[Senate Report 114-239]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 432

114th Congress       }                               {        Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session          }                               {       114-239

======================================================================


 
  DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE AND JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                       APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2017

                                _______
                                

                 April 21, 2016.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                                 REPORT

                    [To accompany S. 2837]

    The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred the 
bill (H.R. 0000) making appropriations for the Departments of 
Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes, 
reports the same to the Senate with an amendment, and 
recommends that the bill as amended do pass. deg.
    The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 2837) 
making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and 
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes, reports 
favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.



Total obligational authority, fiscal year 2017

Total of bill as reported to the Senate\1\.............. $65,469,000,000
Amount of 2016 appropriations...........................  65,121,000,000
Amount of 2017 budget estimate..........................  65,652,349,000
Bill as recommended to Senate compared to--
    2016 appropriations.................................    +348,000,000
    2017 budget estimate................................    -183,349,000

\1\This level does not include -$8,864,000,000 in adjustments that the 
Congressional Budget Office [CBO] scores to the bill. With these 
scorekeeping adjustments, the bill totals $56,285,000,000 in 
discretionary budget authority.





                                CONTENTS

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

Purpose of the Bill..............................................     3
Summary of the Bill..............................................     3
Fighting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.................................     4
Reprogrammings, Reorganizations, and Relocations.................     6
Congressional Budget Justifications..............................     7
Reporting Requirements...........................................     8
Reductions-in-Force..............................................     8
Appropriations Liaisons..........................................     8
Title I: Department of Commerce..................................     9
Title II: Department of Justice..................................    53
Title III: Science...............................................    98
    Office of Science and Technology Policy......................    98
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration................    99
    National Science Foundation..................................   112
Title IV: Related Agencies.......................................   121
    Commission on Civil Rights...................................   121
    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission......................   121
    International Trade Commission...............................   122
    Legal Services Corporation...................................   123
    Marine Mammal Commission.....................................   124
    Office of the United States Trade Representative.............   124
    State Justice Institute......................................   125
Title V: General Provisions......................................   126
Compliance With Paragraph 7, Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of 
  the 
  Senate.........................................................   129
Compliance With Paragraph 7(c) Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of 
  the Senate.....................................................   132
Compliance With Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of 
  the Senate.....................................................   133
Budgetary Impact of Bill...................................133
Disclosure of Congressionally Designated Projects...............00 deg.
Comparative Statement of Budget Authority........................   133

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The bill provides funding for: (1) the Department of 
Commerce [DOC]; (2) the Department of Justice [DOJ]; (3) 
several independent science agencies: the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy [OSTP], the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration [NASA], and the National Science Foundation 
[NSF]; and (4) several related commissions and agencies: the 
Commission on Civil Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission [EEOC], the International Trade Commission [ITC], 
the Legal Services Corporation [LSC], the Marine Mammal 
Commission, the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, and the State Justice Institute [SJI].

                          Summary of the Bill

    The total amount of discretionary budget authority 
recommended by the Committee for fiscal year 2017 is 
$56,285,000,000, which is $563,000,000 above the fiscal year 
2016 enacted level.
    The Committee's recommendation is consistent with the 
allocation for the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
Agencies appropriations bill. Within these boundaries, the 
Committee has achieved a careful balance between the competing 
priorities of law enforcement, national security, economic 
development, scientific research, and space exploration. As a 
result, this bill represents responsible spending that adheres 
to congressional budget agreements and provisions.
    The Committee notes that the administration's budget 
requests for large programmatic increases, coupled with large 
amounts of unsubstantiated non-discretionary funding, continue 
to add financial pressure on existing core programs and 
operations throughout the bill. This remains true for the 
Department of Commerce, which is responsible for a variety of 
activities critical to our Nation's economic and scientific 
well-being, and also manages expensive, high-risk activities, 
including the build-up to the 2020 Decennial Census and efforts 
to launch the next generation of weather satellites. Strict 
oversight and fiscal responsibility are essential for the 
Department's success in fiscal year 2017.
    This Committee remains supportive of science and 
innovation, and has maintained a healthy funding level for NSF 
while preserving a balanced and productive space program within 
the NASA. Ignoring the proposed funding cuts, this bill makes 
it possible for NASA to achieve efficient and cost-effective 
operations for the agency's science and exploration missions, 
many of which will reach critical stages of development during 
fiscal year 2017.
    The constantly changing landscape of criminal activity at 
home and abroad tests the Department of Justice's ability to 
deal with emerging threats. The Committee believes that our 
Federal law enforcement agencies must work together--
particularly in tough budget environments--to focus limited 
resources in a manner that safeguards taxpayer dollars while 
preserving public safety. This bill provides either the full 
budget request or at least 1.5 percent increases to our Federal 
law enforcement agencies and United States Attorneys, and 
maintains strong funding for our State and local justice 
grants.
    The bill provides $2,957,000,000 to victims and victim 
services through the Crime Victims Fund [CVF], which is 
$85,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$957,000,000 above the request. The Committee notes that the 
current estimates of the fund's annual collections are expected 
to decrease in fiscal year 2017. Even so, in order to maintain 
a comparable level of services for victims from fiscal year 
2016 to 2017, the Committee has ensured that the amount 
disbursed to States is $2,578,000,000, which matches the 3-year 
average of deposits into the CVF, a metric for CVF spending 
that has been called for by the Senate Budget Committee.
    Balancing the Committee's consistent support for increased 
CVF spending with the Committee's concerns for fiscal 
oversight, this bill offsets $379,000,000 from the CVF for 
victim-related discretionary grants in the DOJ's State and 
local accounts, which is the same as the fiscal year 2016 level 
and direction. The stagnant fiscal climate, coupled with high 
spending out of the CVF and increased demand to provide higher 
funding for grant programs, makes supporting important victim-
related programs with discretionary funding unsustainable. As a 
result of this offset, overall funding for all of these DOJ 
grant programs, which are widely supported by many members of 
the Committee, remains close to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
levels in this bill.

                    Fighting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

    The departments, agencies, boards, and commissions funded 
in this bill can and should continue to reduce operating 
expenses by placing greater scrutiny on overhead costs. Savings 
can and should be achieved by reducing non-essential travel, 
office supply, rent, and utility costs. The Committee also 
calls on departments, agencies, boards, and commissions funded 
in this bill to continue to achieve savings by lowering travel 
contractor costs related to air fares. The Committee continues 
longstanding restrictions on first class travel.
    The Committee is extremely concerned about the persistent 
pattern of cost overruns and schedule slippages on major 
projects and missions carried out by the agencies within this 
bill. In addition, reports have exposed a culture within many 
agencies that exhibits a lack of accountability and oversight 
of grant funding. Therefore, the Committee has continued bill-
wide provisions to ensure greater oversight and fiscal 
responsibility of taxpayer dollars.
    First, the bill requires each agency to notify the 
Committee immediately upon identification of program cost 
overruns greater than 10 percent.
    Second, the bill requires the Inspectors General of the 
Departments of Commerce and Justice, NASA, NSF, and the Legal 
Services Corporation to conduct reviews of grant and contract 
funds to ensure funds are being spent appropriately. This bill 
increases funding above the fiscal year 2016 level for each of 
these offices so that the Inspectors General may conduct 
further investigations and audits. For projects with persistent 
accountability issues, such as the decennial census and weather 
satellites, special funding is provided for additional 
Inspector General scrutiny.
    Third, the bill requires all departments and agencies to 
link all contracts that provide award fees to successful 
acquisition outcomes, and prohibits funds to pay for award or 
incentive fees for contractors with below satisfactory 
performance.
    Fourth, the bill requires all departments and agencies 
funded in this act to provide full access to documents and data 
for their respective Inspectors General to conduct 
investigations and audits.
    The Committee also supports long-standing provisions that 
were once solely included in this bill but have since become 
government-wide provisions. These include: requiring each 
department, agency, board, and commission funded in this act to 
report spending on large conferences with costs in excess of 
$100,000 to the Inspectors General for audit; and prohibiting 
funds from being used for contracts, memoranda of 
understanding, cooperative agreements, grants, or loan 
activities if the proposed recipient has unpaid Federal tax 
liabilities or was convicted of a felony criminal violation.
    Finally, the Committee intends to continue to work with the 
Government Accountability Office [GAO] to expand the review of 
selected large-scale acquisition and construction projects. 
Specifically, the Committee directs ongoing GAO reviews of 
large NASA projects and separate reviews of the James Webb 
Space Telescope, with reports to the Committee on a biannual 
basis. In this report, the Committee also directs GAO to review 
major research equipment and facilities construction at the 
National Science Foundation.
    Agencies shall provide access to all necessary data, as 
determined by the GAO, in order for these reviews to be 
completed and provided in a timely manner to the Committee. The 
Committee believes that these project status reports are 
valuable in identifying cost overrun and schedule slippage 
problems early so they can be addressed immediately and has 
used information in the reviews to develop this recommendation.
    Representation Funds.--The Committee has reduced official 
reception and representation funds by 25 percent since fiscal 
year 2011, and has denied all fiscal year 2017 budget requests 
to establish new reception funds for accounts in this bill. 
Modest representation funds are included for agency executives 
to provide necessary courtesies to our diplomatic partners and 
hold events to honor fallen officers, or to mark historic 
occasions such as space exploration missions or significant 
discoveries. However, savings can and should be achieved by 
reducing the costs of executive meetings, receptions, 
ceremonies, and conferences, and by purchasing fewer 
promotional items such as T-shirts, hats, mugs, key chains, and 
other similar items.
    Federal Vehicle Fleet Management.--The General Services 
Administration [GSA] issues guidance on Federal fleet 
management, but the Federal vehicle fleet is decentralized, 
with each agency maintaining flexibility to manage vehicle 
utilization as appropriate. A January 2016, GAO report that 
audited five Federal agencies, including NASA, found 
discrepancies related to poor vehicle utilization rates and a 
lack of documentation justifying the agency's need for several 
vehicles. In order to provide better transparency and 
accountability of funding for Federal vehicles, the Committee 
directs agencies funded in this bill to conduct an annual 
review of fleet utilization during the third quarter of each 
fiscal year and provide their corresponding Offices of 
Inspectors General [OIGs] with supporting documentation on the 
method used for determining optimal fleet inventories and 
justification for any deviation from GSA's Federal Property 
Management Regulations. OIGs shall be responsible for 
conducting annual audits of fleet management practices and make 
the subsequent results for non-law enforcement sensitive 
agencies publicly available.
    Reducing Duplication and Improving Efficiencies.--Over the 
last 6 years, the Government Accountability Office [GAO] has 
published duplication reports that have exposed 200 areas of 
potential duplication and overlap, revealing more than 1,100 
potentially duplicative Federal programs that cost taxpayers 
tens of billions of dollars every year. GAO has noted that the 
Nation has achieved roughly $10,000,000,000 in savings based on 
these reports, but many more efficiencies may be realized. The 
Committee directs each agency funded in this bill to report to 
the Committee, within 1 year of enactment of this act, on all 
efforts made to address the duplication identified by the 
annual GAO reports along with identifying substantive 
challenges and legal barriers to implementing GAO's 
recommendations, along with suggested legislative 
recommendations that could help the agency to further reduce 
duplication.

            Reprogrammings, Reorganizations, and Relocations

    Section 505 contained in the ``General Provisions'' of 
title V provides procedures for the reprogramming of funds. To 
reprogram is to change the use of funds from the specific 
purposes provided for in the act and the accompanying report 
or, in the absence of direction from the Committee, from the 
specific purposes provided for in the administration's budget 
request. Each title of the bill has also traditionally included 
separate provisions that define permissible transfers of 
resources between appropriation accounts. These transfer 
authority provisions are also pursuant to section 505 and were 
initiated in the early 1990s to provide additional flexibility 
to the agencies under the subcommittee's jurisdiction.
    The Committee expects each department and agency to closely 
follow the reprogramming procedures listed in section 505. 
These procedures apply to funds provided under this act, 
provided under previous appropriations acts that remain 
available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2017, or 
provided from any accounts in the Treasury available to the 
agencies funded by this act. Section 505 requires that the 
Committee on Appropriations be notified by letter, at least 15 
days prior to reprogramming of funds, whether permanent or 
temporary, in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is 
less, between programs, projects, or activities. Section 505 of 
this act is also applicable in cases where funding for an 
activity is reduced by 10 percent. In addition, the Committee 
is 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; increasing funds or personnel by any means for 
any program, project, or activity for which funds have been 
previously denied or restricted by Congress; creating new 
programs, offices, agencies, or commissions or substantially 
augmenting existing programs, offices, agencies, or 
commissions; relocating offices or employees; or reorganizing 
offices, programs, or activities.
    The Committee also expects that any items that are subject 
to interpretation will be reported. The Committee is concerned 
that, in some instances, the departments or agencies funded 
within this appropriations act are not adhering to the 
Committee's reprogramming guidelines that are clearly set forth 
in this report and in section 505 of the accompanying bill. The 
Committee expects that each department and agency funded in the 
bill will follow these notification policies precisely and will 
not reallocate resources or reorganize activities prior to 
submitting the required notifications to the Committee.
    The reprogramming process is based on comity between the 
Appropriations Committee and the administration. The Commerce, 
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill 
provides specific program guidance throughout this report and 
tables accompanying the bill. The process is intended to 
provide flexibility to meet changing circumstances and 
emergency requirements of agencies, if there is agreement 
between the executive branch and the Congress that such a 
change is warranted. Reprogramming procedures provide a means 
to agree on adjustments, if necessary, during a fiscal year, 
and to ensure that the Committee is kept apprised of instances 
where nonappropriated resources are used to meet program 
requirements, such as fee collections and unobligated balances 
that were not considered in the development of the 
appropriations legislation.
    In the absence of comity and respect for the prerogatives 
of the Appropriations Committees and Congress in general, the 
Committee will have no choice but to prescribe specific program 
limitations and details legislatively. Under these 
circumstances, programs, projects, and activities become 
absolutes and the executive branch would lose the ability to 
propose changes in the use of appropriated funds through the 
reprogramming process between programs, projects, and 
activities without seeking some form of legislative action.
    The Committee expects each executive branch department and 
agency to manage its programs, projects, and activities within 
the levels appropriated. Reprogramming or transfer requests 
shall be submitted only in the case of an unforeseen emergency 
or situation that could not have been anticipated when 
formulating the budget request for the current fiscal year.

                  Congressional Budget Justifications

    The Committee directs that all departments and agencies 
funded within this bill shall submit all of their fiscal year 
2018 budget justifications concurrently with the official 
submission of the administration's budget to Congress. Further, 
all departments and agencies with classified programs funded 
within this act are directed to submit their classified budget 
justification documents to the Committee, through appropriate 
means, at the same time the unclassified budget justifications 
are transmitted.
    These justifications shall include a sufficient level of 
detailed data, exhibits, and explanatory statements to support 
the appropriations requests, including tables that outline each 
agency's programs, projects, and activities for fiscal years 
2017 and 2018. For example, when requesting an enhancement of 
resources, the justification should detail the existing program 
and what the new resources would buy. The Committee directs the 
chief financial officer of each department or agency funded in 
this act's jurisdiction to ensure that adequate justification 
is given to each increase, decrease, and staffing and function 
change proposed in the fiscal year 2018 budget, particularly 
within the departmental operations and management accounts.
    The Committee expects that the fiscal year 2018 submissions 
will include sufficient detail to justify all programs, 
projects, and activities contained in each department, agency, 
or commission budget request. Budget justifications are 
prepared not for the use of the agencies but are the primary 
tool of the Committee to evaluate the resource requirements and 
proposals requested by the administration.

                         Reporting Requirements

    The Committee directs the departments and agencies funded 
in this bill to submit reports by the deadlines detailed herein 
or to provide advance notification if there is sufficient 
reason why deadlines cannot be met, along with the expected 
date of submission.
    The Committee also recognizes that some enduring reporting 
requirements from previous Appropriations laws may no longer be 
necessary for Congressional oversight purposes. In the interest 
of reducing government waste and expediting responses to 
current report mandates, each department or agency is invited 
to submit a list of reporting requirements that it considers 
outdated or no longer relevant for the review of the Committees 
on Appropriations. Any list submitted for review shall cite the 
original authority as well as a justification for eliminating 
each reporting requirement.

                          Reductions-in-Force

    The Committee directs departments or agencies funded in the 
accompanying bill that are planning to conduct a reduction-in-
force [RIF] to notify the Committee in writing 30 days in 
advance of the date of the proposed personnel action.

                        Appropriations Liaisons

    The Committee prefers to channel the majority of its 
inquiries and requests for information and assistance through 
the budget offices or comptroller offices of the departments 
and agencies which it oversees but reserves the right to call 
upon any individual or organization in any agency under its 
jurisdiction.

                                TITLE I

                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

    The Committee recommends a total of $9,316,456,000 for the 
Department of Commerce [DOC]. The recommendation is $70,815,000 
above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $411,723,000 below 
the budget request.
    The Department of Commerce is responsible for a variety of 
activities critical to our Nation's well-being, including 
economic development, intellectual property protection, 
standards and measurements, trade enforcement, weather 
forecasting, and fisheries management. Our Nation relies on the 
Department to maintain America's competitiveness within today's 
foreign markets while promoting and expanding international 
trade opportunities. The Department brings together a diverse 
set of bureaus, specialized experts, research laboratories, and 
applied technology programs to support and expand opportunities 
for growth in the private sector. Few departments have such 
potential to directly impact the strength and sustainability of 
our communities and local businesses.

                   International Trade Administration


                     OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $493,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     533,421,000
Committee recommendation................................     495,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $495,000,000 for 
the International Trade Administration [ITA]. The 
recommendation is $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and $38,421,000 below the budget request. The 
appropriation is offset by $12,000,000 in fee collections.
    Offsetting Fee Collections.--ITA shall continue to identify 
and include an accurate assessment of expected fee collections 
and corresponding expenditures in its fiscal year 2017 spending 
plan and in its fiscal year 2018 budget request.
    Trade Enforcement.--The Committee provides the requested 
funding level for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance. ITA 
should make enforcement of antidumping and countervailing 
duties a priority, including thoroughly investigating dumping 
and subsidies causing injury to domestic businesses and 
expeditiously reducing trade remedy case backlogs.
    Additionally, the Committee notes that funding formerly 
requested for the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center has been 
moved from ITA to the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative following passage of the Trade Facilitation and 
Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-125). As such, no 
funds are provided for these activities in ITA, but ITA shall 
continue to collaborate with all other Federal trade agencies 
to ensure U.S. trade laws and agreements are enforced fairly.
    U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.--The U.S. and Foreign 
Commercial Service [US&FCS] provides significant value to U.S. 
businesses looking to expand overseas export opportunities. 
Given the export potential of emerging and developing economies 
in Asia and other foreign markets, expanding market access and 
export opportunities is critical for economic growth in the 
United States. Therefore, the Committee directs ITA to fund 
US&FCS, and its core mission of export promotion, at the 
highest possible level in fiscal year 2017, and at no less than 
the amount provided in fiscal year 2016.
    Sub-Saharan Africa.--In addition to offering unique export 
opportunities for U.S. businesses, increased trade activities 
in developing markets can help promote stability, security, and 
economic growth overseas that benefit U.S. security interests. 
While the Committee supports trade promotion activities in 
emerging markets, these activities should not be prioritized 
over trade promotion in developing markets, particularly those 
in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Committee encourages ITA to 
maintain, and when feasible, expand the number of Foreign 
Commercial Service officers and support staff in developing 
markets overseas.
    SelectUSA.--Up to $10,000,000 is provided for SelectUSA, 
except that none of the funds provided may be used to 
facilitate foreign direct investment in the United States 
unless an updated protocol to ensure that SelectUSA activities 
do not encourage such investments in the United States by 
State-owned entities is delivered to the Committee within 30 
days of enactment of this act.
    China Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Activities [AD/
CVD].--The Committee provides no less than $16,400,000 for 
China AD/CVD enforcement and compliance activities.
    Survey of International Air Travelers.--Within funds 
provided, ITA is encouraged to increase the sample size for the 
Survey for International Air Travelers.
    World Expositions and Fairs.--The Committee encourages the 
Department of Commerce to coordinate with the Department of 
State in planning future U.S. participation in world expos and 
fairs, including collaborating with private sector 
organizations, business leaders, and State and local government 
officials seeking to host an expo or fair in the United States.

                    Bureau of Industry and Security


                     OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $112,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     126,945,000
Committee recommendation................................     112,500,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $112,500,000 for 
the Bureau of Industry and Security [BIS]. The recommendation 
is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $14,445,000 
below the budget request.
    BIS is the principal agency involved in the development, 
implementation, and enforcement of export controls for 
commercial technologies and for many military technologies as a 
result of the President's export control reform initiative. The 
Export Enforcement Division detects, prevents, investigates, 
and assists in the sanctioning of illegal exports of such 
items.
    Export Control Reform.--The Committee directs BIS to 
continue its exporter outreach program to educate companies of 
all sizes on the new regulatory requirements resulting from 
export control reform. In this effort, BIS should continue 
targeting small- and medium-sized businesses and working with 
State and local trade and export associations, in addition to 
working with national industry groups.

                  Economic Development Administration

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $261,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     258,454,000
Committee recommendation................................     254,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $254,000,000 for 
the Economic Development Administration [EDA]. The 
recommendation is $7,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and $4,454,000 below the budget request.
    EDA provides grants to local governments and nonprofit 
agencies for public works, planning, and other projects 
designed to facilitate economic development. Funding amounts 
for the two appropriations accounts under this heading are 
displayed below.

                ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $222,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     215,000,000
Committee recommendation................................     215,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $215,000,000 for 
Economic Development Assistance Programs. The recommendation is 
$7,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal 
to the budget request. EDA is directed to focus on its core 
programs and mission to aid the most distressed communities 
across the country. The Committee expects EDA to use all 
available carryover and prior year recoveries to the maximum 
extent possible. EDA shall consider geographic equity in making 
all award decisions and shall ensure that rural projects are 
adequately represented among those selected for funding. Of the 
amounts provided, funds are to be distributed as follows, and 
any deviation of funds shall be subject to the procedures set 
forth in section 505 of this act:

                ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Committee
                                                          recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Works............................................         100,000
Economic Adjustment Assistance..........................          36,500
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms...................          13,000
Regional Innovation Program.............................          20,000
Partnership Planning....................................          33,000
Technical Assistance....................................          11,000
Research and Evaluation.................................           1,500
                                                         ---------------
      Total.............................................         215,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Economic Adjustment Assistance [EAA].--EAA is EDA's most 
flexible economic development program, which provides access to 
appropriate funding for everything from disaster recovery to 
business accelerators and incubators. Within funding for EAA, 
the Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level to support EDA's collaborations with the Delta 
Regional Authority and Appalachian Regional Commission to 
assist distressed communities. The Committee encourages EDA to 
work with communities researching and developing new 
construction technologies such as engineered wood products. 
Furthermore, the Committee provides up to $2,000,000 for 
innovative energy efficiency grants under EAA.
    Regional Innovation Program.--The Committee provides 
$20,000,000 to EDA for grants under the Regional Innovation 
Program [RIP] as authorized under the Revitalize American 
Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-235). 
RIP awards competitive grants to regional entities in support 
of innovation and entrepreneurship. EDA shall continue to 
ensure that RIP awards go to multiple grantees in multiple and 
diverse geographic areas.
    In addition, the Committee directs EDA to invest in 
university-based, high-tech business incubators to encourage 
entrepreneurship and promote technology commercialization 
through business startups. EDA should prioritize funds for 
incubator projects where a State has made significant financial 
commitment to establishing an incubator program.
    Furthermore, within funds provided for RIP, $3,000,000 
shall be for cluster grants to support nonprofit, job-creating, 
revolving, equity-based seed capital funds.
    Job Losses From Nuclear Power Plant Closures.--The 
Committee notes that recent closures of nuclear power plants 
throughout the United States have had a negative impact on the 
economic foundations of surrounding communities, and there is 
potential for additional plant closures in the coming years. 
The Committee encourages EDA to help identify and develop best 
practices to assist communities affected by nuclear power plant 
closures, including the coordination of economic development 
efforts across multiple States or Economic Development 
Districts. Additionally, the Committee reiterates that 
communities facing significant job losses are eligible for all 
EDA programs.
    Revolving Loan Fund.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of EDA's Revolving Loan Fund program investments to 
spur economic prosperity in distressed communities, but is 
concerned about the reporting burden on grantees that persists 
even after Federal capitalization funds are lent and repaid. 
EDA is encouraged to review its reporting requirements with the 
aim of reducing the reporting burden without affecting EDA's 
ability to oversee execution of Revolving Loan Fund grants. EDA 
is directed to submit a report to the Committee not later than 
120 days after enactment of this act on the potential to reduce 
this burden, including whether any regulatory or legislative 
changes may be required.
    Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership Program 
[IMCP].--The Committee notes that no funding has been requested 
and no funding is provided for the Investing in Manufacturing 
Communities Partnership Program [IMCP] for fiscal year 2017. 
The Committee remains concerned with the underlying premise of 
IMCP and the potential for negative impacts on communities not 
designated under the IMCP program. Instead, the Department is 
directed to better utilize existing programs to assist various 
types of distressed communities across the country using a 
bottom-up, demand-driven approach to manufacturing investment.

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $39,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      43,454,000
Committee recommendation................................      39,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $39,000,000 for 
salaries and expenses. The recommendation is the same as the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $4,454,000 below the budget 
request.

                  Minority Business Development Agency


                     MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $32,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      35,613,000
Committee recommendation................................      32,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $32,000,000 for the 
Minority Business Development Agency [MBDA]. The recommendation 
is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and is 
$3,613,000 below the budget request. MBDA is the only Federal 
agency dedicated to promoting the growth of minority-owned 
firms and assists small, medium, and large minority business 
enterprises to increase revenues and create jobs.

                   Economic and Statistical Analysis


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $109,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     114,643,000
Committee recommendation................................     109,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $109,000,000 for 
Economic and Statistical Analysis [ESA]. The recommendation is 
the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $5,643,000 
below the budget request. ESA conducts research to provide a 
better understanding of the U.S. economy, which helps 
Government make more informed policy decisions.
    Within funds provided, ESA is encouraged to move forward 
with the development of the proposed Regional Economic 
Dashboard, including improved local area statistics and 
providing gross domestic product data by county and to work 
with the Census Bureau on efforts to accelerate and improve the 
quality of economic indicators. Additionally, the Committee 
supports the Bureau of Economic Analysis's ongoing 
collaboration with the Federal Recreation Council and other 
Federal agencies to quantify the outdoor recreation sector's 
contributions to the U.S. economy.

                          Bureau of the Census

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $1,370,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   1,633,606,000
Committee recommendation................................   1,518,319,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $1,518,319,000 for 
the Census Bureau. The recommendation is $148,319,000 above the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $115,287,000 below the 
budget request.

                      CURRENT SURVEYS AND PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $270,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     285,287,000
Committee recommendation................................     270,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $270,000,000 for 
current surveys and programs. The recommendation is the same as 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $15,287,000 below the 
budget request. This account provides for the salaries and 
expenses associated with the statistical programs of the Bureau 
of the Census, including measurement of the Nation's economy 
and the demographic characteristics of the population.

                     PERIODIC CENSUSES AND PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $1,100,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   1,348,319,000
Committee recommendation................................   1,248,319,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $1,248,319,000 for 
periodic censuses and programs. The recommendation is 
$148,319,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$100,000,000 below the budget request.
    This account provides for the constitutionally mandated 
Decennial Census as well as other cyclical programs. 
Additionally, individual surveys are conducted for other 
Federal agencies on a reimbursable basis.
    Oversight of Periodic Census Programs.--The Committee's 
recommendation provides $2,580,000 for the Office of Inspector 
General [OIG] to continue oversight and audits of periodic 
censuses and to provide the Bureau and Congress with 
independent recommendations for improving operations, which 
will be useful for oversight of the 2020 Decennial Census. The 
Committee directs the Bureau to incorporate the OIG's 
recommendations.
    Quarterly Status Reports.--The Census Bureau is directed to 
continue its quarterly status reports to the Committee as it 
prepares for the 2020 Decennial Census.
    2020 Decennial Census.--The Census Bureau is directed to 
prioritize spending for activities that have the greatest 
potential to reduce cost and risk for the 2020 Census. 
Controlling costs for the 2020 Decennial Census remains a top 
oversight concern for the Committee. The Bureau shall continue 
to work to bring down the cost of the 2020 Decennial Census to 
a level less than the 2010 Census, not adjusting for inflation. 
The Committee is mindful of the Bureau's efforts and expects 
that the increased testing early in this decennial cycle will 
result in significant cost savings over the course of the 
entire 2020 Census.
    Administrative Records.--The Census Bureau plans to save 
money during the 2020 Decennial Census cycle by using existing 
records and data to reduce unnecessary and costly duplication 
and to conduct more efficient non-response follow up. The 
Bureau is directed to work with Federal, State, tribal, local, 
and other partners to obtain the necessary records.
    Census Enterprise Data Collection and Processing.--The 
Committee supports the Bureau's development of more cost 
efficient and secure data processing in advance of the 2020 
Census through the Census Enterprise Data Collection and 
Processing [CEDCaP] initiative. This initiative is 
consolidating IT programs and reducing costs by retiring 
multiple redundant and survey-specific systems and by bringing 
many of the Census Bureau's total IT expenditures into a single 
integrated and scalable system. Plans in fiscal year 2017 
include use of the CEDCaP in supporting the Economic Census and 
2017 Census Test.
    The Committee directs the Bureau to ensure that cost 
estimates and implementation timelines are maintained and that 
the CEDCaP system is fully secured against cyber attacks and 
intrusions before any part of the system becomes operational. 
The Bureau is directed to cooperate with the OIG on all 
oversight activities for this system.
    American Community Survey [ACS].--The Committee supports 
the ACS and directs the Bureau to continue using the ACS as a 
testbed for innovative survey and data processing techniques 
that will help to save money and reduce risk during the 2020 
Census cycle. The Committee also notes that ACS is often the 
primary or only source of data available to States, localities, 
and Federal agencies that need adequate information on a wide 
range of topics, including the needs of veterans, retirees, and 
families with school-age children, in order to reliably serve 
those communities. The ACS is especially important to Americans 
who live in small towns and rural areas, as this survey often 
provides the only reliable and consistent source of information 
about these communities. The Committee directs the Bureau to 
again provide an update to the Committee on efforts to evaluate 
and, where possible, to reduce the number of questions included 
in the ACS, and the steps being taken to ensure that the ACS is 
conducted as efficiently and unobtrusively as possible.

       National Telecommunications and Information Administration


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $39,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      50,841,000
Committee recommendation................................      39,500,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $39,500,000 for 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
[NTIA] salaries and expenses. The recommendation is the same as 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $11,341,000 below the 
budget request.
    The Committee retains language from previous years allowing 
the Secretary of Commerce to collect reimbursements from other 
Federal agencies for a portion of the cost resulting from the 
coordination of spectrum management, analysis, and operations. 
NTIA shall submit a report to the Committee no later than June 
1, 2017, detailing the collection of reimbursements from other 
agencies.
    Broadband.--The Committee's recommendation does not include 
any funding to make new broadband grant awards. However, the 
Committee supports the continued monitoring of existing 
broadband grants for financial oversight and accountability 
purposes, and directs NTIA to ensure that funds are used 
appropriately by recipients.
    Federal Spectrum Management.--The Committee directs NTIA to 
continue to evaluate options for repurposing spectrum for 
broadband in support of the President's goal of making 500 
megahertz [MHz] of spectrum available for wireless broadband 
use. NTIA shall also provide the Committee with quarterly 
updates on making 500 MHz of spectrum available for commercial 
mobile use, including the strategy for freeing up additional 
spectrum from Federal agencies.
    Spectrum Relocation Fund Report.--No less than 180 days 
after enactment of this act, NTIA shall consult with the Office 
of Management and Budget and produce a report to the Committee 
with recommendations on options to reform the Spectrum 
Relocation Fund addressing how the Fund could cover costs 
incurred by Federal entities related to sharing radio frequency 
bands with radio technologies conducting unlicensed operations.
    Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 
[ICANN].--The Committee remains concerned that the Department 
of Commerce, through NTIA, has not been a strong advocate for 
American companies and consumers and urges greater 
participation and advocacy within the Governmental Advisory 
Committee [GAC] and any other mechanisms within ICANN in which 
NTIA is a participant. The Committee strongly encourages NTIA 
to be an active supporter of the interests of the Nation within 
ICANN and to ensure that the principles of accountability, 
transparency, security, and stability of the Internet are 
maintained for consumers, businesses, and Government.
    Internet Governance.--The Committee understands that NTIA 
plans to transition the agency's technical stewardship of the 
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority [IANA] and that NTIA is 
currently evaluating a transition plan submitted by ICANN. The 
current IANA contract expires at the end of September 2016, and 
at this time, NTIA is preparing to evaluate its existing option 
to extend that contract while reviewing the transition plan. 
The Committee continues to be concerned about this process and 
the security of the .gov and .mil domains. The Committee 
directs NTIA to continue quarterly reports to the Committee on 
all aspects of the transition process, and further directs NTIA 
to inform the Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science and Transportation not less than 45 days in advance of 
any decision with respect to a successor contract.
    Internet of Things.--The Committee supports NTIA's April 6, 
2016, Request for Comment in the Federal Register soliciting 
input on the potential benefits and challenges of technology 
related to the ``Internet of Things'' and what role, if any, 
the U.S. Government should play in this area. The Committee 
encourages NTIA to continue its consideration of how to 
appropriately plan for and encourage the proliferation of 
network connected devices, including soliciting input from: 
industry stakeholders; subject matter experts; businesses, 
including small- and medium-sized businesses; consumer groups; 
and relevant Federal agencies.
    FirstNet.--The Committee is supportive of FirstNet 
continuing a funding agreement with the Department of 
Commerce's Inspector General for the purposes of oversight and 
accountability of FirstNet through the end of fiscal year 2017.

    PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, PLANNING, AND CONSTRUCTION

    The Committee provides bill language allowing the NTIA to 
continue oversight and administration of previously awarded 
grants. NTIA shall not use unobligated balances to award new 
grants.

               United States Patent and Trademark Office


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $3,272,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   3,230,000,000
Committee recommendation................................   3,230,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $3,230,000,000 for 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO], which is 
$42,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal 
to the budget request, to be derived from offsetting fee 
collections. Since fiscal year 2005, the Committee has refused 
to divert patent fees to other purposes. This decrease is due 
to a decrease in patent fee collections.
    USPTO examines patent applications, grants patent 
protection for qualified inventions, and disseminates 
technological information disclosed in patents. USPTO also 
examines trademark applications and provides Federal 
registration to owners of qualified trademarks.
    Budget Execution.--The Committee continues to allow USPTO 
full access to patent and trademark fees and provides bill 
language allowing USPTO to retain any revenue in excess of 
appropriated levels.
    Transfer to Office of Inspector General.--The Committee 
provides $2,000,000 for the Office of Inspector General [OIG] 
to continue oversight and audits of USPTO operations and budget 
transparency, and USPTO is directed to work with the Department 
of Commerce to implement all OIG recommendations.
    Reprogramming and Spend Plan.--USPTO shall follow the 
reprogramming procedures outlined in section 505 of this act 
before using excess fee collections to forward fund expenses 
beyond fiscal year 2017. Any deviations from the funding 
distribution provided for, including carryover balances, are 
subject to the standard reprogramming procedures set forth in 
section 505 of this act. USPTO is directed to provide, as part 
of the spending plan required in section 533 of this act, all 
carryover balances from previous fiscal years, and a 
description of any changes to the patent or trademark fee 
structure. Any changes from the spending plan shall also be 
subject to section 505 of this act. USPTO is directed to submit 
all reprogramming requests, spending plans, and budget 
justifications to the Committee through the Department of 
Commerce.

             National Institute of Standards and Technology

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $964,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   1,014,519,000
Committee recommendation................................     974,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $974,000,000 for 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST]. The 
recommendation is $10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $40,519,000 below the budget request. Up to 
$9,000,000 may be transferred from the Scientific and Technical 
Research and Services account to the Working Capital Fund.
    NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial 
competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, 
and technology in ways that enhance economic security and 
improve our quality of life.
    A description of each NIST account and the corresponding 
Committee recommendation follows in the subsequent three 
headings.

             SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $690,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     730,533,000
Committee recommendation................................     700,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $700,000,000 for 
NIST research and services. The recommendation is $10,000,000 
above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $30,533,000 below 
the budget request. The Committee requests a detailed spending 
plan for NIST's highest priority laboratory programs describing 
resources used for each program, project, or activity.
    The Committee provides $75,700,000 for cybersecurity 
activities within NIST, an increase of $1,500,000 above the 
fiscal year 2016 level. This includes $33,000,000 for the 
National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence [NCCoE], $4,000,000 
for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education to 
address the need for a well-trained cybersecurity workforce, 
and $38,700,000 for cybersecurity research and development.
    National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.--The Committee 
is encouraged by the work conducted to date by the NCCoE and 
the growing partnerships it is developing with private 
industry. The NCCoE is a model of collaboration through which 
the Federal Government, industry, and academia work together to 
solve daunting cybersecurity challenges. The Committee 
recommends that NIST continue to work in concert with its 
public, State, and county partners to encourage co-location of 
companies involved in NCCoE activities, which will encourage 
further innovation by leveraging the development of new 
applications, business use cases, and technology transfer among 
all stakeholders.
    In fiscal year 2016, the Committee directed the NCCoE to 
absorb the activities and mission of the National Strategy for 
Trusted Identities in Cyberspace. Not later than 90 days after 
enactment of this act, the NCCoE shall submit a report to the 
Committee on how the expanded Center will continue to leverage 
expertise from both programs to contribute to the greater 
mission of improving cybersecurity in the public and private 
sectors.
    Cybersecurity Research and Grants.--The Committee 
encourages DOC to fund multidisciplinary programs of study and 
research that focus on tackling cybersecurity issues on a 
global scale. When establishing criteria for external grant 
funding, consideration should only be given to institutions of 
higher education, including community colleges, designated by 
the National Security Agency as Centers of Academic Excellence 
for Information Assurance Education and Centers for Academic 
Excellence for Information Assurance Research.
    Forensic Science.--The Committee provides no less than the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level for the Forensic Science Center 
of Excellence. The Committee recommends that NIST continue to 
work in concert with statisticians and researchers in related 
scientific fields to bring additional scientific resources and 
expertise to the practice and application of forensic science. 
Additionally, within funds provided, NIST is encouraged to work 
with the forensic science community to establish developmental 
validation standards for forensic science test methodologies.
    Disaster Resilient Buildings.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of industry and municipal standards to better 
mitigate the impact of natural disasters and extreme weather 
events, which can save lives, reduce destruction to property, 
and enable faster economic recovery. Current building codes 
often do not provide the necessary protection against natural 
hazards, particularly with regard to enabling immediate 
occupancy after a significant earthquake, hurricane, tornado, 
flood, or other natural disaster. The Committee supports 
efforts to promote the use of resilient engineering design and 
construction techniques to improve the resiliency of buildings, 
homes, and infrastructure, and encourages NIST to partner with 
academic research institutions and industry stakeholders that 
have expertise in mitigating the effects of natural disasters 
to study and recommend best practices for resilient planning 
and construction.
    Of the amounts provided for Disaster Resilient Buildings 
and Infrastructure, not less than $5,000,000 shall be 
distributed through competitive external awards to academic 
institutions to support the evaluation of potential 
technologies and architectural design criteria to aid the 
overall effort for science-based building codes to improve 
disaster resilience. Additionally, not later than 1 year after 
the enactment of this act, NIST, in coordination with other 
relevant agencies and standards development organizations, 
shall provide to the Committee a plan detailing the basic 
research, applied research, and implementation activities 
necessary to develop a new ``immediate occupancy'' safety 
building performance objective for commercial and residential 
properties, as well as the engineering design principles needed 
to fulfill this objective.
    Helmet Safety.--The Committee is aware of scientific data 
that demonstrates a correlation between football-related 
collisions and concussions, as well as other traumatic brain 
injuries that can lead to debilitating neural diseases such as 
dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Committee 
encourages NIST to investigate an effective national testing 
standard to better scientifically understand the inadequacies 
of football helmets while exploring future product designs that 
can safely reduce the neural risk of playing football. A number 
of academic institutions have substantial capabilities and 
knowledge of these issues and NIST should work cooperatively 
with the academic community by funding research for advanced 
helmets and equipment and in developing new testing standards 
to ensure player safety.
    Metals-Based Additive Manufacturing.--The Committee 
provides up to $5,000,000 for competitive external grants for 
academic institutions to support research, development, and 
workforce training to overcome barriers to high-volume additive 
manufacturing of metals. While the Committee is aware of recent 
breakthroughs in metals-based additive manufacturing, major 
technical barriers still exist to dramatically improving build 
rates that would enable commercial markets to benefit from 
high-volume, metals-based additive manufacturing. In addition, 
NIST is directed to support partnerships and research 
opportunities with academic institutions in the advanced 
manufacturing of plastics and polymers and to explore ways to 
further reduce inefficiencies in the polymer manufacturing and 
extrusion process.
    Biomanufacturing.--The Committee provides NIST's full 
requested level for biomanufacturing activities.
    Regenerative Medicine Standards.--The Committee recognizes 
the important role of standards in spurring the discovery and 
development of new and innovative therapies in regenerative 
medicine, cell therapy, and gene therapy, and commends NIST's 
ongoing work with its Federal partners and the stakeholder 
community to coordinate development of technical process 
standards. The Committee directs NIST to continue its work with 
regenerative medicine, cell therapy, and gene therapy product 
developers, contract manufacturers, private standard setting 
bodies, the FDA, and other stakeholders to establish a 
strategic plan for the successful establishment and launch of a 
standards coordinating body for regenerative medicine to help 
develop and disseminate such standards, including a plan for 
its governance and activities.
    Spectrum Challenge Prize.--The Committee encourages NIST, 
subject to the availability of funds, to conduct prize 
competitions to dramatically accelerate the development and 
commercialization of technology that improves spectrum 
efficiency and is capable of cost-effective deployment. NIST is 
encouraged to work with the Defense Advanced Research Projects 
Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and other 
relevant Federal agencies to assist in the design of the prize 
competitions.
    Urban Dome Program.--The Committee notes the value of 
NIST's Urban Dome program and the importance of accurate 
measurement science for environmental monitoring and human 
health, as more than half the world's population is living in 
urban areas, and this concentration is expected to intensify 
over the coming decades. The Committee provides no less than 
the fiscal year 2016 amount for the Office of Special Programs 
to maintain and expand the number of urban dome locations in 
fiscal year 2017.

