[House Report 116-122]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
116th Congress } { Report
1st Session } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES { 116-122
======================================================================
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2020
_______
June 19, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Quigley of Illinois, from the Committee on Appropriations,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 3351]
The Committee on Appropriations submits the following
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making
appropriations for financial services and general government
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020.
INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT
_______________________________________________________________________
Page Number
Bill Report
Title I--Department of the Treasury........................ 2
9
Title II--Executive Office of the President and Funds
Appropriated to the President.......................... 30
28
Title III--The Judiciary................................... 46
38
Title IV--District of Columbia............................. 56
43
Title V--Independent Agencies.............................. 67
48
Administrative Conference of the United States..... 67
48
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau...............
48
Consumer Product Safety Commission................. 67
49
Election Assistance Commission..................... 69
50
Federal Communications Commission.................. 72
52
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation--Office of
the Inspector General.......................... 73
55
Federal Election Commission........................ 74
56
Federal Labor Relations Authority.................. 74
56
Federal Trade Commission........................... 75
57
General Services Administration.................... 85
58
Merit Systems Protection Board..................... 88
72
National Archives and Records Administration....... 90
72
National Credit Union Administration............... 92
74
Office of Government Ethics........................ 92
75
Office of Personnel Management..................... 92
75
Office of Special Counsel.......................... 95
80
Postal Regulatory Commission....................... 96
80
Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board........ 96
80
Public Buildings Reform Board......................
81
Securities and Exchange Commission................. 97
81
Selective Service System........................... 99
84
Small Business Administration...................... 100
85
United States Postal Service....................... 105
89
United States Tax Court............................ 107
92
Title VI--General Provisions--This Act..................... 108
93
Title VII--General Provisions--Government-wide:
Departments,
Agencies, and Corporations......................... 125
96
Title VIII--General Provisions--District of Columbia....... 167
99
House of Representatives Report Requirements...............
100
Minority Views.............................................
164
Summary of Estimates and Appropriations
The following table compares on a summary basis the
appropriations, including trust funds, for fiscal year 2019,
the budget request for fiscal year 2020, and the Committee
recommendation for fiscal year 2020 in the accompanying bill.
SUMMARY TABLE--AMOUNTS IN NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY
[Discretionary Funding in Thousands of Dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year Committee compared to
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Title 2019 2020 2020
Enacted Budget Committee 2019 Enacted 2020 Budget
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I--Department of the Treasury...... $12,761,312 $13,070,771 $13,555,177 +793,865 +484,406
Title II--Executive Office of the 738,835 330,422 741,772 +2,937 +411,350
President and Funds Appropriated to the
President...............................
Title III--The Judiciary................. 7,252,953 7,624,628 7,511,302 +258,349 -113,326
Title IV--District of Columbia........... 725,631 716,540 741,271 +15,640 +24,731
Title V--Other Independent Agencies...... 1,991,269 2,820,744 2,418,847 +427,578 -401,897
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Total includes Program Integrity Cap Adjustment.
Introduction
The Committee recommends a total of $24,550,000,000 in new
discretionary budget authority for fiscal year 2020. The
recommendation is $1,395,000,000 above the comparable fiscal
year 2019 enacted level and $355,466,000 above the fiscal year
2020 request. Within the total, defense funding accounts for
$32,000,000, which is $1,000,000 above the amount appropriated
in fiscal year 2019 and $1,500,000 below the budget request.
Total non-defense funding is $24,518,000,000 which is
$1,126,000,000 above the amount appropriated in fiscal year
2019 and $356,966,000 above the budget request.
The Committee report refers to certain organizations,
offices, and institutions as follows: the Government
Accountability Office as GAO; the General Services
Administration as GSA; the Internal Revenue Service as IRS; the
Office of Management and Budget as OMB; and the Office of
Personnel Management as OPM. References to ``the Committee''
means the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives, unless otherwise noted. In addition, any
reference to the ``budget request'' or ``the request'' should
be interpreted to mean the Budget of the U.S. Government,
Fiscal Year 2020, that was submitted to Congress on March 11,
2019.
Highlights of the Bill
The Financial Services and General Government bill has
jurisdiction over a broad and varied range of government
functions and services encompassing both the Executive and
Judicial branches. These appropriations support the Department
of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, Federal
Payments to the District of Columbia, and the Federal
Judiciary. The bill also provides resources for a long list of
independent agencies and commissions, each of which serves the
public with a distinct mission.
