committee recommendation for the Salaries and Expenses 
account is $17,490,000, an increase of $2,000,000 over the 
amount provided in fiscal year 1997 and $1,000,000 less than 
the budget request.
    The budget request includes funding for an increase in the 
second year operating costs of the South Bay International 
Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as program increases for 
information management, equipment replacement and the 
preparation of an environmental impact statement. The Committee 
recommendation reduces the requested increase by $1,000,000, 
based on the need to prioritize program increases, and to stage 
them over a period of time rather than do them all in one year, 
as well as the possibility that there will be savings and 
carryover from the operation of the South Bay International 
Wastewater Treatment Plant, based on reduced flow from the 
level the operating contract had been based on.

                              Construction

    The Committee recommendation for IBWC Construction provides 
$6,463,000, which is the same as the amount provided in fiscal 
year 1997 and as requested in the budget.

              American Sections, International Commissions

    The Committee recommends a total of $5,490,000 to fund the 
U.S. share of expenses of the International Boundary 
Commission, the International Joint Commission, United States 
and Canada, and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission 
for fiscal year 1998. This amount is the same as provided in 
fiscal year 1997 and $170,000 less than the budget request. The 
reduction from the budget request is to be taken 
proportionately from the three Commissions.

                  International Fisheries Commissions

    The accompanying bill provides a total of $14,490,000 to 
fund the U.S. share of the expenses of eight international 
fisheries commissions, three international marine science sea 
organizations, and one international council, travel expenses 
of the United States commissioners and their advisors, and 
salary payments to non-government employees of the Pacific 
Salmon Commission for days actually worked as commissioners and 
panel members and alternates. This is $59,000 below the budget 
request and the amount provided in fiscal year 1997. The 
reduction is to be taken from those commissions where the 
United States overmatches its share of the budget compared with 
contributions from other countries.
    The Committee has retained language, proposed for deletion, 
allowing payment for those Commissions that are authorized.

                                 Other

                     Payment to the Asia Foundation

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,000,000 for 
payment to the Asia Foundation for fiscal year 1998, the same 
as the budget request, and the amount provided in fiscal year 
1997.
    The Asia Foundation is a private, nonprofit institution the 
purpose of which is to stimulate Asian democratic development 
and assisting the peoples of Asian countries to shape their own 
destinies.

                            RELATED AGENCIES

                  Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

                arms control and disarmament activities

    The Committee recommends $41,500,000 for the basic 
operating expenses of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency 
(ACDA) for fiscal year 1998, which is $4,700,000 below the 
request, and the same as the amount provided in fiscal year 
1997.
    The Committee has included a provision under Contributions 
to International Organizations that provides for the transfer 
of up to $4,000,000 to the International Conferences and 
Contingencies account that could be used to fund two items 
requested under this account: $2,800,000 for activities related 
to the implementation of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and 
$250,000 for the Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference.
    The Committee has provided the same level of appropriation 
for ACDA as was provided in fiscal year 1997. Under the 
authorization legislation that has passed both the House and 
the Senate and is pending in conference, ACDA will be 
consolidated with the State Department no later than October 1, 
1998. Because of that impending reorganization, the Committee 
believes it advisable to maintain the operations of this agency 
at its current level. The Committee expects that efficiencies 
will be attained through the reorganization, and duplication 
and overlap between the current State Department Bureau of 
Political-Military Affairs and ACDA will be eliminated. The 
Committee expects to be kept informed of plans for the 
reorganization in particular that involve disposition of funds 
and plans for future funding.
    The Arms Control and Disarmament Agency negotiates, advises 
on, and assesses compliance with, arms control and 
nonproliferation agreements.

                    United States Information Agency

    The Committee recommends a total of $1,091,928,000 for the 
United States Information Agency to carry out information 
activities, educational and cultural exchange programs, 
international broadcasting operations, to fund the National 
Endowment for Democracy, and to appropriate interest and 
earnings on the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program Trust 
Fund and the Israeli Arab Scholarship Endowment Fund. This 
total amount is $14,140,000 more than the budget request for 
these items, and $32,518,000 more than the fiscal year 1997 
appropriation.
    The Committee notes that the President announced on April 
17, 1997, a foreign affairs reorganization plan proposing to 
eliminate USIA, and absorb its functions within the Department 
of State. Both House and Senate reauthorization bills would 
require the elimination of USIA no later than October 1, 1999. 
The Committee understands that the administration planning 
process is now underway, and is scheduled to culminate in a 
report in September, 1997. The Committee urges that any 
reorganization plan fully respect the importance and integrity 
of the nation's public diplomacy programs, and recognize the 
continuing significant contributions of those programs in 
promoting and protecting U.S. foreign policy interests. The 
Committee expects to be kept informed on the progress of the 
reorganization effort, and requests that, upon the release of 
the report in September, 1997, USIA provide the Committee with 
a detailed reporting of resource implications of the 
reorganization, as proposed. Any funding transfers proposed 
with regard to reorganization will be subject to normal 
reprogramming requirements.
    The details of the Committee's recommendations for the 
eight appropriations of the Agency are contained in the 
following paragraphs. The funding levels for the Agency's 
accounts are at or below the levels in the authorization bill 
that passed the House in June, 1997.

                   International Information Programs

    The Committee recommends $430,597,000 for the International 
Information Programs appropriation of the United States 
Information Agency (USIA), formerly known as the ``Salaries and 
Expenses'' appropriation. The Agency has proposed this new 
title on the basis that it more accurately characterizes the 
range of programs and activities included under this account, 
and the Committee agrees. This amount is $3,500,000 less than 
the budget request, and $10,778,000 below the amount 
appropriated in fiscal year 1997.
    The Committee recommendation includes the following 
limitations on the use of funds similar to those carried in the 
bill in previous years: (1) $700,000 for temporary employees; 
(2) $25,000 for entertainment, including official receptions as 
authorized by law; (3) $1,400,000 for representation abroad as 
authorized by law; (4) $6,000,000, to remain available until 
expended, in fees credited to this appropriation which are 
received in connection with English teaching, library, motion 
pictures, student advising and counseling, exchange visitor 
program services and publication programs as authorized by law; 
and (5) $920,000 to remain available until expended to carry 
out projects involving security construction and related 
improvements for agency facilities not physically located 
together with State Department facilities abroad.
    USIA has undergone major reductions over the past several 
years. The 1998 budget request contained further reductions, 
including the closure of two posts (in Nigeria and Papua/New 
Guinea), the closure of America Houses in Munich and Hamburg, 
the downsizing of selected overseas programs, and reductions to 
domestic support activities, including the streamlining and 
consolidation of Agency warehouse operations in the U.S. The 
reductions in the budget request include the elimination of 96 
foreign national and 22 American positions. Compared with 
fiscal year 1994, the fiscal year 1998 request for this 
appropriation will fund 1,488 fewer employees. Thirty-one posts 
around the world will have been closed.
    The Committee recommendation provides funding at the 
requested level, with the following adjustments: $2,500,000 
based on exchange rate gains since the time of the request, and 
$1,000,000 in estimated space cost savings resulting from the 
Agency's relocation of employees from the Patrick Henry 
building. Any further gains from exchange rate fluctuation are 
subject to the usual reprogramming procedures. The 
recommendation assumes the consolidation of all costs for the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Educational 
and Cultural Exchange Programs appropriation, as requested. 
This consolidation includes the transfer of costs totaling 
$11,804,000 to the Exchange Programs appropriation in 1998.
    The Committee expects USIA to continue planning to 
downsize, streamline and reengineer its structures and 
processes to carry on its activities with less resources, and 
to prepare for merging into the Department of State. The 
Committee believes that USIA should concentrate any further 
necessary personnel reductions in support staff in Washington, 
D.C. rather than programming staff in the field.
    The Committee expects the Director of USIA to administer 
summer travel/work programs without regard to pre-placement 
requirements, pending resolution of this issue in the 
authorization legislation.

                            Technology Fund

    The Committee recommends $5,050,000 for the Technology 
Fund, the same level as provided in fiscal year 1997, and 
$1,950,000 below the budget request. The purpose of this 
account is to establish a technology investment fund to 
modernize USIA's non-broadcasting computer and 
telecommunications infrastructure and to replace an investment 
strategy that relied heavily on available year-end funds.
    The recommendation freezes this account at last year's 
level, to allow for necessary modernization projects, while 
recognizing that reductions below the requested level are 
possible due to (1) the availability of an estimated additional 
$900,000 in carryover balances, (2) the cancellation of planned 
financial management systems activities in light of 
consolidation with the Department of State, and (3) the lower 
relative priority of developing programmatic technology 
applications, including the use of funds from this account to 
create an automated network for Fulbright Scholars to maintain 
contact with their colleagues. At this funding level, USIA will 
have to prioritize its technology projects. The Committee 
requests the inclusion of cost estimates, by project, for this 
account as a part of future budget submissions.
    The Committee encourages USIA to carry out testing for 
establishment of a two-way high-speed digital network, and to 
report to the Committee about plans for its implementation. 
Further, the Committee would like USIA to provide a status 
report including a rejustification of 1998 spending plans for 
the Financial Management System (FMS) project no later than 
December 1, 1997, in light of the consolidation with the 
Department of State.

               Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs

    The bill includes a total of $193,731,000 for the 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs of the United States 
Information Agency, the amount authorized in the House-passed 
authorization bill. This amount is $8,731,000 more than in 
fiscal year 1997, and $4,000,000 below the budget request. In 
addition, the program expects to receive a transfer of 
approximately $30,000,000 from appropriations for Freedom 
Support Act exchange programs, the same as in fiscal year 1997.
    The Committee recommendation assumes the consolidation of 
all costs for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in 
this appropriation, as requested. This consolidation includes 
the transfer of costs totaling $11,804,000 from the 
International Information Programs appropriation in 1998. The 
recommendation includes a limitation of not to exceed $800,000 
on the use of fees or other payments received from or in 
connection with English teaching and publication, and student 
advising and counseling programs as authorized by law. Bill 
language and dollar limitations on the use of fees is 
transferred from the International Information Programs account 
as a result of the consolidation of all Exchange Program costs.
    Within the total, the Committee recommends $94,236,000 for 
the Fulbright program, and $99,495,000 for other programs in 
accord with the House-passed authorization bill. To the maximum 
extent possible, the Committee urges that the following 
exchange programs be supported: the Pepper Scholarships, 
including the Executive Education Program for Central European 
Business and Professional Leaders, the Humphrey Fellowships, 
the Congress-Bundestag Program, the Institute for 
Representative Government, and exchanges with the South 
Pacific, East Timor, and Tibet. With respect to exchanges with 
the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, the 
Committee expects that funding will be distributed equitably 
among high-school, college, graduate, and post-graduate 
programs. Also, the recommended level includes $565,000 and 5 
positions to establish an office to coordinate exchange 
programs across U.S. Government agencies.
    The Committee understands that USIA plans to open up the 
administration of the Fulbright senior scholar program for 
competition in 1998. The Committee encourages USIA to conduct 
this and future competitions in such a way as to take maximum 
advantage of the unique competitive strengths of eligible 
exchange organizations that have expertise and experience in 
specific regions of the world.
    The Committee expects that a proposal for the distribution 
of the available resources among exchange programs will be 
submitted through the normal reprogramming process prior to 
final decisions being made.

                 Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program

           Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of interest and 
earnings expected to total $600,000 in the Eisenhower Exchange 
Fellowship Program Trust Fund, authorized by the Eisenhower 
Exchange Fellowship Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-454).
    The Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act of 1990 authorized a 
permanent endowment for the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship 
Program to increase educational opportunities for young leaders 
in preparation for and enhancement of their professional 
careers and to advance peace through international 
understanding. The Act established the Eisenhower Exchange 
Fellowship Program Trust Fund in the United States Treasury for 
these purposes. A total of $7,500,000 has been provided to 
establish a permanent endowment for the program from which the 
appropriation of interest and earnings is provided to 
Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships, Incorporated.

                    Israeli Arab Scholarship Program

    The Committee recommends language in the accompanying bill 
which will appropriate interest and earnings of the Israeli 
Arab Scholarship Endowment Fund expected to total $400,000. 
This is the full budget request and the same as was provided in 
fiscal year 1997. A permanent endowment of $4,978,500 for the 
Fund was established in fiscal year 1992 with funds made 
available to the United States Information Agency under section 
556(b) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related 
Programs Appropriations Act, 1990, as amended. The income from 
the endowment is to be used for a program of scholarships for 
Israeli Arabs to attend institutions of higher education in the 
United States.

                 International Broadcasting Operations

    The Committee recommends $391,550,000 to carry out United 
States International Broadcasting Operations for fiscal year 
1998. This is $24,800,000 above the budget request and 
$41,550,000 more than comparable amounts provided in fiscal 
year 1997. The Committee recommendation includes funding for 
all international broadcasting under this account, including 
Broadcasting to Cuba, as requested in the budget. Under the 
United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994, all 
broadcasting activities are under the oversight of the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors. In fiscal year 1997, funding 
was provided separately for Broadcasting to Cuba.
    The bill retains language included in fiscal year 1997 
relating to representation expenses, and authority to use funds 
for Broadcasting to Cuba in this account for facilities and 
equipment as well as operations. The bill includes new language 
allowing the use of fees collected from advertising and other 
receipts. The bill does not include language proposed in the 
budget to allow use of funds for costs of aircraft as may be 
required to house and operate necessary television broadcasting 
equipment, since no funding is included in the request for this 
purpose. The bill includes language providing that no funds 
shall be used for television broadcasting to Cuba after October 
1, 1997, if the President certifies that continued funding is 
not in the national interest of the United States.
    The Committee recommendation provides funding at the 
requested level, with the following downward adjustments: 
$2,400,000 based on exchange rate gains since the time of the 
request, $1,800,000 based on additional carryover funding at 
Radio Free Asia, and $1,000,000 for the requested enhancement 
for audience research. If USIA and the Broadcasting Board of 
Governors identify further savings, the Committee would be 
willing to entertain a reprogramming request to restore the 
enhancement for audience research.
    Beyond the request, the Committee recommendation includes 
an additional $30,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
for the expansion of broadcasting to China, including the 
establishment of a twenty-four hour a day broadcast schedule. 
This funding is provided for expanded broadcasting by Radio 
Free Asia and the Voice of America, including transmission 
costs, and those costs of acquiring and modernizing 
transmission infrastructure which are not provided under the 
Radio Construction account. This enhancement is intended to 
increase the pace of constructive change within China by 
increasing the exposure of the Chinese people to timely and 
accurate news and information. It is the intent of the 
Committee that Radio Free Asia work with organizations having 
special expertise and ready access to accurate information 
about conditions in the region in developing programming for 
its broadcasts. Such cooperation will assist Radio Free Asia 
programs to reflect the interests and concerns of the radio 
audience and enhance the quality of the programs that are 
broadcast into the region. USIA and the Broadcasting Board of 
Governors are directed to provide a detailed plan for 
expenditure of funds for the expansion of broadcasting to China 
prior to the start of the fiscal year for consideration under 
usual reprogramming procedures.
    The Committee understands that the BBG and the 
International Broadcasting Bureau are engaged in redefining the 
role of television in international broadcasting, and 
encourages their progress toward the development of a 
streamlined, low-cost television component to news and 
information broadcasting in local languages, where appropriate.
    The Committee notes that TV Marti's signal has been jammed 
by the Cuban government since broadcasting began in 1990. TV 
Marti is preparing to conduct testing to convert from 
broadcasting in VHF to UHF. The Committee expects to be told of 
any definitive results from the testing, and any subsequent 
conversion to UHF. Once the testing, and any conversion to UHF 
are complete, the Committee instructs the Secretary of State to 
take the necessary steps to see that the U.S. Interests Section 
in Cuba gathers data on reception in various parts of the 
target area and survey data on viewership to the extent 
possible. The Committee further instructs the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors to analyze the data and report to the 
Committee as to whether there is a significant audience for TV 
Marti's programs, as broadcast via UHF.
    International broadcasting has undergone major reductions 
over the past several years. Compared with fiscal year 1994, 
the fiscal year 1998 request will fund nearly 1,600 fewer 
positions, including employment at Radio Free Europe/Radio 
Liberty and Radio Free Asia, and represents a funding reduction 
of 30 percent. VOA's direct broadcast programming hours have 
been reduced by nearly 30 percent, and five relay stations have 
been closed.
    USIA and the Broadcasting Board of Governors are directed 
to provide their plan for the expenditure of funds under this 
account, including an accounting for exchange rate gains, to 
the Committee by November 1, 1997.