                     INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $155,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     188,991,000
Committee recommendation................................     155,000,000

    The Committee provides $155,000,000 for Industrial 
Technology Services. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal 
year 2016 enacted level and $33,991,000 below the budget 
request. Supporting the Nation's manufacturers, especially 
small businesses, is critical to keeping America innovative in 
a global marketplace.
    Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program 
[MEP].--The Committee provides $130,000,000 for MEP. The 
Committee supports MEP's focus on strengthening the existing 
network of MEP centers and providing additional support to 
centers based on the documented performance of the center's 
activities and the manufacturing capacity of the area served by 
the center.
    MEP Cost Share.--The Committee is aware of concerns 
regarding the MEP's current cost-share structure. This matter 
is still being considered by the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation. NIST is directed to expeditiously 
submit the report mandated by the Committee in fiscal year 
2016.
    National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.--The 
Committee provides $25,000,000 for NIST's activities in the 
National Network for Manufacturing Innovation [NNMI], to 
include funding for center establishment and up to $5,000,000 
for coordination activities. NIST shall follow the direction of 
the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 
2014 (Public Law 113-235), which requires open competition to 
select the technological focus areas of these industry-driven 
institutes.

                  CONSTRUCTION OF RESEARCH FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $119,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      94,995,000
Committee recommendation................................     119,000,000

    The Committee provides $119,000,000 for construction of 
research facilities. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal 
year 2016 enacted level and $24,005,000 above the budget 
request.
    Building 245.--The Committee provides $60,000,000 for the 
continued renovation of NIST's radiation physics laboratories. 
NIST is directed to proceed with an aggressive construction and 
funding schedule in future budget requests, targeting a 
completion and occupancy date not later than fiscal year 2023.

            National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $5,765,579,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   5,848,243,000
Committee recommendation................................   5,691,169,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $5,691,169,000 for 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]. The 
recommendation is $74,410,000 below the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $157,074,000 below the budget request. The 
Committee commends the Department for its work to bring down 
the costs of NOAA's Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction 
[PAC] accounts, which have continuously consumed nearly half of 
NOAA's budget. These costs were driven primarily by budget 
overruns and schedule slips in NOAA's flagship weather 
satellite programs, which limited the resources available for 
NOAA's other mission areas. The decrease in PAC resource needs 
in fiscal year 2017 reflects the Department's and the 
Committee's concerted efforts to rein in costs of NOAA's 
satellite programs and put them on a sustainable path. While 
overall funding for NOAA is below the fiscal year 2016 level, 
the reduction in PAC resource needs alleviates the strain on 
other operations and research areas critical to NOAA's core 
mission. This allowed for an increase above the fiscal year 
2016 enacted level in NOAA's Operations, Research, and 
Facilities accounts.

                  OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $3,305,813,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   3,494,180,000
Committee recommendation................................   3,339,376,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $3,339,376,000 for 
NOAA's operations, research, and facilities. The recommendation 
is $33,563,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$154,804,000 below the budget request.

                      NOAA NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE

    The Committee's recommendation provides $522,071,000 for 
the National Ocean Service [NOS]. NOS programs provide 
scientific, technical, and management expertise to promote safe 
navigation; assess the health of coastal and marine resources; 
respond to natural and human-induced threats; and preserve 
coastal and ocean environments.
    The Committee's recommendations are displayed in the 
following table:

       NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                          recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Navigation, Observations and Positioning:
    Navigation, Observations and Positioning...........          149,094
    Hydrographic Survey Priorities/Contracts...........           27,000
    Integrated Ocean Observing System--Regional                   31,500
     Observations......................................
                                                        ----------------
      Total, Navigation, Observations and Positioning..          207,594
                                                        ================
Coastal Science and Assessment:
    Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and                     74,177
     Restoration.......................................
    Competitive External Research......................           13,000
                                                        ----------------
      Total, Coastal Science and Assessment............           87,177
                                                        ================
Ocean and Coastal Management and Services:
    Coastal Zone Management and Services...............           42,500
    Coastal Management Grants..........................           85,000
    Coral Reef Program.................................           26,100
    National Estuarine Research Reserve System.........           23,900
    National Marine Sanctuaries........................           49,800
                                                        ----------------
      Total, Ocean and Coastal Management and Services.          227,300
                                                        ================
      GRAND TOTAL NOS..................................          522,071
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Navigation, Observations and Positioning.--The Committee 
strongly supports activities under Navigation, Observations and 
Positioning, including the full operational funding for NOAA's 
Navigation Response Teams. In addition, not more than 5 percent 
of the funds available for the Hydrographic Surveys and 
Contracts program may be used for administrative expenses 
within NOAA.
    Hydrographic Survey Backlog.--The Committee continues to be 
concerned with NOAA's slow progress to reduce the backlog of 
hydrographic survey work for navigationally significant areas 
in the U.S. Arctic. Within the amount provided for Hydrographic 
Survey Priorities/Contracts, NOAA is directed to accelerate the 
acquisition of survey data and the preparation of navigation 
charts necessary to minimize the risks associated with 
increased maritime traffic in the Arctic region.
    Geospatial Modeling Grants.--The Committee provides no less 
than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, within Navigation, 
Observations and Positioning to continue the competitive 
Geospatial Modeling Grants Program for which all funding shall 
be distributed externally.
    Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System [PORTS].--The 
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level for PORTS. The Committee believes these operations, which 
exist as a partnership between NOAA and local port authorities, 
provide valuable information for safe vessel navigation and 
data for weather and coastal monitoring. The Committee 
encourages NOAA to request funding that reflects the program's 
full costs, including operations and maintenance as authorized 
by Hydrographic Services Improvement Act (Public Law 110-386) 
in future budget submissions.
    Hydrographic Research and Technology Development.--The 
Committee supports the requested level and intended use of 
funds for Hydrographic Research and Technology Development. The 
Committee provides $2,000,000 above the request for NOAA to 
designate joint ocean and coastal mapping centers in other 
areas of the country to be co-located with an institution of 
higher education as authorized by the Omnibus Public Land 
Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11). The Committee 
emphasizes that additional funding is provided for the 
designation of other joint ocean and coastal mapping centers 
and therefore should not affect current operations of any 
existing center.
    Marine Sensor Development.--The Committee supports NOAA's 
Alliance for Coastal Technologies [ACT] and notes the program's 
valuable expertise in marine sensor technology development, and 
provides no less than $1,500,000 for ACT within NOS for fiscal 
year 2017.
    Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and Restoration.--
Within the funds provided for Coastal Science, Assessment, 
Response and Restoration, $2,000,000 shall be for operations 
and staffing of the Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center 
[DRC]. The DRC shall continue to serve as the Gulf Coast hub 
for NOAA's emergency preparedness, response, and recovery 
operations.
    Marine Debris.--The Committee provides $7,034,000 for 
NOAA's Marine Debris Program. The Committee strongly supports 
ongoing efforts to address marine debris around the country. 
NOS is encouraged to prioritize marine debris projects in rural 
and remote communities, as well as projects in urban 
communities that include removal of abandoned vessels and 
pilings that harm the ecosystem and hinder recreational 
fishing. Additionally, due to the pervasive impact marine 
debris has on coastal waters of the Northern Gulf of Mexico, 
NOS is encouraged to work with communities in the Northern Gulf 
to help coordinate marine debris removal from waterways and the 
ecosystem. Activities under the Marine Debris program should 
help lead to the development of cost-effective programmatic 
solutions to address land-generated marine debris in all 
regions of the country.
    Integrated Water Prediction.--Within funding provided for 
Coastal Zone Management and Services, the Committee provides 
the full requested increase for NOS to help develop and operate 
an Integrated Water Prediction program with NOAA's National 
Weather Service.
    Coastal Management Grants.--The Committee provides 
$85,000,000 for Coastal Management Grants. This includes 
$70,000,000 for Coastal Zone Management Grants and $15,000,000 
for Regional Coastal Resilience Grants [RCRG], which is 
$10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 level. NOAA is 
encouraged to continue developing the RCRG program in 
coordination with other ocean and coastal funding opportunities 
to ensure that the broadest array of projects, geographic 
regions, and research needs for oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes 
are met. NOAA is also encouraged to prioritize projects that 
are coordinated between State, Federal, and tribal partners; 
non-governmental organizations; and academia. However, NOAA may 
only award these funds to coastal State projects that have 
written support from the State's Governor.
    As NOAA explores ways to make coastal areas more resilient, 
NOAA should consider depositing up to $10,000,000 from the RCRG 
into the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund for grants 
as authorized in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 
(Public Law 114-113), subject to the reprogramming procedures 
set forth in section 505 of this act.
    Marine National Monuments.--The Committee notes the 
possibility of an expansion of existing marine national 
monuments in the Pacific. Should such an expansion occur in 
calendar year 2016, the Committee directs NOAA to update the 
report on marine national monuments required in Senate Report 
114-66, and provide revised requirements for enforcement, 
research, management needs, and estimated costs within 120 days 
of such expansion or enactment of this act, whichever occurs 
later. In the event of such an expansion, up to $500,000 of 
funds provided for National Marine Sanctuaries may be made 
available for competitive research and management grants for 
existing marine national monuments administered by NOS, 
provided such grants are subject to a 100 percent non-Federal 
match.
    National Estuarine Research Reserve System.--The Committee 
provides $23,900,000 for the National Estuarine Research 
Reserve System [NERRS], which is $900,000 above the President's 
request and the fiscal year 2016 enacted level. NERRS sites 
provide mixed-use areas that are protected for long-term 
research, monitoring, education, and coastal stewardship. The 
program is a positive example of State and Federal partnership.
    NERRS Blue Ribbon Panel and Strategic Plan.--The Committee 
applauds the work of the NERRS Blue Ribbon Panel and directs 
NOAA to act on its recommendations and complete the strategic 
plan for the NERRS system short- and long-term buildout. 
Additionally, NOAA is encouraged to increase its monitoring and 
research activities with partners through its NERRS, Integrated 
Ocean Observing System [IOOS], and National Centers for Coastal 
Ocean Science offices to improve and expand a collective state 
of the art environmental observing system.
    NOAA is further encouraged to work with its NERRS and 
National Marine Sanctuary partners on efforts for early 
detection, rapid response, and control of invasive species, 
especially those that jeopardize endangered or threatened 
native species.

                 NOAA NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

    The Committee's recommendation provides $854,831,000 for 
the National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS]. NMFS programs 
provide for the management and conservation of the Nation's 
living marine resources and their environment, including fish 
stocks, marine mammals, and endangered species.
    Committee recommendations are displayed in the following 
table:

 NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protected Resources Science and Management:
    Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Other Species....           115,293
    Species Recovery Grants...........................             6,500
    Atlantic Salmon...................................             6,224
    Pacific Salmon....................................            61,000
                                                       -----------------
      Total, Protected Resources Science and                     189,017
       Management.....................................
                                                       =================
Fisheries Science and Management:
    Fisheries and Ecosystem Science Programs and                 139,489
     Services.........................................
    Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys and                      163,876
     Assessments......................................
    Observers and Training............................            43,655
    Fisheries Management Programs and Services........           118,850
    Aquaculture.......................................             9,300
    Salmon Management Activities......................            31,531
    Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions.......            34,254
    Interjurisdictional Fisheries Grants..............             3,004
                                                       -----------------
      Total, Fisheries Science and Management.........           543,959
                                                       =================
Enforcement...........................................            69,331
                                                       =================
Habitat Conservation and Restoration..................            52,524
                                                       =================
      GRAND TOTAL NMFS................................           854,831
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Marine Mammal Protection.--The Committee supports NMFS's 
mission under this activity to monitor, protect, and recover 
at-risk marine mammal species listed under the Endangered 
Species Act [ESA] in 2005, but whose populations continue to 
decline. The Committee encourages NMFS to utilize funding for 
the protection and recovery of marine mammal species at risk 
due to factors such as limited prey species, water-borne toxin 
accumulation, and vessel and sound impacts.
    Puget Sound Federal Caucus.--The Committee commends NOAA 
for signing the Puget Sound Federal Caucus Memorandum of 
Understanding [MOU] on May 21, 2014. The recovery and cleanup 
of Puget Sound is essential to our Nation's economy, and 
continued coordination and sharing of expertise among Federal 
partners is critical to furthering current efforts. The 
Committee encourages NMFS to work with its counterparts in the 
Puget Sound Federal Caucus to renew and strengthen the MOU 
prior to its expiration on March 27, 2017.
    Hawaiian Monk Seals and Sea Turtles.--Within funding for 
Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Other Species, the Committee 
provides NOAA's full request for Hawaiian Monk Seals and 
Hawaiian Sea Turtles.
    Species Recovery Grants.--The Committee provides $6,500,000 
for species recovery grants. NOAA is encouraged to seek 
efficiencies by aligning the program with the applicable Take 
Reduction Plans, as it currently does with the Community Based 
Restoration Program and Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund.
    Prescott Grants.--Within Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and 
Other Species, $4,000,000 is provided for the John H. Prescott 
Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance grant program.
    Marine Mammal Stranding Network Reimbursements.--The 
Committee notes that the United States recently reached a 
settlement with BP and other parties involved in the 2010 Gulf 
oil spill, and directs NOAA to use a portion of the funding 
provided under this settlement to reimburse eligible members of 
NOAA's Marine Mammal Standing Network for legitimate costs 
associated with stranding activities, including the use of 
services, personnel, equipment, and facilities provided in 
response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
    Atlantic Salmon.--NOAA has identified major threats to 
Atlantic salmon, including interrelated effects of freshwater 
salmon habitat loss, lost prey buffering, and marine derived 
nutrients from declines of co-evolved diadromous species. 
Within funds provided, the Committee directs NOAA to enable a 
broader use of funds for restoration of diadromous species and 
habitats that support salmon recovery by providing ecological 
functions critical to the Atlantic salmon life cycle. The 
Committee further directs NOAA to ensure that adequate 
resources continue to be provided for State agencies to 
implement the recovery strategy effectively.
    Pacific Salmon.--Within funding provided for Pacific 
salmon, NOAA shall consider expanding salmonid monitoring 
activities, including through the use of tags and acoustic 
tracking to utilize real-time monitoring to avoid impacts to 
protected species. NOAA is also encouraged to work with 
partners to address the backlog of hatchery genetic management 
plans.
    Genetic Stock Identification.--The Committee supports 
continued research and testing of genetic stock identification 
[GSI] management techniques in the Pacific salmon fishery to 
meet the dual purpose of protecting weak and ESA listed stocks, 
while allowing for sustainable commercial and recreational 
access to healthy stocks in the wild. NMFS shall continue to 
support GSI research, including the collection, analysis, and 
testing of methods that rely on genetics-based data to identify 
and track the location of federally protected stocks in the 
wild.
    Promote and Develop Fisheries Products and Research Funding 
Transfer.--The bill maintains the provision restricting the use 
of the Promote and Develop Fisheries Products and Research 
funds transferred from the Department of Agriculture to NOAA in 
a way that better meets the intended purpose of the transfer 
mandated by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act. None of the funds may 
be used for internal NOAA or DOC management, but rather funds 
may only be used for activities that directly benefit U.S. 
fisheries and fishery communities. Specifically, these funds 
may only be used for: cooperative research; annual stock 
assessments; efforts to improve data collection, including 
catch monitoring and reporting for commercial, charter, and 
recreational fisheries; interjurisdictional fisheries grants; 
and Fisheries Information Networks.
    As part of the fiscal year 2017 spending plan, NOAA shall 
include a clear accounting of how the Promote and Develop 
transfer funds will be allocated based on the funding criteria 
described in this bill.
    The Committee further directs that not less than 15 percent 
of the total amount of the transferred funds shall be provided 
for the competitive Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant program. NOAA 
shall consult with each Regional Fishery Management Council and 
the Marine Fisheries Commissions to identify regional funding 
priorities. Prior to the expenditure of any of these funds, 
NOAA shall provide the Committee with a detailed spending plan 
describing which fisheries activities will be funded in each of 
the regions and how the plan incorporates regional priorities.
    Red Snapper Stock Assessments.--Within the amount provided 
for Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys, and Assessments, the 
Committee provides $5,000,000 for the continued development and 
implementation of agency-independent and alternative approaches 
to research and stock assessments of reef fish in the Gulf of 
Mexico. NOAA shall incorporate this independent fishery data 
collected on artificial reefs, offshore oil platforms, and any 
other offshore fixed energy exploration infrastructure directly 
into the agency's stock assessments for reef fish in the Gulf 
of Mexico. Furthermore, within funding provided, NOAA shall 
develop and support a fishery management pilot program that 
allows States to lead reef fish management activities in 
designated zones over artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. 
Not later than 60 days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall 
report to the Committee on how the pilot program will be 
implemented.
    In addition, if an increase is made to the acceptable 
biological catch for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico as a 
result of the direction provided in this report for stock 
assessments, the Committee urges NOAA to consider allocating 
not less than 80 percent of any total above 10 million pounds 
of quota to the recreational sector. While all sectors have 
faced challenges in the gulf red snapper fishery, the private 
boat recreational sector has been especially impacted.
    Ecosystem Imbalance.--NOAA shall take into consideration 
any imbalance in the ecosystem that may be occurring between 
larger red snapper and other fish species before accepting 
amendments to existing regulations or implementing new 
regulations that directly affect red snapper quotas in the Gulf 
of Mexico.
    Epipelagic Apex Predators.--The Committee acknowledges 
growing evidence that yellowfin tuna and other epipelagic apex 
predators are aggregating at offshore oil platforms in a 
similar manner to their more traditional aggregation points. 
These offshore platforms may alter yellowfin or other 
epipelagic apex predator movements, diet, diseases, growth, age 
at maturity, and spawning. However, NOAA lacks fundamental data 
on how this new association may impact these important species. 
Within funding provided, NOAA shall continue to examine the 
impact of offshore oil platforms on the biology of highly 
migratory species such as yellowfin tuna.
    Fisheries Information Networks.--Within funding provided 
for Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys, and Assessments, 
$22,500,000 is provided for Fisheries Information Networks.
    Marine Recreational Information Program [MRIP].--The 
Committee remains concerned about the accuracy of NOAA's stock 
assessments and estimates due to a lack of data regarding fish 
abundance on reefs and human-made structures. While the 
Committee supports NMFS transitioning to an improved method of 
estimating total recreational catch, such transition must be 
coupled with improved methods of estimating fish populations. 
Therefore, no funding is provided to implement the May 5, 2015, 
MRIP report titled ``Transition Plan for the Fishing Effort 
Survey'' until NMFS stock assessments are sufficiently 
advanced, including fully accounting for reef fish inhabiting 
areas of artificial reefs and fixed offshore energy 
infrastructure. However, funding is provided for NMFS to 
continue the development process and public outreach regarding 
MRIP's transition plan.
    Alaska Region Fisheries Personnel Costs.--Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this act, NOAA 
shall report to the Committee on the costs associated with 
travel of NMFS personnel to and from research areas in Alaska. 
The report shall include an analysis of the costs of NOAA 
employees traveling to and from Alaska to conduct fisheries, 
marine mammal, and habitat research. The report shall also 
include a comparison of those costs to the estimated travel 
costs that would be incurred if the same NMFS personnel were 
located at the nearest practicable site to their research in 
Alaska.
    Salmon Management Activities.--Within the amount provided 
for Salmon Management activities, the Committee recommends 
$12,000,000 to enable States and tribal communities to 
implement necessary Pacific Salmon Treaty agreements. The 
Committee fully supports all other aspects of the budget 
request for Salmon Management activities that are essential to 
meeting these treaty obligations. NOAA shall report to the 
Committee within 45 days of enactment of this act on all fees 
charged by NOAA from the funding provided for Pacific Salmon 
Treaty activities. The Committee also provides additional 
funding above the request to be used for the operation and 
maintenance of Mitchell Act hatcheries. The Committee 
encourages NOAA to consider funding for activities to modernize 
and expand salmonid research, testing, and monitoring through 
use of genetic stock identification management techniques to 
improve the protection of federally protected salmonids, while 
also improving water supply, commercial fishing, and 
recreational fishing. These activities should include the use 
of near real-time data to minimize closures of commercial 
fisheries.
    In addition, the Committee notes the number of California 
Sea Lions in the Columbia River Estuary and their impact on 
endangered wild salmon survival. NMFS has authorization for the 
lethal removal of sea lions in accordance with provisions of 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act, meant to reduce the impacts 
of sea lion predation on salmon stocks. The Committee 
encourages NMFS to review the current lethal removal program in 
order to monitor and assess the impacts of removal efforts on 
adult spring salmon migration survival within the Columbia 
River Estuary and to report its findings to Congress.
    Fishery Councils and Commissions.--No less than $34,254,000 
is provided to support the Regional Fishery Management 
Councils, Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions, and 
International Fisheries Commissions. All amounts provided by 
this act for NMFS Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions, 
which are above amounts provided in fiscal year 2016, shall be 
distributed in equal proportion between the Councils and the 
Interstate Fish Commissions.
    Baseline Data for Gulf of Mexico.--The Committee directs 
NOAA to continue supporting baseline research for fisheries 
health in the Gulf of Mexico, including studies of pelagic 
species. NOAA is encouraged to increase and continue 
collaborations in the Gulf to establish an integrated and 
comprehensive ecosystem-level fisheries monitoring enterprise 
and sentinel species program.
    Withheld Data from 2010 Gulf Oil Spill.--The Committee is 
concerned that NMFS's continued withholding of marine mammal 
data and samples, which has persisted in spite of the 
resolution of Federal and State claims against BP for the 
Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, is preventing the 
scientific community from conducting vital research in the Gulf 
of Mexico. The Committee encourages NMFS to quickly and 
efficiently return marine mammal samples that were taken from 
Gulf investigators in the aftermath of the spill, lift 
restrictions on marine mammal carcass sample analyses, and make 
the restricted data public for independent analyses by experts 
in the field so that the free exchange of scientific 
information may resume.
    Charter Vessels.--To help improve the quality and abundance 
of fishery data used for stock assessments, the Committee 
continues to encourage NOAA to expand the agency's activities 
in chartering commercial fishing vessels to serve as research 
and fishery survey vessels. Increasing these charter 
opportunities will enlarge the geographically diverse data 
collection for broad fish populations and enhance numerous 
ocean research programs. Other parts of NOAA, including the 
National Ocean Service and the Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research line offices, are also encouraged to 
charter commercial fishing vessels, when appropriate, to 
augment ongoing survey and research activities.
    Bycatch Reduction.--The development and implementation of 
practical bycatch solutions is a priority for U.S. and 
international fisheries management and protected species 
conservation. The Committee supports the requested amount for 
Reducing Bycatch, of which NMFS is directed to make $2,500,000 
available for competitive grants to non-Federal researchers 
working with U.S. fishermen on the development of improved 
fishing practices and innovative gear technologies.
    At-Sea Monitoring.--The Committee recognizes NMFS's 
responsibility to satisfy the observer coverage standards of 
the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology [SBRM], but is 
very concerned by the impacts of NMFS's decision to fund such 
activities by decreasing funding for at-sea monitoring in 
fiscal year 2016. NMFS's decision came as a surprise to 
fishermen and communities and negatively disrupted the 
Northeast groundfish fishery in the middle of the season. 
Therefore, NMFS shall work with the New England Fishery 
Management Council to find a resolution to the disruption and 
hardship caused by this funding decision. The Committee reminds 
NMFS that future direction from this Committee and Congress 
should be treated as a priority and followed accordingly.
    Observers and Training.--Since fiscal year 2012, the 
Committee has directed NMFS to provide adequate funding for at-
sea and dockside monitoring for all fisheries with approved 
catch share management plans, including those catch share 
management plans that impose observer coverage for new or 
expanded fishing opportunities. The Committee is aware that 
implementation of some management programs continues to present 
substantial financial challenges to the participants as well as 
to the economic sustainability of those fisheries and fishing 
communities. Given these ongoing problems, the Committee 
encourages NMFS to continue working with regional fishery 
programs to identify adequate support for at-sea and dockside 
monitoring for fisheries with approved catch share management 
plans. Recognizing the financial challenges facing 
participants, including those in the Northeast Multispecies 
fishery sector management program, the Committee also directs 
NMFS to work with the regional fishery programs on a transition 
plan to an at-sea and dockside monitoring program that is more 
cost effective, accurate, and commensurate with the ex-vessel 
value.
    Electronic Monitoring and Reporting.--Within Fisheries 
Ecosystem Science Programs and Services, the Committee provides 
NMFS's full request for Electronic Monitoring and Electronic 
Reporting [EM/ER] to support the development, testing, and 
installation of EM/ER technologies across the country. The 
Committee recognizes that advancements in EM/ER have the 
potential to cut costs and improve data collection for most 
U.S. fisheries. NMFS is directed to prioritize EM/ER 
implementation in fiscal year 2017, and expedite to the fullest 
extent practicable the transition to full EM/ER. Within the 
funds provided for these activities, not less than $3,000,000 
shall be available, in accordance with 16 U.S.C. 3701, for 
collaborative partnerships that include non-Federal matching 
funds to implement cost-shared EM/ER programs that support 
fisheries conservation and management. During the development 
and implementation of electronic reporting and monitoring 
programs, NOAA shall consult directly with industry and work 
through the Fishery Management Councils (established under 
sections 1851 and 1852 of title 16) to develop appropriate 
cost-sharing arrangements that are commensurate with the ex-
vessel value of the fishery.
    Furthermore, NMFS shall continue to work in fiscal year 
2017 with the charter for-hire recreational fishery fleet in 
the Gulf of Mexico; the Northeast Multispecies/groundfish 
fishery fleet, including small vessels within that fleet; and 
any regional fishery fleet interested in implementing EM/ER 
technologies to better track information that is currently 
collected through the use of human observers. The Committee is 
aware that the New England Fishery Management Council has been 
working with NMFS to begin the transition to electronic 
monitoring systems. NMFS is directed to expedite this effort 
and to explore innovative ways to make such systems cost-
effective for the fishery. NOAA shall report to the Committee 
within 90 days of the enactment of this act on the progress of 
this implementation in New England and work that remains to be 
done to provide an affordable monitoring system in the fishery.
    EM/ER Central Repository and Cost Estimations.--NOAA shall 
consider developing a central repository for EM/ER 
documentation and information sharing to facilitate regional 
access to complete, organized, and accurate information. NOAA 
shall also consider developing an EM/ER cost estimation 
template, to include all necessary cost components, which shall 
be shared with regions and Fishery Management Councils and used 
to determine further deployment of EM/ER technologies.
    Small Fixed-Gear Boats.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of utilizing currently available technologies on 
small fixed-gear boats to improve fisheries management. Within 
funding provided for EM/ER, NMFS shall provide an adequate 
amount for the installation of currently available electronic 
monitoring systems to continue the development of workable 
alternatives to address catch or discard data needs.
    Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated [IUU] Fishing.--The 
Committee provides the requested increase of $1,556,000 under 
Fisheries Management Programs and Services to combat IUU 
fishing. NOAA is encouraged to continue strengthening its 
efforts to detect and deter illegally harvested and improperly-
documented seafood, including working with other U.S., 
international, and foreign agencies to ensure fair competition 
for our country's domestic fishermen and safety for American 
consumers.
    Regional Pilots in Sustainable Aquaculture.--The Committee 
notes that more than ninety percent of seafood consumed in the 
United States is imported, that more than half of imported 
seafood is from overseas aquaculture, and that, while 
possessing the largest exclusive economic zone in the world, 
the United States ranks only fifteenth in aquaculture 
production. To address this major lost opportunity for job 
creation in coastal communities and to encourage the 
development of a domestic seafood supply, the NMFS Aquaculture 
Office is directed to conduct regional pilot programs for 
partnerships between the seafood industry and community 
partners that can develop, validate, and deploy economically 
and environmentally sustainable aquatic farming techniques and 
regional business practices to grow U.S. domestic seafood 
production. To maximize the impact of these pilot grants, NMFS 
is encouraged to give priority consideration to promising but 
less commercially developed technologies, such as those 
targeting shellfish, seaweed, and other relative newcomers to 
the domestic aquaculture industry. $2,000,000 is included in 
NMFS Aquaculture budget for this purpose. This funding is in 
addition to the laboratory funding for NOAA's fisheries science 
centers engaged in aquaculture research, which shall be funded 
at no less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level.
    Aquaculture Activities at Fisheries Science Centers.--The 
Committee is concerned by reports that NMFS fisheries science 
centers are cutting resources and staff positions dedicated to 
aquaculture research. NOAA is expected to maintain viable 
financial and personnel resources at the Northeast and 
Northwest Fisheries Science Centers, including refraining from 
cutting aquaculture funding or staff resources and 
expeditiously filling open positions. Not later than 90 days 
after enactment of this act, NOAA shall provide a report to the 
Committee outlining how it plans to prioritize and leverage 
aquaculture research at the Northeast and Northwest Fisheries 
Science Centers.
    Oyster Aquaculture, Research, and Restoration.--Within the 
increased funds provided for NMFS Aquaculture, the Committee 
provides not less than $1,000,000 to support ongoing research 
in off-bottom oyster production in coastal areas, particularly 
those new to this method of production, including the Gulf of 
Mexico, and encourages NMFS to dedicate resources for further 
research in oyster genetics, disease, and economic modeling.
    In addition, the Committee recognizes that the shellfish 
farming industry is composed of thousands of small farmers who 
are unable to fund critical research in the fields of shellfish 
disease, food safety, warming waters, and ocean acidification. 
To improve coordination and consistency, the Committee directs 
NMFS Aquaculture to engage and partner with industry, academic 
institutions, and States to conduct collaborative research to 
address the challenges facing this growing industry.
    Furthermore, the Committee continues to encourage NOAA to 
work with its State and non-Federal partners to consider 
supporting oyster shell recycling programs as part of the 
agency's competitive external funding opportunities for habitat 
restoration projects.
    Cooperative Research.--Depleted fish stocks result in 
significant economic losses to our Nation. At a time when 
fishing opportunities are constrained by uncertainty in stock 
assessments, and increased access to healthy stocks depends on 
better data, the Committee believes that maintenance of ongoing 
monitoring programs and surveys is critical. The Committee 
encourages the National Marine Fisheries Service to continue to 
prioritize long-time series surveys that are conducted 
cooperatively with industry and States. In addition, the 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center is directed to work 
collaboratively with the fishing industry to update and publish 
the Northeast Cooperative Research Strategic Plan, including: 
the identification of science priorities; a process for greater 
involvement of fishermen in data collection; and better 
communication of how the results of cooperative fisheries 
research are used.
    Horseshoe Crab Survey.--The Committee remains concerned 
about the inability to estimate the abundance of the mid-
Atlantic horseshoe crab population. Adequate data is required 
to ensure state and interstate managers can effectively manage 
the stock, which is important to the biomedical and commercial 
fishing industries, as well as to the ecology of the mid-
Atlantic region. The Committee encourages NMFS to continue this 
important survey to generate the data necessary to ensure the 
mid-Atlantic horseshoe crab stock remains on a sustainable 
path.
    Seafood Reporting.--The United States leads the world in 
responsibly managed fisheries and aquaculture, and the 
Committee supports NOAA's activities to inform consumers about 
our Nation's sustainable fisheries through the agency's 
FishWatch program. However, the Committee is concerned that the 
exclusive use or recognition of third-party certifications for 
seafood sustainability by the Department could have unintended 
consequences for various domestic fisheries. The Committee 
acknowledges that some U.S. fisheries voluntarily utilize 
third-party seafood sustainability certification schemes, but 
believes it is not the Department's role to adopt such 
certification schemes when doing so could result in the 
Department arbitrarily influencing the U.S. domestic seafood 
market. The Committee believes support for third-party 
certifications is best presented in non-governmental forums. 
Therefore, the Committee directs the Department not to adopt, 
use, or promote any third-party certification scheme for 
seafood sustainability but to instead continue providing 
consumers with independent and accountable information 
generated from within the Department.
    Habitat Conservation and Restoration.--The Committee 
provides $52,524,000 for Habitat Conservation and Restoration 
activities. The Committee adopts the proposal to move Coastal 
Ecosystem Resiliency Grants, funded at $10,000,000 in fiscal 
year 2016, into the National Ocean Service's Regional Coastal 
Resilience Grant program. Therefore, the fiscal year 2017 
funding level for Habitat Conservation and Restoration is 
effectively an increase of $1,116,000 for these programs. 
Within the amount provided, NOAA is encouraged to include 
funding for the multi-year Habitat Blueprint Focus Area 
partnership agreements developed under the Habitat Blueprint 
initiative. The Committee encourages NOAA to include a broader 
ecosystem-based management philosophy; expand criteria to 
include recreational species, managed commercial species, and 
forage species; and prioritize proposals that engage local 
communities. NOAA should continue to emphasize the value of 
partnerships when evaluating grant applications.

