[House Report 105-636]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-636
_______________________________________________________________________


 
DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED 
             AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, FISCAL YEAR 1999

                                _______
                                

 July 20, 1998.--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. 4276]

    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, 1999.

                        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
                                                                     62
        Office of the United States Trade Representative...    38
                                                                     63
        International Trade Commission.....................    39
                                                                     63
        Department of Commerce.............................    39
                                                                     64
Title III--The Judiciary...................................    63
                                                                    102
Title IV--Department of State and Related Agencies.........    70
                                                                    111
        Department of State................................    70
                                                                    111
        Arms Control and Disarmament Agency................    81
                                                                    128
        United States Information Agency...................    81
                                                                    128
Title V--Related Agencies..................................    92
                                                                    136
        Department of Transportation: Maritime 
            Administration.................................    92
                                                                    137
        Commission for the Preservation of America's 
            Heritage Abroad................................    94
                                                                    139
        Commission on Civil Rights.........................    94
                                                                    139
        Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe...    95
                                                                    140
        Equal Employment Opportunity Commission............    95
                                                                    140
        Federal Communication Commission...................    96
                                                                    143
        Federal Maritime Commission........................    97
                                                                    144
        Federal Trade Commission...........................    97
                                                                    144
        Legal Services Corporation.........................    99
                                                                    145
        Marine Mammal Commission...........................   100
                                                                    145
        Securities and Exchange Commission.................   100
                                                                    146
        Small Business Administration......................   101
                                                                    146
        State Justice Institute............................   104
                                                                    151
Title VI--General Provisions...............................   105
                                                                    152
Title VII--Rescissions.....................................   115
                                                                    154
Title VIII--Citizens Protection............................   115
                                                                    154

                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 1999 submitted on February 2, 1998 (H. 
Doc. 105-177), budget amendments submitted on February 24, 1998 
(H. Doc. 105-216), May 18, 1998 (H. Doc. 105-255), June 9, 1998 
(H. Doc. 105-270), and July 9, 1998, and in a letter of 
transmittal from the State Justice Institute (dated February 2, 
1998). This organization has the authority to transmit its 
budget directly to the Congress.
    The Committee recommends a total $27,416,826,000 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 1999, and $5,511,940,000 in discretionary 
budget authority from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund 
for the Department of Justice and the Judiciary. The Committee 
also recommends $542,027,000 for mandatory programs funded 
within this bill.
    For general purpose discretionary programs, the Committee 
recommendation is $967,130,000 below the President's budget 
request and $1,060,455,000 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 1998 and to fund key initiatives in drug law 
enforcement, counterterrorism, juvenile crime and control of 
our borders. In addition, increases have been included to 
provide funding for preparations for the 2000 decennial census, 
and to provide payments for arrearages to the United Nations, 
subject to authorization.
    For Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund programs, the 
Committee recommendation provides $5,511,940,000, which is 
$2,037,000 below the budget request and $286,940,000 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 recommendation is within the Committee's 
section 302(b) allocation for the departments and agencies 
funded within the accompanying bill, subject to adjustment of 
the allocation for international arrearages, as provided in 
section 10203(a)(3) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public 
Law 105-33). The current section 302(b) allocations for 
discretionary programs are $26,944,000,000 in budget authority 
and $26,502,000,000 in outlays, of which $386,000,000 in budget 
authority and $370,000,000 in outlays are for defense (050) 
programs. The 302(b) allocations for the Violent Crime 
Reduction Trust Fund are $5,512,000,000 in budget authority and 
$4,683,000,000 in outlays.
    The Committee was faced with extremely difficult decisions 
in determining the funding levels for the various programs 
funded in this bill. In addition to a need for a significant 
increase in resources for the 2000 decennial census, the 
Committee was also faced with the need to provide increased 
funding for anti-drug efforts, juvenile crime, 
counterterrorism, immigration, and the Federal courts, and to 
restore funding for important programs to assist State and 
local law enforcement in reducing crime that the 
Administration's budget request sought to terminate. As a 
result, it has been necessary to scrutinize all other parts of 
the bill, and the Committee has prioritized by providing, and 
even increasing, funding for the highest priority programs, 
including 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 1998, and with the 
budget request for fiscal year 1999:

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           1999 recommendation  
                                                                                              compared with     
                                                     1998         1999         1999    -------------------------
                                                   enacted      request    recommended      1998         1998   
                                                                                          enacted      request  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discretionary..................................       26,356       28,384       27,417       +1,060         -967
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.............        5,225        5,514        5,512         +287           -2
Mandatory......................................          505          546          542          +37           -4
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total......................................       32,086       34,444       33,471       +1,385         -973
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Highlights of the Bill

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

                         Department of Justice

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           1999 recommendation  
                                                                                              compared with     
                                                     1998         1999         1999    -------------------------
                                                   enacted      request    recommended      1998         1999   
                                                                                          enacted     requested 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I--Department of Justice:                                                                                 
    Discretionary..............................       12,464       12,921       12,700         +236         -222
    Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.........        5,185        5,454        5,452         +267           -2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --Over $4.8 billion for State and local law enforcement 
assistance, a $50 million increase, and $400 million more than 
requested by the Administration, including $533 million for 
juvenile crime and prevention programs, $523 million for the 
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant, $553 million for the Edward 
Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant 
Program, $1.4 billion for Community Policing, $731 million for 
State Prison Grants, and $280 million for Violence Against 
Women Act programs.
    --Over $8.4 billion for drug enforcement initiatives, a 
$124 million increase, including a net $74 million increase for 
the Drug Enforcement Administration, $31 million more than 
requested by the Administration. This includes $40 million to 
augment the source country, transit zone, and intelligence 
initiatives begun in fiscal year 1997 targeted at international 
drug trafficking, $31 million more than requested. For domestic 
enforcement, a $37 million increase is included for DEA to 
combat domestic methamphetamine and heroin trafficking, and $50 
million is included under Community Policing to continue and 
bolster the COPS methamphetamine initiative and drug ``hot 
spots'' which the budget proposed to eliminate.
    --Over $129 million for assistance to provide State and 
local first responders, including firefighters, emergency 
services personnel, and bomb technicians, with the tools and 
training needed to combat the increasing threat of domestic and 
international chemical and biological terrorist attacks.
    --Nearly $3.2 billion, a $226 million increase to enforce 
our immigration laws, including an increase of 1,000 new border 
patrol agents and $46 million for an interior enforcement 
initiative to require INS cooperation with State and local law 
enforcement. Also included is $585 million to reimburse States 
for the incarceration of illegal aliens, an increase of $85 
million over the request.

              Department of Commerce and Related Agencies

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           1999 recommendation  
                                                                                              compared with     
                                                     1998         1999         1999    -------------------------
                                                   enacted      request    recommended      1998         1999   
                                                                                          enacted      request  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title II--Department of Commerce and Related                                                                    
 Agencies:                                                                                                      
    Discretionary..............................        4,323        4,967        4,891         +568          -76
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --$4.88 billion for the Department of Commerce and related 
agencies, a reduction of $76 million below the request and $568 
million above the fiscal year 1998 appropriation level, 
reflecting the cyclical increases necessary to prepare for the 
2000 decennial census, while at the same time continuing to 
refocus the Commerce Department on its basic functions, 
including trade promotion and public safety.
    --$956 million for the decennial census, $566 million above 
the fiscal year 1998 appropriation, and $107 million above the 
request to ensure that the Census Bureau is fully prepared to 
conduct the 2000 decennial census. Funding after March 31, 1999 
is prohibited until the President submits to the Congress 
refined cost estimates for the decennial census and requests 
the release of the remaining funds, and Congress has enacted 
legislation to release the funds, to ensure a timely decision 
is made on the conduct of the 2000 Census while protecting the 
multi-billion investment being made for this activity.
    --$1.079 billion for the National Weather Service (NWS) and 
related programs, of which $640 million is for operations, 
research and maintenance programs of the NWS, including a $30 
million increase over the current year for base operations, and 
continued funding for on-going NWS modernization activities. In 
addition, $439 million is provided for weather satellite 
development and procurement, a $110 million increase over the 
fiscal year 1998 appropriation.
    --Does not include $2.9 billion in advance appropriations 
for fiscal years 2000 through 2011 as requested in the budget 
for capital assets acquisition.

                             The Judiciary

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           1999 recommendation  
                                                                                              compared with     
                                                     1998         1999         1999    -------------------------
                                                   enacted      request    recommended      1998         1999   
                                                                                          enacted      request  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title III--The Judiciary:                                                                                       
    Discretionary..............................        3,157        3,466        3,356         +199         -110
    Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.........           40           60           60          +20           --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --$3.4 billion for the discretionary and Crime Trust Fund 
programs of the Federal Judiciary, a 7 percent increase above 
the fiscal year 1998 appropriation level, to allow the Courts 
to keep up 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 
and drugs.

               Department of State, USIA and Arms Control

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           1999 recommendation  
                                                                                              compared with     
                                                     1998         1999         1999    -------------------------
                                                   enacted      request    recommended      1998         1999   
                                                                                          enacted      request  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title IV--Department of State and Related                                                                       
 Agencies:                                                                                                      
    Discretionary..............................        5,054        5,745        5,375         +321         -370
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --$5.4 billion for the Department of State, United States 
Information Agency and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency 
appropriations, an increase of $321 million above the current 
fiscal year, and $370 million below the request.
    --$42 million for the second year of an initiative to 
expand broadcasting to China by Radio Free Asia and the Voice 
of America.
    --$475 million for international organization arrearages, 
subject to authorization.
    --$25 million in total resources for design of new 
embassies in Beijing and Berlin, instead of $250 million 
requested for construction.

                            Related Agencies

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           1999 recommendation  
                                                                                              compared with     
                                                     1998         1999         1999    -------------------------
                                                   enacted      request    recommended      1998         1999   
                                                                                          enacted      request  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title V Related Agencies:                                                                                       
    Discretionary..............................        1,489        2,044        1,662         +172         -383
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --$1.66 billion for the related agencies funded in the 
bill, a reduction of $383 million from the request, and $172 
million above the fiscal year 1998 appropriation, preserving 
core agencies and functions while reducing low priorities to 
conform spending with fiscal realities.
    --$705.9 million for the Small Business Administration, 
including $100 million above the request to provide for $785 
million in disaster loans.
    --$260.5 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission, an increase of $18.5 million above the fiscal year 
1998 appropriation, to address the backlog of unresolved 
discrimination charges.

            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 
1998. 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 1999, 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 1998 
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 that 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''.
    Thus far, the performance plans have generally been of 
mixed utility in considering the fiscal year 1999 budget 
request. The Committee requests that each agency consult with 
the Committee early in the process of formulating the fiscal 
year 2000 budget and performance plan in order to maximize the 
utility of the performance plan in the examination of the 
fiscal year 2000 request.

                     TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

    The Committee recommends $18,288,009,000 in new budget 
(obligational) authority in the accompanying bill for the 
Department of Justice for fiscal year 1999. This amount is 
$523,549,000 more than the appropriation for the current year, 
and is $223,856,000 below the budget request for fiscal year 
1999. However, once technical differences in the treatment of 
offsetting collections are taken into account, the net 
difference between the Committee recommendation and the request 
is $41,333,000.
    Of the total amount provided $12,699,510,000 is derived 
from general purpose discretionary funds, which represents an 
increase of $235,553,000 above the current year. Of the total, 
$5,451,940,000 is derived from the Violent Crime Reduction 
Trust Fund, which is an increase of $266,940,000 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 three years, Congress has increased 
funding for the Department of Justice by over $5.5 billion, 
representing a 45 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 to support crime fighting efforts and 
places emphasis on empowering communities to fight crime and 
drugs. Funding for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance 
increases by $32,750,000, which is $554,750,000 more than 
requested by the President and includes a restoration of 
funding for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program at 
$523,000,000 and $250,000,000 for the second year of the 
Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant, 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, bullet-proof vests, school violence and drug 
initiatives. The recommendation includes continued funding for 
programs to prevent and punish juvenile crime, including 
$282,950,000 for juvenile crime prevention programs, an 
increase of $44,278,000 over last year. The bill includes 
significant funding for law enforcement programs to combat 
drugs. The recommendation includes a net increase of 
$73,912,000 for the Drug Enforcement Administration, 
$31,030,000 more than requested by the President, targeted at 
continuing efforts in source countries and transit zones, as 
well as domestic methamphetamine and heroin trafficking. In 
addition, to counter the increasing threat of domestic and 
international chemical and biological terrorist attacks, the 
Committee recommends $129,200,000 to provide the tools and 
training to State and local agencies which are the first 
responders in the event of such an attack, a $76,500,000 
increase over the fiscal year 1998 level. The recommendation 
also continues funding to address the problem of illegal 
immigration, including a $225,523,000 increase for the INS for 
1,000 new border patrol agents and an interior enforcement 
initiative to provide the means for INS to work with State and 
local law enforcement. In addition, $585,000,000 is provided to 
reimburse States for the incarceration of criminal aliens.
    The Congress has done its part to dedicate resources during 
a time of severe fiscal constraint to the Department of 
Justice.

                         General Administration

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends a total of $79,488,000 for General 
Administration for fiscal year 1999. This amount is $3,289,000 
more than the current year appropriation, and is $10,000,000 
below the request.
    This account funds the development of policy objectives and 
the overall management of the Department of Justice. The 
recommendation includes adjustments to base that will permit 
the activities funded under this account to continue at their 
current levels. In addition, the Office of Information and 
Privacy will be augmented by four additional reimbursable 
workyears to meet the increased workload associated with the 
Electronic Freedom of Information Act.
    Joint Automated Booking System.--The recommendation does 
not include $10,000,000 requested to initiate system design and 
development of the Joint Automated Booking System (JABS). The 
Committee assumes that this is an activity which may be funded 
with Super Surplus funds available under the Assets Forfeiture 
Fund. The JABS project would include participation from the 
five Department law enforcement components to develop a common 
automated booking station to facilitate the electronic 
collection, storage, and sharing of offender information. The 
purposes are to streamline the booking process through 
automation and eliminate duplication; provide the capability to 
update offender/prisoner information with regard to medical, 
physical, and arrest status; standardize Federal law 
enforcement data elements; and establish a more efficient 
process for identifying repeat offenders and persons with 
outstanding charges.
    The Committee understands that development and 
implementation of this system will require a substantial 
investment of resources, and will be interested in examining 
the initial design and development to determine the feasibility 
of the project. The Committee expects the Department to report 
by March 1, 1999 on the overall scope of the project, its cost, 
timing, how it will be financed, and a determination of the 
relative priority of this project in relation to other major 
infrastructure and technology initiatives being undertaken by 
the Department.
    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. The audits undertaken by JMD have documented the 
widespread failings of the INS under this effort, including the 
conclusion that 91 percent of the 1.05 million cases in which 
citizenship was granted contained at least one processing 
error, and the average case contained 2.2 processing errors, 
leading to the conclusion that 920,733 cases had insufficient 
documentation to support a proper decision, and the projection 
that 38,845 cases were presumptively ineligible to receive 
naturalization. The Committee expects JMD to continue to 
oversee the process of correcting the serious mistakes of this 
program, including the identification and revocation of 
citizenship of persons with disqualifying criminal records who 
were granted citizenship, and to report back to the Committee 
on the status of those efforts by March 1, 1999.
    Further, the Committee understands that JMD will continue 
to be responsible for oversight of the process to redesign the 
naturalization program, now that significant improvements to 
assure the integrity of the system have been implemented, to 
address both the backlogs that continue to grow in processing 
despite the availability ofsignificantly greater resources, and 
other weaknesses in management at INS that continue to impede the 
operation of the agency.
    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 carry out these 
responsibilities. The Committee expects the Department to keep 
it fully informed of all changes being proposed to the 
naturalization program as a result of the redesign effort, and 
any new applications of technology to the program that could 
significantly improve its effectiveness.
    The Committee recommends bill language, similar to language 
included in previous years 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.
    The Committee urges the Department of Justice to work with 
the Inspectors General of the Departments of Labor and 
Education, the Railroad Retirement Board and the Social 
Security Administration for data on recoveries which resulted 
from cases initiated, and claims filed, by them. These 
Inspectors General are required to report on actual collections 
under the requirements of the Labor, Health and Human Services 
and Education Appropriations Acts of 1997 and 1998, but are 
unable to do so because they have not been able to obtain data 
on fines, restitutions or forfeitures from the Department of 
Justice.

                       Narrowband Communications

    The Committee recommendation does not include $85,894,000 
requested to establish a new Fund, under the control of 
Attorney General, for the costs of Department of Justice 
organizations' conversion to narrowband communications systems. 
The Committee instead assumes that base requirements of 
$23,396,000 for DOJ components may be derived from Super 
Surplus balances in the Assets Forfeiture Fund.
    The Committee notes that of the $85,894,000 requested for 
this new Fund, $23,396,000 was requested as base transfers from 
DOJ component budgets into the Fund, and $62,498,000 was 
requested as program increases for the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation for costs associated with narrowband conversion.
    The Committee supports the consolidation of this activity 
under the Attorney General, as such a consolidation will ensure 
maximum coordination and system compatibility. The Committee 
understands that all Federal agencies, including Federal law 
enforcement, must convert to narrowband communications systems, 
by 2005. Under the standards established by the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in 
1993, such conversion is to be accomplished as follows: (1) all 
new radio and systems purchased after January 1, 1995 are 
required to conform to narrowband standards; and (2) all other 
existing systems are required to be retrofitted to conform to 
such standards by 2005.
    The Committee appreciates the critical importance of 
increasing spectrum efficiency to meet law enforcement 
agencies' spectrum needs. In addition, the Committee has long 
been concerned about the continued interoperability problems of 
law enforcement communications systems. The Committee is aware 
of numerous instances in which Federal law enforcement agents 
were unable to communicate with one another, or with State and 
local law enforcement, due to incompatible equipment.
    The Committee understands that the estimated cost for 
conversion for Department of Justice components totals almost 
$1.7 billion, of which almost $1.2 billion is for the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation. Given the scale of the investment that 
may be required, the Committee believes that any Department of 
Justice narrowband conversion initiative must be based upon a 
comprehensive strategy which achieves the following goals: (1) 
increased spectrum efficiency; (2) interoperability among all 
Department components, as well as other Federal law enforcement 
agencies; and (3) maximized efficiencies and savings through 
shared infrastructure and common procurement strategies.
    The Committee is concerned that currently the Department of 
Justice lacks such a strategy. In fact, the current approach 
appears to be fragmented and agency-driven, emphasizing 
individual agency requirements or initiatives, which may or may 
not accomplish the goals outlined above in the most strategic, 
and efficient manner. Therefore, the Committee intends that 
this critical initiative be coordinated and implemented by the 
Department, rather than through individual DOJ components, and 
therefore directs the Justice Management Division (JMD) to 
develop and implement an integrated, Department-wide 5 year 
strategic plan which meets the narrowband conversion and 
interoperability requirements of the Department. The Committee 
expects such a plan to be submitted to the Committee not later 
than December 1, 1998. This plan shall include, but not be 
limited to, the following: (1) a complete inventory of all 
existing land mobile and portable radios and related 
infrastructure for each DOJ component, which separately 
identifies systems currently narrowband compliant; (2) a 
complete breakout of the base resources currently available for 
all radio and infrastructure replacement needs for each DOJ 
component; (3) a complete assessment of user requirements to 
achieve both narrowband conversion and interoperability goals; 
(4) the extent to which current component plans include 
capability enhancements outside the mandated requirements for 
narrowband conversion and increased interoperability, and the 
justification for such enhancements; and (5) an implementation 
strategy which outlines the proposed systems architecture, 
field testing, deployment schedule, and cost estimates. Such a 
strategy shall ensure that opportunities for common procurement 
strategies and shared infrastructure, including opportunities 
for private sector infrastructure-sharing, are fully utilized. 
Finally, the Committee directs that no Department of Justice 
component enter into any contract to develop or procure 
additional radio equipment or infrastructure without the prior 
approval of the Department of Justice through the Justice 
Management Division.

                         Counterterrorism Fund

    The Committee recommends $129,200,000 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.
    The recommended amount continues the initiative begun in 
fiscal year 1998 to respond to the increasing threat of 
chemical and biological attacks from domestic and international 
terrorism. The Committee notes that State and local agencies, 
including firefighters, emergency services personnel, law 
enforcement, bomb technicians, and other emergency response 
personnel represent the Nation's front line in response to a 
chemical or biological terrorist incident, and such ``first 
responders'' must have the necessary tools and training to 
detect such incidents and development management response 
capabilities. Therefore, the Committee recommends $129,200,000 
for such activities, an increase of $76,500,000 over the 
current level, as follows:
    Grants to Equip State and Local Agencies to Improve 
Response Capabilities.--The recommendation provides a total of 
$99,000,000 for equipment, an increase of $82,000,000 above the 
current level, to provide personnel protective gear, and 
detection, decontamination, and communications equipment to 
State and local agencies. Of this amount, the Committee 
recommends the following: (1) $64,000,000 is for grants for 
equipment for State and local first responders, including, but 
not limited to, firefighters and emergency services personnel; 
(2) $5,000,000 is specifically provided to continue the local 
firefighter and emergency service training and equipment grants 
program 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; 
and (3) $30,000,000 for equipment for State and local bomb 
technicians to enhance their ability to respond to incidents 
involving improvised explosive devices.
    Terrorism Training.--The Committee recommendation provides 
$17,200,000 for anti-terrorism training for State and local 
agencies, including law enforcement personnel, as authorized 
under section 822 of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death 
Penalty Act of 1996. 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.
    Within the amount provided, $10,000,000 is for support of 
the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium to enhance the 
capabilities of State and local emergency responders to 
incidents of terrorism. The Department shall use these funds to 
address and sustain comprehensive and coordinated efforts 
through this consortium utilizing existing infrastructure and 
experienced training staffs as well as education, certification 
program, hands-on training, technical assistance, distance 
learning, test and evaluation and realistic confidence building 
exercises based on threat driven scenarios. The Committee 
expects the Department to use the Consortium's existing 
national assets for firefighters, law enforcement, emergency 
medical personnel, emergency communications personnel, and 
other public agency assets and their command and control 
elements to achieve the optimum state of readiness to respond 
to biological, nuclear, incendiary, chemical, explosive and 
other terrorist acts. The Committee recognizes that through the 
coordinated use of existing national assets, Federal resources 
can be maximized, training consistency can be ensured, and 
domestic first responders can achieve a critical state of 
readiness to respond to counterterrorism threats and incidents 
involving weapons of mass destruction. The Committee directs 
that the Department provide funds directly to eachmember of the 
consortium, rather than through one site, so that all existing national 
assets of the consortium are equally utilized.
    In addition, $5,200,000 is for bomb technician training at 
the Hazardous Devices School at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama to 
improve capabilities of State and local agencies to respond to 
incidents involving improvised explosive devices to enable 1260 
personnel to be trained in fiscal year 1999.
    Development of Counterterrorism Technologies.--The 
Committee recommends $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. This program provides funding to 
identify, assess and develop technologies that can assist State 
and local law enforcement in combating terrorism, including 
technologies in the areas of detection of weapons, explosives, 
chemicals, and persons; tracking and surveillance; 
vulnerability assessment; and information technologies.
    Technical Assistance/Needs Assessment.--In addition, the 
recommendation provides $3,000,000 for technical assistance to 
administer equipment and training programs. The Committee 
believes it is important that resources provided to prepare 
State and local first responders should reach the maximum 
number of communities possible. To achieve this goal, it is 
critical that activities are coordinated among agencies to 
ensure no duplication of effort, and to ensure that such 
assistance meets the needs of the State and local agencies 
involved. Therefore, the Committee directs that $1,000,000 be 
used by the Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive needs 
assessment of State and local agency requirements and to 
develop a three year interagency Government-wide implementation 
plan to meet these requirements. Such an assessment and 
implementation plan should be developed in coordination with 
all other Federal agencies providing assistance to State and 
local first responders, including the Department of Defense, 
and is to be submitted to the Committee not later than January 
1, 1999.
    The Committee does not recommend funding requested for 
critical infrastructure protection under the Counterterrorism 
Fund, as this initiative and the delineation of 
responsibilities among Federal agencies have not been fully 
defined. The Committee notes that the majority of the requested 
increase was proposed to be used to pay for the costs of other 
Federal agencies for their participation in this initiative. 
The Committee expects that all Federal agencies would make 
funding for their participation a priority from within their 
own budgets, and therefore believes it inappropriate to use 
Department of Justice resources to pay for such costs. Further, 
the Committee has addressed increased funding requirements for 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its participation in 
this initiative elsewhere in this Act.
    Further, the Committee understands that approximately 
$48,000,000 is estimated to be available at the end of fiscal 
year 1998 from funds provided in prior fiscal years to 
reimburse any Department of Justice organization for the costs 
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. As in previous years, 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 for this purpose.
    The Committee recommends bill language, similar to that 
carried in previous appropriations act, which: (1) makes funds 
available for training and equipment to State and local 
entities; and (2) makes funds available for equipment to State 
and local bomb technicians.

               Telecommunications Carrier Compliance Fund

    The Committee recommendation does not include funding for 
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), a decrease of $100,000,000 
from the request. Funds have not been provided because to date 
no funds have been expended from amounts previously provided, 
resulting in an estimated $102,580,000 in unobligated balances 
carrying forward into fiscal year 1999. As in previous years, 
the Attorney General is required to notify the Committee 
through the reprogramming procedures included in section 605 of 
this bill, before any expenditure is made from the Fund.

                   Administrative Review and Appeals

    The Committee recommends $134,563,000 for fiscal year 1999 
for Administrative Review and Appeals, of which $59,251,000 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 $132,963,000 for EOIR and $1,600,000 for the Office of 
the Pardon Attorney. The recommendation represents the funding 
necessary to maintain the current level of activities in fiscal 
year 1999.

                      Office of Inspector General

    The Committee recommends $36,610,000 for the Office of 
Inspector General for fiscal year 1999, which is $2,000,000 
above the request and $3,399,000 above the amount provided in 
the current year appropriation. The increase is provided to 
enable the Office to appropriately monitor the increased 
resources being provided to the Department of Justice.
    In addition to appropriated funds, the Committee notes that 
the Office will receive additional amounts, estimated in the 
budget at $17,464,000 and 119 workyears, in reimbursements for 
activities in connection with Immigration and Naturalization 
Service fee accounts, Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund 
programs, the U.S. Trustees, and Financial System audits, 
subject to the reprogramming requirements that were in effect 
for fiscal year 1998.
    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; (2) funds available for the acquisition of 
motor vehicles; and (3) up to one-tenth of one percent of grant 
funds provided under the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund 
available to be transferred to the Office by the Attorney 
General.

                    United States Parole Commission

                         Salaries and Expenses

    The Committee recommends $7,400,000 for the Parole 
Commission for fiscal year 1998, $2,391,000 more than the 
current year appropriation, and $221,000 below the budget 
request.
    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.
    While there is a continuing downsizing of its operations 
related to Federal parole, the Commission is assuming 
jurisdiction over D.C. Code prisoners and parolees as of August 
5, 1998, pursuant to the National Capital Revitalization and 
Self-Government Improvement Act. The request includes a base 
increase of $134,000, a program decrease of 3 workyears and 
$174,000 as part of the Commission's continuing down-sizing of 
its operations and a program increase of $2,431,000 for the 
District of Columbia parole program.

                            Legal Activities

            Salaries and Expenses, General Legal Activities

    The Committee recommends a total of $470,425,000 for 
General Legal Activities for fiscal year 1999, of which 
$8,160,000 is provided from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust 
Fund. The total amount recommended is $18,256,000 more than the 
current year appropriation and $15,086,000 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 (including the Office of Special Counsel for 
Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices), and 
INTERPOL--U.S. National Central Bureau.
    The Committee recommendation provides pay and inflation 
increases for all divisions and the following program 
increases:
          +$465,000 for the Criminal Division to improve 
        coordination of interagency and bilateral U.S./Mexico 
        efforts to combat drug trafficking; and
          +$1,007,000 for the Civil Rights Division to increase 
        enforcement under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 
        and to enable the Division to maintain and expand the 
        utilization of mediation services to resolve disability 
        rights complaints.
    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 $17,834,000 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 includes language directing 
the Attorney General to transfer $813,333 from funds available 
in the Department of Justice to the Presidential Advisory 
Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States, subject to 
the reprogramming requirements of section 605 of this Act. This 
commission will examine issues pertaining to the disposition of 
Holocaust-era assets in the United States before, during, and 
after World War II, and make recommendations to the President 
on further action.
    The Committee recommends a reimbursement of $4,028,000 for 
fiscal year 1999 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, and as requested in 
the budget.

               Salaries and Expenses, Antitrust Division

    The Committee recommendation assumes a total of $98,275,000 
in budget (obligational) authority for the Antitrust Division 
for fiscal year 1999, the full amount requested and $4,780,000 
above the current year appropriation. Of this amount, 
$68,275,000 will be derived from anticipated fee collections in 
fiscal year 1999, and $30,000,000 will be derived from 
unobligated fiscal year 1998 fee collections, resulting in no 
net direct appropriation. 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.
    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 Committee recommendation provides pay and inflation 
increases for the Division, and provides the requested program 
increase of $2,472,000 to support an additional 15 positions to 
respond to workload increases in the Division's Merger and 
Criminal Enforcement functions.
    The recommendation includes bill language for the Antitrust 
Division, similar to that included in previous fiscal years, 
which: (1) allows $68,275,000 in fees to be credited to this 
account; (2) reduces appropriated funds as fees are collected; 
and (3) makes fees in excess of $68,275,000 available until 
expended in fiscal year 2000.

             Salaries and Expenses, United States Attorneys

    The Committee recommends a total of $1,091,702,000 for the 
U.S. Attorneys for fiscal year 1999, of which $54,231,000 is 
provided from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. The total 
amount provided is an increase of $56,414,000 above the current 
year appropriation and $15,291,000 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, excluding a base restoration of $1,519,000, and 
$900,000 in estimated year 2000 computer compliance costs, for 
which other resources may be available, and program increases 
totaling $10,479,000 for the following activities:
    Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.--The recommendation provides 
the requested increase of $8,912,000 for 64 attorneys and 32 
support staff to increase drug prosecutions. These resources 
are being provided in concert with additional resources for the 
Drug Enforcement Administration to assure that there is a 
coordinated effort within the Department of Justice not only to 
apprehend but also to prosecute illegal drug activity. The 
Committee is heartened that, in response to the Committee's 
expressed concern that the U.S. Attorney workload statistics 
for drug prosecutions were lagging far behind the percentage 
increase in resources that had been provided for drug 
prosecutions, the Executive Office for United States Attorneys 
(EOUSA) indicated in testimony that efforts were being made to 
increase these prosecutions.
    Additional Resources.--The Committee also has provided 
$1,567,000 to be used for the highest priority program 
increases requested for computer crime, defensive civil 
litigation and violent crime in Indian country. In addition, 
the Committee has become aware that the U.S. Attorneys Offices 
have been significantly underburning their workyears over the 
past several years, and using the resulting funds for equipment 
and other resources. Those funds constitute an additional 
resource available to fund high priority program increases, and 
the Committee would be willing to entertain a proposal to 
reallocate these base resources for that purpose.
    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 through 
fiscal year 2000; (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 United States 
Attorneys.
    The Committee directs that the General Accounting Office 
(GAO) monitor, and report to the Committees on Appropriations 
and the Judiciary no later than February 1, 1999 and August 2, 
1999 on, the compliance of the Department of Justice and the 
United States Attorneys with the ``Guidance on the Use of the 
False Claims Act in Civil Health Care Matters'' issued by the 
Department of Justice on June 3, 1998, including any revisions. 
The GAO is expected to consult with the Committees as it 
formulates its workplan.

                   United States Trustee System Fund

    The Committee recommendation provides a total of 
$114,248,000 in budget (obligational) authority for the U.S. 
Trustees for fiscal year 1999, to be entirely funded from 
offsetting fee collections. The amount recommended is the same 
level as provided in fiscal year 1998 and $16,189,000 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 budget request proposed a new method of appropriating 
for this account, which would have involved direct 
appropriations for the fiscal year 1999 requirements of the 
Trustees, and reserving the fees collected in fiscal year 1999 
for use in funding the fiscal year 2000 requirements of the 
Trustees. The Committee has not recommended this method, but 
rather has retained the language included in prior years to 
offset current year requirements with current year fees.
    The recommended budget authority for fiscal year 1999 is 
made on the basis that the projections for fees under Chapter 
11, the principal source of offsetting collections that finance 
this account, are uncertain, and that any program expansion 
would run the risk of not having the fees to support the 
expansion in future years. Consequently, the most prudent 
course of action is to maintain the program at its current 
level to assure a stable program over the next several years.
    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 $114,248,000 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 $114,248,000 available 
until expended in fiscal year 2000.

      Salaries and Expenses, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission

    The Committee recommends $1,335,000 for the Foreign Claims 
Settlement Commission for fiscal year 1998. This amount is an 
increase of $109,000 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 $503,164,000 for the United States 
Marshals Service for fiscal year 1999, of which $25,553,000 is 
provided from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. This 
amount represents an increase of $9,778,000 above the current 
year appropriation, and $9,679,000 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 activity:
    Security at New and Expanded Courthouses.--The Committee 
recommendation also includes $9,300,000 for security at new and 
expanded courthouses anticipated to open in 1999, including 
$5,700,000 for security staffing and $3,600,000 for equipment. 
This amount assumes that several of the courthouses scheduled 
to open on the dates assumed in the budget request will be 
delayed until later in fiscal year 1999, as has been the 
experience in past years.
    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, and the Marshals have 
taken steps to help address this problem. Nonetheless, the need 
continues to outstrip available resources. The Committee 
requests that the U.S. Marshals evaluate the current 
requirements in the context of the Federal Detention Planning 
Committee and provide to the Committee a recommendation on 
alleviating jail space problems in Utah.
    In addition, the recommendation does not include a separate 
new account requested for Marshals Service Construction in the 
amount of $6,300,000. Previously, construction of prisoner 
holding facilities for the Marshals Service has been funded 
under the Bureau of Prisons. The Committee believes that 
responsibility for construction of these facilities should 
remain with the Bureau of Prisons, and has addressed this 
request under that account.
    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; and (3) makes up to 
$4,000,000 for development, implementation, maintenance and 
support, and training for an automated prisoner information 
system available until expended.

 Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Fund, United States 
                            Marshals Service

    The recommendation includes requested language establishing 
a revolving fund for the operation of the Justice Prisoner and 
Alien Transportation System (JPATS), which provides air 
transportation for prisoners and others in the custody of the 
U.S. Marshals Service, the Immigration and Naturalization 
Service and the Bureau of Prisons within the Department of 
Justice as well as other agencies, such as the Department of 
Defense, and state and local law enforcement on a space 
available basis. As a revolving fund, financing for the system 
will be based on full-cost recovery, by means of a mileage and 
cost-per-seat charge paid by these same agencies for actual 
usage. Previously, JPATS has been a part of the U.S. Marshals 
Service appropriation, and additional resources were available 
through reimbursements from user agencies. The Committee 
believes that operating this system on a full-cost recovery 
basis will assure operation of the system in a financially 
sound way based on best business practices. Each constituent 
Justice agency has funding in its base to provide for necessary 
reimbursement to the system.
    In addition, the budget included a new request of 
$10,000,000 for JPATS, $5,000,000 to capitalize the revolving 
fund, and $5,000,000 to purchase a new airplane. The 
recommendation does not include any direct appropriation, and 
assumes that the funding to capitalize the new revolving fund 
is an eligible use of Super Surplus funds available under the 
Asset Forfeiture Fund.
    Finally, the Committee understands that certain 
enhancements to the system are planned, although those 
enhancements have not been formally presented. In the future, 
it is presumed that funding for enhancements under the 
revolving fund will be presented as part of the annual budget 
submission, and to the extent that it is not, the reprogramming 
requirements of section 605 of this Act apply. With respect to 
fiscal year 1999, any enhancements, as well as the proposed 
funding source to pay for them, are expected to be presented to 
the Committee for examination and review.

                       Federal Prisoner Detention

    The Committee recommendation recommends $425,000,000 for 
the Federal Prisoner Detention account for fiscal year 1999, 
which is $19,738,000 over the level provided in the current 
year appropriation, and $25,848,000 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, at least $25,000,000 will also be available for 
this program from unobligated balances that will carry forward 
from fiscal year 1998, bringing the total availability for this 
account to $450,000,000, which is equivalent to the budget 
request.

                     Fees and Expenses of Witnesses

    The Committee recommends $95,000,000 for Fees and Expenses 
of Witnesses for fiscal year 1999, the full amount requested, 
and $20,000,000 more than the current year appropriation. The 
amount recommended is the full budget estimate for this 
mandatory 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. Funds are also used to provide private 
counsel to pay certain legal expenses of Federal employees. The 
budget request included language intended to clarify the 
operation of this program, which the Committee has deferred, 
pending further information.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, similar to 
that included in previous appropriations acts, which allows: 
(1) up to $6,000,000 for protected witness safesites; and (2) 
up to $1,000,000 for the purchase and maintenance of armored 
vehicles for prisoner transportation.

           Salaries and Expenses, Community Relations Service

    The Committee recommends $6,699,000 for the Community 
Relations Service for fiscal year 1999, an increase of 
$1,380,000 over the current year appropriation. In addition, 
the recommendation includes a provision that allows the 
Attorney General to transfer $1,000,000 from funds made 
available to the Department of Justice to this account, thereby 
allowing for a total funding level of $7,699,000 which provides 
pay and inflation increases for 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 1998, 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 1999, 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 1999, 
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.
    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 no new appropriations 
for fiscal year 1999 to make payments to approved claimants 
under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990. The 
carryover from 1998 is expected to be $19,000,000. Payments 
from the fund are expected to be $15,000,000.

                      Interagency Law Enforcement

                 interagency crime and drug enforcement

    The Committee recommends $304,014,000 for Interagency Crime 
and Drug Enforcement for fiscal year 1999, the full amount 
requested and $9,047,000 above the current year appropriation, 
to provide for inflationary increases as requested for 
Department of Justice agencies' participation in this program.
    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      99,612
FBI.............................................         981     108,829
INS.............................................         102      10,719
US Marshals.....................................          13       1,421
US Attorneys....................................         847      79,832
Criminal Division...............................           6         759
Tax Division....................................          12       1,293
Administrative Ofc..............................          12       1,549
                                                 -----------------------
    Total.......................................       2,960     304,014
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    Federal Bureau of Investigation

                         Salaries And Expenses

    The Committee recommends $2,965,971,000 for the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Salaries and Expenses account for 
fiscal year 1999, which includes $215,356,000 from the Violent 
Crime Reduction Trust Fund. This amount is $35,929,000 above 
the appropriation for the current year and $52,353,000 below 
the request.
    The Committee recommendation provides $76,104,000 for 
requested adjustments to base, including the costs to annualize 
429 new positions provided in fiscal year 1998, as well as the 
cost of the 1999 pay raise, offset by $86,783,000 in base 
reductions for non-recurring costs resulting from reduced 
requirements necessary to complete the Integrated Automated 
Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) and equipment 
provided for in fiscal year 1998.
    The Committee also recommends program increases totaling 
$46,608,000 as follows:
    Counterterrorism.--$15,108,000 is provided to continue to 
build the FBI's capability to counter, investigate and prevent 
acts of terrorism, as follows:
          +$6,120,000 and 31 positions to establish 3 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, including necessary 
        technical equipment.
          +$442,000 and 9 positions to staff the Watch and 
        Threat Analysis Unit to provide enhanced coverage;
          +$500,000 to support training programs and expand 
        communications and information sharing of computer 
        crime techniques and detection tools;
          +$8,046,000 to procure mass spectrometers, polymer-
        chain reaction (PCR) technology, chemical/biological 
        suits, and portable x-ray machines for each FBI field 
        office for use by FBI Evidence Response Teams and bomb 
        technicians.
    Infrastructure Requirements.--The Committee recommendation 
includes an increase of $30,000,000 for the FBI to begin to 
improve its information systems by re-engineering its 
investigative, intelligence, and administrative automated data 
processing systems. This increase is in addition to $20,000,000 
in base funds which have been identified for this requirement, 
resulting in a total availability of $50,000,000 for this 
initiative in fiscal year 1999, $20,000,000 below the request.
    The Committee believes that such improvements are critical 
to successful FBI field and headquarters operations. The 
Committee notes that this is both an organizationally and 
technically challenging endeavor. Therefore, the Committee 
believes that the effective development and implementation of 
such a program is contingent upon strong oversight by the 
Department, strong program management, early and thorough 
planning, user input, clearly defined systems objectives and 
requirements, and appropriate milestones. However, absent a 
clearly defined strategic framework, the Committee is concerned 
that such an endeavor will be vulnerable to uncontrolled cost 
growth and mission failure. The Committee is aware that other 
Department of Justice components, such as the Drug Enforcement 
Administration, have successfully implemented similar 
information technology initiatives. The Committee believes that 
the experiences learned by the Department will prove invaluable 
in ensuring the success of FBI's system re-engineering, as well 
as ensure that such a system is compatible with other 
information technology initiatives currently being implemented 
Department-wide. Therefore, the Committee expects the 
Department of Justice to coordinate and oversee this 
initiative.
    Further, the Committee directs that no funds, including 
existing base resources, be expended for such purpose until a 
comprehensive five year implementation plan has been submitted 
to the Committee by the Department and the FBI which includes, 
but is not limited to, the following: (1) a detailed 
documentation of user needs, as identified by the user 
community; (2) a detailed documentation of systems requirements 
and systems architecture which addresses the highest priority 
user needs; (3) a detailed procurement strategy which 
incorporates appropriate risk management and contract 
management strategies, and includes appropriate project 
milestones and deliverables; (4) an evaluation of the extent to 
which other successful Department information systems 
strategies and approaches can be utilized to help the FBI meet 
its systems requirements while maximizing efficiencies; (5) an 
evaluation of the ability of FBI systems to integrate with 
other separate and Department-wide information technology 
systems; and (6) a complete development and deployment schedule 
containing detailed cost estimates. The Committee directs that 
the FBI not proceed with the award of any contract to implement 
this initiative until such a plan has been provided to the 
Committee in accordance with section 605 of this Act.
    Fraud Initiative.--The Committee has included $1,500,000 to 
allow for the FBI's participation in the Housing Fraud 
Initiative being conducted by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development.
    Violent Crime Reduction Program.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $215,356,000, derived from the Violent 
Crime Reduction Trust Fund, for FBI activities authorized by 
the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, as 
amended, and the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty 
Act. From within these funds, the Committee expects the FBI to 
provide funding as follows:
          $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;
          $5,500,000 for FBI's Combined DNA Identification 
        System (CODIS), to establish standards to facilitate 
        law enforcement exchange of DNA identification 
        information; and
          $4,000,000 for training and investigative assistance.
    The Committee has included bill language, as proposed, 
providing funding for these programs under this heading. 
Previously, such funding had been provided in the bill under a 
separate heading for specific purposes.
    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, 2000; (4) not less than $282,473,000 for 
counterterrorism investigations, foreign counterintelligence, 
and national security activities; (5) up to $69,846,000 to 
remain available until expended, of which $8,046,000 is for 
equipment to address chemical and biological attacks; (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 independent office for automation of 
fingerprint identification services; and (7) up to $45,000 for 
official reception and representation expenses.
    In addition, bill language is included, as carried in 
fiscal year 1998, prohibiting funds from being used to provide 
for ballistics equipment to State or local entities that have 
received similar equipment from other Federal agencies. The 
Committee is aware of concerns expressed regarding possible 
duplication and lack of interoperability of such systems, and 
notes that the National Integrated Ballistics Information 
Network (NIBIN) was created to address such concerns. The 
Committee urges the FBI to work closely with the NIBIN to 
ensure interoperability of systems to achieve the best possible 
technology for State and local law enforcement.
    The Committee expects that of the resources provided, 
$47,800,000 will be used for expenses related to automation of 
fingerprint identification services, the full amount requested 
and $36,600,000 below the current level, reflecting the 
completion of this project. Any change to this amount requires 
notification to the Committee pursuant to reprogramming 
requirements outlined in section 605. Furthermore, should 
additional funds be required to provide for operation and 
maintenance of the system in fiscal year 1999, the Committee 
would be willing to entertain a reprogramming in accordance 
with section 605 of this Act.
    In addition, the Committee is aware of concerns that have 
been expressed regarding the ability of the FBI to process 
requests for criminal background checks for school bus drivers. 
Due to the compressed timeframe for recruitment and hiring of 
such workers, the Committee believes that such checks must be 
handled in a timely fashion. Therefore, the Committee expects 
the FBI to take appropriate actions to ensure that sufficient 
resources are devoted to this activity to ensure expeditious 
processing of such requests.