                           Radio Construction

    The bill includes $40,000,000 in new budget authority for 
the Radio Construction account for fiscal year 1998. This 
amount is $7,290,000 more than the budget request and 
$4,510,000 more than the level provided in fiscal year 1997. 
This amount is in accord with the House-passed authorization 
bill, and contains an increase of $10,000,000 to support 
expanded broadcasting to China, and unspecified offsetting 
reductions of $2,710,000 below the request. The amount 
recommended will provide for maintenance, improvements, 
replacements and repairs, satellite and terrestrial program 
feeds, and broadcast facility leases and land rentals.
    The title of this program is somewhat of a misnomer. In 
fiscal year 1998, there will be one major construction project 
underway, to continue the construction of the Pacific Island 
Relay Station in the Northern Mariana Islands, to improve 
broadcasts to Asia. The Committee recommendation includes the 
requested $4,400,000 for this project, and also includes an 
additional $10 million for capital expenditures related to the 
augmentation of this relay station to support the expansion of 
broadcasting to China funded in the International Broadcasting 
Operations appropriation. USIA and the Broadcasting Board of 
Governors are directed to provide the Committee with a detailed 
plan on the expenditure of funds in this account for the 
Pacific Island Relay Station prior to the start of the fiscal 
year.
    The remaining funds in this account are provided for 
maintenance, repair and modernization of equipment to keep the 
broadcasting infrastructure operational. The major element in 
the proposed modernization funding is to move forward on 
digital processing and distribution, which is required to 
replace the current analog system which is on the verge of 
obsolescence. The Committee expects to be kept informed about 
ongoing efforts to re-evaluate the plans, priorities and 
funding requirements for the digitization project.
    Funding for this program has been reduced from an annual 
level that averaged twice the current level prior to fiscal 
year 1996.

                          Broadcasting to Cuba

    Funding for Broadcasting to Cuba is considered under the 
International Broadcasting Operations account, as requested in 
the fiscal year 1998 budget.

                            East-West Center

    The Committee does not recommend funding for maintaining 
and operating the East-West Center. The budget contained a 
request of $7,000,000, and in fiscal year 1997, $10,000,000 was 
provided.
    Because of budget constraints, the Committee does not 
recommend continued funding for the East-West Center as a sole-
source appropriation to a private organization affiliated with 
a university. The purpose of the Center is to promote better 
relations and understanding between the United States and the 
nations of Asia and the Pacific through cooperative programs of 
research, study and training.
    The Center started receiving a direct subsidy from the 
Federal government in fiscal year 1961. Over the past ten 
years, the Federal government has provided more than 
$200,000,000 for its operation.
    The Center can solicit private contributions and compete 
for other Federal grants to support its activities, and has 
embarked on a plan to increase private contributions. The 
termination of funding in this account does not therefore 
necessarily mean the dissolution of the Center.

                           North/South Center

    The Committee does not recommend funding for continued 
support of the operations of the North/South Center. The budget 
contained a request of $1,500,000 and $1,495,000 was provided 
in fiscal year 1997.
    Because of budget constraints, the Committee cannot 
recommend continued funding for this sole-source appropriation 
to a non-governmental organization affiliated with a 
university. The mission of the Center is to promote, through 
cultural and technical exchange, better relations among the 
United States, Canada, and the nations of Latin America and the 
Caribbean.
    The Center started receiving a direct subsidy from the 
Federal government in 1991. Since that time, the Federal 
government has provided $38,895,000 for its operations. Prior 
to 1991, the Center operated on private funding, and competed 
for and received project-specific Federal grants. The Center 
can solicit private donations and compete for Federal grants 
available to support its programs and research, as it did prior 
to 1991. The termination of funding in this account does not 
therefore necessarily mean the dissolution of the Center.

                    National Endowment for Democracy

    The Committee recommends $30,000,000 for the National 
Endowment for Democracy for fiscal year 1998, the same as the 
budget request and the amount provided in fiscal year 1997.
    The National Endowment for Democracy is a private, non-
profit corporation established to encourage and strengthen the 
development of democratic institutions and processes 
internationally through private-sector initiatives, training, 
and other activities, including those which promote pluralism, 
democratic governance, civic education, human rights, and 
respect for the rule of law. The Endowment does not carry out 
programs directly, but provides funding for projects which are 
determined to be in the national interest of the United States 
and which are administered by private organizations and groups.

      General Provisions--Department of State and Related Agencies

    The Committee recommends the following general provisions 
for the Department of State similar to the provisions that were 
included in the fiscal year 1997 Appropriations Act:
    Section 401 of the bill permits funds appropriated in this 
Act for the Department of State to be available for allowances 
and differentials as authorized by subchapter 59 of 5 U.S.C.; 
for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109; and hire of 
passenger transportation pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1343(b).
    Section 402 of the bill permits up to five percent of any 
State Department appropriation to be transferred to another 
State Department appropriation, but no program can be increased 
by more than ten percent, and also provides the same authority 
to United States Information Agency programs. In addition, the 
language provides that any transfer pursuant to this subsection 
shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under section 605 
of the accompanying bill and shall not be available for 
obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the 
procedures set forth in that section.
    In addition, the Committee recommends the following new 
general provision that was included in the budget request.
    Sections 403 and 404 provide for the implementation of the 
International Cooperative Administrative Support Services 
(ICASS) program through the transfer of $108,932,000 made 
available in this title under the Diplomatic and Consular 
Programs and $3,530,000 made available in this title under the 
Security and Maintenance of United States Missions of the 
Department of State to provide additional administrative 
resources to 24 other Departments and Agencies. This is a new 
system for the allocation of administrative support costs 
incurred in the operation of overseas operations. Under the 
present system, State Department funds much of the 
administrative platform on which other agencies rely. Under the 
new system, all agencies operating overseas would be 
responsible for much more of the full cost of their 
administrative operations. This transfer of funds is intended 
to provide for the start-up of the new system, by transferring 
to those other agencies with an overseas presence their share 
of the administrative costs that the State Department had 
previously paid, so that they would have the full funding 
required to initiate the new system. Once these funds are 
transferred to the respective agencies in fiscal year 1998, the 
agencies will be responsible in future fiscal years for 
providing the funds necessary to pay for ICASS out of their own 
budgets, and will permanently shift ongoing budgetary 
responsibility to them.
    The language included under these provisions is nearly 
identical to the budget amendment submitted by the 
Administration on March 17, 1997, with the exception of 
technical drafting changes, an adjustment in the distribution 
of funds being transferred from the State Department between 
the two accounts from which funds are being transferred, and a 
reduction in the amount transferred to the Foreign Military 
Financing Program of $497,000 due to recent reestimates.
    The purpose of the ICASS reform is discussed in greater 
detail under the Diplomatic and Consular Programs account.

                       TITLE V--RELATED AGENCIES

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                        Maritime Administration

    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$138,950,000 in new budget authority, plus an additional 
$51,030,000 for liquidation of contract authority, for the 
Maritime Administration for fiscal year 1998, as described 
below:

                    Operating-Differential Subsidies

            (Appropriation to Liquidate Contract Authority)

    The Committee recommends $51,030,000 for payment of 
obligations incurred for operating-differential subsidies of 
American flag vessels. This amount is $83,970,000 below the 
request, and represents a decrease of $97,400,000 below the 
amount made available for the program in fiscal year 1997. This 
decrease is based on information provided by the Maritime 
Administration subsequent to the request, indicating reduced 
requirements in this account. This amount does not score 
against the Committee's 602(b) allocation for budget authority 
or outlays. This program is in the process of phasing out, as 
operating-differential contracts expire.

                       maritime security program

    The Committee recommends $35,500,000 for the Maritime 
Security Program, a reduction of $16,900,000 from the budget 
request, and $18,500,000 below the amount made available in 
1997. This decrease is based on information provided by the 
Maritime Administration subsequent to the request indicating a 
slower than expected start-up of the program, and estimated 
carryover balances of $54,300,000. Together with the amount of 
expected carryover funding, the 1998 recommendation will 
provide all the resources necessary for the operation of the 
program through fiscal year 1998. The purpose of the Maritime 
Security Program is to maintain and preserve a U.S. flag 
merchant fleet to serve the national security needs of the 
United States. This program is funded under the allocation for 
national security programs.

                        Operations and Training

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $65,000,000 to 
fund programs under the Operations and Training account for the 
Maritime Administration (MARAD). This amount is a reduction of 
$5,000,000 from the budget request and is the same level 
appropriated for the current fiscal year. This account provides 
funding for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the State 
maritime schools, and other MARAD operations and training.
    The Committee recommendation includes sufficient funding 
for the operation and maintenance of the U.S. Merchant Marine 
Academy at no less than the fiscal year 1997 appropriated 
level. The Committee has not specifically allocated the balance 
of the funds; however, the Committee intends that the amount of 
funding available for additional training, operating programs 
and general administration of MARAD be no higher than the 
amount appropriated for the current fiscal year.
    Although the overall funding level is frozen, the Committee 
believes there are ample opportunities to reallocate funds 
within this account to ensure sufficient funding for 
programmatic activities. In this light, the Committee believes 
further efficiencies in staffing can be achieved, and 
encourages MARAD to reduce staffing through attrition. In 
addition, the Committee notes two developments that will 
enhance the funding of State school ships: (1) the House-passed 
provision as part of the Defense authorization legislation that 
allows MARAD to proceed with the sale for scrap of vessels in 
the National Defense Reserve Fleet, of which 25 percent of the 
proceeds can be used for the State school ships, and (2) a 1997 
agreement that two of the five State school ships are now being 
funded under the Ready Reserve Force program.
    The Committee recommendation keeps bill language, requested 
for deletion, allowing reimbursements to this appropriation 
from receipts to the Federal Ship Financing Fund, for 
administrative costs of that program.
    MARAD is expected to provide its plan for the expenditure 
of funds under this account to the Committee prior to the start 
of the fiscal year.

                    Maritime Guaranteed Loan Program

    The Committee has included a total of $38,450,000 in the 
bill for the Maritime Guaranteed Loan (Title XI) Program. This 
amount is $550,000 less than the budget request, and is 
$2,450,000 less than the amount provided for fiscal year 1997. 
The bill also includes a total program limitation of 
$1,000,000,000.
    The amount provided includes $35,000,000 in subsidies for 
the guaranteed loan program, which will provide a total program 
level of up to $1,000,000,000. This provides the amount 
requested in the budget, and is $2,450,000 less than the amount 
provided in 1997.
    Also, the Committee notes that the amount of loans the 
appropriation supports depends upon the risk factor in the 
loans that MARAD approves. To the extent that the program 
concentrates on lower-risk loans, the appropriation will 
support a higher total program level, and any risk of default 
will be decreased. The Committee wants to ensure that any loan 
guarantees that are issued continue to meet the economic 
soundness requirement under Title XI.
    The amount provided also includes $3,450,000 for 
administrative expenses related to this program, the same 
amount provided in fiscal year 1997, and a reduction of 
$550,000 below the budget request. The amount provided for 
administrative expenses may be transferred to and merged with 
appropriations for MARAD operations and training on a 
reimbursable basis to cover the common overhead expenses 
associated with maritime guaranteed loans.

                       Administrative Provisions

    The bill includes several administrative provisions 
involving Government property controlled by MARAD, the 
accounting for certain funds received by MARAD, and a 
prohibition on obligations from MARAD construction fund. These 
provisions have been carried in appropriations acts for the 
Maritime Administration for several years.

      Commission For The Preservation Of America's Heritage Abroad

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $250,000 for the expenses of the 
Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. 
This amount reflects an increase of $44,000 above the level 
provided in fiscal year 1997 and in the budget request. The 
recommendation will allow the Commission to fund its 
administrative expenses through appropriated funds while 
relying on privately donated funds for the actual purchase and 
restoration of property.
    The purpose of the Commission is to encourage the 
preservation of cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings 
associated with the foreign heritage of the American people.

                       Commission on Civil Rights

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,740,000 for 
the Salaries and Expenses of the Commission on Civil Rights for 
fiscal year 1998. The amount recommended is $2,260,000 less 
than the budget request and the same amount provided in the 
current year appropriation.
    The Commission, established by the Civil Rights Act of 
1957, is an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding agency 
directed by eight part-time commissioners.
    The Committee is deeply concerned about the recent GAO 
report to the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Judiciary 
Committee which found that the Commission lacks basic 
management controls. Of particular concern to the Committee are 
the findings that the Commission possesses a limited awareness 
of how its resources are used, including an inability to track 
costs accurately on the basis of project, office or function. 
The Committee expects the Commission to implement GAO 
recommendations to develop and document management policies and 
procedures; in particular, ones which will improve the ability 
of the Commission to plan and budget for projects, and track 
the progress and ongoing costs of such projects.
    In addition, the Committee continues to believe, as was 
stated in the House report last year, that the Commission can 
augment its resources for fact-finding and research-related 
tasks by utilizing detail employees from agencies that have 
expertise in civil rights and related matters. The Committee 
recommends that the Commission explore with the authorizing 
committee any changes necessary to existing authorizations to 
allow for these types of agreements.
    The Committee recommends bill language which provides (1) 
$50,000 to employ consultants; (2) a prohibition against 
reimbursing commissioners for more than 75 billable days with 
the exception of the chairman who is permitted 125 billable 
days; and (3) a limitation of four full-time positions under 
schedule C of the Excepted Service exclusive of one special 
assistant for each commissioner.

                    Commission on Immigration Reform

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $496,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 for the final year of the Commission on 
Immigration Reform, which is a decrease of $4,000 below the 
amount requested and $1,700,000 below the total amount 
available to the Commission for fiscal year 1997.
    The Commission's mandate is to review and evaluate the 
impact of U.S. immigration policy and to transmit to the 
Congress a report of its findings and recommendations for 
additional changes that should be made with respect to 
immigration into the United States. The Commission must report 
to the Congress on September 30, 1994 and September 30, 1997. 
The Commission is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 1998. The 
recommendation provides for funds to support salaries of the 
Commission staff and office expenses through the first quarter 
of the fiscal year, printing and dissemination of the final 
report and Commission travel to hearings and meetings.
    At the Committee's request, the Commission conducted a 
thorough evaluation of the organizational roles and 
relationships of Federal agencies responsible for 
implementation of immigration policy, its strengths and 
weaknesses, and has provided recommendations to improve the 
management of immigration-related activities. The Committee 
commends the Commission for completion of this review and looks 
forward to its publication with the final Commission report on 
September 30, 1997. As stated under the Department of Justice, 
General Administration account, the Committee expects the 
Attorney General to develop a plan for the implementation of 
these recommendations.

            Commission On Security and Cooperation In Europe

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,090,000 for 
the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the same 
level as appropriated in fiscal year 1997 and as requested in 
the budget. The Committee notes that the Commission also 
receives administrative support from the House of 
Representatives, and reemphasizes that it would be useful in 
future budget justifications to display the total budget of the 
Commission, including both the appropriation request from this 
Subcommittee and the support expected to be provided by the 
House.
    The Commission was established in 1976 to monitor 
compliance with the final act of the Conference on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe with particular regard to provisions 
dealing with humanitarian affairs.

                Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $239,740,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for 
fiscal year 1998. This amount is a decrease of $6,260,000 below 
the request, and is the same amount provided in the current 
year appropriation.
    In Fiscal Year 1997, the Committee supported additional 
resources for EEOC in order to address the charge caseload and 
its growing backlog. The Committee expected that the additional 
resources and implementation of new charge handling procedures 
would have an impact on reducing the overall caseload of the 
EEOC and would improve response time for new complaints. EEOC's 
workload information included with its 1998 budget 
justification reflects a reduction of 32,000 cases, a 30 
percent reduction, in the backlog. The Committee is concerned 
however, that this case reduction was a one-time occurrence 
instead of a sustained effort. For FY 1998, EEOC estimates it 
will complete 16% fewer cases than they expect to complete in 
1997. Furthermore, EEOC projects that by 1999, its backlog of 
cases will grow to levels similar to 1995 when the new 
procedures for backlog reduction were first implemented. The 
Committee is concerned that the additional resources provided 
in fiscal year 1997, in addition to other EEOC resources, are 
being diverted from case processing to increase other 
activities, such as litigation. The Committee understands that 
the EEOC currently does not track staffing or resources 
expended on particular EEOC activities. As a result, neither 
the EEOC nor the Committee can determine the level of resources 
actually being spent on case processing, how this level 
compares to previous years, whether resources need to be 
reallocated among activities or districts, and the productivity 
of case processing of various offices.
    The Committee expects the processing of charges filed with 
the EEOC, including the reduction of the backlog of such 
charges, will remain the EEOC's first priority and directs the 
EEOC to implement a system of identifying the level of 
resources dedicated to this activity and other EEOC activities, 
such as litigation. The Committee further directs the EEOC to 
provide by February 2, 1998, a report identifying the level of 
resources being used to support charge processing and the level 
of resources being used to support litigation activities.
    The Committee is also concerned that the EEOC does not have 
specific criteria by which EEOC determines whether to intervene 
in an ongoing lawsuit, or to initiate a lawsuit alleging a 
similar claim or claims as alleged in any other lawsuit filed 
against the same defendant. The Committee directs EEOC to set 
forth specific criteria for adoption by the Commission, that 
delineate how EEOC will (a) intervene in an on-going lawsuit, 
including how such intervention is in the general public 
interest, or (b) initiate a lawsuit against a defendant 
alleging a similar claim or claims of legal violations or facts 
as alleged in any other lawsuit filed against the same 
defendant. The Committee expects that these criteria should 
maximize the responsiveness of the EEOC to complainants not 
adequately represented by counsel in other fora. The Committee 
further directs the EEOC that before any criteria are adopted, 
the EEOC shall submit such criteria, no later than February 2, 
1998, to both the House Appropriations Committee and the House 
Education and Workforce Committee for review.
    The bill also includes language included in previous 
appropriations acts allowing: (1) non-monetary awards to 
private citizens; (2) up to $27,500,000 for payments to State 
and local agencies; and (3) up to $2,500 for official reception 
and representation expenses.