                 NOAA OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH

    The Committee's recommendation provides $451,878,000 for 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research [OAR]. OAR programs provide 
environmental research and technology needed to improve NOAA 
weather forecasts, climate predictions, and marine services. To 
accomplish these goals, OAR supports a network of scientists in 
its Federal research laboratories, universities, and joint 
institutes and partnership programs.
    Committee recommendations are displayed in the following 
table:

  OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH OPERATIONS, RESEARCH AND FACILITIES
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Climate Research:
    Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes..........            60,000
    Regional Climate Data and Information............            38,000
    Climate Competitive Research.....................            60,000
                                                      ------------------
      Total, Climate Research........................           158,000
                                                      ==================
Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs:
    Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes..........            72,653
    U.S. Weather Research Program....................            12,600
    Tornado Severe Storm Research/Phased Array Radar.            13,158
                                                      ------------------
      Total, Weather and Air Chemistry Research......            98,411
                                                      ==================
Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research:
    Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes..........            32,000
    National Sea Grant College Program...............            64,000
    Marine Aquaculture Research......................            10,000
    Sustained Ocean Observations and Monitoring......            41,823
    Integrated Ocean Acidification...................            13,500
    Ocean Exploration................................            20,000
                                                      ------------------
      Total, Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research.           181,323
                                                      ==================
High Performance Computing Initiatives...............            12,144
                                                      ==================
Research Transition Acceleration Program.............             2,000
                                                      ==================
      GRAND TOTAL OAR................................           451,878
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes.--The Committee 
recognizes the significant roles Laboratories and Cooperative 
Institutes play in fulfilling the mission requirements of NOAA. 
In order to strengthen the state of science within NOAA's 
mission scope and create advantages in new scientific 
knowledge, NOAA must continue to support new technologies and 
improved services for coastal communities and the Nation. 
Therefore, the Committee provides $4,611,000 above the budget 
request for Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research 
Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes and expects the 
administration to fully fund cooperative institutes at 
appropriate levels in future years, including those currently 
supporting NOAA's coastal resilience mission. The Committee 
strongly supports well-established institutes, including those 
focused on watershed effects on marine ecosystems, remote 
sensing, and long-term monitoring of oil spill impacts on 
marine ecosystem health. Additionally, as part of its 
``Cooperative Institutes in the 21st Century'' [CI21] 
initiative, the Committee directs NOAA to consider how 
additional ocean and coastal Cooperative Institutes could 
support NOAA's mission objectives, including those related to 
coastal resilience and other key research priorities, and shall 
update its CI21 report with guidance explaining how new 
research institutions can partner with NOAA scientists to 
expand the Cooperative Institute network in future years. 
Additionally, the Committee supports the budget request for ice 
cover activities within OAR's cooperative institutes, which are 
important to various Great Lakes stakeholders, including the 
fishing industry, the commercial shipping industry, and the 
U.S. Coast Guard, which has a statutory icebreaking mission in 
the Great Lakes.
    Autonomous Glider Demonstration.--The Committee rejects 
OAR's proposed decrease to reduce support for an Autonomous 
Underwater Vehicle demonstration. Instead, OAR is directed to 
demonstrate how an autonomous ocean glider could address 
critical gaps in NOAA's physical, chemical, biological, and 
other observational needs, particularly those observational 
needs of NOAA's IOOS program.
    Climate Research.--The Committee provides the requested 
level for supporting and expanding the National Integrated 
Drought Information System, including the Regional Drought 
Early Warning Information System.
    Multi-Function Phased Array Radar [MPAR] Program.--The 
Committee recognizes the importance of the MPAR program in the 
development and implementation of the next generation weather 
and aircraft radar surveillance network. The Committee directs 
NOAA to maintain its leadership in the MPAR research and 
development effort and encourages continued work on a 
Memorandum of Understanding between NOAA, the Federal Aviation 
Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department 
of Homeland Security that delineates each agency's or 
Department's needs regarding the function and timeline of a 
joint MPAR system.
    Vortex-Southeast [Vortex-SE].--The southeast United States 
commonly experiences devastating tornadoes under variables and 
conditions that differ considerably from the Midwest, where 
tornado research has historically been focused. Within funds 
provided for Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs, up to 
$5,000,000 is provided for OAR to continue collaborating with 
the National Science Foundation's Vortex-SE initiative to 
better understand how environmental factors that are 
characteristic of the southeast United States affect the 
formation, intensity, and storm path of tornadoes for this 
region.
    Airborne Phased Array Radar [APAR].--Within funding for 
NOAA's U.S. Weather Research Program, an increase of $4,642,000 
is provided to research and develop aircraft-based hazardous 
weather observing systems, such as APAR. NOAA shall coordinate 
these research and development activities with the National 
Science Foundation.
    Infrasonic Weather Monitoring Research.--Within funding 
provided for the U.S. Weather Research Program, the Committee 
provides up to $500,000 to support external research 
opportunities with academic institutions in infrasonic 
monitoring methods of violent weather. The Committee believes 
that advanced infrasound signal processing methodologies and 
studies, deployed through a network of infrasound arrays to 
detect tornadoes and hurricanes, have the potential to improve 
forecast accuracy.
    National Sea Grant College Program.--The Committee rejects 
NOAA's requested decrease to the National Sea Grant Program. 
Within funds provided, NOAA is encouraged to leverage resources 
and pursue partnerships with Sea Grant universities and other 
Federal agencies to carry out aquatic animal health monitoring 
and research. This effort contributes to Sea Grant's and NOAA's 
broader mission of providing services to enhance coastal 
community resilience. Further, NOAA is directed to continue its 
partnership with academic programs that provide legal expertise 
related to the missions of the program and NOAA.
    Sea Grant funding should support key focus areas in the 
program's strategic plan, including healthy coastal ecosystems, 
sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities 
and economies, environmental literacy, and workforce 
development. The Committee directs NOAA to continue funding all 
Sea Grant STEM education and fellowship programs.
    Fisheries-Related Research.--The Committee remains 
concerned about the negative impacts of the short recreational 
fishing season for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. 
Additional data sources and assessment approaches would be 
beneficial and should be pursued by entities other than NOAA's 
regulating line office, NMFS. Therefore, the Committee provides 
up to the fiscal year 2016 level within Sea Grant to research 
and develop alternative approaches to data collection and 
analysis.
    Aquaculture Research.--The Committee provides $10,000,000 
for marine aquaculture research. NOAA is directed to support 
marine aquaculture research and development in partnership with 
universities. Similar research efforts have led to beneficial 
outcomes such as the development and commercialization of new 
technologies to meet the domestic demand for warm water marine 
seafood, including finfish, shrimp, and oysters.
    Ocean Exploration.--The Committee directs NOAA to use a 
portion of the funding provided for Ocean Exploration to make 
competitive external awards to institutions that have partnered 
with OAR's Ocean Exploration program in the past. This includes 
those institutions with ocean-going assets, such as Autonomous 
Underwater Vehicles, to support new exploration missions, 
expeditions, and deep-sea research in the Gulf of Mexico. 
Furthermore, NOAA is encouraged to continue fundamental ocean 
exploration in which open source data are collected for the 
oceanographic community and private industries in real-time 
through telepresence technology.
    Furthermore, NOAA's ocean exploration program should 
continue fundamental exploration and surveys with primary focus 
on America's Exclusive Economic Zones of the Continental United 
States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands 
and the Pacific Territories. The Committee encourages NOAA to 
emphasize areas for exploration that may be of interest to NOAA 
laboratories including unique deep water regions, and to 
consider collaborating with international partners when 
practicable.
    Research Transition Acceleration Program [RTAP].--The 
Committee provides $2,000,000 for NOAA to establish RTAP within 
OAR, to identify, prioritize, and fund the transition of the 
most promising research into operations, applications, and 
commercialization. However, no funding within RTAP shall be 
used to support transitioning research that is not directly 
related to NOAA's core mission areas. Furthermore, NOAA shall 
look for ways to leverage funding in existing research lines to 
accelerate any research-to-operations transition under RTAP.

                     NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

    The Committee's recommendation provides $991,264,000 for 
the National Weather Service [NWS]. NWS programs provide timely 
and accurate meteorologic, hydrologic, and oceanographic 
warnings and forecasts to ensure the safety of the population, 
mitigate property losses, and improve the economic productivity 
of the Nation. NWS is also responsible for issuing operational 
climate forecasts for the United States. The Committee has made 
saving lives and livelihoods through accurate weather 
forecasting a priority.
    The Committee's recommendations are displayed in the 
following table:

      NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Observations..........................................           217,363
Central Processing....................................            92,790
Analyze, Forecast, and Support........................           497,810
Dissemination.........................................            46,743
Science and Technology Integration....................           136,558
                                                       -----------------
      GRAND TOTAL NWS.................................           991,264
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Information Technology Officers.--The Committee continues 
to support cost savings and steps to improve efficiency at NWS. 
However, NWS's proposal to consolidate Information Technology 
Officer [ITO] positions at the agency's regional weather 
forecast offices, including the plan laid out in the March 2016 
report titled ``Evolving Information Technology Service 
Delivery at NWS Field Offices,'' comes before a comprehensive 
review of NWS operations has been completed. While the March 
plan is helpful in clarifying both the intent and proposed 
execution of the ITO consolidation, any move to consolidate 
these positions at this time would be premature. However, the 
Committee is pleased that NWS is engaged in a comprehensive, 
third-party review of its long-term operations and workforce 
needs, and looks forward to the results of this full, NWS-wide 
workforce assessment.
    Although the proposal to consolidate 122 field ITO 
positions is not approved, NWS is invited to submit a proposal 
in its 2017 spending plan for a single pilot Regional 
Enterprise Application Development and Integration [READI] team 
comprised of volunteer ITOs. The successes and challenges of 
the pilot READI team project will assist the Committee in 
evaluating the larger consolidation proposal if resubmitted in 
future fiscal years.
    National Data Buoy Center [NDBC].--The Committee provides 
sufficient funding to maintain, at a minimum, NDBC operations 
at 80 percent data availability. The Committee encourages NOAA 
to provide adequate funding to support maintenance and service 
of the Tropical Atmosphere/Ocean Array [TAO] and Deep Ocean 
Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis [DART] array across the 
equatorial Pacific. In addition, not later than 180 days after 
enactment of this act, NOAA shall provide a report to the 
Committee detailing the resources necessary to properly 
maintain and operate the coastal weather buoy system in areas 
off the coast of Alaska and in the Arctic Ocean. The report 
shall include the identification of gaps in Arctic weather and 
sea ice observing networks in U.S. territories of the Arctic 
Ocean. The Committee directs NOAA to include a schedule to 
restore existing data buoy operability and its strategy to 
minimize outages in the future as part of the agency's spending 
plan.
    National Water Center.--The Committee provides no less than 
$14,750,000, which is equal to NOAA's requested amount, for 
operations and staffing of the National Water Center [NWC] to 
develop and operate the Integrated Water Prediction [IWP] 
program. NWS shall leverage this funding with resources 
provided to NOS for IWP. The NWC will serve as the first ever 
clearinghouse for research and operational forecasting of all 
water-related issues facing our Nation, including: severe 
floods, storm surge, droughts, and water quality, among others. 
Given the importance of the NWC to better protect lives and 
property of our Nation's citizens, NOAA is directed to expedite 
staffing and operations at the Center to achieve full operating 
capability as soon as possible. The Committee directs NOAA to 
provide a report no less than 45 days after enactment of this 
act with an updated staffing plan that includes an update on 
commitments from partner agencies and a timeline for 
accomplishing operational readiness in the first quarter of 
fiscal year 2017.
    National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program [NTHMP].--The 
Committee rejects NOAA's proposal to terminate funding for 
tsunami preparedness within the NTHMP, and instead instructs 
the Agency to maintain funding at the fiscal year 2016 level 
and to strengthen the NTHMP in accordance with the 2011 
evaluation by the National Academy of Sciences.
    Consumer Option for an Alternative System To Allocate 
Losses [COASTAL] Act Implementation.--Within funding provided 
for Science and Technology Integration, the Committee provides 
not less than $5,000,000 for the continued development and 
implementation of the COASTAL Act, which was included in the 
Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2012 (Public 
Law 112-141). The Committee supports NOAA's work to assist 
homeowners impacted by destructive winds and storm surges 
associated with hurricanes and super-storms. The Committee 
directs NOAA to continue to leverage existing Federal assets, 
expertise, and partnerships in carrying out COASTAL Act 
activities. Furthermore, NOAA is directed to provide the 
Committee with updates every 6 months on progress made and 
challenges related to implementation, as well as any proposed 
solutions.
    National Mesonet Program.--The Committee provides 
$19,000,000 for the continuation and expansion of the National 
Mesonet Program. Funds should be made available through a 
competitive weather data procurement that sustains coverage of 
areas currently included within the national mesonet, as well 
as an expansion of coverage in high risk areas. NOAA is also 
encouraged to add new observations such as total lightning 
data, regional aircraft observations, and vertical column 
measurements in tornado-prone areas. Additionally, within funds 
provided, NOAA is encouraged to incorporate state mesonet data 
into the national mesonet network. NOAA should require that 
awardees provide mesonet data in formats that can be integrated 
by NWS for use in forecasts and severe weather alerts. Of the 
funds provided, up to $500,000 may be used for Meterological 
Assimilation Data Ingest System [MADIS] activities, and up to 
$500,000 may be used for costs associated with the National 
Mesonet Program Office. The Committee views the national 
mesonet as an important component of any effort to effectively 
develop a ``Weather-Ready Nation'' and expects that future NOAA 
budget requests will continue to reflect it as a priority.

  NOAA NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE

    The Committee's recommendation provides $198,884,000 for 
National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service 
[NESDIS] operations. NESDIS programs operate environmental 
polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites and collect and 
archive global environmental data and information for 
distribution to users in commerce, industry, agriculture, 
science and engineering, the general public, and Federal, 
State, and local agencies.
    The Committee's recommendations are displayed in the 
following table:

     NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE
                  OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environmental Satellite Observing Systems:
    Office of Satellite and Product Operations........           107,008
    Product Development, Readiness & Application......            27,014
    Commercial Remote Sensing Licensing & Enforcement.             2,065
    Office of Space Commercialization.................             2,000
    Group on Earth Observations [GEO].................               500
                                                       -----------------
      Total, Environmental Satellite Observing Systems           138,587
                                                       =================
National Environmental Information Office.............            60,297
                                                       -----------------
      GRAND TOTAL NESDIS..............................           198,884
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    National Environmental Information Office.--The Committee 
recommends $60,297,000 for the National Environmental 
Information Office [NEIO], which is a new office that 
consolidates several programs previously funded separately. 
While the Committee supports the updated budget structure for 
NESDIS, it is essential to ensure that key programs continue to 
receive adequate funding. Specifically, the Committee provides 
not less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted levels of $6,000,000 
for Regional Climate Services, $3,650,000 for Regional Climate 
Centers, and $4,567,000 for Coastal Data Development. Within 
NEIO, the Committee encourages NOAA to fully support critical 
international partnerships, including the Global Climate 
Observing System.

                          NOAA MISSION SUPPORT

    The Committee's recommendation provides $256,981,000 for 
NOAA's mission support activities. These programs provide for 
overall NOAA management, including staffing of the Under 
Secretary's office and services to NOAA and DOC field offices 
through the regional Administrative Support Centers. These 
programs also support NOAA's Education Office consistent with 
the recommendations of the Joint Ocean Commission. The 
facilities subactivity provides for repair and maintenance to 
existing facilities, planning and design, and environmental 
compliance.
    Committee recommendations are displayed in the following 
table:

          PROGRAM SUPPORT OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate Services:
    Executive Leadership..............................            27,000
    Mission Services Management.......................           150,000
    IT Security.......................................            10,050
    Payment to DOC Working Capital Fund...............            43,000
                                                       -----------------
      Total, Corporate Services.......................           230,050
                                                       =================
NOAA Education Program................................            26,931
                                                       =================
      GRAND TOTAL, MISSION SUPPORT....................           256,981
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Corporate Services.--Within the increased funds provided 
for Corporate Services, NOAA is directed to focus on restoring 
the functionality of its Workforce Management Office and 
Acquisition and Grant Services.
    Education.--Within the funds provided for NOAA's Education 
Program, $5,000,000 is for competitive educational grants, 
which includes continued support for Environmental Literacy 
Grants and for improving geographic literacy; $14,431,000 is 
for the Educational Partnership Program with minority-serving 
institutions; and $7,500,000 is for Bay-Watershed Education and 
Training regional programs.
    NOAA Leases.--While the Committee is supportive of 
increasing funding for the NOAA Weather Radio network in this 
bill to assist with the cost of its tower agreements, the 
Committee has previously raised concerns about the agency's 
large amount of real property commercial leases. Without a 
clear understanding of the extent of its holdover leases, NOAA 
may be unable to budget for liabilities created by the 
termination of these holdover leases, which, in turn, could 
cause Antideficiency Act violations. To fully account for the 
potential budgetary impact of its holdover leases, NOAA shall: 
ensure that it understands the extent of its lease holdover 
issues; that it maintains complete and accurate records on 
owned and leased property; and that it provides these records 
to the Committee and the OIG upon request.
    Responsiveness to Congress.--The Committee notes that NOAA 
often fails to respond in a timely manner to inquiries from 
Congress. Letters from members have gone unanswered and 
repeated requests for drafting assistance have been ignored. 
Congress plays an important role in the oversight of NOAA, and 
the Committee directs the agency to be responsive to 
congressional inquiries.
    Outstanding Loan Balances.--The Committee encourages NOAA 
and its respective line offices to work with communities and 
businesses, on a case-by-case basis, to resolve outstanding 
balances in a manner that considers the borrower's current 
financial ability but remains fair to American taxpayers.

             NOAA OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS

    The Committee's recommendation provides $211,131,000 for 
NOAA's marine and aviation operations. The Office of Marine and 
Aviation Operations provides aircraft and marine data 
acquisition, repair, and maintenance of the existing fleet; 
planning of future modernization; and technical and management 
support for NOAA-wide activities through the NOAA Commissioned 
Officer Corps.

   OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Operations and Maintenance.....................           178,838
Aviation Operations...................................            32,293
                                                       -----------------
      GRAND TOTAL, OMAO...............................           211,131
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Capital Assets.--Any decisions related to laying up any 
vessels, grounding any aircraft, or decommissioning any capital 
asset are subject to the standard reprogramming procedures set 
forth in section 505 of this act. Any changes from the spending 
plan shall also be subject to section 505 of this act. NOAA 
shall continue to provide the Committee with a monthly 
operational status of the fleet and aircraft. NOAA is further 
directed to provide the Committee with updated long-term 
management and acquisition plans for the fleet and aircraft 
within 60 days of enactment of this act.
    Aviation Operations.--In February 2016, MacDill Air Force 
Base formally notified NOAA that the Aircraft Operations Center 
[AOC] must vacate their hanger facilities by July 2017. AOC's 
aircraft play a critical role in the Nation's hurricane 
forecasting capabilities. The Committee is aware that NOAA is 
seeking a short term lease at another airport within a 50 mile 
radius of its current location so as to help mitigate any 
impacts a sudden move could have on operations during the 2017 
hurricane season and to provide more reliable accommodations 
for the next few years. While the Committee fully supports 
NOAA's near term plans, the Committee views such arrangements 
as temporary. Soon after NOAA settles into the new short-term 
lease agreement, the Committee directs the agency to embark on 
a comprehensive plan to find a permanent, cost-effective home 
for AOC in the Gulf Coast region, potentially co-located with a 
Federal partner that can meet NOAA's operational needs.

            NOAA PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION, AND CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $2,400,416,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   2,270,123,000
Committee recommendation................................   2,286,853,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $2,286,853,000 for 
NOAA's procurement, acquisition, and construction. The 
recommendation is $113,563,000 below the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $16,730,000 above the budget request.
    Committee recommendations are displayed in the following 
table:

                PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Ocean Service:
    National Estuarine Research Reserve Construction..             1,700
    Marine Sanctuaries Construction/Acquisition.......             2,000
                                                       -----------------
      Total National Ocean Service--PAC...............             3,700
                                                       =================
Ocean and Atmospheric Research:
    Research Super Computing..........................            28,379
                                                       =================
National Weather Service:
    Observations......................................            32,755
    Central Processing................................            67,761
    Dissemination.....................................            34,619
    WFO Construction..................................             8,650
                                                       -----------------
      Total, National Weather Service--PAC............           143,785
                                                       =================
National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information
 Services:
    Geostationary Systems [GOES-R]....................           752,784
    Joint Polar Satellite System [JPSS]...............           787,246
    Polar Follow-on...................................           383,000
    CDARS.............................................               500
    DSCOVR............................................             3,745
    Space Weather Follow-on...........................             7,500
    COSMIC-2..........................................             8,100
    Satellite Ground Services.........................            54,000
    System Architecture and Advanced Planning.........             3,929
    Projects, Planning, and Analysis..................            25,200
    Satellite CDA Facility............................             2,228
    Commercial Weather Data Pilot.....................             3,000
                                                       -----------------
      Total, NESDIS--PAC..............................         2,031,232
                                                       =================
Mission Support:
    NOAA Construction.................................             6,057
                                                       -----------------
      Total, Mission Support--PAC.....................             6,057
                                                       =================
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations:
    Vessel Equip. and Tech Refresh....................            11,700
    New Vessel Construction...........................            75,000
                                                       -----------------
      Total, OMAO--PAC................................            86,700
                                                       =================
Unobligated balances from prior years.................           -13,000
                                                       -----------------
      GRAND TOTAL, PAC................................         2,286,853
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    National Estuarine Research Reserve Construction.--The 
Committee remains concerned about the increased costs and lack 
of transparency associated with certain third-party green 
building rating systems. The use of certain green building 
standards can arbitrarily discriminate against domestic 
building materials such as wood that could be locally sourced, 
thereby increasing costs to taxpayers without significant 
benefits in energy and water savings. The Committee again 
directs NOAA to use funding provided for NERR Construction 
subject only to green building rating systems or standards that 
are voluntary consensus standards; have achieved American 
National Standard Institute [ANSI] Designation; or were 
developed by an ANSI Audited Designator, and take into 
consideration the environmental and economic benefits of 
building materials through lifecycle analysis. Not later than 
90 days after enactment of this act, NOAA shall notify the 
Committee on any new, existing, or planned construction 
projects at NERRS sites that receive accreditation for energy 
savings from a third-party green building rating system.
    High Performance Computing.--The Committee recognizes 
NOAA's high performance computing needs and its current 
limitations on providing high fidelity results in near real-
time. Within funding provided for OAR Research Supercomputing, 
up to $8,000,000 shall be used to develop a dedicated high 
performance computing facility in collaboration with partners 
with existing high performance computing expertise and 
scientific synergies. This facility shall be used in part to 
research improved weather modeling capabilities.
    NWS Observations.--The Committee provides NOAA's full 
request for Observations under NWS PAC, which includes the full 
requested increase for the Automated Surface Observing System 
and Next Generation Weather Radar Service Life Extension 
Programs.
    Integrated Water Prediction [IWP].--The Committee provides 
NOAA's full request for Central Processing under NWS PAC, which 
includes not less than the requested amount of $4,500,000 to 
procure operational high performance computing resources to 
enable modeling improvements associated with the IWP 
initiative.
    Weather Satellites.--The Committee provides full funding 
for the continued procurement and acquisition of the Joint 
Polar Satellite System [JPSS] and the Geostationary Operational 
Environmental Satellite R-series [GOES-R], NOAA's flagship 
weather satellite programs. NOAA is directed to prioritize 
satellite programs directly related to weather forecasting and 
that result in the greatest reduction of risk to lives and 
property. Keeping JPSS and GOES-R programs on budget and on 
schedule is critical, as is maintaining their respective cost 
controls, particularly when NOAA's satellite missions continue 
to dominate the agency's annual budget requirements. The 
Committee reiterates its previous direction to NOAA to find 
savings from operating expenses and to reduce duplicative 
Government overhead shared with the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration.
    Polar Follow-On.--The Committee provides $383,000,000 for 
the Polar Follow-On mission. Ensuring a risk-averse and robust 
continuation of polar orbiting weather satellites is essential 
to avoid gaps in the data that is required for accurate weather 
forecasting. The Committee is still awaiting an Independent 
Cost Estimate [ICE] directed for the Polar Follow-on program in 
fiscal year 2016. Not later than 45 days following enactment of 
this act, NOAA shall provide detailed results from the ICE 
analysis to the Committee, including a comparison to the 
agency's internal estimate of the program's life-cycle cost.
    Jason-3.--The Committee strongly supports the Jason-3 
mission, which after months of delay successfully launched in 
January 2016. The Jason-3 mission will support national and 
international users of sea surface height measurements, and 
allow the NWS to more accurately forecast the strength of 
tropical cyclones that threaten U.S. coastal communities. Now 
that Jason-3 has launched, the Committee expects any associated 
analysis and processing to be accounted for within NESDIS ORF.
    Space Weather Follow-on.--The Committee provides 
$7,500,000, an increase of $6,300,000 above the fiscal year 
2016 level, for space weather follow-on activities. Funds 
should be used to accelerate the development of advanced 
technologies and an architecture study for a series of space 
weather follow-on flight missions that implement the National 
Space Weather Strategy and Space Weather Action Plan. A 
detailed account of how this funding will be spent and 
accompanying deliverables shall be submitted to the Committee 
with the fiscal year 2017 spend plan.
    The Committee recognizes that expanding data collection 
through enhanced space weather observations and models can 
significantly improve warning times for severe space weather 
events. Therefore, NOAA shall maintain the multi-year funding 
profile and schedule that was presented with the 2017 budget 
request in its fiscal year 2018 budget submission.
    COSMIC-2.--The Committee provides $8,100,000 for the 
Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and 
Climate 2 [COSMIC-2] program, to support the ground reception 
and processing of Global Navigation Satellite System Radio 
Occultation satellite data. These data will augment current 
models used for global weather forecasts and studies. However, 
no funding is provided for the procurement of a second set of 
radio occultation [RO] sensors that NOAA proposes to launch 
into polar orbit in 2019. The Committee notes that the U.S. Air 
Force--NOAA's partner on COSMIC-2--has not committed to 
providing launch services for a polar constellation of RO 
sensors. Furthermore, NOAA has not yet identified any other 
launch provider for this proposed polar constellation. The 
Committee encourages NOAA to utilize funding provided for 
NESDIS's Commercial Weather Data Pilot program to potentially 
meet identified needs in polar orbiting RO data.
    Commercial Weather Data Pilot.--The Committee provides 
$3,000,000 to support NOAA's newly launched assessment and 
potential use of commercial data in NOAA's weather modeling and 
forecasting through pilot purchases of commercial data.
    NOAA Satellite Reporting.--The Committee directs NOAA to 
provide quarterly programmatic and procurement status reports 
of all satellites actively flying, in space but in standby 
mode, and under development unless any reprogramming, system 
failure, construction delay, or other extraordinary 
circumstance warrants an immediate update. As part of the 
agency's quarterly satellite briefing, NOAA shall include 
updates on preparations and enhancements necessary to 
accommodate an increased volume of satellite data and shall 
compare initial cost estimates to actual expenditures.
    New Vessel Construction.--Recapitalizing NOAA's aging fleet 
and building new ships is a long-term endeavor, requiring a 
foundation of financial stability. The Committee recognizes 
that the fits-and-starts method of periodically appropriating a 
large tranche of funding to construct one vessel at a time is 
untenable in the foreseeable fiscal climate, especially for a 
fleet that requires several new vessels.
    With a baseline ocean class design in hand and a near-term 
path to restart work with the U.S. Navy, and after repeated 
reassurances that the requested ocean class vessel construction 
was a top priority for the Department, the Committee responded 
to both the immediate- and long-term fleet need by providing 
$80,050,000 for vessel construction in fiscal year 2016, and 
anticipating no less than $75,000,0000 provided for new vessel 
construction each year thereafter. The Committee's expectation 
was that, provided annually, this funding would put NOAA on a 
steadier financial path and allow the agency to construct a new 
vessel every 2 years.
    As such, the Committee was stunned and disappointed to see 
the administration's change of tack in the fiscal year 2017 
request, as well as a reprogramming request for the fiscal year 
2016 funding, in support of a smaller vessel that had no 
initial design, no supporting operational requirements, no 
immediate path for construction, and which cut the vessel 
construction account by 71 percent. The request eroded the 
financial foothold that the Committee worked hard to establish 
in fiscal year 2016 and jeopardizes the fleet's long term 
stability.
    Additionally, the proposal in fiscal year 2017 to use 
$100,000,000 of unsubstantiated non-discretionary funding not 
in the jurisdiction of this Committee for a second yet-to-be-
conceived regional class vessel suggests that the 
administration does not take fleet recapitalization seriously. 
Proposing disingenuous budget gimmicks to spend money outside 
the current budget agreement does not solve real Federal 
infrastructure problems, regardless of the agency or the 
account.
    Subsequent to the fiscal year 2017 budget submission, the 
Committee appreciated receiving the administration's ``Federal 
Fleet Status Report'' in March 2016, which provided a 
comprehensive snapshot of various U.S. Federal oceanographic 
vessels, including those operated by NOAA. This report is a 
tool for the Committee that not only examines NOAA's 
operational status, but that of the University-National 
Oceanographic Laboratory System ships and the U.S. Coast Guard 
icebreakers, which are used by the National Science Foundation. 
The interagency working group's plan clearly shows that NOAA 
needs to build both regional class and ocean-going ships in the 
coming years, though the plan did not sufficiently address the 
relative needs or prioritization among regional, ocean, and 
global class vessels, and instead focused on justifying the new 
regional class request. The Committee notes that not all of 
NOAA's marine operations can be conducted using regional class 
vessels, and to presume as such would suggest a drastic change 
in NOAA's ability to carry out its responsibilities, which is a 
much larger discussion than can be presented in a near-term 
fleet report card.
    The Committee does not intend to determine which vessel 
classes are of the highest priority at any given time, which 
vessels to replace at which homeports, or which of NOAA's at-
sea operations to favor. However, the Committee does expect the 
administration to provide the Congress with a clear and 
realistic plan for recapitalizing NOAA's fleet that remains 
consistent from one fiscal year to the next, and to 
consistently follow that plan in the future. A short-term 
snapshot report of the entire Federal oceanographic fleet is an 
important tool to gain an interagency perspective, but the 
``Federal Fleet Status Report'' is not the agency-specific 
fleet recapitalization plan that the Committee requested or 
expected in the fiscal year 2016 bill. The Committee 
understands that an independent review team is currently 
analyzing NOAA's short-term and long-term fleet needs, which 
has a greater potential to yield a more in depth NOAA-centric 
fleet recapitalization plan when that report is delivered in 
the first quarter of fiscal year 2017.
    In the meantime, the Committee is willing to stay on its 
original course, for now, by providing no less than $75,000,000 
for NOAA's on-going fleet recapitalization efforts with a 
continued focus on an ocean class vessel and to retain a 
pathway for financial stability for future fiscal years. The 
Committee intends to work with all levels of the administration 
now and throughout fiscal year 2017 to create a stable and 
successful plan for NOAA to continue the agency's at-sea 
operations should the administration continue to see value in 
supporting such operations in future fiscal years.
    Mission Support Construction.--The Committee supports 
NOAA's decision to designate Newport, Rhode Island, as the 
homeport for the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, a Fisheries Survey 
Vessel [FSV] which has been temporarily based in Rhode Island 
since its commissioning in 2005. The Committee provides 
$1,500,000 under Mission Support PAC to continue the necessary 
environmental assessments, permitting activities, and 
additional design work for new berthing facilities that will 
permanently accommodate this FSV and possibly other vessels in 
future fiscal years.
    Mission Support, Facilities Initiative.--The Committee 
provides NOAA's full request for major renovation and repair 
activities at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center facility 
under Construction PAC.
    Fishing Community Presence.--NOAA shall consider all viable 
ports when undertaking capital planning reviews, including 
those that do not currently have a significant NOAA presence.

                  PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY FUND

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $65,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      65,000,000
Committee recommendation................................      65,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $65,000,000 for the 
Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. The recommendation is the 
same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget 
estimate. Funds are for conservation and restoration of Pacific 
salmon populations. State and local recipients of this funding 
will provide matching contributions of at least 33 percent of 
Federal funds. In addition, funds will be available to tribes 
without a matching requirement.

                      FISHERMEN'S CONTINGENCY FUND

Appropriations, 2016....................................        $350,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................         350,000
Committee recommendation................................         350,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $350,000 for the 
Fishermen's Contingency Fund. The recommendation is the same as 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the President's request.

                   FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2016....................................     -$6,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................        -410,000
Committee recommendation................................        -410,000

    The Committee recommends that direct loans administered 
through this account for individual fishing quotas may not 
exceed $24,000,000. Traditional direct loans may not exceed 
$100,000,000, which is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and budget request.
    Permit Banks and Trusts.--The Committee notes that there is 
some confusion in the fishing community regarding whether 
fishing permit banks or trusts are eligible applicants for the 
Fisheries Finance Program. Permit banks and trusts have proven 
to be effective tools in retaining and anchoring fish 
harvesting rights within coastal communities, and have been 
uniquely effective in helping young fishermen engage in our 
fisheries by leasing quota and permits to them. The Committee 
directs NOAA to work with the fishing community and to provide 
a report within 180 days of enactment of this act clarifying 
whether fishing permit banks and trusts are eligible for the 
program. Additionally, if applicable, the report shall detail 
whether legislative or regulatory changes are necessary to 
establish eligibility or to clarify the application 
requirements for fishing permit banks and trusts.

                                 OTHER


                        Departmental Management


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $58,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      74,503,000
Committee recommendation................................      58,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $58,000,000 for 
Departmental Management Salaries and Expenses. The 
recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 
and $16,503,000 below the budget request.
    Within Departmental Management, the Salaries and Expenses 
account provides funding for the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, 
and support staff. Responsibilities involve policy development 
and implementation affecting U.S. and international activities, 
as well as establishing internal goals for operations of the 
Department.
    Not less than 90 days after enactment of this act, the 
Department shall submit to the Committee a report detailing 
actions taken to cut costs and a detailed account of funds 
saved by such actions across the Department's bureaus.
    Working Capital Funds.--For each of the three working 
capital funds within DOC, the following are to be provided to 
the Committee and the Office of Inspector General by November 
30 of each fiscal year: (1) A comparison of the final budget or 
spending plan at the project or activity level to the actual 
year-end data as of September 30 of the prior fiscal year, 
including detailed narratives for variances greater than 5 
percent at the project or activity; (2) the initial budget or 
spending plan by project or activity for the current fiscal 
year; and (3) a detailed schedule of fiscal year-end 
unobligated and carryover balances by source funding category 
and by expiring budget fiscal year, to include: direct 
authority, Federal and intragovernmental reimbursable authority 
by trading partner, non-Federal reimbursable authority, amounts 
held for future asset replacement, and other categories.
    BusinessUSA.--The Committee provides funding up to the 
amount provided in fiscal year 2016 for BusinessUSA. 
BusinessUSA is an online tool and shared inter-agency call 
center designed to facilitate information sharing, improve 
services to the public, and reduce interagency redundancies. 
Funds provided shall not be used to expand staffing or open any 
offices.
    Small Business Innovation Research.--The Committee 
recognizes the importance of the Small Business Innovation 
Research [SBIR] program and its previous accomplishments in 
facilitating commercial successes from federally funded 
research and development projects. The SBIR program encourages 
small domestic businesses to engage in Federal research and 
development and creates jobs in the smallest firms. The 
Committee therefore directs the DOC to place an increased focus 
on awarding SBIR grants to firms with fewer than 50 people.
    Unobligated Balances.--The Committee remains concerned 
about the amount of unobligated funding within DOC. The 
Department is directed to report all unobligated balances to 
the Committee on a quarterly basis following enactment of this 
act.
    Spending Plans.--Under section 533 of this act, the 
Department is required to submit a spending plan within 45 days 
of the enactment of this act. That plan should describe the 
programs, projects, and activities of the Department so that 
the Committee receives detailed descriptions of how the 
Department intends to operationalize the funding provided in 
annual appropriations bills. The Committee expects a detailed 
accounting of each bureau's spending, including reimbursable, 
fee-funded, or Working Capital Fund spending, particularly with 
regard to specific programs, projects, and activities described 
in the bill and accompanying report. The Department shall 
continue to work with the Committee to ensure that its spending 
plans provide adequate information for continued oversight of 
the Department.

                      RENOVATION AND MODERNIZATION

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $19,062,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      12,224,000
Committee recommendation................................      12,224,000

    The Committee recommendation provides $12,224,000, which is 
$6,838,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal 
to the budget request, for building renovation at the 
Department of Commerce. Furthermore, unobligated balances of 
discretionary funds appropriated for the Department of Commerce 
may be transferred to and merged with this account subject to 
certain limitations and the procedures set forth in section 505 
of this act.

                      OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $32,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      37,167,000
Committee recommendation................................      32,744,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $32,744,000 for the 
Office of Inspector General [OIG]. The recommendation is 
$744,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$4,423,000 below the budget request.
    In addition to funds provided under this heading, the 
Committee has recommended transfers to the OIG: $2,000,000 from 
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; $1,302,000 from the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and $2,580,000 
from the Census Bureau for oversight and audits of those 
activities. The Committee directs the OIG to continue strict 
oversight activities for satellite procurements, cybersecurity, 
and the decennial census.
    Working Capital Fund Audits.--The Committee continues to 
direct the OIG to audit all of the working capital funds within 
the Department to evaluate the Department's budgetary controls 
over all funds. The OIG shall assess: the controls in place to 
develop reimbursement formulas; the relationship of 
reimbursements to client services; the appropriateness of the 
level of fund balances; and compliance with appropriations law 
and direction. As part of this assessment, the Inspector 
General shall pay particular attention to the increasing 
amounts of funding needed to support the Department's Office of 
General Counsel, including the justification and metrics for 
how such funding is being levied against each agency and, 
reciprocally, how the agencies account for the services they 
receive from the Office of General Counsel. If at any point 
during these audits the OIG encounters problems with accessing 
any necessary information or data from the Department, the OIG 
is directed to notify the Committee immediately.
    Audits and Investigations.--The OIG serves a critical 
oversight role at the Department. The Committee believes that 
robust investigations and audits are essential to rooting out 
waste, fraud, and abuse, but that limiting inquiries only to 
individuals in the Department does not necessarily lead to 
comprehensive findings and recommendations. The Committee 
directs the OIG to modify its policies and procedures to ensure 
that investigations or reports include interviews with all 
parties to the project or program in question, including, but 
not limited to, contractors responsible for projects under 
review. The Committee cautions the OIG against issuing 
preliminary findings prior to interviewing a majority of the 
entities involved with the program or project under 
investigation, unless the OIG believes the findings are time 
sensitive or additional interviews are immaterial.

               General Provisions--Department of Commerce

    Section 101 makes Commerce Department funds 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 102 makes appropriations for salaries and expenses 
available for the hire of passenger motor vehicles, and for 
services, uniforms, and allowances as authorized by law.
    Section 103 provides the authority to transfer funds 
between Department of Commerce accounts. The provision makes 
transfers subject to the Committee's standard reprogramming 
procedures.
    Section 104 extends congressional notification requirements 
for the NOAA satellite programs.
    Section 105 provides authority for the Secretary of 
Commerce to furnish certain services within the Herbert C. 
Hoover Building.
    Section 106 clarifies that grant recipients under the 
Department of Commerce may continue to deter child pornography, 
copyright infringement, or any other unlawful activity over 
their networks.
    Section 107 provides NOAA the authority to share resources 
with entities outside the agency.
    Section 108 requires that, before charging for 
congressional reports, the National Technical Information 
Service [NTIS] advise the public of free ways to receive or 
access these reports. For those reports that cannot be found 
free of charge or when a customer requires a mailed, hard copy, 
NTIS may only charge a de minimus copying and mailing fee. The 
Committee is concerned about outrageous fees the National 
Technical Information Service charges the public for hard 
copies of congressional reports and documents available for 
free online.
    Section 109 allows the Secretary of Commerce to waive the 
bond requirement for research vessel repair and construction 
contracts that would align Commerce's authorities with those of 
other Federal agencies and address difficulties NOAA has 
experienced in obtaining competitive bids for ship repairs.
    Prior to exercising waiver authority under section 109 of 
this act, the Secretary of Commerce shall promulgate 
regulations specifying criteria under which waiver authority 
may be used, including the types of contracts eligible for 
consideration, surety alternatives, and acceptable risk 
profiles in order to protect the taxpayer and ensure that NOAA 
maximizes cost-savings. The Department is directed to notify 
the Committee not less than 15 days prior to any waiver issued 
under this section. In addition, the Department shall, not 
later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this act, 
prepare a report including the actual costs of repairing, 
rehabilitating, and replacing vessels in fiscal years 2013, 
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and annually thereafter, including an 
indication of those vessels for which NOAA waived the Miller 
Act.
    Section 110 prohibits funds for certain fishery management 
policies in the Gulf of Mexico.
    Section 111 allows NOAA to be reimbursed by Federal and 
non-Federal entities for performing certain activities.
    The Committee remains concerned that agreements for 
offsetting collections provided for under this section could 
result in a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a 
conflict of interest, for the Department. The Department is 
directed to exercise caution and consider any unintended 
consequences that could result from such agreements, including, 
but not limited to, augmentation of appropriations, initiation 
of new programs not authorized by this act or any other act of 
Congress, and liabilities extending beyond the period of any 
such agreement. The Department shall provide to the Committee 
monthly updates on all offsetting fee collections, including 
each entity participating in the agreement, as well as the 
terms of and specific activities funded by the agreement. 
Additionally, estimates of anticipated fee collections shall be 
included in the Department's annual spend plans. To further 
ensure the Committee maintains sufficient oversight for 
activities carried out under this section, language is included 
specifying that any offsetting collection would require the 
consent of each party subject to the agreement and all 
offsetting collections shall be subject to procedures set forth 
by section 505 of this act.
    Section 112 provides authority for the programs of the 
Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census to enter into 
cooperative agreements in order to assist in improving 
statistical methodology and research.
    Section 113 ensures full access to departmental and agency 
information and data for the Office of Inspector General [OIG]. 
Since fiscal year 2015, the Committee has directed the 
Department to ensure that the OIG has access to all documents 
needed to conduct its audit and oversight function. In order to 
correct the erroneous interpretation by the Department of 
Justice of the Committee's bill language, the Committee 
clarified the provision in question in section 540 of the 
Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Act, 2016 
(division B of Public Law 114-113). Yet the Committee continues 
to receive notices from the OIG that components within the 
Department are withholding documents based on a 
misinterpretation of the 2015 language and on concerns about 
OIG protection of confidential documents. Providing documents 
to the OIG does not change the protected status of the 
documents. Classified information remains classified, and 
business proprietary information remains confidential. Should 
the Committee receive a notice under section 536 of this act 
from the Inspector General regarding the Department's 
deliberate withholding of information, no funds shall be 
provided for the Department's Office of General Counsel until 
such time that the Committee receives a follow-up notice from 
the OIG that the Department has resolved the matter.