                              Construction

    The Committee recommendation includes $11,287,000 for FBI 
construction, which is $2,859,000 below the request and 
$33,219,000 below the current year appropriation, reflecting 
the completion of funding requirements in fiscal year 1998 for 
construction of a new FBI forensic laboratory. The 
recommendation provides funding in fiscal year 1999 for the 
following: (1) $1,287,000 to continue necessary improvements 
and maintenance at the FBI Academy; and (2) $10,000,000 to 
continue upgrades to the FBI Academy Firearms Training 
Facility.

                    Drug Enforcement Administration

                         Salaries And Expenses

    The Committee recommends total budget authority of 
$1,286,000,000 for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 
for fiscal year 1999, of which $76,710,000 is derived from the 
Diversion Control Fund, $405,000,000 is derived from the 
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, and $8,000,000 is included 
under the DEA Construction program. The recommendation provides 
an overall net increase of $73,912,000 over the current year 
appropriation and $31,030,000 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, 
including continued international efforts to ensure successful 
enforcement activities in Source Countries and Transit Zones, 
and investigation of major drug trafficking organizations. The 
Committee recommendation provides an increase of $43,258,000 
for requested adjustments to base, including the costs to 
annualize 538 new positions provided for in fiscal year 1998, 
offset by $47,129,000 in base reductions from one-time costs 
provided for in fiscal year 1998 associated with these new 
positions. In addition, the recommendation provides the 
following program increases:
    Source Country and Transit Zone Initiative.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $29,298,000 and 29 new agents to 
continue the Source Country and Transit Zone initiatives begun 
in fiscal year 1997, an increase of $20,630,000 above the 
request, as follows:
          +$4,238,000, including 12 additional agents, to 
        continue the Source Country and Transit Zone initiative 
        initiated by the Committee in fiscal year 1997;
          +$6,178,000, including 17 additional agents, to 
        continue the Caribbean Strategy and other international 
        enforcement efforts initiated by the Committee in 
        fiscal year 1998, including office expansions in Ponce, 
        St. Thomas, St. Croix, Barbados, Curacao, Jamaica, 
        Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines, and 
        to establish new offices in Tashkent, Hanoi, and 
        Trinidad-Tobago to address Asian drug trafficking and 
        cocaine trafficking. In addition, $1,415,000 is 
        provided for 5 additional intelligence analysts for DEA 
        activities to address Mexico trafficking;
          +$3,500,000 for advanced technical and aviation 
        equipment to support regional operations in the 
        Caribbean;
          +$8,272,000 for continued implementation of DEA's 
        FIREBIRD data processing system and MERLIN intelligence 
        system to overseas locations;
          +$4,500,000 for surveillance and electronic intercept 
        equipment in source country and transit zones;
          +$1,075,000 and 5 positions for improved security at 
        DEA overseas locations; and
          +$120,000 for equipment to improve DEA mobility along 
        the Bolivian border.
    The Committee is concerned about the DEA's inability to 
fully deploy the investigative resources provided for source 
and transit country activities in previous years, as evidenced 
by a recent report indicating overseas investigative strength 
at less than 75% of the total authorized and funded staffing 
level. Therefore, the Committee expects the DEA to review this 
situation and report back to the Committee, not later than 
February 1, 1999, on the actions taken to rectify this 
situation. In addition, the Committee expects the DEA to 
continue providing quarterly reports on the investigative 
workhours and funding, by type, within major drug source and 
transit country, delineated by country and function, with the 
first such report to be provided to the Committee by October 
15, 1998.
    In addition, the Committee is aware that coastal 
surveillance systems may exist which could enhance drug 
enforcement and interdiction efforts in the Caribbean and other 
transit zones. Within the amounts provided, the Committee 
expects the DEA to conduct a feasibility study, in 
collaboration with the Coast Guard, the Department of Defense 
and other appropriate Federal agencies, on the use of such a 
system. Such a study should identify the feasibility of such 
system to meet each agency's mission requirements, as well as 
identify the most appropriate agency or agencies to utilize 
such a system.
    Domestic Support for Caribbean Initiative.--The Committee 
recommends $5,632,000 and 70 positions (42 new agents) to 
enhance DEA domestic offices being affected by the influx of 
trafficking from the Caribbean, as requested.
    Methamphetamine Initiative.--The Committee recommendation 
also includes an increase of $24,459,000 and 223 positions (100 
new 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, and an additional 54 agents and $11,046,000 
in fiscal year 1998. In addition, $38,000,000 was also provided 
in fiscal year 1998 under the COPS program to assist State and 
local law enforcement in combating this problem. The 
recommendation provides a further enhancement for these 
efforts, for the following activities:
          +$13,679,000 and 156 positions (100 new agents) for 
        increased enforcement to target major methamphetamine 
        trafficking organizations;
          +$5,288,000 and 67 positions to augment domestic 
        chemical control efforts to address the surge in 
        methamphetamine trafficking;
          +$4,100,000 for hazardous waste removal and 
        laboratory service activities at clandestine laboratory 
        sites;
          +$1,000,000 to complete replacement of DEA's aging 
        fleet of specialized vehicles; and
          +$392,000 to establish a National Clandestine 
        Laboratory Database at the El Paso Intelligence Center.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes 
$50,000,000, not requested in the budget, under the Community 
Oriented Policing Services program solely to continue the 
Committee's initiative to address State and local law 
enforcement requirements for methamphetamine enforcement and 
other drug ``hot spots.''
    Heroin Strategy.--The Committee recommendation includes 
$12,926,000 and 148 positions (95 special agents), the full 
amount requested, to continue a five year strategy to augment 
enforcement efforts against major heroin traffickers and to 
reduce the availability and purity of heroin within the United 
States.
    Investigative and Intelligence Requirements.--The Committee 
recommendation also includes $20,468,000 to address crucial 
infrastructure needs, $10,400,000 above the request, including 
the following:
          +$8,000,000 for 120 additional intelligence analysts, 
        above the number requested;
          +$2,400,000 for continued development and 
        implementation of automation systems to support 
        intelligence and investigative requirements;
          +$7,002,000 for improvements in cooperative drug law 
        enforcement operations at the Federal, State, and local 
        level;
          +$3,066,000 and 2 positions for establishment of an 
        alternative backup site for DEA's Network Control 
        Center.
    Drug Diversion Control Fee Account.--The recommendation 
includes $76,710,000 for DEA's Drug Diversion Control Program 
for fiscal year 1998, the full amount requested, and 
$18,442,000 above the amount provided in 1998. 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 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, 2000; and (6) up to $50,000 for official 
reception and representation expenses. In addition, bill 
language is recommended, as requested, providing funds for the 
Violent Crime Reduction Program under this heading, instead of 
under a separate heading as provided for in previous 
appropriations acts.

                              Construction

    The Committee recommendation includes $8,000,000 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. This funding provides the second installment of a five 
year initiative to reconstruct these facilities.

                 Immigration and Naturalization Service

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends total new budget (obligational) 
authority of $4,137,588,000 for the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service for fiscal year 1999. This is an 
increase of $340,199,000 over the current fiscal year, and 
$51,351,000 below the budget request. Of the total amount 
recommended, $866,490,000 is derived from the Violent Crime 
Reduction Trust Fund, $1,570,014,000 will be derived from 
offsetting fee collections and $81,570,000 is included under 
the INS construction program.
    The total funding level of INS includes an increase of 
$225,523,000 in appropriated funding over fiscal year 1998 for 
base increases, 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents, and 
interior enforcement. An additional $79,598,000 is included 
over the request, based on the most recent INS estimates for 
the Immigration Examinations Fund, to be used for reductions in 
the backlog of naturalization and other immigration-related 
applications.
    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, INS has 
grown by almost 40%, as a result of Congress providing 
unprecedented increases in resources for INS--over $500 million 
each year in 1996, 1997 and 1998--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. INS is 
overwhelmed with the task of handling its responsibilities, 
resulting in a broken immigration system.
    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 of the problem of illegal immigration. 
By recent INS estimates, there are over 5 million illegal 
aliens in the U.S., 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. Each year, more 
illegal aliens enter the U.S. than are removed by the INS: 
while the INS estimates that about 250,000 additional illegal 
aliens are added to the U.S. population each year, in fiscal 
year 1997, only about 112,000 illegal aliens were removed. And 
yet, today INS has more than triple the resources it had in 
1986 to do its job.
    Intending immigrants legitimately seeking green cards, 
naturalization, and other immigration benefits are not 
receiving the service they paid for due to inefficient INS 
processing. While the national average waiting time for 
naturalization processing is 15-16 months, in some parts of the 
country the wait can be two or more years. While the number of 
new naturalization applications received have decreased, the 
number of pending naturalization applications continues to 
increase. Fraudulent applications for immigration benefits are 
frequently not investigated.
    In the past three years, resources have been increased by 
over 94% for enforcement activities and 150% for service 
activities, yet have yielded mixed results. As a result, last 
year the Committee directed the Attorney General to review 
recommendations for restructuring, organizing, and managing 
these responsibilities outlined in a report in September, 1997, 
by the Commission on Immigration Reform. That review, submitted 
by the White House, rejected the recommendations by the 
Commission and instead proposed a new reorganization structure, 
which would keep both the immigration enforcement and 
immigration-related services functions within INS but would 
establish separate chains of command for both functions from 
the field to headquarters.
    The Committee believes that the establishment of clearer 
chains of command would be a start in making the INS a more 
efficient, accountable, and effective agency. Consistent with 
the concept of the separation of immigration enforcement from 
service proposed by both the Commission on Immigration Reform 
and the Administration, the Committee has provided for a 
separation of INS funds. Two new accounts have been included: 
Enforcement and Border Affairs, and Citizenship and Benefits, 
Immigration Support and Program Direction. These accounts 
correspond to existing decision units within the current INS 
Salaries and Expenses account. INS enforcement funds are placed 
under the Enforcement and Border Affairs account. All 
immigration-related benefits and naturalization, support and 
program resources are placed under the Citizenship and 
Benefits, Immigration Support and Program Direction account. 
Neither account includes revenues generated in various fee 
accounts to fund program activities in both enforcement and 
service functions which are in addition to the appropriated 
funds and are discussed below in this report. Funds for INS 
construction projects continue to fall within the INS 
construction account.
    Under the new accounts, the Committee recommends for fiscal 
year 1999 $1,096,431,000 for Enforcement and Border Affairs, 
$523,083,000 for Citizenship and Benefits, Immigration Support 
and Program Direction, and $866,490,000 from the Violent Crime 
Reduction Trust Fund.
    The Enforcement and Border Affairs account is comprised of 
the following amounts: $944,148,000, which assumes $24,612,000 
in base restoration, instead of $50,938,000, as proposed in the 
budget, for the existing activities of Inspections, Border 
Patrol, Investigations, Detention and Deportation, and 
Intelligence; and program increases of $103,000,000 for the 
Border Patrol and $49,283,000 for interior enforcement. This 
amount and the amounts from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust 
Fund provide the total appropriation for these activities.
    The Citizenship and Benefits, Immigration Support and 
Program Direction account includes $521,083,000 for the 
existing activities of Citizenship and Benefits, Immigration 
Support and Management and Administration, and a program 
increase of $2,000,000 for the Office of Internal Audit.
    The Committee has again included provisions that maintain 
the level of staffing for the INS Offices of Congressional and 
Public Affairs and the number of non-career employees at their 
current level.
    Naturalization.--The Committee has expressed its 
disappointment with INS's handling of over 1.8 million 
applications for citizenship during fiscal year 1996. 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.
    Last year, the Committee supported a series of independent 
audits by KPMG Peat Marwick (KPMG) of all naturalization case 
files under this program. In January of 1998, KPMG issued its 
finding on a sampling of case reviews (a large enough sampling 
to project error rates for the entire 1.05 million cases of 
naturalized aliens) conducted to determine the extent to which 
naturalization applications were correctly processed during the 
Citizenship USA period. KPMG found that 91 percent of the cases 
contained at least one processing error, the most prevalent of 
which was the lack of evidence that a fingerprint card was sent 
to the FBI for a criminal background check. Of those cases, 
KPMG found that 38,845 cases can be projected to have been 
``presumptively ineligible'' to receive naturalization due to 
lack of evidence to confirm the following statutory 
requirements: (1) the fulfillment of the U.S. residency 
requirement; (2) the successful passage of the history, civics 
or English requirements; (3) the absence of criminal records 
that might make the applicant ineligible; or (4) an applicant's 
possession of ``good moral character.''
    The Committee believes that one of the highest priorities 
for INS continues to be the need to restore integrity to the 
naturalization process. The Committee provided an increase in 
spending for naturalizations of over $95 million during fiscal 
years 1996 and 1997 and $163 million for fiscal year 1998--a 
total of $258 million increase in 3 years.
    The Committee continues to be concerned with the lack of 
accountability for these grave management failures that have 
occurred within the INS.
    Fingerprinting of Applicants and Procedures for Criminal 
Record Checks.--In fiscal year 1998 the Committee 
recommendation included funds 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.
    The Committee understands that INS has opened 68 
freestanding Application Support Centers (ASC) and 52 ASCs 
collocated within existing INS offices. Additionally, 41 law 
enforcement agencies have been designated as authorized to take 
fingerprints for applicants for immigration benefits requiring 
FBI background checks. By the end of July 1998, mobile routes 
are scheduled to be fully operational. Also, INS has purchased 
approximately 100 live scan fingerprint machines and intends to 
purchase approximately 300 additional machines. These machines 
will enable INS to electronically take, store, and transmit 
fingerprints, reducing total INS-FBI processing time, error 
rates, and lost cards.
    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 originally planned to initiate proceedings 
to revoke the citizenship of approximately 6,300 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 revoked 
citizenship for a total of 14 persons.
    The Committee understands that, as of June 18, 1998, 3,968 
of the approximately 6,300 cases referred from the audits have 
been reviewed by the Central Revocation Unit. Of those, Notices 
of Intent to Revoke have been issued in 2,507 cases, and 1,461 
cases have been found not legally sufficient to proceed with 
revocation. The Revocation Unit has issued 45 final decisions 
with six cases affirming naturalization, 27 cases terminating 
administrative proceedings and 13 cases revoking 
naturalization. To date, only 1 person has actually been 
removed. Additionally, a notice to appear for removal 
proceedings has been issued to one other person who is 
currently in prison following conviction on state arson charges 
and who is serving a minimum sentence of seven years.
    Three years after discovering the scandal of Citizenship 
USA, only one wrongly naturalized person has been removed, even 
after assurances from the Commissioner that INS will not rest 
until all wrongly naturalized persons have had their 
naturalization revoked and have been removed. The results to 
date prove that the damage caused by Citizenship USA may never 
be repaired. The Committee, the Congress and the American 
people demand better from the INS and deserve better results.
    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 three years the Committee has added 
over 2,800 new agents to the border, compared with budget 
requests totaling 1,900 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 
recognizes that a large part of the Southwest border is still 
experiencing large influxes of illegal crossings and requires 
additional personnel. The Committee recommendation includes an 
increase of $103,000,000 to enhance border control to hire 
1,000 new border patrol agents and 140 support personnel.
    Over the past several years, the Committee has provided 
significant funding for a variety of high technology systems at 
the border, such as Intelligent Computer Aided Detection, 
Remote Video Surveillance, Integrated Surveillance Intelligence 
System, Unattended Ground Sensors, and agent support equipment 
to enhance the Border Patrol's capabilities. While the 
Committee supports the use of technology and believes that it 
enhances the effectiveness of Border Patrol officers, the 
Committee is concerned that it has inadequate information about 
INS's long-term modernization plan. The Committee directs the 
INS to develop and submit to the Committee by December 1, 1998, 
its plan for the development, testing, and deployment of all 
current technologies, as well as any other additional 
technologies that the INS is pursuing. The Committee also 
directs that this plan address INS's plans to train Border 
Patrol agents in the use of these technologies and how current 
operational doctrine would need to be adjusted to effectively 
utilize the information gathered with high technology systems. 
Additionally, the plan should include whether or not funds 
previously appropriated for detection systems on the Southwest 
border, including Smart Multisensor Acquisition and Remote 
Transmitting System, were actually spent for that purpose.
    The Committee understands that a test is planned for use of 
unmanned aerial vehicles in the current fiscal year and directs 
the INS to provide a report by November 1, 1998 on INS's 
assessment of the feasibility of using this technology and 
whether or not it would enhance or duplicate current 
capabilities.
    The Committee is aware of ongoing problems due to direct 
and indirect impacts of illegal immigration on the Cleveland 
National Forest near San Diego. Although improvements have 
occurred, the Committee directs the INS to work more closely 
with the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in 
this area and other federal land areas near the Mexican border 
to protect natural and human resources and provide increased 
border protection.
    The Committee directs the INS to report on current plans 
for Border patrol road and fence improvements, including 
preparatory archaeological or other assessments along the New 
Mexico border, by November 15, 1998.
    Interior Enforcement/Removal of Deportable Aliens.--The 
Committee recognizes that addressing illegal border crossings 
is only one facet of controlling 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 three 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 1,530 positions and $427,307,000 or 
a 150 percent increase in the Detention and Deportation 
program. The Committee is aware that INS has underutilized 
these resources.
    The Committee understands that there are currently hundreds 
of thousands of outstanding orders of deportation in which an 
Immigration Judge has ordered someone deported and INS has 
failed to locate or remove these people from the United States. 
Additionally, 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 Removal 
Program (IRP)--only produced 14,851 deportations in 1997--1,149 
below their original goal of 16,000--despite increases in 
resources of 700 positions and over $80 million over the past 
two years specifically for this program. Currently, less than 
30 percent of eligible prisoners complete IRP 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. Therefore the Committee's recommendation 
does not include funds for the Administration's proposal to 
expand the existing program.
    However, the Committee understands that the IRP currently 
uses special agents and instead may be able to use immigration 
agents to perform the same duties. The Committee directs the 
INS to fully explore this possibility. If the exchange is 
feasible, the Committee would entertain a request to move the 
special agents to more appropriate programs, such as alien 
smuggling and criminal alien identification and apprehension, 
and fill the IRP positions with immigration agents.
    Last year, the Committee requested that INS submit an 
interior enforcement plan by April 1, 1998. Based on testimony 
by the Commissioner, it was apparent that the INS had no 
intention of meeting the deadline and, when pressed, cobbled 
together some existing materials. Instead, INS has promised a 
``real report'' in the fall of 1998--just as the 1999 fiscal 
year begins. Yet INS has requested that the Committee provide 
$90,843,000 for its interior enforcement program increase--
purportedly one of the INS's key initiatives for fiscal year 
1999. Apparently the INS believes that this Committee should 
blindly fund a program for which INS itself does not even have 
a strategy. Therefore, the Committee's recommendation includes 
a new interior strategy and has not included funding for the 
Administration's proposal.
    This Committee has heard numerous complaints from Members 
of Congress, state and local law enforcement officers, and U.S. 
citizens about how INS does not respond to calls to take into 
custody illegal aliens. The story is the same: State or local 
police apprehend persons they believe to be illegal aliens. 
They call INS to confirm that they are illegal and to ask INS 
to take the illegal aliens into custody. Frequently, INS does 
not even answer the phone. Other times, INS simply refuses to 
take the illegal aliens into custody. Time after time, in city 
after city, town after town, the police, with no authority to 
detain the illegal aliens unless state criminal laws are 
broken, must let them go. The complaints do not just come from 
the States with the largest numbers of illegal aliens, like 
California and Texas--they come from Nebraska, North Carolina, 
Iowa, Arkansas, Tennessee, Utah, and Kentucky.
    In 1996, Congress enacted a provision within the Illegal 
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act which 
called for INS to deputize State and local law enforcement 
officers to assist INS in carrying out any of the federal 
immigration laws. Nearly two years later, the INS has yet to 
deputize one state or local law enforcement officer. This type 
of neglect is not due to lack of resources or authority but 
lack of commitment to do a better job.
    The Committee will not tolerate this unresponsiveness from 
INS any more. With over 5 million illegal and criminal aliens 
in the U.S., INS must find ways to enhance its capabilities by 
teaming with state and local law enforcement officials in 
identifying and removing illegal aliens. Other federal law 
enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 
Coast Guard, coordinate efforts with State and local law 
enforcement to maximize efforts and produce comprehensive 
strategies. INS needs to do the same.
    The Committee recommendation includes $46,171,000, of which 
$24,800,000 is for the following:
          --In order to provide for a coordinated response for 
        illegal and criminal alien pickup and removal, 
        $3,000,000 to establish a 24-hour 1-800 number for 
        state and local law enforcement officers to call to 
        arrange for the apprehension and removal of illegal and 
        criminal aliens located by state and local law 
        enforcement officials. The funding includes 17 
        positions and expenses for training and equipment. At 
        the 1-800 number, staff will be responsible for 
        contacting the appropriate INS office to arrange 
        details for bringing the illegal aliens into custody.
          --$21,800,000 for 50 Quick Response Teams (QRT) to 
        work with State and local law enforcement officers to 
        take into custody and remove those aliens determined to 
        be removable. Each QRT will have at least four INS 
        employees, made up of special agents,immigration 
officers, and detention and removal officers and will follow the cases 
through until the aliens are, where appropriate, removed. The makeup of 
the teams may vary, depending on the needs of the area they are 
serving. In order to further accommodate this program, each INS 
district office will have a contact person or persons on call 24 hours 
a day. In order for responses to State and local law enforcement to be 
timely, the QRTs must be available to be deployed soon after calls come 
in. Therefore, the Committee directs INS district directors to make 
this program a high priority and ensure that the teams may respond to 
calls in a timely manner.
    The Committee further directs the INS to report to the 
Committee on its proposed deployment of the teams by December 
1, 1999. The Committee directs that special attention be paid 
to areas with high concentration of illegal aliens, drug 
smuggling corridors, and areas which in recent years have 
experienced a substantial increase in illegal immigration.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes 
$21,371,000 for the following detention and removal costs to 
support the new interior enforcement plan:
          +$9,400,000 for activation of an additional 400 
        bedspaces at Port Isabel;
          +$1,971,000 for additional 126 beds of juvenile 
        detention space;
          +$3,000,000 for additional contract detention space;
          +$7,000,000 for other removal costs.
    The Committee directs that, by the end of fiscal year 1999, 
the INS will improve its response rate to State and local law 
enforcement officers from the current 30 percent to 60 percent 
of all calls from State and local law enforcement officers. The 
Committee directs the INS to submit quarterly reports, 
beginning the second quarter of fiscal year 1999, indicating 
the number of calls to the 1-800 number, the number of aliens 
to be taken into custody per call, the actual response time 
from the time of the call to actual pick up, the number of 
aliens determined to be removable, and the actual disposition 
of each case.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes 
$3,112,000 for participation in joint task forces on terrorism, 
to assist in the identification and apprehension of alien 
terrorists.
    The Committee also has provided that unobligated funds 
available under the Community Oriented Policing Services 
program for technology for law enforcement may be used for 
State and local law enforcement officials to purchase 
videoteleconferencing equipment or other useful technology to 
allow them to contact INS after apprehending an illegal alien 
for a crime, for the purpose of confirming the alien's illegal 
status. The Committee understands that the INS has an ongoing 
pilot program in San Diego, the Criminal Alien Apprehension 
Program, using this technology to identify criminal aliens in 
local jails at the time of booking and directs INS to report on 
the results of this program by December 1, 1998. Both of these 
programs are intended to complement the Criminal Alien 
Identification and Intervention Program (P.L. 105-141), 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 
criminal aliens. In addition, the Committee expects that within 
the resources provided for detention and removal of aliens, the 
INS will continue to support this program at its current levels 
and provide an additional $5,000,000 for expansion of the 
program both in and outside of California from within existing 
resources.
    Additional Detention Needs.--The Committee directs the INS 
to submit a report by May 1, 1999 on the anticipated detention 
needs of the INS over the next three years, including INS 
detention capacity on the Tohono O'odham Nation's reservation 
in southwest Arizona and in Utah.
    The Committee recommends that the INS expand the ambulance 
service pilot project for Nogales, Arizona, established in the 
fiscal year 1998, to Imperial County in fiscal year 1999.
    The Committee recommendation assumes continuation of 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 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 continue to deploy personnel 
to these locations to conduct these operations on a seasonal or 
year-round basis.
    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 these 
personnel to be assigned to the ``front-lines'' on the 
immediate border. 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 $1,570,014,000 in 
offsetting fee collections, an increase of $114,676,000 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 $486,071,000 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:
          +$17,668,000 for pay and inflation base adjustments;
          +$7,657,000 to provide 100 additional inspectors at 
        airports to maintain the 45-minute standard at 
        airports;
          +$2,069,000 for 60 asylum officers and 20 support 
        staff, for the expedited removal process;
          +$1,875,000 for 12 positions, for mandatory detention 
        necessary to support the expedited removal process;
          +$19,520,000 for 217 positions 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;
          +$3,961,000 for 16 attorneys, 8 legal support, and 10 
        management support positions, for legal proceedings 
        staffing to support the expedited removal program;
          +$600,000 for 10 officers for international program 
        to train international airline carrier personnel and 
        other overseas operations in fraudulent document 
        detection and antismuggling operations.
    Immigration Examinations Fees.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $906,000,000 of spending from 
offsetting collections from persons applying for immigration 
benefits. This is an increase of $120,650,000 over last year, 
and $79,958,000 over the requested budget and represents INS's 
most recent estimate of collections available in fiscal year 
1999.
    The backlog for new naturalization applications has 
increased to 1.9 million cases, a 33 percent increase in the 
backlog from May of 1997, even though the number of new 
applications received has declined by 41 percent since a year 
ago--74,832 new cases in May of 1998 compared with 125,776 new 
cases in 1997. The backlog for immigration benefits has also 
grown--nearly 2 million cases were pending by the end of May 
1998, even though in May 1998 the receipt of new immigration 
benefits applications had decreased from last May by 25 percent 
(314,946 new applications as of May 1998 versus 420,328 new 
applications as of May 1997). The Committee provided an 
increase in spending for naturalization processing of over $95 
million during fiscal years 1996 and 1997 and $163 million for 
fiscal year 1998--a total increase of $258 million over 3 
years.
    Due to the extraordinarily long processing time for 
naturalization and other immigration-related benefits, the 
Committee recommends that the increase in funds estimated to be 
available under the Exams fee account be used to work 
exclusively on the backlogs. The Committee directs that Backlog 
Reduction Action Teams (BRAT) be formed with term employees to 
work on naturalization backlogs. The Committee directs INS to 
send these teams to the Service Centers and to any major INS 
processing location where the backlog for naturalization is 
greater than 18 months. When the backlog in those locations has 
been reduced to 12 months, the teams should be sent to the 
locations which have backlogs of 15 months or more. When all 
naturalization processing locations have reduced their backlogs 
so that processing can be completed within 15 months, INS may 
use these teams to address backlogs in other processing areas, 
such as adjustment of status applications.
    Accessability to reliable records remains an important 
element of processing both immigration benefits and detecting 
benefits fraud. While the Committee continues to have concerns 
about the INS's $134,000,000 plan to create a records 
centralization center, the Committee will continue to work with 
INS to determine an acceptable solution to this problem. Until 
then, the Committee directs that resources be devoted to 
standardize records procedures, ensure that multiple files on 
any individual are consolidated and updated, and automate A 
files. Also, the Committee directs the INS to establish anti-
fraud teams to be located at INS Service Centers and other high 
volume adjudications offices to assist in the detection and 
investigation of immigration benefit fraud.
    The Committee directs that, based upon recent INS estimates 
of $79,598,000 of expected revenues to the Exams Fee Account 
for 1999, for which no use has yet been proposed, the following 
be done for the formation of Backlog Reduction Action Teams 
(BRAT):
          +$61,598,000 for 520 term employees to adjudicate 
        naturalization cases in the backlog and then, when 
        backlogs have been reduced so that processing times are 
        no more than 12 months, the teams of term employees may 
        be used to reduce backlogs on other immigration 
        benefits with excessively high waits, including 
        $7,500,000 in contract clerical workers, $8,000,000 in 
        overtime costs, $2,225,000 in costs associated with 
        reprinting expired fingerprints, and $790,000 in 
        computer support costs;
          +$10,100,000 for INS records to standardize records 
        procedures and ensure that multiple files on any 
        individual are consolidated and updated; and
          +$7,900,000 for 70 positions, including 32 special 
        agents, to anti-fraud teams to be located at INS 
        Service Centers and other high volume adjudications 
        offices to assist in the detection and investigation of 
        immigration benefit fraud.
    Land Border Inspections Fees.--The Committee recommendation 
includes $3,275,000 in spending from the Land Border Inspection 
Fund, an increase of $232,000 over the current year. 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 $169,870,000 in spending for detention 
of illegal aliens from the Immigration Breached Bond/Detention 
Fund in fiscal year 1999, a decrease of $65,402,000 over the 
current year appropriation and $25,000,000 above the request. 
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, which expired on January 14, 1998. 
Carryover balances from 245(i) fees collected in fiscal year 
1998 remain in this account for expenditure in fiscal year 
1999.
    Other provisions.--The Committee has again 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 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 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) not in excess of $30,000 
to be paid to individual employees for overtime; (8) up to 
$5,000 to be used for official reception and representation 
expenses; (9) 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; (10) 
specifies the level of funding for the Office of Legislative 
and Public Affairs; (11) limits the amount of funding available 
for non-career positions; and (12) 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.
    In addition, new bill language is included to (1) establish 
separate headings for Enforcement and Border Affairs and 
Citizenship and Benefits, Immigration Support, and Program 
Direction; and (2) provide authority to the Attorney General to 
align resources under these accounts, as well as from the 
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund account and fee accounts, 
among these functions.

                              construction

    The Committee recommends $81,570,000 for Construction 
projects for the Immigration and Naturalization Service for 
fiscal year 1999. The recommendation is $5,611,000 above the 
current year appropriation and $36,600,000 below the request.
    Border Control Projects.--Of the amount recommended, 
$41,194,000 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--
          --Falfurrias, TX, Border Patrol Station, $4,625,000
          --Hebbronville, TX Border Patrol Station, $3,612,000
          --Sierra Blanca, TX Border Patrol Station, $2,752,000
          --Brownsville, TX Border Patrol Station, $6,800,000
          --Del Rio, TX Border Sector Headquarters, $3,097,000
          --Yuma, AZ Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, 
        $6,750,000
          --El Centro, CA Border Patrol Station, $5,603,000
          --LEl Centro, CA Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, 
        $2,842,000
    Planning/site acquisition/design projects--
          --Harlingen, TX Border Patrol Station, $326,000
          --Sanderson, TX, Border Patrol Station, $238,000
          --McAllen, TX Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, 
        $954,000
          --Laredo, TX, Checkpoint stations (3 sites), $128,000
          --Del Rio, TX Checkpoint stations (4 sites), $173,000
          --Yuma, AZ Border Patrol Station, $537,000
          --Tucson, AZ Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, 
        $1,330,000
          --Douglas, AZ, Border Patrol Station, $300,000
          --Yuma, AZ, Checkpoint stations (3 sites), $128,000
          --Tucson, AZ Checkpoint stations (3 sites), $128,000
          --Campo, CA Border Patrol station, $424,000
          --Temecula, CA Border Patrol station, $447,000
    Military Engineering Support Projects for the Border 
Patrol.--Of the amount recommended, $7,039,000 is provided for 
military support projects.
    Detention facilities projects.--Of the amount recommended, 
$12,649,000 is provided for construction of additional 
detention bedspaces, including the following projects:
    New Construction--
          --Port Isabel, TX Service Processing Center, 
        $1,000,000
          --Florence, AZ Service Processing Center $4,607,000
          --El Centro, CA facility, $4,193,000
          --Varick Street, NY Service Processing Center, 
        $900,000
    Planning/Site/Design Projects--
          --Port Isabel, TX Service Processing Center, $300,000
          --El Paso, TX Service Processing Center, $1,149,000
          --El Centro, CA Service Processing Center, $500,000

                         Federal Prison System

                         salaries and expenses

    The Committee recommends $2,948,853,000 for the Salaries 
and Expenses of the Federal Prison System for fiscal year 1999, 
including $26,499,000 from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust 
Fund. This amount is $5,800,000 more than the budget request, 
and an increase of $101,076,000 over the total amount 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 $98,307,000 to annualize positions provided in 1998 
for new prison activations.
    Activation of New Prisons.--The Committee also includes 
$2,769,000, to fund 46 additional positions for activation of a 
low security expansion at the Federal Correctional Institution 
at Loretto, Pennsylvania. This expansion will add 200 beds to 
help relieve overcrowding at low security institutions in the 
Northeast Region.
    The Committee understands that the Bureau of Prisons 
administers a parcel of land in San Joaquin County, which 
currently is unused. The Committee directs the Bureau to 
provide an assessment of whether it has any need for this site, 
recommendations as to the possible transfer of this land to the 
locality, and options for an exchange for other land, by August 
15, 1998.
    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, 2000; (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 $413,997,000 for fiscal 
year 1999 for the construction, modernization, maintenance and 
repair of prison and detention facilities housing Federal 
prisoners, which is the amount requested in the budget. This 
amount is $158,864,000 above the amount provided in fiscal year 
1998. In addition, in fiscal year 1998, $302,000,000 was 
appropriated in the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for 
activities now funded under this account.
    The recommendation provides the full request for 
adjustments to base and $300,000,000 for construction of three 
Federal Correctional Institutions and partial funding of a 
fourth to provide additional capacity to accommodate the space 
requirements for the transfer of D.C. sentenced felons to the 
Federal Prison System as mandated by the District of Columbia 
Revitalization Act. The Bureau is expected to consult with the 
Committee with respect to the siting and planning of these 
facilities.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation provides that the 
Bureau of Prisons will continue construction of holding cells 
for use by the U.S. Marshals Service and provides $3,300,000 
under this account for that purpose, including $1,000,000 for 
the construction of juvenile holding cells. This amount is 
$1,000,000 more than was provided in fiscal year 1998 and 
$3,000,000 less than the request, which would have funded this 
activity as a separate Construction account under the U.S. 
Marshals Service.
    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; and (6) up to 
10 percent of this appropriation to be transferred to the 
Salaries and Expenses account.

                federal prison industries, incorporated

                (LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES)

    The Committee recommends a limitation on administrative 
expenses of $3,266,000 for the Federal Prison Industries, 
Incorporated for fiscal year 1999, which is the full amount 
requested and the same amount as the current year limitation.