                   Federal Communications Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends total budget authority of 
$187,079,000 for the Salaries and Expenses of the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC) for fiscal year 1998, of which 
$152,523,000 is to be derived from offsetting fee collections. 
This will result in a direct appropriation of $34,556,000, a 
decrease of $22,000,000 below the request, and $1,000,000 below 
the current year appropriation. The recommendation provides the 
full request for the operations of the FCC due to correction of 
an error contained in the original FCC budget submission which 
overestimated inflationary increases by $2,000,000.
    The Committee has not provided the requested increase 
related to the cost of relocating the FCC headquarters into 
consolidated new space. The fiscal year 1998 request included 
$30,000,000 for the costs associated with the relocation, and 
the FCC anticipates that an additional $10,000,000 will be 
required in fiscal year 1999. The Committee remains concerned 
that, despite the admonitions of the Committee for the past 
three years, the FCC and the General Services Administration 
(GSA) have made no progress in reducing the costs of this 
relocation. Further, the Committee is concerned about recent 
actions by GSA and FCC to expand the total space in the 
facility. The Committee expects the FCC to continue to work to 
find lower cost alternatives to provide for the relocation, and 
to submit a reprogramming of funds under Section 605 of the 
bill to cover such costs FCC will incur from the move.
    The Committee is concerned that the FCC has not taken 
sufficient actions to streamline and reduce its operations in 
response to passage of the landmark Telecommunications Act of 
1996 (P.L.104-104). While the Committee understands that the 
Commission has experienced a short-term increase in workload in 
some areas, the Committee believes that further opportunities 
exist to streamline and downsize the Commission as a result of 
the de-regulation of the industry. Therefore, the Committee 
encourages the FCC to re-evaluate all of its functions, and to 
eliminate those unnecessary regulatory functions which have 
been reduced or eliminated by this Act. Such actions will 
enable the Commission to achieve budgetary savings while 
promoting greater competition in the industry, and at the same 
time assist the FCC is identifying the necessary resources to 
provide for other agency requirements.
    The Committee is aware that concerns and questions have 
been raised regarding the authority and competence of FCC with 
respect to regulation of advertising. The Committee notes that 
Congress has granted the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the 
authority to investigate certain advertised products and 
regulate commercial advertising of those products. The 
Committee encourages the authorization committees to review 
this issue and take appropriate steps to address this matter.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which allows: 
(1) up to $600,000 for land and structures; (2) up to $500,000 
for care of grounds and buildings; (3) up to $4,000 for 
official reception and representation expenses; (4) up to 
$300,000 for research and policy studies to remain available 
until September 30, 1999; (5) authority to purchase uniforms 
and acquire vehicles; (6) special counsel fees; (7) for the 
collection of $152,523,000 in section 9 fees; (8) for the sum 
appropriated to be reduced as section 9 fees are collected; and 
(9) fees collected in excess of $152,523,000 to be available in 
fiscal year 1999.
    The FCC is an independent agency charged with regulating 
interstate and foreign communications by means of radio, 
television, wire, cable and satellite.

                      Federal Maritime Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $13,500,000 
for the Salaries and Expenses of the Federal Maritime 
Commission (FMC) for fiscal year 1998. This amount is a 
reduction of $500,000 below the amount provided for the current 
fiscal year and a reduction of $800,000 below the budget 
request.
    The Senate has reported legislation from the Commerce 
Committee terminating the FMC in January, 1999 and transferring 
its authorities to the Department of Transportation's Surface 
Transportation Board, which would be renamed the Intermodal 
Transportation Board. The amount recommended by the Committee 
will allow FMC to continue enforcement activity through fiscal 
year 1998, and begin to implement the provisions of the pending 
legislation which include the phase-out of certain FMC 
responsibilities during fiscal year 1998, particularly the 
responsibility of the FMC to collect and disseminate to the 
public all tariffs and other information through an automated 
tariff filing and information system.

                        Federal Trade Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends total budget authority of 
$105,000,000 for the Salaries and Expenses of the Federal Trade 
Commission (FTC) for fiscal year 1998, a decrease of $3,000,000 
below the request and $3,070,000 above the current year 
appropriation. Of this amount, $10,000,000 is to be derived 
from prior year unobligated fee collections, and $70,000,000 is 
to be derived from current year offsetting fee collections from 
premerger filing fees under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, 
resulting in a net direct appropriation of $25,000,000. The 
Committee notes that any use of remaining unobligated fee 
collections from the prior year are subject to the 
reprogramming requirements outlined in section 605 of this Act.
    The mission of the Federal Trade Commission is to enforce a 
variety of Federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. 
Under these laws, the Commission seeks to ensure that the 
nation's markets are competitive, function vigorously and 
efficiently, and are free from undue governmental and private 
restrictions. The Commission also seeks to improve the 
operation of the marketplace by eliminating deceptive and 
unfair practices.
    The Committee expresses concern regarding the new 
guidelines proposed by the FTC allowing the ``Made in USA'' 
label to be used on products for which U.S. manufacturing costs 
are as low as 75% of total manufacturing costs. The Committee 
urges the Commission to retain the current standard for ``Made 
in U.S.A.'' requiring that ``all or virtually all'' of the 
product must be made in the U.S.A.
    The Committee recommends bill language, similar to that 
included in previous appropriations acts, which: (1) allows for 
purchase of uniforms and hire of motor vehicles; (2) allows up 
to $2,000 for official reception and representation expenses; 
(3) allows for the collection of fees; (4) allows for the sum 
appropriated to be reduced as fees are collected; (5) allows 
fees in excess of the amount designated in the bill to be 
available in fiscal year 1999; (6) prohibits the use of funds 
to implement section 151 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation Improvements Act of 1991; and (7) makes funds 
appropriated from the Treasury for the FTC available until 
expended.

                       Legal Services Corporation

               Payment to the Legal Services Corporation

    The Committee recommendation provides $141,000,000 for the 
Legal Services Corporation for fiscal year 1998. This amount is 
a decrease of $199,000,000 below the request, and $142,000,000 
below the amount provided in fiscal year 1997. This amount 
includes: (1) $134,575,000 for grants to basic field programs; 
(2) $5,300,000 for management and administration to administer 
these grants on a competitive basis; and (3) $1,125,000 is 
provided to the Office of the Inspector General for oversight 
of the Corporation and its grantees.

                       Legal Services Corporation

                       Administrative Provisions

    The Committee recommends a continuation of all statutory 
requirements and restrictions contained in the fiscal year 1997 
appropriations Act, as requested, with one modification. The 
recommendation contains new language, not requested, to 
strengthen sanction authority for violations of statutory or 
regulatory requirements and restrictions. Provisions are 
included providing additional authority to the Corporation to 
terminate a grant award and institute a new grant competition 
if the existing grantee has been found to be in violation of 
such requirements and restrictions, and to allow the 
Corporation to debar grantees from the competitive bid process 
in certain circumstances.

                        Marine Mammal Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $1,000,000 for the Marine Mammal 
Commission for fiscal year 1998. This is $240,000 below the 
request, and $189,000 below the current appropriation. The 
Committee notes that a total of $326,942,000 has been provided 
in the Department of Commerce for the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS), the primary Federal agency charged with 
providing the necessary scientific research and evaluation of 
marine resources, including marine mammals. The Committee feels 
the Commission can achieve its goals at this reduced level of 
funding by working more closely with NMFS, particularly in the 
area of research, studies, and workshops, to identify and 
eliminate overlap and duplication. The Committee notes that, in 
the past, the Commission has received funding from NMFS for 
these types of activities, and expects such collaboration to 
continue.

                      Ounce of Prevention Council

    The Committee recommendation does not include funding for 
the Ounce of Prevention Council in fiscal year 1998. In fiscal 
year 1997, $500,000 was provided for this program and 
$9,000,000 was requested for fiscal year 1998.
    The primary purpose of the Council is to coordinate crime 
prevention information through development of a crime 
prevention catalogue and provision of assistance to communities 
seeking information regarding prevention programs. The 
Committee believes that these responsibilities are duplicative 
of other information dissemination, coordination and assistance 
functions that already exist in Federal agencies that 
administer crime prevention programs. Furthermore, States and 
localities are also assisted by non-profit organizations active 
in crime prevention, such as the National Crime Prevention 
Council, to obtain needed information on crime prevention 
strategies.
    In addition, the Council's grant program, for which 
$8,000,000 is requested, includes grants for summer and after 
school recreation programs, mentoring, programs assisting 
employability, and outreach programs for at-risk families. The 
Committee has provided $237,922,000, $7,500,000 more than 
requested, under the Department of Justice, Juvenile Justice 
programs, specifically for prevention programs such as those 
requested by the Council. In addition, other programs under the 
Department of Justice, State and Local Law Enforcement 
Assistance Program, such as the Local Law Enforcement Block 
Grant, are also available for States and localities to provide 
these types of programs at their own discretion.

                   Securities and Exchange Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends overall funding for the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (SEC) of $315,000,000, a decrease of 
$2,412,000 below the request and an increase of $9,600,000 
above the level provided in fiscal year 1997. The overall 
funding is made up of the following components: (1) a direct 
appropriation of $33,477,000 for fiscal year 1998; (2) 
offsetting fees expected to provide $249,523,000 in fiscal year 
1998; and (3) carryover of $32,000,000. The Administration 
proposed an appropriation of $317,412,000, to be offset by the 
fees and carryover mentioned above resulting in a direct 
appropriation of $35,889,000. The Committee recommendation for 
direct appropriations represents a reduction of $2,412,000 
below the request. Of this amount $421,000 is based on a 
recalculation of the 1998 pay raise. The balance is taken as a 
general, unspecified reduction.
    The SEC was created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
as an independent, quasi-judicial agency. It administers a 
group of statutes in the area of securities and finance which 
seek to protect the investing public by providing full 
disclosure, regulating the nation's securities markets, and 
preventing and policing fraud and malpractice in the securities 
and financial markets.
    The Committee recommendation includes bill language 
providing offsetting fees in accord with levels authorized in 
the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996.
    In addition, the Committee recommends bill language, 
similar to that included in previous appropriations acts, 
which: (1) allows for the rental of space; (2) makes up to 
$3,000 available for official reception and representation 
expenses; (3) makes up to $10,000 available for a permanent 
secretariat for the International Organization of Securities 
Commissions; (4) makes up to $100,000 available for expenses of 
meetings and consultations with foreign governmental and 
regulatory officials; (5) appropriates a total of $283,000,000 
and reduces that amount to not more than $33,477,000 as 
offsetting fees are collected; and (6) makes fees collected in 
excess of $249,523,000 available until expended, but not 
available for obligation until October 1, 1998.

                     Small Business Administration

    The accompanying bill provides a total of $728,237,000 for 
the five appropriations items of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA). This amount is an increase of $27,602,000 
above the budget request, and $124,180,000 below the total 
amounts available, including emergency appropriations, in 
fiscal year 1997. The details for the five SBA appropriation 
accounts are contained in the following paragraphs.
    The Committee is pleased that the SBA has worked with the 
Committee to develop a new format for the budget justification 
materials during the development of the fiscal year 1998 budget 
submission. The Committee notes that the fiscal year 1998 
budget submission was a marked improvement over previous years 
budget submission materials. The Committee would like to 
continue to work with SBA to make further refinements to this 
new format.
    The Committee is concerned about the SBA's ability to 
manage its financial programs. For the past three years, the 
SBA has been unable to accurately project both the subsidy 
rates for its programs and project resource requirements. The 
Committee is disturbed by the most recent failure of the agency 
to detect a significant error in the subsidy rate for the 7(a) 
program. Despite extensive scrutiny and discussion throughout 
the development of the fiscal year 1997 appropriations Act, 
this error went undetected, resulting in the Committee being 
required to find significant additional resources to meet SBA 
program requirements. The error was subsequently detected by 
the General Accounting Office (GAO). The Committee reminds SBA 
that the volatility in subsidy rates is a direct reflection on 
the SBA's management of its loan portfolio and expects SBA to 
take immediate action to address these management problems, and 
report its progress to the Committee.

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $235,047,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Small Business Administration. This amount is 
equal to the fiscal year 1997 appropriation and $11,053,000 
below the request.
    In addition, $94,000,000 is available for this account from 
the portion of the Business Loans Program account for 
administrative expenses, and additional funds are available for 
administrative expenses for the Disaster Loans Program account. 
These amounts are to be transferred to and merged with the 
Salaries and Expenses account.
    The Committee has provided an increase of $9,952,000 above 
the fiscal year 1997 level for the regular salaries and 
expenses of the SBA. The recommendation provides an increase of 
$3,952,000 for adjustments to base, including the full amount 
requested for Low Documentation processing centers.
    In addition, $6,000,000 is provided for initiatives to 
improve SBA's management and oversight of its loan portfolio as 
follows: (1) $1,750,000 for staff and training for the Office 
of the Chief Financial Officer; (2) $200,000 is for SBA to 
contract with a private entity to provide technical and 
management support in developing and implementing a plan for 
modernization of SBA's information resource management systems; 
and (3) $4,050,000 for information resource management systems. 
The Committee expects SBA to submit a spending plan in 
accordance with section 605 of this Act prior to the 
expenditure of funds provided for these initiatives.
    In addition, within the amounts provided, the Committee 
expects the SBA to work closely with existing small business 
incubators, as well as to continue to assist small businesses 
adapt to a paperless procurement environment, and support 
activities which assist small businesses in making the 
transition to meet both military and ISO 9000 quality systems 
requirements.
    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$104,894,000 for non-credit initiatives, as follows:

Small Business Development Centers......................     $75,500,000
SCORE...................................................       3,500,000
Microloan technical assistance..........................      14,500,000
Enterprise zone one-stop shops..........................       3,100,000
Export assistance centers...............................       3,100,000
Regulatory Fairness Boards..............................         500,000
Women's Demonstration Projects..........................       3,000,000
Women's Business Council................................         194,000
Survey of Women-Owned Businesses........................       1,000,000
Business Information Centers............................         500,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Total, non-credit initiatives.......................     104,894,000

    Of the amounts provided for the SBDC program, $2,000,000 is 
to continue the SBDC defense transition program and $1,000,000 
is for a regulatory compliance simplification program to 
increase coordination of environmental, Occupational Health and 
Safety Administration and Internal Revenue Service compliance 
requirements and to avoid duplication among programs for 
compliance assistance to small businesses.
    The Committee recommendation does not include funds for an 
economic policy research program for the Office of Advocacy. 
However, the Committee would be willing to entertain a 
reprogramming to maintain the existing small business database 
and other data collection functions. Further, the Committee 
continues to be concerned over duplication between SBA and the 
Commerce Department's Minority Business Development Agency 
(MBDA). The Committee is disappointed that the MBDA and SBA 
have not made sufficient progress in eliminating duplication 
and increasing cooperation. Therefore, the Committee has 
discontinued funding for this initiative.
    The Committee recommendation includes requested language 
authorizing $3,500 for official reception and representation 
expenses and language authorizing SBA to charge fees to cover 
the cost of publications, and certain loan servicing 
activities. The language also permits revenues received from 
all such activities to be credited to the Salaries and Expenses 
account to be available for carrying out these purposes without 
further appropriations. In addition, the Committee 
recommendation includes language making funds for the Small 
Business Development Center program available for two years, 
reflecting the grant cycle for this program.