                                TITLE II

                         DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

    The Committee recommends a total of $29,246,199,000 for the 
Department of Justice [DOJ]. The recommendation is $156,391,000 
above the fiscal year 2016 funding level and $581,936,000 below 
the budget request. The Committee's recommendation emphasizes 
key priorities regarding funding for the Department's critical 
ongoing missions and activities to protect the safety, 
security, and rights of our citizens.
    Fighting Heroin and Opioids.--The Committee remains 
committed to helping States and local communities in the fight 
against heroin and illegal use of opioids. Resources totaling 
$132,000,000 are provided in fiscal year 2017 to support 
enforcement efforts as well as prevention and treatment 
programs.
    To assist with law enforcement efforts, the Committee 
provides $10,000,000 for the COPS Office's Anti-Heroin Task 
Force grant program to help Statewide task forces take heroin 
off of our streets through the investigation and location of 
the distribution of heroin or the unlawful distribution of 
prescription opioids. As the Department administers this 
program, the Committee encourages adoption of a more 
comprehensive set of criteria for evaluating high per capita 
rates of heroin and opioid abuse, particularly one that 
includes overdose deaths and drug seizures. The Drug 
Enforcement Administration [DEA] is provided $12,500,000 to 
create four new enforcement groups focused on counteracting 
heroin trafficking and eradicating its availability in the 
United States. While DEA currently works to investigate and 
interdict drug trafficking, the explosion of heroin use and 
abuse of opioids requires a more concentrated enforcement 
effort.
    Communities cannot just enforce their way out of this 
epidemic. Therefore, the Committee supports comprehensive 
prevention and treatment programs to discourage experimentation 
with heroin or abusing prescription medication in the first 
place and to help those who are addicted to find affordable and 
accessible options to aid recovery. The Committee provides 
$14,000,000 for Residential Substance Abuse Treatment grants to 
assist State, local, and tribal governments in the development 
and implementation of substance abuse treatment programs in 
correctional and detention facilities, as well as in the 
creation and maintenance of community-based aftercare services; 
$14,000,000 for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program which 
plans, implements, and enhances prescription drug monitoring 
programs to prevent and reduce misuse and abuse of prescription 
drugs and aids in investigations of pharmaceutical crime; and 
$43,000,000 for drug courts to help non-violent offenders get 
intensive treatment and support. Within the Second Chance Act, 
$37,500,000 is provided for prevention of drug use and drug 
treatment for those who were formerly incarcerated returning to 
our communities. The Committee also provides $1,000,000 to the 
Bureau of Prisons to continue to increase their medication-
assisted treatment pilot program for approximately 200 inmates 
with heroin and opioid addiction. The science supporting the 
use of medication as a critical component of treating opioid 
addiction, including heroin, is clear in that this type of 
treatment saves lives.
    Trafficking in Persons.--The fight against human and sex 
trafficking, including the apprehension of perpetrators who use 
online classified Web sites to facilitate the sexual 
exploitation of children, crosses many jurisdictions within the 
Department. The Department shall dedicate no less than the 
fiscal year 2016 level for the Human Trafficking Prosecution 
Unit [HTPU] and encourage HTPU and the Anti-Trafficking 
Coordination Teams to continue working with victim service 
providers and non-governmental organizations to ensure victim 
needs are prioritized as part of the overall strategy to combat 
human trafficking and forced labor in the United States. 
Furthermore, the Committee directs the HTPU to report to the 
Committees on Appropriations no later than 120 days following 
enactment of this act on: (1) the total number of human 
trafficking cases it prosecuted or assisted in prosecuting 
within the last 3 years disaggregated by type of trafficking, 
and including instances in which an online classified Web site 
is determined to be the conduit for exploiting trafficked 
persons, especially minors, and the actions being taken to shut 
down these sites; (2) the number of (a) Assistant U.S. 
Attorneys, (b) Federal law enforcement, and (c) State and local 
law enforcement who received training on human trafficking 
within the last 3 years that included sex and labor 
trafficking, disaggregated from those who receive training just 
on sex trafficking; and (3) the number of Assistant U.S. 
Attorneys who received training on restitution for human 
trafficking victims within the last 3 years.
    The Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] is directed to 
provide no less than the fiscal year 2016 level to investigate 
severe forms of trafficking in persons. As the lead Federal law 
enforcement agency, the FBI's ability to combat trafficking and 
forced labor requires resources devoted specifically to the 
growing problem of trafficking and forced labor. Funding shall 
be used for investigations into human trafficking and forced 
labor and providing victim witness coordinators when needed on 
an emergency basis through the Office of Victim Assistance via 
the Office of Victims of Crime.
    In addition, the Committee directs the FBI to submit a 
report for Innocence Lost Operations encompassing the previous 
5 years that details the: (1) number of traffickers arrested, 
(2) the number of adults arrested on charges of prostitution, 
(3) the number of minor victims identified, (4) the number of 
minor victims criminally charged, and (5) the placement and 
social service support secured for each child in each State 
operation within 180 days of enactment of this act.
    The Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys [EOUSA] and the FBI 
shall continue to follow direction as outlined by the Committee 
in Senate Report 114-66 regarding designated points of contact 
and improved processes for T-visas for EOUSA and support for 
victims of trafficking through Continued Presence for the FBI.
    Intellectual Property Rights [IPR] Enforcement.--The 
Committee expects the Department to continue to make IPR 
enforcement an investigative and prosecutorial priority. 
Sophisticated, transnational, criminal enterprises engage in a 
range of illegal activity, including identity theft, connected 
to the theft of copyrighted content. Given the strong links to 
other illegal activity, the Department's IP-dedicated personnel 
should investigate U.S.-based sites and apps that are engaged 
in such criminal activity. The Committee directs the Criminal 
Division and FBI to maintain dedicated positions to combat 
intellectual property crimes and fund IPR efforts at no less 
than fiscal year 2016 enacted levels. In addition, the FBI 
shall provide quarterly updates to the Committee detailing the 
activities of its dedicated agents investigating IPR cases.
    Sole Sourcing of Equipment and Scientific Instruments.--The 
direction provided to the Department on this issue in Senate 
Report 114-66 remains in effect for fiscal year 2017.
    Cybersecurity.--The Department has several offices with 
cybersecurity responsibilities, including those within the FBI, 
the National Security Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. 
Attorneys Offices [USAO]. At a minimum, the Committee directs 
the Department to maintain its cybersecurity posture at no less 
than the fiscal year 2016 level to defend and respond to 
current and emerging attacks that threaten its own 
infrastructure and activities. In other cases, such as with the 
USAO, DEA, and the FBI, the Committee has specific direction 
detailed later in this report to increase cyber-related 
investigations and to prosecute additional cybercrimes. 
Throughout this title, the Committee's recommendation for 
cybersecurity-related activities for the Department totals 
$896,325,000 for fiscal year 2017, which is an increase of 
$82,679,000, or 10 percent, above the fiscal year 2016 level.
    Strengthening Police-Community Relations.--The Committee 
continues to recognize and support the important need for 
lasting collaborative relationships between local police and 
the public. To assist with strengthening this relationship, the 
Committee has dedicated resources totaling $121,254,370 across 
a variety of program areas. Strong partnerships between the 
police and the communities they protect reduce crime, ensure 
that citizens' civil rights are protected, and improve officer 
safety.
    The Community Trust Initiative is again funded at 
$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2017. Funding is included for law 
enforcement to purchase body cameras, the Justice Reinvestment 
Initiative, the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation program and 
the National Crime Statistics Exchange. More details on these 
programs are found in the Office of Justice Programs section of 
this report. The Committee also provides a total of $15,000,000 
for specific programs within the Byrne-JAG program: $5,000,000 
for improved training for police responses to people with 
mental illness and $10,000,000 to support evidence-based 
approaches in responding to crime, called the Smart Policing 
program.
    Within the COPS Office, the Committee sets aside 
$10,000,000 for the continuation of the Collaborative Reform 
Model, which assists local law enforcement agencies to identify 
problems and develop solutions to some of the most critical 
issues facing law enforcement today, such as use of force, fair 
and impartial policing, and improved accountability. Another 
$10,000,000 is set aside for Community Policing Development 
[CPD] within the COPS Office. CPD funds are used to advance 
community policing in law enforcement agencies through training 
and technical assistance, demonstration projects, development 
of innovative policing strategies, and best practices that are 
national in scope.
    The Committee is providing funding for departmental 
agencies that assist with training State and local law 
enforcement officers and help with mediating conflicts in 
communities. The Community Relations Service is funded by the 
Committee at $14,446,000, which will allow for continued 
efforts to mediate, train, and facilitate discussion between 
police departments and communities where tensions exist. The 
Committee fully funds the FBI's request of $1,808,370 for the 
National Academy, a professional development course for State, 
local and international law enforcement leaders that serves to 
improve the administration of justice and raise law enforcement 
standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide. This funding 
will allow approximately 900 police officers to attend the 
National Academy to receive world class training on leadership 
and specific law enforcement issues like use of force.
    Federal Water Usage Violations.--The Committee is aware 
that the Department of Justice should receive notifications 
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [USACE] regarding 
violations of Federal water contracts involving multi-State 
river basins. For example, the Department has been involved in 
litigation in the past regarding the USACE's administration of 
its dams and reservoirs in both the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa 
[ACT] and the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint [ACF] river 
basins. The Committee directs the Department to provide a 
report within 60 days of enactment of this act that includes: 
an audit of all Federal water contract violations in multi-
State water basins since 2005; an audit of any contract 
violation notifications DOJ has received from USACE regarding 
all multi-State river basins since 2005; a record of how DOJ 
has handled these violations and notifications; and a 
comprehensive plan for how DOJ intends to enforce the law and 
respond to these contract violations now and in the future.
    The Committee also directs the Department to enter into an 
agreement with USACE whereby the Department contemporaneously 
receives all water contract violation notifications produced or 
issued by the USACE, in whatever form.
    Gang Violence.--The Committee recognizes the challenges 
posed by the increasing number of gang members and the violent 
crimes they commit in urban, suburban, and rural communities. 
The Committee understands that combating these gangs requires 
continued and increased cooperation between Federal, State, and 
local law enforcement as well as support, coordination, and 
expertise from the Federal level. The Committee acknowledges 
the work currently being undertaken to fight gangs by the FBI 
Violent Safe Streets Task Forces, the DEA, the National Gang 
Targeting, Enforcement and Coordination Center [GangTECC], the 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF], the 
U.S. Marshals Service [USMS], the Bureau of Prisons [BOP], the 
USAO, and other Federal agencies. The Committee urges these 
agencies to intensify current efforts, including supporting and 
prosecuting cases under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt 
Organizations Act [RICO], while enhancing coordination across 
the Federal Government and with State and local law enforcement 
in order to maximize the impact of limited personnel resources. 
The Committee's recommendation includes $5,000,000 for the USMS 
for gang enforcement efforts within the Regional Fugitive Task 
Forces and $6,500,000 for the Violent Gang and Gun Crime 
Reduction Program within the Office of Justice Programs [OJP] 
aimed at reducing gang violence.
    Elder Justice Initiative.--In July 2013, the Government 
Accountability Office [GAO] published its review of elder 
justice program issues, including a recommendation that the 
Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] in cooperation 
with the Department of Justice develop a national elder justice 
public awareness campaign. The Committee understands that more 
than 2 years later, GAO considers this recommendation open and 
unimplemented. The Committee is aware of the work being carried 
out by the Elder Justice Coordinating Council [EJCC], of which 
the Department is a permanent member, and remains supportive of 
efforts to help protect older adults from all forms of abuse, 
including through increasing public awareness to occurrences of 
elder abuse, including fraud, and the dissemination of 
information about how members of the public may obtain 
services. Through the work of the EJCC, the Committee urges the 
Department to work with the Secretary of HHS, and other 
relevant agencies, to develop a national elder justice 
awareness campaign.
    Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.--The Committee 
fully supports the goals of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil 
Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-344) to investigate 
and prosecute previously unresolved civil rights era ``cold 
case'' murders suspected of having been racially motivated, 
through a partnership among the Civil Rights Division [CRT], 
the FBI, and the Community Relations Service [CRS], as well as 
with State and local grant resources. To continue supporting 
Emmett Till activities, the Committee urges the Department to: 
use such sums as may be necessary from within the budget base 
for the CRT's Cold Case Initiative; for the FBI to pursue 
Emmett Till Act cold cases; and for the CRS to partner with law 
enforcement agencies and communities to help resolve conflicts 
resulting from the investigation of unsolved civil rights era 
cases. Additionally, the Committee directs the National 
Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the 
Office for Victims of Crime to continue providing grants for 
cold case DNA investigations to aid State and local law 
enforcement agencies in their investigation and prosecution of 
unsolved civil rights cold cases.
    Working Capital Fund [WCF].--The Committee expects the 
Department to execute funding to the fullest extent possible 
without any carryover balances. The Committee directs DOJ to 
continue to use the WCF only as a repository for reimbursable 
funds from components and to obligate and execute that funding 
expeditiously. The DOJ shall provide a report to the Committee 
within 45 days of enactment of this act regarding balances in 
the WCF including carryover funds, the intended uses of those 
funds, and a spending plan. The spending plan shall include: 
the amount each component contributes to the WCF; a detailed 
accounting of collections into the WCF from appropriations, 
reimbursable funds, and alternative sources of funding 
including the Three Percent Fund; a list of settlements and 
collections from the Three Percent Fund in excess of 
$3,000,000; and a categorical accounting of obligations out of 
the WCF including a breakdown of services provided from the 
Department to each component. The Department is further 
directed to provide quarterly updates on the WCF to the 
Committee.
    DOJ Settlements.--The Committee is aware of the 
Department's ability to enter into civil settlement agreements 
in which a defendant is required to make a donation to a third-
party organization. On a quarterly basis, the Department shall 
provide the Committee with a list of settlements in which the 
Department required defendants to donate money to third-party 
groups that includes the amount of funding and the intended use 
of the funds.
    Cell-Site Simulator [CSS] Technology.--Funds provided in 
this act shall be used only to deploy or facilitate the use of 
CSS technology for criminal investigations if such use complies 
fully with DOJ guidance issued on September 3, 2015. The 
Department shall ensure its guidance is followed strictly by 
Federal, State, and local entities that receive funds under 
this act, to include compliance with requirements of the Fourth 
Amendment and the Pen Register Act. As directed in the 
guidance, CSS technology must be configured only as pen 
registers and may not be used to collect content of any 
communication or subscriber account information. In addition, 
Departmental guidance to be implemented includes conducting 
comprehensive and consistent training on the appropriate use of 
CSS technology; adopting rigorous practices for handling and 
retaining data acquired through the use of this technology; and 
scrupulously auditing the use of such technology.
    Spending Plan.--In compliance with section 533 of this act, 
the Committee directs the Department of Justice to submit a 
spending plan, signed by the Attorney General, within 45 days 
of enactment of this act.

                         General Administration


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $111,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     125,896,000
Committee recommendation................................     114,124,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $114,124,000 for 
General Administration salaries and expenses. The 
recommendation is $2,624,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and $11,772,000 below the budget request.
    The General Administration account provides funding for 
senior policy officials responsible for departmental management 
and policy development. The specific offices funded by this 
account include: the immediate Office of the Attorney General; 
the immediate Office of the Deputy Attorney General; the 
immediate Office of the Associate Attorney General; Office of 
Legal Policy; Office of Public Affairs; Office of Legislative 
Affairs; Office of Professional Responsibility; Office of 
Intergovernmental and Public Liaison; and the Justice 
Management Division.
    The Committee directs that any increased funding provided 
above the fiscal year 2016 level for this account shall only be 
allocated to operations within the Justice Management Division.
    Wildlife Trafficking.--The Committee notes the sharp 
increase of criminal activity involving wildlife that includes 
the illegal trade in rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory, 
poaching of wild animals for their parts, illegal capture and 
transport of endangered animals, and illegally harvested 
timber, as well as money laundering that comes with these 
products' sale on the black market. There are indisputable 
linkages between these activities and the financing of armed 
insurgencies and transnational organized crime that threaten 
the stability and development of African countries and pose a 
serious threat to U.S. security interests.
    The Committee directs the Attorney General to continue to 
report on the specific steps the Department is taking to 
further address wildlife trafficking and the illegal natural 
resources trade, as specifically outlined in Senate Report 114-
66. The report should also include the investigative efforts of 
INTERPOL programs like Operation Worthy II and Operation Paws, 
as well as the issuance of Red Notices for criminals engaging 
in these activities.
    Office of Legislative Affairs.--While the Committee 
primarily communicates with the Department through the Justice 
Management Division, it reserves the right to call upon any 
individual or organization within its jurisdiction for requests 
for information, including the Department's Office of 
Legislative Affairs [OLA]. The Committee notes that recent 
responses from OLA have been neither helpful nor timely, with 
some answers left completely void of any meaningful information 
whatsoever. The Committee has received similar feedback from 
other Senate offices about OLA's performance, leading the 
Committee to question the efficacy of fully funding OLA's 
budget. The Committee reminds DOJ that requests from the 
Congress to OLA should be treated as a priority for the 
Department and responded to both courteously and expeditiously.
    Guidance to Communities.--The Committee recognizes that it 
can be difficult for States and local communities recovering 
from terrorist attacks or State declarations of emergency to 
navigate varying Department of Justice program rules, 
requirements, and timelines. The Committee directs the Attorney 
General to ensure that the Office of Legislative Affairs 
maintains a comprehensive list of all grants made available by 
Departmental components, along with application periods and 
deadlines, and serves as a one-stop shop for communities 
recovering from a terrorist attack or State-declared emergency 
situation. In addition, not later than 180 days after enactment 
of this act, the Attorney General shall provide to Congress and 
make publically available a single guidance document for local 
communities that describes currently available DOJ programs, 
assistance, and points of contact for which local communities 
recovering from a terrorist attack or State declaration of 
emergency would be eligible.
    Internet Gambling.--Since 1961, the Wire Act has prohibited 
nearly all forms of gambling over interstate wires, including 
the Internet. However, beginning in 2011, certain States began 
to permit Internet gambling. The Committee notes that the Wire 
Act did not change in 2011. The Committee also notes that the 
Supreme Court of the United States has stated that ``criminal 
laws are for courts, not for the Government, to construe.'' 
Abramski v. U.S., 134 S.Ct. 2259, 2274 (2014) (internal 
citation omitted).

                 JUSTICE INFORMATION SHARING TECHNOLOGY

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $31,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      57,561,000
Committee recommendation................................      50,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $50,000,000 for 
Justice Information Sharing Technology [JIST]. The 
recommendation is $19,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $7,561,000 below the budget request.
    Cybersecurity.--The Committee's recommendation supports the 
requested programmatic changes for Information Security 
Continuous Monitoring and the Insider Threat Prevention and 
Detection Program for a total increase of $10,600,000. This 
level of funding will allow DOJ to continue to proactively 
defend against and respond to current and emerging 
cybersecurity threats and attacks against DOJ's network 
infrastructure.

                   ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND APPEALS

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $426,791,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     437,444,000
Committee recommendation................................     426,791,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $426,791,000 for 
Administrative Review and Appeals, of which $4,000,000 is a 
transfer from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
[USCIS] Immigration Examiners Fee Account. The recommendation 
is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $10,653,000 
below the budget request.
    This account funds the Executive Office for Immigration 
Review [EOIR], including the Board of Immigration Appeals 
[BIA], 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. This account also funds the Office of the Pardon 
Attorney, which receives, investigates, and considers petitions 
for all forms of executive clemency.
    EOIR Backlog of Cases and Immigration Judge Hiring.--EOIR 
represents the Department's frontline presence with respect to 
the application of immigration law. EOIR receives cases 
directly from Department of Homeland Security [DHS] enforcement 
personnel, in which the Federal Government is seeking the 
removal of immigrants who are in the United States without 
lawful status or who have committed some act, typically a 
criminal offense, that renders them removable.
    The Committee directs EOIR to continue submitting monthly 
performance and operating reports, which have provided the 
Committee with clear statistics on the dire situation at EOIR 
with regard to the backlog of cases and the hiring of new 
Immigration Judge Teams to process them. EOIR's immigration 
court caseload continues to escalate as a result of heightened 
border enforcement efforts. At the end of fiscal year 2015 
there were over 457,000 cases pending in immigration courts 
around the country, and by the end of February 2016 the number 
of cases pending adjudication had risen to over 480,000.
    For fiscal year 2016, the Committee provided funding to 
hire 55 new Immigration Judge Teams and to equip them with the 
necessary technology and support to do their jobs efficiently. 
The Committee is extremely disappointed to learn that despite 
the provision of these needed resources, the funds cannot be 
fully utilized in fiscal year 2016. The immigration judge 
hiring process remains severely backlogged due to a cumbersome 
process that is further delayed by the lethargy of the 
Department's review procedures. Compounding the ongoing problem 
of the hiring backlog is the Administration's failure to 
include a funding request for any new Immigration Judge Teams 
in fiscal year 2017. The Committee directs the Department to 
prioritize hiring new immigration judges, which is the only way 
to reverse the alarming growth in the caseload backlog.
    Training for Immigration Judges on Children's Cases.--The 
Committee was deeply troubled to hear the recent comments of 
EOIR headquarters personnel that children as young as age 3 or 
4 can understand immigration law and court procedures. The 
Committee continues to direct that EOIR's training for 
immigration judges should address how to properly adjudicate 
children's cases, including forms of relief for children, how 
to elicit information from children, the impact of trauma on 
children, and other relevant child development issues.
    Legal Orientation Program [LOP].--The Committee's 
recommendation maintains the fiscal year 2016 base funding for 
LOP, pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection 
Reauthorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-457), for 
custodians of unaccompanied, undocumented children to address 
the custodian's responsibility for the child's appearance at 
all immigration proceedings, and to protect the child from 
mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking.
    Pardons and Sentence Commutations.--Regarding funding for 
the Office of the Pardon Attorney, the Committee prohibits the 
use of funding related to the review, consideration, or 
approval of clemency or pardon petitions as part of the 
Department's April 23, 2014, announcement on executive clemency 
requesting relief from convictions for gun crimes or crimes 
involving violence. The Committee reminds the Administration of 
the limitations contained in the Department's April 2014 
criteria for considering Federal inmates for the President's 
initiative for executive clemency that limited consideration to 
non-violent individuals who would not pose a threat to public 
safety if released; low-level offenders without significant 
ties to large-scale criminal organizations, gangs, or cartels; 
inmates who do not have a significant criminal history; and 
those who have no history of violence prior to, or during, 
their current term of imprisonment.

                      OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $93,709,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      97,814,000
Committee recommendation................................      95,583,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $95,583,000 for the 
Office of Inspector General [OIG]. The recommendation is 
$1,874,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$2,231,000 below the budget request.
    This account finances the activities of the OIG, including 
audits, inspections, investigations, and other reviews of 
programs and operations of the Department of Justice to promote 
efficiency and effectiveness, and to prevent and detect fraud, 
waste, and abuse, as well as violations of ethical standards 
arising from the conduct of Department employees in their 
numerous and diverse activities.
    Oversight of Crime Victims Fund Grants.--Section 510 of 
this act maintains $10,000,000 for the OIG to continue its 
expanded audits of the Crime Victims Fund [CVF]. The Committee 
remains concerned that the Department is not doing enough to 
proportionately adjust its grant monitoring activities to 
reflect significant changes in CVF spending in order to avoid 
waste, fraud and abuse. The Committee directs the OIG to 
continue to increase its audit of CVF awards and assist the 
Department to ensure these important funds are used 
appropriately and effectively.

                    United States Parole Commission


                         salaries and expenses

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $13,308,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      14,000,000
Committee recommendation................................      13,308,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $13,308,000 for the 
United States Parole Commission. The recommendation is equal to 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $692,000 below the 
budget request.
    Commissioner Continuity.--The Committee directs the 
Department to follow its fiscal year 2017 request allowing a 
Commissioner to continue to serve until a successor has been 
appointed, even if that Commissioner's term of office has 
expired. The request matches language contained in division B 
of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-
113).

                            Legal Activities


            SALARIES AND EXPENSES, GENERAL LEGAL ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $893,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     957,423,000
Committee recommendation................................     893,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $893,000,000 for 
General Legal Activities salaries and expenses. The 
recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 
and $64,423,000 below the budget request.
    This appropriation funds 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 [CRM], the Civil 
Division [CIV], the Environmental and Natural Resources 
Division, the Civil Rights Division [CRT], the Office of Legal 
Counsel, and INTERPOL Washington.
    INTERPOL Washington.--From within funds provided for 
General Legal Activities, the Committee directs the Department 
to provide no less than the fiscal year 2016 level for INTERPOL 
Washington. The Committee has provided no-year authority in the 
amount of $685,000 to ensure sufficient resources are available 
for INTERPOL Washington's dues payments and help the Department 
better manage fluctuations in currency exchange rates. INTERPOL 
Washington's command center [IOCC] operates 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, 365 days a year, responding to requests for 
international criminal investigative and humanitarian 
assistance from more than 18,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies 
and their counterparts in 189 other INTERPOL-member countries. 
INTERPOL Washington's responsibility to respond to increasing 
foreign and domestic requests places additional operational 
demands on the resources of this organization.
    Civil Rights.--The Committee provides no less than the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level to continue its efforts to 
enforce civil rights laws; expand its capacity to prosecute and 
provide litigation support for human trafficking, hate crimes, 
and unsolved civil rights era crimes; carry out its 
responsibilities associated with the civil rights of 
institutionalized persons and the access rights of the 
disabled; investigate and prosecute police misconduct; and 
enhance the enforcement of fair housing and fair lending laws.
    Civil Rights Violations in State and Local Prisons and 
Jails.--The Committee continues to be concerned by reports of 
civil rights violations in State and local prisons and jails, 
and directs the CRT to increase efforts to investigate and 
address violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized 
Persons Act in State and local prisons and jails. The Committee 
directs the CRT to use such sums as necessary from amounts 
appropriated in fiscal year 2017 to address such issues in 
State and local prisons and jails.
    Human Rights Crimes.--The Committee remains concerned by 
the large number of suspected human rights violators from 
foreign countries who have found safe haven in the United 
States and directs the CRM to continue its efforts to 
investigate and prosecute serious human rights crimes, 
including genocide, torture, use or recruitment of child 
soldiers, and war crimes. For this purpose, the Committee's 
recommendation supports continued funding for the CRM to 
investigate and prosecute individuals who violate Federal laws 
regarding serious human rights abuses.
    International Training.--The Committee remains concerned 
about the instability of budget and staffing challenges faced 
by the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance 
and Training [OPDAT] and International Criminal Investigative 
Training Assistance Program [ICITAP] programs under the current 
funding structure provided via the Department of State. While 
the Committee encourages the Departments of Justice and State 
to maintain open communications regarding programmatic and 
resource needs to truly execute their missions, OPDAT and 
ICITAP should ideally receive a transfer of funds from State 
within 90 days of enactment of this act. Should an immediate 
source of funding be needed ahead of a completed transfer of 
funds, the Committee suggests that the Department of Justice 
notify the Committee immediately.
    Protecting the Rights of Servicemembers and Veterans.--The 
Committee recognizes the importance of ensuring that 
servicemembers and veterans have access to essential legal 
resources that educate them and their families on their rights 
and defend them during times of need. The Committee supports 
funding this program at no less than the fiscal year 2016 level 
to continue to enforce existing law, such as the Uniformed 
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and to provide 
outreach and training efforts on behalf of servicemembers, 
veterans, and their families.
    Enforcing Federal Animal Welfare Laws.--Animal cruelty 
violations were listed as separate violent crime offenses under 
the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting System in January 2016. Given 
the disturbing increase in this type of criminal behavior, the 
Committee supports the request to deter and enforce violations 
of Federal animal welfare laws.

               THE NATIONAL CHILDHOOD VACCINE INJURY ACT

Appropriations, 2016....................................      $9,358,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      11,970,000
Committee recommendation................................       9,358,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides a reimbursement of 
$9,358,000 for legal costs. The recommendation is equal to the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level and is $2,612,000 below the 
budget request.
    This account covers the Department's expenses associated 
with litigating cases under the National Childhood Vaccine 
Injury Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-660).

               SALARIES AND EXPENSES, ANTITRUST DIVISION

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $164,977,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     180,506,000
Committee recommendation................................     164,977,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $164,977,000 for 
the Antitrust Division. The recommendation is equal to the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $15,529,000 below the budget 
request. This appropriation is offset by $125,000,000 in pre-
merger filing fee collections, resulting in a direct 
appropriation of $39,977,000.

                        UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $2,000,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   2,074,402,000
Committee recommendation................................   2,030,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $2,030,000,000 for 
the Executive Office for United States Attorneys [EOUSA] and 
the 94 U.S. Attorneys [USAs] offices. The recommendation is 
$30,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$44,402,000 below the budget request.
    As in past years, the Committee directs the USAs to focus 
their efforts on those crimes where the unique resources, 
expertise, or jurisdiction of the Federal Government can be 
most effective.
    Adam Walsh Act Implementation.--The Committee expects the 
EOUSA to continue to focus on investigations and prosecutions 
related to the sexual exploitation of children, as authorized 
by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 
(Public Law 109-248), and as part of Project Safe Childhood. 
The recommendation fully funds the budget request of 
$46,378,000 for this purpose in fiscal year 2017.
    Combating Financial and Mortgage Fraud.--The Committee 
directs the EOUSA to provide no less than the fiscal year 2016 
level to conduct criminal investigations and prosecutions of 
mortgage and financial fraud, predatory lending, financial 
fraud, and market manipulation matters.
    Civil Rights Prosecutions.--The Committee's recommendation 
provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 level for continued 
civil rights enforcement that will advance both criminal and 
civil litigations, including the prosecution of sex and labor 
trafficking.
    Cybercrime.--As national and international cyber threats 
become increasingly sophisticated, our Federal prosecutors must 
become better versed in digital forensic evidence. The 
Committee's recommendation provides no less than $58,331,000, 
which is $2,666,000 above the budget request, for cybercrime 
activities. The USAO will be able to increase the number of 
investigations and prosecutions of cyber attacks and cyber 
intrusions, and provide the high-caliber level of training on 
cybercrime and digital evidence needed for Assistant U.S. 
Attorneys to be able to analyze and present digital evidence 
across all types of criminal cases.
    The Committee does not support proposed funding cuts for 
Intellectual Property and Child Pornography activities, and 
instead directs USAO to provide no less than the fiscal year 
2016 funding level for prosecution of these cyber-related 
crimes.
    National Advocacy Center.--While the Committee remains 
disappointed that a change in circumstances resulted in Project 
Palmetto not becoming a reality as envisioned, it commends the 
two parties for coming to a mutually amicable resolution. The 
Committee is also aware of the need to address outstanding 
administrative adjustment issues related to Palmetto and 
encourages the parties to quickly conclude those discussions.

                   UNITED STATES TRUSTEE SYSTEM FUND

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $225,908,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     229,717,000
Committee recommendation................................     225,908,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $225,908,000 for 
the U.S. Trustee System Fund. The recommendation is equal to 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $3,809,000 below the 
budget request. The appropriation is offset by $163,000,000 in 
fee collections.
    The U.S. Trustee Program, authorized by 28 U.S.C. 581 et 
seq., is the component of the Department with responsibility 
for protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system by 
overseeing case administration and litigation to enforce the 
bankruptcy laws. In fiscal year 2017, the U.S. Trustee Program 
will participate in an estimated 685,000 business and consumer 
bankruptcy case filings.

      SALARIES AND EXPENSES, FOREIGN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT COMMISSION

Appropriations, 2016....................................      $2,374,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................       2,409,000
Committee recommendation................................       2,374,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $2,374,000 for the 
Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. The recommendation is 
equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $35,000 below 
the budget request.
    The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission settles claims of 
American citizens arising from nationalization, expropriation, 
or other takings of their properties and interests by foreign 
governments.

                     FEES AND EXPENSES OF WITNESSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $270,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     270,000,000
Committee recommendation................................     270,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $270,000,000 for 
fees and expenses of witnesses. The recommendation is equal to 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request.
    This appropriation, which is considered mandatory for 
scorekeeping purposes, 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. These funds are also used for mental competency 
examinations, and witness and informant protection. The 
Committee includes bill language prohibiting the Department 
from transferring funds out of this account.
    The Committee expects that no funds will be expended for 
expert witness services, including the payment of fees and 
expenses of expert witnesses, from any other DOJ accounts but 
Fees and Expenses of Witnesses.

           SALARIES AND EXPENSES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $14,446,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      18,990,000
Committee recommendation................................      14,446,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $14,446,000 for the 
Community Relations Service [CRS]. The recommendation is equal 
to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $4,544,000 below the 
budget request.
    The Community Relations Service, established by title X of 
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, provides assistance to 
communities and persons in the prevention and resolution of 
disagreements arising from discriminatory practices.
    Hate Crimes Prevention.--Within the funds provided, the 
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2016 level to 
handle the workload and responsibilities stemming from passage 
of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes 
Prevention Act [HCPA] (Public Law 111-84). The HCPA expanded 
the CRS's mandate, requiring that it help communities prevent 
and respond to violent hate crimes committed on the basis of 
gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and 
disability, in addition to race, color, and national origin. 
This funding will maximize the CRS crisis response nationwide 
and enable CRS to fulfill both its original mandate and 
expanded mandate under the HCPA.

                         ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $20,514,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      20,514,000
Committee recommendation................................      20,514,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $20,514,000 for the 
Assets Forfeiture Fund [AFF]. The recommendation is equal to 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget 
request.
    Equitable Sharing.--The Department's AFF provides for 
qualifying expenses of Federal law enforcement agencies and 
their State and local partners based on assets seized, 
including as part of criminal and counternarcotic 
investigations. The Committee was concerned by the unexpected 
suspension of reimbursements to States and localities through 
the AFF in December 2015. This abrupt suspension of 
reimbursements through AFF, coupled with the increased demands 
on law enforcement including those of the heroin and opioid 
crisis, put some State and local law enforcement agencies in a 
difficult financial position. The Department is directed to 
provide to the Committee advanced notice of at least 10 
business days regarding any future changes to the Equitable 
Sharing Program.

                     United States Marshals Service

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $2,699,995,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   2,789,165,000
Committee recommendation................................   2,713,454,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides a total of 
$2,713,454,000 for the United States Marshals Service [USMS]. 
The recommendation is $13,459,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and is $75,711,000 below the budget request.

                         salaries and expenses

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $1,230,581,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   1,275,156,000
Committee recommendation................................   1,249,040,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $1,249,040,000 for 
USMS salaries and expenses. The recommendation is $18,459,000 
above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $26,116,000 below 
the budget request. The core missions of the USMS include the 
apprehension of fugitives; protection of the Federal judiciary 
and witnesses; execution of warrants and court orders; and the 
custody and transportation of unsentenced prisoners.
    In addition to receiving direct appropriations, the 
Committee is aware that USMS also receives funding from the 
Department's Assets Forfeiture Fund [AFF] to augment salaries 
and expenses that are intended to directly administer AFF-
related activities like the management and sale of forfeited 
assets. In an effort to increase transparency to USMS's use of 
AFF funding, the Department is directed to provide the 
Committee with quarterly reports that include: a detailed list 
of USMS's AFF expenditures; the number of Federal employees and 
contractor staff, including the assigned division for each, for 
any personnel expenses using AFF funds; and justifications for 
each expenditure, including connections with AFF-related 
operations.
    Implementation of International Megan's Law.--In 2009, to 
fulfill the mission assigned it by the Adam Walsh and Child 
Protection Safety Act of 2006, the USMS established the 
National Sex Offender Targeting Center [NSOTC]. The mission of 
the NSOTC is to serve as an interagency intelligence and 
operations center supporting the identification, investigation, 
location, apprehension, and prosecution of non-compliant, 
unregistered fugitive sex offenders. In February 2016, Congress 
passed, and the President signed, International Megan's Law 
(Public Law 114-119), which granted new authorities to the USMS 
regarding registered sex offenders. This new law, among other 
things, directs the USMS to alert foreign governments when 
registered sex offenders plan to travel abroad in an effort to 
prevent further victimization of children.
    Within the amount provided, the USMS shall dedicate not 
less than $5,000,000 to fulfill the critical role of vetting 
and providing notification of sex offenders traveling abroad, 
including dedicating Deputy U.S. Marshals to this new mission. 
The Committee expects that the funds provided herein will be 
used to enhance the USMS's NSOTC role as detailed in the 
International Megan's Law including, providing advanced notice 
of travel by registered sex offenders to destination countries 
using the INTERPOL notification system; coordinating 
communication and enforcement between the newly established 
Angel Watch Center within the Department of Homeland Security 
and the NSOTC to carry out the required checks of State sex 
offender registries, advanced notices of international travel 
by registered offenders, the Angel Watch Center notifications 
of covered sex offenders, and flight manifests; and 
streamlining the international notification system to ensure 
that no registered sex offenders go ``un-noticed'' when leaving 
the United States.
    Regional Fugitive Task Forces [RFTFs].--The oldest Federal 
law enforcement agency, the USMS, is also the Federal 
Government's primary agency for apprehending fugitives and 
providing assistance and expertise to other Federal, State, and 
local law enforcement agencies in support of fugitive 
investigations. One key way to accomplish this dangerous task 
is through the USMS's network of 60 district-led Violent 
Offender Task Forces and seven RFTFs.
    The Committee supports the USMS's request of $7,650,000 to 
establish an additional RFTF in the location proposed in the 
fiscal year 2017 budget request, including the hiring of Deputy 
U.S. Marshals and other personnel to fully staff the RFTF. With 
this new RFTF, the USMS expects it will be able to locate and 
arrest the most egregious offenders, and help reduce violent 
crime within our communities, including an anticipated 
increased arrest rate of at least 840 violent fugitives. Should 
the Department need additional resources to fully fund this 
effort, funding from unobligated balances should be used.
    Gang Enforcement.--The Committee recognizes the need to 
reduce gang crime by apprehending violent fugitives. Within the 
amount provided in the budget request, the USMS shall dedicate 
no less than $5,000,000 to operate anti-gang investigative 
units within the RFTFs, including supporting the supervisory, 
operational, equipment, and training needs of these units, in 
order to target gangs of national significance.
    Sex Offender Apprehension.--The Adam Walsh Child Protection 
and Safety Act of 2006 [AWA] (Public Law 109-248) gives the 
USMS the authority to apprehend convicted sex offenders who 
fail to register as fugitives. The act also directs the USMS to 
assist jurisdictions in locating and apprehending these 
individuals.
    The Committee's recommendation provides not less than the 
requested amount of $61,305,000 to continue AWA enforcement. 
While the USMS is a leading DOJ agency conducting AWA-related 
activities, the Committee notes that the administration 
requests $188,116,000 throughout the Department to support the 
entire suite of AWA enforcement, prosecutions, and nationwide 
grants, which the Committee supports.

                              CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $15,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      10,000,000
Committee recommendation................................      10,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $10,000,000 for 
construction in space controlled, occupied, or utilized by the 
USMS in Federal courthouses and buildings, including but not 
limited to the creation, renovation, and expansion of prisoner 
movement areas, elevators, and other law enforcement and court 
security support space. The recommendation is $5,000,000 below 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal to the budget 
request.

                       FEDERAL PRISONER DETENTION

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $1,454,414,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   1,504,009,000
Committee recommendation................................   1,454,414,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $1,454,414,000 for 
Federal Prisoner Detention [FPD]. The recommendation is equal 
to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level including offsetting 
funds from other accounts and is $49,595,000 below the budget 
request.
    The Committee expects the USMS to anticipate the true 
funding needs for this account in order to avoid funding 
shortfalls and the need for emergency reprogrammings to avert 
deficiencies. The Committee directs the USMS to report to the 
Committee on a quarterly basis the current number of 
individuals in the detention system, the projected number of 
individuals, and the associated annualized costs.