                       Office of Justice Programs

    The Committee recommends a total of $3,427,909,000 in new 
budget (obligational) authority for fiscal year 1999, including 
$2,371,400,000 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 $57,734,000 over the current year appropriation and 
$400,539,000 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 programs, 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 $155,000,000 in direct 
appropriations for Justice Assistance for fiscal year 1999, 
which is $18,600,000 below the amount provided in fiscal year 
1998 and $152,711,000 below the budget request. The request 
included $144,500,000 as part of the counterterrorism budget 
amendment submitted on June 8, 1998. The Committee has 
considered these requests under the Counterterrorism Fund.
    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. Funding for Grants to Firefighters, 
Counterterrorism Training, and Counterterrorism Technologies, 
which were funded under this account in fiscal year 1998, are 
included under the Counterterrorism Fund. Funding for the 
National Sexual Offender Registry Grant Program, which was 
funded under this account in fiscal year 1998, is considered 
under the Criminal Records Upgrade Program under State and 
Local Law Enforcement Assistance.
    An explanation of the recommendation for each program 
funded under this account follows:
    National Institute of Justice.--The Committee 
recommendation provides $52,577,000 for the National Institute 
of Justice (NIJ) for fiscal year 1999, which is $6,000,000 
below the request and $10,000,000 above the current year 
appropriation. In addition, $20,000,000 will be provided to NIJ 
in fiscal year 1999, as was provided in fiscal years 1997 and 
1998, from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant for assisting 
local units of government 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 1999, 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. The recommendation includes, 
$15,277,000, the amount of the budget request and an increase 
of $5,000,000 over fiscal year 1998, to continue the law 
enforcement technology center network, which provides States 
with information on new equipment and technologies, and assists 
law enforcement agencies in locating high cost/low use 
equipment for use on a temporary or emergency basis. Of this 
amount, $2,800,000 is provided for the technology 
commercialization initiative at the National Technology 
Transfer Center.
    2. DNA Technology Research and Development Program.--Within 
the amount provided to NIJ, $5,000,000 is to develop improved 
DNA testing capabilities. The objectives of this program are to 
reduce the cost of DNA testing, reduce testing time, develop 
inexpensive, discardable DNA test systems suitable for use in 
the field, and increase the reliability and legal credibility 
of DNA testing.
    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:
          --the continuation of the facial recognition and 
        intelligent software agent technologies initiative, 
        including pilot initiatives to further the development 
        of these technologies;
          --a grant for the dissemination of the results of the 
        national study on the health status of soon-to-be-
        released inmates, which identifies problem areas, 
        particularly as they relate to linkages which exist 
        between correctional institutions and community health 
        resources;
          --$1,500,000 for information technology applications 
        for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas; and
          --$1,500,000 for a pilot program with a Department of 
        Criminal Justice Training and a College of Criminal 
        Justice to evaluate how advanced computer-based 
        interactive training systems can enhance training for 
        State and local law enforcement officers.
    Bureau of Justice Statistics.--The Committee recommendation 
provides $25,029,000 for the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) 
for fiscal year 1999, which is $3,500,000 above the amount 
provided in the current year appropriation, to fund ongoing 
activities at the current services level. 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.
    Missing Children.--The Committee recommendation provides 
$12,256,000 for the Missing Children program for fiscal year 
1999, which is the same as the amount provided in the current 
year appropriation and requested in the budget. 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 atthe Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement 
Training Center, the same amounts as in the current year appropriation 
and in the budget request.
    Regional Information Sharing System.--The Committee 
recommendation provides $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 for 
the Regional Information Sharing System (RISS), which is the 
same as the amount provided in the current year appropriation 
under this account, and the full amount requested. 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 $7,350,000 for the National White Collar 
Crime Center (NWCCC) for fiscal year 1999, which is $2,000,000 
more than the current year appropriation and the request. 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 be 
used for increased training and technical assistance relating 
to computer crimes to State and local law enforcement and 
regulatory agencies.
    Management and Administration.--The Committee 
recommendation provides $37,788,000 for the management and 
administration (M&A) of the Office of Justice Programs. Funding 
for the administration of Juvenile Justice programs is provided 
within this amount, instead of by transfer from the Juvenile 
Justice Programs account, as in previous years. In addition, 
reimbursable funding will be provided from the Community 
Oriented Policing Services and the Violent Crime Reduction 
programs for the administration of grants under these 
activities.
    The Committee notes the dramatic growth of the Office of 
Justice Programs in the last three years. In fact, since 1995, 
the budget has increased from $1,100,000,000 to $3,300,000,000 
in 1998. With that growth, the complexity and scope of the 
Office of Justice Program's (OJP) programs have also increased 
greatly. The Committee is aware of instances of duplication and 
overlap among OJP's programs that are rooted in the agency's 
structure and have been magnified by its growth. Over the past 
several years, overlapping initiatives have been undertaken in 
areas ranging from gangs to domestic violence and youth crime. 
The current structure makes coordination difficult, and has 
promoted overlap and duplication. In the interest of insuring 
good stewardship of taxpayer dollars, this issue must be 
addressed through a management structure allowing for greater 
centralization of accountability and responsibility for 
obligation of all OJP funds. The Committee's experience with 
the existing OJP structure of five independent bureaus is that 
it cannot be as responsive to State and local needs as required 
to insure that appropriated funds are targeted in a planned, 
comprehensive and well-coordinated way. Therefore, the 
Committee directs the Assistant Attorney General of the Office 
of Justice Programs and the Department to develop proposed 
elements of a new OJP structure with streamlined, consolidated 
authorities which will ensure centralized management. These 
elements shall be provided to the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees no later than March 1, 1999.
    The Committee believes that the federal government needs to 
provide more effective support for communities seeking to 
develop creative solutions to the problem of care and treatment 
for people with severe mental illnesses. Since the treatment 
and community service needs of people with severe mental 
illness are so varied, no single federal department is in a 
position to provide resources and guidance to States and 
communities in dealing with this issue. The Committee therefore 
urges the Interagency Council on the Homeless to convene an 
interagency summit on severe mental illness and the inadvertent 
use of jails, prisons and homeless shelters as permanent 
housing for the severely and chronically mentally ill. The 
Committee anticipates the summit will produce an end product 
which will highlight the best practices and strategies to cope 
with the challenges faced by communities in dealing with 
homelessness and mental illness. The following agencies should 
be involved: HUD (Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning 
and Development, Housing); Justice (Bureau of Justice 
Assistance, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention, Federal Bureau of Prisons); HHS (National Institute 
of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration); Social Security Administration; and Veterans' 
Affairs (Veterans' Health Administration). The Interagency 
Council on the Homeless should make every effort to engage 
other stakeholders such as State and local officials and 
organizations representing people with severe mental illnesses 
and their families to participate in any such summit.

               state and local law enforcement assistance

    The Committee recommends a total of $2,924,150,000 for 
fiscal year 1999, of which $2,371,400,000 is provided from the 
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, for State and Local Law 
Enforcement Assistance programs. This amount represents an 
increase of $32,750,000 above the current year appropriation 
and $554,750,000 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]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               1999     
                                  1998      1999 request  recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct Appropriation:                                                   
    Byrne Grants                                                        
     (Discretionary)........        46,500  ............         47,750 
    Byrne Grants (Formula)..       462,500  ............        505,000 
                             -------------------------------------------
        Subtotal, Direct                                                
         Appropriation......       509,000             0        552,750 
                             ===========================================
Violent Crime Reduction                                                 
 Trust Fund:                                                            
    Byrne Grants                                                        
     (Discretionary)........  ............        47,750  ..............
    Byrne Grants (Formula)..        42,500       505,000                
    Local Law Enforcement                                               
     Block Grant............       523,000  ............        523,000 
        Boys and Girls Club                                             
         earmark............      (20,000)  ............       (20,000) 
    Juvenile Crime Block                                                
     Grant..................       250,000  ............        250,000 
    Youth Violence Courts...  ............        50,000  ..............
    Juvenile Prosecutor                                                 
     Program................  ............       100,000  ..............
    Community Prosecutors                                               
     Program................  ............        50,000  ..............
    Drug Intervention                                                   
     Treatment Program......  ............        85,000  ..............
    Indian Tribal Courts                                                
     Program................  ............        10,000  ..............
    Juvenile Drug Prevent                                               
     Program \1\............  ............         5,000  ..............
    Drug Courts.............        30,000        30,000         40,000 
    Upgrade Criminal History                                            
     Records................        45,000        45,000         45,000 
    State Prison Grants.....       720,500       711,000        730,500 
    State Criminal Alien                                                
     Asst. Program..........       420,000       350,000        420,000 
    Violence Against Women                                              
     Grants.................       270,750       270,750        279,750 
    State Prison Drug                                                   
     Treatment..............        63,000        72,000         63,000 
    DNA Identification                                                  
     Grants.................        12,500        15,000         15,000 
    Counterterrorism                                                    
     Technologies \2\.......  ............        10,000  ..............
    Grants to Firefighters                                              
     \2\....................  ............         5,000  ..............
Other Crime Control                                                     
 Programs:                                                              
    Missing Alzheimer's                                                 
     Patient Program........           900           900            900 
    Turberculosis in Prisons  ............         1,000  ..............
    Law Enforcement Family                                              
     Support................         1,000         2,000          1,500 
    Motor Vehicle Theft                                                 
     Prevention.............           750         2,000            750 
    Senior Citizens Against                                             
     Marketing Scams........         2,500         2,000          2,000 
                             -------------------------------------------
        Total Crime Trust                                               
         Fund...............     2,382,400     2,369,400      2,371,400 
                             ===========================================
        Total State and                                                 
         Local Assistance...     2,891,400     2,369,400      2,924,150 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Funded under Juvenile Justice.                                      
\2\ Funded under Counterterrorism Fund.                                 

                         Direct Appropriations

    Edward Byrne Grants to States.--The Committee 
recommendation provides $552,750,000 for the Edward Byrne 
Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program, of 
which $47,750,000 is for discretionary grants and $505,000,000 
is for formula grants under this program. The recommended level 
is the full level requested, and $1,250,000 above the fiscal 
year 1998 level.
    Discretionary Grants.--The Committee recommendation 
provides $47,750,000 for discretionary grants under Chapter A 
of the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement 
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:
          --continued funding for the National Crime Prevention 
        Council at least at the current year level 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;
          --$2,500,000 for continued funding for the Washington 
        Metropolitan Area Drug Enforcement Task Force and for 
        expansion of the regional gang tracking system;
          --continued funding to SEARCH Group, Inc. at least at 
        the current year level 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;
          --continued funding at least at the current year 
        level 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
          --$3,500,000 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.
          --$3,000,000 for the Community Law Enforcement and 
        Recovery (CLEAR) program, in which city and county law 
        enforcement agencies collaborate with community 
        agencies to target gang leadership and hard-core gang 
        members to remove them from the community.
    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: continued funding for a public 
safety master plan for the 2002 Olympics, the Rural Crime 
Prevention and Prosecution Demonstration Project, the community 
security program of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, 
Chicago's Family Violence Intervention Program, Haymarket 
House, the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and 
Operation Clean Break.
    In addition, within the amounts appropriated for 
discretionary grants, the Committee expects the Bureau of 
Justice Assistance to consider a grant to partially offset the 
extraordinary financial burden surrounding the requirements for 
the capital murder trial in Jasper County, Texas (or alternate 
trial venue). The Committee understands that the costs of this 
trial are estimated to exceed $350,000, which is more than 5 
percent of Jasper County's total budget. The Committee expects 
that BJA will take into account any State funding for the trial 
when determining an appropriate amount of assistance.
    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 the 
same level of funding as in the current year.

              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 as the level 
provided in the current fiscal year and $523,000,000 more than 
requested by the Administration, which proposed to eliminate 
funding for this block grant in its 1999 budget request. The 
budget included a request for $50,000,000 for a new 
discretionary community prosecutors program. The Committee 
notes that funding for prosecutors is an eligible use of the 
block grant.
    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 localities 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 
as evidenced by the following list of activities for which 
localities used these resources in fiscal year 1997:
          --$315,654,000, 79%, supported law enforcement 
        hiring, overtime and equipment and technology;
          --$41,946,000, 10%, supported crime prevention 
        programs;
          --$11,898,000 supported additional drug courts;
          --$12,841,000 supported the adjudication of violent 
        offenders, including violent juvenile offenders;
          --$13,125,000 supported enhanced security measures in 
        and around schools and public locations considered to 
        have a high risk for incidents of crime; and
          --$3,016,000 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 their eligibility for funding under the local law 
enforcement block grant. Language is included to assure that 
parish sheriffs are eligible to receive funding under this 
program.
    Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant.--The 
Committee recognizes the importance of supporting efforts that 
will continue to reduce juvenile crime. The recommendation 
includes $250,000,000 for the second year of funding for the 
juvenile accountability incentive block grant to address the 
needs of State and local entities in combating increasing 
violent crime among juveniles, the same level as in fiscal year 
1998, and $250,000,000 above the request, since the 
Administration proposed to terminate this program. In order to 
provide communities with the resources and flexibility to meet 
theirspecific needs, the Committee has provided funding for 
this block grant, instead of including $50,000,000 for a new 
discretionary grant program for youth violence courts and $100,000,000 
for a new discretionary grant program for State prosecutors, requested 
by the Administration to address juvenile crime. Language is included 
to provide for the distribution of block grant funding under the terms 
and conditions provided in the fiscal 1998 conference report, making 
funds available for the following purposes:
          (1) building, expanding or operating juvenile 
        detention and corrections facilities;
          (2) developing and administering accountability-based 
        sanctions for juvenile offenders;
          (3) hiring additional juvenile judges, probation 
        officers, and court-appointed defenders, and funding 
        pre-trial services for juveniles, to ensure the smooth 
        and expeditious administration of the juvenile justice 
        system;
          (4) hiring additional prosecutors so that more cases 
        involving violent juvenile offenders can be prosecuted 
        and backlogs can be reduced;
          (5) enabling prosecutors to address drug, gang, and 
        youth violence more effectively;
          (6) providing technology, equipment and training to 
        assist prosecutors in identifying and expediting the 
        prosecution of violent juvenile offenders;
          (7) enabling juvenile courts and probation offices to 
        be more effective and efficient in holding juvenile 
        offenders accountable;
          (8) establishing court-based juvenile justice 
        programs that target young firearms offenders through 
        the establishment of juvenile gun courts for the 
        adjudication and prosecution of juvenile firearms 
        offenders;
          (9) establishing drug court programs for juvenile 
        offenders;
          (10) establishing and maintaining interagency 
        information-sharing programs that enable the juvenile 
        and criminal justice system, schools, and social 
        services agencies to identify, control, supervise and 
        treat serious juvenile offenders;
          (11) establishing and maintaining accountability-
        based programs that work with the juvenile offenders 
        who are referred by law enforcement agencies, or which 
        are designed, in cooperation with law enforcement 
        officials, to protect students and school personnel 
        from drug, gang, and youth violence; and
          (12) providing controlled substance testing for 
        appropriate categories of juveniles within the juvenile 
        justice system.
    Criminal Records Upgrade Program.--The recommendation 
provides $45,000,000 for States to upgrade criminal history and 
records of protective orders involving domestic violence and 
stalking and to develop in-state sexual offender registries. 
The program supports State efforts for immediate identification 
of persons prohibited from firearms purchases through the 
National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This amount 
represents the full amount requested for this program, and the 
same level of funding as provided in fiscal year 1998.
    State Prison Grants.--The recommendation provides 
$730,500,000 for the State Prison Grant program, which is 
$19,500,000 above the request and $10,000,000 above the current 
year level. Of this amount, $165,000,000 is available to States 
for the incarceration of criminal aliens, $25,000,000 is for 
the Cooperative Agreement Program and $15,000,000 is for 
facilities in Indian Country. 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 
State prison grants is $525,500,000, which is the same amount 
as provided in fiscal year 1998, and $41,500,000 more than the 
request for this purpose.
    The Committee understands that there is a particular need 
for facilities in Indian Country and has increased the funding 
for the overall program by $10,000,000 above the level provided 
in fiscal year 1998 in order to provide $15,000,000 to be used 
exclusively for jails and detention facilities in Indian 
Country.
    State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.--The 
recommendation provides $420,000,000 for the State Criminal 
Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) for the reimbursement to 
States for the costs of incarceration of criminal aliens. This 
amount is in addition to $165,000,000 included for this purpose 
under the State Prison Grants program. Thus, the Committee 
recommends a total of $585,000,000 for reimbursement to States 
for the costs of alien incarceration, which is $85,000,000 more 
than the amount requested and the same level as the current 
year appropriation.
    The Committee understands that there have been significant 
delays in the distribution of SCAAP funds. In the past, the 
Committee has strongly encouraged OJP to make SCAAP awards to 
States and localities within the fiscal year in which they are 
appropriated. The Office of Justice Programs explains that 
distribution of funds can be delayed due to conflicting fiscal 
year schedules of many States, the requirement for INS to 
validate State and local data, and the need to make a final 
evaluation after the submission of the application and 
validation of the data is completed, which has caused payments 
to fall into the next fiscal year.
    The fiscal year 1997 SCAAP distribution announcement was 
not made until May of 1998. The Committee understands that an 
extension in the application deadline was made to accommodate a 
State that submitted its application late. While the Committee 
understands the need for OJP to work closely with State 
governments to be responsive to their needs, the Committee also 
notes that such extensions of deadlines delay awards to all 
States.
    The Committee encourages OJP to use every means at its 
disposal to make SCAAP awards to States and localities within 
the fiscal year in which they are appropriated. The Committee 
directs OJP to work with State and local officials to determine 
an application process which allows distribution of funds 
within the same fiscal year and to report to the Committee by 
August 31, 1998. The Committee also directs INS to make 
validation of the data submitted by the States in support of 
their application a high priority in order to expedite the 
processing of such applications.
    Indian Tribal Court Initiative.--The recommendation does 
not include funding for what was requested in the budget as an 
Indian Tribal Court Initiative, which is an initiative that is 
not defined or authorized, and was to be developed based on 
consultation with appropriate groups.
    Violence Against Women Act.--The Committee recommends 
$279,750,000 for grants to support the Violence Against Women 
Act. This amount represents an increase of $9,000,000 over the 
current year appropriation and the request. Grants provided 
under this recommendation are for the following programs:

                                       VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT PROGRAMS                                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       1999     
                                                                       1998        1999 request   recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Grants..................................................         172,000         200,750         200,750
    (Civil Legal Assistance)....................................        (12,000)  ..............        (23,000)
Victims of Child Abuse Programs:                                                                                
    Court-Appointed Special Advocates...........................           7,000           7,000           7,000
    Training for Judicial Personnel.............................           2,000           2,000           2,000
    Grants for Televised Testimony..............................           1,000           1,000           1,000
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies.............................          59,000          30,000          39,000
Rural Domestic Violence.........................................          25,000          25,000          25,000
National Stalker & Domestic Violence............................           2,750  ..............  ..............
Training Program................................................           2,000           5,000           5,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
      Total--VAWA programs......................................         270,750         270,750         279,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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, to develop and implement effective arrest 
and prosecution policies to prevent, identify and respond to 
violent crimes against women, and to provide much needed 
victims services including specialized domestic violence court 
advocates to obtain protection orders.
    The recommendation provides $200,750,000 for law 
enforcement and prosecution grants, commonly referred to as the 
STOP (Services-Training-Officers-Prosecutors) Violence Against 
Women Formula Grant Program, which is the level requested in 
the budget and an increase of $28,750,000 over the current 
fiscal year. The Committee recommendation includes $23,000,000 
for the purpose of augmenting civil legal assistance programs 
to address domestic violence.
    The recommendation includes $39,000,000 for Grants to 
Encourage Arrest Policies, $9,000,000 above the request.
    The recommendation also provides $5,200,000 for research 
and evaluation of domestic violence programs, and $1,196,000 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 victims 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.
    Drug Courts.--The recommendation includes $40,000,000 for 
the Drug Court program, $10,000,000 above the current fiscal 
year and the budget request. This program provides grants to 
State, local, and Indian tribal governments to develop 
treatment drug courts that subject non-violent offenders to an 
integrated mix of treatment, drug testing, incentives, and 
sanctions.
    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 is the amount of the current year 
appropriation, and $9,000,000 below the request. The 
recommendation does not include requested language expanding 
the use of these grants to provide after-care for released 
State prisoners.
    Drug Intervention Treatment Initiative.--The Committee does 
not recommend funding for this initiative, for which 
$85,000,000 was requested. The Committee is not aware that this 
initiative has been defined or legislation to authorize it 
submitted to the Congress.
    DNA Identification State Grants.--The recommendation 
includes $15,000,000 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 the same as the request and $2,500,000 
above the amount provided in fiscal year 1998.
    Safe Return Program.--The Committee recommendation includes 
$900,000 to continue and expand the national program to locate 
missing Alzheimer's patients, the same level as in fiscal year 
1998 and the request.
    Tuberculosis in Prisons.--The Committee recommendation does 
not include additional funds for treatment of tuberculosis in 
Federal and State prisons. In fiscal year 1998, no funding was 
provided for this purpose.
    Law Enforcement Family Support programs.--The 
recommendation includes $1,500,000 for programs that provide 
support services to law enforcement officers and their 
families, $500,000 above the level in the current year 
appropriation.
    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 as the level provided in fiscal year 
1998 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.

                       WEED AND SEED PROGRAM FUND

    The Committee recommendation provides $33,500,000 for the 
Weed and Seed program from direct appropriations, instead of 
$40,000,000 from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, as 
requested in the budget. In addition, the Committee assumes 
that funding for this program is an eligible use of Super 
Surplus funds available under the Assets Forfeiture Fund, and 
that the additional $6,500,000 can be provided from that source 
to assure funding at the total requested level.
    The Committee recognizes that crime disproportionately 
affects disadvantaged neighborhoods and that 10 percent of 
neighborhoods account for 60 percent 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. 
A funding level of $40,000,000 will provide 25 new communities 
with Weed and Seed funds, along with training from experienced 
Weed and Seed sites.
    The Committee also recommends bill language, 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 programs

    The Committee recommendation includes $1,420,000,000 for 
Community Oriented Policing Services--the COPS Program--for 
fiscal year 1999. Of this amount, $20,000,000 is for the Police 
Corps program, the same amount as requested and $10,000,000 
below the amount provided in fiscal year 1998. In addition, the 
Committeerecommendation allows $170,000,000 of unobligated 
balances to be used for innovative community policing programs.
    Police Hiring Initiatives.--The Committee has provided 
funding since fiscal year 1994 to support grants for the hiring 
of 75,615 police officers. The Committee's recommendation for 
fiscal year 1999 will provide funding for an additional 17,000 
officer grants, bringing the total number of new police officer 
grants under this program to 106,005, which will exceed the 
goals of the program. 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 
$359,717,000 of funds provided for the COPS program in fiscal 
year 1997 carried forward into 1998. As a result of this 
carryover, total funding available for the COPS program in 
fiscal year 1998 was $1,789,717,000. The Committee understands 
that as of May 31, 1998, only $607,194,000 of these funds have 
been obligated and anticipates that the COPS program will carry 
over a similar amount of funding into fiscal year 1999 after 
completion of its hiring grant process for 1998.
    With the significant progress being made toward the hiring 
goals of the program, the Committee also wants to ensure that 
there is adequate infrastructure for the new police officers, 
similar to the focus that has been provided for Federal law 
enforcement over the past several years, so that police 
officers may work more efficiently, equipped with the 
protection, tools and technology they need, and with the 
flexibility to design specific strategies to target specific 
crime problems, such as crime in and around schools, the 
emergence of methamphetamine in new areas, the challenges of 
policing ``hot spots'' of drug market activity, the problems of 
school violence, the need for additional community supervision 
officers in the District of Columbia, and additional assistance 
to meet the needs of law enforcement officers on Indian 
reservations. The Committee therefore believes that 
$170,000,000 of unobligated balances from fiscal year 1998 
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 Bulletproof Vests Initiative.--The Committee 
directs $25,000,000 of unobligated balances in the COPS program 
to be used to provide State and local law enforcement officers 
with bulletproof vests, in accordance with Public Law 105-181, 
recently enacted into law.
    The Committee understands that the National Institute of 
Justice is currently in the process of establishing stabproof 
vest standards but is not expected to finalize these standards 
for several years. The Committee urges NIJ to develop 
preliminary stabproof guidelines by April 1, 1999. The 
Committee understands that some States have already developed 
stabproof guidelines and urges NIJ to look to these existing 
guidelines for guidance. The Committee intends that these funds 
will be expended to purchase vests that meet bulletproof or 
stabproof standards and guidelines.
    2. COPS School Violence Initiatives.--The Committee directs 
$20,000,000 of unobligated balances in the COPS program to be 
used for grants to policing agencies and schools for programs 
aimed at preventing violence in public schools, and to support 
the assignment of school resource officers to work in 
collaboration with schools and community-based organizations to 
address crime and disorder problems, gangs, and drug activities 
affecting or occurring in or around an elementary or secondary 
school, to develop or expand crime prevention efforts for 
students, to provide education in crime prevention and safety, 
to develop or expand community justice initiatives, to train 
students in conflict resolution, to assist in identifying 
physical changes in the schools to reduce crime, and to assist 
with the development of anti-crime, school policy and 
procedural changes. These programs are necessary to address 
what appears to be a growing trend of extreme violence within 
schools by and against students. Within the overall amounts 
recommended for this 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 Stop Violence in Youth program to 
        teach elementary school children through role-playing 
        about alternatives to violence;
          --A grant to the Home Run Program to place probation 
        officers in school districts to assist elementary 
        schools with children beginning to engage in delinquent 
        behavior; and
          --A grant to support the Juvenile Anti-Violence 
        Demonstration Project of Future Homemakers of America 
        for a peer education program on alternatives to 
        violence and crime.
    3. COPS Technology Program.--The Committee recommendation 
directs that $50,000,000 of unobligated balances 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 
criminal information and intelligence among State and local law 
enforcement agencies to address multi-jurisdictional crimes. 
Additionally, this program is to be used to purchase the 
technology, including videoteleconferencing equipment, 
necessary to assist State and local law enforcement in 
contacting the Immigration and Naturalization Service to allow 
them to confirm the identification of illegal and criminal 
aliens in their custody.
    Within the amounts made available under this program, the 
Committee expects the COPS office to award grants for the 
following technology programs:
          --$9,000,000 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; 
        and
          --a grant for the Law Enforcement On-Line system, to 
        add State and local users to a secure national 
        interactive computer communications network currently 
        being developed with the FBI, at least at the current 
        level of funding.
    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 completion of the enhanced radio 
        communications project, at least at the current level 
        of funding;
          --a grant for the North Carolina Criminal Justice 
        Information System, to complete development of a 
        network to integrate data from various criminal justice 
        agencies to meet North Carolina's public safety needs, 
        at least at the current level of funding;
          --a grant for the Regional Information Sharing System 
        (RISS) for one-time system expansion requirements;
          --a grant for a demonstration program enabling local 
        law enforcement officers to field-test a portable hand-
        held digital fingerprint and photo device which would 
        be compatible with NCIC 2000; and
          --grants for technology to police departments in 
        communities that are in need of modernizing their 
        equipment and for which alternative sources of funding 
        are not available, including, if contacted, the 
        communities of Rockledge, Pennsylvania; Indianapolis, 
        Indiana; Riverside, California; Gainesville, Florida; 
        Jackson, Mississippi; Alhambra, California; Allegheny 
        County, Pennsylvania; and Utica, New York and 
        surrounding regional law enforcement.
    4. COPS Methamphetamine/Drug Hot Spots Program.--The 
Committee directs $50,000,000 of unobligated balances in the 
COPS program to be used for State and local law enforcement 
programs to combat methamphetamine production and distribution 
and to target drug ``hot spots.'' 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 is spreading 
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.
    The Committee also recognizes that most research on crime 
programs has concluded that the effective programs seem to 
share a key characteristic--they target specific types of 
crimes, convicts, or potential lawbreakers. The Committee 
believe that grants to policing agencies and community-based 
entities to fund directed patrols, proactive arrests and 
problem solving in drug ``hot spots'' will show evidence of 
drug and crime reduction. Within the amount provided, the 
Committee expects the COPS office to award grants for the 
following programs:
          --continuation at the current year funding level 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;
          --continuation at the current year funding level to 
        the Tri-State Methamphetamine Training program to train 
        officers from rural areas on methamphetamine 
        interdiction, covert operations, intelligence 
        gathering, locating clandestine laboratories, case 
        development, and prosecution; and
          --a grant for pilot projects in middle schools 
        particularly at risk, to the Drug Abuse Resistance 
        Education (DARE AMERICA) to test the recently agreed 
        upon strategies resulting from consultations between 
        the DARE program and prevention experts to improve the 
        effectiveness of this important program.
    5. COPS D.C. Offender Supervision Program.--The Committee 
directs that $10,000,000 of unobligated balances be used for 
hiring additional community supervision officers for probation, 
parole and pre-trial supervision activities and related program 
support for the District of Columbia Offender Supervision, 
Defender, and Court Services Agency. Within the $10,000,000, 
the Committee directs that $2,500,000 be used to provide 
enhanced information technology systems to improve 
communications among the offices of the D.C. Offender 
Supervision, Defender, and Court Services Agency, the Courts, 
and the U.S. Parole Commission, and to expand the case 
management information system to follow cases from arrest 
through any post-trial supervision. This recommendation is in 
response to the budget amendment submitted on July 9, 1998, 
which proposed additional resources for the D.C. Offender 
Supervision, Defender, and Court Services Agency earmarked out 
of unobligated balances under the COPS program and other 
programs.
    6. COPS Indian Law Enforcement Training and Equipment 
Program.--The Committee directs $15,000,000 of unobligated 
balances in the COPS program to be used to provide law 
enforcement training and equipment to existing law enforcement 
officers in Indian Country. While hiring grants are available 
for increasing tribal lawenforcement officers, and according to 
the Committee's understanding, an increase for tribal police has been 
provided in the Interior Appropriations bill, the Committee believes 
that there is an additional need for training, uniforms, and equipment, 
which this program is intended to provide.
    Management and Administration.--The Committee 
recommendation provides 266 positions, the current level, and 
$32,023,000 for the management and administration of the 
Community Oriented Policing Services. The Committee would be 
willing to consider up to an additional $2,000,000, if 
required, to carry out the requirements of administering this 
program within the standard reprogramming procedures under 
section 605 of this Act.

                       JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS

    The Committee recommendation provides a total of 
$282,950,000 for Juvenile Justice Programs for fiscal year 
1999, $5,000,000 more than the request and $44,278,000 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 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 is awaiting 
action in the Senate, and which provides authorizations for 
juvenile crime prevention funding. The Administration's budget 
request was based on a proposal that is not being considered in 
the House or the Senate. Consequently, the Committee 
recommendation includes language that provides that funding for 
these programs is based on the authorizations included in H.R. 
1818, as a model, and is subject to the provisions of 
authorization language that is enacted.
    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$265,950,000 for fiscal year 1999, $54,278,000 over the current 
year appropriation, for grants to States and localities and 
administrative expenses for Juvenile Crime and Delinquency 
Prevention Programs. Using H.R. 1818 as a model, the 
recommendation provides funding for the following programs:
          1. $200,000 for the Office of Juvenile Crime Control 
        and Delinquency Prevention (OJCCDP) (Part A), for 
        coordination of Federal efforts. Program Administration 
        has been provided for under the Office of Justice 
        Programs, instead of under this program.
          2. $86,000,000 for Formula Grants for assistance to 
        State and local programs (Part B).
          3. $125,000,000 for a Juvenile Delinquency Prevention 
        Block Grant Program (Part C).
          4. $15,000,000 for Research, Evaluation, Technical 
        Assistance and Training (Part D)
          5. $39,750,000 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:
          --a grant to continue funding at least at the current 
        level 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; and
          --$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 Parts D 
and 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 support Project O.A.S.I.S.; a grant to 
support the Intensive Services Program for Juveniles and 
Families at Risk; a grant to continue funding at the current 
level for law-related education; a grant to continue funding 
for the Violence Institute in New Jersey; a grant to the 
Suffolk University Center for Juvenile Justice; a grant to 
expand Women of Vision; a grant to the National Training and 
Information Center; a grant for the Delancy Street Foundation; 
a grant to the Shelby County Juvenile Offender Transition 
Program; a grant to L.A. Best and L.A. Bridges after school 
programs for youth at risk of gang affiliation; a grant to the 
Compton youth intervention center; a grant to Kids with a 
Promise; a grant to Operation Quality Time; continued support 
for the Hamilton Fish National Institute for School/Community 
Violence; and a grant for the Achievable Dream program for 
after school programs for youth at risk.
    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 $10,000,000 for the 
second year of this program to develop, demonstrate and test 
programs to increase the perception among children and youth 
that drug use is risky, harmful, or unattractive. This is 
$5,000,000 above last year and the request. The program was 
initiated last year because OJJDP was doing little in the area 
of targeting the problem of drug abuse by young people. This 
initiative is intended 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 Law Enforcement Assistance, Violent Crime Reduction 
Programs. The total amounts recommended for Victims of Child 
Abuse Act provide the full amount requested, the same as the 
amount provided in the current fiscal year. 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 provides a total of 
$32,059,000 for death benefits to public safety officers for 
fiscal year 1999, the full amount requested and an increase of 
$1,056,000 above the current year appropriation. 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.
    As in the current appropriation, disability benefits will 
be funded from the program's expected 1998 unobligated 
carryover balance, which, as of April 30, 1998 was $7,218,000. 
This program provides disability benefits for Federal, state, 
and local public safety officers who are permanently and 
totally disabled as the direct result of a catastrophic injury 
sustained in the line of duty.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes $250,000 
for the Federal Law Enforcement Dependents Assistance Program 
for fiscal year 1999, 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. This amount, together with 
anticipated 1998 unobligated balances, is sufficient to fund 
1999 program needs.

               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 1999 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 three 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, as proposed, that clarifies 
the authority of the Federal Prison System to provide telephone 
services through the commissary trust fund and pay operating 
costs for the benefit of inmates from the fund.
    Section 109 provides language, as proposed, providing 
authority to the Attorney General to dispose of surplus 
property.
    Section 110 provides language, as proposed, which replaces 
injury and death-related costs for INS officers with the same 
humanitarian expenses given to Federal Bureau of Investigation 
and Drug Enforcement Administration employees.
    Section 111 provides language, as proposed, which merges 
the Legalization Account into the Examinations Fee Account.

         TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND RELATED AGENCIES

    The Committee recommends a total of $4,883,474,000 for the 
programs of the United States Trade Representative, the 
International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce 
for fiscal year 1999. This amount is $2,992,810,000 below the 
total request and is $568,069,000 above the total amount 
appropriated for the Department and related agencies for fiscal 
year 1998. Of the total $564,519,000 funding increase 
recommended for the Department of Commerce in fiscal year 1999, 
$556,074,000 is provided solely for the cyclical increases 
necessary to prepare for the 2000 decennial census.
    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 $24,000,000 
for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 
for fiscal year 1999. This amount is $550,000 above the amount 
appropriated for fiscal year 1998 and $836,000 below the 
request.
    The Committee has provided full funding for the base 
program of USTR, including the full year costs required to 
support the 14 additional positions provided in fiscal year 
1998. The Committee continues to believe that trade monitoring 
and enforcement is critical to ensure the success of negotiated 
free trade agreements, and expects the USTR to apply its 
resources toward monitoring and enforcement of over 180 trade 
agreements which have been negotiated in the last several 
years. 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 recommendation does not include funds requested for the 
additional staffing increases in fiscal year 1999 due to the 
delays experienced in bringing on the additional personnel 
provided in fiscal year 1998. Furthermore, increased funding 
has not been provided for USTR's computer replacement program, 
which the Committee notes USTR initiated in fiscal year 1998 
through a reprogramming of existing resources. The Committee 
assumes that should USTR have additional needs in fiscal year 
1999, such requirements will be met either through a 
reprogramming of existing resources, or by accessing funds that 
may be appropriated separately for U.S. Government-wide Year 
2000 compliance. Finally, the recommendation does not include 
proposed bill language to provide extended availability for 
funding under this account based on information provided by the 
USTR indicating all funding provided will be expended in fiscal 
year 1999, thus making such authority unnecessary.
    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 $44,200,000 
for the International Trade Commission for fiscal year 1999. 
This amount is $3,000,000 above the appropriation for the 
current fiscal year and is $1,300,000 below the budget request.
    The recommendation provides full funding to maintain base 
operations and staffing at the current level of 396 full-time 
equivalents, as well as to provide for an additional 22 FTE for 
direct activities related to sunset reviews as required under 
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. The recommendation does not 
provide for an additional $1,300,000 and 7 additional FTE 
requested for administrative overhead.
    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 $296,616,000 in total funding 
availability for the programs of the International Trade 
Administration (ITA) for fiscal year 1999, $4,164,000 above the 
amount requested. Of this amount, $282,523,000 is derived from 
direct appropriations, $2,000,000 from estimated carryover, 
$10,493,000 from excess revenues from trade activities 
collected in prior years, and $1,600,000 in new fee 
collections.
    The recommendation reflects the Committee's continuing 
support for our nation's core trade promotion, enforcement and 
related activities, and its belief that the primary mission of 
ITA is to assist small and medium-sized companies who would be 
unable to successfully export without such assistance. As a 
result, the Committee recommendation has focused resources 
toward the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), the 
primary mechanism for providing such assistance to small and 
medium-sized businesses. While the Committee understands the 
importance of increased trade opportunities for allcompanies, 
the Committee is concerned that ITA's increased focus on advocacy 
efforts on behalf of large companies, as well as increased emphasis on 
using ITA programs to promote foreign policy, is detracting from the 
ITA's core mission which is to assist small and medium-sized companies. 
The Committee expects the ITA to refocus its priorities to this core 
mission.
    The following table reflects the distribution of the 
Committee recommendation by subactivity:

                                             [Dollars in thousands]                                             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      FY 1998                         FY 1999         FY 1999   
                                                      enacted      FY 1999 base       request       recommended 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade Development...............................         $58,986         $47,325         $48,325         $49,225
Market Access & Compliance......................          17,340          17,779          20,379          17,779
Import Administration...........................          28,770          29,447          31,047          31,047
US&FCS..........................................         171,070         178,736         180,786         186,650
Exec. Direction & Admin.........................          11,700          11,915          11,915          11,915
Offsetting Fee Collections......................               0               0         (6,000)         (1,600)
Estimated Carryover.............................         (4,800)               0               0        (12,493)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, ITA................................         283,066         285,202         286,452         282,523
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Trade Development.--The recommendation provides a total of 
$49,225,000 for this component, an increase of $900,000 above 
the request. The Committee has provided the full base funding 
requested, with one modification. Funding is not included to 
provide the requested increase of $400,000 for the Advocacy 
Center, and instead the Committee directs that no more than 
$1,100,000 be spent on this activity in fiscal year 1999. In 
addition, the recommendation includes $2,200,000 in program 
increases, of which $1,700,000 is for a new trade statistics 
improvement initiative, not requested in the budget, to improve 
the quality of state and metropolitan export data and to 
improve merchandise trade data. The remaining increase is to be 
used to continue the program to assist small businesses to 
improve their international competitiveness funded in fiscal 
year 1998. Further, the Committee has discontinued funding for 
two export promotion programs related to textiles and apparel, 
as requested.
    Market Access and Compliance.--The Committee recommends 
$17,779,000 for Market Access and Compliance. This funding 
level provides for all requested base adjustments, and includes 
$3,000,000 for the Trade Compliance Center. The recommendation 
does not provide for requested increases for headquarters trade 
policy analysts. In addition, the Committee has not provided 
additional funds for activities previously supported by the 
Agency for International Development (AID). The Committee 
believes that such specialized activities should continue to be 
supported by AID, and expects ITA to use carryover balances 
from amounts previously provided by AID, or to seek additional 
reimbursement from AID.
    Import Administration.--The Committee recommends 
$31,047,000 for the Import Administration, providing full 
adjustments to base and a $1,600,000 program increase for 
additional workload requirements associated with the sunset 
reviews required under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. In 
addition, the Committee remains concerned that no remedy exists 
for domestic producers under current antidumping laws where 
foreign producers sell through related party importers in the 
United States, and requests that the Department work with the 
Committee to identify possible administrative remedies to 
address this situation.
    U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.--The Committee 
recommends $186,650,000 for the US & FCS, an increase of 
$6,650,000 above the request and $15,580,000 above the amounts 
available in fiscal year 1998. Within the increase provided, 
$7,666,000 is for requested adjustments to base, and $6,914,000 
is for increased staffing at domestic and overseas field 
offices. The amount provided is to be used to support no less 
than 1,277 full time equivalents (FTE) for the US & FCS in 
fiscal year 1999, an increase of 28 FTE above the requested 
level, and directs that ITA submit a plan for the allocation of 
these resources no later than November 15, 1998, in accordance 
with section 605 of this Act. In addition, the Committee has 
provided $1,000,000 to continue the Rural Export Initiative at 
its current funding level.
    Executive Direction/Administration.--The Committee 
recommends $11,915,000 for the administrative and policy 
functions of ITA, the full amount requested. The Committee 
expects ITA to continue its support for Departmental trade 
activities in the same manner as it has in the past.
    In addition, language is included in the bill, as carried 
in fiscal year 1998, designating the amounts available for each 
unit within ITA. The Committee reminds ITA that any changes 
from the funding distribution provided in the bill and 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 provide to the Committee, not 
later than November 15, 1998, a spending plan for all ITA 
units, which incorporates any carryover balances.
    Trade Missions.--Last year, the Committee was made aware 
that other Commerce Department agencies are initiating and 
sponsoring trade missions. The Committee continues its 
direction provided last year that all trade missions involving 
Department of Commerce agencies must be initiated, coordinated 
and administered through ITA.
    Security Upgrades.--In fiscal year 1997, in response to 
heightened concerns over acts of terrorism, $9,400,000 was 
provided to upgrade the physical security of ITA facilities 
overseas. The Committee is concerned that in a report submitted 
on March 23, 1998, ITA indicated that to date only $1,972,000 
had been obligated for these purposes. The Committee directs 
the Departments of Commerce and State to take the necessary 
actions to expeditiously complete these upgrades. Further, the 
Committee understands that the Department has considered 
diverting a portion of these funds to the creation of a new 
office to conduct research and disseminate findings on security 
threats overseas. The Committee notes that no funds have ever 
been requested for, or provided for, this function, and 
believes that the creation of this new function is duplicative 
of activities already carried out by the Department of State 
and Federal law enforcement agencies overseas. Therefore, the 
Committee directs the ITA not to take any action to create or 
support such an office. In addition, the Department is 
requested to submit a report to the Committee, no later than 
November 15, 1998, on the current status of the use of these 
funds for overseas facilities security upgrades.

                         Export Administration

                     Operations And Administration

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $47,777,000 
for the Operations and Administration appropriation of the 
Bureau of Export Administration (BXA), an increase of 
$3,877,000 above the current level and $4,456,000 below the 
request. This amount, when combined with an additional 
$2,000,000 in carryover and recoveries estimated to be 
available in fiscal year 1999, will provide a total funding 
level of $49,777,000. Of the total amount available, the 
recommendation provides the following:
    Export Administration.--$24,500,000 is provided for export 
administration activities, of which $23,250,000 is provided in 
direct appropriations and $1,250,000 is from unobligated 
balances from funds provided previously due to delays in 
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Treaty. 
The Committee has provided an increase of $3,503,000 in fiscal 
year 1999 to pay for the full year costs associated with CWC 
implementation, including all costs related to the Department 
of Defense's On-Site Inspection Agency (OSIA) support for such 
activities. This action has been taken with the expectation 
that the necessary implementation legislation will be enacted 
prior to fiscal year 1999. Should such legislation not be 
enacted, the Committee expects the BXA to submit a 
reprogramming request in accordance with section 605 before 
using the funds provided for any other purpose.
    Export Enforcement.--$22,097,000 is provided for export 
enforcement activities. Of this amount, $21,505,000 is provided 
to maintain base activities, and $592,000 is provided for 
increased field office staffing for enforcement.
    Management and Policy Coordination.--$3,180,000 is provided 
for Management and Policy Coordination, the full amount 
requested to maintain base activities. However, the 
recommendation does not provide requested program increases to 
enable BXA to assume funding responsibility for activities 
previously supported by the Department of Defense and the 
Department of State. The Committee notes that the primary 
responsibility for non-proliferation activities lies with DOD 
and DOS, and believes that BXA support for such activities 
should be done using funds provided from those agencies.
    In addition, language is included in the bill requiring the 
BXA to notify appropriate congressional committees prior to the 
expenditure of funds provided in this Act for the processing of 
licenses for the export of satellites of United States origin 
to the People's Republic of China.

                  Economic Development Administration

    The accompanying bill provides a total of $393,379,000 for 
the programs and administrative expenses of the Economic 
Development Administration (EDA) for fiscal year 1999, as 
described below:

                Economic Development Assistance Programs

    A total of $368,379,000 is recommended for fiscal year 1999 
for Economic Development Assistance Programs, the same amount 
requested, and an increase of $28,379,000 above the current 
level.
    The recommendation reflects the Committee's continued 
support for the traditional programs of the Economic 
Development Administration which provide needed assistance to 
communities struggling with long-term economic dislocation, as 
well as sudden and severe economic dislocation. The Committee 
does not recommend reducing funding for the traditional EDA 
programs in order to create a new, separate program solely for 
trade-impacted communities, as was requested in the budget. 
Instead, the Committee has provided increases for the 
traditional programs to support all communities facing economic 
hardship.
    Of the amounts provided, $205,850,000 is for the Title I 
Public Works program, $34,629,000 is for Title IX Economic 
Adjustment Assistance, $84,800,000 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 and timber industry downturns due to 
environmental concerns at no less than the current level of 
effort.
    The Committee commends EDA for its efforts to follow the 
Committee's directive to reform EDA programs to ensure that 
funds provided under this account are targeted to the most 
severely distressed areas, which, absent the assistance 
provided by the EDA, would have little to 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 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 for the property in question. 
The language has been carried in the bill for the last four 
years.