Several of these diverse institutions of government, such
as the General Services Administration, the Internal Revenue
Service, and the National Archives and Records Administration,
bear responsibility for basic but critical operations of the
United States Government. Others serve public-facing functions
such as protecting consumers from defective and dangerous
products, ensuring that government officials are complying with
ethics laws, assisting small businesses, and investing in
distressed communities.
Some of the most significant investments in the fiscal year
2020 Committee recommendation include:
Election Security.--The U.S. democratic process is under
attack--and the country's patchwork of voting systems is
woefully underprepared to withstand efforts by sophisticated
nation-states to hack the election process and influence
election outcomes. State and local election officials lack the
necessary tools and funding to replace antiquated voting
machines, secure voter registration databases and electronic
pollbooks that are vulnerable to hackers, conduct cybersecurity
training for election officials and poll workers, perform post-
election audits to validate election results, or implement
other necessary efforts to ensure the integrity of the election
process. The Committee recommends $600,000,000 for Election
Security Grants to augment efforts by state and local election
officials to improve the security of elections for Federal
office. The recommendation also includes $16,171,000 for the
Election Assistance Commission, an increase of $6,971,000 above
fiscal year 2019, to ensure the agency is appropriately
resourced to execute its vital mission to assist states in the
administration of Federal elections.
Combating Financial Crime and Countering the Financing of
Terrorism.--The Committee strongly supports the critical work
performed by the Department of the Treasury in combating
terrorist financing and money laundering and recommends robust
funding increases to improve and expand the Department's
capabilities to detect and deter financial crimes. The
recommendation includes $167,712,000 for the Office of
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, an increase of $8,712,000
above fiscal year 2019. It also provides $124,700,000 for the
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, an increase of $6,900,000
above fiscal year 2019. These resources will enhance the
Department's collection and analysis of intelligence and
financial information that can be used by law enforcement to
investigate financial crimes and money laundering.
Small Businesses and Disadvantaged Communities.--The
Committee understands that small businesses are the engine that
drives this nation's economy and that small businesses are the
largest job creators in the economy. One element critical to
the ability of small businesses to flourish and grow is access
to credit. The Small Business Administration (SBA) plays an
important role in improving access to credit when the private
market is not meeting the need. SBA programs provide this
support through multiple programs including the 7(a) loan
guaranty program, the 504/Certified Development Company (CDC)
loan guaranty program, and the Microloan program. These loans
enable small businesses to access loans for working capital,
fixed assets, and other assistance to establish, operate,
acquire, or expand a small business. The Committee recommends
increasing the authorized level for the 7(a) program to
$30,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2020, an increase of
$500,000,000 above fiscal year 2019, and increasing the
authorized level for the 504/CDC program to $8,000,000,000, an
increase of $500,000,000 above fiscal year 2019. In addition,
the recommendation supports a Microloan program level of
$46,000,000, an increase of $7,000,000 above fiscal year 2019.
Beyond access to capital, SBA also serves the small business
community through its Entrepreneurial Development Programs
(EDP), which provide training, counseling, technical
assistance, and other non-credit support. The Committee
recommendation includes $281,800,000 for EDPs for fiscal year
2020, which is an increase of $34,100,000 above fiscal year
2019.
Low-income communities and distressed communities are
particularly disadvantaged when it comes to accessing credit.
The Committee strongly supports the Community Development
Financial Institutions (CDFI) program as an effective mechanism
for expanding the capacity of community development
organizations to finance businesses, develop affordable
housing, and underwrite locally-driven revitalization
initiatives. The Committee recommends $300,000,000 to fund
CDFI, representing an increase of $50,000,000 over fiscal year
2019. The majority of this funding will support CDFI's core
program, Financial and Technical Assistance Grants, and the
remainder will support Native Initiatives, the Bank Enterprise
Award Program, Healthy Food Financing Initiatives, and
individuals with disabilities. In addition, the recommendation
includes $10,000,000 to stand up a new initiative to increase
the availability and affordability of small dollar loans.
Protecting Consumers.--The Committee is concerned about
ongoing consumer protection issues, including hidden and
emerging product safety incidents, data security episodes, and
instances of financial fraud. Consequently, the Committee
recommendation provides significant additional resources to
agencies responsible for overseeing product safety, fair
competition, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and
financial markets. The recommendation provides $135,500,000--a
$8,500,000 increase over fiscal year 2019--for the Consumer
Product Safety Commission to address chronic underfunding in
recent years and to expand operational capabilities to match
the safety challenges in an evolving marketplace. The Committee
expects that these additional resources will also allow
improved consumer education on hidden and emerging hazards,
especially for toys and other products that pose a
disproportionate risk for children.