                       National Security Division


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $95,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      97,337,000
Committee recommendation................................      95,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $95,000,000 for the 
National Security Division [NSD]. The recommendation is equal 
to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $2,337,000 below the 
budget request.
    The NSD coordinates the Department's national security and 
counterterrorism missions through law enforcement 
investigations and prosecutions, and handles counterespionage 
cases. The NSD works in coordination with the FBI, the 
Intelligence Community, and the U.S. Attorneys. Its primary 
function is to prevent acts of terrorism and espionage from 
being perpetrated in the United States by foreign powers.
    Combating Cyber Threats to National Security.--The 
Committee's recommendation provides not less than the fiscal 
year 2016 level for cybersecurity activities within the NSD for 
investigative, prosecutorial, intelligence collection, and 
oversight abilities that support the Intelligence Community in 
identifying and disrupting cyber threats to national security.

                      Interagency Law Enforcement


                 INTERAGENCY CRIME AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $512,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     522,135,000
Committee recommendation................................     512,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $512,000,000 for 
Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement. The recommendation is 
equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $10,135,000 
below the budget request.
    The Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement account funds 
the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces [OCDETF], 
which is the centerpiece of the Department's drug enforcement 
and counternarcotics efforts. The mission of the OCDETF is to 
ensure a coordinated, multi-agency, intelligence-based, and 
prosecutor-led approach to identifying, disrupting, and 
dismantling those drug trafficking and money laundering 
organizations primarily responsible for the Nation's illicit 
drug supply and drug-related violence.

                    Federal Bureau of Investigation


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $8,489,786,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   8,718,884,000
Committee recommendation................................   8,617,133,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $8,617,133,000 for 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] salaries and 
expenses. The recommendation is $127,347,000 above the fiscal 
year 2016 enacted level and $101,751,000 below the budget 
request.
    Criminal Justice Information Services [CJIS].--The 
Committee recommends the full funding request for CJIS 
including fee collections. The recommendation provides up to 
$121,081,000, the same as the requested level, for the FBI to 
continue improvements to the National Instant Criminal 
Background Check System [NICS] to increase the capacity and 
efficiency of the existing NICS system to perform background 
checks on prospective firearms buyers.
    Cybersecurity.--The FBI remains the only agency with the 
statutory authority, expertise, and ability to combine 
counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal 
investigatory resources to neutralize, mitigate, and disrupt 
illegal computer-supported operations domestically. The 
Committee supports the requested $17,950,000 adjustments-to-
base increase for cybersecurity activities throughout the FBI. 
In addition, the Committee supports the programmatic increases 
of $43,075,000 at the Cyber Division as part of the Bureau's 
ongoing efforts to strengthen its cyber capabilities and 
investigations including those into ransomware attacks against 
institutions such as hospitals.
    Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center [TEDAC].--The 
Committee continues to view TEDAC as a critical resource in 
combating the global threat posed by terrorist use of 
explosives and in sharing Improvised Explosive Devices [IED] 
threat information and intelligence. As such, the Committee's 
recommendation provides $61,700,000 of full operational funding 
to TEDAC in fiscal year 2017, which the administration proposed 
to partially cut in the budget request. This funding will 
continue to strengthen the role of TEDAC as the U.S. 
Government's strategic-level improvised explosive device 
exploitation center and provide the resources necessary to 
staff the new facility as it comes online.
    Associated with TEDAC, the Committee provides $1,700,000 
for additional operational support associated with the counter-
IED campus encompassing TEDAC, Hazardous Devices School Weapons 
of Mass Destruction Directorate, and other FBI operations co-
located together. Funding will be used for the operations of an 
in-processing center for FBI employees, official visitors, and 
students attending training, as well as support for the project 
management office.
    Hazardous Devices School [HDS].--HDS is the sole U.S. 
Government entity for accrediting and certifying U.S. public 
safety bomb squads and bomb technicians. The Committee notes 
that the FBI and the Department of the Army have completed a 
staffing transition at HDS that maintains the instruction and 
increases operational efficiencies and effectiveness at the 
school. The Committee does not support the budget request to 
cut HDS and instead reinstates full funding for operations 
provided in fiscal year 2016.
    Ballistic Research Facility.--The Committee supports the 
relocation of the Ballistic Research Facility, which had to 
move due to facility limitations at the FBI Academy grounds. 
The recommendation provides $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 
2016 level for additional staff and equipment for the new 
facility's operations.
    Human Rights Violations.--The Committee directs the FBI to 
continue its efforts to investigate and support the DOJ's 
criminal prosecution of serious human rights crimes committed 
by foreign nationals, including genocide, torture, use or 
recruitment of child soldiers, and war crimes. The Committee's 
recommendation continues funding this effort at the fiscal year 
2016 enacted level.
    Innocent Images National Initiative.--The Committee's 
recommendation provides $79,114,000 for the Innocent Images 
National Initiative, which is $886,000 above the requested 
level, allowing the FBI to target and investigate sexual 
predators on the Internet. This funding will address the 
critical requirements for Federal law enforcement in targeting 
child sexual exploitation and child victimization. The 
Committee is concerned that the proposed reductions to the base 
program are insufficient to cover the current Innocent Images 
caseload.
    FBI Specialized Fleet Issues.--As the FBI has diverse 
investigatory missions, the Committee understands there are 
subsequent unique needs for vehicle purchases to appropriately 
assist with investigations. The FBI is directed to report to 
the Committee on any policy or legislative barriers to 
obtaining the necessary vehicles, including recommended changes 
to policy or law.

                              CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $308,982,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     783,482,000
Committee recommendation................................     833,982,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $833,982,000 for 
FBI construction. The recommendation is $525,000,000 above the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $50,500,000 above the budget 
request.
    FBI Headquarters Consolidation.--The Committee expects the 
FBI and the General Services Administration [GSA] to continue 
to coordinate closely on moving forward in a timely and 
transparent way with the full consolidation of FBI 
Headquarters. Consolidation is critical to an FBI workforce 
that is currently dispersed between the J. Edgar Hoover 
building and approximately 13 leased offices in the National 
Capital region. The Committee supports the administration's 
request of $646,000,000 within the FBI's Construction account 
to build a new FBI Headquarters facility that will provide the 
operational work environment necessary for the FBI to be 
successful in performing its national security, intelligence, 
and criminal investigative missions.
    21st Century Facilities.--The Committee is aware that as 
the FBI prepares to transition to a new headquarters, the 
Bureau is developing a strategic plan for its facilities that 
establishes a long-term vision to improve its operations, 
taking into consideration its changing footprint at Quantico. 
In drafting the plan, the FBI has sought to identify missions, 
workforce, and land requirements to secure space for supporting 
a variety of functions. The Committee supports the FBI's vision 
for the strategic plan, and encourages the Bureau to formalize 
its concepts into a multi-year phased proposal.
    In the meantime, the Committee supports the FBI's near-term 
facility plans to better leverage current agency investments in 
the co-location of TEDAC, HDS, and Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Directorate [WMDD] explosives-related training operations. The 
Committee provides $75,500,000 to complete the FBI's project 
development currently underway in this field so as to continue 
transforming the campus into a key government research and 
development center. Such facilities should include: phase 4 of 
TEDAC's Explosives Technical Laboratory, mobile deployment 
trailers pad, warehouse for response vehicles, and forensic 
explosives test range; further HDS range modernizations; base 
infrastructure improvements and in-processing entry control; 
interim Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory and Training 
Facility; and defense systems unit facility.

                    Drug Enforcement Administration


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $2,451,514,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   2,485,638,000
Committee recommendation................................   2,485,638,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides total resources of 
$2,485,638,000 for the Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA], 
of which $382,662,000 is derived from the DEA's Drug Diversion 
Control Fee Account. The recommendation is $34,124,000 above 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the same as the budget 
request.
    The DEA's mission is to enforce the controlled substances 
laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the 
criminal and civil justice system of the United States--or any 
other competent jurisdiction--those organizations and principal 
members of organizations involved in the growing, 
manufacturing, or distribution of controlled substances 
appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United 
States; and to support non-enforcement programs aimed at 
reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on 
the domestic and international markets.
    Heroin Enforcement Groups.--As the DEA's 2015 National Drug 
Threat Assessment notes, heroin and the illegal use of 
prescription drugs are now the most significant drug threats in 
the United States. To combat this growing threat, the Committee 
provides $12,500,000 to the DEA for the creation of four new 
enforcement groups concentrated on targeting, disrupting, and 
dismantling heroin trafficking.
    Diversion Control Program.--Full funding of $382,662,000 is 
provided for the Diversion Control Program, which is an 
increase of $11,148,000 from the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 
for expanded forensic support of diversion cases and is fully 
offset with fee collections.
    Drug Diversion at Veterans Health Administration 
Facilities.--The Committee remains alarmed by the rates of 
prescription drug opioid abuse and related overdoses among 
veterans, as well as allegations of diversion of prescription 
opioids from Veterans Health Administration [VHA] facilities 
into the illicit drug market. The notion that VHA facilities 
are a source for the illicit distribution and use of opioids is 
extremely concerning, and the Committee directs the DEA to 
ensure that investigations of drug diversion in VHA facilities 
remain a priority and that sufficient resources are allocated 
for these efforts from the funds appropriated for its 
operations. The Committee anticipates reviewing the reports 
regarding drug diversion investigations involving the VHA, as 
requested in Senate Report 114-66.
    Cooperation with State and Local Forensic Crime Laboratory 
Community.--The Committee encourages the DEA to collaborate and 
share any available resources with State and local forensic 
crime laboratories in their important efforts to combat the 
growing use of synthetic, or designer, drugs.
    Medical Registration Coordination.--The Committee directs 
the Attorney General to coordinate with the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services to take additional steps to limit the over-
prescribing of opioids by medical practitioners and clearly 
identify how the DEA can help to regulate registrations for the 
dispensing of controlled substances based on this criterion. 
Not later than 90 days after enactment of this act, both the 
Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services shall 
submit to the Committee a plan for moving forward on this 
effort, including ways for medical professionals to 
demonstrate, via certification to the DEA, that they have 
obtained training in proper prescribing of schedule II 
controlled substances, including pain management, and the 
prevention and treatment of addiction.
    Implementation and Compliance with Recent Law.--The 
Committee urges the DEA to promptly implement Public Law 114-
89, the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical 
Therapies Act, which streamlines DEA 's approval process for 
drugs that fall under the Controlled Substances Act by creating 
a specific timeline for the DEA to schedule certain controlled 
substances. The Committee directs that the DEA report to the 
Committee within 180 days of the enactment of this act on its 
efforts to implement Public Law 114-89, including logistical or 
resource constraints. The DEA is urged to continue efforts to 
improve communication and transparency with stakeholders 
regarding its prescription drug diversion efforts.
    The Committee also directs the DEA to report to the 
Committee within 180 days of the enactment of this act on its 
efforts to implement Public Law 113-260, the Designer Anabolic 
Steroid Control Act of 2014, which was enacted on December 14, 
2014.
    Cybersecurity.--Within the funding provided, the Committee 
supports the budget request to increase cybersecurity 
activities at DEA by $7,763,000, for a total of $30,602,000, 
which includes improving DEA's internal network defenses and 
investigating and monitoring online pharmacies.

          Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $1,240,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   1,306,063,000
Committee recommendation................................   1,258,600,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $1,258,600,000 for 
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF]. 
The recommendation is $18,600,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $47,463,000 below the budget request. ATF has 
diverse law enforcement responsibilities, and the funding 
increase is provided to allow ATF to carry out these duties and 
to fill vacant existing positions.
    The ATF reduces the criminal use of firearms and illegal 
firearms trafficking, and assists other Federal, State, and 
local law enforcement agencies in reducing crime and violence. 
The ATF investigates bombing and arson incidents and assists 
with improving public safety by reducing the criminal misuse of 
and trafficking in explosives, combating acts of arson and 
arson-for-profit schemes, and removing safety hazards caused by 
improper and unsafe storage of explosive materials.
    Combating Gun Violence and Enforcing Existing Gun Laws.--
The Committee's recommendation maintains ATF's ability to 
enforce existing firearms laws and perform regulatory oversight 
and training, including the National Integrated Ballistics 
Information Network [NIBIN]. This will enable the ATF to 
continue to collect, report, and share ballistic intelligence 
with Federal, State, local and tribal law enforcement partners 
to identify, target, and disrupt violent criminals, including 
serial shooters. Funds will support work with State and local 
law enforcement agencies and laboratories to collect ballistic 
hit information to provide leads to Firearms Intelligence 
Groups for investigations and document successful prosecutions 
as a result of NIBIN.
    United States Bomb Data Center.--The Committee is 
encouraged by ATF's recent announcement that it is permanently 
moving the U.S. Bomb Data Center [USBDC] to the National Center 
for Explosives Training and Research, which will effectively 
combine the three components of explosives research, training, 
and information sharing in one location. DOJ has designated the 
Bomb Arson Tracking System [BATS] repository maintained at the 
USBDC as the sole repository for explosives incidents, and has 
directed all DOJ components to use this system to document 
explosives-related incidents. The Committee believes that the 
USBDC will be more productive with regular input and analysis 
from multiple agencies. The Committee encourages ATF to work 
with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security's Office 
of Bombing Prevention to make space available for any analysts 
or agents from those agencies who may be assigned to the USBDC 
to increase Federal collaboration on bomb information.
    United States-Mexico Firearms Trafficking.--The Committee 
continues to support the ATF's efforts to combat weapon 
trafficking on the border. The ATF shall continue to provide 
the Committee with annual data on the total number of firearms 
recovered by the Government of Mexico, and of those, the number 
for which an ATF trace is attempted, the number successfully 
traced, and the number determined to have originated in the 
United States prior to being recovered in Mexico.
    National Center for Explosives Training and Research 
[NCETR].--The Committee supports the enhancements at NCETR, 
including additional advanced explosives disposal techniques 
courses for public safety bomb technicians. Given that NCETR 
serves as the Bureau's Center of Excellence for arson and 
explosives training, the Committee supports co-locating the 
Bureau's canine training operations for explosives and 
accelerant detection at NCETR in fiscal year 2017 and directs 
ATF to provide details on the merger as part of the 
Department's spending plan. The Committee also supports NCETR's 
research expertise and encourages further investigations into 
the functions and effects of explosive devices in order to 
better exploit design weaknesses. Within the increased funds 
provided for ATF in fiscal year 2017, up to $2,500,000 may be 
made available for an advanced counter explosive device 
research program focusing on hypervelocity impact and 
hypervelocity flight dynamics.

                         Federal Prison System

    The Committee's recommendation provides a total of 
$7,094,222,000 for the Federal Prison System, or the Bureau of 
Prisons [BOP]. The recommendation is $386,978,000 below the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $207,725,000 below the 
budget request.

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $6,948,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   7,186,225,000
Committee recommendation................................   6,978,500,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $6,978,500,000 for 
BOP salaries and expenses. The recommendation is $30,000,000 
above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $207,725,000 below 
the budget request. The Committee supports the Department's 
request to increase funding for BOP's cybersecurity, including 
improving network defenses and mitigating insider threats.
    Augmentation.--Although the overall Federal inmate 
population has declined from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 
2016, overcrowding remains a serious threat to officer safety, 
particularly at high and medium security facilities which are 
overcrowded at rates of 45 percent and 28 percent, 
respectively. To meet staffing needs, the BOP routinely uses a 
process called ``augmentation'', whereby a non-custody employee 
is assigned custody responsibilities. The Committee directs the 
BOP to curtail its overreliance on augmentation and instead 
hire additional full-time correctional staff before continuing 
to augment existing staff. BOP is further directed to submit 
quarterly reports to the Committee on the inmate-to-
correctional officer ratios at each facility.
    Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions.--The 
Committee supports the continued efforts to sustain the 
addition of correctional officers for each housing unit at high 
security institutions to ensure that no officer has to work 
alone. This will allow all BOP high security institutions to 
have at least two correctional officers on duty in each housing 
unit for all three shifts. BOP is directed to submit quarterly 
reports to the Committee showing compliance and provide a 
strategic plan for implementation for any high security 
institution that has not activated the second officer within 90 
days of enactment of this act.
    Alleviating Overcrowding at High Security Facilities.--The 
overcrowding rate at high-security prisons continues to remain 
high at 45 percent. The Committee supports BOP's efforts to 
alleviate overcrowding at high security facilities through the 
process of opening additional prisons. The Committee expects 
the BOP to adhere to the activation schedule included in the 
BOP's budget submission regarding these prison facilities, 
including the new U.S. Penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois. The 
BOP shall notify the Committee of any deviations from this 
schedule.
    Medication-Assisted Treatment Pilot Expansion.--The 
Committee supports the request of $1,000,000 for the BOP to 
continue the medication-assisted treatment pilot program for 
inmates with heroin and opioid addiction. This voluntary pilot 
program will treat approximately 200 inmates.
    Federal Detainers.--In an effort to ensure that criminal 
aliens are not improperly released into our communities, the 
Committee directs the BOP to offer Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement [ICE] the first opportunity to take into custody 
and remove an individual with a Federal detainer instead of BOP 
and ICE automatically deferring to States and municipalities 
who are seeking custody of the same individual. ICE's decision 
to exercise this right of first refusal with BOP will be 
informed, in part, by the State or municipality's willingness 
to cooperate with Federal authorities on ICE detainers.
    International Prisoner Transfer Program.--The Committee is 
interested in the Department's effective use and administration 
of the International Prisoner Transfer Program, which permits 
certain foreign national inmates from treaty nations to serve 
the remainder of their sentences in their home countries. While 
the BOP has made efforts to improve its utilization of this 
program after a 2011 review by the DOJ Office of the Inspector 
General, the Committee is disappointed that the program remains 
significantly underused. Increasing the number of foreign 
national inmates transferred out of BOP facilities to their 
home countries could result in considerable cost savings.
    The BOP, in coordination with the Criminal Division, is 
directed to submit a report to the Committee not later than 90 
days after enactment of this act detailing how the 
International Prisoner Transfer Program is currently being 
administered, including: methods for educating eligible foreign 
national inmates about the program, the estimated number of 
currently eligible foreign national inmates compared to the 
number of applicants, the process for approving transfers, the 
number of prisoner transfers in the previous 5 fiscal years, 
the corresponding countries to which prisoners were 
transferred, and the long-term cost savings this program has 
achieved for BOP along with projected cost savings if the 
program were operating at full capacity.
    The Committee continues to await the overdue submission of 
this report as directed by Senate Report 114-66 and requests 
its immediate submission.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $530,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     113,022,000
Committee recommendation................................     113,022,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $113,022,000 for 
the construction, modernization, maintenance, and repair of 
prison and detention facilities housing Federal prisoners. The 
recommendation is $416,978,000 below the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and equal to the budget request.
    The Committee includes bill language in Title V--General 
Provisions stipulating that no BOP resources may be used for 
facilities to house detainees from the United States Naval 
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    Reporting.--The Committee believes that the consideration 
of any new facility or facility expansion should be based upon 
a long-term strategic plan which incorporates a robust capital 
planning process including leading capital planning practices 
as outlined in OMB and GAO guidance. The Committee directs the 
BOP to continue providing quarterly reports to the Committee on 
the progress of its efforts, including funding for new prison 
construction if merited in future requests.
    The Committee also directs the BOP to continue providing 
the Committee with the most recent monthly status of 
construction report, and to notify the Committee of any 
deviations from the construction and activation schedule 
identified in that report, including detailed explanations of 
the causes of delays and actions proposed to address them.

                FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

                (LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES)

Appropriations, 2016....................................      $2,700,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................       2,700,000
Committee recommendation................................       2,700,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides a limitation on the 
administrative expenses of $2,700,000 for the Federal Prison 
Industries, Inc. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 
2016 enacted level and the budget request.

               State and Local Law Enforcement Activities

    In total, the Committee recommends $4,937,449,000 for State 
and local law enforcement and crime prevention grant programs, 
including: $1,980,449,000 in discretionary appropriations and 
in mandatory appropriations, and $2,957,000,000 from funds 
provided under section 510 of this act. The total is 
$300,511,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$812,949,000 above the budget estimate.
    Management and Administration Expenses.--The Department 
shall, in preparing its fiscal year 2017 spending plan, assess 
management and administration [M&A] expenses compared to 
program funding. The Committee directs the Department to ensure 
that its assessment methodology is equitable and, for programs 
funded through the Crime Victims Fund, that the assessment 
reflects a fair representation of the share of each program 
devoted to common M&A costs. The Committee also directs grant 
offices to minimize administrative spending in order to 
maximize the amount of funding that can be used for grants or 
training and technical assistance. The Committee reiterates the 
direction provided in Public Law 113-76 that the Department 
shall detail, as part of its budget submission for fiscal year 
2018 and future years, the actual costs for each grant office 
with respect to training, technical assistance, research and 
statistics, and peer review for the prior fiscal year, along 
with estimates of planned expenditures by each grant office in 
each of these categories for the current year and the budget 
year.
    Compliance with Federal Laws.--The Committee directs the 
Department to ensure that all applicants for Edward Byrne 
Memorial Justice Assistance Grants [Byrne JAG], Community 
Oriented Policing Services [COPS] grants, and State Criminal 
Alien Assistance Program [SCAAP] funds are required to attest 
and certify that the potential grant recipients are in 
compliance with all applicable Federal laws, and shall be 
required to continue to remain compliant throughout the 
duration of their grant award period as the Attorney General 
has testified before this Committee.
    Prudence in Budget Proposals for Grant Programs.--Many of 
the initiatives proposed by the Department come at the expense 
of effective existing grant programs which currently serve our 
communities, including State and local law enforcement, well. 
Such proposals put the Committee in an untenable position in a 
fiscal environment of limited funding resources. As virtually 
all of the new programs proposed for funding have never been 
authorized or previously vetted by Congress, the Committee is 
left to choose between well-established grant programs and new 
ideas which are untested. The Committee reminds the Department 
to work more closely with the appropriate congressional 
committees to seriously consider the modification or omission 
of existing outdated programs before new proposals and 
initiatives are unveiled.
    Duplication of DOJ Grant Programs.--The Committee believes 
that, as the Federal budget continues to experience fiscal 
constraints, there is an ever-increasing need to ensure that 
governmental resources, including those awarded through grants 
and subgrants, are appropriately targeted and that unnecessary 
duplication is mitigated. Recent GAO reports have found that, 
as established in statute, some of the grant programs 
administered by the Office of Justice Programs [OJP], Office on 
Violence Against Women [OVW], and the COPS Office are similar 
in scope and grant applicants can apply for and receive grant 
awards from more than one program. Moreover, grant recipients 
may choose to award a portion of their grant to subgrantees. 
These subgrantees may also apply directly to Justice for 
funding through other grant programs for the same or similar 
purposes.
    Yet, the Department's ability to characterize the landscape 
of potential duplicative programs and overlapping award 
opportunities remains unsatisfactory. This was evident during 
the Committee's February 25, 2016, hearing on DOJ's fiscal year 
2017 budget request, when a Committee member noted that the 
Department's recent efforts to follow Committee direction from 
the fiscal year 2016 act to report duplications in Justice 
grants resulted in a paltry three page document of very general 
statements with no real detail. A more comprehensive report on 
duplication is clearly needed. Therefore, the Attorney General 
shall submit a report to the Committee within 120 days of 
enactment of this act that includes the following:
      --An assessment to better understand the extent to which 
DOJ grant programs overlap with one another along with a 
determination as to whether grant programs should be 
consolidated to mitigate the risk of unnecessary duplication. 
To the extent that DOJ identifies any statutory obstacles to 
consolidating its grant programs, it should work with Congress 
to address them, as needed; and
      --Direction given to granting agencies to coordinate with 
one another on a consistent basis to review potential or recent 
grant awards, including subgrant awards reported by DOJ prime 
grant awardees, to the extent possible, before awarding grants. 
This could help ensure an accurate understanding of DOJ 
resources already provided to applicants and the communities 
they serve, as well as knowledge of those applicants proposing 
to carry out the same or similar activities with funds from one 
or more of the granting agencies' programs. The Department 
should also take steps to establish written policies and 
procedures to govern this coordination and help ensure that it 
occurs.
    Grant Funding Set-Asides.--The Committee notes the 
significant number of reductions in grant funding allowable for 
various purposes, including training, technical assistance, 
research, evaluation and statistics activities with set-asides 
ranging anywhere from 2 percent to 10 percent of total grant 
funding provided. To that end, the Committee directs the 
Department to continue providing a comprehensive report 
concurrently with the spending plan that details the total 
amount provided for each grant program in this act, the 
specific reductions taken, the purpose for those reductions and 
the final use of those resources, including any transfers that 
may occur within OJP, OVW, and COPS. The Committee expects that 
the report will provide a complete analysis of the final 
amounts externally awarded and the amounts retained internally 
for other purposes.
    Grant Funds for Rural, High Poverty Areas.--The Committee 
is concerned about the needs of rural, high poverty areas, 
especially those communities with high crime rates. The 
Committee wants to ensure that the challenges encountered by 
the residents of these areas are being addressed through the 
equitable use of grant funding. The Committee reminds the 
Department to keep the unique needs of rural, high poverty 
communities in mind when making grant awards through the 
numerous programs funded under this act.
    Performance Partnership Pilots.--The bill includes language 
permitting OJP to participate, with other Federal agencies, in 
the Performance Partnership Pilot program authorized in 
division H of Public Law 113-76 and division G of Public Law 
113-235. Performance Partnership Pilots take an evidence-based 
approach to better serve disconnected youth in our communities. 
The Committee supports innovative efforts to coordinate 
programs across the Federal Government that serve these young 
people. Nonetheless, the Department must remain accountable for 
the proper use and effectiveness of its grant funds. The 
proposal for these pilots states that outcome-focused criteria 
will be used as part of the evaluation process. In addition, 
jurisdictions receiving funding will be held accountable to a 
set of cross-agency, data-driven outcomes and interventions 
will be measured and rigorously evaluated using real-time 
performance and outcome data.
    The Department's Office of Inspector General should 
continue to coordinate with the Inspectors General of other 
participating departments and agencies to ensure timely audits 
and oversight of these funds.
    Trauma-Informed Training.--The Committee encourages the 
Department's grant making agencies to focus on efforts to 
provide specialized trauma-informed training in responding to, 
and investigating, sexual assault, including forensic 
interviewing and evidence-gathering techniques and trauma-
informed investigative skills. The goal is to increase the 
capacity of law enforcement agencies whose officers may come 
into contact with survivors of sexual assault, including 
survivors of sexual assault on college campuses, and to help 
ensure law enforcement resources are made available in an 
appropriate and timely manner.
    Submission of Officer Training Information.--The Committee 
directs the Department to continue following direction provided 
in fiscal year 2016 regarding the submission of officer 
training data as part of the Byrne-JAG and COPS hiring grant 
process.
    Office for Victims of Crime Final Rulemaking.--While the 
deadline for public comment to the Office for Victims of 
Crime's proposed rulemaking on changes to Victim Assistance 
formula grants was October 28, 2013 [28 CFR Part 94], no final 
regulations have been announced nearly 3 years later. The 
Committee requests an expeditious closure to this review and 
publication of a final rulemaking. Unserved and underserved 
victim service areas such as tribal communities; human, sex, 
and labor trafficking victims; and exonerees should be given 
consideration for covered purpose areas of victim assistance.

                    Office on Violence Against Women


       VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $480,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................  \1\489,000,000
Committee recommendation................................  \2\481,500,000

\1\Of the $489,000,000 provided in this heading, $326,000,000 is 
requested to be derived from funding available under section 510 of this 
act.
\2\Of the $481,500,000 provided in this heading, $102,500,000 is 
provided in direct appropriations and $379,000,000 is derived by 
transfer from amounts available for obligation in this Act from the Fund 
established by section 1402 of chapter XIV of title II of Public Law 98-
473 (42 U.S.C. 10601), notwithstanding section 1402(d) of such act of 
1984.

    The Committee's recommendation provides $481,500,000 for 
OVW grants. The recommendation is $1,500,000 above the fiscal 
year 2016 enacted level, and $7,500,000 below the budget 
request. Resources are provided to the OVW to respond to the 
needs of all victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, 
dating violence, and stalking, including, but not limited to, 
Native women, immigrants, LGBT victims, college students, 
youths, and public housing residents.
    The table below displays the Committee's recommendations 
for the programs under this office.

       VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION PROGRAMS
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                        Program                           recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP Grants............................................         215,000
Transitional Housing Assistance........................          30,000
National Institute of Justice Research and Evaluation             3,000
 on Violence Against Women.............................
Consolidated Youth Oriented Program....................          11,000
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies....................          53,000
    Homicide Reduction Initiative......................          [4,000]
    Domestic Violence Firearm Lethality Reduction                [4,000]
     Initiative........................................
Sexual Assault Victims Services........................          35,000
Rural Domestic Violence Assistance Grants..............          35,000
Violence on College Campuses...........................          20,000
Civil Legal Assistance.................................          45,000
Elder Abuse Grant Program..............................           5,000
Family Civil Justice...................................          16,000
Education and Training for Disabled Female Victims.....           6,000
National Center on Workplace Responses.................             500
Research--Violence Against Indian Women................           1,000
Sex Assault in Indian Country Clearinghouse............             500
Tribal Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction.           4,000
Rape Survivor Child Custody Act........................           1,500
      Total............................................         481,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    STOP Grants.--Within the discretionary budget authority 
appropriated, $215,000,000 is for formula grants to the States. 
This is $15,000,000 above the budget request and equal to the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level. The recommendation supports 
increasing access to comprehensive legal services for victims, 
providing short-term housing assistance and support services 
for domestic violence victims, and education and training to 
end violence against and abuse of women with disabilities.
    The Committee has included bill language providing a 1-year 
exemption from the penalties required under the Prison Rape 
Elimination Act for the OVW's STOP Grants.
    Sexual Assault Services Act [SASA].--The Committee's 
recommendation provides $35,000,000, which is equal to the 
budget request and the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, to 
directly fund the needs of sexual assault victims.
    As part of VAWA 2005 and reauthorized by VAWA 2013, the 
Sexual Assault Services Program addresses considerable gaps in 
services to sexual assault victims. The Committee supports a 
dedicated stream of funding to provide a broad range of 
services to male, female, and child sexual assault victims and 
their families through the well-established and well-regarded 
system of community-based rape crisis centers throughout the 
United States, and maintains its strong commitment to ensuring 
that these rape crisis centers have access to technical 
assistance, training, and support.

                       Office of Justice Programs

    The Office of Justice Programs [OJP] is responsible for 
providing leadership, coordination, and assistance to its 
Federal, State, local, and tribal partners to enhance the 
effectiveness and efficiency of the U.S. justice system in 
preventing, controlling, and responding to crime. As most of 
the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to 
law enforcement officers in States, cities, and other 
localities, the Federal Government is effective in these areas 
only to the extent that it can enter into successful 
partnerships with these jurisdictions. Therefore, the OJP is 
tasked with administering grants; collecting statistical data 
and conducting analyses; identifying emerging criminal justice 
issues; developing and testing promising and innovative 
approaches to address these issues; evaluating program results; 
and disseminating these findings and other information to 
State, local, and tribal governments. The Committee directs the 
OJP to submit a quarterly report on grant programs that have 
not received a sufficient number of qualified applicants.
    Gang Prevention Grants and Crime Rates.--The Committee 
remains concerned about gang activity and violent crime 
throughout the country, noting that Federal partnership with 
law enforcement is essential not only in our largest cities, 
but also in suburban and rural jurisdictions, where gang 
activity and violent crime rates can exceed national averages. 
To strengthen Federal partnership across all jurisdictions, the 
Committee directs the OJP to review the criteria by which the 
OJP awards discretionary grants relating to gang violence and 
prevention under the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance 
and Juvenile Justice Programs on a per capita basis of 
applicant cities and jurisdictions where gang activity and 
violent crime rates exceed national averages. The Committee 
encourages the OJP to report on the relative success rate of 
awards granted to applicant cities and jurisdictions with 
disproportionately high gang and violent crime activity, 
including the murder rates of those cities and jurisdictions. 
The report should also consider the relative success rate of 
applicant cities and jurisdictions that have an established 
gang commission or community planning body, have completed the 
Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention [OJJDP] gang 
assessment, and have consulted with or received technical 
assistance from the OJJDP National Gang Center regarding gang 
initiatives in the community.
    Legal Training.--Training of State and local prosecutors 
and defense attorneys is essential to the functioning of the 
criminal justice system and ensuring justice is served. The 
Committee encourages OJP to explore funding options, including 
Byrne-JAG, that support training for prosecutors and defense 
attorneys that provide a hands-on approach to topics such as 
criminal process, trial advocacy, ethics, and evidence.
    Combating Online Crime, Hate, and Terror Groups.--The 
Committee encourages OJP to provide funding within existing 
grant opportunities targeted at expanding the ability of 
academic forensic technology programs to assist in identifying 
and profiling online crime, hate, and terror groups.

                  RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND STATISTICS

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $116,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     154,000,000
Committee recommendation................................     118,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $118,000,000 for 
the Research, Evaluation and Statistics account. The 
recommendation is $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and $36,000,000 below the budget request.
    Funding in this account provides assistance in the areas of 
research, evaluation, statistics, hate crimes, DNA and 
forensics, criminal background checks, and gun safety 
technology, among others.
    The Committee's recommendations are displayed in the 
following table:

                   RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND STATISTICS
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                       Program                           recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau of Justice Statistics.........................            41,000
National Institute of Justice........................            36,000
Regional Info Sharing Activities.....................            36,000
Forensic Initiative..................................             5,000
    Transfer to NIST.................................            [4,000]
                                                      ------------------
      Total..........................................           118,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Spending Plans.--The Department shall submit to the 
Committee as part of its spending plan for State and Local Law 
Enforcement Activities a plan for the use of all funding 
administered by the National Institute of Justice and the 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, respectively, for approval by the 
Committee prior to the obligation of any such funds.
    National Institute of Justice [NIJ].--The Committee's 
recommendation provides $36,000,000 for the NIJ, in addition to 
$4,000,000 transferred from the OVW for research and evaluation 
on violence against women and Indian women. The NIJ's mission 
is to advance scientific research, development, and evaluation 
to advance the administration of justice and public safety.
    Forensic Initiative.--The Committee provides $5,000,000 for 
a forensic initiative, of which $4,000,000 is provided by 
transfer to the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
[NIST] to support Scientific Working Groups. The Department of 
Justice shall coordinate its forensic initiative activities 
with NIST.
    Regional Information Sharing Activities.--The Committee 
recommends $36,000,000, an increase of $11,000,000 above the 
budget request and $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level, to support activities that enable the sharing of 
nationwide criminal intelligence and other resources with 
State, local, and other law enforcement agencies and 
organizations. Such activities should address critical and 
chronic criminal threats, including gangs, terrorism, 
narcotics, weapons and officer safety or ``event 
deconfliction,'' and should reflect regional as well as 
national threat priorities. In addition, funds shall be 
available to support local-to-local law enforcement data and 
information sharing efforts focused on solving routine crimes 
by sharing law enforcement information not categorized as 
criminal intelligence. All activities shall be consistent with 
national information-sharing standards and requirements as 
determined by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

               STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $1,408,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   1,097,800,000
Committee recommendation................................   1,183,649,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $1,183,649,000 for 
State and local law enforcement assistance. The recommendation 
is $227,500,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level, and 
$83,200,000 above the budget request.
    The Committee's recommendations are displayed in the 
following table:

               STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                       Program                           recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.............           384,000
    VALOR Initiative.................................           [15,000]
    Smart Policing...................................           [10,000]
    Smart Prosecution................................            [2,500]
    Firearm Safety and Gun Locks.....................            [1,000]
    NamUS............................................            [2,400]
    Improved Police Responses to the Mentally Ill....            [5,000]
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program..............           100,000
Victims of Trafficking Grants........................            47,649
Drug Courts..........................................            43,000
Mentally Ill Offender Courts.........................            11,000
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment................            14,000
Capital Litigation/Wrongful Prosecution Review.......             2,500
Economic, High-Tech, and Cybercrime Prevention.......            14,000
    IP Enforcement...................................            [2,500]
    Cybercrime Prosecutor Pilot Program..............            [1,000]
John R. Justice Grant Program........................             2,000
Adam Walsh Act Implementation........................            20,000
Children Exposed to Violence Initiative..............             8,000
Bulletproof Vests Partnership........................            22,500
    Transfer to NIST/OLES............................            [1,500]
National Sex Offender Public Web site................             1,000
Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction.................             6,500
National Instant Criminal Background Check System                75,000
 [NICS] Initiative...................................
    NICS Improvements................................           [25,000]
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science......................            13,500
DNA Initiative.......................................           125,000
    Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grants..................          [117,000]
    Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing                 [4,000]
     Grants..........................................
    Sex Assault Exam Kits............................            [4,000]
Community-Based Sexual Assault Response Reform.......            45,000
Court-Appointed Special Advocates [CASA].............             9,000
Second Chance Act....................................            75,000
    Smart Probation..................................            [6,000]
    Children of Incarcerated Parents Demo Grants.....            [5,000]
    Project HOPE Opportunity Probation with                      [4,000]
     Enforcement.....................................
    Pay for Success..................................            [7,500]
Veterans Treatment Courts............................             6,000
Prescription Drug Monitoring.........................            14,000
Comprehensive School Safety Program..................            75,000
Community Trust Initiative...........................            70,000
    Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program.............           [22,500]
    Justice Reinvestment Initiative..................           [25,000]
    Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program........           [17,500]
    National Crime Statistics Exchange (NCS-X).......            [5,000]
                                                      ------------------
      Total..........................................         1,183,649
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.--
The Committee recommends $384,000,000 for Edward Byrne Memorial 
Justice Assistance Grants [Byrne-JAG]. Funding is not available 
for luxury items, real estate, or construction projects. The 
Department should expect State, local, and tribal governments 
to target funding to programs and activities that conform with 
evidence-based strategic plans developed through broad 
stakeholder involvement. The Committee directs the Department 
to make technical assistance available to State, local, and 
tribal governments for the development or update of such plans. 
Funding is authorized for law enforcement programs including 
those that promote data interoperability between disparate law 
enforcement entities; prosecution and court programs; 
prevention and education programs; corrections programs; drug 
treatment and enforcement programs; planning, evaluation, and 
technology improvement programs; and crime victim and witness 
programs, other than compensation.
    Training for Forensic Services.--The Committee is 
interested in solution-based approaches to train local law 
enforcement officers and utilize available technology to reduce 
court backlogs and prosecutions. To the extent appropriate, OJP 
should explore ways to provide resources for multi-
jurisdictional forensic service providers, in collaboration 
with universities, to provide access to forensic expertise, 
assistance, and continuing education to law enforcement 
agencies. The Committee encourages OJP to remind awardees that 
these objectives could be met through the Byrne-JAG program.
    VALOR Initiative.--The Committee's recommendation fully 
funds the budget request of $15,000,000 within Byrne-JAG for 
the Officer Robert Wilson III Preventing Violence Against Law 
Enforcement Officer Resilience and Survivability Initiative 
[VALOR]. This is a national training initiative that promotes a 
culture of safety within Federal, State, local, and tribal law 
enforcement agencies by training officers to respond to and 
react better in deadly situations, such as ambush attacks, 
while on duty. The Committee expects Federal law enforcement 
agencies to continue and expand on efforts to provide local 
police with information as to whether or not a suspect has a 
violent history, to the extent that transfer of such 
information is allowable and available via Federal law 
enforcement databases, in an effort to prevent officer deaths.
    National Instant Criminal Background Check System [NICS] 
Initiative Grants.--The Committee recommends funding the 
program at $75,000,000, which is $20,000,000 above the budget 
request, to continue to improve the submission of State 
criminal and mental health records to NICS. This investment 
will strengthen the national background check system by 
assisting States in finding ways to make more records available 
in the NICS system, especially mental health records, thereby 
addressing gaps in Federal and State records currently 
available in NICS. Those gaps significantly hinder the ability 
of NICS to quickly confirm whether a prospective purchaser is 
prohibited from acquiring a firearm.
    Grants to Combat Human Trafficking.--Trafficking victims 
are subjected to physical, mental, and sexual abuse and need 
various types of assistance to begin healing and recovery, 
including counseling, housing, medical care, support groups, 
and legal assistance. The Committee's recommendation provides 
$47,649,000 for services and task force activities for U.S. 
citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals who are 
victims of trafficking. The OJP shall consult with stakeholder 
groups in determining the overall allocation of Victims of 
Trafficking funding and shall provide to the Committee a plan 
for the use of these funds as part of the Department's fiscal 
year 2017 spending plan.
    The Committee notes that funding provided in this program 
may be used for victims of sex and labor trafficking who are 
minors, as authorized under VAWA 2013. Child trafficking 
victims require specialized care, and these resources can be 
used for items like residential care, emergency social 
services, mental health counseling, and legal services.
    Funding to assist State and local law enforcement in 
strengthening and expanding the investigation and prosecution 
of human trafficking and training law enforcement personnel on 
the identification of trafficking victims was authorized under 
VAWA 2013. The Committee recommends that funds be made 
available for human trafficking task forces, particularly those 
that combat the sex trafficking of minors in High Intensity 
Child Prostitution areas identified by the FBI. Trafficking 
task forces can also use funding for innovative technological 
instruments to assist in the rescue of trafficking victims.
    Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction.--Violent crime and 
homicide continue to exact a heavy toll on victims, families, 
and neighborhoods. The Committee's recommendation provides 
$6,500,000, which is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and $1,500,000 above the budget request, for competitive 
grants aimed at reducing homicides and gun-related violent 
crime in communities overwhelmed by gangs of national 
significance and illegally purchased and trafficked guns. 
Popularly known as the Project Safe Neighborhoods model, this 
funding shall be used to hire new Federal and State 
prosecutors, support investigators, provide investigative and 
litigation training, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and 
promote community outreach efforts, as well as to support other 
gun and gang violence reduction strategies.
    Veterans Treatment Courts.--The Committee urges the 
Department to work in conjunction with the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to provide grant support for collaborative, 
rehabilitative approaches for continuing judicial supervision 
of offenders who are veterans. The Committee recommends not 
less than $6,000,000 for Veterans Treatment Courts and urges 
the Department to strengthen funding for existing Veterans 
Treatment Courts with successful track records to promote best 
practices.
    Bulletproof Vests.--Within the $22,500,000 provided for 
bulletproof vests, $1,500,000 is to be transferred directly to 
the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards [OLES] to continue 
supporting ballistic- and stab-resistant material compliance 
testing programs. The Committee expects the BJA to continue 
strengthening internal controls to manage the Bulletproof Vest 
Partnership program. Improving grantee accountability in the 
timely use of Federal funds to purchase body armor will help 
every police officer who needs a vest to get one, thus saving 
officers' lives.
    Second Chance Act Grants and Drug Treatment.--The 
recommendation provides $75,000,000 for Second Chance Act [SCA] 
grants. The Committee expects that SCA funding will support 
grants that foster the implementation of strategies that have 
been proven to reduce recidivism and ensure safe and successful 
reentry back to their communities of adults released from 
prisons and jails. The SCA supports activities such as 
employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, 
local transportation, mentoring, family programming, and victim 
support. SCA grants will also support demonstration projects 
designed to test the impact of new strategies and frameworks.
    The Committee agrees with the White House's scoring 
mechanism for SCA grant funding as part of the President's 
February 2, 2016, announcement addressing the national opioid 
abuse and heroin epidemic. Under this method, 50 percent of SCA 
grant funding is deemed as drug treatment, and the Committee 
expects OJP to follow this strategy in awarding grant funds for 
fiscal year 2017.
    In addition, when awarding SCA grants, OJP shall consider 
the impact of reentry of prisoners on communities in which a 
disproportionate number of individuals are already residing 
after release from incarceration. This includes assessing the 
reentry burdens borne by local communities and local law 
enforcement agencies; reviewing the resources available in such 
communities to support successful reentry; and making 
recommendations to strengthen the resources in such communities 
available to support successful reentry and to lessen the 
burden placed on such communities by the need to support 
reentry.
    DNA Backlog and Crime Lab Improvements.--The Committee is 
once again extremely disappointed that the Department's budget 
request slashes funding by $20,000,000 for critical grant 
programs to help State and local agencies address their 
backlogs and test forensic evidence. The Committee continues 
its strong support for DNA backlog and crime lab improvements 
by recommending $125,000,000 to strengthen and improve Federal 
and State DNA collection and analysis systems that can be used 
to accelerate the prosecution of the guilty while 
simultaneously protecting the innocent from wrongful 
prosecution. Within funds provided, $117,000,000 is for Debbie 
Smith DNA Backlog Reduction grants, $4,000,000 is for Kirk 
Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing grants, and $4,000,000 
is for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners grants.
    From within the funding provided for Debbie Smith DNA 
Backlog Reduction grants, the Committee expects the Department 
to prioritize reducing rape kit backlogs, given that it is the 
primary reason why the Committee continues to provide robust 
funding for these grants. The Committee directs the Department 
to provide not less than 75 percent of the total grant amounts 
for direct testing activities to reduce the backlog. The 
Committee further directs DOJ to provide at least 5 percent of 
funds to law enforcement agencies to conduct audits of their 
backlogged rape kits and to prioritize testing in those cases 
in which the statute of limitations will soon expire, as 
authorized by the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting 
Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-4).
    The Committee expects that the OJP will make funding for 
DNA analysis and capacity enhancement a priority in order to 
meet the purposes of the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant 
Program. The Committee directs the Department to submit to the 
Committee as part of its spending plan for State and Local Law 
Enforcement Activities a plan with respect to funds 
appropriated for DNA-related and forensic programs, including 
the alignment of appropriated funds with the authorized 
purposes of the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program.
    Reducing the Rape Kit Backlog.--The Committee's 
recommendation includes $45,000,000 to continue a competitive 
grant program started in fiscal year 2015 as part of the 
initiative to reduce the backlog of rape kits at law 
enforcement agencies. The NIJ shall provide competitively 
awarded grants with a comprehensive community-based approach to 
addressing the resolution of cases in the backlog. The 
Committee directs the NIJ to provide a report not later than 90 
days after enactment of this act on its progress in developing 
a strategy and model to serve as best practices for discovering 
and testing kits, training law enforcement, and supporting 
victims throughout the process as required by Public Law 113-
235.
    Comprehensive School Safety.--The Committee's 
recommendation includes $75,000,000 to continue a competitive 
grant program as part of the comprehensive school safety 
initiative started in fiscal year 2014. The NIJ shall provide 
competitively awarded grants with strong research and 
evaluation components to local school districts and State 
educational agencies to support the implementation of school 
safety interventions under the existing construct. The 
Committee directs the NIJ to provide a report not later than 90 
days after enactment of this act, on the continued development 
of a strategy and model for comprehensive school safety.
    Economic, High-Tech, and Cybercrime Prevention.--The 
Committee recommends $14,000,000 to assist State and local law 
enforcement agencies in the prevention, investigation, and 
prosecution of economic, high-tech, and Internet crimes. Given 
the importance of protecting our Nation's new technologies, 
ideas, and products, the Committee includes the request of 
$2,500,000 for competitive grants that help State and local law 
enforcement tackle intellectual property [IP] thefts, such as 
counterfeiting and piracy.
    With the growing prevalence of cybercrimes and the 
ubiquitous nature of the existence of digital evidence in 
nearly every crime committed, the Committee is concerned that 
insufficient training and support of law enforcement, 
prosecutors, and judges could hinder the investigation and 
prosecution of cyber and traditional crimes. Within the funds 
provided, $1,000,000 is for the creation of a Cybercrime and 
Digital Evidence Resource Prosecutor Pilot Program to provide 
State and local prosecutors with training and trial experience 
in cybercrimes and digital evidence.
    John R. Justice Program.--The Committee notes that the 
Department of Justice plans to implement administrative changes 
to the long-running John R. Justice program, and is concerned 
that changes may be inconsistent with the intent of Congress in 
enacting section 952 of Public Law 110-315, which created the 
program. The Committee directs the Department to present 
details of the plan to the Committee within 30 days of 
enactment of this act, including the rationale and benefits for 
implementing proposed changes to this established program.
    Flexible Tribal Assistance.--The Committee recommends 
funding tribal grant programs by permitting 7 percent of 
discretionary grant and reimbursement program funds made 
available to the OJP to be used for tribal criminal justice 
assistance, and continues to strongly support efforts to help 
tribes improve the capacity of their criminal justice systems. 
The OJP is expected to consult closely with tribal stakeholders 
in determining how tribal assistance funds will be awarded for 
detention facilities, courts, alcohol and substance abuse 
programs, civil and criminal legal assistance, and other 
priorities. The Committee directs the OJP to submit, as part of 
the Department's spending plan for fiscal year 2017, a plan for 
the use of these funds that has been informed by such 
consultation. The Committee notes that the bill includes 
additional grant funding for tribal law enforcement programs 
through COPS and OVW.
    Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.--The Committee 
directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance to assess the impact 
of establishing threshold enrollment and utilization rates for 
the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and, where enrollment 
and utilization rates are below 100 percent, assess the 
feasibility of requiring benchmarks for improvements in 
enrollment and utilization as grant eligibility criteria. The 
Committee directs the Department to report, not later than 180 
days after enactment of this act, on this assessment, including 
the potential of prioritizing funding based on the goal of 
optimizing prescriber and dispenser enrollment and utilization 
rates for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs by prescribers 
and dispensers as a ratio compared to the potential universe of 
prescribers and dispensers and controlled substance prescribing 
rates, respectively.
    Community Trust Initiative.--The Committee's recommendation 
provides $70,000,000 for the Community Trust Initiative to 
continue funding for the program established in fiscal year 
2016. The Community Trust Initiative aims to improve police-
community relations and build cooperation and trust between law 
enforcement agencies and the people they serve. The Committee 
has included funding for four component programs within the 
Community Trust Initiative, with $22,500,000 provided for the 
Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program, $25,000,000 provided for 
the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, $17,500,000 provided for 
the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation [BCJI] Program, and 
$5,000,000 provided for the National Crime Statistics Exchange 
[NCS-X].
    The Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program funding is to be 
used for matching grants for ongoing efforts to equip law 
enforcement officers with body-worn cameras. In order to 
qualify for grants, jurisdictions must provide training in the 
proper use of body-worn cameras and have privacy and data 
retention policies already in place.
    The Justice Reinvestment Initiative is a data-driven 
approach to improving public safety in communities. The funding 
for this program supports State and local efforts to reduce 
corrections expenditures while at the same time making 
communities safer and stronger.
    The BCJI Program provides demonstration grants in 
communities to support innovative, evidence-based approaches to 
fighting crime and improving public safety, as well as 
addressing underlying problems. This program builds upon the 
approach of supporting communities with strategies that combine 
law enforcement, community policing, prevention, intervention, 
treatment, and neighborhood restoration. Due to the award of 
numerous promising BCJI planning grants in recent years, the 
Committee directs OJP to award no less than $15,000,000 in 
implementation grants for fiscal year 2017 to allow these 
planning projects to flourish.
    NCS-X will improve the collection and reporting into the 
National Incident-Based Reporting System [NIBRS], which 
provides more detailed criminal data like officer related 
shooting incidents. Approximately 6,300 out of the Nation's 
18,000 law enforcement agencies currently participate in NIBRS. 
The funding provided for NCS-X will add 300 additional law 
enforcement agencies into NIBRS and allow the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics to produce nationally representative estimates of 
crimes known to the police that can be disaggregated by victim-
offender characteristics, the circumstances of the crime, 
victim-offender relationship, and other important elements of 
criminal events.

                       JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $270,160,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     334,400,000
Committee recommendation................................     272,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $272,000,000 for 
juvenile justice programs. The recommendation is $1,840,000 
above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $62,400,000 below 
the budget request.
    The Committee strongly supports a comprehensive approach of 
substantial funding for a robust portfolio of programs that 
work to improve the lives of the youth in our communities. 
Title II State Formula and title V juvenile delinquency 
prevention grants are the backbone of programs assisting State 
and local agencies to prevent juvenile delinquency and ensure 
that youth who are in contact with the juvenile justice system 
are treated fairly. Combined with other critical programs like 
youth mentoring, the Committee believes that a balanced level 
of programming is the way to best help at-risk and vulnerable 
youth and their families.
    The Committee's recommendations are displayed in the 
following table:

                        JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                          recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part B--State Formula..................................          63,000
    Emergency Planning--Juvenile Detention Facilities..            [500]
Youth Mentoring Grants.................................          75,000
Title V--Delinquency Prevention........................          27,500
    Tribal Youth.......................................         [10,000]
    Gang and Youth Violence Education and Prevention...          [5,000]
    Children of Incarcerated Parents Web Portal........            [500]
    Girls in the Justice System........................          [2,000]
Victims of Child Abuse (VOCA)..........................          21,000
Community-Based Violence Prevention....................           8,000
Missing & Exploited Children Programs..................          73,000
Child Abuse Training for Judicial Personnel............           2,000
Juvenile Indigent Defense..............................           2,500
                                                        ----------------
      Total............................................         272,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any deviation from the above plan is subject to the 
reprogramming requirements of section 505 of this act.
    Part B: State Formula Grants.--The Committee provides 
$63,000,000 for grants to implement comprehensive State 
juvenile justice plans, including community-based prevention 
and intervention programs and activities for juvenile 
offenders. This amount is $5,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $12,000,000 below the budget request.
    Within the amount provided, the Committee recommends 
$500,000 for competitive demonstration grants for State, local, 
and tribal juvenile justice detention facilities and systems to 
meet the needs of children and adolescents housed in detention 
facilities in preparation for, during, and after a disaster, as 
detailed in the 2011 emergency planning guidance issued by the 
OJJDP.
    The Committee directs the OJP to submit as part of its 
spending plan for State and Local Law Enforcement Activities a 
plan for the administration of Part B State Formula Grants. The 
Committee expects this plan to include details pertaining to 
the formulas utilized in awarding grants under this heading.
    The Committee urges DOJ to encourage title II grant 
recipients to coordinate with their State education agencies to 
support continuity of education opportunities for adjudicated 
youth.
    Youth Mentoring Grants.--To support the critical work of 
national, regional, and local organizations in nurturing and 
mentoring at-risk children and youths, the Committee recommends 
$75,000,000 for competitive, peer-reviewed youth mentoring 
grants. Within 45 days of enactment of this act, the OJP is 
directed to provide a report and spend plan to the Committee 
detailing the criteria and methodology that will be used to 
award these grants, as well as an explanation of any deviations 
from the criteria and Committee directions used in fiscal year 
2016. The Committee expects that the OJJDP will take all steps 
necessary to ensure fairness and objectivity in the award of 
these and future competitive grants.
    Victims of Child Abuse Act.--The Committee's recommendation 
provides $21,000,000 for the various programs authorized under 
the Victims of Child Abuse Act [VOCA] (Public Law 101-647) and 
directs the OJJDP to ensure that not less than 90 percent of 
the grants awarded are for the purposes of developing and 
maintaining child advocacy centers, including training and 
accreditation. Within the funds provided, $5,000,000 shall be 
for Regional Children's Advocacy Centers [RCACs] Programs. The 
RCACs were established to provide information, consultation, 
training, and technical assistance to communities, and to help 
establish child-focused programs that facilitate and support 
coordination among agencies responding to child abuse.
    The Committee recognizes the excellent work of Children's 
Advocacy Centers [CAC] in coordinating State and local 
agencies' intervention in cases of child abuse, and the 
valuable collaboration that has arisen between CACs and 
military installations through memoranda of understanding. The 
Committee encourages CACs to continue to explore ways in which 
their unique model and expertise can be leveraged to help 
military installations address cases of child abuse, and 
provides an additional $1,000,000 to support a pilot project to 
identify, develop, and operationalize best practices.
    Missing and Exploited Children Programs.--The OJP works 
with law enforcement agencies to find missing children and to 
target and prosecute predatory child molesters and those who 
traffic in child pornography. The Committee recommends 
$73,000,000 for Missing and Exploited Children Programs and 
expects the Department to allocate no less than the current 
funding level for task force grants, training and technical 
assistance, research and statistics, and administrative costs 
for the Internet Crimes Against Children [ICAC] program. The 
Committee directs the OJP to provide a spending plan for the 
use of these funds as part of the Department's spending plan 
for fiscal year 2017, which shall include only investments in 
authorized national programs that serve as a resource center 
and clearinghouse on missing and exploited children. The 
Committee will not entertain spending on new activities, such 
as unauthorized demonstration programs.
    The Committee supports efforts across the country to train 
child protection professionals, beginning with undergraduate 
and graduate curricula and following up with ongoing training 
for professionals in the field, including the development of 
State forensic interviewing courses. The Committee directs the 
OJJDP to provide training and technical assistance to improve 
forensic interview training for investigation and prosecution 
professionals, evidence-based community prevention programs for 
child protection professionals, and undergraduate and graduate 
curricula on the maltreatment and exploitation of children.

                    PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS BENEFITS

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $88,300,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      89,300,000
Committee recommendation................................      89,300,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $89,300,000 for 
public safety officers benefits. The recommendation is 
$1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and equal 
to the budget estimate. This program provides a one-time 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 or certain eligible heart attacks or strokes. Within funds 
provided, $73,000,000 is for death benefits for survivors, an 
amount estimated by the Congressional Budget Office and 
considered mandatory for scorekeeping purposes.
    The Committee also recommends $16,300,000, as requested, 
for disability benefits for injured officers and education 
benefits for the families of officers who have been permanently 
disabled or killed in the line of duty.
    Claims Process Improvements.--The Committee encourages the 
Public Safety Officers Benefits [PSOB] Office to streamline the 
documentation requirements for a claim to reduce the burden on 
injured officers or surviving families, improve communication 
with claimants and agencies regarding these documentation 
requirements, provide regular updates to claimants on the 
status of their claim, improve PSOB claim decision-making 
documentation to facilitate timely and efficient legal review, 
improve the collection and management of PSOB claims data, and 
establish metrics and regularly report on program performance. 
Not later than 90 days after enactment of this act, the PSOB 
Office shall report to the Committee regarding the steps it 
will take to implement these priorities.

                  Community Oriented Policing Services


             COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES PROGRAMS

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $212,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     286,000,000
Committee recommendation................................     215,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $215,000,000 for 
community oriented policing services. The recommendation is 
$3,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$71,000,000 below the budget request.
    Local law enforcement is not only essential to ensuring the 
safety of the public, but also plays a critical role in 
preventing and responding to terrorist threats. Since its 
creation, the Community Oriented Policing Services [COPS] 
Office has assisted State and local law enforcement agencies by 
providing grants, training, and technical assistance that not 
only ensure public safety from traditional crime, but also 
better enable law enforcement officers to address the growing 
threat from terrorist organizations.
    The Committee's recommendations are displayed in the 
following table:

                  COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                        Program                           recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Methamphetamine Lab Cleanup (Transfer to DEA)..........          11,000
COPS Hiring Grants.....................................         187,000
    Transfer to Tribal Resources Grant Program.........         [30,000]
    Community Policing Development/Training and                 [10,000]
     Technical Assistance..............................
    Collaborative Reform Model.........................         [10,000]
Anti-Meth Task Forces..................................           7,000
Anti-Heroin Task Forces................................          10,000
                                                        ----------------
      Total............................................         215,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any deviations from the above plan are subject to the 
reprogramming requirements of section 505.
    COPS Hiring Program.--The Committee recommends $187,000,000 
for COPS Hiring grants to help State, local, or tribal law 
enforcement agencies to create and preserve police officer 
positions and to increase community policing capacity and crime 
prevention efforts. As in the request, the grants will have an 
award cap of $125,000 and require grantees to provide a 25 
percent local match.
    Methamphetamine Hot Spots.--The Committee's recommendation 
includes a $11,000,000 transfer to reimburse the DEA for 
assistance to State and local law enforcement for proper 
removal and disposal of hazardous materials at clandestine 
methamphetamine labs, and to initiate container programs. This 
is the level the DEA estimates will be sufficient in fiscal 
year 2017 to operate the full cleanup program for States to 
transition to container program cleanups, and to cover the 
costs of smaller methamphetamine cleanups in States where the 
problem is intermittent.
    Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces.--The Committee's 
recommendation provides $7,000,000 for the COPS Office to make 
competitive grants to law enforcement agencies in States with 
high seizures of precursor chemicals, finished methamphetamine, 
laboratories, and laboratory dump seizures. These funds shall 
be utilized for investigative purposes to locate or investigate 
illicit activities such as precursor diversion, laboratories, 
or methamphetamine traffickers.
    Anti-Heroin Task Forces.--The Committee has repeatedly 
expressed its concern over the dramatic rise of heroin abuse 
and related crime in the United States. The need for additional 
resources and training to address these challenges is apparent, 
and the Committee created the anti-heroin program within the 
COPS Office in fiscal year 2015. Despite the plea for 
additional resources from law enforcement as well as the 
interest of the Committee, the Department eliminated this 
program as part of the fiscal year 2017 budget request. The 
Committee provides $10,000,000 for the COPS Office to make 
competitive grants to law enforcement agencies in States with 
high per capita levels of primary treatment admissions for both 
heroin and other opioids. These funds shall be utilized for 
drug enforcement, including investigations and activities 
related to the distribution of heroin or unlawful diversion and 
distribution of prescription opioids. Priority shall be given 
to those drug task forces, managed and operated by the State, 
serving a majority of counties in the State.
    Policing Practices and Accountability Initiative.--In 
December 2015, a Policing Practices and Accountability 
Initiative was created within the COPS Office to oversee the 
Collaborative Reform and Critical Response technical assistance 
programs and assist law enforcement in developing strategies to 
implement recommendations of the President's Task Force on 21st 
Century Policing. The Committee supports the COPS Office's 
efforts to integrate the Task Force recommendations and urges 
the Policing Practices and Accountability Initiative to work 
across Department of Justice programs and agencies to provide 
support and best practices for law enforcement agencies working 
to address issues of public trust.

               General Provisions--Department of Justice

    The Committee recommends the following general provisions:
    Section 201 limits the amount of funding the Attorney 
General can use for official reception and representation.
    Section 202 prohibits the use of funds in this title to pay 
for an abortion except where the life of the mother would be in 
danger.
    Section 203 prohibits the use of funds in this title to 
require a person to perform or facilitate an abortion.
    Section 204 requires female prisoners to be escorted when 
off prison grounds.
    Section 205 allows the Department of Justice, subject to 
the Committee's reprogramming procedures, to transfer up to 5 
percent between appropriations, but limits to 10 percent the 
amount that can be transferred into any one appropriation.
    Section 206 limits the placement of maximum or high 
security prisoners to appropriately secure facilities.
    Section 207 restricts Federal prisoner access to certain 
amenities.
    Section 208 requires review by the Deputy Attorney General 
and the Department's Investigative Review Board prior to the 
obligation or expenditure of funds for major technology 
projects.
    Section 209 requires the Department to follow reprogramming 
procedures prior to any deviation from the program amounts 
specified in this title or the reuse of specified deobligated 
funds provided in previous years.
    Section 210 prohibits the use of funds for OMB Circular A-
76 competitions for work performed by employees of the Bureau 
of Prisons or of the Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated.
    Section 211 prohibits U.S. Attorneys from simultaneously 
holding multiple jobs outside of the scope of a U.S. Attorney's 
professional duties.
    Section 212 permits up to 3 percent of grant and 
reimbursement program funds made available to the Office of 
Justice Programs to be used for training and technical 
assistance, permits up to 2 percent of grant and reimbursement 
program funds made available to that office to be transferred 
to the National Institute of Justice or the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics for criminal justice research and statistics, and 
permits up to 7 percent of discretionary grant and 
reimbursement program funds made available to OJP to be used 
for tribal criminal justice assistance. The Committee continues 
to strongly support efforts to help tribes improve the capacity 
of their criminal justice systems.
    Section 213 gives the Attorney General the authority to 
waive matching requirements for Second Chance Act adult and 
juvenile reentry demonstration projects; State, tribal and 
local reentry courts; and drug treatment programs.
    Section 214 waives the requirement that the Attorney 
General reserve certain funds from amounts provided for 
offender incarceration.
    Section 215 prohibits funds, other than funds for the 
national instant criminal background check system established 
under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, from being 
used to facilitate the transfer of an operable firearm to a 
known or suspected agent of a drug cartel where law enforcement 
personnel do not continuously monitor or control such firearm.
    Section 216 permits the Department of Justice to 
participate in Performance Partnership Pilot collaboration 
programs.
    Section 217 allows the Department of Justice to transfer 
funds from the Working Capital Fund to the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation.

                               TITLE III

                                SCIENCE

                Office of Science and Technology Policy

Appropriations, 2016....................................      $5,555,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................       5,566,000
Committee recommendation................................       5,555,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $5,555,000 for the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy. The recommendation is 
the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $11,000 
below the budget request.
    The Office of Science and Technology Policy [OSTP] was 
created by the National Science and Technology Policy, 
Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-282) 
and coordinates science and technology policy for the White 
House. OSTP provides scientific and technological information, 
analyses, and advice for the President and the executive 
branch; participates in the formulation, coordination, and 
implementation of national and international policies and 
programs that involve science and technology; maintains and 
promotes the health and vitality of the U.S. science and 
technology infrastructure; reviews and analyzes, with the 
Office of Management and Budget, the research and development 
budgets for all Federal agencies; and coordinates research and 
development efforts of the Federal Government to maximize the 
return on the public's investment in science and technology and 
to ensure Federal resources are used efficiently and 
appropriately.
    Open Access to Federal Research.--The Committee has 
received reports by OSTP on the progress of all Federal 
agencies in developing and implementing policies to increase 
public access to federally funded scientific research. The 
Committee is pleased by the progress, but previously instructed 
OSTP to have all relevant departments' and agencies' plans 
approved by the end of calendar year 2014 with implementation 
occurring by early calendar year 2016. OSTP is directed to 
continue providing quarterly reports to the Committee in order 
to keep Congress apprised of the remaining progress needed to 
make federally funded research accessible to the public as 
expeditiously as possible.
    Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education.--The Committee continues to support effective 
mission-oriented science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics [STEM] education programs at NASA, NOAA, and NIST 
within this bill, and encourages OSTP to work with non-Federal 
education and outreach communities. OSTP and its partners 
should be mindful of ensuring that scientists supported by the 
Federal Government are not absolved of responsibility to 
educate and train the next generation. OSTP should also take 
care to preserve effective training and education programs 
designed to directly fulfill the unique STEM-related mission 
needs of the agencies administering them.
    National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee.--The 
Committee understands the importance of engaging and recruiting 
a diverse talent pool to work in STEM fields. The Committee 
also believes that limited Federal budgets require innovative 
approaches that are collaborative and build upon existing 
training to promote a diverse Federal workforce and make the 
most efficient use of limited resources. The Committee directs 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy to work with the 
Office of Personnel Management, the National Science 
Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology to create a National Science and Technology Council 
Subcommittee to build on existing efforts and develop and 
implement STEM Inclusion training for use in both the Federal 
Government and academe. The training should address advancement 
barriers for underrepresented groups in STEM careers, including 
implicit bias, stereotype threat, and work-life balance and 
caregiving issues so as to foster more inclusive workplace 
environments. Related legal requirements, including those under 
title IX, should also be addressed.
    Interagency Working Group on Medical Imaging.--The 
Committee is pleased that OSTP has convened the Interagency 
Working Group on Medical Imaging as directed in this 
Committee's fiscal year 2015 report, Senate Report 113-181. 
Basic, use-inspired discoveries in core technologies like 
medical imaging can spur the type of technology-driven jobs and 
start up activity that will result in sustainable economic 
growth and drive the Nation's economy in the coming century. 
OSTP is directed to provide a report with an update on the 
Working Group's activities and recommendations not later than 
180 days after the enactment of this act.

             National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Appropriations, 2016.................................... $19,285,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................  18,262,100,000
Committee recommendation................................  19,306,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $19,306,000,000 for 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]. The 
recommendation is $21,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $1,043,900,000 above the budget request.
    NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space 
Act of 1958 (Public Law 85-568) to conduct space and 
aeronautical research and development and to conduct flight 
activities for peaceful purposes. NASA's unique mission of 
exploration, discovery, and innovation is intended to preserve 
the United States' role as both a leader in world aviation and 
as the pre-eminent space-faring nation. It is NASA's mission 
to: advance human and robotic exploration, use, and development 
of space; advance and communicate scientific knowledge and 
understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe; 
and research, develop, verify, and transfer advanced 
aeronautics and space technologies.
    NASA's budget is a diverse blend of human and robotic 
missions, education, and research and technology development 
with the overarching goal to discover and explore. It is the 
responsibility of NASA to request appropriate funding to 
accomplish its mission. It is also incumbent upon NASA to 
properly manage budget and schedule in order to maintain a high 
probability of mission success which will enhance the value of 
its missions, scientific discoveries, and further provide the 
inspiration that will encourage the Nation's next generation of 
scientists and engineers.
    The proposed budget request by NASA is significantly flawed 
compared to the solid fiscal foundation that was provided by 
the Congress in fiscal year 2016. NASA irresponsibly chose to 
present a budget that conflated mandatory funding and 
discretionary funding to reach a misleading budget total that 
still falls $259,900,000 short of the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level. Only the discretionary portion of the request is within 
this Committee's jurisdiction, and therefore the Committee must 
make all comparisons to the request of $18,262,100,000, over 
which the Committee has jurisdiction.
    Unfortunately, the proposed discretionary budget fails to 
meet even basic funding needs for priorities agreed upon by 
NASA and Congress. Human exploration missions would miss launch 
dates that NASA has formally committed to meet, science 
missions would be terminated early, and the agency would 
struggle to fully fund its own civil servants working on next 
generation technologies. Following the discretionary fiscal 
year 2017 budget proposed for NASA would only create 
unnecessary mission cost growth and inefficient resource 
allocation throughout the agency. The Committee has chosen to 
meet NASA's needs solely through discretionary funds.
    For Science, the Committee's recommendation strives to keep 
NASA's near-term launches on track to continue progress in 
exploring our solar system and the universe, understanding the 
sun, and observing our planet. The Committee expects NASA to 
continue making progress on the recommendations of the National 
Academies' decadal surveys, now and in the future.
    The Committee believes this bill represents a solid path 
forward for human spaceflight that reaches beyond low-Earth 
orbit with affordable crew and launch vehicles; invests in the 
burgeoning domestic launch industry that is bringing cargo, and 
eventually crew, to the International Space Station; and 
supports NASA's science and technology programs. These elements 
should be viewed as complementary pieces of a balanced whole.
    NASA utilizes a broad variety of launch vehicles, from 
suborbital to heavy configurations, in order to successfully 
execute its missions. The Committee encourages NASA to choose 
those launch vehicles that prioritize their manifests such that 
NASA has a high confidence level that missions can be reliably 
launched on schedule. NASA is directed to continue providing 
the Committee with a quarterly launch schedule, by mission, 
that describes risks associated with launch delays due to 
problems with the launch vehicle; impacts of launch delays to 
other missions in the launch queue, and a budget estimate of 
the anticipated carrying costs for missed launch windows.
    The Committee is supportive of NASA's STEM education 
efforts that provide hands-on learning experiences at NASA 
centers for middle, high school, and college students, 
including space launch activities. These types of programs 
allow students to experience the full range of STEM-related 
skills involved in designing, testing, and launching vehicles 
and payloads to deepen their interest in science and 
engineering fields.
    The Committee is counting on NASA to maintain focus on 
improving oversight and accountability throughout the agency. 
NASA's acquisition management continues to be on the Government 
Accountability Office's [GAO] ``high risk'' list. The Committee 
notes that NASA is making progress in strengthening its 
financial management. GAO's most recent assessment of NASA's 
large-scale projects found the agency's cost and schedule 
performance on major projects has improved since GAO's first 
assessment in 2009, with the average cost overrun down from 4 
percent to 1.3 percent. NASA is directed to cooperate fully and 
to provide timely program analysis, evaluation data, and 
relevant information to the GAO so that GAO can report to 
Congress shortly after the annual budget submission of the 
President and semiannually thereafter on the status of large-
scale NASA programs, projects, and activities based on its 
review of this information.
    In addition, NASA is directed to provide the Committee, 
with its budget justification, the reserves assumed by NASA to 
be necessary within the amount proposed for each directorate, 
theme, program, project, and activity, or, if the proposed 
funding level for a directorate, theme, program, project, or 
activity is based on confidence level budgeting, the confidence 
level and reserves assumed in the proposed funding level.
    The Committee was informed by the priorities of the Senate 
as well as the administration. However, the Committee does not 
always agree with the administration. The Committee grants NASA 
flexibility to craft spending plans that manage funds 
appropriately and, where necessary, address funding shortfalls 
that were not foreseen by the Congress or the agency prior to 
passage of annual appropriations. However, that latitude should 
not be viewed as a license to disregard the Congressional 
direction about where limited resources should be spent. The 
Federal funding priorities for NASA set forth in this bill 
should not be interpreted as a suggestion from the Committee. 
Rather they should be interpreted like any other statutory 
requirement levied upon NASA. The Committee objects to NASA's 
efforts in recent fiscal years to redirect funding away from 
priorities clearly set by the Congress in law. NASA's continued 
use of section 505 of this bill in this manner will result in 
limited funding flexibility in the future.
    The Committee has chosen to articulate the funding levels 
of programs, where appropriate, in the form of tables and, if 
necessary, supplemented with explanatory report language.

                                SCIENCE

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $5,589,400,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   5,302,500,000
Committee recommendation................................   5,395,000,000

    The Committee provides $5,395,000,000 for Science, which is 
$194,400,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$92,500,000 above the budget request. The Science account 
encompasses: Earth Science, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, 
the James Webb Space Telescope, Heliophysics, and Education. 
This funding supports NASA programs that seek to answer 
fundamental questions concerning the ways in which Earth is 
changing; the comparison of Earth with other planets in the 
solar system and around other stars; the connections between 
the Sun and Earth; and the origin and evolution of planetary 
systems, the galaxy, and the universe, including the origin and 
distribution of life in the universe. These objectives are 
assisted by input from the scientific community through decadal 
surveys and are achieved through robotic flight missions, 
ground-based scientific research and data analysis, and the 
development of new technologies for future missions. NASA shall 
continue its progress toward implementing decadal surveys in 
Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and 
Astrophysics, including recommendations for large, flagship 
projects and small- and medium-sized missions.

                                 SCIENCE
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earth Science.........................................        1,984,000
Planetary Science.....................................        1,355,900
Astrophysics..........................................          807,000
    Education.........................................          [42,000]
James Webb Space Telescope............................          569,400
Heliophysics..........................................          678,700
                                                       -----------------
      Total, Science..................................        5,395,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Earth Science.--The recommendation includes $1,984,000,000 
for Earth Science, including $130,900,000 to continue 
formulation and development of Landsat-9 with a target launch 
date for Landsat-9 during calendar year 2020. The Committee 
expects to receive a plan, along with the spending plan 
required under section 533, which details the technical and 
schedule progress needed to achieve the 2020 target launch 
date, by each major subsystem needed for the mission. The 
recommendation also includes $90,000,000 for the Pre-Aerosol, 
Clouds, and Ocean Ecosystem [PACE] mission to continue 
formulation and development of the mission. In apportioning 
work for PACE, including development of primary mission 
components, NASA shall make every effort to preserve key 
intermural capabilities.
    Planetary Science.--The Committee supports Planetary 
Science at $1,355,900,000, including $387,700,000 for the Mars 
2020 Rover which is $10,000,000 above the request level, 
$60,000,000 for Near Earth Object Observations within Planetary 
Science Research, $44,000,000 for the Origins Spectral 
Interpretation Resource Identification and Security-Regolith 
Explorer, and $14,000,000 for New Horizons to continue to 
analyze and interpret data from the Pluto fly-by and 
exploration of the Kuiper Belt. Within funding for Near Earth 
Objects, $16,100,000 is for Asteroid Impact and Deflection 
Assessment [AIDA] Double Asteroid Redirection Test [DART]. In 
future requests, NASA shall identify total resources for AIDA-
DART as a separate activity.
    Europa.--The Committee remains supportive of a scientific 
mission to Europa, as called for in the Planetary Science 
Decadal Survey, and continues its directive to use the Space 
Launch System as the baseline launch vehicle for mission 
planning purposes. The Committee believes that any ongoing 
mission planning should seek to maximize the scientific return 
for exploring Europa with an expeditious launch and reduced 
travel time. To assist the Committee in evaluating potential 
mission configurations, NASA shall provide the Committee with a 
report, no later than 90 days from enactment, that compares 
options of flying the Europa Clipper mission with an orbiter 
and lander launched together, or separately. As part of this 
report, NASA shall consider mission cost, schedule, potential 
scientific return, and technical complexity.
    Astrophysics.--Within funds provided to Astrophysics in 
order to advance scientific knowledge of the origins of the 
universe, the Committee provides $98,300,000 for the Hubble 
Space Telescope, $83,800,000 for the Stratospheric Observatory 
for Infrared Astronomy [SOFIA], and $120,000,000 for the Wide-
Field Infrared Survey Telescope [WFIRST].
    Hubble Space Telescope.--The Committee supports continued 
operations of Hubble at the fiscal year 2016 level. The 2020 
Vision Study confirms that constant funding will allow Hubble 
to continue to deliver outstanding science by ensuring 
attention is paid to addressing operational anomalies and other 
risks to Hubble's scientific output. The Committee is concerned 
that NASA has increased the risks to Hubble science by 
requiring the program absorb costs for the well-regarded Hubble 
Fellowship program that were previously funded within 
Astrophysics. NASA shall detail to the Committee how it will 
maintain operational capability and science productivity 
through at least 2 years of overlap with JWST while also 
continuing support for the Hubble Fellowship Program.
    WFIRST Science Mission.--The Committee has provided 
$120,000,000 for the WFIRST mission using the Astrophysics 
Focused Telescope Assets, with the goal of launching the 
telescope no later than 2024. The Committee is concerned about 
the cost of the prime mission, especially because inadequate 
early investment, schedule delay, and creeping mission 
requirements have contributed to high cost growth in previous 
NASA missions. The Committee directs NASA to cap WFIRST life 
cycle costs at no more than $3,500,000,000 through the end of 
its prime mission. NASA should persue the most efficient 
development program for WFIRST and its instruments, and take 
advantage of scientific and operational and synergies with 
Hubble and JWST, as directed in fiscal year 2016. To reduce 
mission costs and ensure that overlap with JWST is maximized, 
NASA should consolidate management of the telescope, including 
its optical assets, and its instruments.
    Science Mission Directorate, Education.--Within 
Astrophysics, the request includes $25,000,000 for education 
funding within the Science Mission Directorate [SMD], which is 
$12,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 level. For fiscal year 
2017, the Committee provides no less than $42,000,000 for 
education as reflected in a more transparent single line within 
the SMD funding chart. This includes the $25,000,000 education 
funding included in the budget submission within the 
Astrophysics program. However, the Committee supports the 
recommendation that the Astrophysics program administer this 
SMD-wide education funding. The Committee encourages SMD-funded 
investigators to be directly involved in outreach and education 
efforts. NASA should continue to prioritize funding for on-
going education efforts linked directly to its science missions 
and conclude its on-going formal education assessment so the 
moratorium on formal education activities can be lifted.
    James Webb Space Telescope.--The Committee maintains its 
strong support for the completion of the James Webb Space 
Telescope [JWST], and provides $569,400,000, the same as the 
budget request. The bill maintains an overall development cost 
ceiling for JWST at $8,000,000,000, and the Committee intends 
to hold NASA and its contractors to that commitment. The 
Committee expects to be kept fully informed on issues relating 
to program and risk management, achievement of cost and 
schedule goals, and the program's technical status. The 
Committee appreciates GAO's continuing work to monitor JWST 
progress, costs, and schedule.
    Astrophysics/Search for Life Technology Development.--
According to GAO's most recent assessment of NASA's major 
projects, ``As of 2015, 9 of the 11 major projects that passed 
preliminary design review matured all technologies to the level 
recommended by GAO best practices.'' While GAO characterizes 
this as a positive trend for cost and schedule performance, 
NASA needs new technologies to make new discoveries. NASA's 
goal should be to invest in technologies early to mitigate risk 
and continue to mature technologies to position the U.S. 
scientific community to advance its world class science. The 
Committee encourages NASA to strengthen industry involvement in 
leveraging and scaling new technologies developed for the JWST 
to larger segmented-aperture telescopes that will be required 
to achieve the goals of the next decadal survey such as 
detecting biomarkers in faint signals of light from distant 
Earth-sized planets. The recommendation includes $5,000,000 for 
such technology development.
    Heliophysics.--The Committee provides $678,700,000 for 
Heliophysics including the budget request of $232,500,000 for 
the Solar Probe Plus mission to launch in 2018 and $17,400,000 
for the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. The Committee 
recognizes that a greater understanding of our Sun will help to 
mitigate the hazards that solar activity poses to the ground- 
and space-based platforms that strengthen our national 
security, economic security, and scientific prowess. Therefore, 
the Committee expects NASA to request adequate discretionary 
funding in future years to continue progress toward Decadal 
Survey priorities, including the release of Explorer 
Announcements of Opportunity every 18 months, alternating 
between small and mid-sized opportunities. Within the amount 
for Heliophysics, the recommendation includes $61,200,000 for 
Heliophysics Research, Other Missions and Data Analysis, an 
increase of $5,000,000 above the President's request, to 
continue implementation of the Diversify, Realize, Integrate, 
Venture, Educate [DRIVE] Initiative.