                         Salaries And Expenses

    The Committee recommends $25,000,000 for the salaries and 
expenses of the Economic Development Administration. The amount 
provided is $4,590,000 below the request and equal to the total 
amount available in fiscal year 1998, to maintain the base 
operating level. Program increases have not been provided which 
were requested to create a new office to support community and 
economic adjustment issues arising from trade agreements, as 
such action would be contrary to the streamlining and 
reinvention initiatives which have been implemented by EDA over 
the last four years. Further, the Committee commends EDA on the 
success of these management reforms which have streamlined and 
better integrated EDA program delivery, thus enabling EDA to 
decrease its staffing by approximately 30%, while providing 
improved service to distressed communities.
    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 $25,276,000 for the Minority 
Business Development Agency (MBDA) for fiscal year 1999. This 
amount is $2,811,000 below the budget request and is $276,000 
above the amount provided in fiscal year 1998.
    The recommendation provides for requested adjustment to 
base. In addition, 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 $48,000,000 for the economic and 
statistical analysis programs of the Department of Commerce, 
including the Bureau of Economic Analysis, for fiscal year 
1999. This amount is $5,701,000 less than the budget request 
and $501,000 above the amount appropriated for fiscal year 
1998.
    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 
otherGovernment 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.

                          Bureau of the Census

    The Committee recommends a total of $1,252,034,000 for the 
Bureau of the Census for fiscal year 1999. This amount is an 
increase of $64,148,000 above the budget request, and an 
increase of $558,943,000 above the amount provided for the 
current fiscal year.

                         Salaries And Expenses

    The bill provides $140,147,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Bureau of the Census for fiscal year 1999, an 
increase of $2,869,000 above the current level, and $19,955,000 
below the request. Of the funds requested under this account, 
$10,000,000 was to be used to address Year 2000 compliance. The 
Committee has not provided this funding and instead assumes 
this requirement will be met by accessing funds that may be 
appropriated separately for U.S. Government-wide Year 2000 
compliance. Therefore, within the recommendation, the following 
program increases are provided: $4,346,000 for implementation 
of the North American Industry Classification System, and 
$4,000,000 for improved data collection for Gross Domestic 
Product estimates. In addition, the Committee continues to 
believe that the Bureau must continue 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 
non-core survey requested by any other Federal agency or 
private organization. The Committee directs the Bureau of the 
Census to make the Single Audit Clearinghouse database 
available to the public through the Internet.
    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 $1,111,887,000 for all 
periodic censuses and related programs funded under this 
heading in fiscal year 1999, an increase of $556,074,000 above 
the current fiscal year, and $84,103,000 above the request.
    Decennial Census Programs.--The recommendation includes 
$951,936,000 for decennial census programs in a separate 
appropriation under this account for fiscal year 1999, an 
increase of $103,433,000 above the budget request and 
$566,049,000 above the amount provided for fiscal year 1998. 
The Committee recommends the following for decennial census 
programs:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       FY99     
                                                                   FY98 enacted    FY99 request   recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Development & Management................................          23,928          20,242          20,242
Data Content & Products.........................................          21,718         139,806         139,806
Field Data Collection & Support.................................          91,390         208,389         290,400
Address List Development........................................          96,078         241,535         241,535
ADP & Telecommunications Support................................          58,981         142,705         142,705
Testing, Evaluation & Dress Rehearsal...........................          51,736          33,930          33,930
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Pacific.........................           5,739          10,198          10,198
Marketing, Communications & Partnership.........................          36,317          51,698          84,020
(Year 2000 Compliance Costs)....................................  ..............  ..............        (10,900)
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
      Total, Decennial Census...................................         385,887         848,503         951,936
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee is extremely concerned that the Census Bureau 
is failing to make progress on key decennial census activities, 
activities which are unrelated to the methodology for 
conducting the 2000 Census. Recent reports by both the General 
Accounting Office (GAO) and the Commerce Department's Inspector 
General identified serious problems in development and/or 
implementation of every major component and activity of the 
Census plan, including address list development and outreach 
and promotion, despite the fact that the 2000 Census is less 
than two years away. Even more troubling is the fact that due 
to such problems, critical components of the decennial census, 
such as address list development and use of complex computer 
systems for unduplication and matching of multiple responses, 
are not even being tested in the dress rehearsal. As a result, 
the Committee is extremely concerned that the 2000 Census is 
headed toward failure, putting at risk the $4,000,000,000 
investment which will have been made for this effort.
    Therefore, the Committee has provided the full amount 
requested to address these problems, including a $145,457,000 
increase to remedy problems with address list development. In 
addition, in order to ensure the Census Bureau is fully 
prepared to implement the 2000 decennial census, the Committee 
has provided an additional $104,433,000 above the request as 
follows: $82,011,000 to enable the Bureau to fully staff all 
Census offices at the beginning of fiscal year 1999 which the 
Bureau has indicated are necessary to be fully prepared under 
the dual track agreement; and $32,322,000 for additional 
marketing, promotion and outreach.
    In addition, the recommendation recognizes and facilitates 
the agreement reached last year between the Congress and the 
Administration to come to a final decision on the conduct of 
the 2000 Census in March, 1999. The Committee believes that the 
provisions included in fiscal year 1998 Act, which included an 
expedited judicial review process, and created a bipartisan 
Census Monitoring Board to oversee all aspects of the Census, 
will provide Congress and the Administration the opportunity to 
fully review this matter prior to March 1999. Further, it is 
the Committee's expectation that at that time better 
information regarding revised cost estimates will be available. 
The Committee believes that a final agreement must be reached 
on the conduct of the decennial census, and better information 
provided on funding requirements, prior to the expenditure of 
billions of dollars in taxpayer's money. Therefore, the 
Committee has taken the following actions to ensure that a 
final determination is made in the time frame agreed upon last 
year:
          --$475,968,000 is provided to fund decennial census 
        activities and operations through March 31, 1999. The 
        Committee directs that the Bureau allocate such 
fundsbased on a pro-rata basis for each line item in the table above, 
and directs the Bureau to provide monthly obligation reports on the 
expenditure of the funds provided.
          --$475,968,000 is provided, to become available only 
        after March 31, 1999, and only after the following has 
        occurred:
                  (1) the President has requested the release 
                of such funds and has submitted, by March 15, 
                1999, revised cost estimates for completion of 
                the 2000 Census; and
                  (2) Congress has passed, and the President 
                has signed, a subsequent Act authorizing the 
                release of such funds. In addition, to ensure 
                that this critical matter is addressed 
                expeditiously, the bill includes language 
                requiring the Congress to take action on the 
                President's request no later than March 31, 
                1999.
    The Committee notes that for the first time the Census 
Bureau is planning to use paid advertising in the decennial 
census. In October 1997, the Bureau awarded the advertising 
contract for the 2000 Census. The Committee is aware that 
concerns have been expressed that both the content and the 
media outlets used during the dress rehearsal for the 2000 
Census did not adequately convey to minorities the importance 
of everyone being counted in the census and did not adequately 
address the reasons why some people did not participate in the 
1990 Census. The Committee therefore directs the Bureau to 
ensure that diversity in the target audiences is fully 
addressed and that the advertising for the 2000 Census builds 
on the experience of the 1990 Census, and to report to the 
Committee every three months on the advertising contractor's 
progress in these areas.
    Census Monitoring Board.--The recommendation includes 
$4,000,000 as a separate appropriation for the bipartisan 
Census Monitoring Board in accordance with section 210 of 
Public Law 105-119, the same level provided in fiscal year 
1998.
    Other Periodic Programs.--In addition, the Committee 
recommends $155,951,000 for other periodic censuses and 
programs, a decrease of $9,975,000 below the amounts provided 
in fiscal year 1998, and $23,330,000 below the request. The 
following table represents the distribution of funds provided 
for other non-decennial periodic censuses and related programs:

Economic Censuses.......................................     $50,546,000
Census of Governments...................................       4,574,000
Intercensal Demographic Estimates.......................       5,260,000
Continuous Measurement..................................      20,000,000
Sample Redesign.........................................       5,000,000
Electronic Information Collection (CASIC)...............       6,081,000
Geographic Support......................................      41,742,000
Data Processing Systems.................................      22,748,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Total...............................................     155,951,000

    Continuous Measurement.--The recommendation provides 
$20,000,000 for this program, also known as the ``American 
Community Survey'', an increase of $3,400,000 above the current 
level, and a decrease of $18,577,000 below the request. The 
Committee has not provided the full requested increase because 
of the lack of progress in addressing any of the concerns and 
issues raised by the Committee last year. The Committee 
reiterates that, while it is supportive of this effort to 
replace the long-form in the 2010 decennial census and provide 
for better data collection, there are serious policy and 
budgetary ramifications which must be fully examined and 
decided prior to the creation of a $100,000,000 per year 
program. Such issues include, but are not limited to, the 
continuing inability of the Office of Management and Budget and 
the Bureau of the Census to reduce the burden of data 
collection and to pursue cost recovery from other Federal 
agencies for these activities. Further, serious questions 
remain about how such data will be used for the purposes of 
funding formulas, given concerns about potential discrepancies 
in both the timeliness and completeness of data among rural and 
urban areas. The Committee urges the Administration to work 
with the appropriate congressional committees to resolve these 
issues expeditiously.
    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 $47,940,000 for the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) for fiscal year 1999. This amount is equal to the budget 
request, and a decrease of $9,610,000 below the amount provided 
in fiscal year 1998.

                         Salaries And Expenses

    The Committee recommends $10,940,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses appropriation of the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, an amount equal to the budget 
request and $5,610,000 below the amount appropriated for fiscal 
year 1998. The Committee recommendation assumes an additional 
$19,271,000 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, reflecting implementation of a policy of 80 percent 
reimbursement for such services beginning in fiscal year 1999.

    Public Telecommunications Facilities, Planning and Construction

    The Committee recommends $21,000,000 for planning and 
construction grants for public television, radio, and non-
broadcast facilities, an increase of $6,000,000 above the 
request and the same amount provided in fiscal year 1998. This 
amount will allow the continuation of the existing equipment 
and facilities replacement program. The Committee does not 
include bill language, proposed in the budget, to change the 
purpose of this program to a digital conversion program. 
Language has been included in the bill, carried in previous 
years, which: (1) provides authority to use a portion of funds 
under this heading for program administration as authorized by 
law; and (2) 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 $16,000,000 for the Information 
Infrastructure Grant program under NTIA for demonstrations of 
new telecommunications technology applications. The 
recommendation is $4,000,000 below the current year funding 
level, and $6,000,000 below the budget request.
    The Committee recommendation reflects the fact 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. TheCommittee 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 language carried in previous 
appropriations act 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). The Committee does not 
recommend proposed changes to expand the use of these research 
funds.

                      Patent and Trademark Office

                         Salaries And Expenses

    The bill provides total funding of $785,526,000 for the 
Patent and Trademark Office in fiscal year 1999, the full 
amount requested, and an increase of $69,526,000 above the 
current year.
    Of this amount, $653,526,000 is to be derived from 
offsetting fee collections based on the current statutory fee 
schedule; $102,000,000 is to be derived from additional 
collections pursuant to the PTO Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3723) 
which passed the House on May 12, 1998; and $30,000,000 is to 
be derived from prior year unobligated balances. Within the 
amounts available to the PTO in fiscal year 1999, the Committee 
expects that not less than $5,000,000 will be provided to 
expand PTO's relationship with the National Inventor's Hall of 
Fame and Inventure Place.
    Beginning in fiscal year 1999, upon expiration of the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993, PTO will 
become fully self-financed by offsetting fee collections. Prior 
to fiscal year 1999, under the terms of OBRA, a surcharge was 
levied on patents to provide mandatory savings for deficit 
reduction. To mitigate the impact of this diversion mandated by 
OBRA for deficit reduction, direct discretionary appropriations 
were provided to maintain PTO's operational needs. The 
Committee is pleased that this diversion will end in fiscal 
year 1998, but notes that the expiration of OBRA has created a 
situation whereby an adjustment in the fee schedule is 
necessary to maintain PTO's operations. The Committee commends 
the authorization committee for moving expeditiously to address 
this situation, and has included bill language making fees 
collected pursuant to this legislation available to the PTO 
upon enactment of such legislation. In addition, bill language 
is continued providing for the collection and expenditure of 
fees pursuant to current statutory authority.
    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, 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

       Under Secretary For Technology/Office of Technology Policy

                         Salaries and expenses

    The Committee recommends $9,000,000 for the Technology 
Administration's Office of the Under Secretary/Office of 
Technology Policy. This amount is a reduction of $993,000 from 
the budget request, and $500,000 above the amount appropriated 
for the current fiscal year.
    The Committee recommendation provides $2,100,000 in fiscal 
year 1999 for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
Technology (EPSCoT), and $6,900,000 for the base program of the 
Technology Administration (TA).
    The Committee continues its direction included in the 
fiscal year 1998 Act regarding the use of TA and Department of 
Commerce resources to support foreign policy initiatives and 
programs.

             National Institute of Standards and Technology

    The Committee recommends a total of $624,184,000 for the 
appropriations accounts under the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) for fiscal year 1999. The 
recommendation is $90,857,000 below the budget request, 
exclusive of advance appropriations, and a decrease of 
$53,668,000 below the amount appropriated for fiscal year 1998. 
In addition, the recommendation does not include requested 
advance appropriations for FY 2000 through FY 2002 for NIST 
construction. A description of each account and the Committee 
recommendation follows:

             Scientific and Technical Research And Services

    The Committee has provided $280,470,000 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 $3,618,000 above the 
current level and $11,166,000 below the budget request. The 
amounts provided in this account reflect the Committee's 
continuing commitment to funding basic research programs that 
benefit the nation's industries.
    The Committee notes that, in an era of declining budgets, 
the core programs of NIST have enjoyed significant support, 
receiving continued program increases. While the Committee has 
not provided the full amount in program increases requested in 
the budget, the Committee points out that the Administration's 
budget proposed to pay for the requested increases out of 
revenues generated by tobacco settlement legislation, which is 
outside of the control of this Committee. However, given the 
importance of NIST core research programs, the Committee has 
worked to identify additional discretionary funds to support 
the highest priority NIST research programs.
    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 1998 (H.R.1274), which passed the House by 
voice vote on April 24, 1997:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Fiscal year 1999          
                                  --------------------------------------
                                       Base       Request    Recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electronics & Electrical                                                
 Engineering.....................       36,627       38,627       38,627
Manufacturing Engineering........       19,368       19,368       19,368
Chemical Science & Technology....       32,493       39,493       32,493
Physics..........................       28,434       28,434       28,434
Material Sciences and Engineering       52,035       51,335       51,335
Building and Fire Research.......       13,698       16,698       15,698
Computer Science & Applied                                              
 Mathematics.....................       43,943       43,943       43,943
Technology Assistance............       15,131       19,131       15,965
Baldrige Quality Awards..........        3,070        5,370        5,370
Research Support.................       29,237       29,237       29,237
                                  --------------------------------------
      Total, STRS................      274,036      291,636      280,470
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The recommendation provides full funding for all base 
activities for the internal research programs of NIST, and 
includes selected program increases for the highest priority 
programs. Within the amounts provided, the Committee has 
included the following program increases: (1) $2,000,000 for 
semiconductor metrology; (2) $2,000,000 to continue the 
disaster research program on effects of windstorms begun in 
fiscal year 1998; (3) $834,000 for increased support for 
international standards activities; and (4) $2,300,000 to 
expand the Malcolm Baldrige program to health care and 
education. The Committee has not provided requested increases 
proposed to give NIST new responsibilities related to 
implementation of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate and Global 
Change and disaster mitigation, because these proposed 
activities represent new responsibilities for NIST and are 
duplicative of activities already conducted by other Federal, 
State, and local agencies. In an era of fiscal constraint, the 
Committee has been, and remains, supportive of NIST's critical 
research function and believes that scarce resources should be 
targeted to supporting NIST's core research mission. Further, 
while the Committee has provided an increase to bolster NIST's 
activities related to international standards, the Committee 
continues its directive included in previous years regarding 
the placement of additional NIST personnel overseas or support 
for foreign service nationals.

                     Industrial Technology Services

    The Committee recommends $287,000,000 for the Industrial 
Technology Services appropriation of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology. This amount is $19,000,000 below the 
current year appropriation, and is $79,691,000 below the budget 
request.
    Advanced Technology Program: The Committee provides 
$180,200,000 for the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), a 
decrease of $12,300,000 below the fiscal year 1998 
appropriation, and $79,691,000 below the request. The 
recommendation, when combined with $23,800,000 in excess 
balances from prior years, will provide a total funding level of 
$204,000,000 for the program.
    The recommendation provides the following: (1) $43,000,000 
in fiscal year 1999 funds for new awards; (2) $120,200,000 for 
continued funding requirements for awards made in fiscal years 
1996, 1997, and 1998 to be derived from $96,400,000 in fiscal 
year 1999 funding and $23,800,000 from excess balances 
available from prior years; and (3) $40,800,000 for 
administration, internal lab support, and Small Business 
Innovation Research requirements.
    In addition, bill language is included 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 has been frustrated by NIST's continuing 
inability to accurately project its funding requirements for 
this program, as evidenced by the $23,800,000 in excess funds 
NIST has available which are not necessary to meet current 
requirements. In a time of fiscal constraint, accurate 
information is critical. The Committee appreciates the actions 
taken by NIST and the Department to provide quarterly reports 
to the Committee of current year deobligations. The Committee 
requests that such reports be expanded to include quarterly 
obligation data. In addition, NIST is directed to review the 
current standard formula used for estimation of mortgages 
requirements and provide a report to the Committee, not later 
than February 1, 1999, which includes a comparison of estimated 
mortgages requirements versus actual requirements for new 
awards made in each of fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997, 
as well as recommendations for revisions to the formula which 
would more accurately reflect true requirements.
    Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program: The Committee 
has included $106,800,000 for the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership (MEP) Program, the full amount requested. Of this 
amount, $98,300,000 is provided for the Regional Centers 
program, the full amount necessary for continuation of all 
existing centers, including those centers which have reached 
their statutory six-year time limit, as well as to continue the 
existing SBDC-manufacturing field offices at the fiscal year 
1998 level. In addition, $8,500,000 is provided for program 
administration. While the recommendation does not include the 
requested increase for program administration, the Committee 
believes any inflationary adjustments can be absorbed within 
savings realized through the elimination of the national 
programs office, as funding for this program was eliminated in 
fiscal year 1998.
    In addition, the Committee recommends bill language, as 
proposed in the budget, to lift the statutory six-year time 
limitation for center funding.

                  Construction of Research Facilities

    The Committee recommendation includes $56,714,000 for 
construction, renovation, and maintenance of NIST facilities, 
the full amount requested for fiscal year 1999, and $38,286,000 
below the fiscal year 1998 level. In addition, the 
recommendation does not include $115,000,000 requested for 
advance appropriations for FY 2000 through FY 2002 for this 
account.
    The Committee remains frustrated that NIST and the 
Administration do not make facilities requirements an integral 
part of NIST's overall mission requirements and budget 
priorities. This is once again evidenced by the fact that the 
budget proposes significant increases for other NIST programs, 
while forcing NIST to rely on unacceptable budget gimmicks to 
address facilities needs. In addition, the Committee is 
disappointed that the report submitted by NIST, as requested by 
the Committee, failed to undertake a comprehensive review of 
NIST facilities requirements in light of fiscal realities and 
changing requirements.
    Therefore, the Committee has included bill language again 
this year, making the $40,000,000 provided for construction of 
the Advanced Metrology Laboratory contingent upon submission of 
a plan for the expenditure of these funds. Such a plan should 
include an updated, comprehensive review of the requirements 
for the AML and a realistic funding profile and construction 
schedule for completion of the project.
    This program supports all NIST activities by providing the 
facilities necessary to carry out the NIST mission. The 
Institute has proposed a multiyear effort to construct advanced 
technology laboratories and to renovate NIST's current 
buildings and laboratory facilities in compliance with more 
stringent science and engineering program requirements.

            National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    The Committee recommends a total of $2,009,861,000 in new 
budget (obligational) authority for the five appropriation 
items of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) and transfers totaling $62,381,000. This amount is an 
increase of $7,722,000 above the regular amounts appropriated 
under these accounts for fiscal year 1998, and a decrease of 
$78,314,000 below the request for direct appropriations and a 
decrease of $22,281,000 below the request for increases to be 
paid for through the imposition of controversial new fisheries 
and navigation safety fees. In addition, the Committee has not 
provided $2,797,815,000 requested for advance appropriations 
for fiscal years 2000 through 2011.
    The Committee recommendation includes significant resources 
to address NOAA's highest priority needs, including: 
$92,805,000 for critical navigation safety programs, an 11% 
increase over the request; $70,125,000 for Clean Water 
programs, a 17% increase over the fiscal year 1998 level, 
including $8,725,000 devoted exclusively to research on the 
causes and effects of harmful algal blooms such as pfisteria 
and hypoxia; $642,172,000 for the activities of the National 
Weather Service, including a $33,483,000 increase over fiscal 
year 1998 for base operations, research and maintenance 
activities, as well as funding to complete the ongoing NWS 
modernization activities; and $439,444,000 for weather 
satellite programs, a $109,539,000 increase over fiscal year 
1998.

                  Operations, Research, and Facilities

                     (including transfers of funds)

    The bill includes $1,470,042,000 in new budget 
(obligational) authority for the coastal, fisheries, marine, 
weather, environmental, satellite, and other programs funded in 
this appropriation. This amount is a reduction of $17,439,000 
from the budget request for direct appropriations under this 
account. In addition, the recommendation does not include an 
additional $22,281,000 in funding requested for certain 
fisheries programs as the budget proposed to finance such 
programs through increased revenues from unacceptable new 
fisheries and navigation fees.
    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 $3,353,000 Saltonstall-Kennedy 
grant program, in addition to any carryover realized in the 
Fund from fiscal year 1998. The total amount provided also 
includes a transfer of $4,714,000 from the Damage Assessment 
Revolving Fund, as included in the budget request, $1,700,000 
from the Federal Ship Financing Fund to cover administrative 
expenses related to that account, and prior year deobligations 
and carryover funding totaling $31,327,000. 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 this program.
    Language is also included in the bill specifying the total 
amount of direct obligations available for each of the six NOAA 
line organizations 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. In addition, 
the bill also includes language regarding the practice of 
assessing NOAA line organizations, programs, projects, and 
activities, to support NOAA and line organization overhead and 
programs over and above the amounts specifically provided. 
Language is also included regarding use of deobligations in 
excess of amounts estimated in the budget.
    Further, the Committee expects NOAA to follow the 
directions 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 
frustrated by NOAA's continued inability to address the serious 
budgetary and financial management problems which have been 
highlighted by this Committee, the General Accounting Office, 
the Inspector General, and its own independent auditors for the 
last three years. These problems include, but are not limited 
to, the following: (1) NOAA's inability to project its funding 
requirements for any given fiscal year; (2) NOAA's complete 
disregard for the direction included in the fiscal years 1996, 
1997, and 1998 House Reports and Statement of Managers included 
in the Conference Report accompanying the fiscal years 1996, 
1997 and 1998 Appropriations Acts, for the Department of 
Commerce and NOAA regarding development of a revised budget 
structure that displays the amounts requested under a true 
program office and activity structure, and which also 
segregates amounts requested for headquarters and field office 
components for various activities, as well as indicates the 
amounts intended for external grants and contracts; and (3) 
NOAA's refusal to follow the guidance given by both its 
independent auditors and the Inspector General which have 
recommended that its financial information be presented under a 
true program office and activity structure to allow for better 
oversight and management of its resources.
    The Committee is aware that a new Chief Financial Officer 
(CFO) has been appointed by NOAA, and the Committee looks 
forward to working with the CFO to expeditiously resolve these 
problems. 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 September 15, 1998, a 
draft outline for a revised budget structure in accordance with 
the direction given in previous Committee reports; (2) submit 
to the Committee, not later than September 15, 1998, a plan for 
implementing the independent auditors' recommendations 
regarding the presentation of its financial information; and 
(3) submit to the Committee, not later than November 1, 1998, 
an operating plan for expenditure of funds available to NOAA in 
fiscal year 1999 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.
    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, 1998. Despite this policy, the 
Administration failed to transmit to the Congress in a timely 
fashion the necessary legislation to implement the 
Administration's stated policy. Such delay contributed to 
uncertainty and hardship on Corps officers, and resulted in an 
imbalance in the complement of Corps officers which could 
adversely affect the ability of NOAA to meet its mission 
requirements. The Committee is pleased that on June 17, 1998, 
the Administration took action to resolve this uncertainty, by 
announcing a series of management changes to reorient the NOAA 
Corps to its critical mission, in lieu of complete 
dismantlement. These changes include: (1) creating a civilian 
head for the NOAA's Corps, whose responsibility will be to 
partner with private industry and academia to meet NOAA's ship 
and aircraft requirements; (2) providing a complement of 240 
Corps officers to operate current ships and aircraft, while 
requiring continued reliance on contracting out for similar 
services to meet mission requirements; (3) realigning the NOAA 
Corps staffing structure to refocus it on the central mission 
of ship and aircraft services and support; and (4) conducting 
periodic reviews of Corps staffing needs as ships and aircraft 
are decommissioned and mission requirements change.
    The Committee encourages NOAA to work expeditiously to 
implement this proposal, and directs NOAA to provide to the 
Committee a complete implementation plan, not later than 
November 1, 1998, in accordance with section 605 of this Act. 
Upon submission of this implementation plan, the Committee will 
support the recruitment of new classes of NOAA Corps officers. 
Reflecting this new proposal, the bill includes language, 
similar to that carried in previous years, placing a ceiling of 
not to exceed 240 commissioned officers as of September 30, 
1999. The Committee notes that NOAA expects 236 officers to be 
on-board at the end of FY 1998, and therefore assumes NOAA will 
be able to meet the ceiling included in the recommendation 
while fully implementing the proposed changes to the Corps.
    The following table compares the Committee recommendation 
to the 1998 enacted appropriation and the fiscal year 1999 
budget request for the activities, sub-activities, and projects 
funded in this appropriation:

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS, RESEARCH AND
                      FACILITIES, FISCAL YEAR 1999                      
                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Fiscal years--             
                               -----------------------------------------
                                                                1999    
                                1998 enacted  1999 request   recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE                                              
                                                                        
Navigation Services:                                                    
    Mapping and Charting......       30,100        30,100        31,100 
        Address Survey Backlog       13,900         8,500        16,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal............       44,000        38,600        47,100 
    Geodesy...................       20,700        19,159        19,159 
    Tide and Current Data.....       11,350        11,000        12,000 
    Acquisition of Data.......       14,546        14,546        14,546 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Navigation                                                 
       Services...............       90,596        83,305        92,805 
                               =========================================
Ocean Resources Conservation                                            
 Assessment:                                                            
    Estuarine and Coastal                                               
     Assessment...............        2,674         2,674         2,674 
        Ocean Assessment                                                
         Program..............       35,300        41,336        33,861 
        Damage Assessment.....        3,000         4,500         4,000 
        Transfer from Damage                                            
         Assessment Fund......        6,915         5,683         5,683 
        Oil Pollution Act of                                            
         1990.................        1,000         1,000         1,000 
        Ocean Services........        2,500   ............  ............
        Oceanic and Coastal                                             
         Research.............        7,910         7,410         7,410 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal--Est &                                               
           Coastal Assess.....       59,299        62,603        54,628 
    Coastal Ocean Program.....       17,200        17,800        19,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, ORCA.............       76,499        80,403        73,628 
                               =========================================
Ocean and Coastal Management:                                           
    Coastal Management:                                                 
        CZM Grants............       49,700        55,700        52,700 
        Estuarine Research                                              
         Reserve System.......        5,650         4,300         4,300 
        Nonpoint Pollution                                              
         Control..............        1,000         6,000         2,000 
        Program Administration        4,500         4,500         4,500 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal............       60,850        70,500        63,500 
    Marine Sanctuary Program..       14,000        13,200        15,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Ocean & Coastal                                            
       Management.............       74,850        83,700        78,500 
                               =========================================
      Total, NOS..............      241,945       247,408       244,933 
                               =========================================
   NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES                                            
            SERVICE                                                     
                                                                        
Information Collection and                                              
 Analysis:                                                              
    Resource Information......       99,300        92,714        94,741 
        Antarctic Research....        1,200         1,200         1,200 
        Chesapeake Bay Studies        1,890         1,500         1,890 
        Right Whale Research..          400           200           250 
        MARFIN................        3,500         3,000         3,000 
        SEAMAP................        1,200         1,200         1,200 
        Alaskan Groundfish                                              
         Surveys..............          950           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   ............  ............
        Yukon River Chinook                                             
         Salmon...............          700           700           700 
        Atlantic Salmon                                                 
         Research.............          710           710           710 
        Gulf of Maine                                                   
         Groundfish Survey....          567           567           567 
        Dolphin/Yellowfin Tuna                                          
         Research.............          250           250           250 
        Habitat Research/                                               
         Evaluation...........          450   ............  ............
        Pacific Salmon Treaty                                           
         Program..............        5,587         5,587         5,587 
        Hawaiian Monk Seals...          550           500           550 
        Steller Sea Lion                                                
         Recovery Plan........        2,770         1,440         1,770 
        Hawaiian Sea Turtles..          248           248           248 
        Bluefish/Striped Bass.          800   ............        1,000 
        Halibut/Sablefish.....        1,200         1,200         1,200 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal............      125,497       114,402       118,249 
                               =========================================
    Fishery Industry                                                    
     Information:                                                       
        Fish Statistics.......       13,000        14,500        13,000 
        Alaska Groundfish                                               
         Monitoring...........        5,500         5,200         5,200 
        PACFIN/Catch Effort                                             
         Data.................        4,700         3,000         4,700 
        Recreational Fishery                                            
         Harvest Monitoring...        3,900         3,100         3,900 
        GULF FIN Data                                                   
         Collection Effort....  ............  ............        3,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal............       27,100        25,800        29,800 
                               =========================================
    Information Analyses and                                            
     Dissemination............       20,900        20,900        20,900 
        Computer Hardware and                                           
         Software.............        4,000         4,000         4,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal............       24,900        24,900        24,900 
                               =========================================
    Acquisition of Data.......       25,098        25,098        25,098 
                               =========================================
      Total, Information,                                               
       Collection and Analyses      202,595       190,200       198,047 
                               =========================================
Conservation and Management                                             
 Operations:                                                            
    Fisheries Management                                                
     Programs.................       27,250        34,400        25,450 
        Columbia River                                                  
         Hatcheries...........       12,055        10,300        10,300 
        Columbia River                                                  
         Endangered Species...          288           288           288 
        Regional Councils.....       11,900        12,800        12,800 
        International                                                   
         Fisheries Commissions          400           400           400 
        Management of George's                                          
         Bank.................          478           478           478 
        Beluga Whale Committee          200           200           200 
        Pacific Tuna                                                    
         Management...........        2,300         1,250         1,250 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal, Fisheries                                           
           Mgmt Programs......       54,871        60,116        51,166 
                               =========================================
    Protected Species                                                   
     Management...............        6,200         6,200         6,200 
        Driftnet Act                                                    
         Implementation.......        3,278         3,278         3,278 
        Marine Mammal                                                   
         Protection Act.......        9,500         9,500         9,500 
        Endangered Species Act                                          
         Recovery Plan........       20,200        30,450        20,200 
        Dolphin Encirclement..  ............        3,300         3,300 
        Fishery Observer                                                
         Training.............          417   ............          417 
        East Coast Observers..          350           350           350 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal, Protected                                           
           Species Mgmt.......       39,945        53,078        43,245 
                               =========================================
    Habitat Conservation......        8,500        10,700         8,400 
    Enforcement & Surveillance       17,600        18,500        17,600 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Conservation,                                              
       Mgmt & Operations......      120,916       142,394       120,411 
                               =========================================
State and Industry Assistance                                           
 Programs:                                                              
    Interjuridsictional                                                 
     Fisheries Grants.........        2,600         2,600         2,600 
    Anadromous Grants.........        2,100         2,100         2,100 
    Anadromous Fishery Project  ............          258   ............
    Interstate Fish                                                     
     Commissions..............        6,750         4,000         6,750 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Subtotal, State &                                                 
       Industry Assistance....       11,450         8,958        11,450 
                               =========================================
    Fisheries Development                                               
     Program:                                                           
        Product quality and                                             
         safety/Seafood                                                 
         Inspect..............       10,524         9,824         9,824 
        Hawaiian Fisheries                                              
         Development..........          750   ............  ............
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal, Fisheries                                           
           Development........       11,274         9,824         9,824 
                               =========================================
          Total, State and                                              
           Industry Programs..       22,724        18,782        21,274 
                               =========================================
          Total, NMFS.........      346,235       351,376       339,732 
                               =========================================
    OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC                                             
           RESEARCH                                                     
                                                                        
Climate and Air Quality                                                 
 Research:                                                              
    Interannual & Seasonal....       12,900        12,900        12,900 
    Climate & Global Change                                             
     Research.................       60,000        62,000        60,000 
    GLOBE.....................        5,000         6,000   ............
                               -----------------------------------------
      Subtotal................       77,900        80,900        72,900 
                               =========================================
    Long-term climate & Air                                             
     Quality Research.........       29,402        30,387        29,757 
        High Performance                                                
         Computing............        7,500        12,500         9,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal............       36,902        42,887        38,757 
                               =========================================
          Total, Climate and                                            
           Air Quality                                                  
           Research...........      114,802       123,787       111,657 
                               =========================================
Atmospheric Programs:                                                   
    Weather Research..........       37,213        34,613        34,613 
    Wind Profiler.............        4,350         4,350         4,350 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Subtotal................       41,563        38,963        38,963 
    Solar/Geomagnetic Research        5,700         6,000         6,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Atmospheric                                                
       Programs...............       47,263        44,963        44,963 
                               =========================================
Ocean and Great Lakes                                                   
 Programs:                                                              
    Marine Research Prediction       22,976        15,251        19,501 
        GLERL.................        6,000   ............        6,825 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Subtotal............       28,976        15,251        26,326 
    Sea Grant.................       56,000        50,182        59,000 
    National Undersea Research                                          
     Program..................       15,500         4,150   ............
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Ocean and Great                                            
       Lake Program...........      100,476        69,583        85,326 
                               =========================================
    Acquisition of Data.......       15,000        12,884        12,884 
                               =========================================
      Total, OAR..............      277,541       251,217       254,830 
                               =========================================
   NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE                                             
                                                                        
Operations and Research:                                                
    Local Warnings and                                                  
     Forecasts................      324,000       354,851       352,650 
    MARDI.....................       73,674        64,036        64,036 
    Advanced Hydrological                                               
     Prediction System........  ............        4,200   ............
    Radiosonde Replacement....          910         4,340         2,000 
    Susquehanna River Basin                                             
     flood system.............        1,120           619         1,250 
    Aviation forecasts........       35,596        35,596        35,596 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Subtotal................      435,300       463,642       455,532 
    Central Forecast Guidance.       29,543        35,574        31,000 
    Atmospheric and                                                     
     Hydrological Research....        2,489         2,964         2,964 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Operations and                                             
       Research...............      467,332       502,180       489,496 
                               =========================================
Systems Acquisition:                                                    
    Public Warnings and                                                 
     Forecast Systems:                                                  
        NEXRAD................       39,591        38,346        38,346 
    ASOS......................        5,341         7,116         7,116 
    AWIPS/NOAA Port...........  ............       12,189        12,189 
    Computer Facilities                                                 
     Upgrades.................        8,000         4,600         4,600 
                               -----------------------------------------
          Total, Systems                                                
           Acquisition........       52,932        62,251        62,251 
                               =========================================
          Total, NWS..........      520,264       564,431       551,747 
                               =========================================
    NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL                                              
     SATELLITE, DATA, AND                                               
      INFORMATION SERVICE                                               
                                                                        
Satellite Observing Systems:                                            
    Polar Convergence/IPO.....       34,000   ............  ............
    Ocean Remote Sensing......        4,000         4,000         1,500 
    Environmental Observing                                             
     Systems..................       50,347        51,486        50,347 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Satellite                                                  
       Observing Systems......       88,347        55,486        51,847 
                               =========================================
Environmental Data Management                                           
 Systems......................       27,500        28,550        33,550 
    Data and Information                                                
     Services.................       16,335        16,335        16,335 
    Regional Climate Centers..        2,500   ............        2,500 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, EDMS.............       46,335        44,885        52,385 
                               =========================================
      Total, NESDIS...........      134,682       100,371       104,232 
                               =========================================
        PROGRAM SUPPORT                                                 
                                                                        
Administration and Services:                                            
    Executive Direction and                                             
     Administration...........       19,200        19,200        19,200 
    Systems Acquisition Office        1,420   ............  ............
                               -----------------------------------------
      Subtotal................       20,620        19,200        19,200 
    Central Administrative                                              
     Support..................       31,850        31,850        31,850 
    Retired Pay Commissioned                                            
     Officers.................        8,000         7,000         7,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Administration                                             
       and Services...........       60,470        58,050        58,050 
                               =========================================
    Aircraft Services.........       10,400        10,500        10,500 
    Rent Savings..............       (4,656)  ............       (4,656)
      Total, Program Support..       66,214        68,550        63,894 
Fleet Maintenance.............       13,500         9,600         6,300 
                               =========================================
          FACILITIES                                                    
                                                                        
NOAA Facilities Maintenance...        1,800         1,800         1,800 
NOAA-wide Space Planning......  ............          735   ............
Sandy Hook Lease..............        2,000         2,000         2,000 
Environmental Compliance......        2,000         2,000         2,000 
WFO Maintenance...............        1,000         5,400         3,000 
Columbia River Facilities.....        4,465         4,465         4,465 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Facilities.......       11,265        16,400        13,265 
                               =========================================
      Direct Obligations......    1,611,646     1,609,353     1,578,933 
                               =========================================
Reimbursable Obligations......      317,015       195,767       195,767 
Offsetting Collections (data                                            
 sales).......................        2,400         3,600         3,600 
Anticipated Offsetting                                                  
 Collections (aerocharts).....        3,000   ............  ............
New Offsetting Collections                                              
 (fish fees)..................  ............       19,781   ............
New Offsetting Collections                                              
 (navigations fees)...........  ............        2,500   ............
                               -----------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Reimbursables.      322,415       199,367       199,367 
                               =========================================
      Total, Obligations......    1,934,061     1,808,720     1,778,300 
                               =========================================
           FINANCING                                                    
                                                                        
Deobligations.................      (24,000)      (28,527)      (31,327)
Unobligated Balance                                                     
 transferred, net.............       (1,500)         (969)         (969)
Federal Ship Financing Fund...       (1,700)  ............       (1,700)
Coastal Zone Management Fund..       (7,800)       (4,000)       (7,800)
Offsetting Collections (data                                            
 sales).......................       (2,400)       (3,600)       (3,600)
Anticipated Offsetting                                                  
 Collections (aerocharts).....       (3,000)  ............  ............
New Offsetting Collections                                              
 (fish fees)..................  ............      (19,781)  ............
New Offsetting Collections                                              
 (navigation fees)............  ............       (2,500)  ............
Federal Funds.................     (172,000)     (134,927)     (134,927)
Non-federal Funds.............     (145,015)      (60,840)      (60,840)
                               -----------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Financing.....     (357,415)     (232,863)     (241,163)
                               =========================================
Budget Authority..............    1,576,646     1,575,857     1,537,137 
                               =========================================
        FINANCING FROM                                                  
                                                                        
Promote and Develop American                                            
 Fisheries....................      (62,381)      (62,381)      (62,381)
Damage Assess. & Restor.                                                
 Revolving Fund...............       (5,200)       (4,714)       (4,714)
Appropriation, ORF............    1,509,065     1,508,762     1,470,042 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         National Ocean Service