                      Office Of Inspector General

    The Committee recommends $9,490,000 for the Office of 
Inspector General of the Small Business Administration under 
this heading. Further, an additional $500,000 has been provided 
under the administrative expenses of the Disaster Loans Program 
to be made available to the Office of Inspector General for 
work associated with the oversight of the disaster loan 
program. Thus, the recommendation provides a total of 
$9,990,000 to be available to the Office of Inspector General 
in fiscal year 1998, a $990,000 increase over the current year, 
and $610,000 below the request.
    The Committee has provided additional resources to the 
Office of Inspector General for additional program review 
activity. The Committee believes that additional efforts in 
this area will assist the Committee in its efforts to ensure 
that Federal programs funded in the Small Business 
Administration are cost effective.

                     Business Loans Program Account

    The Committee recommends $187,100,000 for the Business 
Loans Program Account for subsidies for guaranteed business 
loans, and an additional $94,000,000 for administrative 
expenses related to this account. The amount provided for 
administrative expenses may be transferred to and merged with 
the appropriation for SBA salaries and expenses to cover the 
common overhead expenses associated with business loans. In 
addition, the recommendation includes a provision in the bill, 
similar to that carried in previous years, allowing up to 
$45,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 1999.
    As required by the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, the 
Congress is required to appropriate an amount sufficient to 
cover the estimated losses associated with all direct loan 
obligations and loan guarantee commitments made in fiscal year 
1997, as well as the administrative expenses of the loans. The 
subsidy amounts are estimated on a net present value basis, and 
the administrative expenses are estimated on a cash basis.
    7(a) Business loan program.--The Committee recommends a 
$10,000,000,000 program level for the 7(a) program in fiscal 
year 1998, instead of an $8,500,000,000 program level requested 
in the budget. To provide for this program level, the Committee 
has assumed a 1.8% subsidy rate, as estimated in the budget, 
and included a subsidy appropriation of $167,000,000, instead 
of $153,003,000 as proposed in the request and $158,000,000 as 
provided for fiscal year 1997. In addition, based on estimates 
and information provided by SBA on June 25, 1997, the 
recommendation assumes carryover of $13,000,000, resulting in a 
total subsidy appropriations availability of $180,000,000. 
Should changes in the program level occur due to changes in the 
subsidy rate, or changes in estimated carryover and recoveries, 
the Committee expects to be notified in accordance with section 
605 of this Act prior to the SBA taking any actions to change 
the program level provided in fiscal year 1998.
    Small Business Investment Corporation (SBIC) debenture and 
participating securities.--The Committee recommendation 
includes a total of $20,100,000 for the subsidy appropriation 
for the SBIC programs, a decrease of $132,000 below the request 
and $1,600,000 below the amount provided in fiscal year 1997. 
In addition, estimates provided by the SBA on June 25, 1997, 
indicate an additional $3,950,000 in carryover will be 
available for the SBIC programs in fiscal year 1998. The 
recommendation includes $8,600,000 in subsidy appropriations 
for SBIC debenture guarantees, and $11,500,000 for the SBIC 
participating securities loans. Funding recommendations for 
both programs assume continuation of legislative changes 
enacted in fiscal year 1997 which will result in the following 
program levels: $373,913,000 for the SBIC debenture program, a 
45% increase over the current level; and $452,756,000 for the 
SBIC participating securities loans program, a 10% increase 
over the current level. In addition, carryover will provide an 
additional $80,435,000 in program level for SBIC debentures, 
and $82,677,000 for the participating securities program.
    Microloan Direct and Guaranty Programs.--The Committee does 
not include new appropriations for the Microloan Direct Loan 
Program or the Microloan Guaranty Program, as none was 
requested. The recommendation assumes that $2,000,000 of the 
$5,500,000 in estimated carryover in the Direct Loan Program 
will be transferred to the Salaries and Expenses Account for 
Microloan Technical Assistance grants, and $3,500,000 will be 
available for the subsidy budget authority for direct loans in 
fiscal year 1998. In addition, the Committee expects the 
$3,300,000 in carryover from the Microloan Guaranty Program to 
be available for the subsidy budget authority for guaranteed 
loans in fiscal year 1998. The Committee is concerned about the 
inability of SBA to utilize the resources which have been 
provided as SBA does not expect to spend any of the resources 
provided in fiscal year 1997 for these programs, and will in 
fact be unable to spend funds provided prior to fiscal year 
1997. Therefore, SBA is directed to provide a report to the 
Committee note later than February 2, 1998 outlining the 
necessary steps to ensure the successful operation of this 
program.
    504 Development Company loans.--The Committee 
recommendation provides no new budget authority for the section 
504 development company loan program, as requested. This 
amount, however, assumes the success of legislative proposals 
to maintain a zero subsidy rate for this program.
    The Committee is aware that concerns have been expressed 
regarding the manner in which SBA determines risk assessment 
and environmental liability on 504 loans. The Committee 
understands the SBA is currently working to revise risk 
assessment policies with regard to 504 loans. The Committee 
encourages SBA to move expeditiously on this matter and report 
back to the Committee no later than October 1, 1997 as to the 
status of its effort.

                     Disaster Loans Program Account

    The Committee recommends $199,100,000 for the Disaster 
Loans Program Account for loan subsidies and associated 
administrative expenses, an increase of $25,900,000 above the 
request and $127,832,000 below the total amount available, 
including emergency appropriations, in fiscal year 1997.
    As required by the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, the 
Congress is required to appropriate an amount sufficient to 
cover the subsidy costs associated with all direct loan 
obligations and loan guarantee commitments made in fiscal year 
1996, as well as the administrative expenses of the loan 
programs. The subsidy amounts are measured on a net present 
value basis, and the administrative expenses are estimated on a 
cash basis.

                 Surety Bond Guarantees Revolving Fund

    The accompanying bill provides an appropriation of 
$3,500,000 for additional capital for the Surety Bond 
Guarantees Revolving Fund. This amount is equal to the budget 
request, and a decrease of $230,000 below the amount provided 
for fiscal year 1997. The recommendation will result in a 
program level of $1,672,000,000.
    Under the Surety Bond Guarantees program, the Small 
Business Administration guarantees a portion of the losses 
sustained by a surety company as a result of the issuance of a 
bid, payment, and/or performance bond to a small business 
concern.

                        State Justice Institute

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $3,000,000 for the State Justice 
Institute (SJI) for fiscal year 1998, a decrease of $3,000,000 
from the current year appropriation.
    The mission of SJI is to award grants to improve the 
administration of justice in State courts. SJI requested 
$13,550,000 for fiscal year 1998 for this purpose. However, the 
Administration proposed $5,000,000 for SJI in fiscal year 1998, 
citing a new $50,000,000 program to assist State Courts which 
the Administration has requested under the Department of 
Justice, Office of Justice Programs, to augment assistance to 
State Courts for juvenile crime.
    The Committee recommendation for the Department of Justice, 
Office of Justice Programs includes a new $300,000,000 juvenile 
crime block grant, which includes as an allowable use, 
assistance to State courts. However, the Committee has 
continued funding for SJI in order to augment assistance to 
State courts for unique circumstances which other State and 
local grant programs may not support.

                      TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    The Committee recommends the following general provisions 
for the departments and agencies funded in the accompanying 
bill. Except where modifications are indicated, these general 
provisions were included in the fiscal year 1997 Appropriations 
Act.
    Section 601 prohibits any appropriation contained in the 
Act from being used for publicity or propaganda purposes not 
authorized by the Congress.
    Section 602 prohibits any appropriation contained in the 
Act from remaining available for obligation beyond the current 
fiscal year unless explicitly provided.
    Section 603 provides that the expenditure of any 
appropriation contained in the Act for any consulting service 
through procurement contracts shall be limited to those 
contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record 
and available for public inspection, except where otherwise 
provided under existing law or under existing Executive Order 
issued pursuant to existing law.
    Section 604 provides that if any provision of the Act or 
the application of such provision to any person or circumstance 
shall be held invalid, the remainder of the Act and the 
application of such provisions to persons or circumstances 
other than those to which it is held invalid shall not be 
affected thereby.
    Section 605 provides for the Committee's policy concerning 
the reprogramming of funds. Section 605(a) prohibits the 
reprogramming of funds which: (1) creates new programs; (2) 
eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds 
or personnel by any means for any project or activity for which 
funds have been denied or restricted; (4) relocates offices or 
employees; (5) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities; or 
(6) contracts out or privatizes any function or activity 
presently performed by Federal employees unless the 
Appropriations Committees of both Houses of Congress are 
notified 15 days in advance.
    Section 605(b) prohibits a reprogramming of funds in excess 
of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, that: (1) 
augments existing programs, projects or activities; (2) reduces 
by 10 percent funding for any existing program, project, or 
activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent as approved by 
Congress; or (3) results from any general savings due to a 
reduction in personnel which would result in a change in 
existing programs, activities, or projects as approved by 
Congress unless the Appropriations Committees of both Houses of 
Congress are notified 15 days in advance.
    The Committee has again included carryover funds under the 
requirements of section 605 to clarify that agencies must 
follow reprogramming procedures with respect to carryover 
funds.
    Section 606 prohibits funds in the Act from being used for 
construction, repair (other than emergency repair), overhaul, 
conversion, or modernization of vessels for the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in shipyards located 
outside the United States.
    Section 607 states the sense of the Congress that all 
equipment and products purchased with funds made available in 
the bill should be American-made, directs the head of each 
Federal agency to provide a notice describing Congressional 
intent to any entity it provides financial assistance to or 
enters into a contract with, and makes any person determined to 
have misused ``Made in America'' labeling from receiving grants 
or contracts made with funds provided under this Act.
    Section 608 prohibits funds in the bill from being used to 
implement, administer, or enforce any guidelines of the Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission covering harassment based on 
religion similar to proposed guidelines published by the EEOC 
in October, 1993.
    Section 609 prohibits the use of funds to pay for expansion 
of diplomatic or consular operations in Vietnam beyond the 
level of operations on July 11, 1995, unless the President 
certifies within 60 days that Vietnam is cooperating in full 
faith with the U.S. on POW/MIA issues.
    Section 610 prohibits the use of funds for any United 
Nations peacekeeping mission when it is made known that United 
States Armed Forces are under the command or operational 
control of a foreign national and the President has not 
submitted to the Congress a recommendation that such 
involvement is in the national security interest of the United 
States.
    Section 611 prohibits the use of funds to provide certain 
amenities and personal comforts in the Federal prison system.
    Section 612 includes modified language prohibiting the use 
of funds under the NOAA Fleet Modernization, Shipbuilding and 
Conversion account to implement sections 603, 604, and 605 of 
Public Law 102-567.
    Section 613 provides that any closing or downsizing costs 
incurred by a Department or agency funded under this Act 
resulting from funding reductions in the Act shall be absorbed 
within the budgetary resources available to the Department or 
agency, and provides transfer authority between appropriation 
accounts to carry out the provision, subject to reprogramming 
procedures.
    Section 614 prohibits funds made available in this Act to 
the Federal Bureau of Prisons from being used to distribute 
publications that include sexually explicit material.
    Section 615 limits funding under the Local Law Enforcement 
Block Grant to 90 percent to an entity that does not provide 
public safety officers injured in the line of duty and as a 
result separated or retired from their jobs with health 
insurance benefits equal to the insurance they received while 
on duty.
    The bill also includes a new general provision, Section 
616, to entitle any Member of Congress and individual paid by 
the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of 
the Senate to receive reimbursement for any legal expenses and 
other legitimate expenses in connection with a Department of 
Justice prosecution arising in connection with the performance 
of official duties if such Member or individual is acquitted of 
the charges brought, the charges are dismissed by a court, or 
the conviction is reversed on appeal.