                              AERONAUTICS

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $640,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     634,500,000
Committee recommendation................................     601,000,000

    The Committee provides $601,000,000 for Aeronautics, which 
is $39,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$33,500,000 below the budget request. The Aeronautics account 
funds research in key areas related to the development of 
advanced aircraft technologies and systems, including those 
related to aircraft safety, ultra-efficient vehicles and fuel 
efficiency, and research that supports the Next Generation Air 
Transportation System in partnership with the Joint Planning 
and Development Office.
    Unmanned Aerial Systems [UAS] Research.--NASA provides 
research to reduce technical barriers associated with 
integrating UAS into the National Airspace System [NAS]. This 
research remains a national priority with the potential to 
increase public safety and bring economic benefits to a wide 
range of industries. The Committee provides $5,000,000 for NASA 
to conduct further research at the Federal Aviation 
Administration's six test sites in collaboration with the FAA's 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence on UAS use in a 
broad range of public safety applications over land and 
maritime environments.

                            SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $686,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     690,600,000
Committee recommendation................................     686,500,000

    The Committee provides $686,500,000 for Space Technology, 
which is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$4,100,000 below the budget request. The Space Technology 
Program funds basic research that can advance multi-purpose 
technologies to enable new approaches to NASA's current 
missions. It includes NASA's Small Business Innovative Research 
[SBIR] and Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] programs.
    The Committee is supportive of many of the technologies 
being developed within Space Technology, which will have wide 
ranging benefits for NASA missions and throughout the agency. 
Of particular note are the enabling technologies of Solar 
Electric Propulsion, the laser communications relay 
demonstration, and composite tanks and structural materials. 
These key supporting technologies will provide enabling 
capabilities for multiple robotic and human exploration 
missions.
    Satellite Servicing/RESTORE-L.--The Committee recommends 
$130,000,000 for continued formulation activities and 
acquisition of the mission's bus module to maintain a schedule 
that targets a launch in calendar year 2019 allowing Landsat-7 
to be refueled before its original fuel supply is depleted.
    Nuclear Propulsion.--NASA is continuing its work to develop 
the foundational technologies and advance low enriched uranium 
nuclear thermal propulsion systems that can provide 
significantly faster trip times for crewed missions than non-
nuclear options. The Committee provides $28,900,000 above the 
request for ongoing nuclear thermal propulsion technologies for 
space transportation and exploration. NASA shall update its 
report to the Committee within 180 days of enactment of this 
act on ongoing nuclear thermal propulsion research and how the 
research into this technology supports NASA's exploration 
programs.
    Small Launch Technology.--The Committee provides 
$30,000,000 for the advancement, and sub-orbital and orbital 
technology demonstrations, of a small launch technology 
platform able to carry a 200-300 kilogram small satellite into 
low Earth orbit. The small launch technology demonstration 
platform shall leverage existing government derived small 
launch technologies, such as the Operationally Responsive Space 
developed Super Strypi, to the maximum extent possible. The 
results and data from the demonstrations shall be owned by the 
U.S. Government and made available for future launch services 
and competitions.
    Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR].--The Committee 
recognizes the importance of the SBIR program and its previous 
success in commercialization of results from federally funded 
research and development projects. The SBIR program encourages 
domestic small businesses to engage in Federal research and 
development, and creates jobs. The Committee therefore directs 
NASA to place an increased focus on awarding SBIR awards to 
firms with fewer than 50 employees.

                              EXPLORATION

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $4,030,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   3,163,900,000
Committee recommendation................................   4,330,000,000

    The Committee provides $4,330,000,000 for Exploration, 
which is $300,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 
and $1,166,100,000 above the budget request. The Exploration 
account funds the capabilities required to develop, 
demonstrate, and deploy the transportation, life support, and 
surface systems that will enable sustained human presence 
beyond low-Earth orbit and throughout the solar system. The 
Committee believes the Nation deserves a safe and robust human 
spaceflight program to explore beyond low-Earth orbit.

                               EXPLORATION
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                          recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Space Launch System....................................        2,150,000
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle.......................        1,300,000
Exploration Ground Systems.............................          484,000
Exploration Research and Development...................          396,000
                                                        ----------------
      TOTAL............................................        4,330,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Space Launch System [SLS], Orion multi-purpose crew 
vehicle [Orion], and Exploration ground systems are all 
critical infrastructure for the development and sustainment of 
the Nation's human exploration goals. These investments will 
enable for the human exploration of space beyond low Earth 
orbit, and provide flexibility for a variety of mission 
destinations.
    The Committee is strongly supportive of NASA's efforts to 
develop the elements of a launch system that will enable the 
human exploration of space beyond low Earth Orbit. Since NASA 
began developing the vehicles and infrastructure that will 
enable future exploration efforts, the agency has focused its 
budget on funding the individual systems necessary to meet 
either the Exploration Mission 1 [EM-1] or the crewed 
Exploration Mission 2 [EM-2] launch dates. Currently, SLS has a 
commitment to meet a launch date for EM-1, while Orion has a 
commitment that extends to EM-2. Yet Orion cannot fly the EM-2 
mission without SLS. Mismatched goals and schedules do not 
ensure a coordinated effort for human exploration mission 
success.
    The Committee believes that the funds for each element are 
critical. Therefore, NASA should provide an integrated 
budgetary plan that will address the goal of these elements 
becoming an ongoing exploration system instead of discrete 
projects with separate management and commitment goals. For 
fiscal year 2017, bill language is included that calls for NASA 
to provide a 5-year integrated budget plan to execute EM-2 in 
2021. Within that same timeframe, elements of future 
exploration missions, along with potential science missions, 
will require funding provided within in their discrete 
programs, projects, and activities. Having a sustained systems 
approach instead of a mission-by-mission mindset for the launch 
vehicles and infrastructure will provide for better budget 
planning in the future fiscal years.
    The Committee continues to be disappointed that funding 
requested by NASA for SLS and Orion once again bears little 
relation to necessary funding levels or to amounts provided in 
previous years. The lack of budgetary support for these 
programs indicates that NASA is allowing an artificially low 
development funding profile and inefficient decision processes 
to create unnecessary risks to launch schedules. The Committee 
has repeatedly been compelled to provide appropriate funding to 
keep the human exploration program from incurring costly 
setbacks and to maintain development schedules. NASA is 
directed to provide the Committee more realistic funding 
profiles for the SLS, Orion, and ground system elements, so 
that future proposed funding will match NASA's own 
expectations. The Committee's challenge to appropriately fund 
exploration systems is made significantly more difficult 
because NASA chose to include mandatory funding not under the 
jurisdiction of the Committee in its request. This mandatory 
funding was proposed without any existing authority or specific 
offsets, as part of NASA's overall request. Within the 
discretionary levels proposed in NASA's request, NASA cannot 
meet its baseline commitments for any of these components.
    Space Launch System.--The Committee reiterates its 
unwavering support of SLS and the ability for SLS to open the 
human exploration of space to a wide range of missions and to 
enable unprecedented scientific discovery.
    The Committee finds that the budgetary resources proposed 
for SLS in the fiscal year 2017 budget request are insufficient 
and would prevent SLS from meeting NASA's baseline commitment 
to a November 2018 launch. The Committee is further concerned 
that NASA did not request any funding for the Exploration Upper 
Stage [EUS]. In doing so, NASA is ensuring that EM-2 will not 
occur in 2021 and places in doubt NASA's support for meeting 
the baseline commitment of a launch in 2023.
    To ensure funding that enables NASA to adequately meet 
management agreement goals for EM-1 and EM-2, the Committee 
provides $2,150,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 for SLS, with no 
less than $300,000,000 provided for the direct development of 
the EUS. The funding provided sets SLS on a path from 
development to sustained production.
    Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle [Orion].--Orion is an 
essential component of NASA's human exploration goals that 
extend beyond low-Earth orbit and represents the Nation's next 
human exploration vehicle designed to carry astronauts to deep 
space destinations and provide a safe return to Earth. 
Consistent with NASA's direction that Orion be managed in order 
to fly a crewed mission as early as 2021, the Committee has 
provided $1,300,000,000 for Orion to continue its progress 
toward a successful EM-1 test flight and continue preparations 
for a crewed flight in 2021.
    Testing Infrastructure.--The Committee encourages NASA to 
develop plans to fully utilize NASA-owned rocket testing 
infrastructure for commercially developed launch vehicles to 
ensure that these vehicles are not only tested in the same 
manner as Government-developed launch vehicles but at the same 
facilities to ensure consistency in testing across all 
potential vehicles.
    Advanced Exploration Systems.--The amount provided for 
Advanced Exploration Systems enables NASA to continue current 
activities within NASA and with industry related to VASIMR 
propulsion technology and In Situ Resource Utilization from 
surface or asteroid-derived resources, in cooperation with 
Space Technology.
    Space Suit Plan.--The Committee is concerned that NASA 
lacks plans for testing and deploying a next generation 
exploration space suit that can serve the safety needs of the 
astronaut corps. Recent failures of the existing suit system 
during spacewalks conducted aboard the ISS highlight the 
importance of delivering a more functional exploration suit and 
life support system for more complex future endeavors, in a 
manner that can respond expeditiously to urgent needs. Not less 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this act, NASA is 
directed to submit to the Committee a detailed plan for 
achieving an advanced space suit capability that aligns with 
the crew needs for exploration enabled by SLS and Orion, and 
evaluates the merit of delivering the planned suit system for 
use on ISS. Consideration should be given to leveraging NASA's 
existing investments and technologies as the plan is developed.

                            SPACE OPERATIONS

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $5,029,200,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   5,075,800,000
Committee recommendation................................   4,950,700,000

    The Committee provides $4,950,700,000 for Space Operations, 
which is $78,500,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 
and $125,100,000 below the budget request. The Space Operations 
account funds the International Space Station [ISS], and the 
supporting functions required to conduct operations in space. 
The ISS is a complex of research laboratories in low-Earth 
orbit in which American, Russian, and international partner 
astronauts are conducting unique scientific and technological 
investigations in a microgravity environment.
    Commercial Cargo.--The Committee is encouraged with the 
ability of both domestic cargo suppliers to respond to launch 
mishaps and find solutions that keep the ISS supplied and 
operating as a scientific platform in space. NASA has 
reaffirmed its confidence in the current suppliers and added a 
third in its next round of contracted supply flights, providing 
further redundancy and additional capabilities for delivering 
cargo to, and from, the ISS. Within the funds provided for 
Space Operations, $1,028,000,000, equal to the budget request, 
is for fully funding the continuing support of cargo flights by 
domestic companies under the first and second rounds of 
commercial resupply contracts.
    Commercial Crew.--The Committee provides up to 
$1,184,800,000, for the Commercial Crew program. The Committee 
remains concerned about the tight schedule for delivering crew 
to the ISS by commercial crew participants by 2017. Both 
companies now anticipate completing contracted milestones on a 
delayed schedule, closer to the anticipated launch dates, 
compressing already aggressive and optimistic schedules. This 
leaves little margin for either provider to maintain schedule 
as unanticipated challenges emerge during vehicle production 
and testing.
    The Government Accountability Office, in its most recent 
report on NASA's large scale projects, has indicated that 
commercial crew contractors have asked for variances to design 
standards, that if they are not granted, could have significant 
impacts to cost and schedule. The report found that NASA, in 
the face of such impacts, has accommodated variances that might 
lead to design changes. Unfortunately, in doing so, neither 
commercial crew contractor is meeting the requirement that the 
chance of a loss of crew be less than 1 in 200. The Committee 
considers astronaut safety its highest priority, and NASA must 
ensure that safety standards for transportation are not 
compromised as NASA begins to replace its reliance on existing 
Russian capabilities with services from domestic crew 
transportation providers.
    It is the intent of the Committee to closely monitor and 
review the progress of each commercial crew participant through 
the quarterly reports that are provided by NASA and to continue 
to assess the need for this funding as milestone schedules and 
timelines are reevaluated by NASA.
    Rocket Propulsion Test Program.--The Committee recommends 
the fiscal year 2017 funding request and up to an additional 
$10,000,000 for the NASA Rocket Propulsion Test program to 
ensure test infrastructure remains adequate to support the 
Space Launch System and other propulsion development programs.
    21st Century Launch Complex Program.--The Committee 
provides $20,000,000 for the 21st Century Space Launch Complex, 
which is $8,000,000 above the request. The Committee notes that 
maintaining multiple launch sites contributes to assured access 
to the ISS in case of natural disaster, national security 
event, or launch accident. The program's authorized purposes 
include projects at all NASA-owned launch facilities. As such, 
the Committee directs no less than half of the total funding 
provided be directed toward filling critical maintenance, 
capacity, and range safety gaps at the Wallops Flight Facility 
launch complex, and further directs NASA to take into 
consideration the full potential of all NASA-owned launch 
complexes. Should NASA phase out this program, as currently 
planned, the agency should give high priority to range safety 
projects when developing its future Construction of Facilities 
requests.
    Shuttle Close Out.--The Committee recognizes that NASA is 
working expeditiously to finalize the required audits and close 
out activities associated with the end of the Space Shuttle 
program. Within the funds provided for Space Operations, up to 
$7,600,000 is for close out activities of the Shuttle program. 
No funds have been provided in the Exploration Account for this 
purpose.

                               EDUCATION

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $115,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     100,100,000
Committee recommendation................................     108,000,000

    The Committee provides $108,000,000 for Education, which is 
$7,000,000 below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$7,900,000 above the budget request. The Education account 
funds science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] 
education activities to educate and inspire our next generation 
of explorers and innovators.

                                EDUCATION
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Committee
                                                          recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA Space Grant........................................          40,000
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research..          18,000
Minority University Research and Education Program......          32,000
STEM Education and Accountability Projects..............          18,000
                                                         ---------------
    TOTAL...............................................         108,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Space Grant.--The Committee provides $40,000,000 for Space 
Grant, and directs NASA to support an extension of the current 
Space Grant program, and to allocate the entire funding amount 
for consortia-led institutions in all 52 participating 
jurisdictions according to the percentage allocation provided 
to States in the current 5-year grant award.
    Competitive Program.--The Committee provides up to 
$10,000,000 for the Competitive Program for Science, Museums, 
Planetariums and NASA Visitors Centers within the STEM 
Education and Accountability Projects. This competitive grant 
program creates interactive exhibits, professional development 
activities, and community-based programs to engage students, 
teachers, and the public in science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics.
    Space Law.--As the civilian space market continues to grow 
and national policies are developed for remote sensing and 
commercial space launches for cargo and crew, there is an 
increasing need for education on the legal aspects of human use 
of aerospace technologies. To encourage legal research in this 
area, the Committee provides up to $1,000,000 for space law 
education and outreach. NASA shall provide a spending plan to 
the Committee within 60 days of enactment on how NASA will 
implement this direction.

                 SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $2,768,600,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   2,836,800,000
Committee recommendation................................   2,796,700,000

    The Committee provides $2,796,700,000 for Safety, Security, 
and Mission Services, which is $28,100,000 above the fiscal 
year 2016 enacted level and $40,100,000 below the budget 
request. The Safety, Security, and Mission Services account 
funds agency management, including headquarters and each of the 
nine NASA field centers, as well as the design and execution of 
non-programmatic Construction of Facilities and Environmental 
Compliance and Restoration activities.
    Independent Verification and Validation [IV&V] Program.--
Within the amounts provided for cross-agency support, the 
Committee recommends $39,100,000 for NASA's IV&V Program.
    Cybersecurity.--The Committee's recommendation includes the 
full request for the Agency Information Technology [IT] 
Services to support shifting NASA's IT model to one that 
enhances cybersecurity with strong governance and strong 
information security practices.
    Technical Capabilities Assessment Team/Business 
Applications.--The Committee remains interested in the progress 
of the Technical Capabilities Assessment Team [TCAT] process 
and implementation. The potential for cross-Center technical 
teams to allow each Center to be best at what they are best at 
and also to be the best at what they are needed for is 
encouraging. However, organizational efficiency is not always 
the same as organizational effectiveness. The Committee is 
concerned that divorcing business decisions from local control 
could result in unnecessary delays to mission execution.
    The Committee directs NASA to provide an independently-
assessed business case for any further consolidations of 
procurement or human resources services. The Committee 
acknowledges NASA's efforts to inform interested parties of 
planned implementation actions and further directs that NASA 
shall ensure all impacted parties, including both local and 
national unions, are formally consulted before implementing any 
TCAT-related action, no matter the size. The Committee 
understands that NASA has assured impacted Centers that recent 
actions related to small procurements will not result in 
reduced head count and expects NASA to follow that promise.
    National Center for Critical Information Processing and 
Storage.--The National Center for Critical Information 
Processing and Storage [NCCIPS], managed by NASA, was 
established to consolidate efforts across Federal agencies to 
store and secure data. NCCIPS is designed to be a shared 
service, multi-tenant Federal data facility and is currently 
utilized by NASA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the 
U.S. Navy. The Committee encourages NASA to make agencies aware 
of NCCIPS capabilities in order to help the Federal Government 
reduce IT costs and more rapidly achieve IT modernization. The 
Committee urges NASA to offer NCCIPS to other agencies in order 
to take full financial advantage of this secure data facility, 
to help the Federal Government reduce IT costs, and to more 
rapidly achieve IT modernization.

       CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $388,900,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     419,800,000
Committee recommendation................................     400,000,000

    The Committee provides $400,000,000 for Construction and 
Environmental Compliance and Restoration, which is $11,100,000 
above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $19,800,000 below 
the budget request. The Construction and Environmental 
Compliance and Restoration account provides for design and 
execution of programmatic, discrete and minor revitalization, 
construction of facilities projects, facility demolition 
projects, and environmental compliance and restoration 
activities.
    In order to maintain continuity within the projects for 
major construction, NASA shall prioritize available funding 
towards repairs, minor revitalization, and activities that have 
initiated demolition, site preparation, or construction 
activities during previous fiscal years, followed by projects 
that were deferred in previous budget requests and have since 
been requested again for funding in the fiscal year 2017 
request.
    Preservation of Tribal Artifacts at Santa Susana Field 
Laboratory.--As NASA works to meet the requirements of the 2010 
Administrative Order on Consent for Remedial Action, along with 
preceding agreements and court orders, the agency is encouraged 
to protect the unique and historically significant Native 
American sites on the property, including but not limited to 
the Burro Flats Painted Cave. To the maximum extent 
practicable, NASA shall include all Traditional Cultural 
Properties and Traditional Cultural Landscapes (as defined by 
30 CFR 60.4 and National Park Service Bulletin 38) as ``Native 
American artifacts that are formally recognized as Cultural 
Resources,'' for the purposes of the Administrative 
Order.

        CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION
                        [In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                                                         recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Construction of Facilities (CoF)......................  ................
    Institutional CoF.................................  ................
    Exploration CoF...................................  ................
    Space Operations CoF..............................  ................
Environmental Compliance and Restoration..............  ................
                                                       -----------------
      Total, Construction and Environmental Compliance  ................
       and Restoration................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     deg.OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $37,400,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      38,100,000
Committee recommendation................................      38,100,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $38,100,000 for the 
Office of Inspector General [OIG], which is $700,000 above the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the same as the budget 
request. The Office is responsible for promoting efficiency and 
preventing and detecting crime, fraud, waste, and 
mismanagement.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    The Committee includes bill language regarding the 
availability of funds for certain prizes.
    The Committee also includes bill language regarding 
transfers of funds between accounts and the NASA spending plan 
for fiscal year 2017.

                      National Science Foundation

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $7,463,485,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   7,564,020,000
Committee recommendation................................   7,509,788,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $7,509,788,000 for 
the National Science Foundation [NSF]. The recommendation is 
$46,303,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and 
$54,232,000 below the budget request.
    The National Science Foundation was established as an 
independent agency by the National Science Foundation Act of 
1950 (Public Law 81-507) and is authorized to support research 
and education programs that promote the progress of science and 
engineering in the United States. The Foundation supports 
research and education in all major scientific and engineering 
disciplines through grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, 
and other forms of assistance in all parts of the United 
States. The Foundation also supports unique domestic and 
international large-scale research facilities.

                    RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2016....................................  $6,033,645,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................   6,079,430,000
Committee recommendation................................   6,033,645,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $6,033,645,000. The 
recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and $45,785,000 below the budget request.
    The Research and Related Activities [R&RA] appropriation 
funds scientific discovery, trains a dynamic workforce, and 
supports broadly accessible state-of-the-art tools and 
facilities. Research activities will contribute to the 
achievement of these outcomes through expansion of the 
knowledge base; integration of research and education; 
stimulation of knowledge transfer between academia and the 
public and private sectors; and international activities, and 
will bring the perspectives of many disciplines to bear on 
complex problems important to the Nation. The Foundation's 
discipline-oriented R&RA account includes: Biological Sciences; 
Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Engineering; 
Geosciences; Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Social, 
Behavioral and Economic Sciences; Office of 
Cyberinfrastructure; Office of International Science and 
Engineering; Office of Polar Programs; Integrative Activities; 
and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.
    The Committee's fiscal year 2017 recommendation supports 
Federal long-term basic research that has the potential to 
transform our economy and our way of life in the context of a 
flat Federal budget.
    Scientific Facilities and Instrumentation.--A critical 
component of the Nation's scientific enterprise is the 
infrastructure that supports researchers in discovery science. 
Investments to advance the frontiers of research and education 
in science and engineering are critical to the Nation's 
innovation enterprise. The Committee encourages the National 
Science Foundation to fully fund its U.S. scientific research 
facilities and instruments to adequately support scientists and 
students engaged in sustained, cutting-edge research.
    Astronomy.--U.S.-based astronomy facilities continue to 
make groundbreaking discoveries and maintain excellent world-
class scientific research even as operating budgets have been 
continually constrained. This area of research is particularly 
important because NSF's network of observatories and its 
individual investigators are significant resources to all 
astronomers, including those from U.S. colleges and 
universities that do not have dedicated observatories. The 
Committee encourages NSF to sustain support for the programs 
and scientific facilities funded by the Astronomical Sciences 
division, including the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
    Solar Astronomy.--The Committee believes that a robust U.S. 
solar research community is an important asset to the country's 
competitive scientific edge. As NSF begins its long-planned 
transition to full-scale operations of the Daniel K. Inouye 
Solar Telescope, the Committee directs NSF to continue working 
with the National Solar Observatory and the academic community 
to transition the management and operational responsibilities 
of other solar telescopes to university consortia or other non-
Federal entities.
    Super Computing Planning.--The Committee commends NSF on 
its continuing commitment to its high-performance computing and 
data analysis capabilities and urges NSF to make timely and 
significant investments in high-performance computing. NSF 
should remain committed to enabling tremendous leaps in 
computational simulation and data analyses for the broad range 
of research the Nation requires. The Committee understands that 
the National Research Council [NRC] is in the process of 
finalizing its report on advanced computing infrastructure. 
This report should be instructive in identifying priorities and 
approaches that NSF can take to modernize its high performance 
computing infrastructure and associated software and 
applications in order to support scientific research and 
education. Within 180 days of receipt of the finalized report, 
NSF shall provide the Committee with a response to the report 
and its plans to incorporate, to the extent practicable, the 
NRC's recommendations into the Foundation's approach for 
maintaining and modernizing its supercomputing capabilities at 
existing or future facilities.
    Mathematical Sciences Institutes.--The Committee recognizes 
the importance of the NSF Mathematical Sciences Institutes 
across the country, which provide important basic research in 
multiple fields.
    Vortex-SE.--The southeastern United States commonly 
experiences devastating tornadoes under variables and 
conditions that differ considerably from the Midwest, where 
tornado research has historically been focused. NSF has been 
working in conjunction with the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] to build up to a full 
research campaign to study the unique characteristics of 
tornadoes in the southeast. The Committee understands that NSF 
and NOAA are conducting an initial field operation associated 
with the Vortex-SE effort in the spring of 2016 and fully 
supports the planned workshop in the fall of 2016 that will 
help inform the larger scale research effort planned for fiscal 
year 2017. These activities will allow for researchers to build 
a framework for a focused experimental design and science 
campaign centered on tornadoes in the southeast. NSF shall 
continue its coordinated efforts with NOAA to ensure that NSF-
funded research complements work funded through NOAA. The 
Committee expects that future budget requests for Vortex-SE 
will include adequate resources for the anticipated research 
campaign and directs NSF to include a coordinated funding plan 
and timeline for conducting Vortex-SE as part of future budget 
requests.
    As part of Vortex-SE, the Committee directs NSF to look 
beyond the traditional research disciplines and programs 
utilized in previous Vortex programs and to include and utilize 
the collaborative opportunities of the Prediction of and 
Resilience against Extreme Events [PREEVENTS] program for co-
funding grants that enhance understanding of the fundamental 
natural processes and hazards of tornadoes in the southeast and 
to improve models of these seasonal extreme events.
    Cybersecurity.--The Committee's recommendation includes no 
less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level for cybersecurity 
research, including support for core computer science research 
at academic institutions. The discovery and innovation in 
cybersecurity supported by NSF will form the intellectual 
foundations for practical applications that make our 
information networks safer, more secure, and better able to 
predict, resist, repel, and recover from cyber attacks.
    Innovation Corps.--The Committee supports the NSF's request 
for the Innovation Corps [I-Corps] program to build on the 
successes of its innovative public-private partnership model. 
Technology transfer is the backbone of American innovation, and 
NSF plays a critical role in enabling our Nation's brightest 
academic minds to bring their ideas and ingenuity to the 
marketplace. Scientists are trained in discovery but need help 
turning their research into real-world products and profits. 
Programs like I-Corps create jobs in our laboratories today and 
jobs in American industries tomorrow. NSF is encouraged to 
collaborate with the National Institute for Standards and 
Technology's Lab-to-Market program and with other science 
mission agencies' technology transfer programs to leverage 
Federal expertise in maximizing the success of I-Corps projects 
and participants.
    HBCUs Excellence in Research.--The Committee continues to 
believe in the importance of additional Federal research 
opportunities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
[HBCUs]. Because NSF's primary research directorates continue 
to have a troubling track record of funding HBCUs, the 
Committee provides $10,000,000 for the HBCUs Excellence in 
Research program with the goal of providing strategic programs 
and opportunities for HBCUs that stimulate sustainable 
improvement in their research and development capacity and 
competitiveness. NSF is also encouraged to use research 
infrastructure improvement grants, co-funding programs, and 
other innovative mechanisms to achieve these goals. NSF shall 
provide a detailed outline of the proposed execution for the 
HBCUs Excellence in Research program in its fiscal year 2017 
spending plan.
    Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials 
[SusChEM].--The Committee recognizes that the Sustainable 
Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials [SusChEM] program is 
scheduled to sunset in fiscal year 2017, but encourages NSF to 
continue research in these fields within existing program 
areas. The Committee encourages NSF to pursue a long-term 
vision for sustainable chemistry, including support for 
sustainable chemistry research and development, education and 
training, commercialization, and public-private partnerships.
    Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering 
Careers [ADVANCE].--The Committee is supportive of the ADVANCE 
program, which funds efforts to address the systemic barriers 
to women's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
[STEM] careers. To further these efforts, the Committee 
provides $18,000,000, an increase of $3,100,000 above the 
fiscal year 2016 funding level, with the additional funds being 
provided to broaden the reach of the proven strategies 
developed through ADVANCE to increase the representation and 
advancement of women and minorities in STEM fields.
    Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research 
[EPSCoR].--Within funds provided, the Committee provides not 
less than the fiscal year 2016 enacted level for EPSCoR.

          MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $200,310,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     193,120,000
Committee recommendation................................     246,573,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $246,573,000 for 
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction. The 
recommendation is $46,263,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $53,453,000 above the budget request.
    The Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction 
appropriation supports the acquisition, procurement, 
construction, and commissioning of unique national research 
platforms and facilities as well as major research equipment. 
Projects supported by this appropriation will push the 
boundaries of technology and offer significant expansion of 
opportunities for the science and engineering community. 
Preliminary design and development activities, on-going 
operations, and maintenance costs of the facilities are 
provided through the Research and Related Activities 
appropriation account.
    The Committee's recommendation includes funding at the 
requested level for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope and 
the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
    Regional Class Research Vessels.--The Committee notes that 
the fiscal year 2017 request includes a new start for two 
regional class research vessels [RCRV]. In a 2012 report to the 
Committee on the status of the planned acquisition of the RCRV, 
NSF indicated that the agency was coordinating with the 
Interagency Working Group on Facilities and Infrastructure to 
design and potentially construct three RCRVs in order to right 
size the fleet. The timeline included milestones, pending 
funding approval, for three RCRVs beginning in 2017, 2019, and 
2020. In March of 2014, NSF reiterated its recommendation for 
three vessels, after analyzing multiple scenarios through its 
division of Ocean Sciences. The analysis showed RCRVs are 
needed to meet regional coastal requirements and could be 
supported within projected budgets. The Committee supports 
NSF's plan for acquiring three RCRVs and appreciates the 
benefits of having dedicated regional vessels for the Pacific, 
Atlantic, and Gulf coasts rather than inefficiently forcing two 
ships to allocate time among the three regions. Therefore, the 
Committee recommendation provides $159,453,000 to facilitate 
planning and construction of three RCRVs.
    Independent Review.--The Committee requests the Government 
Accountability Office [GAO] to review programs funded within 
MREFC in a timescale and quality that is similar to the 
analysis GAO already provides the Committee regarding NASA's 
large-scale acquisition and construction projects. The 
Committee believes that the additional independent perspective 
will help to identify potential technical risks and cost 
overruns over the construction life of projects so that these 
important scientific missions keep on schedule and on budget. 
NSF is directed to cooperate fully and to provide timely 
program analysis, evaluation data, and other relevant 
information to GAO so that GAO can report to Congress shortly 
after the annual budget submission of the President and 
semiannually thereafter on the status of large-scale NSF 
programs, projects, and activities based on its review of this 
information. The Committee notes that NSF MREFC has a no cost 
overrun policy and expects GAO's analysis to explain any trade 
offs NSF intends to execute to meet its policy.

                     EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $880,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     898,870,000
Committee recommendation................................     880,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $880,000,000 for 
this account. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 
2016 enacted level and $18,870,000 below the budget request.
    The Education and Human Resources appropriation supports a 
comprehensive set of programs across all levels of education in 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM]. The 
appropriation supports activities that unite school districts 
with institutions of higher learning to improve precollege 
education. Other precollege activities include the development 
of the next generation of STEM education leaders, instructional 
materials, and the STEM instructional workforce. Undergraduate 
activities support curriculum, laboratory, and instructional 
improvement; expand the STEM talent pool; attract STEM 
participants to teaching; augment advanced technological 
education at 2-year colleges; and develop dissemination tools. 
Graduate support is directed to research and teaching 
fellowships, internships, and instructional workforce 
improvement by linking precollege education systems with higher 
education. Programs also seek to broaden the participation of 
groups underrepresented in the STEM enterprise and promote 
informal science education.
    Advanced Technological Education.--The Committee provides 
funding for Advanced Technological Education at not less than 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level.
    Robert Noyce Scholarship Program.--The Committee provides 
the budget request level of $60,890,000 for the Robert Noyce 
Scholarship program to help fill the critical need for STEM 
teachers in elementary and secondary schools.
    CyberCorps: Scholarships for Service.--The CyberCorps: 
Scholarships for Service program helps the Federal Government 
respond to threats to our information technology infrastructure 
by providing scholarships to train cybersecurity professionals. 
In return, scholarship recipients agree to serve in a Federal 
Government agency building the Government's capacity to 
understand, respond to, and prevent cyber threats. More than 
2,656 students have completed the program, which was initiated 
in fiscal year 2001, and more than 93 percent of students have 
been placed, serving more than 140 Federal agencies. The 
Committee provides no less than $55,000,000 for the Federal 
Cyber Service: Scholarships for Service program, of which not 
less than $7,500,000 should be used to continue work with 
community colleges that have been designated as a Center of 
Academic Excellence in Information Assurance 2-Year Education 
[CAE2Y] by the National Security Agency and the Department of 
Homeland Security. Additionally, the Committee urges NSF to 
collaborate with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity 
Education at NIST on their efforts to develop cybersecurity 
skills in the workforce, especially in support of non-
traditional or technical degree qualifications.
    Informal Science Education.--The Committee maintains its 
strong support for NSF's informal science education program and 
supports the requested levels of $62,500,000 for Advancing 
Informal STEM Learning and $51,880,000 for STEM+C Partnerships. 
The Committee encourages the NSF to coordinate and provide 
necessary support for investments in both in- and out-of-school 
time STEM education programs across Federal agencies, including 
support for extracurricular STEM programs.
    Division of Research on Learning [DRL] in Formal and 
Informal Settings.--As part of the research funded through the 
DRL, the Committee recognizes the importance of out-of-school 
time STEM mentor-led engagement programs, including STEM 
networks, festivals, and competitions. Such programs are highly 
effective in filling the higher education STEM pipeline. The 
Committee urges NSF to focus on populations underrepresented in 
the STEM fields and encourages NSF to fund out-of-school time 
STEM engagement program activities.
    Dyslexia.--The Committee encourages NSF to continue funding 
meritorious research on dyslexia and other learning 
disabilities through the Research on Disabilities Education 
program under the Education and Human Resources Directorate. 
Dyslexia related research grants are expected to fully meet 
NSF's merit review standards and should have a goal of 
practical application.
    Division on Human Resource Development.--The Committee 
continues its longstanding support for existing initiatives to 
broaden participation in STEM fields and recognizes these 
programs have various purposes and engage students in a 
different manner. The Committee notes that support for these 
programs has stagnated within NSF in spite of increases to the 
overall NSF budget. The Committee recommends $35,000,000 for 
the Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs] 
Undergraduate Program, $8,000,000 for the Alliance for Graduate 
Education and the Professoriate, $46,000,000 for the Louis 
Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, $14,000,000 for 
the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program, and $24,000,000 
for Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology. 
In proposal selection, the Committee encourages NSF to give 
priority to grant proposals that have demonstrated maturity, 
including previous partnerships with other Federal agencies.
    Hispanic-Serving Institutions [HSI] Program.--Investment in 
STEM education is vital for American economic competitiveness, 
and Hispanic Americans are underrepresented in science and 
engineering disciplines. The Committee provides $5,000,000 as 
authorized under 42 U.S.C. 1862o-12 for NSF to implement an HSI 
Program that is designed to increase the recruitment, 
retention, and graduation rates of Hispanic students pursuing 
associate or baccalaureate degrees in STEM fields.

                 AGENCY OPERATIONS AND AWARD MANAGEMENT

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $330,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     373,020,000
Committee recommendation................................     330,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $330,000,000 for 
Agency Operations and Award Management. The recommendation is 
equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $43,020,000 
below the budget request.
    The appropriation provides salaries and expenses, 
including: staff salaries, benefits, travel, training, rent, 
advisory and assistance services, communications and utilities 
expenses, supplies, equipment, and other operating expenses 
necessary for management of the National Science Foundation's 
research and education activities.
    The Committee reiterates its long-standing requirement that 
NSF submit reprogrammings when initiating new programs or 
activities of more than $500,000 or when reorganizing 
components. The Committee expects to be notified of 
reprogramming actions which involve less than the above-
mentioned amount if such actions would have the effect of 
changing the agency's funding requirements in future years, or 
if programs or projects specifically cited in the Committee's 
reports are affected.
    Peer Review.--The Committee has long been supportive of 
NSF's peer review process to identify and recommend funding for 
scientifically meritorious research. NSF's ability to fund 
cutting-edge research helps keep the country at the forefront 
of research across all scientific disciplines, which in turn 
builds the technological capabilities that underpin economic 
growth and prosperity. As part of the peer review process, NSF 
should include criteria that evaluates how a proposal will 
advance our Nation's national security and economic interests, 
as well as promote the of progress of science and innovation in 
the United States.

                  OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD

Appropriations, 2016....................................      $4,370,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................       4,380,000
Committee recommendation................................       4,370,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $4,370,000 for the 
Office of the National Science Board. The recommendation is the 
same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $10,000 below 
the budget request.
    The National Science Board is the governing body of NSF and 
is charged with serving as an independent adviser to the 
President and Congress on policy matters related to science and 
engineering research and education.
    Operations and Maintenance Costs.--The Committee is 
concerned that operations and maintenance costs for NSF-funded 
research facilities require an increasingly large percentage of 
the funding for Research and Related Activities, especially in 
a budget environment where overall domestic spending is 
restrained and annual operations and maintenance costs increase 
faster than overall NSF spending. The Board is directed to 
consider whether this issue merits a change in NSF's funding 
principles or budgetary formulation processes, including 
considering the research infrastructure funding approaches 
within other Federal agencies, and whether a separate 
operations account is merited. Not later than 180 days after 
enactment of this act, the Board shall submit a report to the 
Committee on its findings, including any recommendations to the 
Foundation and to the Committees on Appropriations.