    The Committee has included a total of $244,933,000 for 
activities of the National Ocean Service (NOS) for fiscal year 
1999, instead of $241,945,000 provided for fiscal year 1998 and 
$247,408,000 requested.
    Navigation Safety Programs.--The Committee has included 
$92,805,000 for NOAA's navigation safety programs. This amount 
represents a $2,209,000 increase over the current fiscal year, 
and $9,500,000 above the request for these activities and 
programs. The Committee remains frustrated by the low priority 
the Administration continues to place on these critical safety 
programs. The Committee notes that once again, the fiscal year 
1999 budget proposed significant reductions in these critical 
programs while requesting increases in other programs not 
traditionally part of the NOS mission. Further, the Committee 
is bewildered at the Administration's proposal to levy new fees 
for navigation services, while proposing significant cuts in 
navigation programs. The Committee has rejected such a proposal 
and has increased funds for these critical programs. The 
Committee continues to believe that a 30 year backlog in 
updated charts and surveys for critical navigable waters is 
completely unacceptable and expects NOAA and the Administration 
to make navigation safety a high priority in future budget 
requests.
    Mapping and Charting.--The recommendation includes 
$47,100,000 for mapping and charting activities, an increase of 
$9,500,000 above the request and $3,100,000 above the amounts 
provided in fiscal year 1998. In addition, $14,565,000 is 
provided under Acquisition of Data line to support these 
activities. The recommendation reflects the Committee's 
continued commitment to the navigation-safety programs of NOS, 
and its concerns regarding the ability of the NOS to continue 
to meet its mission requirements over the long term.
    The recommendation includes $16,000,000 under the line item 
Address Survey Backlog/Contracts exclusively for contracting 
out with the private sector for data acquisition needs, an 
increase of $2,500,000 above the current level and $7,500,000 
above the request. The Committee remains concerned that the NOS 
and NOAA have not taken sufficient steps to develop a viable 
short-term and long-term plan for hydrographic services. Given 
the age of NOAA's current hydrographic ships, and the fact that 
fiscal constraints will preclude additional government-owned 
replacement vessels, such failure jeopardizes NOAA's ability to 
meet this critical mission requirement. While the Committee 
appreciates the efforts of NOS to work with the Committee and 
all interested parties to address this matter, the Committee 
was disappointed that the report lacked specific plans to 
comply with some of the direction provided in the fiscal year 
1998 report, including a plan for 50% outsourcing, as well as 
the development of innovative mechanisms and alternatives to 
maintain core capabilities for appropriate oversight to ensure 
data quality. The Committee is aware that an independent study 
is currently being conducted to address these issues. 
Therefore, the Committee directs NOAA to provide a report to 
the Committee no later than February 1, 1999, which address 
these issues and includes a plan for outsourcing not less than 
50% of hydrographic survey work by fiscal year 2000.
    Geodesy.--The Committee has included $19,159,000 for NOAA's 
geodesy programs, the full amount requested. The Committee 
notes that the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has failed to 
submit to the Committee the study funded in fiscal years 1997 
and 1998 concerning the National Height Modernization survey, 
and urges NGS to move expeditiously to provide the results of 
this study to the Committee.
    Tide and Current Data.--The Committee has recommended 
$12,000,000 for this activity, an increase of $1,000,000 above 
the request, to enable NOS to implement and maintain the 
necessary quality controls for real-time tide and current data 
systems.
    Ocean Assessment Program.--The Committee recommendation 
provides $33,861,000 for this line item. The recommendation 
provides the following: $12,600,000 for the base program; 
$12,500,000 for the NOAA Coastal Services Center, including 
funding for defense technology activities; $2,000,000 to 
continue outreach and education on coastal and ocean 
environments under the JASON project; $2,436,000 for the NOAA 
Beaufort/Oxford Laboratory; $2,925,000 for pfisteria and other 
harmful algal bloom research and monitoring; and $1,400,000 for 
coastal hazards modeling activities. The Committee has not 
provided any additional funds under this activity for the South 
Florida Ecosystem Restoration project or for a new hypoxia 
research program, as resources have been provided elsewhere 
within NOAA for these items.
    The recommendation reflects the transfer of the Beaufort/
Oxford Laboratory to the NOS, as proposed, as the activities of 
this laboratory more appropriately belong in NOS and such 
action is consistent with actions taken last year transferring 
the Charleston laboratory from NMFS to NOS. The Committee 
supports the further consolidation of ocean and coastal 
research and assessment programs into a single line 
organization as such action would ensure greater coordination 
and cooperation and guard against duplication of efforts. 
However, the Committee believes that NOAA's recent proposal 
falls short of this goal by proposing to move only a portion of 
coastal and ocean-related programs from Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research (OAR) to NOS. This is further evidenced by the fact 
that the budget request continues to fund similar programs in 
both NOS and OAR. Therefore, the Committee has not recommended 
the transfer of the Great Lakes Environmental Laboratory from 
OAR at this time, but would be willing to consider such action 
in the context of a reorganization which fully consolidates all 
ocean and coastal research and monitoring programs into NOS.
    Damage Assessment Restoration Program.--The recommendation 
provides a total of $10,683,000 for the Damage Assessment 
program in fiscal year 1999, including a $1,000,000 increase in 
direct appropriations for these activities.
    Coastal Ocean Program.--The recommendation includes 
$19,000,000 for this program, an increase of $1,200,000 above 
the request and $1,800,000 above the amount provided in fiscal 
year 1998. Within the amount provided, the Committee has 
included $4,800,000 for research related to hypoxia, pfisteria 
and other harmful algal blooms, an increase of $1,200,000 above 
the request. Within the funds provided, the Committee expects 
the Coastal Ocean Program managers to give maximum priority to 
hypoxia research in the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ponchartrain, 
and expects that any program be conducted utilizing the 
expertise of university partners in the area. In addition, the 
Committee strongly urges the Coastal Ocean Program to continue 
its work on the Brown Tide Research Initiative to address algal 
blooms in the Peconic estuary system, the South Shore Estuary 
Reserve and adjacent Long Island waters which have devastated 
the area's recreational and commercial fishing industry, as 
well as to continue systematic mapping of the estuary to 
identify contaminants and profile the trouble that has plagued 
the shellfish industry. Such efforts should supplement other 
efforts to maintain the health and integrity of the entire 
Peconic system. Further, the Committee recommendation assumes 
funding for South Florida Ecosystems at the current level, and 
expects that any program will be conducted utilizing the 
expertise of university partners in the area.
    Coastal Zone Management.--The Committee recommendation 
provides a total of $63,500,000 under the National Ocean 
Service to assist coastal states in implementing Clean Water 
programs. Of this amount, $54,700,000 is provided for grants 
under sections 306, 306A, 309 and 6217 of the Coastal Zone 
Management Act (CZMA), an increase of $4,000,000 above the 
current level. The Committee has not provided a separate 
appropriation for section 309 grants, because such action is 
inconsistent with the CZMA. Under the CZMA, NOAA is authorized 
to set aside up to 20% of the funds appropriated under section 
306 and 306A grants for section 309 activities. Therefore, the 
Committee has provided an increase under the regular 306 and 
306A program, which will enable NOAA to make up to $10,540,000 
available for section 309 grants. In addition, the Committee 
has provided $2,000,000 for the Non-Point Source Pollution 
program under section 6217 of the CZMA.
    While the Committee has provided an increase for the the 
Non-Point Source Pollution program, the Committee is concerned 
that the program remains unauthorized, and that such program 
may be duplicative of programs funded under the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Agriculture 
(DOA). Such duplication would drain much needed resources from 
other important NOAA coastal programs. Therefore, the Committee 
urges NOAA to re-examine this program and submit a report to 
the Committee, not later than March 1, 1999, containing the 
following: (1) a description of the recipients and projects 
funded in FY 1998 and FY 1999 through NOAA's program; (2) a 
description of how these activities differ from projects 
supported under sections 306, 306A and 309 of the CZMA; (3) an 
explanation of all other programs administered by other Federal 
agencies, including the EPA and DOA, to support clean water and 
non-point source pollution efforts; (4) the total resources 
provided for all Federal agencies in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 
for these activities; (5) an assessment of the unique role each 
agency's program fulfills in supporting non-point pollution 
efforts; and (6) a description of the mechanism used to ensure 
no duplication of effort among Federal programs.
    Marine Sanctuary Program.--The Committee has included 
$15,000,000 for the National Marine Sanctuary Program, an 
increase of $1,800,000 above the request. Within the amount 
provided, $500,000 is to be provided to support the activities 
of the Northwest Straits Citizens Advisory Commission. The 
Commission was established to provide an ecosystem focus on the 
marine resources in the area, mobilize science and support 
marine resource committees, and establish a forum for 
coordination and consensus building, in lieu of Federal 
designation of the area as a marine sanctuary. The Committee 
believes that such a consensus-based approach is an innovative 
and novel way to promote marine conservation, the goal of the 
Marine Sanctuary Program. In addition, the Committee supports 
use of a portion of the increase to complete NOAA's on-going 
activities regarding an environmental impact statement being 
conducted for the U.S.S. Monitor. However, the Committee 
expects that additional resources to implement the Monitor 
project will be derived from other Federal and non-Federal 
sources.
    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, 
and directs NOAA to report to the Committee not later than 
March 1, 1999 on the progress of its efforts.
    National Estuarine Research Reserve.--In addition, the 
Committee has provided $4,300,000 for the National Estuarine 
Research Reserve program under this account, the same amount as 
requested.

                   National Marine Fisheries Service

    The Committee has provided a total of $339,732,000 for the 
programs of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as 
compared to $346,235,000 provided in fiscal year 1998 and 
$351,376,000 requested. The Committee notes that the budget 
proposed that $19,781,000 of the requested increases in NMFS be 
paid by new fisheries fees, a proposal which has already been 
rejected by the Congress. Therefore, in light of the 
unrealistic funding mechanisms proposed in the budget to 
finance increases in NMFS, the Committee has prioritized to 
provide the necessary resources to support NMFS programs. The 
Committee notes that despite tremendous fiscal constraints, 
funding for NMFS programs has increased by more than 26% over 
the last three years, reflecting the Committee's commitment to 
building sustainable fisheries.
    The Committee's actions reflect the fact that the key to 
any actions related to the building of sustainable fisheries 
lies in the ability to accurately assess the status of the 
stocks. Early assessment enables more accurate and timely 
decisions by managers of the resource to ensure continued 
viability of the resource. Thus the Committee has placed 
highest priority on, and provided increases for, programs and 
activities which ensure that NMFS and its resource management 
partners have access to the necessary information to make sound 
fishery management decisions.
    Resource Information.--The Committee recommendation 
includes $94,741,000 for this item, of which $5,127,000 is 
provided for adjustments to base and program increases to 
enhance NOAA's base stock assessment and survey programs. The 
Committee also includes funding at the fiscal year 1998 level 
to continue the activities of the Gulf and South Atlantic 
Fisheries Development Foundation for data collection and 
analyses in the red snapper and shrimp fisheries, as well as to 
continue the aquatic resources environmental initiative at the 
current level. In addition, the Committee recommends $450,000 
for a study of hard clam population dynamics in the South Shore 
Estuary Reserve in Long Island utilizing the expertise of 
university partners in the area.
    The recommendation also includes reductions to reflect the 
following transfers requested in the budget: (1) a $1,686,000 
reduction in Resource Information and a $100,000 reduction in 
Habitat Conservation to reflect the transfer of funding for the 
Beaufort/Oxford Laboratory from NMFS to NOS; and (2) a 
$3,800,000 reduction in Resource Information to reflect the 
transfer of funding for Tuna Dolphin/Dolphin Encirclement 
activities to NMFS Protected Species Management.
    The Committee is concerned that, despite existing fishery 
management practices, the bluefin tuna fishery off the coast of 
Long Island has been shut down during each of the past three 
seasons due to inaccurate collection of the data necessary to 
determine the quota for this fishery. The bluefin tuna fishery 
is an integral part of the commercial and recreational fishing 
industry in the area, and such closure causes significant 
hardship. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of 
Commerce to report back to theCommittee, not later than 90 days 
after enactment of this Act, on the Department's efforts to fully 
resolve this problem, which to this point has only been partially 
addressed due to the inability of the NOAA to accurately count and 
allocate the bluefin tuna fishery.
    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.
    The Committee continues to concur with the direction 
included in the conference report accompanying the fiscal year 
1998 Act, and directs NMFS and the Secretary of Commerce to 
comply with such direction regarding a prohibition on 
developing or implementing any new or revised biological 
opinions regarding shrimp fishing and turtle interaction until 
the Secretary of Commerce establishes a shrimp-turtle panel to 
develop and review such biological opinions only as outlined in 
the fiscal year 1998 House Report H. Rept. 105-207).
    Bycatch Reduction.--The Committee remains concerned that 
the Department has moved forward to implement a final rule for 
the shrimp fishery mandating the use of fish excluder or 
bycatch reduction devices in shrimp nets and the potential 
reduction of the total allowable catch of red snapper in the 
Gulf of Mexico. Despite the availability of significant 
scientific data to the contrary, NMFS and the Department 
continue to rely on stock assessment analysis methods that are 
significantly different from models and approaches used for 
most fisheries and that overlook increases in the red snapper 
stock.
    Atlantic Bluefish/Striped Bass.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $1,000,000 in funding under Resource 
Information to continue the on-going program to study the 
decline of nearshore Atlantic bluefish stocks, an increase of 
$200,000 above the amount provided in fiscal year 1998. The 
Committee intends that the increase be used to establish a 
cooperative relationship between NMFS and the Southampton 
College of Long Island University to support striped bass/
bluefish research.
    PACFIN/catch effort data.--The Committee has provided 
$4,700,000 for this activity, the same amount provided in 
fiscal year 1998, and an increase of $1,700,000 above the 
request.
    RECFIN.--The Committee has provided $3,900,000 for the 
RECFIN program, an increase of $800,000 above the request. 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.
    GulfFIN.--The Committee has provided $3,000,000 to 
establish a data collection and analyses program for fisheries 
catch and stock assessment data in both the commercial and 
recreational areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The Committee has 
taken such action due to the fact that many of the problems 
related to fisheries in the Gulf stem from continued 
disagreement over the adequacy and accuracy of data collection 
and analyses efforts. The Committee notes that the creation and 
success of PACFIN has resolved many similar disputes in the 
Pacific fisheries, and thus believes this is a model to address 
the situation in the Gulf. Therefore, funding has been included 
to implement the recommendations included in the report 
submitted by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, at 
the request of the Committee in fiscal year 1998, to address 
the dearth of reliable fishery data collection and analyses in 
this area. The Committee directs that these efforts shall not 
be duplicated within NMFS or the Gulf of Mexico Regional 
Fisheries Management Council.
    Conservation Management and Operations.--The Committee 
recommendation includes $120,411,000 for these programs, 
$405,000 below the current level and $21,478,000 below the 
request. The Committee was unable to provide the requested 
increases for many of the programs under this account due to 
the fact that the Administration's budget submission proposed 
to pay for these increases for management and enforcement 
programs through $19,780,000 in controversial new commercial 
fisheries user fees, which the Congress has rejected in the 
past. While the Committee has not been able to provide these 
increases, the Committee notes that funding for these programs 
has increased by over 37% in the last three years, and has 
therefore tried to prioritize to provide some additional 
resources to the highest priority programs, including 
additional funds for Regional Fisheries Management Councils. 
Within the amount provided for Protected Species Management, 
the Committee expects NMFS to continue 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.
    The Committee is aware of two recent court cases in which 
the Department was found deficient in conducting the required 
economic and scientific analysis required under the Sustainable 
Fisheries Act for fishery management plans for summer flounder 
and shark. The Committee notes that incorrectly devised quotas 
could have a devastating impact on the fishing industries in 
North Carolina and Virginia, and thus directs the Department to 
conduct these analyses appropriately, in consultation with 
commercial and recreational industry representatives, and 
report its results to the Committee by November 15, 1998.
    Interstate Fish Commissions.--The recommendation includes 
$6,750,000 for interstate fish commissions, an increase of 
$2,750,000 above the request, and the same amount provided in 
fiscal year 1998. 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.
    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) to 
address concerns associated with Vibrio vulnificus.

                    Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

    The Committee has provided a total of $254,830,000 for the 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research programs of NOAA, instead of 
$251,217,000 as requested.
    The Committee recommendations includes the following 
amounts for basic laboratory research and support under Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research:
    Climate and Air Quality Research and Atmospheric 
Programs.--The Committee has included $12,900,000 for the base 
Interannual and Seasonal Climate research program, the full 
amount requested. The recommendation also includes $60,000,000 
for the Climate and Global Change program, the same level 
provided in fiscal year 1998 and $2,000,000 below the request. 
Of this amount not less than $12,000,000 is for the 
International Research Institute and related regional 
application centers programs, the full amount requested for the 
IRI and related activities, and a $2,000,000 increase over the 
current year. The Committee recommendation reflects the 
priority placed on short- and medium-term climate forecasting, 
such as the El Nino and La Nina phenomena. The Committee 
directs that these increases be offset by reductions in lower 
priority programs which are not core NOAA mission requirements 
and are duplicative of other Federal agencies programs, 
including social science-related economic and human dimensions 
assessments.
    The recommendation also includes $38,757,000 for Long-Term 
Climate and Air Quality Research, including $9,000,000 to begin 
development and procurement of a massively parallel processing 
system. While the Committee has not provided the full increase 
requested for this activity, the Committee is supportive of 
this proposal and looks forward to working with NOAA to 
identify the resources to move this initiative forward. In 
addition, $34,613,000 is provided for the base weather research 
program, a $1,000,000 increase over the current year to address 
base funding requirements.
    Marine Prediction Research.--The recommendation includes a 
total of $19,501,000 for this activity in fiscal year 1999. 
Within the total recommended, theCommittee has provided 
$8,801,000 for the base Marine Prediction Research program, $1,450,000 
to reflect the transfer of the Ocean Services activity from NOS to OAR, 
and $1,750,000 to continue the Arctic Research Initiative. In addition, 
within this amount, the Committee has also provided $1,300,000 for 
implementation of the National Invasive Species Act, including $500,000 
above the request to continue the ballast water demonstration program. 
Funding is also provided to continue the aquatic ecosystems initiative 
and the VENTS program at their fiscal year 1998 levels.
    GLERL.--The Committee has included $6,825,000 for the Great 
Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the full amount 
requested. The Committee has continued funding for GLERL within 
OAR, given the other Great Lakes-related programs funded in 
this line organization. Should NOAA propose to consolidate all 
related programs into one line organization, the Committee 
would be willing to consider such a transfer in accordance with 
the direction included under the National Ocean Service.
    Sea Grant.--The Committee recommendation includes 
$59,000,000 for the Sea Grant program, an increase of 
$8,818,000 above the budget request, and $3,000,000 above the 
current year's funding. Within this amount, $2,800,000 is 
included for zebra mussel research in accordance with the Non-
Indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act, and 
$2,500,000 is for oyster disease research, including $1,000,000 
to continue the Gulf of Mexico initiative on oyster-related 
human health risks. In addition, within the amounts provided 
for aquatic nuisance research, the Committee encourages the Sea 
Grant program to conduct research related to the public health 
risks posed by pathogens released in ballast water discharges 
in ports around the country.
    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.

                        National Weather Service

    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$642,172,000 for all programs and activities of the National 
Weather Service for fiscal year 1999. Of the total amount 
available, $551,747,000 is included under this heading for the 
operational programs of the National Weather Service (NWS), an 
increase of $31,483,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. In 
addition, the Committee has provided an additional $90,425,000 
under Facilities Maintenance line item, and within the 
Procurement, Acquisition and Construction account, to support 
NWS systems modernization and facilities requirements.
    Local Warnings and Forecasts/Base Operations.--The 
Committee recommendation provides $352,650,000 for the base 
operations of the National Weather Service, an increase of 
$28,650,000 above the amounts provided in fiscal year 1998. 
Within the increase provided, the Committee has included 
$9,053,000 for pay-related inflationary costs and $9,266,000 to 
provide the full year costs associated with maintaining a total 
NWS personnel base of 4,788 FTE, as requested. It is the 
Committee's understanding that funds provided to maintain the 
NWS personnel base include the additional costs to support 106 
FTE required due to the delay in the deployment of AWIPS Build 
4.2. The Committee further understands these additional FTE 
represent a temporary requirement for fiscal year 1999, and 
expects the fiscal year 2000 budget to reflect savings due to 
the elimination of this temporary requirement once Build 4.2 is 
deployed. In addition, the recommendation provides $1,650,000 
to maintain the existing suite of data buoys and coastal marine 
automated stations, as requested. The recommendation also 
includes $1,000,000 for the procurement of additional NWS 
transmitters, including $800,000 to increase NOAA Weather Radio 
coverage in Northeastern Georgia, and $200,000 for such 
requirements in Illinois. The Committee requests that NOAA 
provide a report to the Committee on its plans for the 
expenditure of these funds.
    In addition, the Committee has provided an increase of 
$7,681,000 for non-labor requirements, a $2,379,000 reduction 
from the request, due to concerns regarding the validity of 
non-labor cost estimates. Non-labor costs represent almost 40% 
of the total NWS base budget. The Committee notes that the 
independent assessment of funding requirements for the NWS 
found huge variances in non-labor costs among NWS regions, and 
indicated that the NWS did not have an understanding of its 
true non-labor cost requirements. The assessment stated that it 
was essential for NOAA to analyze this issue, as such an 
analysis could result in substantial budget savings. Therefore, 
the Committee believes such an analysis is warranted and 
expects NOAA and NWS to undertake such a review, and report the 
findings back to the Committee through the Department no later 
than December 1, 1998. The Committee believes such a review 
will enable NWS to meet all its non-labor requirements within 
the amount provided. However, should the findings of the review 
indicate the need for additional funds, the Committee would be 
willing to entertain a reprogramming in accordance with section 
605 of this Act.
    Further, the Committee believes that increased use of 
technology, including video teleconferencing, could provide NWS 
significant opportunities for delivering its training programs 
in a more efficient and cost effective manner. The NWS is 
encouraged to explore the viability of such technologies to 
meet its needs and report back to the Committee on its 
findings.
    The Committee is aware that the National Severe Storms 
Laboratory, in partnership with the Oklahoma Climatological 
Survey, is developing a system, OK-FIRST, to enhance weather 
information dissemination and decision-support systems to 
public safety agencies. Within the total amount provided to 
NWS, the Committee expects the NWS to continue this partnership 
in order to complete a feasibility study and develop a national 
prototype for such a system in weather hazard mitigation.
    In addition, the Committee notes that on March 6, 1998, the 
Secretary of Commerce transmitted to the Committee the 
conclusions of the two year operational evaluations recommended 
by the 1995 Secretary's Report to Congress regarding the 
adequacy of NEXRAD coverage in certain areas. The Committee 
expects the NWS and the Department to implement the mitigation 
activities contained in the March report and submit a 
reprogramming of funds if necessary to fully implement these 
activities. Further, the Committee understands that the March 
report recommended that the existing WSR-74C radar at Erie, PA 
remain in operation until such time as AWIPS is operational, 
and the necessary capabilities and sufficient operational 
experience is gained to reach a final conclusion on the 
requirements in that area. Therefore, the Committee expects the 
NWS to make the appropriate arrangements necessary to maintain 
a local presence for the maintenance of this radar.
    Modernization and Associated Restructuring Demonstration 
(MARDI) Program.--The Committee recommendation provides 
$64,036,000, the full amount requested, and a decrease of 
$9,638,000 below the amount provided in fiscal year 1998, 
reflecting the continued consolidation of field offices in 
accordance with the modernization plan.
    New and Expanded Programs.--The recommendation provides 
$2,000,000 for the NOAA radiosonde network replacement program, 
an increase of $1,090,000 above the current level, and 
$2,340,000 below the request. While the Committee has provided 
an increase for this initiative, the Committee is concerned 
that little information has been provided regarding the 
implementation plan and associated funding requirements for 
this program. Prior to significant additional resources being 
provided for this activity, the Committee expects NWS to 
provide an implementation plan for this initiative which 
incorporates the current capabilities of the radiosonde 
network, a needs assessment for complete system replacement, 
and an outyear funding profile for the replacement initiative. 
Finally, the Committee has not included funding to begin a new 
Advanced Hydrological Prediction System program. The Committee 
is concerned that such activities are duplicative of the 
capabilities which are being included in the AWIPS program 
which is scheduled for deployment in fiscal year 1999.

     National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service

    The Committee has included $104,232,000 for the operational 
and research and development programs of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 
(NESDIS), an increase of $3,861,000 above the budget request, 
and $30,450,000 below the current year appropriation. The 
reduction under this heading from the fiscal year 1998 level 
reflects the transfer of funding for the polar convergence 
program from the Operations, Research, and Facilities account 
to the Procurement, Acquisition and Construction account.
    Environmental Data Management Systems.--The Committee has 
provided a total of $52,385,000 for this account, an increase 
of $7,500,000 above the request, and $6,050,000 above the 
current level.
    Of the increase provided, $2,500,000 is for continuation of 
the Regional Climate Centers program at its current level. The 
Committee directs NOAA to transfer complete management 
responsibility for this program from the National Weather 
Service to NESDIS to fully reflect the actions taken in fiscal 
year 1998. In addition, the recommendation includes $5,000,000 
above the request, in addition to base amounts requested, for 
continuation of weather record rescue activities. Further, the 
Committee recognizes the value of NOAA data centers as the U.S. 
repository for historical environmental data and encourages the 
Administration to ensure that adequate funding is provided to 
maintain these centers.

                            Program Support

    The Committee has included $63,894,000 for Program Support. 
This amount is a decrease of $4,656,000 from the request, and 
$2,320,000 below the current year. This reduction from the 
request reflects continued rent savings attributable to reduced 
space requirements and consolidations in the Washington, D.C. 
area.
    In addition to the amounts directly appropriated under this 
heading for NOAA headquarters, policy, and administrative 
functions, the Committee is aware that the budget assumes an 
additional $89,712,000 will be assessed to NOAA line 
organizations and their programs from funds provided elsewhere 
in this account to support overhead requirements and functions.
    The Committee understands that of this amount, $77,843,000 
is to provide for centrally funded requirements such as GSA 
rent, as well as common services such as telecommunications, 
and other financial and administrative support functions. The 
Committee does not object to central control for many of these 
functions, but is concerned that such practice does not provide 
sufficient clarity regarding the true overhead requirements for 
NOAA programs and activities. The Committee believes that it is 
imperative that such overhead expenses be clearly identified, 
budgeted and accounted for in all NOAA programs. Therefore, 
language has been included in the bill requiring NOAA to notify 
the Committee in accordance with section 605 of this Act should 
funding requirements exceed the current budget estimate. 
Further, the Committee expects NOAA to develop a new method for 
accounting for such assessments by discretely identifying the 
total amount requested in each line organization for such 
overhead assessment in the fiscal year 2000 budget submission.
    In addition, the Committee does not believe that funding 
for headquarters and policy functions should be augmented 
through the practice of overhead assessments, and instead 
believes that such amounts should be wholly requested and 
funded from within the Executive Direction and Administration 
line item under this heading. The Committee was disturbed to 
learn that, despite the fact that no increase was requested or 
provided to support these functions in fiscal year 1998, NOAA 
in fact increased funding for these activities by 6.4% by 
levying additional assessments against the line organizations 
and their programs. Such augmentations to headquarters and 
policy functions, at the expense of NOAA programs is 
unacceptable to the Committee. Therefore, bill language is 
included which provides a limitation of $31,069,000 on funding 
available for Executive Direction and Administration functions 
in fiscal year 1999 through both direct appropriations and 
overhead assessments. Further, the Committee directs NOAA, in 
its fiscal year 2000 budget submission, to end the practice of 
augmenting these functions through assessments and instead 
directs NOAA to request direct appropriations to fully fund 
these requirements under the Executive Direction and 
Administration item included under this heading. Finally, the 
Committee has included bill language to stop the practice of 
additional assessments being levied by line organizations 
against certain programs, projects and activities. Such 
practice is not justified and is unacceptable to the Committee.

                           Fleet Maintenance

    The Committee has included $6,300,000 for this activity, a 
decrease of $3,300,000 below the request, and $7,200,000 below 
the amount provided in fiscal year 1998. The recommendation 
provides sufficient funding for routine maintenance of the 
existing NOAA fleet. No funds are provided to modernize the 
existing fleet, initiate major repairs to extend the life of a 
vessel, or purchase new equipment to upgrade an existing 
vessel.
    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 warns 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 for 
hydrographic services.

                               Facilities

    The Committee recommendation includes $13,265,000 for 
facilities maintenance, lease costs, and environmental 
compliance. Of the amounts provided: $1,800,000 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, $3,000,000 is for Weather Forecast 
Office maintenance, and $4,465,000 is for Columbia River 
facilities maintenance. The Committee believes lease costs for 
NOAA facilities should be budgeted for within the appropriate 
activity, subactivity, or program, and expects the fiscal year 
2000 budget request to make such adjustment.

               Procurement, Acquisition and Construction

                     (including transfer of funds)

    The recommendation includes $538,439,000 in fiscal year 
1999 for this account, an increase of $46,830,000 above the 
current level, and $83,156,000 below the request. The 
recommendation does not include an advance appropriation of 
$2,797,815,000 for fiscal years 2000-2011, requested in the 
budget. This account funds capital assets acquisition 
activities, including systems acquisition and new construction. 
The following distribution reflects the activities funded 
within this account:

AWIPS...................................................    $67,667,000 
ASOS....................................................      3,855,000 
NEXRAD..................................................      6,377,000 
Computer Facilities Upgrades............................      5,000,000 
Polar Spacecraft and Launching..........................    190,000,000 
Geostationary Spacecraft and Launching..................    249,444,000 
Boulder Laboratory Above Standard Costs.................      6,370,000 
WFO Construction........................................      9,526,000 
Santa Cruz Fisheries Laboratory.........................      4,200,000 
(Deobligations).........................................     (4,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Total, Procurement, Acquisition and Construction....    538,439,000 

    Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS).--
The Committee has included $67,667,000, the full amount 
requested, for AWIPS acquisition and deployment. The 
recommendation also includes bill language 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 through 
deployment of Build 4.2 will not exceed $550,000,000, 
reflecting the agreement reached in March, 1998.
    Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD).--The Committee 
recommendation includes $6,377,000 for continued acquisition 
closeout activities and planned product improvements at the 
current year level. The Committee has not included the amount 
requested for program increases 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.
    Polar and Geostationary Spacecraft and Launching 
Programs.--The Committee recommends a total of $439,444,000 for 
satellite development and procurement programs, an increase of 
$109,539,000 above the current level, and $75,313,000 below the 
request. However, based on the latest estimates, the Committee 
understands that as much as $40,000,000 in excess unobligated 
balances will carry forward into fiscal year 1999 due to lower 
than expected funding requirements in fiscal year 1998. This 
amount combined with the recommended funding level, will 
provide a total availability of $479,444,000 in fiscal year 
1999 for these programs.
    Boulder Laboratory.--The Committee recommendation provides 
$6,370,000 for the above standard costs necessary to complete 
construction and occupancy of the facility. The Committee is 
aware that the current anticipated occupancy date is scheduled 
for December, 1998. However, the Committee is aware that some 
construction modifications may be necessary to complete the 
facility and ensure that there is no delay in the occupancy 
date, including elevator code modifications, additional 
security requirements, and signage. Therefore, the Committee 
has provided an additional $700,000 above the request to ensure 
that such delays do not occur, and directs NOAA to work with 
GSA and report back to the Committee no later than October 15, 
1998 on its plans and schedule for completion of the facility 
and expenditure of these funds.
    Santa Cruz Fisheries Laboratory.--The Committee has 
included $4,200,000 to complete the relocation of the Tiburon, 
CA laboratory to a new facility being constructed at Santa 
Cruz. The recommendation includes the full amount necessary for 
completion of the facility, including relocation and equipment 
expenses, in accordance with the spending plan submitted to the 
Committee in April, 1998.

                      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 current 
funding level, based on estimates of carryover and additional 
revenue expected to be available in the Fund in fiscal year 
1999. In addition, the Committee recommends bill language, as 
carried in previous years, setting forth the purposes for which 
funds are authorized to be used.

                      Fishermen's Contingency Fund

    The Committee recommends $953,000 for the Fishermen's 
Contingency Fund, the full amount requested, and an amount 
equal to the current year level.
    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 providing 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 1999, an amount equal to the 
request and the current year funding level.
    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 $238,000 in subsidy amounts for 
the Fisheries Finance Program account, the full amount 
requested, and $100,000 below the fiscal year 1998 level due to 
the discontinuation of certain special programs. 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 $28,900,000 for the Commerce 
Department's Salaries and Expenses appropriation for fiscal 
year 1999. This amount is a decrease of $3,287,000 below the 
budget request, and $1,410,000 above the current level. The 
Committee recommendation assumes the transfer of the Systems 
Acquisition Office to the Department, as proposed, in order to 
allow appropriate departmental oversight for procurement, 
capital budgeting, and information technologies. The 
recommendation does not provide $1,100,000 included in the 
budget to address Year 2000 compliance issues, and instead 
assumes such funding, if required, will be accessed through 
funds that may be appropriated separately for Government-wide 
Year 2000 compliance requirements.
    It is the Committee's understanding that the Department of 
Commerce currently is on schedule to meet its Year 2000 
compliance goals, but remains concerned that such compliance 
has not yet been verified. Failure to verify compliance could 
result in system risk and failures. Therefore, the Committee 
expects the Department to undergo the necessary comprehensive 
testing procedures necessary to verify compliance and report 
back to the Committee on its findings not later than January 1, 
1999 for systems already deemed compliant by the Department, 
and all subsequent systems not later than April 1, 1999.
    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 $21,400,000 for the Commerce 
Department's Office of Inspector General for fiscal year 1999. 
This amount is an increase of $1,260,000 above the current 
level, and $262,000 below the request.
    The Committee has provided this increase to enable the 
Department's Inspector General to continue and augment its 
activities related to the conduct of the decennial census given 
the tremendous importance and risk associated with this 
$4,000,000,000 investment. 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.

                      Patent and Trademark Office

                         salaries and expenses

                              (rescission)

    The Committee recommends a rescission of $41,000,000 from 
fee collections and prior year appropriations, instead of a 
rescission of $116,342,000 as proposed in the budget. These 
funds are available due to PTO's inability to estimate and 
process fee collections. During final action on the fiscal year 
1998 budget, PTO failed to notify the Committee of an 
additional $66,342,000 in excess fee collections available to 
support its fiscal year 1998 operations. To ensure that PTO had 
adequate resources to meet its operational needs, the Committee 
provided a direct appropriation of $27,000,000 to supplement 
expected fee collections which would be available to support 
PTO operations in fiscal year 1998. After final action on the 
bill, PTO notified the Committee of this excess amount which 
was not needed to support its operations. Further, based on 
recent Congressional Budget Office analysis, it has come to the 
Committee's attention that the amount of excess collection is 
now $71,000,000. Therefore, the Committee has made available 
$30,000,000 from these excess funds to support PTO's fiscal 
year 1999 requirements, and has recommended a rescission of the 
remaining $41,000,000.

            National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

               Procurement, Acquisition and Construction

                              (rescission)

    The Committee recommends a rescission of $5,000,000 of 
prior year funds provided under this account for satellite 
programs. The Committee understands that such amounts are not 
needed to meet satellite requirements, and instead remain 
unallocated in a management reserve account within NESDIS.

               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 1998 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 208, allows the Secretary to award contracts for 
certain mapping and charting activities in accordance with the 
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act.
    In addition, the recommendation includes the following new 
provisions:
    Section 209, slightly modified from the request, to allow 
the Department of Commerce franchise fund to retain a 
percentage of earnings from services provided for capital 
investments.
    Section 210, not requested, to extend the current statutory 
boundaries for State management of fisheries resources in 
certain Gulf of Mexico states to provide parity to all States 
within the Gulf.

                        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 Article III, 
bankruptcy and magistrate judges, supporting personnel and 
other expenses of the Federal judiciary.
    The appropriation request submitted for fiscal year 1999 
for the judiciary totals $3,806,860,000. Of this amount, 
$280,768,000 is associated with the salaries and retirement 
expenses of Supreme Court Justices, Article III, bankruptcy and 
magistrate judges and payments to judiciary retirement funds, 
and is considered mandatory for scorekeeping purposes. The 
remainder of the request, $3,526,092,000, which is considered 
discretionary for scorekeeping purposes, represents an increase 
of $329,355,000, or 10.3 percent, over the enacted amounts for 
fiscal year 1998. Of this amount, $60,000,000 is requested from 
the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
    The Committee recommendation provides $3,696,756,000, of 
which $280,768,000 is for mandatory salary and retirement 
expenses of the Justices and judges, the same as the request. 
The recommendation includes $3,415,988,000 for the 
discretionary programs of the judiciary, including $60,000,000 
from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, which is 
$110,104,000 below the request, but is $219,251,000, or 6.9 
percent above the amount provided for the current fiscal year. 
This increase is provided to pay the estimated fiscal year 1999 
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 beginning in fiscal year 1996, the 
Judicial Conference has submitted follow-on reports to the 
Congress 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 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 had no resident judges or 
staff, and were used on a visiting basis for less that 45 days 
per year.
    The Committee believes that a number of useful 
recommendations have resulted from this process, including 
reducing space inventory through releasing underutilized space, 
initiatives in videoconferencing and the establishment of a 
satellite broadcasting facility to provide on-site training and 
allow remote site hearings for certain types of cases and 
motions.
    The Committee believes that an annual report continues to 
be useful. Unlike other branches of government, the Judiciary 
does not have an Inspector General, and therefore it is up to 
the Judicial Conference to vigorously self-examine court 
operations and to look for ways to improve and economize, where 
possible. The Committee requests that this report focus on new 
initiatives and areas, specific to fiscal years 1999 and 2000 
and provide specific recommendations, including expected 
savings, and timetables. The more specific and measurable these 
savings are, the better the Committee will be able to provide 
funding for activities that are truly required.

                   Supreme Court of the United States

    The Committee recommends a total of $36,495,000 for the 
Supreme Court of the United States for fiscal year 1999. The 
total amount is provided in two separate appropriation 
accounts, as follows:

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends $31,095,000 for fiscal year 1999 
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 $1,850,000 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 for four additional support 
personnel for administrative and technology purposes, as 
requested.

                    CARE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS

    The Committee recommends $5,400,000 for fiscal year 1999 
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 $2,000,000 more than the 
current year appropriation and $471,000 below the request. This 
includes a decrease of $381,000 to maintain current services, 
including nonrecurral of fiscal year 1998 capital projects, and 
an increase of $2,381,000 for capital improvements.
    Within the amount provided for current services, the 
Committee has provided $75,000 for miscellaneous improvements. 
The Committee expects to be provided an accounting of the 
expenditure of these funds.
    The budget request included $2,852,000 for capital 
improvements, including $500,000 for the design of perimeter 
security projects, and $2,000,000 for the design of building 
improvements and utility systems upgrades. Both of these design 
projects are to be based upon schematic studies that were 
funded in fiscal years 1997 and 1998, respectively. The 
Committee has not yet seen the results of those studies or the 
recommendations contained therein, and, lacking information on 
which to make firm recommendations, has reduced the request for 
design funding.
    Language in the bill allows $2,364,000 of the appropriation 
to remain available until expended, compared with $2,835,000 
requested in the budget.

         United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends $16,143,000 for fiscal year 1999 
for the Salaries and Expenses of the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Committee recommendation 
is $568,000 more than the current year appropriation, and is 
$685,000 less than the request.
    The Committee recommendation provides the amount required 
to maintain current services, taking into account existing 
vacancies, but does not include the increase requested for 8 
additional positions for the Court.

               United States Court of International Trade

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends $11,822,000 for fiscal year 1999 
for the Salaries and Expenses of the United States Court of 
International Trade, the amount of the budget request, and an 
increase of $373,000 over the amount provided in fiscal year 
1998. 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 $2,848,329,000 for this account 
for fiscal year 1999, an increase of $165,929,000 over fiscal 
year 1998 and a reduction of $100,394,000 from the request. 
This account provides for the salaries of Article III, 
bankruptcy and magistrate judges, 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 submits its budget request based on total 
obligations, including appropriated funds and funds available 
from other sources--fees, carryover, and funds from the Violent 
Crime Reduction Trust Fund. The budget request assumes a total 
funding requirement for fiscal year 1999 of $3,247,895,000, of 
which $2,948,723,000 is derived from the appropriation from 
this account, and $299,172,000 is derived from other sources of 
funding. Since submission of the budget, the judiciary's latest 
financial review has resulted in a revised estimate of the 
total funding requirement for fiscal year 1999 of 
$3,256,768,000, an increase of $8,873,000 over the request; and 
a revised estimate of the amount available from other resources 
of $336,321,000, an increase of $37,149,000, resulting in a 
decrease in the appropriation needed to support this account of 
$28,276,000, to a level of $2,920,447,000.
    The Committee recommendation of $2,848,329,000 is 
$72,118,000 below that revised funding level, and is sufficient 
to provide all but $18,322,000 of the amount required to 
maintain current services, and none of the proposed program 
increases. Historically, as the course of the year progresses, 
the judiciary is able to identify additional carryover and 
other resources to enable all critical operations to be funded.
    In addition, the Committee understands that within the 
proposed budget, the judiciary has included approximately 
$13,000,000 in spending required for year 2000 computer fixes, 
for which funding from other sources may be available. In 
addition, the Committee expects that security surcharge 
payments will be made only for validated additional services.
    The budget request assumes creation of 7 new magistrate 
judge positions in Rochester, New York; Wheeling, West 
Virginia; Texarkana, Texas; San Francisco or Oakland, 
California; Fresno, California; San Diego, California; and 
Atlanta, Georgia.
    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 1999 in 
the following locations: New York, New York; Brownsville, 
Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Santa Ana, California; 
Lafayette, Louisiana; Camden, New Jersey; Tallahassee, Florida; 
Beckley, West Virginia; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Albany, Georgia; 
Albany, New York; Hammond, Indiana; Covington, Kentucky; San 
Juan, Puerto Rico; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Wheeling, West 
Virginia; Los Angeles, California; Sacramento, California; and 
Kansas City, Missouri.
    Also, certain tenant alteration prospectus projects for 
courtroom and other requirements that are not covered by GSA 
regulations are funded from this account, for which $7,827,609 
is included in the budget request, including the following: New 
York, New York; Brooklyn, New York; Raleigh, North Carolina; 
Lubbock, Texas; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Scranton, 
Pennsylvania; Trenton, New Jersey; Columbia, South Carolina; 
Hammond, Indiana; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
    In addition, the Committee understands that certain pilot 
projects are underway in relation to electronic courtrooms. The 
Committee expects to be informed either as part of the budget 
or through separate report of the amounts being expended on 
each pilot project, future plans, and results to date in terms 
of improving the conduct of trials.
    The Committee is aware of recent published accounts of 
Federal judges attending educational seminars at the expense of 
organizations which are, in turn, funded by individuals and 
groups that may be involved in litigation in the Federal 
courts, and that are relevant to the disposition of cases 
likely to involve such individuals and groups. The Committee 
understands the Judicial Conference's Code of Conduct for 
United States Judges and relevant ethics laws may preclude 
reimbursement of judges' expenses in connection with attendance 
at similar seminars funded directly by such individuals and 
groups, rather than by such an organization. The Committee 
understands the Judicial Conference is reviewing this issue, 
and expects the review to include the extent to which the 
sponsor-paid travel and lodging for such seminars raise 
questions under applicable portions of the Code of Conduct and 
the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, and whether the Conference has 
adequate procedures to determine the appropriateness of 
accepting travel, lodging, and other expenses for such seminars 
and to advise judges about their appropriateness.
    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 1998 level of 
$13,454,000, rather than the level of $20,955,000 requested in 
the budget.