               Changes in the Application of Existing Law

    Pursuant to Clause 3, rule XXI of the House of 
Representatives, the following statement is submitted 
describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill 
which directly or indirectly change the application of existing 
law.
    Language is included for a number of accounts which places 
limitations on representation and reception allowances in order 
to reduce the amount of money that could otherwise be spent on 
these activities.
    The bill also provides that a number of appropriations 
shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal 
year. While these provisions are not specifically authorized 
for all of the items, it is deemed desirable to include such 
language for certain programs in order to provide for orderly 
administration and the effective use of funds.
    Under Department of Justice, General Administration, 
Salaries and Expenses, a limitation of $3,317,000 is provided 
for the Facilities Program 2000 and a limitation of $7,860,000 
for the Department Leadership program is included. In addition, 
language is included that limits funding to $4,660,000 for the 
Offices of Legislative Affairs and Public Affairs and prohibits 
these offices from being augmented with reimbursable and non-
reimbursable details.
    Under Counterterrorism Fund, funding is provided for 
reimbursement of certain expenses related to countering, 
investigating and prosecuting acts of terrorism and language is 
provided that makes these funds available only after the 
Attorney General notifies the Committees on Appropriations of 
the House and Senate in accordance with the reprogramming 
requirements included in section 605 of the accompanying bill.
    Under Office of Inspector General, a limitation of $10,000 
is provided to meet unforeseen emergencies of a confidential 
nature. Language is included which makes the appropriation 
available for the acquisition, lease, maintenance, and 
operation of motor vehicles without regard to the general 
purchase price limitation. Language is also included that 
allows the Attorney General to transfer up to one tenth of one 
percent of grant funds provided under the Violent Crime 
Reduction Trust Fund for the Inspector General to audit and 
review these grant programs.
    Under Legal Activities, Salaries and Expenses, General 
Legal Activities, a limitation of $20,000 is provided for 
expenses of collecting evidence. Language is also included to 
permit the lease of private or government-owned space in the 
District of Columbia. In addition, a limitation of $10,000,000 
is provided for litigation support contracts to remain 
available until expended and a limitation of $17,525,000, to 
remain available until expended, is provided for office 
automation systems. Further, language is included that provides 
a limitation of $1,000 to the United States National Central 
Bureau (INTERPOL) for official reception and representation. In 
addition, language is included which permits up to $4,028,000 
to be appropriated from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust 
Fund for processing cases under the National Childhood Vaccine 
Injury Act of 1986.
    Under Antitrust Division, Salaries and Expenses, language 
is included to allow $70,000,000 to be credited to this 
appropriation from fees collected for premerger notification 
filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. 
Further, language provides that the appropriation shall be 
reduced by such offsetting collections that are received during 
fiscal year 1998 so as to result in a final year 1998 
appropriation estimated at not more than $14,542,000. Further, 
language is included that any fees received in excess of 
$70,000,000 in fiscal year 1998 shall remain available until 
expended, but shall not be available for obligation until 
fiscal year 1999.
    Under United States Attorneys, Salaries and Expenses, 
language is included providing a limitation of $2,500,000 to be 
available until September 30, 1999, for the purposes of: (1) 
providing debt collection training; (2) providing services 
relating to locating debtors and their property; (3) paying the 
costs of sales of property not covered by sale proceeds; and 
(4) paying the costs of processing and tracking debts owed to 
the United States Government. Language is also included 
providing a limitation of $8,000 for official reception and 
representation expenses, and up to $10,000,000 for automated 
litigation support contracts to be available until expended. 
Language is included that provides the level of positions and 
workyears for the U.S. Attorneys. Language is included 
providing a limitation of $6,000,000 for office moves, 
expansions and renovations, to be available until September 30, 
1999. Language is also included providing a limitation of 
$1,200,000 to be available until expended for the design, 
development and implementation of an information systems 
strategy for D.C. Superior Court.
    Under United States Trustee System Fund, language is 
included that makes deposits to the Fund available to pay 
refunds due depositors. In addition, language is included which 
provides that not to exceed $107,950,000 of offsetting 
collections derived from fees collected shall be retained and 
used for necessary expenses in this appropriation. In addition, 
the language provides that the $107,950,000 appropriated shall 
be reduced as such offsetting collections are received during 
fiscal year 1998 so as to result in a final fiscal year 1998 
appropriation estimated at not more than $0. In addition, 
language is included which provides that any of the 
aforementioned fees collected in excess of $107,950,000 in 
fiscal year 1998 shall remain available until expended, but 
shall not be available for obligation until October 1, 1998.
    Under United States Marshals Service, language is included 
which makes funds available to procure, maintain and operate 
vehicles and aircraft, and which permits purchase of vehicles 
without regard to the general purchase price limitation. 
Language is also included which allows up to $6,000 to be 
available for official reception and representation expenses, 
and up to $4,000,000 for development, implementation, 
maintenance and support, and training for an automated prisoner 
information system, and $2,200,000 for the Justice Prisoner and 
Alien Transportation System to be available until expended. In 
addition, language is included which makes permanent the 
provision that allows the U.S. Marshals Service to earn 
reimbursement for the maintenance and transport of State, local 
and territorial prisoners by the Justice Prisoner and Alien 
Transportation System.
    Under Federal Prisoner Detention, language is included 
stating that the appropriation is not available for expenses 
otherwise provided for in appropriations available to the 
Attorney General.
    Under Fees and Expenses of Witnesses, language is included 
which makes funds available for expert witnesses, private 
counsel and per diem. Language is also provided making not to 
exceed $4,750,000 available for planning, construction, 
renovation, maintenance, remodeling, and repair of buildings, 
and the purchase of equipment incident thereto for protected 
witness safe sites. Also, language is included which makes not 
to exceed $1,000,000 available for the purchase and maintenance 
of armored vehicles for transportation of protected witnesses, 
and up to $4,000,000 for a secure automated network for 
protected witnesses.
    Under Community Relations Service, language is included 
that permits the Attorney General to transfer up to $2,000,000 
to this account from other DOJ accounts, and may also transfer 
amounts that may be necessary to meet emergent circumstances 
from other Department of Justice programs, subject to the 
reprogramming requirements under section 605 of the 
accompanying bill.
    Under Radiation Exposure Compensation, Administrative 
Expenses, language is included that provides $2,000,000 for 
administrative expenses but shall not be available until fiscal 
year 1999.
    Under Payment of Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust 
Fund, language is included that provides $29,000,000 for 
payment of claims under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act 
but shall not be available for obligation until fiscal year 
1999.
    Under Interagency Law Enforcement, Interagency Crime and 
Drug Enforcement, language is provided which permits the 
appropriation to be used for intergovernmental agreements with 
State and local law enforcement agencies engaged in the 
investigation and prosecution of individuals involved in 
organized crime drug trafficking. Language is also included 
permitting $50,000,000 to remain available until expended. In 
addition, language is provided that allows the appropriation to 
be used under authorities available to the organizations 
reimbursed from this appropriation. Finally, language is 
provided that permits unobligated balances remaining available 
at the end of the fiscal year to revert to the Attorney General 
for reallocation among participating organizations in the 
succeeding fiscal year, subject to the reprogramming procedures 
describe in section 605 of the accompanying bill.
    Under Federal Bureau of Investigation, several provisions 
are recommended, including language which permits the purchase 
of up to 3,094 passenger vehicles for police-type use, of which 
2,270 will be for replacement only, without regard to the 
general purchase price limitation for the current fiscal year, 
and which permits the procurement, maintenance and operation of 
aircraft. Language is also included to allow up to $70,000 for 
unforeseen emergencies to be expended solely under the 
certificate of the Attorney General. Language is also included 
that provides not less than $147,081,000 to be available for 
counterterrorism investigations, foreign counterintelligence, 
and other national security activities. In addition, language 
is provided which permits not to exceed $50,000,000 for 
automated data processing, telecommunications, and technical 
equipment and $1,000,000 for undercover operations to be 
available until September 30, 1999. In addition, language is 
recommended which permits $98,400,000 to remain available until 
expended. Also, language is included under this item permitting 
not to exceed $10,000,000 for contractual or reimbursement 
agreements with State and local law enforcement agencies while 
engaged in cooperative activities related to violent crime, 
terrorism, organized crime and drug investigations. Language is 
included which provides that $1,500,000 shall be available to 
maintain an independent program office dedicated solely to the 
relocation of the Identification Division and the automation of 
fingerprint identification services. Language is included that 
makes available $45,000 for official reception and 
representation expenses. Language is also included providing 
that no funds may be used to provide ballistics imaging 
equipment to State and local entities that have received 
similar equipment from another Federal source.
    Language is provided, under the heading Construction, for 
the necessary expenses of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
to remain available until expended, to construct or acquire 
buildings and sites by purchase, or as otherwise authorized by 
law (including equipment for such buildings); conversion and 
extension of federally-owned buildings; and the preliminary 
planning and design of projects.
    Under Drug Enforcement Administration, language is included 
to allow for up to $70,000 for unforeseen emergencies to be 
expended solely under the certificate of the Attorney General. 
Language is also included to permit expenses for conducting 
drug education and training programs. Language is provided to 
permit the purchase of not to exceed 1,602 passenger motor 
vehicles of which 1,410 are for replacement only for police-
type use without regard to the purchase price limitation for 
the current fiscal year. Language is also included to permit 
acquisition, lease, maintenance and operation of aircraft. In 
addition, a limitation of $1,800,000 is included for research, 
and $15,000,000 for transfer to the Diversion Control Fee 
Account is to remain available until expended. In addition, the 
following limitations are included: $4,000,000 for purchase of 
evidence and payments for information; $10,000,000 for 
contracting for ADP and telecommunications equipment; 
$2,000,000 for laboratory equipment; $2,000,000 for aircraft 
replacement retrofit and parts; and $4,000,000 for technical 
equipment and will remain available until September 30, 1999. 
Finally, a limitation of $50,000 is provided for official 
reception and representation expenses.
    Under Immigration and Naturalization Service, several 
provisions are recommended, including language to allow up to 
$50,000 for unforeseen emergencies to be expended solely under 
the certificate of the Attorney General. Language is also 
included to permit the purchase of up to 2,904 passenger motor 
vehicles for police-type use of which 1,711 are for replacement 
only without regard to the general purchase price limitation 
for the current fiscal year and for the hire of passenger motor 
vehicles, and to permit the procurement, maintenance and 
operation of aircraft. Language is included which allows for 
the care and housing of Federal detainees held in the joint INS 
and U.S. Marshals Buffalo Detention facility. In addition, 
language is included to permit research related to immigration 
enforcement and which makes $400,000 for research available 
until expended. In addition, language is included which limits 
the amount available to pay any employee overtime pay in excess 
of $30,000. Language is also included which makes available not 
to exceed $10,000,000 for costs associated with the training 
program for basic officer training; $5,000,000 for payments or 
advances arising out of contractual agreements with State and 
local law enforcement agencies; and $5,000,000 to reimburse 
other Federal agencies for the repatriation of smuggled aliens. 
Language is also included to allow the purchase of uniforms 
without regard to the general purchase price limitation for the 
current fiscal year. Language is included that permits up to 
$5,000 to be available for official reception and 
representation expenses. Language is also included that 
prohibits funds appropriated in this Act to be used to operate 
the Border Patrol traffic checkpoints located in San Clemente, 
California, and Temecula, California unless they are open and 
operated on a continuous 24-hour basis. Language is included 
that requires INS to wait for fingerprint checks on all 
applicants for citizenship, and prohibits funds from being used 
to contract with outside entities other than State and local 
law enforcement agencies for fingerprinting applicants for 
citizenship or other benefits and requires that beginning March 
1, 1998, INS is required to fingerprint all applicants for 
benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act which 
require a criminal record check, who are required to be 
interviewed at an INS office. Language is included that limits 
funding to $3,101,000 for the Offices of Congressional and 
Public Affairs and prohibits these offices from being augmented 
with reimbursable and non-reimbursable details. Language is 
included which limits the number of positions filled through 
non-career appointment. Language is included which directs and 
authorizes the Attorney General to impose disciplinary actions, 
including termination of employment, for any INS employee who 
violates Department policies and procedures relative to 
granting citizenship or who willfully deceives the Congress or 
Department Leadership on any matter.
    Language is provided under the heading Construction, for 
expenses of the Immigration and Naturalization Service for 
planning, constructing, renovating, equipping and maintaining 
buildings and facilities for enforcement of immigration laws 
and allows funds to remain available until expended.
    Several items are recommended under Federal Prison System, 
Salaries and Expenses, including language to permit the 
purchase of not to exceed 834 law enforcement and passenger 
motor vehicles of which 599 are for replacement only, and the 
hire of law enforcement and passenger motor vehicles. Language 
is also included allowing for the provision of technical 
assistance and advice on corrections-related issues to foreign 
governments. In addition, language is included to permit the 
transfer to the Health Resources and Services Administration of 
such amounts as may be necessary for medical relief for 
inmates. Language is also included that permits the Director of 
the Federal Prison System to enter into contracts with a fiscal 
agent/fiscal intermediary claims processor to determine the 
amounts payable to persons who furnish health services to 
inmates. Also, language is provided that uniforms may be 
purchased without regard to the general purchase price 
limitation for the current fiscal year. In addition, a 
limitation of $6,000 is provided for official reception and 
representation expenses. Language is included that not to 
exceed $90,000,000 for the activation of new facilities shall 
remain available until September 30, 1999. In addition, 
language is included which allows for up to $20,000,000 for 
contract confinement expenses for the care and security of 
Cuban and Haitian entrants to remain available until expended. 
Language is also included that allows the Federal Prison System 
to enter into contracts and other agreements with private 
entities for a multi-year period for the confinement of Federal 
prisoners.
    Several items are recommended under Buildings and 
Facilities, including language making the appropriation 
available for leasing the Oklahoma City Airport Trust Facility 
and for purchase and acquisition of facilities and remodeling 
and equipping of such facilities for penal and correctional 
use, including all necessary expenses incident thereto by 
contract or force account. In addition, language is included 
which makes not to exceed $14,074,000 available to construct 
areas for inmate work programs and permits labor of United 
States prisoners to be used for work performed under this 
appropriation. Further, language is included that permits up to 
10 percent of the funds appropriated to this account in the 
accompanying bill or any other Act to be transferred to the 
Salaries and Expenses account of the Federal Prison System upon 
notification by the Attorney General to the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees. Finally, language is included, which 
makes up to $2,300,000 available for renovation and 
construction of United States Marshals Service prisoner holding 
facilities.
    Under Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated, language is 
included permitting the Federal Prison Industries, 
Incorporated, to make such expenditures within the limits of 
funds and borrowing authority available and in accord with the 
law and to make such contracts and commitments without regard 
to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 9104 of title 
31, United States Code, as may be necessary in carrying out the 
program set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year. 
Language is also included permitting the purchase of not to 
exceed five passenger motor vehicles, for replacement only, and 
hire of passenger motor vehicles.
    Under Limitation on Administrative Expenses, Federal Prison 
Industries, Incorporated, language is included permitting the 
funds for administrative expenses and for services as 
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 to be computed on an accrual basis 
to be determined in accordance with the corporation's current 
prescribed accounting system. The language further provides 
that such amounts shall be exclusive of depreciation, payment 
of claims, and expenditures which the said accounting system 
requires to be capitalized or charged to cost of commodities 
acquired or produced, including selling and shipping expenses 
and expenses in connection with acquisition, construction, 
operation, maintenance, improvement, protection, or disposition 
of facilities and other property belonging to the Corporation 
or in which it has an interest.
    Under Violent Crime Reduction Programs, State and Local Law 
Enforcement Assistance, language is provided that makes 
$523,000,000 available for Local Law Enforcement Block Grants, 
pursuant to H.R. 728 as passed by the House of Representatives 
on February 14, 1995 and allows Puerto Rico to be considered a 
``unit of local government'' as well as a ``State'' and allows 
funds to be used for certain purposes set forth in H.R. 728 and 
to defray the costs of indemnification insurance for law 
enforcement officers, and to provide $20,000,000 for Boys and 
Girls Clubs, and prohibits these funds from being used as 
matching funds to other grant programs. In addition, language 
is provided that makes funds available under formula grants 
from the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program for programs to 
assist States in the litigation processing of death penalty 
Federal habeas corpus petitions and to implement drug testing 
initiatives. Language is included that allows funds made 
available to the State of California from Violent Offender 
Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing Incentive Grants to be 
used for costs of incarceration of criminal aliens. Language is 
included providing additional funding for prosecutions of 
domestic violence in D.C. Superior Court to the U.S. Attorney 
in the District of Columbia and research and evaluation of 
domestic violence, from amounts included for Violence Against 
Women Act programs. Also, language is included that provides 
additional funding under the Violence Against Women Act 
programs exclusively for legal assistance to victims of 
domestic violence. In addition, language is included that 
provides funding for a new juvenile crime block grant, subject 
to authorization. Finally, language is included that requires a 
net gain in the number of law enforcement officers performing 
nonadministrative duties if funds are used by local governments 
to increase the number of law enforcement officers.
    Under Weed and Seed Program Fund, language is provided 
which makes the amounts available for intergovernmental 
agreements, including grants, cooperative agreements, and 
contracts, with State and local law enforcement agencies 
engaged in the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes 
and drug offenses in ``Weed and Seed'' designated communities 
and for either reimbursements or transfers to appropriation 
accounts of the Department of Justice and other Federal 
agencies which shall be specified by the Attorney General to 
execute the ``Weed and Seed'' program strategy upon 
notification by the Attorney General to the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees. Language is included that requires 
funds to be obligated by July 1, 1998.
    Language is included under Community Oriented Policing 
Services, Violent Crime Reduction Programs, which allows 
$20,000,000 of funds provided to be available for Police Corps. 
Language is included that allows $100,000,000 of unobligated 
balances to be used for innovative community policing programs 
for law enforcement technology, drug enforcement, and 
methamphetamine initiatives. A limitation of $20,553,000 is 
also included for management and administration.
    Under Juvenile Justice Programs, language is included that 
allows funding provided to be subject to provisions of any 
reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Act of 
1974. Language is also included that provides $5,000,000 for 