                      OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2016....................................      15,160,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      15,200,000
Committee recommendation................................      15,200,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $15,200,000 for the 
Office of Inspector General [OIG]. The recommendation is 
$40,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the same 
as the budget request.
    The OIG appropriation provides audit and investigation 
functions to identify and correct deficiencies that could lead 
to instances of fraud, waste, or mismanagement.

                        ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

    The bill includes one administrative provision to allow 
limited transfers of funds among accounts.

                                TITLE IV

                            RELATED AGENCIES

                       Commission on Civil Rights

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................      $9,200,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................       9,430,000
Committee recommendation................................       9,200,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $9,200,000 for the 
salaries and expenses of the Commission on Civil Rights. The 
recommendation is the same as the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and $230,000 below the budget request.
    State Advisory Committees [SAC].--The SACs represent the 
eyes and ears of the Commission in their respective States, and 
the significant proportion of unchartered SACs inhibits the 
Commission in carrying out its mission across the Nation. The 
Committee is pleased with the Commission's progress in 
extending all existing State Advisory Committee charters from 2 
years to 4 years and looks forward to the improvements in work 
quality that can be attributed to this change. However, 17 of 
51 SAC charters currently remain expired. The Commission is 
directed to submit a report to the Committee not later than 90 
days after enactment of this act detailing the number of new 
SAC charters, criteria used by the Commission to approve or 
deny any charter submitted for approval, and any SAC charters 
that were submitted but not approved by the Commission.
    Use of Letterhead.--The Committee reminds the Commission of 
direction provided in Senate Report 114-66 related to the use 
of official Commission letterhead by any one Commissioner or 
group of Commissioners in correspondence that does not reflect 
the official position of the Commission. The Commission is 
directed to report to the Committee within 180 days of 
enactment of this act on any violation of this direction and 
steps being taken to ensure that the positions taken by the 
Commission are clear.

                Equal Employment Opportunity Commission


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $364,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     376,646,000
Committee recommendation................................     364,500,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $364,500,000 for 
EEOC salaries and expenses. This recommendation is the same as 
the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $12,146,000 below the 
request.
    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC] is the 
leading Federal agency dedicated to eradicating employment 
discrimination in both the public and private sectors on the 
basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, 
pregnancy, age, disability, and family medical history or 
genetic information. The EEOC serves both U.S. public and 
private workplaces by helping provide a fair and inclusive 
workplace, which engenders employee satisfaction and 
commitment, and enhances employee retention, productivity, and 
profitability.
    Action Council for Transformation.--The EEOC launched the 
Online Charge Status System in March 2016 as a component of the 
Action Council for Transformation to a Digital Charge System 
[ACT Digital]. Once fully operational, this online system will 
address issues of information accessibility for charging 
parties and respondents as well as allow the EEOC staff to 
spend more time investigating charges and reducing its current 
backlog of open cases. The Committee urges the EEOC to continue 
its efforts to leverage technology to increase productivity, 
streamline customer service, and reduce the inefficiencies at 
the Commission. The EEOC shall provide the Committee with an 
update not later than 90 days after the enactment of this act 
on the ACT Digital system including its impact on call center 
workload, overall use of the system by intended parties, any 
plans to make more cases accessible within the system, and 
steps being taken to protect the personal information of both 
the charging parties and the respondents.
    Inventory Backlog Reduction.--The EEOC has a private sector 
inventory of over 76,000 cases and a Federal sector hearing 
inventory of over 12,000. Using appropriated funds for 
activities that do not directly resolve this backlog of 
existing and incoming claims denies cases with complainants the 
opportunity of a timely resolution. EEOC's own budget 
submission states that justice delayed is justice denied. 
Therefore, the Committee directs the EEOC to prioritize its 
staffing and resources toward reducing the number of current 
and outstanding unresolved private sector pending charges and 
public sector hearings.
    Public Comment on EEOC Guidance.--The Committee is 
concerned that as the EEOC conducts its business in protecting 
against employment discrimination, its guidance proposals can 
be adopted without the opportunity of public input prior to 
implementation and enforcement. Therefore, if requested by at 
least two Commissioners, the EEOC shall make any new guidance 
available for public comment in the Federal Register for not 
less than 30 days prior to taking any potential action on 
proposed guidance.
    State and Local Enforcement Assistance.--The Committee 
recommends up to $29,500,000 to assist State and local 
enforcement agencies. This will help ensure that EEOC provides 
adequate resources to its State partners.

                     International Trade Commission


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $88,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      92,866,000
Committee recommendation................................      88,500,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $88,500,000. The 
recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level 
and is $4,366,000 below the budget request.
    The International Trade Commission [ITC] is an independent, 
quasi-judicial agency responsible for conducting trade-related 
investigations and providing Congress and the President with 
independent technical advice related to U.S. international 
trade policy.
    Lease Expiration.--No funding is provided for ITC to 
renovate and lease new office space in fiscal year 2017. The 
Committee notes that ITC has proposed to sign a new 15-year 
lease in order to achieve a 25 percent reduction in space, but 
that the best-case scenario involves no savings until year 13 
of the 15-year lease. Furthermore, the Committee understands 
that the least expensive option over the proposed 15-year lease 
term is for ITC to remain in its current location without 
reducing its footprint. The Committee is disappointed that the 
leasing issue has not yet been resolved, and directs ITC to 
work expeditiously and cooperatively with the General Services 
Administration in pursuit of an immediate resolution.

                       Legal Services Corporation


               PAYMENT TO THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Appropriations, 2016....................................    $385,000,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................     475,000,000
Committee recommendation................................     395,000,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $395,000,000 for 
payment to the Legal Services Corporation [LSC]. The 
recommendation is $10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2016 
enacted level and $80,000,000 below the budget request.
    The Committee's recommendation provides $362,000,000 for 
basic field programs, to be used for competitively awarded 
grants and contracts; $19,400,000 for management and 
administration; $4,000,000 for client self-help and information 
technology; $4,600,000 for the Office of the Inspector General 
[OIG]; $1,000,000 for loan repayment assistance; and $4,000,000 
for the LSC's Pro Bono Innovation Fund.
    Governance and Management.--The LSC must continue to 
improve its governance and management in order to further 
restore the transparency of the organization and direct 
additional funds into legal aid, where resources are 
desperately needed. The Committee expects the Inspector General 
of the LSC to continue conducting annual audits of LSC grantees 
to ensure that funds are not being used in contravention of the 
restrictions by which LSC grantees are required to abide.
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund.--The Committee's recommendation 
provides no less than $4,000,000 to continue the Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund. This fund will support innovative projects 
that promote and enhance pro bono initiatives throughout the 
Nation, as well as leverage Federal dollars to increase free 
legal aid for low-income Americans by engaging private 
attorneys.

          ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION--LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

    The Committee's recommendation continues the administrative 
provisions contained in the fiscal year 1998 appropriations act 
(Public Law 105-119) regarding operation of this program to 
provide basic legal services to disadvantaged individuals and 
the restrictions on the use of LSC funds.
    LSC funds cannot be used to engage in litigation and 
related activities with respect to a variety of matters 
including: (1) redistricting; (2) class action suits; (3) 
representation of illegal aliens; (4) political activities; (5) 
abortion; (6) prisoner litigation; (7) welfare reform; (8) 
representation of charged drug dealers during eviction 
proceedings; and (9) solicitation of clients. The exception to 
the restrictions occurs in a case where there is imminent 
threat of physical harm to the client or prospective client.

                        Marine Mammal Commission


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................      $3,431,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................       3,431,000
Committee recommendation................................       3,431,000

    The Committee provides $3,431,000. The recommendation is 
equal to the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget 
request.
    The Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of 
Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals provide oversight and 
recommend actions on domestic and international topics to 
advance policies and provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act. The Commission provides precise, up-to-date scientific 
information to Congress on issues related to the safety of 
marine mammals.

            Office of the United States Trade Representative


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................     $54,500,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................      59,376,000
Committee recommendation................................      59,376,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $59,376,000 for the 
Office of the United States Trade Representative [USTR]. The 
recommendation is $4,876,000 above the fiscal year 2016 enacted 
level and equal to the budget request. USTR is responsible for 
developing and leading international negotiations for the 
United States on policies regarding international trade, direct 
investment, and commodities. Its areas of responsibility 
include all matters relating to the World Trade Organization; 
trade, commodity, and direct investment matters dealt with by 
certain international institutions; industrial, agricultural, 
and services trade policy; and trade-related protection of 
intellectual property and the environment.
    The Committee provides increased funding for USTR above the 
fiscal year 2016 level primarily for trade enforcement 
activities. Within funds provided, the Committee supports 
USTR's proposal to assume the full financial responsibilities 
of the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center [ITEC] in fiscal 
year 2017. As the office makes plans to balance its fiscal year 
2017 trade enforcement activities and allocate this increased 
funding, USTR should consider the goals of the Trade 
Enforcement Trust Fund as defined in the Trade Facilitation and 
Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-125), including 
enforcement, monitoring, investigation, and capacity-building 
activities related to free trade agreements. Subject to the 
reprogramming procedures set forth in section 505 of this act, 
USTR may request to transfer appropriated funds into the Trade 
Enforcement Trust Fund from funding allocated to the office's 
trade enforcement-related activities.
    Economy Act Transfers.--USTR is directed to continue 
isolating Economy Act payments as individual transfers, and to 
submit documentation of and justification for all Economy Act 
transfers, regardless of amount, to and from other Federal 
agencies, to the Committees not less than 15 days before such 
transfers of sums are made.
    Market Economy Status.--The Committee recognizes the 
negative impact of foreign dumping and subsidies on American 
businesses, and is subsequently concerned about the possibility 
of granting Market Economy status to countries that may still 
engage in unfair market manipulations. The Committee directs 
USTR, in coordination with the International Trade 
Administration, to brief the Committee not less than 15 days 
after analysis has been undertaken in relation to a foreign 
country's Market or Non-Market Economy status.
    Religious Freedom.--Not later than 90 days after enactment 
of this act, the U.S. Trade Representative, in coordination 
with the Department of State, shall submit a report to the 
Committee and to the Senate Committee on Finance detailing 
USTR's compliance with the Bipartisan Congressional Trade 
Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-26) 
as it relates to religious freedom, including conditions in 
Vietnam, and any party to negotiations for a trade agreement 
with the United States.
    Travel.--USTR is directed to provide monthly travel reports 
detailing all trips outside of the United States, including the 
purposes and costs of such trips. Additionally, USTR shall 
continue to provide the Committee with quarterly reports 
outlining the status of ongoing trade negotiations, enforcement 
activities, and objectives achieved for existing trade 
agreements.

                        State Justice Institute


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2016....................................      $5,121,000
Budget estimate, 2017...................................       5,121,000
Committee recommendation................................       5,121,000

    The Committee's recommendation provides $5,121,000 for the 
State Justice Institute. The recommendation is the same as the 
fiscal year 2016 enacted level and the budget request.
    The Institute was created in 1984 to further the 
development and adoption of improved judicial administration in 
State courts.

                                TITLE V

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

                        (INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

    The Committee recommends the following general provisions 
for the departments, agencies and commissions funded in the 
accompanying act. Similar provisions were included in the 
fiscal year 2016 act.
    Section 501 prohibits the use of appropriations for certain 
publicity and propaganda purposes.
    Section 502 prohibits any appropriations contained in this 
act from remaining available for obligation beyond the current 
fiscal year unless expressly provided.
    Section 503 limits funds for certain consulting purposes.
    Section 504 provides that, should any provision of the act 
be held to be invalid, the remainder of the act would not be 
affected.
    Section 505 stipulates the policy and procedures by which 
funding available to the agencies funded under this act may be 
reprogrammed for other purposes.
    Section 506 provides for a penalty for persons found to 
have falsely mislabeled products.
    Section 507 requires agencies to provide quarterly reports 
to the Appropriations Committees regarding unobligated 
balances.
    Section 508 requires agencies and departments funded in 
this act to absorb any necessary costs related to downsizing or 
consolidation within the amounts provided to the agency or 
department.
    Section 509 limits funds for the sale or export of tobacco 
or tobacco products.
    Section 510 stipulates obligation of receipts and the use 
of certain funds for victim services available under the Crime 
Victims Fund.
    Section 511 prohibits the use of Department of Justice 
funds for programs that discriminate against, denigrate, or 
otherwise undermine the religious beliefs of students 
participating in such programs.
    Section 512 limits transfers of funds between agencies.
    Section 513 provides that funding for E-government 
initiatives are subject to reprogramming guidelines established 
by this act.
    Section 514 requires the Inspectors General of the 
Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and 
the Legal Services Corporation to conduct reviews of activities 
funded in this act and requires certifications regarding 
conflicts of interest.
    Section 515 prohibits funds for information technology 
acquisitions unless the acquiring department or agency has 
assessed the supply chain risk of the technology.
    Section 516 prohibits the use of funds to support or 
justify the use of torture.
    Section 517 limits funds pertaining to certain activities 
related to the export of firearms.
    Section 518 limits funds that would deny permits to import 
certain products.
    Section 519 prohibits funds for activities that seek to 
include certain language in new trade agreements.
    Section 520 prohibits funds to authorize a national 
security letter in contravention of the statutes authorizing 
the FBI to issue national security letters.
    Section 521 requires notification to the Committees in the 
event of cost overruns.
    Section 522 authorizes funds appropriated for intelligence 
activities for the Department of Justice during fiscal year 
2017 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017.
    Section 523 prohibits contracts or grant awards in excess 
of $5,000,000 unless the prospective contractor or grantee has 
certified in writing that he or she has filed all Federal tax 
returns, has not been convicted of a criminal offense under the 
IRS Code of 1986, and has no unpaid Federal tax assessment.
    Section 524 specifies rescissions of prior appropriations.
    Section 525 prohibits the use of funds to purchase first 
class or premium airline travel in contravention of current 
regulations and improves reporting.
    Section 526 prohibits the use of funds to pay for the 
attendance of more than 50 employees at any single conference 
outside the United States and limits the cost of any such 
conference incurred by an agency.
    Section 527 prohibits the use of funds in this act for the 
transfer or release of certain individuals detained at Naval 
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to or within the United States, 
its territories or possessions.
    Section 528 prohibits the use of funds in this act to 
construct, acquire, or modify any facility in the United 
States, its territories, or possessions to house certain 
individuals who, as of June 24, 2009, were located at Naval 
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or 
imprisonment in the custody or control of the Department of 
Defense.
    Section 529 requires, when practicable, the use of ``Energy 
Star'' or ``Federal Energy Management Program'' designated 
light bulbs.
    Section 530 requires agencies funded in this act to report 
on undisbursed balances.
    Section 531 prohibits funds made available by this act from 
being used to deny the importation of certain shotgun models.
    Section 532 prohibits the use of funds to establish or 
maintain a computer network that does not block pornography, 
except for law enforcement purposes.
    Section 533 requires departments and agencies funded in 
this bill to submit spending plans to the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees within 45 days of enactment of this 
act.
    Section 534 prohibits the use of funds to implement the 
Arms Trade Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution of 
ratification for the Treaty.
    Section 535 prohibits funds to pay for award or incentive 
fees for contractors with below satisfactory performance or 
performance that fails to meet the basic requirements of the 
contract. The Committee directs any head of any executive 
branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded 
by this act to require that all contracts within their purview 
that provide award fees to link such fees to successful 
acquisition outcomes, specifying the terms of cost, schedule, 
and performance.
    Section 536 allows for full access of departmental and 
agency information and data to the corresponding Inspectors 
General.
    Section 537 prohibits the Department of Justice from 
preventing certain States from implementing State laws 
regarding the use of medical marijuana.
    Section 538 prohibits the use of funds by the Department of 
Justice to prevent States from implementing laws related to a 
certain section of the Agricultural Act of 2014.

  COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE 
                                 SENATE

    Rule XVI, paragraph 7 requires that every report on a 
general appropriation bill filed by the Committee must identify 
items of appropriation not made to carry out the provisions of 
an existing law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution 
previously passed by the Senate during that session.
    The Committee recommends funding for the following programs 
or activities that currently lack an authorization for fiscal 
year 2017, either in whole or in part, and therefore fall under 
this rule:

         APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW--FISCAL YEAR 2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Last year of
                     Agency/program                        authorization
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Commerce:
    International Trade Administration:
        Export Promotion................................            1996
    Bureau of Industry and Security:
        Export Administration...........................            2001
    Economic Development Administration:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2008
        Economic Development Assistance Programs:
            Public Works and Economic Development.......            2008
            Trade Adjustment Assistance.................            2015
    Bureau of the Census:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2014
    National Telecommunications and Information
     Administration:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            1993
    National Institute of Standards and Technology:
        Scientific and Technical Research and Services..            2013
        Industrial Technology Services..................            2013
        Construction of Research Facilities.............            2013
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:
        Operations, Research, and Facilities:
            National Ocean Service:
                Coral Reef Conservation.................            2009
                Hydrographic Services...................            2007
                Coastal Zone Management.................            1999
                Marine Protection, Research,                        2005
                 Preservation & Sanctuaries.............
            National Marine Fisheries Service:
                Endangered Species Act Amendment........            1992
                Marine Mammal Protection................            1999
                NOAA Marine Fisheries Program...........            2000
                Interjurisdictional Fisheries...........            2012
                Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation               2012
                 and Management.........................
                Estuary Restoration.....................            2012
            Oceanic and Atmospheric Research:
                National Sea Grant College Program......            2008
        Procurement, Acquisition and Construction:
            National Ocean Service:
                Marine Protection, Research,                        2005
                 Preservation & Sanctuaries.............
Department of Justice:
    General Administration:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2009
        Justice Information Sharing Technology..........            2009
    Administrative Review & Appeals:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2009
    Office of Inspector General:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2009
    U.S. Parole Commission:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2009
    Legal Activities:
        General Legal Activities:
            Salaries and Expenses.......................            2009
        Antitrust Division:
            Salaries and Expenses.......................            2009
        U.S. Attorneys:
            Salaries and Expenses.......................            2009
        Foreign Claims Settlement Commission:
            Salaries and Expenses.......................            2009
        Fees and Expenses of Witnesses..................            2009
        Community Relations Service:
            Salaries and Expenses.......................            2009
        Assets Forfeiture Fund Current Budget Authority.            2009
    U.S. Marshals Service...............................            2009
        Salaries and Expenses...........................             N/A
        Federal Prison Detention........................             N/A
        Construction....................................             N/A
    National Security Division:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................             N/A
    Interagency Law Enforcement:
        Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement..........            2009
    Federal Bureau of Investigation.....................            2009
        Salaries and Expenses...........................             N/A
        Construction....................................             N/A
    Drug Enforcement Administration:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2009
    Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2009
    Federal Prison System...............................            2009
        Salaries and Expenses...........................             N/A
        Buildings and Facilities........................             N/A
    Office on Violence Against Women Programs:
        National Institute of Justice Research and                   N/A
         Evaluation on Violence Against Women...........
        Consolidated Youth Oriented Program.............             N/A
            Homicide Reduction Initiative...............             N/A
        Research--Violence Against Indian Women.........            2015
        Sexual Assault in Indian Country Clearinghouse..             N/A
    Office of Justice Programs:
        Research, Evaluation, and Statistics:
            National Institute of Justice...............            1995
            Bureau of Justice Statistics................            1995
            Regional Information Sharing Activities.....            2003
            Forensic Sciences...........................             N/A
                Forensic Science Advisory Committee.....             N/A
    State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance:
        Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants........            2012
            Body-Worn Camera Partnership................             N/A
            VALOR Initiative............................             N/A
            Smart Policing..............................             N/A
            Smart Prosecution...........................             N/A
        John R. Justice Grant Program...................            2014
        Byrne Competitive Grants........................             N/A
        Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program.......             N/A
        Adam Walsh Act..................................            2009
        Children Exposed to Violence Initiative.........             N/A
        State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.........            2011
        Residential Substance Abuse Treatment...........            2000
        Mentally Ill Offender Act.......................            2014
        Drug Courts.....................................            2008
        Capital Litigation (and Wrongful Prosecution                2009
         review)........................................
        Economic, High Tech and Cybercrime Prevention...             N/A
        Second Chance Act/Offender Reentry..............            2010
            Smart Probation.............................             N/A
            Children of Incarcerated Parents Demo Grants             N/A
            Pay for Success (Discretionary).............             N/A
            Pay for Success (Permanent Supportive                    N/A
             Housing Model).............................
        Coverdell Forensic Science Grants...............            2009
        Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction............             N/A
        Bulletproof Vests...............................            2012
            NIST/OLES Transfer..........................             N/A
        National Sex Offender Website...................             N/A
        National Instant Criminal Background Check                   N/A
         System (NICS)..................................
        Criminal Records Upgrade (NCHIP)................            2007
        Veterans Treatment Courts Program...............             N/A
        Rape Kit Backlog................................             N/A
        Justice Reinvestment Initiative.................             N/A
        Project HOPE Opportunity Probation with                      N/A
         Enforcement....................................
        Comprehensive School Safety Initiative..........             N/A
    Juvenile Justice Programs:
        Part B--State Formula...........................            2007
            Emergency Planning in Juvenile Justice                   N/A
             Facilities.................................
        Part G--Youth Mentoring.........................       N/A; 2007
        Title V--Local Delinquency Prevention Incentive             2008
         Grants.........................................
            Tribal Youth................................             N/A
            Gang/Youth Violence Education and Prevention             N/A
        Community-Based Violence Prevention Initiatives.             N/A
        Missing and Exploited Children Programs.........     2004; 2018;
                                                                    2018
        Competitive Grants for Girls in the Justice                  N/A
         System.........................................
        Children of Incarcerated Parents Web Portal.....             N/A
    COPS Programs:
        COPS Hiring Program.............................            2009
        Transfer to DEA for Methamphetamine Clean-Up....             N/A
        Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces................             N/A
        Anti-Heroin Task Forces.........................             N/A
National Aeronautics and Space Administration:
    Science.............................................            2013
    Aeronautics.........................................            2013
    Exploration.........................................            2013
    Space Operations....................................            2013
    Education...........................................            2013
    Safety, Security and Mission Services...............            2013
    Construction and Environmental Compliance and                   2013
     Restoration........................................
    Office of the Inspector General.....................            2013
National Science Foundation.............................            2013
Related Agencies:
    U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2000
    Commission on Civil Rights:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            1995
    International Trade Commission:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2004
    Payment to the Legal Services Corporation:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            1980
    Marine Mammal Commission:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            1999
    Office of the U.S. Trade Representative:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2004
    State Justice Institute:
        Salaries and Expenses...........................            2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\NOAA authorizations are spread across over 60 separate statutory
  authorities. In many cases, the authorizations do not match exactly to
  specific programs.

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE 
                                 SENATE

    Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on April 21, 2016, 
the Committee ordered favorably reported a bill (S. 2837) 
making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and 
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes, provided, 
that the bill be subject to amendment and that the bill be 
consistent with its budget allocation, by a recorded vote of 
30-0, a quorum being present. The vote was as follows:
        Yeas                          Nays
Chairman Cochran
Mr. McConnell
Mr. Shelby
Mr. Alexander
Ms. Collins
Ms. Murkowski
Mr. Graham
Mr. Kirk
Mr. Blunt
Mr. Moran
Mr. Hoeven
Mr. Boozman
Mrs. Capito
Mr. Cassidy
Mr. Lankford
Mr. Daines
Ms. Mikulski
Mr. Leahy
Mrs. Murray
Mrs. Feinstein
Mr. Durbin
Mr. Reed
Mr. Tester
Mr. Udall
Mrs. Shaheen
Mr. Merkley
Mr. Coons
Mr. Schatz
Ms. Baldwin
Mr. Murphy

 COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE 
                                 SENATE

    Paragraph 12 of the rule XXVI requires that Committee 
reports on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any 
statute or part of any statute include ``(a) the text of the 
statute or part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and 
(b) a comparative print of that part of the bill or joint 
resolution making the amendment and of the statute or part 
thereof proposed to be amended, showing by stricken-through 
type and italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate 
typographical devices the omissions and insertions which would 
be made by the bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form 
recommended by the Committee.''
    In compliance with this rule, no changes to existing law 
are displayed because this bill proposes no changes.
                                ------                                


                        BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL


  PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS
                                                     AMENDED
                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Budget authority                 Outlays
                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee    Amount  in     Committee    Amount  in
                                                           allocation       bill       allocation       bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee
 allocation for 2017: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,
 Science, and Related Agencies:
    Mandatory...........................................          320           320           330        \1\330
    Discretionary.......................................       56,285        56,285        64,425     \1\64,409
        Security........................................        5,117         5,117            NA            NA
        Nonsecurity.....................................       51,168        51,168            NA            NA
Projections of outlays associated with the
 recommendation:
    2017................................................  ............  ............  ............    \2\42,085
    2018................................................  ............  ............  ............       14,140
    2019................................................  ............  ............  ............        3,974
    2020................................................  ............  ............  ............        1,402
    2021 and future years...............................  ............  ............  ............        3,720
Financial assistance to State and local governments forP           NA        -6,275            NA         \2\-7
 2017...................................................
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
\2\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
 
NA: Not applicable.


  COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR FISCAL
                                                                        YEAR 2017
                                                                [In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        Senate Committee recommendation
                                                                                                                            compared  with (+ or -)
                             Item                                     2016         Budget estimate      Committee    -----------------------------------
                                                                  appropriation                      recommendation         2016
                                                                                                                        appropriation    Budget estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
              International Trade Administration
 
Operations and administration.................................          493,000           533,421           495,000            +2,000           -38,421
Offsetting fee collections....................................          -10,000           -12,000           -12,000            -2,000   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Direct appropriation....................................          483,000           521,421           483,000   ................          -38,421
 
                Bureau of Industry and Security
 
Operations and administration.................................           76,500            90,945            76,500   ................          -14,445
    Defense function..........................................           36,000            36,000            36,000   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Bureau of Industry and Security..................          112,500           126,945           112,500   ................          -14,445
                                                               =========================================================================================
              Economic Development Administration
 
Economic development assistance programs......................          222,000           215,000           215,000            -7,000   ................
Salaries and expenses.........................................           39,000            43,454            39,000   ................           -4,454
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Economic Development Administration..............          261,000           258,454           254,000            -7,000            -4,454
                                                               =========================================================================================
             Minority Business Development Agency
 
Minority business development.................................           32,000            35,613            32,000   ................           -3,613
 
               Economic and Statistical Analysis
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................          109,000           114,643           109,000   ................           -5,643
 
                     Bureau of the Census
 
Current surveys and programs..................................          270,000           285,287           270,000   ................          -15,287
Periodic censuses and programs (new structure)................        1,100,000         1,348,319         1,248,319          +148,319          -100,000
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Bureau of the Census.............................        1,370,000         1,633,606         1,518,319          +148,319          -115,287
                                                               =========================================================================================
  National Telecommunications and Information Administration
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................           39,500            50,841            39,500   ................          -11,341
 
           United States Patent and Trademark Office
 
Salaries and expenses, current year fee funding...............        3,272,000         3,230,000         3,230,000           -42,000   ................
Offsetting fee collections....................................       -3,272,000        -3,230,000        -3,230,000           +42,000   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, United States Patent and Trademark Office........  ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
        National Institute of Standards and Technology
 
Scientific and technical research and services................          690,000           730,533           700,000           +10,000           -30,533
Industrial technology services................................          155,000           188,991           155,000   ................          -33,991
    Manufacturing extension partnerships......................         (130,000)         (141,991)         (130,000)  ................         (-11,991)
    National network for manufacturing innovation.............          (25,000)          (47,000)          (25,000)  ................         (-22,000)
Construction of research facilities...........................          119,000            94,995           119,000   ................          +24,005
Working Capital Fund (by transfer)............................           (9,000)           (9,000)           (9,000)  ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, National Institute of Standards and Technology...          964,000         1,014,519           974,000           +10,000           -40,519
                                                               =========================================================================================
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 
Operations, research, and facilities..........................        3,305,813         3,494,180         3,339,376           +33,563          -154,804
    (By transfer).............................................         (130,164)         (130,164)         (130,164)  ................  ................
    Promote and Develop Fund (transfer out)...................        (-130,164)        (-130,164)        (-130,164)  ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal................................................        3,305,813         3,494,180         3,339,376           +33,563          -154,804
 
Procurement, acquisition and construction.....................        2,400,416         2,270,123         2,286,853          -113,563           +16,730
Pacific coastal salmon recovery...............................           65,000            65,000            65,000   ................  ................
Fishermen's Contingency Fund..................................              350               350               350   ................  ................
Fisheries disaster assistance.................................  ................            9,000   ................  ................           -9,000
Fisheries Finance Program Account.............................           -6,000              -410              -410            +5,590   ................
National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund.....................  ................           10,000   ................  ................          -10,000
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration..        5,765,579         5,848,243         5,691,169           -74,410          -157,074
                                                               =========================================================================================
                    Departmental Management
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................           58,000            74,503            58,000   ................          -16,503
Renovation and modernization..................................           19,062            12,224            12,224            -6,838   ................
Office of Inspector General...................................           32,000            37,167            32,744              +744            -4,423
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Departmental Management..........................          109,062           123,894           102,968            -6,094           -20,926
                                                               =========================================================================================
      Total, title I, Department of Commerce..................        9,245,641         9,728,179         9,316,456           +70,815          -411,723
          (By transfer).......................................          139,164           139,164           139,164   ................  ................
 
                TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
 
                    General Administration
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................          111,500           125,896           114,124            +2,624           -11,772
Justice information sharing technology........................           31,000            57,561            50,000           +19,000            -7,561
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, General Administration...........................          142,500           183,457           164,124           +21,624           -19,333
                                                               =========================================================================================
Administrative review and appeals.............................          426,791           437,444           426,791   ................          -10,653
    Transfer from immigration examinations fee account........           -4,000            -4,000            -4,000   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Direct appropriation..................................          422,791           433,444           422,791   ................          -10,653
Office of Inspector General...................................           93,709            97,814            95,583            +1,874            -2,231
 
                United States Parole Commission
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................           13,308            14,000            13,308   ................             -692
 
                       Legal Activities
 
Salaries and expenses, general legal activities...............          893,000           957,423           893,000   ................          -64,423
Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund........................            9,358            11,970             9,358   ................           -2,612
Salaries and expenses, Antitrust Division.....................          164,977           180,506           164,977   ................          -15,529
    Offsetting fee collections--current year..................         -124,000          -125,000          -125,000            -1,000   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Direct appropriation..................................           40,977            55,506            39,977            -1,000           -15,529
Salaries and expenses, United States Attorneys................        2,000,000         2,074,402         2,030,000           +30,000           -44,402
United States Trustee System Fund.............................          225,908           229,717           225,908   ................           -3,809
    Offsetting fee collections................................         -162,000          -163,000          -163,000            -1,000   ................
    New fees (Sec. 221) (legislative proposal)................  ................         -125,000   ................  ................         +125,000
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Direct appropriation..................................           63,908           -58,283            62,908            -1,000          +121,191
Salaries and expenses, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission...            2,374             2,409             2,374   ................              -35
Fees and expenses of witnesses................................          270,000           270,000           270,000   ................  ................
Salaries and expenses, Community Relations Service............           14,446            18,990            14,446   ................           -4,544
Assets Forfeiture Fund........................................           20,514            20,514            20,514   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Legal Activities.................................        3,314,577         3,352,931         3,342,577           +28,000           -10,354
                                                               =========================================================================================
                United States Marshals Service
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................        1,230,581         1,275,156         1,249,040           +18,459           -26,116
Construction..................................................           15,000            10,000            10,000            -5,000   ................
Federal prisoner detention....................................        1,454,414         1,504,009         1,454,414   ................          -49,595
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, United States Marshals Service...................        2,699,995         2,789,165         2,713,454           +13,459           -75,711
                                                               =========================================================================================
                  National Security Division
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................           95,000            97,337            95,000   ................           -2,337
 
                  Interagency Law Enforcement
 
Interagency crime and drug enforcement........................          512,000           522,135           512,000   ................          -10,135
 
                Federal Bureau of Investigation
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................        3,444,306         3,537,251         3,495,971           +51,665           -41,280
    Counterintelligence and national security.................        5,045,480         5,181,633         5,121,162           +75,682           -60,471
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal................................................        8,489,786         8,718,884         8,617,133          +127,347          -101,751
 
Construction..................................................          308,982           783,482           833,982          +525,000           +50,500
    (By transfer).............................................  ................          (85,000)  ................  ................         (-85,000)
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Federal Bureau of Investigation..................        8,798,768         9,502,366         9,451,115          +652,347           -51,251
                                                               =========================================================================================
                Drug Enforcement Administration
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................        2,451,514         2,485,638         2,485,638           +34,124   ................
    Diversion control fund....................................         -371,514          -382,662          -382,662           -11,148   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Drug Enforcement Administration..................        2,080,000         2,102,976         2,102,976           +22,976   ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
      Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................        1,240,000         1,306,063         1,258,600           +18,600           -47,463
 
                     Federal Prison System
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................        6,948,500         7,186,225         6,978,500           +30,000          -207,725
Buildings and facilities......................................          530,000           113,022           113,022          -416,978   ................
Limitation on administrative expenses, Federal Prison                     2,700             2,700             2,700   ................  ................
 Industries, Incorporated.....................................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Federal Prison System............................        7,481,200         7,301,947         7,094,222          -386,978          -207,725
                                                               =========================================================================================
          State and Local Law Enforcement Activities
 
Office on Violence Against Women:
    Prevention and prosecution programs.......................          101,000           163,000           102,500            +1,500           -60,500
        (By transfer).........................................         (379,000)  ................         (379,000)  ................        (+379,000)
    Crime Victims Fund (transfer out).........................        (-379,000)  ................        (-379,000)  ................        (-379,000)
    Offsetting collections....................................  ................         -326,000   ................  ................         +326,000
    Spending of offsetting collections........................  ................          326,000   ................  ................         -326,000
 
Office of Justice Programs:
    Research, evaluation and statistics.......................          116,000           154,000           118,000            +2,000           -36,000
    State and local law enforcement assistance................        1,408,500         1,097,800         1,183,649          -224,851           +85,849
    Juvenile justice programs.................................          270,160           334,400           272,000            +1,840           -62,400
    Public safety officer benefits:
        Death benefits........................................           72,000            73,000            73,000            +1,000   ................
        Disability and education benefits.....................           16,300            16,300            16,300   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subtotal............................................           88,300            89,300            89,300            +1,000   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total, Office of Justice Programs...................        1,882,960         1,675,500         1,662,949          -220,011           -12,551
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
Community Oriented Policing Services:
    COPS programs.............................................          212,000           286,000           215,000            +3,000           -71,000
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, State and Local Law Enforcement Activities.......        2,195,960         2,124,500         1,980,449          -215,511          -144,051
                                                               =========================================================================================
      Total, title II, Department of Justice..................       29,089,808        29,828,135        29,246,199          +156,391          -581,936
                                                               =========================================================================================
                      TITLE III--SCIENCE
 
Office of Science and Technology Policy.......................            5,555             5,566             5,555   ................              -11
 
         National Aeronautics and Space Administration
 
Science.......................................................        5,589,400         5,302,500         5,395,000          -194,400           +92,500
Aeronautics...................................................          640,000           634,500           601,000           -39,000           -33,500
Space technology..............................................          686,500           690,600           686,500   ................           -4,100
Exploration...................................................        4,030,000         3,163,900         4,330,000          +300,000        +1,166,100
Space operations..............................................        5,029,200         5,075,800         4,950,700           -78,500          -125,100
Education.....................................................          115,000           100,100           108,000            -7,000            +7,900
Safety, security and mission services.........................        2,768,600         2,836,800         2,796,700           +28,100           -40,100
Construction and environmental compliance and restoration.....          388,900           419,800           400,000           +11,100           -19,800
Office of Inspector General...................................           37,400            38,100            38,100              +700   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, National Aeronautics and Space Administration....       19,285,000        18,262,100        19,306,000           +21,000        +1,043,900
                                                               =========================================================================================
                  National Science Foundation
 
Research and related activities...............................        5,966,125         6,011,910         5,966,125   ................          -45,785
    Defense function..........................................           67,520            67,520            67,520   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal................................................        6,033,645         6,079,430         6,033,645   ................          -45,785
 
Major research equipment and facilities construction..........          200,310           193,120           246,573           +46,263           +53,453
Education and human resources.................................          880,000           898,870           880,000   ................          -18,870
Agency operations and award management........................          330,000           373,020           330,000   ................          -43,020
Office of the National Science Board..........................            4,370             4,380             4,370   ................              -10
Office of Inspector General...................................           15,160            15,200            15,200               +40   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, National Science Foundation......................        7,463,485         7,564,020         7,509,788           +46,303           -54,232
                                                               =========================================================================================
      Total, title III, Science...............................       26,754,040        25,831,686        26,821,343           +67,303          +989,657
                                                               =========================================================================================
                  TITLE IV--RELATED AGENCIES
 
                  Commission on Civil Rights
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            9,200             9,430             9,200   ................             -230
 
            Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................          364,500           376,646           364,500   ................          -12,146
 
                International Trade Commission
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................           88,500            92,866            88,500   ................           -4,366
 
                  Legal Services Corporation
 
Payment to the Legal Services Corporation.....................          385,000           475,000           395,000           +10,000           -80,000
 
                   Marine Mammal Commission
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            3,431             3,431             3,431   ................  ................
 
            Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................           54,500            59,376            59,376            +4,876   ................
 
                    State Justice Institute
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            5,121             5,121             5,121   ................  ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
      Total, title IV, Related Agencies.......................          910,252         1,021,870           925,128           +14,876           -96,742
                                                               =========================================================================================
                  TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
DOC, economic development assistance programs (rescission)....          -10,000   ................  ................          +10,000   ................
DOJ, Working Capital Fund (rescission)........................          -69,000          -164,743          -289,743          -220,743          -125,000
DOJ, Drug Enforcement Administration (rescission).............  ................           -6,192            -6,192            -6,192   ................
DOJ, Assets Forfeiture Fund (rescission)......................         -458,000          -304,000          -304,000          +154,000   ................
FBI, Salaries and expenses, nondefense (rescission)...........          -32,767           -90,709           -73,509           -40,742           +17,200
FBI, Salaries and expenses, defense (rescission)..............          -48,000          -132,877          -107,682           -59,682           +25,195
Federal prisoner detention (rescission).......................         -195,974           -24,000           -24,000          +171,974   ................
Violence against women prevention and prosecution programs              -15,000            -5,000            -5,000           +10,000   ................
 (rescission).................................................
Office of Justice programs (rescission).......................          -40,000           -20,000           -20,000           +20,000   ................
COPS (rescission).............................................          -10,000           -10,000           -10,000   ................  ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
      Total, title V, General Provisions......................         -878,741          -757,521          -840,126           +38,615           -82,605
      Grand total.............................................       65,121,000        65,652,349        65,469,000          +348,000          -183,349
          Appropriations......................................      (65,999,741)      (66,409,870)      (66,309,126)        (+309,385)        (-100,744)
          Rescissions.........................................        (-878,741)        (-757,521)        (-840,126)         (+38,615)         (-82,605)
      (By transfer)...........................................          518,164           224,164           518,164   ................         +294,000
      (Transfer out)..........................................         -509,164          -130,164          -509,164   ................         -379,000
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