                 VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION TRUST FUND

    The Committee recommends a reimbursement of $2,515,000 for 
fiscal year 1999 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 $65,000 over the amount 
appropriated for the current fiscal year.

                    VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PROGRAMS

    The Committee recommends $60,000,000 for the judiciary from 
the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund, the same as the budget 
request and an increase of $20,000,000 over the amount provided 
in fiscal year 1998. 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. The budget request assumes that 
these funds would be distributed as follows: Salaries and 
Expenses--$27,126,000; Defender Services--$30,879,000; Fees of 
Jurors and Commissioners--$1,426,000; Court Security--$469,000; 
and the Federal Judicial Center--$100,000. The Committee 
expects the judiciary to transmit a notification detailing the 
final distribution of the amounts provided under the Violent 
Crime Reduction Trust Fund.

                           DEFENDER SERVICES

    The Committee recommends $360,952,000 for fiscal year 1999, 
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 amount 
represents an increase of $31,423,000 over the appropriation 
provided in fiscal year 1998. In addition, the budget requests 
$30,879,000 to be transferred to this account from the Violent 
Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
    In the fiscal year 1998 appropriation, the Committee asked 
for a comprehensive report on the reasons for the rapidly 
rising costs of the Defender Services program. The report found 
that Defender Services Program costs are in line with the 
increase in the number of representations, the increasing 
proportion of capital prosecutions and capital habeas cases, 
and the cost incurred in a handful of extraordinarily expensive 
representations each year. A number of issues raised in the 
report are worthy of follow up.
    First, the report noted that for capital habeas 
representations, the Ninth Circuit, and in particular three of 
the four California Districts, account for 60 to 76 percent of 
the cost of capital habeas representations nationwide, but only 
48 to 63 percent of the representations for the period of the 
study, fiscal years 1995 through 1997. The Committee 
understands that steps are underway to address the 
disproportionate expenses incurred by these three federal 
districts, including case budgeting for all cases, judicial 
review of each case budget, enforcement of the existing 
statutory cap for hourly fees, presumptive maximum rates for 
other members of the legal team, and passage of a State statute 
authorizing and funding the formation of a habeas resource 
center at the State level. Also, the Committee notes that the 
average expenditure per case in the Ninth Circuit has decreased 
from $68,000 in fiscal year 1995 to $60,000 in fiscal year 
1997, after rising to $71,000 in fiscal year 1996. Nonetheless, 
the average expenditure per case in the Circuit with the next 
highest cost is $41,000 and in the third highest cost Circuit 
is $35,000, so it is clear that costs remain significantly 
higher in the Ninth Circuit. The Committee requests that the 
Judicial Conference continue to monitor developments and cost 
trends for all Circuits, to make recommendations as to whether 
further steps are warranted and to report to the Committee on 
these issues by March 1, 1999.
    Second, while the number of representations has been rising 
with respect to all criminal cases, the question is why. The 
percentage of defendants who receive representation from 
federal defenders and panel attorneys under the Criminal 
Justice Act has risen from 82 percent in fiscal year 1996 to an 
estimated 93 percent in the fiscal year 1999 appropriation. The 
Committee requests a report by March 1, 1999 providing an 
explanation for this rising percentage of all federal 
defendants whose defense costs are provided by the Defender 
Services appropriation.
    And third, the Committee understands that, in conjunction 
with this study, the Administrative Office developed a set of 
recommendations for cost containment and best practices for 
defender services representations. The Committee requests that 
the Administrative Office provide a report by March 1, 1999 
detailing the implementation of these recommendations and the 
impact of these recommendations on defender services 
operations.
    Finally, in the most recent reestimate of fiscal year 1999 
requirements of judiciary programs, the Administrative Office 
of the Courts estimated that the total requirement for the 
Defender Services appropriation would amount to $370,291,000, 
nearly $10,000,000 above the budget request. Because of this 
possible funding shortfall, even after an increase of 
$31,423,000, which is a 9.5 percent increase, the Committee has 
not provided for an increase in the rate for panel attorneys. 
Before taking steps that will increase the cost of these 
programs further, the Committee believes it is incumbent upon 
the judiciary to first reduce the rate of increase in the cost 
of these programs.

                    FEES OF JURORS AND COMMISSIONERS

    The Committee recommends $67,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 
for the fees and allowances of grand and petit jurors and for 
the compensation of land commissioners and jury commissioners. 
This represents an increase of $2,562,000 over the amount 
appropriated in fiscal year 1998, and a decrease of $1,173,000 
below 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 $174,100,000 for Court Security 
for fiscal year 1999 to provide for the necessary expenses of 
security and protective services for the United States Courts 
in courtrooms and adjacent areas. This is $6,886,000 more than 
was appropriated in fiscal year 1998, and $4,955,000 less than 
the budget request. The recommendation is based on the latest 
estimate by the judiciary of the requirements for this account, 
which indicate a need for 121 new Court Security Officers 
compared with 168 in the original budget request, and also 
assumes $2,800,000 for year 2000 computer compliance costs will 
be available from another source of funding.
    The recommendation is intended to provide all necessary 
court security officers to bring existing and new court 
facilities up to the applicable standards. Through much work, 
the Committee believes that the U.S. Marshals Service, which 
administers the program, under the supervision of the 
Administrative Office of the Courts, now has a tracking system 
to determine how staffing compares with the applicable 
standards on a court-by-court basis. This should make court 
security staffing requirements more transparent and 
predictable. In addition, the U.S. Marshals Service has created 
a schedule to inspect all sites on a two-year rotation. The 
Committee expects a similar tracking system to be created for 
court security equipment, and to provide a report outlining 
that system to the Committee by March 1, 1999.

           Administrative Office of the United States Courts

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends $54,500,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Administrative Office of the United States 
Courts for fiscal year 1999, an increase of $2,500,000 over the 
current year appropriation, and a decrease of $1,656,000 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, but does not provide funding for a 
requested increase in staffing, since an increase was provided 
in the current fiscal year.
    The appropriation for this account is a part of the overall 
resources available to the Administrative Office. In terms of 
total resources, the budget requested included $94,802,000, of 
which $37,927,000 was to be derived from other sources, 
including fees and reimbursements from other judiciary 
accounts. In its mid-year review, the judiciary indicated a 
need for total resources of $94,816,000, including 6 
reimburseable positions not previously requested for 
administrative systems support positions, to assist with the 
installation of new financial systems that are coming on line. 
Of this total, $39,151,000 would be derived from other sources. 
The Committee recommendation provides for $93,661,000 in total 
resources.

                        Federal Judicial Center

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends $18,000,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Federal Judicial Center for fiscal year 1999, 
which is $505,000 above the current fiscal year, and $470,000 
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, in conjunction with the 
Administrative Office, 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 $37,300,000 for the payment to the 
Judicial Officers' Retirement Fund and the Claims Court Judges 
Retirement Fund for fiscal year 1999. This amount is the same 
as the budget request, and $3,100,000 above the current year. 
These payments are 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 $9,600,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the United States Sentencing Commission for fiscal 
year 1999, an increase of $360,000 above the amount provided 
for the current fiscal year and a reduction of $300,000 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, taking into account the on-
board level of employment and vacancies, particularly with 
respect to the number of Commissioners.
    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 and 
the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency includes 
$5,507,256,000, which is $370,103,000 below the budget request, 
and $323,348,000 above the amount available in fiscal year 
1998. The major area of reduction from the budget request 
relates to the Administration's request for $250,000,000 for 
the construction of embassies in Beijing and Berlin, for which, 
given the fact that construction on neither can begin until at 
least fiscal year 2000, the Committee has instead provided 
design funds. The major area of increase over fiscal year 1998 
funding relates to the provision of $475,000,000 for United 
Nations arrearages, subject to authorization, compared with 
$100,000,000 provided in fiscal year 1998. Leaving aside U.N. 
arrearages funding, the funding under this Title is $51,654,000 
below the fiscal year 1998 level.

                          DEPARTMENT OF STATE

    The Committee recommends a total of $4,367,345,000 for 
fiscal year 1999 for the Department of State. This amount is 
$347,314,000 less than the budget request for fiscal year 1999, 
and $330,095,000 more than the amounts appropriated for fiscal 
year 1998 for the Department.
    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$2,703,625,000 for the appropriation accounts under 
Administration of Foreign Affairs; $1,610,000,000 for the 
appropriation accounts under International Organizations and 
Conferences; $45,470,000 for International Commissions; and 
$8,250,000 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 $1,667,890,000 for the Diplomatic 
and Consular Programs account, including $25,700,000 set aside 
to continue funding for counterterrorism requirements overseas, 
to remain available until expended.
    This appropriation 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 $23,392,000 
from the budget request for the functions funded in this 
account and a decrease of $62,110,000 below the fiscal year 
1998 appropriation. However, it is important to note that the 
fiscal year 1998 appropriation included $106,132,000 that was 
subsequently transferred to 56 Departments, agencies and 
programs pursuant to section 404 of the fiscal year 1998 Act 
for the initial year of operation of the new overseas 
administrative support system, knownas ICASS. Taking into 
account these transfers, the comparable fiscal year 1998 funding level 
for this account is $1,623,868,000, and the recommendation for fiscal 
year 1999 represents an increase of $44,022,000, which is sufficient to 
allow the Department to operate at its current levels, and represents a 
steady-state operating budget.
    Changes from the Budget Request.--The Committee 
recommendation does not include the requested increases for 
program expansions. The Committee believes there are additional 
savings available to the Department, including foreign currency 
exchange rate gains, a substantial level of vacancies in funded 
positions, recalculation of the Department's contribution to 
the Foreign Service Retirement Fund, and funding for year 2000 
computer compliance that may be available from other sources. 
In fiscal year 1998, even though this account was funded at 
$8,000,000 below its requested current services level, the 
Department was able to fund $9,000,000 in program increases 
through the reprogramming process. As in fiscal year 1998, 
under the Committee recommendation, the Department will have 
the ability to propose that savings be used for needs not 
funded by the recommendation, through the normal reprogramming 
process.
    Reform.--The Committee continues to be insistent that the 
Department move forward to reform and make more efficient its 
operations. The Committee had been hopeful that the Department, 
as it was developing its reorganization plan, in conjunction 
with the other foreign affairs agencies, would use the 
opportunity to take a top to bottom review of the Department's 
structure and its management processes and systems. 
Unfortunately, very little information on the reorganization 
plan has been forthcoming, and the Committee is unable to 
determine whether the Department has even attempted to take 
advantage of this opportunity. The Committee again urges the 
State Department to make State Department reinvention a top 
priority and requests a report of specific actions recommended 
by the State Department, including by its Reinvention Task 
Force, no later than October 1, 1998. With respect to specific 
areas of reform, the Committee believes there is a need to 
demonstrate specific results, as indicated in the following:
          --ICASS reform. In the fiscal year 1998 
        appropriations bill, the Committee included a major 
        reform of the overseas administrative support system, 
        known as the International Cooperative Administrative 
        Support Services system (ICASS). This was intended to 
        empower all foreign service agencies located at an 
        overseas post to decide on the most efficient and 
        economical way to provide administrative support 
        services, with the added incentive that savings would 
        accrue to the benefit of the post. Now that the system 
        is up and running, the Committee is interested in 
        whether efficiencies and economies are being achieved 
        by the system, and requests a report on this aspect of 
        ICASS operations by March 1, 1999.
          --Government-wide deployment of resources and 
        Overseas Staffing Model. The Committee is unaware of 
        any major staffing changes that have been made as a 
        result of the institution of an Overseas Staffing Model 
        that was intended to rationalize the State Department's 
        assignment of resources to its 160 embassies overseas, 
        and the Department has declined to take the next step 
        which is to seek to rationalize deployment of resources 
        overseas among all government agencies, inorder to make 
the size and mission of a particular post correspond to the 
international affairs goals at that post.
          --Logistics and information management.--In those 
        areas where management changes and investment of 
        resources are being made, including logistics 
        reorganization and the information resources management 
        strategic plan, the Department has not set goals or 
        quantified savings to be achieved.
          --Government Performance and Results Act.--The 
        Department's fiscal year 1999 GPRA performance plan 
        included minimal management goals for the structure and 
        operation of the Department. This is a major weakness 
        in the Department's efforts to comply with GPRA.
    In sum, the Department needs to articulate its management 
vision and its goals for improving the efficiency and 
effectiveness of Departmental operations, and to include needed 
reform plans in its budget submission and its GPRA performance 
plan. The Department is expected to provide a report to the 
Committee, in addition to the previously mentioned report, at 
the same time as the fiscal year 2000 budget submission setting 
forth in detail the Department's proposals for improving the 
Department's operations, together with the goals it has set for 
itself and the expected resulting savings.
    Border Security Program.--The Department's budget 
submission includes funding of $296,003,000 for the 
Department's Border Security program, to be funded through 
collection of Machine Readable Visa fees. Based on information 
from the Department, the Committee expects there to be a 
minimum of $38,000,000 to $47,000,000 in carryover funds from 
fiscal year 1998, as well as the possibility of funding for 
year 2000 computer compliance from other sources, and as a 
result has capped expenditure of fees collected in fiscal year 
1999 at $250,000,000, with funds collected in excess of that 
amount available for expenditure in fiscal year 2000 and 
subject to reprogramming under section 605 of this Act. This is 
consistent with the way offsetting fee collections are treated 
throughout the bill, and assures that the Congress has the 
ability to monitor how these funds are being expended.
    Other issues.--The Committee understands that the State 
Department does not maintain a data base on lost or stolen U.S. 
passports, which is of concern since these documents may end up 
in the hands of drug traffickers, terrorists, or others who may 
target U.S. interests. In addition, there is no Departmental 
procedure to access passport issuance records maintained by the 
Consular Affairs Bureau over the weekend, meaning that the 
State Department cannot respond to inquiries from foreign law 
enforcement authorities on the weekend. The Committee requests 
that the Department provide a report by March 1, 1999 on its 
efforts to rectify weekend access to passport data, and to 
establish a data base for lost or stolen passports.
    The Committee is concerned that many signatories of the 
Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, which is 
intended to assure that custody laws and orders of one country 
with respect to children who have been abducted or wrongfully 
retained in another country are enforced, may not be applying 
its provisions fully, and requests a report by March 1, 1999. 
This report, to be undertaken after consultation with the 
Committee, should address issues including: the number of 
applications for the return of children submitted by U.S. 
citizens that remain unresolved more than six months after the 
date of filing; a list of the countries involved in such 
unresolved applications or that have failed to comply with 
Treaty obligations, including those with criminal laws that 
protect parents who abduct or wrongfully retain their children 
and punish parents who attempt to exercise their custody right; 
and information on unresolved cases, and efforts by the State 
Department to resolve them.
    In addition, the Committee requests the Department to 
provide a report by March 1, 1999 containing supplementary 
information concerning the methods employed by the Government 
of Cuba to enforce the United States-Cuba agreement of 
September, 1994 and the treatment by the Government of Cuba of 
persons who have returned to Cuba pursuant to the United 
States-Cuba agreement of May, 1995.
    In addition, the Committee has included language in the 
bill which: (1) provides 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; (2) permits not to exceed $4,000,000 to be 
transferred to the Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular 
Service account for emergency evacuations and terrorism 
rewards; (3) provides $1,252,000 in fees collected from other 
Executive Branch agencies and $490,000 from reserves for lease 
or use of facilities at the International Center Complex, as 
authorized by law; (4) 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; and (5) 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.

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends $365,235,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses account of the Department of State. This amount is 
$1,722,000 above the current year amount and $2,543,000 below 
the budget request. This is the amount required to support the 
current operating level, and does not provide any program 
increases, which can be funded through savings in ongoing 
operations.
    This appropriation provides for the management, 
administrative, and support functions of the Department of 
State, including the Office of the Secretary.
    In addition, the Committee includes language providing for 
the transfer of $813,333 to the Presidential Advisory 
Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States. This 
Commission was recently authorized, and the amount provided 
represents one-third of the estimated fiscal year 1999 budget 
of the Commission, which the Department has agreed to pay.
    The Committee again commends the Consolidated Overseas 
Schools Assistance Program for its effective work in furthering 
the quality of education for the children of American families 
living abroad. The Consolidated Overseas Assistance Program 
fulfills the dual objective of providing a high quality, 
American-style education for U.S. dependent children overseas 
and introducing American educational philosophy and practices 
to children of other nationals and local educators. The 
committee also wishes to commend the contributions of the 
Overseas Schools Advisory Council and its Program of 
Educational Assistance that help bring educational excellence 
to American-sponsoredoverseas schools. In addition, the Council 
successfully encourages financial support to the schools from U.S. 
corporations and foundations and volunteer participation in activities 
of schools from the corporation's employees and their spouses stationed 
abroad.

                        CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND

    The Committee recommends $80,000,000 for the Capital 
Investment Fund, $6,000,000 below the fiscal year 1998 
appropriation and $38,340,000 below the request. The 
recommendation represents the amount of request not associated 
with year 2000 computer conversion costs. Year 2000 conversion 
costs of $38,340,000 are anticipated to be addressed through 
funds that may be provided separately for U.S. Government-wide 
Year 2000 compliance. In addition, the budget request estimates 
that an additional $32,859,000 in expedited passport fees will 
be available to support the computer modernization effort, for 
a total availability of $112,859,000.
    This account supports the Department's effort to modernize 
its information technology infrastructure.
    The State Department is in the midst of a five-year 
information resource management modernization program that 
started in fiscal year 1997. 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 with significant risks.
    Overall planning and management.--The Committee is 
concerned that the Department has been slow in implementing a 
wide number of management reforms, as outlined in the 
Department's tactical plan, which would serve to raise 
significantly the quality of information technology planning 
and project execution, and reduce project and program risk. The 
Committee recommends that State complete the following actions 
by October 1, 1998: (1) immediately convene its proposed 
Technical Review Board and begin holding regularly scheduled 
meetings; (2) involve the Technical Review Board in all policy 
deliberations, including planning and budgeting exercises, 
project approval decisions, and project milestone and funding 
reviews; (3) issue a validated Information Technology 
Architecture; and (4) issue a prioritized list of tactical plan 
projects in compliance with the overall Information Technology 
Architecture. In so doing, the Department will assure that the 
projects it is undertaking are technically validated and 
coordinated to reach an agreed upon overall target operating 
environment by fiscal year 2001.
    Security.--The Committee is also concerned about the 
Department's ability to protect its automated information 
systems. The General Accounting Office recently issued a 
report, which describes major computer security weaknesses at 
the Department and makes recommendations to improve information 
security in the Department. The Department has thus far not 
agreed with GAO's recommendation to defer expanded Internet 
usage until known vulnerabilities are addressed and actions 
taken to provide appropriate security measures. The Committee 
requests a plan to mitigate the security risks of additional 
Internet usage prior to the expenditure of funds for this 
purpose. In addition, the Committee notes that the Department's 
strategic plan calls for five percent of all investments to be 
set aside for security needs, and urges the Department to 
follow its plan.
    Y2K.--The Committee is concerned that the Department has 
not established a Department-wide set of priorities that 
identifies among the 78 systems designated mission critical 
those core business processes and systems that must be 
addressed to ensure that the Department can continue to carry 
out its mission on January 1, 2000. Without a Department-wide 
priority ranking, there is no basis to decide which systems 
need to be repaired or replaced first. The Committee requests 
that the Department provide such a Department-wide 
prioritization of projects by October 1, 1998.
    Finally, the Committee notes that the information resource 
management budget of the Department is huge, totaling over 
$560,000,000, more than 22 percent of the Department's total 
operating budget, by far the single largest component of the 
budget. Thus far, the Department has not provided any 
information about how the modernization effort will affect 
overall information resource requirements. Presumably, bringing 
the Department into the modern technology age will provide 
large opportunities for efficiency improvements. The Committee 
requests a report by March 1, 1999, detailing how technology 
modernization will reduce requirements currently used to 
support the Department's decentralized and obsolete technology 
operations.

                      OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

    The Committee recommends $28,000,000 for the Office of 
Inspector General, which is $505,000 above the current year 
level, and $717,000 below the budget request. The Inspector 
General conducts oversight at the State Department, the Arms 
Control and Disarmament Agency, and the United States 
Information Agency.
    The Committee recommends that the Inspector General 
exercise appropriate oversight over the appropriations for 
International Commissions funded under this title.
    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 $4,200,000 for representation 
allowances authorized by section 905 of the Foreign Service Act 
of 1980. This is the same as the amount provided in the current 
fiscal year, and $100,000 below the budget request. 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.
    The Committee expects the Department to allocate 
representation allowances in a manner that considers the 
representation requirements of recently upgraded or expanded 
posts, such as Vietnam.

              PROTECTION OF FOREIGN MISSIONS AND OFFICIALS

    The Committee recommends a total of $8,100,000 for the 
Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials account. This 
amount is the same as the budget request, and $200,000 more 
than the appropriation provided for fiscal year 1998.
    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, 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, $1,333,000 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, $6,767,000 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, 2000, as requested in the budget.

           security and maintenance of united states missions

    The Committee recommends a total appropriation of 
$396,000,000 for Security and Maintenance of United States 
Missions. This is $8,000,000 below the amount provided in 
fiscal year 1998, and $244,800,000 below the budget request.
    This account provides funding to 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 in excess 
of 3,500 maintenance and repair needs, as well as major 
rehabilitation requirements, totaling over $600,000,000.
    The Committee recommendations are displayed in the 
following table:

                               SECURITY AND MAINTENANCE OF UNITED STATES MISSIONS                               
                                            [In thousands of dollars]                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      FY 1999        Committee  
                           Activities                                 FY 1998         request     recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Program:                                                                                                
    Berlin......................................................  ..............          50,000  ..............
    Beijing.....................................................  ..............         200,000          15,000
    Other.......................................................           9,500  ..............  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Capital Program.................................           9,500         250,000          15,000
                                                                 ===============================================
Leasehold Program...............................................         116,368         119,898         119,898
                                                                 ===============================================
Functional Program:                                                                                             
    Physical Security Upgrade...................................           8,400          17,800          17,800
    Safety and Fire Program.....................................           8.205           8,505           8,505
    Energy, Conservation, and Investment........................           3,700           3,700           3,700
    Power Support Program.......................................           5,147           5,291           5,291
    Seismic Program.............................................             675             675             675
    Post Communications Support.................................           5,000          10,000           5,000
    Environmental Services......................................           2,600           2,670           2,670
    Maintenance of Buildings....................................          62,482          66,225          66,225
    Facility Rehabilitation.....................................          62,784          38,902          38,902
    Facility Maintenance Assistance.............................          32,107          35,122          35,122
    Interior Planning, Design, and Furnishings..................           8,013           8,877           8,013
    Program Execution...........................................          32,079          34,426          34,426
    Construction Security.......................................          21,538          18,284          18,284
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Functional Programs.............................         252,730         250,477         244,613
                                                                 ===============================================
Administration..................................................          19,345          20,425          19,425
Unallocated reduction for vacancies.............................  ..............  ..............          -2,936
                                                                 ===============================================
      Appropriation Total.......................................     \1\ 397,943         640,800         396,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ FY98 Appropriation was $404,000,000; $3,530,000 transferred out for ICASS; $2,527,000 transferred to        
  Diplomatic and Consular Programs for Logistics Management reorganization.                                     

    Capital Program.--The Committee recommendation includes 
$15,000,000 in the capital program for design of a new Beijing 
embassy. The budget requested $250,000,000 for capital 
projects, $200,000,000 for construction of the Beijing embassy, 
and $50,000,000 to complete funding for a new Berlin embassy. 
Upon examination of these projects, it became clear that the 
Berlin embassy would not be ready for construction until at 
least fiscal year 2000 and the Beijing embassy until at least 
fiscal year 2001, and furthermore, since design had not been 
done, the cost of construction was speculative. Consequently, 
the Committee has recommended funding for those requirements 
that can actually be carried out in fiscal year 1999.
    For Beijing, the recommendation includes $15,000,0000 for 
design. In addition, funding for land acquisition, if required, 
is provided out of asset management funds.
    For Berlin, properties in Germany have already been sold in 
Bonn and in other locations, the proceeds of which are intended 
to offset the costs of the new embassy; consequently, the 
Committee has recommended that $10,000,000 of the proceeds 
already in hand be used for design. Originally, the plans to 
build the new embassy in Berlin were premised on paying the 
estimated $120,000,000 cost entirely out of the proceeds of 
sales of existing properties in Germany. However, the 
Department is now estimating a $50,000,000 shortfall from the 
sale of existing properties and requested $50,000,000 in 
appropriated funds to make up the difference. The reason for 
the shortfall centers on one property in Berlin, the Radio in 
the Allied Sector site. Originally assessed at as much as 
$70,000,000, which the Department now claims was faulty, the 
value is now estimated at approximately $12,000,000, based on 
restrictive zoning Berlin has placed on the site. The Committee 
believes that before considering appropriated funds for the 
project, all efforts must be made to obtain a fair price for 
that site. The Department is directed to use all available 
means at its disposal to obtain maximum value for that site, 
and expects the Department to stay in close contact with the 
Committee on all developments relating to that site.
    Physical Security Upgrade.--The Committee recommendation of 
$17,800,000 for physical security upgrades, the amount of the 
budget request, includes an increase of $9,400,000 over the 
fiscal year 1998 level to implement projects needed to 
establish 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Marine Security Guard 
presence at selected posts that currently lack such support.
    Post Communication Support.--The Committee recommendation 
of $5,000,000 for post communication support provides the level 
appropriated in fiscal year 1998, instead of $10,000,000 as 
requested in the budget.
    Administration.--The Committee recommendation of 
$19,425,000 for Administration of this account provides $80,000 
more than the fiscal year 1998 level, and $1,000,000 less than 
the budget request. In fiscal year 1998, funds were 
reprogrammed from this activity to support rehabilitation 
projects, so the budget request appears to be overstated.
    Vacancies.--The recommendation includes an unallocated 
reduction of $2,936,000 from the overall budget request. In 
fiscal year 1998, there are approximately 100 vacancies in 
positions funded under this account, and it seems likely there 
will be carryover as a result of these vacancies as well as a 
lower number of personnel on board at the start of fiscal year 
1999 than the budget request assumes.
    Out of $126,100,000 in assets management funds designated 
for use in fiscal year 1999 in the budget request, the funds 
are to be used for the remaining requirement for the Tashkent 
chancery, and, in addition, for the Departmental priority 
ranking as provided to the Committee for: Opportunity Purchases 
to replace uneconomical leases, Berlin chancery design, Beijing 
site acquisition, Luanda design and construction, Abuja design, 
Damascus renovation, Kampala design and construction, and 
Shanghai housing design. Any use of these funds that differs 
from this list, or any use of additional funds in fiscal year 
1999 is subject to reprogramming. In addition, with respect to 
the requirement that a reprogramming for any major new start be 
submitted, the Committee understands that requirement to mean 
that rehabilitation or construction of projects involving 
ambassador's residences will be subject to the requirement.
    The Committee expects immediate notification if there are 
any facilities that the Department believes pose serious 
security risks.
    The bill includes a provision carried in previous years 
which prohibits funds from being used for acquisition of 
furniture, furnishings and generators for other departments and 
agencies.

           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 the amount appropriated for fiscal year 
1998.
    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 1999 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 the budget request and the amount provided in the 
current fiscal year.
    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 $15,000,000 for the 
appropriation entitled, ``Payment to the American Institute in 
Taiwan''. This amount is $1,000,000 above the current year 
amount, and $1,426,000 below the budget request. In addition, 
the Institute is authorized to collect machine readable visa 
fees, which were increased in fiscal year 1998 and are expected 
to generate an additional $4,200,000 in revenues in fiscal year 
1998 and $8,400,000 in fiscal year 1999, as well as 
reimbursements from agencies and user fees from trade show 
exhibitors. Also, the Committee understands that $5,300,000 
which had been unaccounted for in relation to an audit of 
fiscal year 1994 operations is about to be resolved, with the 
funds made available to the Institute. The Committee believes 
that between the increased visa fees and the funds resulting 
from the resolution of the audit, as well as the increase 
provided in the appropriation, there are sufficient resources 
for Institute operations at the anticipated level.
    The American Institute of Taiwan has been beset by a series 
of management problems, documented by a series of Inspector 
General Reviews. Under its current leadership, progress is 
being made in clearing up many of the problems. However, as the 
most recent report of the Inspector General in March indicated, 
there are still a number of issues that need to be addressed. 
The State Department has established a task force to review 
management issues, but its work has been intermittent, and no 
results have been issued.
    The Committee requests that the Department provide a report 
on the work of its task force, the financial outlook of the 
Institute with respect to all sources of income, and background 
on the building fund that the Institute has created with 
current balances of approximately $13,000,000, by March 31, 
1999.
    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 $132,500,000 for the appropriation 
entitled, ``Payment to the Foreign Service Retirement and 
Disability Fund''. This amount is the full budget request and 
is $2,565,000 more than the amount appropriated for the current 
fiscal year. 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 $915,000,000 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 1999. This is 
$15,773,000 below the request, and $40,515,000 below the amount 
provided in fiscal year 1998, which contained $54,000,000 for 
payment of arrearages in this account. Fiscal year 1999 
appropriations for arrearages are included under a separate 
account.
    The amount provided in the bill is intended to cover all 
assessments for membership in international organizations, 
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.
    Over the past several months, estimates of the amount 
required to cover all assessments have varied from $912,000,000 
to $922,000,000, based on the most recent foreign currency 
exchange rates for the dollar, which has risen in value since 
the budget request was formulated.
    Within the requested funding, 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 $1,500,000, and the 
International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea, proposed in the 
request at $1,442,000. Furthermore, as in fiscal year 1998, 
because there has been no resolution of a disputed assessment 
increase for the Interparliamentary Union, the contribution to 
the IPU will be limited to $5,000, compared to the estimated 
assessment of $918,000. In addition, as in past years, no 
funding is provided for the Inter-American Indian Institute.
    While the Committee intends that full funding be provided 
for international organizations, this is not intended to signal 
that reform is any less of a priority for all of the 
international organizations. The Committee notes that the 
pending authorization bill imposes a cap on the contributions 
for all international organizations, and requires a number of 
other reforms as conditions on the payment of arrears. The 
Committee believes that the onus is on each international 
organization and the State Department representatives to those 
organizations to reduce overall budgets and eliminate 
duplicative activities, administrative costs and inefficient 
operations. The Department is directed to report to the 
Committee by March 1, 1999 on the results achieved to date in 
each organization, and to indicate whether any organization, 
such as the OECD, has undertaken reforms that can be 
recommended generally for other organizations.
    In addition, language is included in the bill, similar to 
language included in the conference report on the fiscal year 
1998 bill, that would permit up to $15,000,000 to be 
transferred to the International Conferences and Contingencies 
account for U.S. contributions to the Comprehensive Nuclear 
Test Ban Treaty Preparatory Commission for specified purposes.
    Current year United Nations assessment.--As indicated, the 
funding level assumes full payment of the U.S. assessment to 
the United Nations regular budget, as has been provided every 
year since fiscal year 1989. However, in order to assure that 
the United Nations lives up to the fiscal discipline that the 
Congress has insisted upon, the bill continues language, 
contained in last year's bill, 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.
    The Committee continues to believe that additional reforms 
are required at the United Nations. A series of reform 
requirements is pending as part of the Foreign Affairs Reform 
and Restructuring Act of 1998. In view of that, the Committee 
has not at this time recommended additional conditions relating 
to reforms that must be achieved. However, the Committee does 
not take lightly reports of backsliding on reforms that it had 
thought were already achieved, in part through language in 
previous appropriations bills, including a reduction of 1,000 
positions, and of other developments, such as adding personnel 
on the peacekeeping side to offset decreases on the regular 
budget side, and will consider what further actions may be 
necessary.
    In addition, the Committee is puzzled that the budget does 
not include a tax equalization fund reduction that previous 
budgets have included. The Committee understands that the 
Department is attempting to work with the U.N. to come to an 
agreement on principles governing tax equalization, but does 
not understand why the U.S. would pay more than it thinks it 
owes. If any additional amounts above the recommended amount 
are required to fully pay assessments due to exchange rate 
changes, this is an obvious source.
    Other issues.--The Committee reiterates language contained 
in the fiscal year 1998 report concurring 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 supports maintaining two sources of funding 
for the Pan American Health Organization--direct funding to the 
organization and funding through the World Health Organization. 
PAHO plays an essential role in the protection of health for 
citizens in the United States and the improvement of health for 
people throughout the Americas. The Committee is concerned that 
plans to reallocate regional funds by the World Health 
Organization will impact programs supported by PAHO in Latin 
America and the Caribbean. The Committee recommends that steps 
be taken to assure that funding levels in WHO are maintained 
for PAHO programs in the Americas.
    Within the amount provided under this heading, no funding 
has been provided for support of worldwide conferences, as no 
funding was requested.
    In addition, 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.

        CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING ACTIVITIES

    The Committee recommendation includes $220,000,000 for 
United States payments for Contributions for International 
Peacekeeping Activities for fiscal year 1999, a reduction of 
$36,000,000 from the amount provided in fiscal year 1998, which 
included $46,000,000 for arrearage payments, and a reduction of 
$11,000,000 from the amount requested in the budget. 
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. Fiscal year 1999 appropriations for 
arrearage payments are included under a separate heading.
    This amount is sufficient to cover the level of assessments 
included in the budget for fiscal year 1999. The budget 
included a request for $8,000,000 for a contingency fund, which 
is not included in the recommendation. In addition, over the 
past several years, assessments have been reduced on the order 
of $20,000,000 annually because of credits for unencumbered 
balances in existing missions, which arise as particular 
operations spend less than their budget, and assessments are 
then credited with the unspent amount. Consequently, the 
Committee is confident that the recommended amount will fully 
fund the level of activity included in the budget request.
    The $220,000,000 recommended for fiscal year 1999 
assessments for peacekeeping continues to indicate 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. Nonetheless, the Committee is 
concerned that the downward trend may be bottoming out. A 
number of peacekeeping missions that were scheduled to end in 
fiscal year 1998, including Angola, the Western Sahara, Haiti, 
and Eastern Slavonia, are continuing, and, except for Eastern 
Slavonia, with no end in sight.
    In addition, the Administration continues to propose and 
vote for new missions, irrespective of Congressional input or 
the availability of funding to pay for them. This was exactly 
the situation that led to the creation of large arrearages for 
peacekeeping in fiscal year 1995. The Committee wishes to make 
it clear that the Department is to live within the 
appropriation, and to take no action to extend existing 
missions or create new missions for which funding is not 
available.
    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, Bosnia, and Haiti. Funding for these missions 
in fiscal year 1999 from within the overall amount available in 
this appropriation account is subject to reprogramming
    In addition, the Committee is concerned with actions being 
taken at the United Nations to convert positions which have 
been filled by ``loaned'' employees at the expense of the 
volunteering country to permanent positions paid for out of 
assessments. This action needlessly increases the cost of 
peacekeeping, and serves no purpose otherthan to create a 
larger bureaucracy at the United Nations. The Department is directed to 
take all actions necessary to prevent this from happening.
    Finally, the Committee wishes to call attention to the 
recent U.N. Inspector General report documenting rampant 
corruption in the Angola peacekeeping mission. This is likely 
not an isolated occurrence. The Department is directed to 
report by December 15, 1998 on the specific actions it is 
taking to root out corruption, waste, fraud and abuse in 
peacekeeping operations and to recommend specific reforms that 
are required to assure that such practices are ended.
    The bill retains language carried in previous years, 
requiring 15-day advance notice of any new or expanded mission, 
together with a statement of cost, duration, exit strategy, 
vital national interest, and source of funds to pay the cost. 
The bill also retains language requiring certification that 
American manufacturers and suppliers are provided equal 
procurement opportunities.

                           ARREARAGE PAYMENTS

    The Committee recommends $475,000,000 for payment of 
arrearages to the United Nations in fiscal year 1999, subject 
to authorization, and specifically to the requirement that the 
U.S. assessment rate for the U.N. regular budget is reduced to 
at least 22 percent and the peacekeeping assessment is capped 
at 25 percent. The Administration included this amount for 
fiscal year 1999 in its request for a fiscal year 1998 
supplemental. In the regular fiscal year 1998 appropriations 
bill, $100,000,000 was provided for arrearages, subject to 
authorization, of which $54,000,000 was for payment of 
arrearages under the U.N. regular budget, and $46,000,000 was 
for payment of arrearages for peacekeeping. This recommendation 
for payment of arrearages is in accord with the agreement 
reached as part of the Balanced Budget negotiations in 1997.
    The recommended amount is for payment of peacekeeping 
arrearages. The $54,000,000 provided in fiscal year 1998 for 
payment of arrearages under the U.N. regular budget was 
sufficient to cover the total amount the Department of State 
indicates is owed under the regular budget. All remaining U.N. 
arrearages relate to peacekeeping. These peacekeeping 
arrearages 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.
    In order to assure that real and substantial reforms are 
achieved at the U.N. prior to payment of arrearage funding, the 
Committee has recommended that these funds become available 
upon enactment of an authorization that spells out what reforms 
need to be put in place as a condition for the release of these 
funds. In addition, to be sure that assessment reductions are 
part of the reforms that will be put into place, the Committee 
has also explicitly required assessment reductions as one 
reform that specifically needs to be achieved prior to the 
release of these funds. Assessment reductions will provide 
long-term savings to the American taxpayer.

              INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND CONTINGENCIES

    The Committee does not recommend funding for international 
conferences and contingencies. No funding was provided in 
fiscal year 1998, and the budget requested $1,223,000 for 
fiscal year 1999. Under Contributions to International 
Organizations, language is included that permits the transfer 
of up to $15,000,000 to this account for the Comprehensive Test 
Ban Treaty Preparatory Commission, for specific purposes.

                       International Commissions

 INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO

    The bill includes a total of $25,490,000 for the 
International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and 
Mexico (IBWC). This amount is $1,537,000 more than the amount 
provided in fiscal year 1998, and $814,000 less than the total 
budget request for fiscal year 1999. The total amount provided 
includes $18,490,000 for Salaries and Expenses and $7,000,000 
for Construction.

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommendation for the Salaries and Expenses 
account is $18,490,000, an increase of $1,000,000 over the 
amount provided in fiscal year 1998 and $689,000 less than the 
budget request.
    The increase is provided for wage and price increases, and 
increases in the operation and maintenance costs of the South 
Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant as it nears full 
operation, which is expected when the ocean outfall is 
completed in February 1999. The Committee understands that 
further refinement of the costs are taking place, and that an 
adjustment between Salaries and Expenses and Construction may 
be proposed in the near future.
    The IBWC is requested to examine the issue of flooding on 
the Nogales Wash in Arizona, and to report to the Committee on 
the steps that would need to be taken to address this issue, 
including an estimate of the cost, which agencies would be most 
appropriate to undertake the effort, and potential sources of 
funding.

                              CONSTRUCTION

    The Committee recommendation for IBWC Construction provides 
$7,000,000, which is $537,000 above the amount provided in the 
current fiscal year and $125,000 below the budget request.

              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 1999. This amount is the same as provided in 
fiscal year 1998 and $377,000 less than the budget request.

                  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, 
panel members and alternates. This is $59,000 below the budget 
request and the amount provided in fiscal year 1998. 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 requests that it be kept apprised of 
developments relating to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission, including new members and contributions.

                                 Other

                     PAYMENT TO THE ASIA FOUNDATION

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,250,000 for 
payment to the Asia Foundation for fiscal year 1999, $250,000 
above the amount provided in fiscal year 1998, and $6,750,000 
below the amount requested in the budget.
    The increase over fiscal year 1998 is to provide funding 
for an Asia-Pacific Congressional Interparliamentary 
Clearinghouse to be operated under the auspices of the Asia 
Foundation. The Clearinghouse is proposed as a pilot to test 
whether providing a mechanism to coordinate parliamentary 
exchanges with Asia will make them an even more powerful tool 
in strengthening the role of parliamentary bodies in both old 
and new democracies.
    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 1999, which is $1,900,000 below the 
request, and the same as the amount provided in fiscal year 
1998. ACDA negotiates, advises on, and assesses compliance 
with, arms control and nonproliferation agreements.
    The Committee has provided the same level of appropriation 
for ACDA as was provided in fiscal year 1998. While the 
authorization legislation that would consolidate ACDA with the 
State Department remains pending, the Committee believes that 
this amount is sufficient to allow ACDA to operate at its 
current on-board levels. The Committee notes that the on-board 
level is approximately 225 workyears, compared to 245 included 
in the budget request. In addition, in fiscal year 1998, 
$1,662,000 was included for certain international conferences, 
preparatory commissions and meetings, but in fiscal year 1999, 
no funding has been requested or is provided for this purpose.
    The Committee expects to be kept informed of plans for the 
reorganization, including disposition of funds and plans for 
future funding.
    ACDA is directed to provide a detailed financial plan to 
the House and Senate Appropriations Committees within 30 days 
of enactment of this Act, setting forth how the fiscal year 
1999 funding will be distributed to fund basic operating 
expenses. Any variation from the plan that falls within the 
reprogramming criteria of section 605 shall be subject to 
reprogramming. If ACDA is contemplating changes to its 
financial plan, ACDA is expected to consult with the Committees 
to determine whether those changes fall within the 
reprogramming criteria prior to undertaking such changes.