programs designed to reduce drug use among juveniles.
    Under General Provisions--Department of Justice, section 
101 provides a limitation of $45,000 from funds appropriated to 
the Department of Justice for official reception and 
representation expenses.
    Under section 102, language is provided that maintains 
authorities contained in Public Law 96-132, ``The Department of 
Justice Appropriation Authorization Act, fiscal year 1980'' 
until the termination date of this Act or until the effective 
date of a Department of Justice Appropriation Authorization 
Act, whichever is earlier.
    Under section 103, language is included which prohibits 
funds appropriated for the Department of Justice to pay for an 
abortion, except when the life of the mother would be 
endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or in the case of 
rape. The language also provides that should this prohibition 
be declared unconstitutional by a court of competent 
jurisdiction, this section shall be null and void.
    Under section 104, language is included which prohibits 
funds appropriated for the Department of Justice to require any 
person to perform or facilitate in any way the performance of 
any abortion.
    Under section 105, language is included which allows the 
Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide necessary 
escort services for female inmates who request abortion 
services outside a Federal prison facility.
    Under section 106, language is included which would permit 
up to $10,000,000 of funds appropriated to the Department of 
Justice to be available for rewards to individuals who furnish 
information regarding criminal acts or acts of terrorism 
against a United States person or property at levels not to 
exceed $2,000,000.
    Under section 107, language is provided that permits up to 
5 percent of any appropriation made available for the current 
fiscal year for the Justice Department, including those derived 
from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, to be transferred 
between such appropriations, but no such appropriation shall be 
increased by more than 10 percent by any such transfer. 
Further, the language provides that any transfer made pursuant 
to this section shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds 
under section 605 of the accompanying bill.
    Under section 108, language is included which makes 
permanent a provision which allows the excess unobligated 
balances remaining in the Department of Justice Assets 
Forfeiture Fund on September 30, 1996 to be available to the 
Attorney General, without fiscal year limitation, for any 
Federal law enforcement, litigative/prosecutive, and 
correctional activities, or any other authorized purposes of 
the Department of Justice, subject to notification by the 
Attorney General to the Appropriation Committees of the House 
and Senate.
    Under section 109, language is included which allows the 
use of unexpended Crime Victims Fund to be used for Federal 
system improvements for victims programs.
    Under the Office of the United States Trade Representative, 
language is included which permits $2,500,000 of the 
appropriation to remain available until expended. Language is 
also included providing a limitation of $98,000 for official 
reception and representation expenses.
    Under the International Trade Commission, language is 
included recommending a ceiling of $2,500 for official 
reception and representation expenses. In addition, language is 
included which makes funding available until expended.
    Under International Trade Administration, ``Operations and 
Administration'', language is provided which permits the 
appropriation to be used for trade promotion activities abroad 
without regard to the provisions of 44 U.S.C. 3702 and 3703, 
including expenses of grants and cooperative agreements for the 
purpose of promoting exports of U.S. firms. The language also 
permits the appropriation to be used for full medical coverage 
for dependent members of immediate families of employees 
stationed overseas and employees temporarily posted overseas, 
as well as for travel and transportation of employees of the 
United States and Foreign Commercial Service between two points 
abroad without regard to 49 U.S.C. 1517.
    Language is included under this heading which permits 
employment of Americans and aliens by contract for services 
abroad, rental of space abroad for periods not exceeding ten 
years, and expenses of alteration, repair or improvement. In 
addition, language is included which permits purchase or 
construction of temporary demountable exhibition structures for 
use abroad, and payment of tort claims in the manner authorized 
in the first paragraph of 28 U.S.C. 2672 when such claims arise 
in foreign countries. In addition, language is included which 
permits not to exceed $327,000 for official representation 
expenses abroad and purchase of passenger motor vehicles for 
official use abroad at not to exceed $30,000 per vehicle. In 
addition, language is included which permits the purchase of 
insurance on official motor vehicles and the renting of 
tielines and teletype equipment. Language is included which 
allows a minimum of $172,608,000 from this account for the U.S. 
and Foreign Commercial Service. Also, language is included 
which provides that the provisions of the first sentence of 
section 105(f) and all of section 108(c) of the Mutual 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2455(f) and 2458(c)) shall apply in carrying out these 
activities without regard to 15 U.S.C. 4912, and that for the 
purpose of this Act, contributions under the provisions of the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act shall include 
payment for assessments for services provided as part of these 
activities.
    Under Export Administration, ``Operations and 
Administration'', language is provided which permits the 
appropriation to be used for costs associated with the 
performance of export administration field activities both 
domestically and abroad. Language is also included to provide 
for full coverage for dependent members of immediate families 
of employees stationed overseas, employment of Americans and 
alien by contract for services abroad, rental of space abroad 
for periods not exceeding ten years, and expenses of 
alteration, repair, or improvement. Also, language is included 
to permit payment of tort claims in the manner authorized in 
the first paragraph of 28 U.S.C. 2672 when such claims arise in 
foreign countries. In addition, the bill provides that not to 
exceed $15,000 may be used for official representation expenses 
abroad. Language is included to permit award of compensation to 
informers under the Export Administration Act of 1979 and as 
authorized by 22 U.S.C. 401(b) and purchase of passenger motor 
vehicles for official use and motor vehicles for law 
enforcement use with special requirement vehicles eligible for 
purchase without regard to any price limitation otherwise 
established by law. Language is also included which provides 
that the provisions of the first sentence of section 105(f) and 
all of section 108(c) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2455(f) and 2458(c)) shall 
apply in carrying out these activities. Finally, language is 
included allowing payments and contributions collected and 
accepted for materials and services related to export 
administration, and for providing information to the public 
regarding export administration, national security activities, 
and export control programs of the Department of Commerce, the 
U.S. government and other governments, may be retained for use 
in covering the cost of such activities.
    Under Economic Development Administration, ``Economic 
Development Assistance Programs'' language is included allowing 
funds to be used for trade adjustment assistance. Language is 
included prohibiting funds from being used to pay attorneys' 
and consultants' fees in connection with EDA grants or 
contracts. In addition, language is included which allows the 
Secretary of Commerce to provide financial assistance for 
projects located on military installations closed or scheduled 
for closure without it being required that the grantee have 
title to the property or the ability to obtain a lease for the 
property, when such assistance is necessary for the economic 
development of the area. Language is also included to allow the 
Secretary of Commerce to consult with the Secretary of Defense 
regarding the title to land on military installations closed or 
scheduled for closure.
    Under Economic Development Administration ``Salaries and 
Expenses'' language is included allowing funds to be used to 
monitor projects approved pursuant to certain statutes.
    Under Minority Business Development Agency, language is 
included to permit the funds to be used for fostering, 
promoting, and developing minority business enterprise 
including expenses of grants, contracts, and other agreements 
with public or private organizations.
    Under Economic and Statistical Analysis, language is 
included permitting the appropriation to remain available until 
September 30, 1999.
    Under Economics and Statistics Administration Revolving 
Fund, language is included authorizing the Secretary of 
Commerce to disseminate economic and statistical data products 
and to charge fees necessary to recover the full costs incurred 
in the production of economic and statistical data products. 
The language also allows fees received from data dissemination 
activities to be credited to this account and available for 
carrying out these purposes without further appropriation.
    Under Bureau of the Census, ``Periodic Censuses and 
Programs'', language is included providing a separate 
appropriation for decennial census programs. In addition, 
language is included restricting $100,000,000 provided for 
decennial programs from being used for activities related to 
the use of statistical procedures in determining the population 
for purposes of apportionment. Language is also included making 
the expenditure of the remaining amounts contingent upon 
enactment of subsequent legislation authorizing the methods for 
conducting the 2000 Decennial census for the purpose of 
apportionment. Language is also included making funds available 
until expended.
    Under National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, ``Salaries and Expenses'', language is included 
providing that NTIA shall charge other Federal agencies for 
costs incurred for spectrum management, analysis operations and 
related services to offset the costs of such services, and such 
collections may remain available until expended. Language is 
included permanently prohibiting NTIA from authorizing spectrum 
use or services to Federal entities unless reimbursement for 
services is provided. In addition, language is included which 
will allow NTIA to retain and use funds transferred from other 
Federal agencies for research purposes beyond the fiscal year 
for which the funds were initially appropriated.
    Under the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, ``Public Broadcasting Facilities, Planning and 
Construction'', language is included making funds available 
until expended, and providing $1,500,000 for program 
administration. Language is also included that provides that 
notwithstanding section 391 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
as amended, the prior year unobligated balances may be made 
available for grants for projects for which applications have 
been submitted and approved during any fiscal year.
    Under ``Information Infrastructure Grants'', language is 
included which provided that notwithstanding the requirements 
of sections 392(a) and 932(c) of the Communications Act of 
1934, the appropriation may be used for the planning and 
construction of telecommunications networks. Language is also 
included which allows up to five percent of the funds 
appropriated to be available for telecommunications research 
activities, and up to $3,000,000 to be available for program 
administration and other support activities. Language is also 
included making funds available until expended.
    Under Patent and Trademark Office, language is included 
which permits necessary expenses for the defense of suits 
instituted against the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks. 
Language is also included which provides that the amounts made 
available from the Patent and Trademark Office Fee Surcharge 
Fund shall not exceed amounts deposited and shall remain 
available until expended.
    Under Technology Administration ``Salaries and Expenses'', 
language is included allowing $1,600,000 to remain available 
until September 30, 1999.
    Under Science and Technology, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, ``Scientific and Technical Research 
and Services'', language is recommended which would permit not 
to exceed $1,625,000 to be transferred to the ``Working Capital 
Fund''.
    Under ``Industrial Technology Services'', language is 
provided that makes the appropriation available for expenses of 
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology. In addition, language is 
included which permits not to exceed $300,000 of the 
appropriation to be transferred to the ``Working Capital 
Fund''. Language is also included that designates funding for 
the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, and allows up to $500,000 of his 
appropriation to be transferred to the ``Working Group Fund''. 
Finally, language is included allowing up to $74,100,000 for 
the award of new grants under the Advanced Technology Program.
    Under ``Construction of Research Facilities'', language is 
included making funds available for the renovation of existing 
facilities and construction of new facilities, and making a 
portion of the funds contingent upon the submission of a plan 
for expenditure.
    Under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
``Operations, Research, and Facilities'', the bill provides for 
the expenses including maintenance, operation, and hire of 
aircraft. A limitation of not to exceed 270 active commissioned 
officers as of September 30, 1998 is also included. In 
addition, language is included to permit NOAA to enter into 
grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, and to relocate 
facilities. Language is also included which allows for the 
collection of additional fees to recover costs of administering 
aeronautical chart programs, and provides that the funds 
appropriated from the General Fund shall be reduced as such 
additional fees are received during fiscal year 1998. The 
language also provides that fees received in excess of 
$3,000,000 in fiscal year 1998 shall not be available for 
obligation until October 1, 1998. Also, language is recommended 
which transfers $62,381,000 from the fund entitled, ``Promote 
and Develop Fishery Products and Research Pertaining to 
American Fisheries''. Language is included allowing NOAA to 
retain gifts and contributions under the Marine Sanctuary 
Program. Language is included specifying the direct obligation 
amounts under this heading for the National Ocean Service, the 
National Marine Fisheries Service, Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, the National Weather Service, the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, Program 
Support, Fleet Maintenance, and Facilities Maintenance. 
Language is included providing the grants made under sections 
306 and 306(A) of the Coastal Zone Management Act, as amended, 
shall not exceed $2,000,000. Finally, language is included 
transferring unexpended balances previously made available 
under other accounts to be merged with this account.
    Under ``Capital Assets Acquisition'', language is included 
which establishes this new account funding activities 
previously funded within other NOAA accounts. Language is 
included which designates the amounts available for the 
Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, and makes 
availability of these funds contingent upon certification of 
overall program costs. Finally, language is included 
transferring unexpended balances previously made available 
under other accounts to be merged with this account.
    Under ``Coastal Zone Management Fund'', language is 
included allowing funds made available under this heading to be 
used to carry out purposes set forth in 16 U.S.C. 
1456a(b)(2)(A), 16 U.S.C. 1456a(b)(2)(B)(v), and 16 U.S.C. 
1461(c). This expands the purposes for which these funds can be 
used to include CZM development grants and Estuarine Research 
Reserves.
    Under ``Fisheries Finance Program Account'' language is 
included establishing this new account name, and provides funds 
for purposes in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act. Language is also included 
prohibiting funds from being used for vessels which increase 
the harvesting capacity in a U.S. fishery.
    Under General Administration, Salaries and Expenses, 
language is included limiting the amount for official 
entertainment to $3,000.
    Under General Provisions--Department of Commerce, the 
following general provisions that fall within the rule are 
recommended:
    Section 201 provides that during the current fiscal year, 
applicable appropriations and funds made available to the 
Department of Commerce by this Act shall be available for the 
activities specified in the Act of October 26, 1949 to the 
extent and in the manner prescribed by said Act, and 
notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3324 may be used for advanced 
payments not otherwise authorized, only upon the certification 
of officials designated by the Secretary that such payments are 
in the public interest.
    Section 203 prohibits any of the funds made available by 
this Act to be used to support the hurricane reconnaissance 
aircraft and activities that are under the control of the 
United States Air Force or the United States Air Force Reserve.
    Section 204 prohibits any of the funds in this, any 
previous Act or hereinafter to be available to reimburse the 
Unemployment Trust Fund or any fund or account of the Treasury 
to pay for any expenses paid before October 1, 1992 as 
authorized by section 8051 of Title 5, United States Code, for 
services performed after April 20, 1990, by individuals 
appointed to temporary positions within the Bureau of the 
Census for purposes relating to the 1990 Decennial Census of 
Population.
    Section 205 provides that up to 5 percent of any 
appropriation made available for the Department of Commerce in 
the Act may be transferred between such appropriations. The 
language also provides that any transfer made under this 
section shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under 
section 605 of the accompanying bill and shall not be available 
for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the 
procedures set forth in that section.
    Section 206 requires that should legislation be enacted to 
reorganize or dismantle the Commerce Department, the Committees 
on Appropriations shall be notified of a plan to implement such 
legislation within 90 days of enactment. Language is also 
included allowing the implementation costs to be covered from 
funds available to the Department.
    Section 207 requires any downsizing costs to be absorbed.
    Section 208 allows the National Ocean Service to award 
contracts for mapping and surveying work in accordance with the 
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act.
    Under the Judiciary, Supreme Court of the United States, 
``Salaries and Expenses'', language is included permitting not 
to exceed $10,000 to be used for the purpose of transporting 
Associate Justices. In addition, a limitation of $10,000 is 
recommended for official reception and representation expenses, 
and for miscellaneous expenses approved by the Chief Justice.
    Under the ``Care of the Building and Grounds'' 
appropriation for the Supreme Court, language is included 
providing that $410,000 remain available until expended.
    Under U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 
``Salaries and Expenses'', and under U.S. Court of 
International Trade, ``Salaries and Expenses'', language is 
included which allows funds to be spent for necessary expenses 
of these courts.
    Under Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other 
Judicial Services, ``Salaries and Expenses'', language is 
recommended which allows funds to be spent for necessary 
expenses of the courts, and which permits the purchase of 
firearms and ammunition. In addition, language is included 
providing that $13,454,000 for space alteration projects remain 
available until expended. In addition, language is included 
permitting not to exceed $10,000,000 to remain available until 
expended for furniture and furnishings related to new space and 
alteration projects. In addition, language is included which 
permits up to $2,450,000 to be appropriated from the Vaccine 
Injury Compensation Trust Fund for expenses of the Claims Court 
associated with processing cases under the National Childhood 
Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.
    Under ``Violent Crime Reduction Programs'', language is 
included making $40,000,000, to remain available until 
expended, for activities of the Federal Judiciary authorized by 
law, to be derived from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund 
as authorized by section 190001(a) of Public Law 103-322, and 
sections 818 and 823 of Public Law 104-132.
    Under ``Defender Services'', language is included 
permitting the use of funds for compensation of expenses of 
attorneys appointed to assist the court in criminal cases where 
the defendant has waived representation by counsel. In 
addition, language is included permitting the use of funds for 
compensation of travel expenses of guardians ad litem acting on 
behalf of financially eligible minor or incompetent offenders 
in connection with transfers to foreign countries. Language is 
also included permitting the use of funds for compensation of 
attorneys appointed to represent jurors in civil actions for 
the protection of their employment.
    Under ``Fees of Jurors and Commissioners'', language is 
included which provides that compensation of land commissioners 
shall not exceed that of the highest rate payable under 5 
U.S.C. 5332.
    Under ``Court Security'', language is included which 
provides that funds in this account shall be expended by the 
U.S. Marshals Service consistent with standards or guidelines 
agreed to by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and 
the Attorney General.
    Under Administrative Office of the United States Courts, 
``Salaries and Expenses'', language is included allowing 
expenses for advertising and rent in the District of Columbia 
and elsewhere. In addition, language is included permitting up 
to $7,500 for official reception and representation expenses.
    Under Federal Judicial Center, ``Salaries and Expenses'', 
language is included permitting up to $1,000 for official 
reception and representation expenses, as well as language 
permitting $1,800,000 to remain available through September 30, 
1999.
    Under United States Sentencing Commission, language is 
included permitting up to $1,000 for official reception and 
representation expenses.
    Under General Provisions--The Judiciary,
    Section 302 permits up to 5 percent of any appropriation 
made in the Act for the Judiciary to be transferred between 
such appropriations, but no such appropriation shall be 
increased by more than 10 percent by any such transfer, except 
in certain instances. The language also provides that any 
transfer pursuant to this section shall be treated as a 
reprogramming of funds under section 605 of the Act and shall 
not be available for obligation or expenditure except in 
compliance with the procedures set forth in that section.