                    United States Information Agency

    The Committee recommends a total of $1,098,411,000 for the 
United States Information Agency to carry out information 
activities, educational and cultural exchange programs, and 
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 $20,889,000 below the budget request for these 
items, and $7,447,000 below the fiscal year 1998 appropriation.
    The Committee notes that the State Department 
reorganization referenced in last year's report has not yet 
been enacted. The Conference report for H.R. 1757 contains a 
foreign affairs reorganization plan that abolishes USIA, and 
merges its functions into the Department of State in fiscal 
year 2000 or upon the abolition of USIA pursuant to a foreign 
affairs reorganization plan. The Committee expects that any 
reorganization will fully respect the importance and integrity 
of the nation's public diplomacy programs, and will 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, including resource implications of the 
reorganization. The Committee also expects that any funding 
transfers or relocations of employees or offices proposed with 
regard to reorganization will be subject to normal 
reprogramming requirements.
    The details of the Committee's recommendations for the 
appropriations of the Agency are contained in the following 
paragraphs.

                   INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS

    The Committee recommends $457,146,000 for the International 
Information Programs appropriation of the United States 
Information Agency (USIA). This amount is $4,582,000 less than 
the budget request, and $30,049,000 above the amount 
appropriated in fiscal year 1998. The increase over the fiscal 
year 1998 amount results primarily from the fact that the 
Committee recommendation for this account includes $24,423,000 
of ICASS funding transferred from the Department of State in 
1998.
    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 bylaw; (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 (7) $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 maintained essential public diplomacy programs 
while undergoing major reductions over the past several years. 
The 1999 budget request contained further reductions of 
$8,441,000 and 61 positions, including the closure of a 
principal USIS post in Brazzaville, and the downsizing of 
selected overseas programs. Compared with fiscal year 1994, the 
fiscal year 1999 request for this appropriation will fund 1,549 
fewer employees. Thirty-two posts around the world will have 
been closed.
    The Committee recommendation supports the adjustments to 
base in the 1999 request, but does not provide for requested 
program increases. However, the Committee would be willing to 
entertain a reprogramming under section 605 of the Act to 
support the enhancement of USIS programs in China and Vietnam, 
and the second-year costs of a pilot project to provide 
expanded telecommunications services to USIS posts. Further, 
the Committee recommendation has been adjusted downward by 
$1,557,000 in recognition of exchange rate changes since the 
time of the request. Any further gains from exchange rate 
fluctuation are subject to the usual reprogramming procedures.
    The Committee expects USIA to continue planning to 
streamline and reengineer its structures and processes to carry 
out its activities with fewer resources.
    The Committee supports USIA programs designed to deliver 
U.S. Government broadcast programming to Palestinian audiences, 
and to encourage the development of a free, independent and 
responsible Palestinian media. The Committee understands that 
USIA has determined the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation 
(PBC) to be a non-independent broadcast outlet, with program 
content under the political control of the Palestinian 
Authority. The Committee further understands that in 
recognition of this situation, current USIA policy is to 
exclude the PBC from agency programs. The Committee supports 
this policy, and believes that none of the funds appropriated 
under this bill should be used to provide assistance to the 
PBC. The Committee urges USIA to continue to refrain from 
assisting the PBC in any way which could enable the PBC to 
restrict press freedoms or to broadcast inaccurate, 
inflammatory messages.

                            TECHNOLOGY FUND

    The Committee does not recommend funding for the Technology 
Fund. The budget contained a request of $5,050,000, the same 
level provided in fiscal year 1998. 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 Committee assumes that USIA will be able to meet its 
highest priority automation needs by using carryover in this 
account, and by accessing funds that may be appropriated 
separately for U.S. Government-wide Year 2000 compliance.
    The Committee notes that funds are requested under this 
account for programmatic technology applications, and 
technology training. The Committee recommends that these 
activities be funded from within the associated program 
account. The Committee notes the inclusion of cost estimates by 
project as a part of the budget submission for this account, 
and asks USIA to continue to include this level of detail in 
future submissions.
    The Committee notes USIA's submission of a report in 1998 
on current plans for integration with the Department of State's 
financial management system. The Committee notes that the 
request includes $2,200,000 to ensure the successful migration 
to Department of State systems by the beginning of fiscal year 
2000, because current USIA systems are not Year 2000 compliant. 
For this reason, the Committee believes that the funds to meet 
this requirement can be obtained from funding that may be 
separately appropriated for U.S. Government-wide Year 2000 
compliance costs.

               EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

    The bill includes a total of $200,000,000 for the 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs of the United States 
Information Agency. This amount is $2,269,000 above the fiscal 
year 1998 level, and $976,000 above the budget request. In 
addition, the program expects to receive transfers from 
appropriations for Freedom Support Act and Support for East 
European Democracy exchange programs. In fiscal year 1998, USIA 
received transfers of approximately $65,000,000 in this account 
for such programs.
    The Committee 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.
    Within the total, the Committee recommends $95,000,000 for 
Fulbright student and scholar exchanges, and $105,000,000 for 
other programs including an estimated $22,243,000 for Exchanges 
Support staff and administrative costs. 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, Educational 
Advising and Counseling, the International Visitors program, 
Citizen Exchange programs, 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. Further, the Committee encourages USIA to 
consider proposals to fund exchanges and exchange-related 
activities in support of the 1999 Women's World Cup and the 
Special Olympics, and proposals to fund educational exchanges 
with Croatia in business management.
    Within the total amount provided, the Committee directs 
that $150,000 shall be for a grant to implement U.S. House of 
Representatives interparliamentary exchanges with Korea and 
China.
    The Committee supports USIA educational advising and 
counseling programs that enable foreign students to make 
sensible choices about attendance at American colleges and 
universities. The Committee expects that USIA will not reduce 
funding for this activity as proposed in the budget request, 
and urges the Agency to fund these programs to the maximum 
extent possible, while continuing to encourage cost-sharing by 
non-profit organizations.
    In previous reports, the Committee has encouraged USIA to 
introduce more competition to improve the quality and lower the 
costs of exchange programs. The Committee understands that, in 
fiscal year 1999, USIA will solicit proposals and conduct a 
competition to administer the fiscal year 2000 Fulbright senior 
scholar program. Accordingly, the Committee expects that prior 
to issuing a request for proposals for such a competition, USIA 
shall provide a detailed report on plans for the competition, 
specifically addressing the issue of competition on a regional 
basis so as to maximize the availability of competitor 
organizations. The reporting to the Committee shall include 
advance consultation on the terms of the request for proposals. 
The Committee urges USIA to act expeditiously to take maximum 
advantage of the economies that can result from increased 
competition in all exchange programs, including other Fulbright 
programs and the International Visitors program.
    The Committee expects that a proposal for the distribution 
of available resources among exchange programs will be 
submitted through the normal reprogramming process, and within 
60 days from the date of enactment of this Act.

           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 
that 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 1998. 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 $383,957,000 to carry out United 
States International Broadcasting Operations for fiscal year 
1999. This is $4,733,000 below the budget request and 
$2,553,000 below comparable amounts provided in fiscal year 
1998. 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 (BBG). In fiscal year 1998, 
funding was provided separately for Broadcasting to Cuba.
    The Committee recommendation retains language included in 
fiscal year 1998 relating to representation expenses, and 
authority to use funds for Broadcasting to Cuba in this account 
for facilities and equipment as well as operations, which was 
provided in fiscal year 1998 under a separate account. The 
Committee recommendation also includes language allowing the 
use of fees collected from advertising and other receipts. The 
recommendation 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.
    The Committee recommendation provides funding at the 
requested level, with the following adjustments:
          No funding is provided for the requested program 
        increases totaling $4,021,000.
          No funding is provided for a Tactical Broadcasting 
        Contingency Fund totaling $2,547,000.
          No funding is provided for the requested increase of 
        $712,000 for a new aerostat for the Office of Cuba 
        Broadcasting (OCB). The recommendation provides a 1999 
        allocation of $21,992,000 for OCB.
          In response to a subsequent request from the Agency, 
        the Committee recommendation for this account includes 
        $1,626,000 that the budget request assumed to be 
        transferred to the International Information Programs 
        account. This transfer is being held in abeyance 
        pending further discussions on the role of television 
        in the Agency's broadcasting and information programs.
          An additional $2,600,000 above the request is 
        provided to bring the 1999 allocation for Radio Free 
        Asia (RFA) to $22,000,000, the level authorized in H.R. 
        1757, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act, 
        which has passed the House and Senate. The Committee 
        believes that this funding level will allow RFA to 
        continue the expanded level of broadcasting to China 
        supported in fiscal year 1998, and allow RFA to add 
        additional hours to reach a total of 24 hours of 
        broadcasting each day to China in various dialects. 
        Within the funds available to RFA, the Committee urges 
        the BBG and RFA to pursue the initiation of broadcasts 
        in the Uighur dialect to the Uighur-speaking people of 
        China.
          Further, the Committee recommendation has been 
        adjusted downward by $1,679,000 in recognition of 
        exchange rate changes since the time of the request. 
        Any further gains from exchange rate fluctuation are 
        subject to the usual reprogramming procedures under 
        section 605 of this Act. The Committee would be willing 
        toconsider such reprogramming requests, particularly to 
restore the requested program increase for audience research, and to 
meet unforeseen costs of closing out Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 
(RFE/RL) facilities in Portugal.
    The Committee recommendation includes $4,000,000 for a 
grant to RFE/RL for the 1999 operating costs of Radio Free 
Iran. No funding is included for the 1999 operating costs of 
Radio Free Iraq, since those costs were included in the fiscal 
year 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act (P.L. 
105-174).
    The Committee recommendation also includes program 
decreases of $4,329,000, as requested, including the 
elimination of the short-wave site in Rhodes, Greece, the 
elimination of 20 positions in the Office of Engineering and 30 
positions in the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
    USIA and the Broadcasting Board of Governors are directed 
to provide their plan for the expenditure of funds under this 
account to the Committee within 60 days from the enactment of 
this Act.

                          Broadcasting To Cuba

    Funding for Broadcasting to Cuba is considered under the 
International Broadcasting Operations account, as requested in 
the fiscal year 1999 budget.

                           Radio Construction

    The bill includes $25,308,000 in new budget authority for 
the Radio Construction account for fiscal year 1999. This 
amount is the same amount as the request, and $14,692,000 below 
the level provided in fiscal year 1998. The amount recommended 
will provide for maintenance, improvements, replacements and 
repairs, satellite and terrestrial program feeds, and broadcast 
facility leases and land rentals.
    In fiscal year 1999, there will be one major construction 
project still underway; the construction of the Pacific Island 
Relay Station in the Northern Mariana Islands to increase and 
improve broadcasts to Asia. This station is scheduled to begin 
transmitting in the second quarter of fiscal year 1999. The 
Committee recommendation includes the requested $1,800,000 for 
this project. In fiscal year 1998, the Committee provided 
$10,000,000 to expand this facility to accommodate additional 
broadcasting to China. The expansion will be completed in the 
second quarter of fiscal year 2000. No additional funding is 
required in fiscal year 1999 for the costs of the expansion.
    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 that 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.
    The Committee notes that the Agency expects carryover 
balances of over $10,000,000 to be available under this account 
in fiscal year 1999.

                            East-West Center

    The Committee does not recommend funding for maintaining 
and operating the East-West Center. The budget contained a 
request of $5,000,000, and in fiscal year 1998, $12,000,000 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 approximately 
$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 $2,500,000, and $1,500,000 was provided 
in fiscal year 1998.
    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 $40,395,000 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 $31,000,000 for the National 
Endowment for Democracy for fiscal year 1999, the same as the 
budget request and $1,000,000 above the amount provided in 
fiscal year 1998.
    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 
outprograms 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.
    The Committee recommendation provides for requested 
adjustments to base, and $700,000 for increased NED grant 
activities in Asia, which include programs designed to 
strengthen democracy and the rule of law in China, Burma, 
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Mongolia.

      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 1998 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.
    Section 403 of the bill allows payment of a border 
equalization adjustment during fiscal year 1999 for a small 
number of employees who are not members of the Foreign Service, 
live in the United States, but commute to work in locations in 
Mexico and Canada. This section will equalize pay for these 
employees based on the locality pay rates paid for service 
performed in the United States within the locality pay areas 
closest to the employees' foreign duty station.
    In addition, the Committee recommendation includes the 
following new general provisions:
    Section 404 of the bill renames the Japan-U.S. Friendship 
Commission as the United States-Japan Commission, and provides 
authority for the Commission to invest its trust fund in either 
Japan or U.S. Government securities.
    Section 405 of the bill allows the Director of the U.S. 
Information Agency to administer summer travel/work programs 
without regard to preplacement requirements of the ``J'' visa.
    Section 406 of the bill extends privileges and immunities 
to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to 
the same extent as would apply if the U.S. were a member of 
that organization.
    Section 407 of the bill extends law enforcement 
availability pay to diplomatic security agents of the 
Department of State.

                       TITLE V--RELATED AGENCIES

    The Committee recommends $1,661,626,000 in new budget 
(obligational) authority in the accompanying bill for the 
Related Agencies in this Title for fiscal year 1999. This 
amount is $172,127,000 above the current year appropriation, 
and $382,800,000 below the budget request. However, once 
technical differences in the treatment of offsetting 
collections are taken into account, the Committee 
recommendation is $41,873,000 below the current year 
appropriation and $306,300,000 below the budget request.

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                        Maritime Administration

    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$184,975,000 in new budget authority for the Maritime 
Administration for fiscal year 1998, as described below:

                       MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM

    The Committee recommends $97,650,000 for the Maritime 
Security Program, as requested, an increase of $62,150,000 
above the amount made available in 1998. The 1999 
recommendation will provide all the resources necessary for the 
operation of the program through fiscal year 1999. 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. The program provides direct payments to 
U.S.-flag ship operators engaged in U.S.-foreign trade. 
Participating operators are required to keep the vessels in 
active commercial service and are required to provide 
intermodal sealift support to the Department of Defense in 
times of war or national emergency. This program is funded 
under the allocation for national security programs.
    The Committee recommendation provides funding for payments 
to U.S. carriers for 47 ships, capped at $2,100,000 per ship, 
per year.

                        OPERATIONS AND TRAINING

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $67,600,000 to 
fund programs under the Operations and Training account for the 
Maritime Administration (MARAD). This amount is a reduction of 
$2,953,000 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 MARAD operations.
    The Committee recommendation includes funding for the 
operation and maintenance of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 
at $31,500,000, the fiscal year 1998 level.
    The recommendation includes funding for State Maritime 
Schools at $7,100,000, the fiscal year 1998 level, and assumes 
full funding of the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) program. 
The Administration request proposed to phase out the SIP 
program. The Committee is pleased to note that in fiscal year 
1998 MARAD is conducting a study to examine Maritime Education 
and Training as it relates to the achievement of U.S. national 
security goals. The Committee directs MARAD to submit such a 
report to the Committee no later than February 3, 1999. The 
report will include: (1) a full and detailed explanation of how 
Maritime Education and Training programs fit into MARAD's GPRA 
strategic and performance plans; (2) specific performance 
measures for Maritime Education programs, including the U.S. 
Merchant Marine Academy, State Maritime Schools, and any 
additional training funded from this account; (3) an assessment 
of the current and projected demand for qualified ships 
officers on U.S.-flag merchant ships compared with the number 
of U.S. and State academy graduates; (4) an explanation of 
service obligations of graduates of U.S. and State academies, 
and how these obligations compare with those of other Federal 
service academies; (5) an explanation of the extent to which 
the Academies have expanded into instruction in logistics and 
intermodal transportation management, and an assessment of the 
implications of this expansion in terms of mission-relevance 
and competition with, and duplication of, academic programs in 
State or private universities; and (6) a cost/benefit analysis 
of the SIP program with justified recommendations for future 
funding.
    The Committee understands that there may be other funding 
available from the Department of the Navy to continue the SIP 
program, and directs MARAD to include further information on 
alternative funding in the report mentioned above.
    The Committee recommendation includes $29,000,000 for 
operating programs and general administration of MARAD, the 
same level as in fiscal year 1998. Although the overall funding 
level is flat, the Committee believes there are opportunities 
to ensure sufficient funding for critical programmatic 
activities. The Committee notes that MARAD was able to meet its 
1998 requested staffing levels, despite receiving over 
$1,000,000 less than requested for MARAD operations. In this 
light, the Committee believes further efficiencies in staffing 
can be achieved, and encourages MARAD to reduce staffing 
through attrition.
    The Committee notes that in addition to the funds provided 
for State academies under this account, two of the five State 
school ships are now being funded under the Ready Reserve Force 
program.
    The Committee understands that the sale for scrap of 
vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet has been the 
subject of much public and congressional interest, and requests 
that MARAD, no later than November 15, 1998, submit a report to 
the Committee on the status of scrapping plans for NDRF ships, 
including projections of FY 1999 net MARAD proceeds or costs 
associated with those scrapping plans, and the impact, if any, 
on future funding requirements for MARAD programs.
    The Committee recommendation deletes language, as 
requested, that allowed reimbursements to this appropriation 
from receipts of the Federal Ship Financing Fund, for 
administrative costs of that program. This authority is no 
longer required as the Federal Ship Financing Fund program has 
been replaced by the Title XI guaranteed loan program.

          MARITIME GUARANTEED LOAN (TITLE XI) PROGRAM ACCOUNT

    The Committee has included a total of $19,725,000 in the 
bill for the Maritime Guaranteed Loan (Title XI) Program. This 
amount is $9,725,000 above the budget request, and is 
$16,000,000 less than the amount provided in fiscal year 1998. 
The recommendation also includes a total program limitation of 
$1,000,000,000.
    The amount provided includes $16,000,000 in subsidies for 
the guaranteed loan program, which when combined with carryover 
balances, may provide a total program level of up to 
$1,000,000,000. The recommendation provides the amount 
originally requested for this program. A budget amendment 
reduced the Administration request by $10,000,000.
    Also, the Committee notes that the amount of loans that 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 highertotal program level, and any risk of default 
will be decreased. The Committee urges MARAD to continue to ensure that 
any loan guarantees issued under this program meet the economic 
soundness requirement under Title XI.
    The amount provided also includes $3,725,000 for 
administrative expenses related to this program, the same 
amount provided in fiscal year 1998, and a reduction of 
$275,000 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--MARITIME ADMINISTRATION

    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 the 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 $280,000 for the expenses of the 
Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. 
This amount reflects an increase of $30,000 above the level 
provided in fiscal year 1998 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 1999. 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 Commission was 
created to protect the civil rights of people within the U.S. 
The ways the Commission accomplishes this mission include the 
investigation of charges of citizens being deprived of voting 
rights, and the collection, study and dissemination of 
information on the impact of Federal laws and policies on civil 
rights.
    The Committee continues to be concerned about the state of 
management controls at the Commission, brought to light in last 
year's GAO report to the Subcommittee on the Constitution of 
the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee expects the 
Commission to keep the Committee informed as improvements are 
implemented, including developing the ability to plan and 
budget for projects, and track the progress and ongoing costs 
of such projects.
    In addition, the Committee continues to believe that, as 
was stated in the House report last year, 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 Security and Cooperation in Europe

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,170,000 for 
the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, an 
increase of $80,000 above the request and the current fiscal 
year. 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 $260,500,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 
for fiscal year 1999. This amount is $18,500,000 below the 
request, and $18,500,000 above the amount provided in the 
current year appropriation.
    Additional resources are provided to support improvements 
to the investigation and resolution of actual individual 
charges of discrimination. The Committee expects that these 
additional resources will allow the EEOC to continue to reduce 
the backlog of pending charges, and to significantly expand the 
use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques, 
including mediation. The Committee notes that concerns about 
the EEOC's use of employment testers in fiscal year 1999 are 
being addressed in the form of a letter from the EEOC Chairman 
to the Congressional Committees of jurisdiction.
    The increase of $18,500,000 is provided for the following 
purposes: $6,000,000 for adjustments to base, $8,000,000 for 
the development of the EEOC's ADR program, $3,500,000 for EEOC 
investigative staffing enhancements, $500,000 for additional 
EEOC attorneys, and $500,000 for additional reimbursement to 
State and local Fair Employment Practice Agencies. The 
Committee recommendation does not include the requested 
increase for automation, for reasons described below. Also the 
recommendation does not include the full amounts requested for 
personnel increases, as the requested amounts were based on 
full-year costs of added positions. The Committee expects the 
EEOC to submit a spending plan to the Committee in accordance 
with section 605 of this Act prior to the expenditure of funds 
for the program increases included in the Committee 
recommendation. The spending plan shall be supplemented by a 
report, submitted to the Committee on Appropriations and the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce detailing specific 
plans for the implementation of an ADR initiative.
    ADR.--In addition to a detailed expenditure plan, the ADR 
implementation plan shall address the structure of the ADR 
program. The Committee urges the EEOC to submit a plan that 
will make ADR options available in most cases. The Committee 
expects that once an acceptable ADR plan has been approved, 
such a plan will be implemented in every EEOC field office 
within fiscal year 1999. The Committee further expects the EEOC 
to develop systematic data collection and monitoring of the 
Commission's ADR activities, to determine the impact on 
backlog, and to refine and improve future efforts.
    Investigation.--The Committee provides additional resources 
in this area in recognition of the fact that the most of the 
charges in the current backlog are ``category B'' and 
``category A'' charges that require further investigation to 
determine merit. Additional resources for investigative staff 
will address the need to develop and resolve these cases.
    Attorneys.--The Committee supports the hiring of additional 
attorneys specifically to encourage early and substantive 
involvement of attorneys in the ``strategic'' enforcement 
process, in which attorneys consult with investigators in 
screening charges to ensure the best use of resources. Also, 
the Committee encourages the EEOC to adopt other ``no-cost'' 
measures that might improve performance in this area, such as 
reorganizing work flows, assigning attorneys to investigative 
units, or changing attorney job requirements.
    State and local Fair Employment Practice Agencies.--The 
Committee notes that the State and local FEPA's resolve 
approximately 42% of the national caseload, and that many 
FEPA's have a proven track record of effectively using ADR 
methods. The Committee expects that the EEOC will work with the 
FEPA's to achieve a fair and effective distribution of the 
additional resources provided, via the reimbursement of a set 
amount per charge resolution.
    Automation requirements.--The Committee notes that the 
Agency's 1999 budget request included increases of $9,590,000 
related to automation requirements. These increases are not 
included in the Committee recommendation. The Committee assumes 
that the EEOC will be able to request funding for automation 
needs from amounts that may be made available separately for 
Year 2000 compliance.
    In fiscal year 1998, the Committee provided a modest 
increase to address the charge caseload and its growing 
backlog. Recent estimates indicate that by the end of fiscal 
year 1998, the backlog will total over 57,000 charges. The 
Committee notes that the additional resources provided for 
fiscal year 1999 are all specifically targeted toward reducing 
the backlog of private sector charges. The Committee therefore 
expects that the additional resources will support the level of 
charge resolutions projected in the budget request. The 
Committee expects the EEOC to keep the Committee informed 
regarding the Commission's progress toward the backlog 
reduction targets included in the request: 41,500 at the end of 
fiscal year 1999, and 28,500 by the end of fiscal year 2000. 
The EEOC may be able to achieve even greater backlog reductions 
depending on the intake rate for new charges and the extent to 
which ADR methods are adopted.
    The Committee continues to be concerned about the 
allocation of resources to charge processing and to litigation. 
The Committee expects the EEOC to continue to develop the 
ability to track staffing and resources expended on particular 
EEOC activities, and expects the EEOC to be able to report to 
the Committee on the level of resources actually being spent on 
charge processing, how this level compares to previous years, 
whether resources need to be reallocated among activities or 
districts, and the productivity of charge processing by office. 
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 understands that the EEOC is 
currently working on a project to track the use of EEOC 
attorneys' time that will provide greater clarity regarding the 
allocation of resources by activity.
    The Committee is also concerned about EEOC interventions in 
ongoing lawsuits, and the initiation of lawsuits alleging a 
similar claim or claims as alleged in another lawsuit filed 
against the same defendant. The Committee expects that the EEOC 
will give priority to litigation on behalf of complainants not 
represented by counsel in other forums as opposed to 
duplicating independent litigation efforts.
    The bill also includes language similar to that included in 
previous appropriations acts allowing: (1) non-monetary awards 
to private citizens; (2) up to $28,000,000 for payments to 
State and local agencies, an increase of $500,000 over fiscal 
year 1998; 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 
$181,514,000 for the Salaries and Expenses of the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC) for fiscal year 1999, of which 
$172,523,000 is to be derived from offsetting fee collections, 
resulting in a direct appropriation of $8,991,000. The 
recommended total budget authority is $31,463,000 below the 
request, and $5,000,000 below the current year appropriation.
    The Committee recommendation includes bill language that 
prohibits the use of funds provided under this account for 
rental payments to the GSA for the Portals II building, or for 
costs of relocation to the Portals II building, until such time 
as ongoing investigations determine the legality of the lease.
    The Committee continues to be 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 that 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.
    The Committee is concerned that the fraudulent practice of 
transferring customers from one long-distance company to 
another without authorization, called ``slamming,'' has 
continued despite measures adopted by the FCC in the past. The 
Committee urges the Commission to adopt measures that 
strengthen disincentives to slamming. The Committee further 
urges the Commission to improve coordination with the States to 
pursue the vigorous enforcement of rules against slamming.
    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, 2000; (5) authority to purchase uniforms 
and acquire vehicles; (6) special counsel fees; (7) for the 
collection of $172,523,000 in section 9 fees; (8) for the sum 
appropriated to be reduced as section 9 fees are collected; (9) 
fees collected in excess of $172,523,000 to be available in 
fiscal year 2000.
    The Committee does not adopt the proposal in the budget 
request deferring the use of the fiscal year 1999 fee 
collections until fiscal year 2000, and instead retains the 
approach used in past appropriations acts.
    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 $14,000,000 
for the Salaries and Expenses of the Federal Maritime 
Commission (FMC) for fiscal year 1999. This amount is a 
reduction of $500,000 below the budget request and the same 
level as provided for the current fiscal year.
    The Committee notes that S.414, passed by the Senate, 
includes provisions phasing out certain FMC responsibilities 
during fiscal year 1999, 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. The bill also includes changes in the 
application of shipping law standards. The Committee expects 
the Commission to keep the Committee informed regarding the 
impact of changes to the FMC's authorities and responsibilities 
on resource requirements.

                        Federal Trade Commission

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends total budget authority of 
$110,490,000 for the Salaries and Expenses of the Federal Trade 
Commission (FTC) for fiscal year 1999, a decrease of $2,377,000 
below the request and $3,990,000 above the current year 
appropriation. Of this amount, $30,000,000 is to be derived 
from prior year unobligated fee collections, and $76,500,000 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 $3,990,000. 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 understands that the FTC has issued an 
Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims which 
reaffirms their long-standing ``all or virtually all'' standard 
for ``Made in USA'' claims. The Committee now expects the FTC 
to vigorously enforce that standard.
    The Committee is aware of the FTC's desire to establish a 
toll free number for consumer telephone calls and to 
incorporate consumer information from this service into its 
fraud intelligence sharing system. Toward this objective, the 
FTC is asked to provide the Committee with a detailed estimate 
of the funding required for establishing a toll free number, 
and for integrating data collected through it into the FTC's 
Consumer Sentinel program. The FTC may submit a reprogramming 
under the requirements of section 605 of the Act, to support 
the costs of this effort.
    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 2000, (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.
    The Committee does not adopt the proposal in the budget 
request deferring the use of the fiscal year 1999 fee 
collections until fiscal year 2000, and instead retains the 
approach used in past appropriations acts.

                       Legal Services Corporation

               Payment to the Legal Services Corporation

    The Committee recommendation provides $141,000,000 for the 
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) for fiscal year 1999. This 
amount is a decrease of $199,000,000 below the request, and 
$142,000,000 below the amount provided in fiscal year 1998. 
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.
    The Committee notes that $23,000,000 is provided for civil 
legal assistance under the Violence Against Women Act programs 
funded under title I of this bill.

          ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION--LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

    The Committee recommendation includes bill language to 
continue all statutory requirements and restrictions contained 
in the fiscal year 1998 Appropriations Act, as requested, with 
one modification.

                        Marine Mammal Commission

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends $1,240,000 for the Marine Mammal 
Commission for fiscal year 1999. This is the same amount as 
requested, and $55,000 above the current appropriation. The 
Committee notes that a total of $339,732,000 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 
encourages the Commission to work 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.

                   Securities and Exchange Commission

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends overall funding for the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (SEC) of $324,000,000, a decrease of 
$17,098,000 below the request and an increase of $9,000,000 
above the level provided in fiscal year 1998. The overall 
funding is made up of the following components: (1) a direct 
appropriation of $23,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; (2) an 
appropriation of fiscal year 1999 offsetting fees of 
$214,000,000; and (3) an appropriation of 1998 offsetting fee 
collections carried over into fiscal year 1999 of $87,000,000. 
The Committee recommendation adopts language proposed in the 
budget request, designating certain amounts to be appropriated 
from fees collected in fiscal years 1998 and 1999, a departure 
from language included in previous years that specified an 
amount of offsetting collections to reduce the appropriation as 
they were collected and deposited.
    The Committee recommendation includes sufficient funding to 
meet SEC's base adjustments. The Committee notes that the 
Agency's 1999 budget request included increases of $5,700,000 
related to automation requirements. These increases are not 
included in the Committee recommendation. The Committee assumes 
that the Agency will be able to request funding for automation 
needs from amounts that may be made available separately for 
Year 2000 compliance.
    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 accordance 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; and (4) makes up to $100,000 available for 
expenses of meetings and consultations with foreign 
governmental and regulatory officials.

                     Small Business Administration

    The accompanying bill provides a total of $705,890,000 for 
the five appropriations items of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA). This amount is $18,534,000 below the 
budget request, and $10,242,000 below the amount appropriated 
in fiscal year 1998. The details for the five SBA appropriation 
accounts are contained in the following paragraphs.
    The Committee urges the SBA to continue its efforts to 
improve the management of its financial programs. Past failures 
to accurately project subsidy rates for its programs have led 
to incorrect projections of resource requirements, and have 
placed upon the Committee an obligation to find significant 
additional resources to meet SBA program requirements. The 
Committee notes that significant resources were provided in 
fiscal year 1998 and are again provided in the Committee's 
recommendation for fiscal year 1999 to address this concern. 
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 continue to make this its highest 
priority.

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Committee recommends $246,750,000 for the Salaries and 
Expenses of the Small Business Administration. This amount is 
$34,350,000 below the request, and $7,450,000 below the amount 
provided for fiscal year 1998.
    In addition, $94,000,000 is available for this account from 
the portion of the Business Loans Program account for 
administrative expenses, and $116,000,000 is available for 
administrative expenses for the Disaster Loans Program account. 
This latter amount represents the requested amount for the 
direct costs of disaster loan making and servicing. These 
amounts are to be transferred to and merged with the Salaries 
and Expenses account.
    The amount provided includes $8,000,000 for the 
continuation of an initiative to improve SBA's monitoring and 
oversight of its financial programs through upgrades and 
improvements in its information resource management systems, 
and increased financial analysis and management. The Committee 
expects the SBA to submit a plan, prior to the expenditure of 
resources for this initiative, in accordance with section 605 
of this Act.
    In addition, within the amounts provided, the Committee 
expects the SBA 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 also includes the full amount 
requested for Low Documentation Processing Centers. The 
Committee encourages the SBA to consider supporting the 
development of a Business Process Improvement Model to be made 
available at Small Business Development Centers and other SBA 
locations to assist small businesses in evaluating and 
improving their critical business functions. The Committee 
further encourages the SBA to consider working with the private 
sector to explore ways to improve the dissemination of 
information about SBA programs to small businesses using the 
Internet and other new technologies. In addition, the Committee 
notes that the SBA Reauthorization Act (P.L. 105-135) again 
authorizes the Very Small Business Pilot Program. The Committee 
encourages the SBA to implement this program, and report to the 
Committee on its intentions regarding implementation.
    The Committee recommendation for the Salaries and Expenses 
account represents a significant reduction, 11.6%, from the 
amount available in fiscal year 1998 for Salaries and Expenses 
costs other than for non-credit initiatives, and therefore 
assumes significant staff reductions. The Committee directs 
that any staff reductions taken in fiscal year 1999 in response 
to reduced resources shall be taken primarily from headquarters 
staff, and first from ``overhead'' functions that are not 
directly charged with carrying out a loan program, or with 
carrying out one or more of the non-credit programs at the 
levels specified below. Specifically, the Committee intends 
that none of the reduction shall be taken from the allocation 
of funds for District Offices.
    The Committee recommendation includes a total of 
$125,250,000 for non-credit initiatives, as follows:

Small Business Development Centers......................     $78,800,000
7(j)....................................................       2,600,000
SCORE...................................................       3,500,000
Microloan technical assistance..........................      16,300,000
Enterprise zone one-stop capital shops..................       3,100,000
Export assistance centers...............................       3,100,000
Regulatory Fairness Boards..............................         500,000
Women's Demonstration Projects..........................       4,000,000
Women's Business Council................................         350,000
Advocacy Research.......................................         800,000
Veterans Outreach.......................................         750,000
Small Business Drug-free Workplace Program..............      10,000,000
Survey of Women-Owned Businesses........................         750,000
Business Information Centers............................         700,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Total, non-credit initiatives.......................     125,250,000

    Of the amounts provided for the SBDC program, $2,000,000 is 
to continue the SBDC defense transition program and $1,000,000 
is to continue the 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 includes $10,000,000 for a 
drug-free workplace demonstration program, as authorized by 
H.R. 3853, for the purpose of providing technical assistance to 
small business concerns seeking to start a drug-free workplace 
program.
    The Committee recommendation includes $700,000 for the 
Business Information Centers program to support retrofitting of 
existing centers, and establishment of additional centers, 
including a center in southeastern Oklahoma to be established 
with the funding provided above the request.
    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 appropriation. In addition, the Committee 
recommendation includes authority for Small Business 
Development Center program funds to be available for two years, 
reflecting the grant cycle for this program.

                      OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

    The Committee recommends $11,300,000 for the Office of 
Inspector General of the Small Business Administration under 
this heading, the same amount as requested, and as is available 
from all sources in fiscal year 1998. In fiscal year 1998, an 
appropriation of $10,000,000 was supplemented by an additional 
$500,000 provided under the administrative expenses of the 
Disaster Loans Program for oversight of that program, and by 
$800,000 in carryover balances. The Committee recommendation 
includes resources for the continuation of oversight to SBA's 
business loan portfolio, SBA's administration of the 7(a) 
program, and disaster assistance programs.

                     BUSINESS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

    The Committee recommends $132,540,000 for the Business 
Loans Program Account for subsidies for guaranteed business 
loans, $2,000,000 for subsidies for direct 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, 2000.
    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 directloan 
obligations and loan guarantee commitments made in fiscal year 1999, 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 1999. To provide for this program level, the Committee has 
assumed a 1.39% subsidy rate, as estimated in the budget, and 
included a subsidy appropriation of $119,400,000, instead of 
$153,000,000 as proposed in the request and $161,000,000 as 
provided for fiscal year 1998. In addition, based on estimates 
and information provided by SBA, the recommendation assumes 
carryover of $19,600,000, resulting in a total subsidy 
appropriations availability of $139,000,000. 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 1999. The Committee 
recommendation includes language, as carried in the fiscal year 
1998 appropriation Act, that requires the SBA to submit a 
reprogramming under section 605 of the Act before exceeding a 
7(a) program level of $10,000,000,000.
    Small Business Investment Corporation (SBIC) participating 
securities and debentures.--The Committee recommendation 
includes a total of $13,140,000 for the subsidy appropriation 
for the SBIC programs, an increase of $3,140,000 above the 
request and $7,092,000 below the amount provided in fiscal year 
1998. In addition, estimates provided by the SBA indicate an 
additional $4,900,000 in carryover, and up to $6,100,000 in 
proceeds will be available for the SBIC programs in fiscal year 
1999. The recommendation includes $11,140,000 in subsidy 
appropriations for SBIC participating securities leverage. When 
combined with carryover balances of $2,000,000, the funding 
recommendation will provide a $600,000,000 program level for 
SBIC participating securities. The recommendation includes 
$2,000,000 in subsidy appropriations for SBIC debentures 
leverage. When combined with carryover balances of $2,900,000, 
and with proceeds of $2,650,000, the funding recommendation 
will provide a $547,000,000 program level for SBIC debentures. 
The Committee notes that an estimated additional $3,450,000 in 
proceeds will be available to further supplement the fiscal 
year 1999 SBIC programs, and the Committee will entertain a 
reprogramming under section 605 of the Act to do so.
    Microloan Direct and Guaranty Programs.--The Committee 
recommendation includes new appropriations of $2,000,000 for 
the Microloan Direct Loan Program compared to the request of 
$5,724,000, and no new appropriations for the Microloan 
Guaranty Program, as none was requested. The recommendation for 
direct Microloans assumes that $900,000 in estimated carryover 
will be available to provide for a program level of 
$30,398,000. For the Microloan Guaranty program, carryover 
balances of $2,700,000 will be available to provide for a 
program level of up to $33,877,000. The Committee continues to 
be concerned about the inability of SBA to utilize the 
resources provided for the Microloan Direct and Guaranty 
programs. In the report provided to the Committee on February 
2, 1998, the SBA indicated its intention to use all 
appropriated funds in fiscal year 1998 for program expansion. 
Yet the most recent estimates provided to the Committee 
indicate significant anticipated carryover in both programs. 
The Committee directs the SBA to submit a report no later than 
February 2, 1999 providing detailed program plans and estimates 
for these programs, and the Microloan technical assistance 
grants program for fiscal year 1999.
    504 Development Company loans.--The Committee 
recommendation provides no new budget authority for the section 
504 development company loan program, as none was requested, 
and includes bill language limiting the 504 program to the 
authorized program level of $3,500,000,000.

                     disaster loans program account

    The Committee recommends a total of $216,000,000 for the 
Disaster Loans Program Account for loan subsidies and 
associated administrative expenses, an increase of $50,000,000 
above the request and $42,800,000 above the amount appropriated 
in fiscal year 1998. The Committee recommendation includes 
$100,000,000 for the subsidy costs of disaster loans, which 
when combined with estimated carryover and recoveries of 
$75,804,000 will provide a disaster loan level of $785,000,000, 
the same level as projected for fiscal year 1998. The 
Administration requested no new appropriations for the subsidy 
costs of disaster loans, which would have provided a disaster 
loan program level of only $339,000,000, or 62% below the 
average yearly program level.
    The Committee notes the failure of the SBA, once again, to 
request sufficient appropriations for the subsidy costs of 
direct Disaster Loans, instead relying on a proposal to reduce 
the subsidy rate for these loans by raising interest rates on 
disaster victims by 50%. The Committee expects that future 
appropriations requests for this program will include a 
realistic estimate of subsidy costs, and not rely on gimmicks 
which impose the burden of financing the disaster loan program 
upon those victims least able to afford it, and who have 
nowhere else to turn for relief.
    The Committee recommendation includes $116,000,000 for 
administrative expenses of the program, which may be 
transferred to and merged with appropriations for Salaries and 
Expenses. This amount represents the requested level for the 
direct administrative costs of disaster loan-making and 
servicing.
    The Committee recommendation does not include language 
carried in past appropriations Acts, transferring funds to the 
Office of Inspector general for audits and inspections of the 
disaster loan portfolio. Funding for OIG oversight of the 
disaster loan program is provided directly under the OIG 
account.
    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 
1999, 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 
$3,300,000 for additional capital for the Surety Bond 
Guarantees Revolving Fund. This amount is equal to thebudget 
request, and a decrease of $200,000 below the amount provided for 
fiscal year 1998. 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 $6,850,000 for the State Justice 
Institute (SJI) for fiscal year 1999, the same level as the 
current year appropriation, and $5,150,000 below the request.
    The mission of SJI is to award grants to improve the 
administration of justice in the State courts. SJI requested 
$12,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 for this purpose. However, the 
Administration proposed $6,000,000 for SJI in fiscal year 1999, 
citing a new $60,000,000 program that the Administration has 
requested under the Department of Justice, Office of Justice 
Programs (OJP), to augment assistance to State Courts for 
juvenile crime.
    The Committee recommendation for the Department of Justice, 
Office of Justice Programs includes a $250,000,000 juvenile 
accountability 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 in unique circumstances for 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 1998 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 prohibits 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 fully cooperating in 
good faith with the U.S. on POW/MIA issues, and remains are 
being thoroughly analyzed to provide surviving relatives with 
determinations of death.
    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 language carried in previous House-
passed bills 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 this 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.
    Section 616 prohibits use of funds to issue or renew 
certain fishing vessel permits.
    Section 617 prohibits the use of funds to promote the sale 
or export of tobacco or tobacco products, or to seek the 
reduction or removal of foreign restrictions on the marketing 
of tobacco products, except for restrictions which are not 
applied equally to all tobacco or tobacco products of the same 
type.
    Section 618 prohibits the use of funds to pay for the 
expenses of an election officer appointed by the court to 
oversee the election of any officer or trustee of the 
International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
    Section 619 directs the Federal Communications Commission 
to reinstate a radio license to a particular station, 
notwithstanding the expiration of such license on February 1, 
1998.