    Under section 303, language is recommended that provides 
that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Salaries 
and Expenses appropriation for District Courts, Courts of 
Appeals, and Other Judicial Services shall be available for 
official reception and representation expenses of the Judicial 
Conference of the United States. The language further provides 
that such available funds shall not exceed $10,000 and shall be 
administered by the Director of the Administrative Office of 
the United States Courts in his capacity as Secretary of the 
Judicial Conference.
    Under Department of State, Administration of Foreign 
Affairs, ``Diplomatic and Consular Programs'', language is 
included which permits not to exceed 20 percent of the amounts 
made available in this Act in the appropriation accounts, 
``Diplomatic and Consular Programs'' and ``Salaries and 
Expenses'' to be transferred between such accounts in 
accordance with reprogramming procedures specified in section 
605 of the Act. Language is also included which permits the use 
of the appropriation for representation expenses to certain 
international organizations in which the United States 
participates pursuant to treaties or specific acts of Congress. 
Language is also included limiting availability of funding for 
the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service. Language is also 
included allowing collection of fees which are to be deposited 
as offsetting collections. Language is also included making 
funding for counterterrorism available until expended.
    Under ``Capital Investment Fund'', language is included 
removing a reprogramming requirement.
    Under Office of Inspector General (IG), language is 
included exempting the IG from periodic post inspection 
requirements.
    Under Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials, 
language is included permitting the appropriation to remain 
available until September 30, 1999.
    Under Security and Maintenance of United States Missions, 
language is included which prohibits the appropriation from 
being used for acquisition of furniture and furnishings and 
generators for other departments and agencies.
    Under Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service, 
language is included which permits up to $1,000,000 to be 
transferred to the Repatriation Loans Program account.
    Under the Repatriation Loans Program account, language is 
included which permits the transfer of $607,000 for 
administrative expenses to the Salaries and Expenses account.
    Under Contributions to International Organizations, 
language is included withholding funds until a certification 
under section 401(b) of Public Law 103-236 for fiscal year 1998 
is made. In addition, language is included which prohibits the 
use of United States Contributions to International 
Organizations for payment of the United States' share of 
interest costs made known to the United States Government for 
external borrowings by such organizations incurred on or after 
October 1, 1984. Language is included making $54,000,000 
available until expended for payment of arrearages. Language is 
included that provides that payment of arrearages shall be 
directed toward activities that are mutually agreed upon by the 
United States and the respective international organization. 
Language is also included withholding $100,000,000 unless a 
certification is made regarding the United Nations budget. 
Language is also included permitting a transfer of up to 
$4,000,000 to the International Conferences and Contingencies 
account. Language is included making the payment of arrearages 
subject to authorization that contains certain reform 
requirements.
    Under Contributions for International Peacekeeping 
Activities, language is included prohibiting use of funds for 
new or expanded missions unless the Committee is notified 15 
days in advance and a reprogramming is submitted. Language is 
also included making funds available only upon a certification 
by the Secretary of State that American manufacturers are being 
given equal opportunities. Language is included making 
$46,000,000 available until expended for payment of arrearages. 
Language is also included making the payment of arrearages 
subject to authorization that contains certain reform 
requirements.
    Under International Conferences and Contingencies, language 
is included making the availability of funding contingent upon 
the implementation of a plan for the expenditure of funds.
    Under International Boundary and Water Commission, United 
States and Mexico, language is included limiting representation 
expenses to $6,000.
    Under American Sections, International Commissions, 
language is included limiting representation expenses to 
$9,000.
    Under International Fisheries Commissions, language is 
included that provides that the United States' share of the 
expenses of the International Fisheries Commission may be 
advanced to the respective commissions pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 
3324.
    Under Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, language is 
included which provides that not to exceed $50,000 is available 
for official reception and representation expenses.
    Under ``International Information Programs'' United States 
Information Agency, language is included which permits up to 
$700,000 to carry out certain activities authorized by law, 
including employment, without regard to civil service and 
classification laws, of persons on a temporary basis. Language 
is included limiting representation in the U.S. and abroad. 
Language is also included permitting fees to be credited to the 
account. Language is included that provides a limitation of 
$920,000 to remain available until expended to carry out 
projects involving security construction and related 
improvements for agency facilities not physically located 
together with Department of State facilities abroad.
    Under Technology Fund, language is included making funding 
available until expended.
    Under Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs, language 
is included permitting fees to be credited to the account for 
student advising and English teaching activities.
    Under the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Trust Fund, and 
the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program, language is included 
which makes available all interest and earnings accruing to 
each fund.
    Under Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund, 
language is included which prohibits any of the funds 
appropriated to pay any salary or other compensation or to 
enter into any contract in excess of the rate authorized by 5 
U.S.C. 5376 or for purposes which are not in accordance with 
OMB Circulars A-110 and A-122, including the restrictions on 
compensation for personal services.
    Under International Broadcasting Operations, language is 
included allowing funds provided for broadcasting to Cuba to be 
used for facilities and equipment. Language is included making 
$30,000,000 available until expended for costs of expanding 
broadcasting to China. Language is included limiting 
representation. Language is included providing that no funds 
shall be used for television broadcasting to Cuba after October 
1, 1997, if the President certifies that continued funding is 
not in the national interest of the United States. Language is 
also included permitting not to exceed $3,500,000 for receipts, 
including advertising, to be available until expended.
    Under National Endowment for Democracy, funds are permitted 
to remain available until expended.
    Under General Provisions--Department of State, section 402 
provides that up to 5 percent of any appropriation made 
available in the Act for the Department of State and USIA may 
be transferred between the appropriations within each 
respective agency, but no such appropriation shall be increased 
by more than 10 percent or decreased by more than 5 percent by 
any such transfer. The language further provides that any 
transfer pursuant to this section shall be treated as a 
reprogramming of funds under section 605 of the accompanying 
bill and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure 
except in compliance with the procedures set forth in that 
section.
    Sections 403 and 404 transfer $112,462,000 from the 
Department of State to 23 other agencies to implement the 
International Cooperative Administrative Support Service 
(ICASS) system.
    Under Department of Transportation, the Maritime 
Administration, Operations and Training, language is included 
that permits reimbursements to be made to this appropriation 
from receipts to the ``Federal Ship Financing Fund'' for 
administrative expenses in support of that program.
    Under Maritime Guaranteed Loan (Title XI) program, language 
is included providing that funds are available to subsidize 
total loan principal not to exceed $1,000,000,000. The language 
further provides that not to exceed $3,450,000 for 
administrative expenses shall be transferred to and merged with 
the ``Operations and Training'' account.
    Funding for several Maritime Administration accounts is 
made available until expended.
    Under Administrative Provisions--Maritime Administration, 
language is provided that notwithstanding any other provision 
of this Act, the Maritime Administration is authorized to 
furnish utilities and services and make necessary repairs in 
connection with any lease, contract, or occupancy involving 
Government property under control of the Maritime 
Administration. In addition, the language provides that 
payments received by the Maritime Administration for utilities, 
services, and repairs so furnished or made shall be credited to 
the appropriation charged with the cost thereof. In addition, 
language is recommended that rental payments under any such 
lease, contract, or occupancy on account of items other than 
such utilities, services or repairs, shall be paid into the 
Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. In addition, language is 
recommended that prohibits obligation from the construction 
funds established by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, or any 
other obligation, in excess of the appropriations and 
limitations contained in this bill and all receipts which 
otherwise would be deposited to the credit of said fund shall 
be paid to the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
    Under Commission on Civil Rights, language is included 
which permits not to exceed $50,000 to be used to employ 
consultants. In addition, language is included that prohibits 
funds appropriated in this paragraph from being used to employ 
in excess of four full-time individuals under schedule C of the 
Excepted Service, exclusive of one special assistant for each 
Commissioner. Finally, language is included that prohibits any 
of the appropriation from being used to reimburse commissioners 
for more than 75 billable days with the exception of the 
Chairperson who is permitted 125 billable days.
    Under Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, language is 
included permitting non-monetary awards to private citizens. In 
addition, a limitation of $2,500 is included for official 
reception and representation expenses and a limitation of 
$27,500,000 is included for payments to State and local 
agencies for services pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights 
Act.
    Under the Federal Communications Commission, language is 
included setting a limitation of $4,000 for official 
representation expenses. In addition, language is included 
providing up to $600,000 for land and structures, and up to 
$500,000 for improvement and care of grounds and repair to 
buildings. Also, language is provided permitting the purchase 
of up to sixteen motor vehicles and authorizing the use of 
funds for special counsel fees. Language is also included 
permitting not to exceed $300,000 of the appropriation to 
remain available until September 30, 1999 for research and 
policy studies. Language is included making offsetting fee 
collections in excess of $152,523,000 available until expended, 
but not available until October 1, 1998.
    Under the Federal Trade Commission, language is provided 
establishing a ceiling of $2,000 for official reception 
expenses. In addition, language is included which permits up to 
$70,000,000 of offsetting collections derived from fees 
collected for pre-merger notification filings under the Hart-
Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 to be retained 
and used for necessary expenses in this appropriation. In 
addition, language is included which provides that the sum 
appropriated for the Federal Trade Commission shall be reduced 
as such offsetting collections are received during fiscal year 
1998 so as to result in a final fiscal year appropriation 
estimated at not more than $25,000,000. Language is included 
that provides that any fees received in excess of $70,000,000 
in fiscal year 1998 shall remain available until expended, but 
shall not be available for obligation until fiscal year 1999. 
In addition, language is provided that prohibits any of the 
funds made available to the Commission in this Act from being 
used for expenses authorized by section 151 of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991. Finally, 
language is included making funds appropriated from the General 
Fund of the Treasury for the FTC available until expended.
    Under the Legal Services Corporation, language is included 
which designates $134,575,000 for basic field programs and 
required independent audits, $1,125,000 for the Office of the 
Inspector General, and $5,300,000 for management and 
administration.
    Under Administrative Provisions--Legal Services 
Corporation:
    Section 501 requires that no funds may be used to provide 
financial assistance to any person or entity except through a 
competitive selection process conducted in accordance with the 
criteria set forth in the section of the fiscal year 1996 
Commerce, Justice appropriations bill. Language is included 
overriding certain provisions of the Legal Services Corporation 
Act regarding refunding and termination of funding. Language is 
also included providing additional sanction authorities for 
violations of certain requirements and restrictions.
    Section 502 prohibits funds from being expended for any 
purpose prohibited or limited by, or contrary to, any of the 
provisions in sections 501, 502, 505, 506 and 507 of the fiscal 
year 1996 bill.
    Section 502 also prohibits funds from being expended for 
any purpose prohibited by or limited by, or contrary to, any of 
the provisions of section 504 of the fiscal year 1996 bill, 
with one exception to allow the use of non-federal funds to 
represent battered women and children in matters related to 
domestic violence, regardless of their eligibility for 
assistance. Section 502 also clarifies transition rules with 
respect to cases involving attorney's fees by making it clear 
that those transition rules remain in effect as of the date of 
enactment of the fiscal year 1996 appropriations bill.
    Section 503 makes applicable in fiscal year 1998 the 
requirements in the fiscal year 1996 bill relating to annual 
audits.
    Section 504 provides debarment authority to the Corporation 
on a showing of good cause that a recipient has failed to 
comply with requirements and restrictions after opportunity for 
a hearing.
    Under the Securities and Exchange Commission, language is 
included allowing the use of funds for the rental of space, and 
establishing a ceiling of $3,000 for official reception 
expenses. Also, language is included setting a limit of $10,000 
toward funding a permanent secretariat for the International 
Organization of Securities Commissions. In addition, language 
is included which permits up to $100,000 to be available for 
expenses for consultations and meetings hosted by the 
Commission with foreign governmental and other regulatory 
officials to exchange views concerning developments relating to 
securities matters, to include necessary logistic and 
administrative expenses and the expenses of Commission staff 
and invitees. Language is also included providing that fees and 
charges shall be credited to this account as offsetting 
collections, and that up to $249,523,000 of such collections 
shall be available until expended, but not available until 
October 1, 1998.
    Under the Small Business Administration, ``Salaries and 
Expenses,'' language is included limiting the amount for 
official reception and representation expenses to $3,500. 
Language is included which permits the Administration to charge 
fees to cover the cost of publications developed by the Small 
Business Administration and for certain loan servicing 
activities. Further, the language provides that notwithstanding 
31 U.S.C. 3302, revenues received from all such activities 
shall be credited to this account, to be available for carrying 
out these purposes without further appropriation. In addition, 
language is included making funds for the Small Business 
Development Centers program available for two years.
    Under the Business Loans Program Account, language is 
included allowing funds to be used for the cost of modifying 
loans. Language is included designating $45,000,000 to be 
available until September 30, 1999. In addition, language is 
included which allows $94,000,000 to be transferred to and 
merged with the appropriation for SBA, Salaries and Expenses.
    Under Disaster Loans Program Account, language is included 
to permit funds to be used for the cost of modifying loans and 
associated administrative expenses. In addition, language is 
included which transfers $500,000 for the Office of Inspector 
General for audits and reviews of disaster loans and the 
disaster loan program.
    Under Administrative Provision--Small Business 
Administration, language is included to provide that up to 5 
percent of any appropriation made available in the Act for the 
Small Business Administration may be transferred between such 
appropriations, but no such appropriation shall be increased by 
more than 10 percent by any such transfer. The language further 
provides that any transfer pursuant to this section shall be 
treated as a reprogramming of funds under section 605 of the 
accompanying bill and shall not be available for obligation or 
expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth 
in that section.
    Under General Provisions, the following sections are 
included which come under the rule:
    Section 603 provides that the expenditure of any 
appropriation under this Act for any consulting service through 
procurement contract, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109 shall be 
limited to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter 
of public record and are available for public inspection, 
except where otherwise provided under existing law, or under 
existing Executive Order issued pursuant to existing law.
    Section 604 provides that if any provision of this Act or 
the application of such provision to any person or 
circumstances shall be held invalid, the remainder of the Act 
and the application of each provision to persons or 
circumstance other than those to which it is held invalid shall 
not be affected thereby.
    Section 605(a) provides that none of the funds provided 
under this Act, under prior appropriations acts, or provided 
from any accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived 
by the collection of fees available to the agencies funded by 
this Act shall be available for obligation or expenditures 
through a reprogramming of funds which: (1) creates new 
programs; (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) 
increases funds or personnel by any means for any project or 
activity for which funds have been denied or restricted; (4) 
relocates an office or employee; (5) reorganizes offices, 
programs, or activities; or (6) contracts out or privatizes any 
functions or activities presently performed by Federal 
employees; unless the Appropriations Committee of both Houses 
of Congress are notified 15 days in advance of such 
reprogramming of funds.
    Section 605(b) provides that none of the funds provided 
under this Act, under prior appropriations acts, or provided 
from any accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived 
by the collection of fees available to the agency funded by 
this Act shall be available for obligation or expenditure for 
activities, programs, or projects through a reprogramming of 
funds in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent whichever is less 
that: (1) augments existing programs, projects, or activities; 
(2) reduces by 10 percent funding for any existing program, 
project, or activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent as 
approved by Congress; or (3) results from any general savings 
due to a reduction in personnel which would result in a change 
in existing programs, activities, or projects as approved by 
Congress, unless the Appropriations Committee of both Houses of 
Congress are notified 15 days in advance of such reprogramming 
of funds.
    Section 606 prohibits any of the funds in this Act from 
being used for the construction, repair, overhaul, conversion, 
or modernization of vessels for the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration in shipyards located outside of the 
United States.
    Section 607(b) includes language requiring that the head of 
each Federal agency provide a notice, describing that it is the 
sense of Congress that all equipment and products purchased 
with funds made available under this Act be American-made, when 
providing financial assistance to, or entering into any 
contract with, any entity using funds made available in this 
Act.
    Section 607(c) includes language to bar contracts to any 
individual who intentionally falsely affixes a ``Made in 
America'' label to a product sold or shipped inthe United 
States.
    Section 608 includes language prohibiting funds made 
available in this Act from being used to implement, administer 
or enforce any guidelines of the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission covering religious harassment, when it is made known 
to the Federal entity or official to which the funds are made 
available that such guidelines do not differ in any respect 
from the proposed guidelines published by the Commission on 
October 1, 1993.
    Section 609 prohibits funds from being expended for 
expansion of diplomatic presence in Vietnam unless 
certification is made relating to POW/MIA issues.
    Section 610 prohibits use of funds for any United Nations 
peacekeeping mission if U.S. troops are under foreign command 
or control unless certain certifications are made.
    Section 611 prohibits use of funds for certain prison 
amenities.
    Section 612 prohibits use of NOAA fleet modernization funds 
to implement sections 603, 604, and 605 of P.L. 102-567.
    Section 613 requires that any downsizing costs of any 
agency in the Act be absorbed within the agency's budget.
    Section 614 prohibits use of funds to distribute sexually 
explicit publications in Federal prisons.
    Section 615 limits Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Funds 
under certain circumstances relating to health benefits for 
retired public safety officers injured in the line of duty.
    Section 616 entitles any Member of Congress and individual 
paid by the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the 
Secretary of the Senate to recieve reimbursement for any legal 
expenses and other legitimate expenses in connection with a 
Department of Justice prosecution arising in connection with 
the performance of official duties if such Member or individual 
is acquitted of the charges brought, the charges are dismissed 
by a court, or the conviction is reversed on appeal.

                 Appropriations, Not Authorized by Law

    Pursuant to clause 3 of rule XXI of the House of 
Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations 
in the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law in 
whole or in part. The Committee notes that authorization 
legislation for many of the programs listed below has either 
passed the House or is pending before the House or the 
committee of jurisdiction. In all cases, the Committee has 
endeavored to work closely with the committee of jurisdiction 
in developing the recommendations in this bill.

    Department of Justice:
          General Administration
                  Salaries and Expenses
                  Administrative Review and Appeals
                  Office of the Inspector General
          United States Parole Commission
          Legal Activities
                  Salaries and Expenses, General Legal 
                Activities
                  Salaries and Expenses, Antitrust Division
                  Salaries and Expenses, United States 
                Attorneys
                  Salaries and Expenses, Foreign Claims 
                Settlement Commission
                  Fees and Expenses of Witnesses
                  Community Relations Service
          Radiation Exposure Compensation, Administrative 
        Expenses
          Interagency Law Enforcement
          Federal Bureau of Investigation
                  Salaries and Expenses
                  Construction
          Drug Enforcement Administration
                  Salaries and Expenses
                  Construction
          Immigration and Naturalization Service
                  Salaries and Expenses
                  Construction
          Federal Prison System
                  Salaries and Expenses
                  Building and Facilities
                  Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated
                  Limitation on Administrative Expenses, 
                Federal Prison
                Industries, Incorporated
          Office of Justice Programs
                  Justice Assistance
                  State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, 
                Violent Crime Reduction Programs, Local Law 
                Enforcement Block Grants, Juvenile Crime Block 
                Grant
                  Weed and Seed Program
                  Juvenile Justice Programs
                  Victims of Child Abuse
    Office of the United States Trade Representative
    International Trade Commission
    Department of Commerce:
          Export Administration
          Economic Development Administration, except Salaries 
        and Expenses
          International Trade Administration, except Import 
        Administration
          Minority Business Development Agency
          National Telecommunications and Information 
        Administration
                  Salaries and Expenses
                  Public Broadcasting Facilities, Planning and 
                Construction
                  Information Infrastructure Grants
          Patent and Trademark Office
          National Institute of Standards and Technology
                  Scientific and Technical Research and 
                Services
                  Industrial Technology Services
                  Construction of Research Facilities
          National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
                  Operations, Research and Facilities, with 
                certain exceptions
                  Capital Assets Acquisition
          Technology Administration
    Department of State:
          Diplomatic and Consular Services, except registration 
        fees
          Salaries and Expenses
          Capital Investment Fund
          Representation Allowance
          Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials
          Security and Maintenance of United States Missions
          Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service
          Payment to the American Institute in Taiwan
          Contributions to International Organizations
          Contributions to International Peacekeeping 
        Activities
          International Conferences and Contingencies
          International Boundary and Water Commission, United 
        States and Mexico
          American Sections, International Commissions, except 
        Border Environment Cooperation Commission
          International Fisheries Commissions
          Payment to the Asia Foundation
    Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
    United States Information Agency:
          International Information Programs
          Technology Fund
          Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs
          International Broadcasting Operations
          Radio Construction
          National Endowment for Democracy
    Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration:
          Operations and Training
          Maritime Guaranteed Loan Program Account
    Commission on Civil Rights
    Federal Communications Commission, except offsetting fee 
collections
    Federal Maritime Commission
    Legal Services Corporation
    Securities and Exchange Commission
    Small Business Administration
          Salaries and Expenses, with certain exceptions
          Business Loans Program
          Surety Bond Guaranty

                        Constitutional Authority

    Clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives states that:

          ``Each report of a committee on a bill or joint 
        resolution of a public character, shall include a 
        statement citing the specific powers granted to the 
        Congress in the Constitution to enact the law proposed 
        by the bill or joint resolution.''

    The Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to 
report this legislation from Clause 7 of Section 9 of Article I 
of the Constitution of the United States of America which 
states:

          ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in 
        consequence of Appropriations made by law * * *''

    Appropriations contained in this bill are made pursuant to 
this specific power granted by the Constitution.

                   Comparison With Budget Resolution

    Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and 
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as 
amended, requires that the report accompanying a bill providing 
new budget authority contain a statement detailing how the 
authority compares with the reports submitted under section 
602(b) of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent 
resolution on the budget for the fiscal year. This information 
follows:

                        [In millions of dollars]                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Section 602(b)   Recommended in
                                           allocation       this bill   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority:                                                       
    Mandatory.........................              522              497
    Discretionary.....................           25,868           25,964
    Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund            5,259            5,259
      Total budget authority..........           31,649           31,720
Outlays:                                                                
    Mandatory.........................              532              492
    Discretionary.....................           25,450           25,546
    Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund            3,434            3,434
      Total outlays...................           29,416           29,472
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note.--The amounts in this bill are technically in excess of the        
  subcommittee section 602(b) subdivision. However, pursuant to section 
  206 of H. Con. Res. 84, the FY 1998 Congressional Budget Resolution,  
  increases to the Committee's section 602(a) allocation are authorized 
  for funding in the reported bill for arrearages to international      
  organizations, international peacekeeping, and multilateral           
  development banks. After the bill is reported to the House, the       
  Chairman of the Committee on the Budget will provide an increased     
  section 602(a) allocation consistent with the funding provided in the 
  bill. That new allocation will eliminate the technical difference     
  prior to floor consideration.                                         

    The bill provides no new spending authority as described in 
section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as amended.

                    Five-Year Projection of Outlays

    In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the 
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 
(Public Law 93-344) as amended, the following tables contain 
five-year projections of the outlays associated with the budget 
authority provided in the accompanying bill:

Fiscal year 1998 outlays

                        [In millions of dollars]

Budget authority........................................         $31,687
Outlays:
    1998................................................          21,267
    1999................................................           5,618
    2000................................................           2,857
    2001................................................           1,761
    2002 and future years...............................             143

               Assistance to State and Local Governments

    In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(D) of the 
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 
(Public Law 93-344), the new budget authority and outlays 
provided by the accompanying bill for financial assistance to 
State and local governments are as follows:

                                                                Millions
FY 1998 new budget authority............................          $5,095
FY 1998 outlays resulting therefrom.....................             748

                   Programs, Projects, and Activities

    During fiscal year 1998, for purposes of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 
99-177), as amended, the following information provides the 
definition of the term ``program, project, and activity'' for 
departments and agencies under the jurisdiction of Commerce, 
Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies 
Subcommittees of the House and Senate. The term ``program, 
project, and activity'' shall include the most specific level 
of budget terms identified in the Departments of Commerce, 
Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act of 1998, as passed the House and the House 
report accompanying said Act.
    In implementing any Presidential order, departments and 
agencies shall apply the percentage reduction required for 
fiscal year 1998 pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 99-
177 to each program, project, activity and subactivity 
specified in the budget justification documents submitted to 
the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate in 
support of the fiscal year 1998 budget estimates, as amended, 
for such departments and agencies, as modified by Congressional 
action. In addition, the departments and agencies, in 
implementing the Presidential order, shall apply the percentage 
reduction required for fiscal year 1998 to each grantee of such 
department or agency as applicable. In addition, the 
departments and agencies in implementing the Presidential 
order, shall not: (1) eliminate any program, project or 
activity; (2) reorder priorities or funds; or (3) initiate any 
program, project or activity that was not funded in the fiscal 
year 1998 Appropriations Act. However, for purposes of program 
execution, departments and agencies may propose reprogrammings 
between programs, projects and activities pursuant to the 
provisions of the Committee's reprogramming procedures after 
they implement the reductions under the Balanced Budget Act.

            Compliance With Rule XIII, Cl. 3 (Ramseyer Rule)

    In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

              SECTION 524 OF TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE

Sec. 524. Availability of appropriations

    (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    (c)(1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    (8)(A) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    (E) Subject to the notification procedures contained in 
section 605 of Public Law 103-121, and after satisfying the 
transfer requirement in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, any 
excess unobligated balance remaining in the Fund on September 
30, [1996] 1997 and thereafter shall be available to the 
Attorney General, without fiscal year limitation, for any 
Federal law enforcement, litigative/prosecutive, and 
correctional activities, or any other authorized purpose of the 
Department of Justice. Any amounts provided pursuant to this 
subparagraph may be used under authorities available to the 
organization receiving the funds.
          * * * * * * *

            SECTION 1402 OF THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT OF 1984

                           crime victims fund

    Sec. 1402. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    (d) The Fund shall be available as follows:
          [(1) The first $6,200,000 deposited in the Fund in 
        each of the fiscal years 1992 through 1995 and the 
        first $3,000,000 in each fiscal year thereafter shall 
        be available to the judicial branch for administrative 
        costs to carry out the functions of the judicial branch 
        under sections 3611 and 3612 of title 18, United States 
        Code.]
          (2) [the next] The first $10,000,000 deposited in the 
        Fund shall be available for grants under section 1404A.
          * * * * * * *

                           Transfer of Funds

    Pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule X of the House of 
Representatives, language included under ``National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Operations, Research and 
Facilities'' and ``National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Capital Assets Acquisition'' provides certain 
transfer authority.

                          Rescission of Funds

    In compliance with clause 1(b) of rule X of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee reports that it recommends a 
rescission in the bill, as follows:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
    Operations, Research and Facilities.................     -$5,000,000
                          Full Committee Votes

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 2(l)(2)(b) of rule XI 
of the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call 
vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with 
the names of those voting for and those voting against, are 
printed below:

                             rollcall no. 1

    Date: July 22, 1997.
    Measure: FY 1998 Commerce, Justice, State, and the 
Judiciary Appropriations Bill.
    Motion by: Mr. Mollohan.
    Description of motion: To strike limitations included in 
the bill regarding the use of funds provided for decennial 
census programs, to create a Board of Observers to monitor the 
2000 Decennial Census, and to prohibit the Census Bureau from 
making irreversible plans or preparations for the use of 
statistical methods in the 2000 Decennial Census.
    Results: Rejected 25 yeas to 33 nays.
        Members Voting Yea            Members Voting Nay
Ms. DeLauro                         Mr. Aderholt
Mr. Dicks                           Mr. Bonilla
Mr. Dixon                           Mr. Callahan
Mr. Edwards                         Mr. Cunningham
Mr. Fazio                           Mr. DeLay
Mr. Foglietta                       Mr. Dickey
Mr. Hefner                          Mr. Forbes
Mr. Hoyer                           Mr. Frelinghuysen
Miss Kaptur                         Mr. Hobson
Mrs. Lowey                          Mr. Istook
Mrs. Meek                           Mr. Kingston
Mr. Mollohan                        Mr. Knollenberg
Mr. Moran                           Mr. Kolbe
Mr. Murtha                          Mr. Latham
Mr. Obey                            Mr. Lewis
Mr. Olver                           Mr. Livingston
Mr. Pastor                          Mr. McDade
Ms. Pelosi                          Mr. Miller
Mr. Price                           Mr. Nethercutt
Mr. Sabo                            Mr. Neumann
Mr. Serrano                         Mrs. Northup
Mr. Skaggs                          Mr. Packard
Mr. Stokes                          Mr. Parker
Mr. Visclosky                       Mr. Porter
Mr. Yates                           Mr. Regula
                                    Mr. Rogers
                                    Mr. Skeen
                                    Mr. Tiahrt
                                    Mr. Walsh
                                    Mr. Wamp
    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 2(l)(2)(b) of rule XI 
of the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call 
vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with 
the names of those voting for and those voting against, are 
printed below:

                             rollcall no. 2

    Date: July 22, 1997.
    Measure: FY 1998 Commerce, Justice, State, and the 
Judiciary Appropriations Bill.
    Motion by: Mr. Rogers.
    Description of motion: To prohibit funding for television 
broadcasting to Cuba after October 1, 1997, if the President 
certifies that it would not be in the national interest.
    Results: Adopted 28 yeas to 19 nays.
        Members Voting Yea            Members Voting Nay
Mr. Aderholt                        Ms. DeLauro
Mr. Bonilla                         Mr. Dixon
Mr. Callahan                        Mr. Edwards
Mr. Cunningham                      Mr. Hefner
Mr. Dickey                          Mrs. Lowey
Mr. Forbes                          Mr. Mollohan
Mr. Frelinghuysen                   Mr. Moran
Mr. Hobson                          Mr. Murtha
Miss Kaptur                         Mr. Obey
Mr. Kingston                        Mr. Olver
Mr. Knollenberg                     Mr. Parker
Mr. Latham                          Ms. Pelosi
Mr. Livingston                      Mr. Price
Mr. McDade                          Mr. Sabo
Mrs. Meek                           Mr. Serrano
Mr. Miller                          Mr. Skaggs
Mrs. Northup                        Mr. Stokes
Mr. Packard                         Mr. Visclosky
Mr. Pastor                          Mr. Yates
Mr. Porter
Mr. Regula
Mr. Rogers
Mr. Skeen
Mr. Walsh
Mr. Wamp
Mr. Wicker
Mr. Wolf
Mr. Young

      Comparative Statement of New Budget (Obligational) Authority

    The following table provides a detailed summary, for each 
department and agency, comparing the amounts recommended in the 
bill with fiscal year 1997 enacted amounts and budget estimates 
presented for fiscal year 1998:



 ADDITIONAL VIEWS SUBMITTED BY MR. MOLLOHAN, MR. SKAGGS, AND MR. DIXON

    We want to compliment the Chairman for the fine job he has 
done putting together this Fiscal Year 1998 spending bill. He 
and his staff have worked hard to craft a balanced bill and we 
thank them for their diligence, and for giving us the 
opportunity to voice our views on a variety of topics 
throughout the process.
    There are many parts of this bill where we are in 
agreement. This bill provides robust funding for Federal law 
enforcement and juvenile justice delinquency prevention. The 
bill continues the trend of strong support for State and local 
law enforcement assistance, and provides greater flexibility at 
the local level. We are pleased that the bill funds several 
initiatives aimed at dealing with drug abuse, particularly 
among our young people. We note that full funding is provided 
for the COPS program, with provisions for non-hiring programs.
    Also of importance, the bill provides generous funding 
levels for the FBI, the DEA and the Border Patrol. Such ample 
funding will enable us to continue our important work in 
combating terrorism, illicit during trafficking and illegal 
immigration.
    We support the focus and attention given to juvenile 
justice delinquency prevention programs. The bill provides more 
than requested by the administration to prevent juvenile crime. 
Additionally, we are serious about fighting the war on drugs--
both in preventing illicit drugs from coming across the border 
and in eliminating the use of drugs by our nation's youth. We 
are pleased that the Chairman has taken an aggressive approach 
in this area by providing substantial funding for both the 
Southwest border initiative and the Caribbean initiative.
    Regarding our international commitments, we are pleased 
that this bill represents the beginning of bipartisan efforts 
to eliminate our United Nations arrearages. We also support the 
increases provided in the State Department's operating 
accounts.
    Lastly, we feel that, for the most part, this bill deals 
fairly with the Commerce Department. We are pleased to note a 
continued commitment to such important programs as the Public 
Works Grant Program, PTFP, the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership and the International Trade Administration. The 
bill also fully funds the Administration's request for the 
critical missions of the National Weather Service.
    Although we agree with many of the provisions of this bill, 
we believe it is less than perfect. There are certain issues 
which we would like to improve. For example, we sincerely 
regret that a major reduction was made to the Legal Services 
Corporation. The funding level provided in this bill will leave 
many of our nation's poorest citizens without legal 
representation.
    In addition, we also regret the significant reductions in 
funding for programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA). NOAA research and monitoring programs 
are extremely valuable to proper implementation of the nation's 
environmental programs. The funding level in the bill may delay 
vital atmospheric research and jeopardize good stewardship of 
marine resources.
    Also, although this bill provides more than the 
administration requested for the decennial census, we are 
concerned about restrictions which are being placed on the 
agency. We believe that the language contained in this bill in 
effect represents a ban on sampling. The issue of sampling has 
become extremely politicized, and the Administration has 
expressed strong opposition to language which places 
restrictions of this nature on the Census Bureau. We are 
hopeful that the leadership, President Clinton, and the 
statistical community can work together to assure the most 
accurate count.
    This bill provides $185 million for the Advanced Technology 
Program. While we are pleased that the Chairman is providing 
some funding for this important initiative, it is still 
significantly below that which was requested by the 
Administration.
    This list is not exhaustive, but merely highlights a number 
of areas which we hope we can improve as this bill proceeds. 
Again, we want to thank the Chairman for his cooperation, and 
his good-faith efforts.

                                   Alan B. Mollohan.
                                   David E. Skaggs.
                                   Julian C. Dixon.

            ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF MR. TAYLOR OF NORTH CAROLINA

    While I realize that it is unusual for us to focus on 
particular rules and rulemakings by an independent agency 
within our subcommittee's jurisdictional purview, I continue to 
be very frustrated by the processes and policies of the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC) in regards to the cellular 
separate subsidiary rule. For the last two and a half years, I 
have been patient with the FCC in regards to the cellular 
separate subsidiary rule, all to no avail.
    At a March 12, 1997 hearing, Chairman Reed Hundt testified 
that a final order regarding the cellular separate subsidiary 
rule would be presented to the Commission later that month, 
with the Commission intending to take action on the proposed 
order quickly. Well, it is nearly August now. Where is the 
reconsideration order on this arcane 1981 FCC cellular 
structural separation rule which the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court 
of Appeals, in November of 1995 (in the Cincinnati Bell 
decision), had found to be ``arbitrary and capricious?'' It is 
my understanding that the companies affected by the FCC's 
reconsideration of the cellular separate subsidiary safeguards 
are not facing elimination of this outdated rule, but the 
development of new regulations on other parts of their 
commercial mobile businesses which are not currently regulated, 
such as Personal Communications Services (PCS).
    I say it is time that we get the FCC's attention on this 
issue. If the FCC is not going to act on the court's 
directives, I believe it is the Congress' responsibility to 
review it.
                                                 Charles H. Taylor.

                                
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