                         TITLE VII--RESCISSIONS

                         DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

                         General Administration

                          WORKING CAPITAL FUND

                              (RESCISSION)

    The Committee recommends a rescission of $45,326,000 from 
unobligated balances under this heading, as proposed in the 
June 8, 1998 budget amendment.

                            Legal Activities

                   United States Trustee System Fund

                              (rescission)

    The Committee recommends a rescission of $17,000,000 from 
unobligated balances in the United States Trustee System Fund. 
This is done as a technical matter to clear the books of a 
situation whereby the Committee was scored with $17,000,000 in 
higher-than-anticipated fee collections in fiscal year 1998 
than are in fact expected to be realized.

                    TITLE VIII--CITIZENS PROTECTION

    The bill includes Title VIII, which includes language to 
make government attorneys subject to laws and rules of the 
State and the rules of the local Federal court in which they 
are practicing and to establish conduct standards and 
procedures for Department of Justice employees. Subtitle A, 
section 811, addresses the concerns of the Committee about the 
Department of Justice's issuance of a regulation that exempts 
its attorneys from the same State laws and rules of ethics 
which all other attorneys must follow (59 Fed. Reg. 39910, 
August 4, 1994). Subtitle B, sections 812 et seq., makes it 
clear that employees of the Department of Justice must abide by 
the law. The rule of law in this country is an essential 
bedrock of our democracy. It must be nurtured and protected. 
For informational purposes, a list of cases involving 
misconduct, researched by the Library of Congress, can be found 
in the Congressional Record of March 5, 1998, at pages E301-
303.

               Changes in the Application of Existing Law

    Pursuant to clause 3, rule XXI of the Rules 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.
    Language is included in various parts of the bill to 
continue ongoing activities which require annual authorization 
or additional legislation, which to date has not been enacted.
    The bill includes provisions which place limitations on the 
use of funds in the bill or change existing limitations and 
which might, under some circumstances be construed as changing 
the application of existing law.
    The bill includes a number of provisions, which have been 
virtually unchanged for many years, that are technically 
considered legislation.
    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.
    Language is included under a number of accounts in which 
appropriations are offset by collections that provides the 
level of offsetting collections to be credited to the account 
and in certain cases makes collections in excess of that level 
available in the following fiscal year.
    In various places in the bill, language is included 
providing Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund (VCRTF) amounts 
under the associated Department of Justice account, rather than 
under a separate account as in previous years.
    In various places in the bill, the Committee has earmarked 
funds within appropriation accounts in order to fund specific 
programs and has adjusted some existing earmarkings.
    Those additional changes in the fiscal year 1999 bill, 
which might be interpreted as changing existing law, are as 
follows:
    Under Department of Justice, Counterterrorism Fund, 
language is included providing authority to use funds for 
equipment and training for State and local agencies, and citing 
the applicable authorizing sections of the Antiterrorism and 
Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.
    Under Office of Inspector General, language is included 
that allows the Attorney General to transfer up to one tenth of 
one percent of grant funds provided under the VCRTF for the 
Inspector General to audit and review these grant programs.
    Under Legal Activities, Salaries and Expenses, General 
Legal Activities, language is included directing the Attorney 
General to transfer $813,333 from funds provided in this Act to 
the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the 
United States, subject to section 605 reprogramming 
requirements.
    Under Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System, 
United States Marshals Service, language is included 
establishing this account as a revolving fund to pay for 
transporting prisoners and illegal and criminal aliens, and 
would operate by reimbursement. Language is also included to 
credit proceeds from the disposal of Fund aircraft to this 
account, and to make the amounts available without fiscal year 
limitation, and for operating equipment lease agreements not 
exceeding five years.
    Under Community Relations Service, language is included 
that permits the Attorney General to transfer up to $1,000,000 
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, language is amended 
changing the limitation on the number of passenger and 
replacement motor vehicles. Language is included providing no-
year availability for a portion of funds, including funds 
provided for counterterrorism equipment.
    Under Drug Enforcement Administration, language is amended 
changing the limitation on the number of passenger and 
replacement motor vehicles.
    Under Immigration and Naturalization Service, language is 
included to establish two separate headings under this account, 
``Enforcement and Border Affairs'' and ``Citizen Benefits, 
Immigration Support, and Program Direction'', and provide the 
Attorney General with authority to align resources along these 
functions. Language is amended changing the limitation on the 
number of passenger and replacement motor vehicles.
    Under Immigration and Naturalization Service, Violent Crime 
Reduction Programs, language is included providing the Attorney 
General with authority to transfer funds to any INS program 
previously funded by the VCRTF.
    Under Federal Prison System, Salaries and Expenses, 
language is amended changing the limitation on the number of 
passenger and replacement motor vehicles.
    Under Federal Prison System, Buildings and Facilities, 
language is amended, changing the limitation amount made 
available for the renovation and construction of the U.S. 
Marshals Service prisoner-holding facilities.
    Under Violent Crime Reduction Programs, State and Local Law 
Enforcement Assistance, amended language is included on the 
eligibility of Louisiana parish sheriffs and similar officials 
for grants under the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program. 
Language is included making the Juvenile Accountability 
Incentive Block Grant subject to the terms and conditions in 
the 1998 Appropriations Act.
    Under Weed and Seed Program Fund, language is included 
making the amount provided available until expended.
    Under Community Oriented Policing Services, Violent Crime 
Reduction Programs, language is amended changing the 
limitations on the number of positions and work-years. Language 
is modified regarding the use of unobligated balances, adding 
bulletproof vests for law enforcement officers, additional 
community law enforcement officers and related program support 
for the District of Columbia Offender Supervision, Defender and 
Court Services Agency, and equipment and training for tribal 
law enforcement officers as allowable uses.
    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.
    Under General Provisions--Department of Justice, section 
108 authorizes the Bureau of Prisons to make expenditures out 
of the Federal Prison System's Commissary Fund for the 
installation, operation, and maintenance of the inmate 
telephone system.
    Section 109 provides authority to the Attorney General to 
dispose of surplus property.
    Section 110 replaces injury and death-related costs for INS 
officers with the same humanitarian expenses given to Federal 
Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration 
employees.
    Section 111 merges the Legalization account into the 
Examinations Fee Account.
    Under Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, ``Operations and Administration'', language is 
included identifying a specific amount of fee collections to be 
retained and used.
    Under Export Administration, ``Operations and 
Administration'', language is included requiring Congressional 
notification of proposed actions to process licenses for the 
export of satellites of United States origin to China.
    Under Bureau of the Census, ``Periodic Censuses and 
Programs'', language is included providing a separate 
appropriation for decennial census programs. Language is 
included making a specific amount for the decennial census 
available only upon certain conditions including submission of 
a request for release of the funds and upon subsequent 
legislative action. Revised language is included providing a 
separate appropriation for the Census Monitoring Board, and for 
other periodic programs.
    Under Patent and Trademark Office, Salaries and Expenses, 
language is included providing additional fee collections and 
spending authority, contingent upon enactment of authorization 
legislation.
    Under ``Industrial Technology Services'', language is 
included allowing Manufacturing Technology Centers that have 
already reached their six year time limitation to continue to 
be funded.
    Under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
``Operations, Research, and Facilities'', language is amended 
changing the limitation on the number of active commissioned 
officers. Language is included limiting expenditures for 
Executive Direction and Administration, limiting administrative 
assessments charged against NOAA programs and activities, and 
requiring reprogramming notification for the use of 
unanticipated deobligated balances.
    Under ``Procurement, Acquisition and Construction'', 
language is included modifying the limitation on use of funds 
for deployment of the advanced weather interactive processing 
system and NOAA Port system.
    Under Patent and Trademark Office, Salaries and Expenses, 
(Rescission), language is included rescinding a designated 
amount.
    Under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
Procurement, Acquisition and Construction, (Rescission), 
language is included rescinding a designated amount.
    Under General Provisions--Department of Commerce, section 
209 allows the Department of Commerce franchise fund to retain 
earnings from services provided.
    Section 210 amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act to give certain States 
exclusive fishery management authority in the Gulf of Mexico 
within 9 miles of the Coast of such State.
    Under the Judiciary, Supreme Court of the United States, 
``Care of the Building and Grounds'', language is amended 
changing the amount to remain available until expended.
    Under Department of State, Administration of Foreign 
Affairs, ``Diplomatic and Consular Programs'', language is 
included limiting the amount of Machine Readable Visa fees that 
can be spent in fiscal year 1999, and providing that excess 
collections become available in fiscal year 2000.
    Under Salaries and Expenses, language is included requiring 
the transfer of $813,333 to the Presidential Advisory 
Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States.
    Under Arrearage Payments, language is included making 
amounts available until expended for payment of arrearages to 
meet obligations of membership in the United Nations and to pay 
assessed expenses of international peacekeeping activities, and 
making obligation of funds contingent upon authorization, and 
upon certain conditions related to assessment rates.
    Under United States Information Agency, International 
Broadcasting Operations, language is included allowing funds 
provided for broadcasting to Cuba to be used for facilities and 
equipment.
    Under General Provisions--Department of State and Related 
Agencies, section 404 renames the Japan-U.S. Friendship 
Commission as the United States-Japan Commission and providing 
for interchangeability of its yen and dollar trust funds.
    Section 405 allows the Director of USIA to administer 
summer travel and work programs without regard to preplacement 
requirements.
    Section 406 extends privileges and immunities to the United 
Nations Industrial Development Organization to the same extent 
as would apply if the U.S. were a member of that organization.
    Section 407 extends law enforcement availability pay to 
diplomatic security agents of the Department of State.
    Under Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, language is 
amended, changing the limitation amount 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 prohibiting the use of funds for certain rental and 
relocation costs, until specific conditions are met.
    Under the Legal Services Corporation, Administrative 
Provisions, language is included making funds subject to terms 
and conditions set forth in certain sections of the fiscal year 
1998 Act.
    Under the Securities and Exchange Commission, language is 
included designating specific amounts to be appropriated from 
fees collected in fiscal years 1998 and 1999.
    Under the Small Business Administration, ``Salaries and 
Expenses,'' language is amended changing the amount of funds to 
be available for two years for the Small Business Development 
Centers program.
    Under Business Loans Program Account, language is included 
designating an amount for the cost of direct loans. Language is 
amended making a technical correction to a citation.
    Under Disaster Loans Program Account, language is included 
allowing the transfer of a specified amount for administration 
of the program to the Salaries and Expenses account.
    Under General Provisions, section 612, regarding uses of 
NOAA fleet modernization funds, has been modified to apply to 
all NOAA fleet modernization activities.
    Section 619 directs the Federal Communications Commission 
to reinstate a radio broadcast license.
    Under Department of Justice, General Administration, 
Working Capital Fund, (Rescission), language is included 
rescinding funds.
    Under Department of Justice, Legal Activities, United 
States Trustee System Fund, (Rescission), language is included 
rescinding funds.
    Under Title VIII, language is included to make government 
attorneys subject to ethics standards of the State in which 
they are practicing and to establish conduct standards and 
procedures for Department of Justice employees.

                 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
                  Counterterrorism Fund
                  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
                  Enforcement and Border Affairs
                  Citizenship and Benefits, Immigration Support 
                and Program Direction
                  Construction
                  Violent Crime Reduction Programs
          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, with certain 
                exceptions
                  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
                  Procurement, Acquisition and Construction
          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
          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
    Federal Trade Commission
    Legal Services Corporation
    Securities and Exchange Commission
    Small Business Administration
          Salaries and Expenses, with certain exceptions
    State Justice Institute

                        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 
302(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 302(b)  Recommended in
                                            allocation       this bill  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority:                                                       
    Mandatory...........................             554             547
    Discretionary.......................          32,456          32,929
      Total budget authority............          33,010          33,476
Outlays:                                                                
    Mandatory...........................             555             555
    Discretionary.......................          31,185          31,619
      Total outlays.....................          31,740          32,174
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note.--The amounts in this bill are technically in excess of the        
  subcommittee section 302(b) subdivision. However, pursuant to section 
  314 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, increases to the         
  Committee's section 302(a) allocation are authorized for funding in   
  the reported bill for arrearages for international peacekeeping. After
  the bill is reported to the House, the Chairman of the Committee on   
  the Budget will provide an increased section 302(a) allocation        
  consistent with the funding provided in the bill. That new allocation 
  will eliminate the technical difference prior to floor consideration. 

                    Five-Year Projection of Outlays

    In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(B) 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 1999 outlays

                        [In millions of dollars]

Budget authority........................................          33,341
Outlays:
    1999................................................          22,265
    2000................................................           6,280
    2001................................................           3,163
    2002................................................           1,348
    2003 and future years...............................             144

               Assistance to State and Local Governments

    In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the 
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 
(Public Law 93-344), the new budget authority and outlays 
providedby the accompanying bill for financial assistance to 
State and local governments are as follows:
                                                                Millions
FY 1999 new budget authority............................          $5,067
FY 1999 outlays resulting therefrom.....................             888

                   Programs, Projects, and Activities

    During fiscal year 1999, 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 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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 italics, 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) There is established in the United States Treasury a 
special fund to be known as the Department of Justice Assets 
Forfeiture Fund (hereafter in this subsection referred to as 
the ``Fund'') which shall be available to the Attorney General 
without fiscal year limitation for the following law 
enforcement purposes--
          (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (9)(A) Following the completion of procedures for the 
forfeiture of property pursuant to any law enforced or 
administered by the Department, the Attorney General is 
authorized, in her discretion, to warrant clear title to any 
subsequent purchaser or transferee of such property.
  (B) For fiscal year [1997] 1999, the Attorney General is 
authorized to transfer, under such terms and conditions as the 
Attorney General shall specify, real or personal property of 
limited or marginal value, to a State or local government 
agency, or its designated contractor or transferee, for use to 
support drug abuse treatment, drug and crime prevention and 
education, housing, job skills, and other community-based 
public health and safety programs. Such transfer shall not 
create or confer any private right of action in any person 
against the United States.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


             SECTION 3201 OF THE CRIME CONTROL ACT OF 1990

[SEC. 3201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN EXPENSES.

  [(a) Federal Bureau of Investigation.--For each fiscal year 
beginning after September 30, 1990, there is authorized to be 
appropriated for the Federal Bureau of Investigation $25,000, 
to be expended in the discretion of the Director of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation to pay humanitarian expenses incurred--
          [(1) by an employee of the Bureau as a result of 
        serious illness, serious injury, or death occurring 
        while on official business; or
          [(2) by any member of the immediate family of such 
        employee, incident to the serious illness, serious 
        injury, or death of such employee occurring while on 
        official business.
  [(b) Drug Enforcement Administration.--For each fiscal year 
beginning after September 30, 1990, there is authorized to be 
appropriated for the Drug Enforcement Administration $25,000, 
to be expended at the discretion of the Administrator of the 
Drug Enforcement Administration to pay humanitarian expenses 
incurred--
          [(1) by an employee of the Administration as a result 
        of serious illness, serious injury, or death occurring 
        while on official business; or
          [(2) by any member of the immediate family of such 
        employee, incident to the serious illness, serious 
        injury, or death of such employee occurring while on 
        official business.]

SEC. 3201. AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN EXPENSES.

  Appropriations made for fiscal year 1999 or any succeeding 
fiscal year for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug 
Enforcement Administration, or the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service shall be available, in an amount of not 
to exceed $25,000 each per fiscal year, to pay humanitarian 
expenses incurred by or for any employee thereof (or any member 
of the employee's immediate family) that results from or is 
incident to serious illness, serious injury, or death occurring 
to the employee while on official duty or business.
                              ----------                              


THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION ACT

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                            TABLE OF CONTENTS

     * * * * * * *

                          Title II--Immigration

     * * * * * * *

                         Chapter 9--Miscellaneous

Sec. 281.  Nonimmigrant visa fees.
     * * * * * * *
[Sec. 295.  Transportation of remains of immigration officers and border 
          patrol agents killed in the line of duty.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE II--IMMIGRATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Chapter 9--Miscellaneous

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


 [transportation of remains of immigration officers and border patrol 
                   agents killed in the line of duty

  [Sec. 295. (a) In General.--To the extent provided in 
appropriation Acts, when an immigration officer or border 
patrol agent is killed in the line of duty, the Attorney 
General may pay from appropriations available for the activity 
in which the officer or agent was engaged--
          [(1) the actual and necessary expenses of 
        transportation of the remains of the officer or agent 
        to a place of burial located in any State, American 
        Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
        Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of 
        Palau;
          [(2) travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, of the decedent's spouse and minor 
        children to and from such site at rates not greater 
        than those established for official government travel 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
        States Code; and
          [(3) any other memorial service authorized by the 
        Attorney General.
  [(b) Prepayment.--The Attorney General may prepay any expense 
authorized to be paid under this section.]
                              ----------                              


SECTION 101 OF THE MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT 
                                  ACT

SEC. 101. UNITED STATES SOVEREIGN RIGHTS TO FISH AND FISHERY MANAGEMENT 
                    AUTHORITY.

  (a) In the Exclusive Economic Zone.--Except as provided in 
subsection (c) of this section and section 102, the United 
States claims, and will exercise in the manner provided for in 
this Act, sovereign rights and exclusive fishery management 
authority over all fish, and all Continental Shelf fishery 
resources, within the exclusive economic zone.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c) Exclusive State Fishery Management Authority in Gulf of 
Mexico.--Each of the States of Alabama, Louisiana, and 
Mississippi has exclusive fishery management authority over all 
fish in the Gulf of Mexico within 9 miles of the coast of that 
State.
                              ----------                              


JAPAN-UNITED STATES FRIENDSHIP ACT

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                establishment of the fund; expenditures

  Sec. 3. (a) There is established in the Treasury of the 
United States a trust fund to be known as the [Japan-United 
States Friendship Trust Fund] United States-Japan Trust Fund 
(hereafter referred to as the ``Fund'').

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c) Amounts in the Fund may also be used to pay 
administrative expenses of the [Japan-United States Friendship 
Commission] United States-Japan Commission, established by 
section 4 of this Act, as directed by that Commission.

            [the japan-united states friendship commission]


                     united states-japan commission


  Sec. 4. (a) There is established a commission to be known as 
the [Japan-United States Friendship Commission] United States-
Japan Commission (hereafter referred to as the ``Commission''). 
The Commission shall be composed of--
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                       administrative provisions

  Sec. 6. In order to carry out its functions under this Act, 
the Commission is authorized to--
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (4) direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make 
        expenditure of the income of the Fund, any amount of 
        the contributions deposited in the Fund from 
        nonappropriated sources pursuant to paragraph (2) or 
        (3) of this section, and not to exceed 5 percent 
        annually of the principal of the total amount 
        appropriated to the Fund to carry out the purposes of 
        this Act, including the payment of Commission expenses 
        if [needed, except that any amounts expended from 
        amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 3(e)(1) 
        of this Act shall be expended in Japan or for not more 
        than 50 percent of administrative expenses in the 
        United States] needed;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                         management of the fund

  Sec. 7. (a) * * *
  (b) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury 
(hereafter referred to as the ``Secretary'') to invest such 
portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the 
Commission, required to meet current withdrawals. [Such 
investment of amounts authorized to be appropriated under 
section 3(d) of this Act may be made only in interest-bearing 
obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed 
as to both principal and interest by the United States.] Such 
investment may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of 
the United States, in obligations guaranteed as to both 
principal and interest by the United States, in interest-
bearing obligations of Japan, or in obligations guaranteed as 
to both principal and interest by Japan. For such purposes, the 
obligations may be acquired (1) on original issue at the issue 
price, or (2) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the 
market price. The purposes for which obligations of the United 
States may be issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act, as 
amended, are hereby extended to authorize the issuance at par 
of special obligations exclusively to the Fund. Such special 
obligations shall bear interest at a rate equal to the average 
rate of interest, computed as to the end of the calendar month 
next preceding the date of such issue, borne by all marketable 
interest-bearing obligations of the United States issued during 
the preceding two years then forming part of the public debt; 
except that where such average rate is not a multiple of one-
eighth of 1 per centum, the rate of interest of such special 
obligations shall be the multiple of one-eighth of 1 per centum 
next lower than such average rate. Such special obligations 
shall be issued only if the Secretary determines that the 
purchase of other interest-bearing obligations of the United 
States, or of obligations guaranteed as to both principal and 
interest by the United States on original issue or at the 
market price, is not in the public interest.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


      SECTION 12 OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IMMUNITIES ACT

  Sec. 12. The provisions of this title may be extended to the 
Organization of African Unity and may continue to be extended 
to the International Labor Organization and the United Nations 
Industrial Development Organization in the same manner, to the 
same extent, and subject to the same conditions, as they may be 
extended to a public international organization in which the 
United States participates pursuant to any treaty or under the 
authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such participation 
or making an appropriation for such participation.
                              ----------                              


               CHAPTER 55 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE

CHAPTER 55--PAY ADMINISTRATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SUBCHAPTER V--PREMIUM PAY

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 5542. Overtime rates; computation

  (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (e) Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1) of this section, all 
hours of overtime work scheduled in advance of the 
administrative workweek shall be compensated under subsection 
(a) if that work involves duties as authorized by section 
3056(a) of [title 18, United States Code,] title 18 or section 
37(a)(3) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, 
and if the investigator performs, on that same day, at least 2 
hours of overtime work not scheduled in advance of the 
administrative workweek.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 5545a. Availability pay for criminal investigators

  (a) For purposes of this section--
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (2) the term ``criminal investigator'' means a law 
        enforcement officer as defined under section 5541(3) 
        (other than an officer occupying a position under title 
        II of [Public Law 99-399)] Public Law 99-399, subject 
        to subsection (k)) who is required to--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (k)(1) For purposes of this section, the term ``criminal 
investigator'' includes a special agent occupying a position 
under title II of Public Law 99-399 if such special agent--
          (A) meets the definition of such terms under 
        paragraph (2) of subsection (a) (applied disregarding 
        the parenthetical matter before subparagraph (A) 
        thereof); and
          (B) such special agent satisfies the requirements of 
        subsection (d) without taking into account any hours 
        described in paragraph (2)(B) thereof.
  (2) In applying subsection (h) with respect to a special 
agent under this subsection--
          (A) any reference in such subsection to ``basic pay'' 
        shall be considered to include amounts designated as 
        ``salary'';
          (B) paragraph (2)(A) of such subsection shall be 
        considered to include (in addition to the provisions of 
        law specified therein) sections 609(b)(1), 805, 806, 
        and 856 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980; and
          (C) paragraph (2)(B) of such subsection shall be 
        applied by substituting for ``Office of Personnel 
        Management'' the following: ``Office of Personnel 
        Management or the Secretary of State (to the extent 
        that matters exclusively within the jurisdiction of the 
        Secretary are concerned)''.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                    CHAPTER 31--THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Sec.
501. Executive department.
     * * * * * * *
530B. Ethical standards for attorneys for the Government.
     * * * * * * *

Sec. 530B. Ethical standards for attorneys for the Government

    (a) An attorney for the Government shall be subject to 
State laws and rules, and local Federal court rules, governing 
attorneys in each State where such attorney engages in that 
attorney's duties, to the same extent and in the same manner as 
other attorneys in that State.
    (b) The Attorney General shall make and amend rules of the 
Department of Justice to assure compliance with this section.
    (c) As used in this section, the term ``attorney for the 
Government'' includes any attorney described in section 77.2(a) 
of part 77 of title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

                           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, Procurement, Acquisition and Construction'' 
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 
rescissions in the bill, as follows:

Department of Justice, General Administration, Working 
    Capital Fund........................................    -$45,236,000
Department of Justice, Legal Activities, United States 
    Trustee System Fund.................................    -$17,000,000
Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office, 
    Salaries and Expenses...............................    -$41,000,000
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
    Administration, Procurement, Acquisition and 
    Construction........................................     -$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 result of each rollcall 
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 15, 1998.
    Measure: Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary 
Appropriations, FY 1999.
    Motion by: Mr. Mollohan.
    Description of motion: To strike a provision requiring a 
presidential proposal and congressional decision prior to 
expenditure of certain funds by the Census Bureau, and to allow 
the funds for the decennial census to be used to plan and 
prepare for a census that uses statistical sampling methods.
    Results: Rejected 22 yeas to 31 nays.
        Members Voting Yea            Members Voting Nay
Mr. Cramer                          Mr. Aderholt
Ms. DeLauro                         Mr. Bonilla
Mr. Dixon                           Mr. Callahan
Mr. Edwards                         Mr. Cunningham
Mr. Fazio                           Mr. DeLay
Mr. Hefner                          Mr. Dickey
Mr. Hoyer                           Mr. Forbes
Ms. Kaptur                          Mr. Frelinghuysen
Mrs. Meek                           Mr. Istook
Mr. Mollohan                        Mr. Kingston
Mr. Moran                           Mr. Knollenberg
Mr. Obey                            Mr. Latham
Mr. Olver                           Mr. Lewis
Mr. Pastor                          Mr. Livingston
Ms. Pelosi                          Mr. McDade
Mr. Price                           Mr. Miller
Mr. Sabo                            Mr. Nethercutt
Mr. Serrano                         Mr. Neumann
Mr. Skaggs                          Mrs. Northup
Mr. Stokes                          Mr. Packard
Mr. Torres                          Mr. Parker
Mr. Yates                           Mr. Porter
                                    Mr. Regula
                                    Mr. Rogers
                                    Mr. Skeen
                                    Mr. Taylor
                                    Mr. Tiahrt
                                    Mr. Walsh
                                    Mr. Wamp
                                    Mr. Wicker
                                    Mr. Wolf
                          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. 2

    Date: July 15, 1998.
    Measure: Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary 
Appropriations Bill, FY 1999.
    Motion by: Mr. Dickey.
    Description of motion: To reduce funding for the Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission by $2,000,000.
    Results: Rejected 11 yeas to 37 nays.
        Members Voting Yea            Members Voting Nay
Mr. Bonilla                         Mr. Cramer
Mr. Callahan                        Ms. DeLauro
Mr. Cunningham                      Mr. Dixon
Mr. Dickey                          Mr. Edwards
Mr. Kingston                        Mr. Fazio
Mr. Miller                          Mr. Forbes
Mr. Nethercutt                      Mr. Frelinghuysen
Mr. Packard                         Mr. Hefner
Mr. Taylor                          Mr. Hobson
Mr. Tiahrt                          Mr. Hoyer
Mr. Wicker                          Ms. Kaptur
                                    Mr. Knollenberg
                                    Mr. Kolbe
                                    Mr. Latham
                                    Mr. Livingston
                                    Mr. McDade
                                    Mrs. Meek
                                    Mr. Mollohan
                                    Mr. Moran
                                    Mrs. Northup
                                    Mr. Obey
                                    Mr. Olver
                                    Mr. Parker
                                    Mr. Pastor
                                    Ms. Pelosi
                                    Mr. Price
                                    Mr. Rogers
                                    Mr. Sabo
                                    Mr. Serrano
                                    Mr. Skaggs
                                    Mr. Stokes
                                    Mr. Torres
                                    Mr. Visclosky
                                    Mr. Walsh
                                    Mr. Wamp
                                    Mr. Wolf
                                    Mr. Yates
                          Full Committee Votes

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 2(l)(2)(b) of the rule 
XI of the House of Representatives, the results of each 
rollcall 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. 3

    Date: July 15, 1998.
    Measure: Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary 
Appropriations Bill, FY 1999.
    Motion by: Mr. Rogers.
    Description of motion: Substitute to Mr. Skaggs' amendment 
(strike funding for television broadcasting to Cuba)--To deny 
funds for television broadcasting to Cuba after October 1, 
1998, unless the President certifies it is the national 
interest (underlying amendment subsequently withdrawn).
    Results: Adopted 28 yeas to 19 nays.
        Members Voting Yea            Members Voting Nay
Mr. Aderholt                        Mr. Cramer
Mr. Bonilla                         Ms. DeLauro
Mr. Callahan                        Mr. Dixon
Mr. Cunningham                      Mr. Edwards
Mr. DeLay                           Mr. Fazio
Mr. Forbes                          Mr. Hoyer
Mr. Frelinghuysen                   Mr. Mollohan
Mr. Hobson                          Mr. Moran
Mr. Istook                          Mr. Nethercutt
Ms. Kaptur                          Mr. Olver
Mr. Knollenberg                     Mr. Parker
Mr. Kolbe                           Mr. Pastor
Mr. Latham                          Ms. Pelosi
Mr. Lewis                           Mr. Price
Mr. Livingston                      Mr. Sabo
Mr. Miller                          Mr. Serrano
Mr. Neumann                         Mr. Skaggs
Mrs. Northup                        Mr. Torres
Mr. Packard                         Mr. Visclosky
Mr. Porter
Mr. Rogers
Mr. Skeen
Mr. Taylor
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 1998 enacted amounts and budget estimates 
presented for fiscal year 1999:





   ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF HON. CHARLES TAYLOR AND HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

    An effective and well run Patent and Trademark Office 
allows American inventors and business the security that their 
intellectual capital will not be infringed upon thus allowing 
them to compete effectively in markets today and into the 21st 
Century. The United States is by far the world's largest 
producer of intellectual property. Many other nations have 
learned from our success--America no longer stands alone in its 
commitment to a strong system of patent protection for its 
inventors, small businesses, and industries.
    In light of the recent report provided to the Subcommittee 
by the PTO regarding the state of patent examiner training, we 
believe that legislative language should be included in some 
future bill that will help ensure that the examiners are better 
trained and prepared to carry out their important duties.
    We believe that any such language should instruct the PTO 
to require that all patent examiners spend at least five 
percent of their duty time each year in training to maintain 
and develop the legal and technical skills useful for patent 
examination. The training should be conducted through an 
incentive program to retain as employees patent examiners of 
the primary examiner grade or higher who are eligible for 
retirement, for the sole purpose of training patent examiners 
who have not achieved the grade of primary examiner. A training 
program of this nature will enhance the productivity of the 
PTO. The members of the labor union representing the patent 
examiners share our view in that assessment.

                                   Charles H. Taylor.
                                   Mike Forbes.

ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR, HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES AND 
    HON. TOM DeLAY REGARDING THE COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE FOR LAW 
                            ENFORCEMENT ACT

    The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act 
(CALEA) was enacted in 1994 in recognition of changing 
telecommunications technology and the effect of such changes on 
the government's ability to conduct electronic surveillance. We 
continue to be concerned about the delays in implementing 
CALEA. Industry and the FBI are at loggerheads at the current 
time. The telecommunications industry has historically 
cooperated with law enforcement in the conduct of wiretaps 
pursuant to a court order or other lawful authorization. 
Advanced telecommunications technology, such as digital 
technology, has occasionally hindered law enforcement in the 
conduct of electronic surveillance. CALEA was enacted to 
address law enforcement concerns about their ability to 
continue to conduct electronic surveillance technology changed. 
CALEA balanced at least three competing interests preservation 
of the government's ability to conduct electronic surveillance, 
the protection of customer privacy of communications, and a 
policy to not impede the introduction of new telecommunications 
services, features, and technology.
    In order to protect the balance of the interests of the 
government, the telecommunications industry, and privacy 
groups, the law provided for public accountability for its 
implementation and for technical standards to be set by the 
industry itself. The law also required the industry to develop 
surveillance capabilities to be utilized in a changed 
technological environment to permit law enforcement to continue 
to conduct electronic surveillance and to design these 
capabilities into new industry deployments of technology. CALEA 
recognized that some existing networks would have to be 
retrofitted and CALEA provided for government reimbursement of 
the industry's reasonable costs for such modifications of 
existing equipment, services, or features.
    CALEA required the government to reimburse 
telecommunications carriers for expansions in their network 
capacity to accommodate law enforcement electronic surveillance 
needs. Such electronics surveillance capacity needs were to 
have been provided to the industry in 1995 but were not 
finalized until March 1998. Delays in the implementation of 
CALEA have also resulted from industry and law enforcement 
disagreement over the technical standards to implement the 
assistance capability requirements of CALEA. Presently, there 
is no CALEA compliant technology available for implementation 
by telecommunications carriers and virtually all carrier 
equipment that has been installed or deployed since the 
enactment of CALEA is not compliant with the assistance 
capability requirements of the law.
    During the four-year transition period originally 
contemplated by CALEA virtually no government funds have been 
expended to reimburse the telecommunications industry for its 
implementation costs of CALEA. It is necessary to extend the 
time for compliance with the law to enable the industry to 
complete the standard setting and development process required 
to implement CALEA in an economical and efficient fashion, and 
to recognize that the existing carrier networks should be 
grandfathered in the interim. We believe that it is necessary 
to move both the ``grandfather'' and compliance dates of CALEA 
to recognize the delays in CALEA implementation and to ensure 
that implementation continues as determined by Congress. We 
need to work with the authorizing committee to accomplish these 
important date changes which will not affect the substance and 
intent of the law.

                                   Charles H. Taylor.
                                   Mike P. Forbes.
                                   Tom DeLay.

ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF HON. ALAN B. MOLLOHAN, HON. DAVID SKAGGS, AND HON. 
                              JULIAN DIXON

    In general the FY 1999 Commerce, Justice, State and the 
Judiciary and related agencies Appropriations bill funds 
programs and agencies at adequate levels. However, there are 
several areas of concern in the bill with respect to both the 
funding levels recommended and the legislative actions taken.

                           justice department

    The bill robustly funds the Department of Justice and law 
enforcement. The COPS program is fully funded and has thus far 
been extraordinarily successful. So far, 76,771 COPS are on the 
beat as a result of this program. Proof positive of the success 
of the COPS program lies in the fact that violent crime has 
been reduced across the country. Some were initially skeptical 
that a program, run from Washington, could significantly impact 
local crime in a positive way. Some advocated sending the money 
back to States to let them decide how to spend it. The 
subcommittee responded by providing for both a targeted COPS 
program, and a law enforcement block grant to the states. Once 
again this year the bill funds both programs. We believe that 
the combination of these programs is an approach the Federal 
government can be proud of in terms of helping states and 
localities fight crime.
    The bill also provides funds for juvenile delinquency and 
other prevention programs. We have followed the same approach 
this year in providing $125 million for the Juvenile 
Delinquency Prevention Block Grant in accordance with the 
authorities of H.R. 1818, the Juvenile Crime Control and 
Delinquency Prevention Block Grant Act of 1997.

                          commerce department

    With respect to the Commerce Department, the bill supports 
important initiatives such as the Public Works Grant program, 
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the scientific 
research conducted by the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, and the critical activities of the National Weather 
Service. The recommendations for the NOAA budget increase 
funding for the Coastal Zone Management grants, and robustly 
funds navigation safety programs, Marine sanctuaries, and Sea 
grants.
    There are several areas of the Commerce Department that 
need to be improved. The bill provides only $180 for the 
Advanced Technology Program, significantly less than the amount 
requested. Regrettably the bill only provides $43 million for 
new awards under this program.
    The bill contains only $21 million for the Public 
Telecommunications Facilities Program. Funds are critically 
needed to help small public radio and television stations 
convert to digital systems and thereby improve access in rural 
areas to public broadcasting.

                            decennial census

    The bill, as reported, contains language in the 
appropriation for the decennial census that causes us grave 
concern. Indeed, it should concern everyone who cares about the 
success of Census 2000--regardless of one's views on particular 
methodological issues such as use of statistical sampling--
because it has the potential irretrievably damage census 
preparations.
    The language at issue fences off half the fiscal year 1999 
appropriation for decennial census preparations, and specifies 
that these funds cannot be obligated or expended until after 
March 31, 1999 and until after subsequent legislation has been 
enacted to release the funds. The apparent purpose is to 
provide an opportunity for the House majority to force a 
legislative showdown regarding census methodology early next 
year, and to use the threat of completely closing down census 
preparations as a means of gaining additional bargaining 
leverage.
    Under the bill, unless legislation releasing the second 
half of the appropriation is enacted into law by March 31 of 
next year, the Census Bureau will simply run out of money to 
prepare for the 2000 census and all work will come to a halt. 
Census employees will be furloughed or terminated, orders for 
equipment and services will not be placed, and all planning and 
preparation activities will cease. Given the close timing and 
tight schedule for Census 2000 preparations, any such shutdown 
occurring just one year before the April 1, 2000 census date 
would do irreparable damage.
    This is especially true because some critical activities 
will be taking place next spring--particularly those related to 
building the Master Address File that is used in addressing the 
questionnaries, determining which households have responded, 
and following up on non responses. In the first five months of 
1999, the Census Bureau is scheduled to undertake a massive 
``canvassing'' operation, which involves having someone walk or 
drive down every street in every city or town in the nation to 
check and update the address list. The Bureau is also scheduled 
to be working with local governments in rural areas to check 
and update the rural address list. If these operations are 
disrupted, the accuracy of the address list used in 2000 will 
be reduced. And if the temporary employees working on the 
address list are laid off, the Census Bureau may never get them 
back again.
    There is also a second reason why the reported bill would 
greatly disrupt census preparations: it does not give the 
Census Bureau enough funds to operate during the first half of 
fiscal year 1999. The bill legal issues by the courts by doing 
the following: divides the annual appropriation in half, but 
the Census Bureau's schedule requires obligating considerably 
more than half its fiscal year 1999 funds during the first six 
months of the year. One reason for this is that the Bureau 
needs to award the contracts for printing questionnaries and 
other forms in November and December of 1998, and will thereby 
obligate essentially all its funds for printing at that time. 
Another reason is that the Bureau is scheduled to undertake the 
very labor-intensive process of building the address file for 
rural areas during the Fall of 1998, and will thereby incur a 
large fraction of its fiscal year 1999 cost for temporary 
workers during those months. And orders for data processing 
equipment are also scheduled to be placed during the first half 
of fiscal year 1999.
    For these and other reasons, the Census Bureau's plans call 
for obligating just over two thirds of the fiscal year 1999 
appropriation for the decennial census during the first six 
months of the year. But the bill language allows the Bureau to 
obligate only half. If this restriction is allowed to stand, 
some critical steps like building the address list and printing 
the questionnaires will simply not occur on schedule, further 
putting Census 2000 at risk.
    It is ironic that the Committee majority has chosen to 
adopt this bill language. During hearings and markup, majority 
Members repeatedly cited reports by the GAO and the Commerce 
Department Inspector General that note some problems in the 
census preparation process and express concern that these 
problems could lead to failures in 2000 if not addressed. Yet, 
the majority seems to be pursuing a course that risks far 
greater disruption and puts Census 2000 at far greater risk. We 
believe such a course is unacceptable.
    In an effort to prevent a census shutdown, Rep. Mollohan 
offered an alternative solution during the Appropriations 
Committee's markup of this bill. Unfortunately, this amendment 
was defeated on a party line vote. The Mollohan amendment would 
have deleted the language in the bill fencing half the census 
appropriation until enactment of subsequent legislation. In 
place of this census shutdown provision, the Mollohan amendment 
would have added provisions to facilitate resolution of the 
constitutional and
           Allow the Census Bureau to proceed with 
        preparations for sampling, but shut off funds for 
        sampling in the event the Supreme Court holds that 
        method to be unconstitutional or contrary to law; and
           Require the Census Bureau to continue on a 
        dual track--preparing for both a sampling and non-
        sampling census--while the current court cases are 
        pending.
    Further, the Mollohan amendment sought to enlist experts, 
rather than politicians, to help resolve the technical 
statistical issues involved. It returns to the National Academy 
of Sciences--the group that Congress, on a bipartisan basis, 
asked for help after the failed 1990 census--and asks the 
Academy to do the following:
           Review the Census Bureau's current plans to 
        make sure they are consistent with the Academy's past 
        recommendations; and
           Evaluate and report to Congress regarding 
        whether the methodology currently planned by the Census 
        Bureau represents the most feasible means of achieving 
        the most accurate population count possible.
    We intend to once again press for changes of this nature 
when the bill is taken up by the House. The language reported 
by the Committee majority simply carries too much risk of 
disruption and failure in Census 2000 to be allowed to stand.

                       State Department and USIA

    Last year the Committee made efforts to improve funding for 
the State Department operating accounts. Because we all 
recognize the importance of the presence of United States 
diplomatic personnel overseas, we are hopeful that the cuts 
made to State's operating accounts can be restored.
    With respect to the United Nations the bill once again 
provides funding for arrearage payments subject to 
authorization. The $475 million contained in this bill and the 
$100 million provided last year remain hostage to the State 
Department authorization bill, which has passed both the House 
and Senate, but has yet to be sent to the President. If, by the 
end of the fiscal year, it is clear that the authorization bill 
will not go forward, the Committee should consider authorizing 
the UN arrearage payments that have been appropriated.
    We regret that funding was provided for the TV Marti 
program. TV Marti has no significant audience because of 
jamming by the Cuban government, and thus makes no contribution 
to bringing freedom and democracy to Cuba. The Broadcasting 
Board of Governors has confirmed that the conversion from VHF 
to UHF has failed to get the video signal through, and that 
Cuba can jam the UHF signal just as effectively as it jammed 
the VHF transmissions. We have spent $110 million on this 
failed program. We believe it is a waste of taxpayers money and 
should be ended.

                            related agencies

    We are concerned about the large cuts made to the Small 
Business Administration. At the same time we understand the 
Committee's frustration with the ``gimmicks'' employed by the 
Office of Management and Budget in putting together SBA's 
budget request. While we will work to restore cuts made to 
SBA's budget, we hope that the Administration will send a more 
realistic budget request to Congress next year.
    Finally we must express severe reservations about the 
inadequate funding level provided in the bill for the Legal 
Services Corporation. The level of $141 million is not even 
close to what is needed to provide civil legal assistance for 
our most vulnerable citizens. Strenuous efforts will be made to 
improve this funding level as we move through the 
appropriations process.

                                   Allan B. Mollohan.
                                   David Skaggs.
                                   Julian Dixon.

                                