In addition, the Committee recommends $349,700,000--a
$40,000,000 increase over fiscal year 2019--for the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC). This additional funding will increase
the FTC's capabilities both to monitor mergers and acquisitions
that could reduce competition or lead to higher prices, and to
take enforcement action against companies that fail to take
reasonable steps to secure their customer data or that engage
in other problematic trade practices. The Committee also
increases protections for investors against predatory and
unfair practices by financial companies and advisors. To that
end, the recommendation includes $1,850,000,000--a $175,098,000
increase over fiscal year 2019--for salaries and expenses of
the Securities and Exchange Commission to increase enforcement
actions related to securities and financial fraud, monitoring
of major market participants, compliance examinations, and
investor education activities.
Oversight and Management
The Committee believes strongly in the need for careful
oversight of government expenditure of taxpayer dollars and is
committed to providing the necessary oversight to reduce waste,
fraud, and inefficiency in the operations and programs funded
by the Financial Services and General Government bill. To this
end, the Committee recommendation takes care to ensure adequate
resources for the Offices of Inspectors General (OIG) funded by
this Act, each of which plays a critical role in monitoring the
agencies under the jurisdiction of this bill.
Additionally, language is included, where needed, directing
agencies to provide spending plans, performance measurements,
and workforce and project implementation plans to the Committee
for review. The Committee intends to continue coordination with
the Comptroller General of the United States, which offers
expertise in reducing waste, fraud, and misuse of Federal
funds.
The Committee recommendation contains a new provision
directing OMB to remind all Federal agencies of the compliance
obligations detailed in the government-wide general provisions
within title VII of this Act. It also includes a new
requirement making apportionments of appropriations publicly
available in a timely fashion.
Reprogramming and Operating Plan Procedures
Section 608 and section 738 of this Act detail department
and agency responsibilities and procedures relating to
reprogramming of funds between programs, projects, and
activities. For fiscal year 2020, the Committee recommendation
includes additional notification and approval requirements in
section 608 to ensure appropriate Congressional oversight of
funds. Each department and agency funded in this Act shall
follow the directions set forth in this Act and its
accompanying report and shall not reallocate resources or
reorganize activities except as provided herein. The Committee
expects that agencies or entities that fulfill the requirements
of section 608 will also be in compliance with the requirements
of section 738.
Section 608 requires agencies and entities funded by this
Act to notify the Committee for any reprogramming of funds that
(1) creates a new program; (2) eliminates a program, project,
or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel for any program,
project, or activity for which funds have been denied or
restricted by the Congress; (4) proposes to use funds directed
for a specific activity by the Committee on Appropriations of
either the House of Representatives or the Senate for a
different purpose; (5) augments existing programs, projects, or
activities in excess of $1,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is
less, or increases the number of full-time employee equivalents
by 10 percent or more; (6) reduces existing programs, projects,
or activities by $1,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less,
or reduces the number of full-time employee equivalents by 10
percent or more; (7) relocates an office or employees; or (8)
creates, reorganizes, or restructures a branch, division,
office, bureau, board, commission, agency, administration, or
department different from the budget justifications submitted
to the Committee or the tables in the report accompanying this
Act, whichever is more detailed.
Reprogramming procedures shall apply to funds provided in
this bill, unobligated balances from previous appropriations
Acts that are available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal
year 2020, and non-appropriated resources such as fee
collections that are used to meet program requirements in
fiscal year 2020.
Before any reprogramming, agencies and entities must engage
in prior consultation with the Committee at least 60 days in
advance and notify the Committee at least 30 days in advance.
The notice must include, at minimum, a thorough justification
for the reprogramming, the impact of the reprogramming on
budget requirements for future fiscal years, and the impact of
the reprogramming on carryover funding. These requirements also
apply to significant reorganizations or restructurings of
programs, projects, or activities, even if such a
reorganization or restructuring does not involve reprogramming
of funding. The Committee also expects prompt notification of
any reprogramming that does not meet the above criteria but
might have significant impacts on budgetary requirements for
future fiscal years. As required by section 608, all
reprogrammings meeting any of these criteria must be approved
by the Committee.
The Committee directs that for purposes of this report and
the Act, the term ``prior consultation'' means a pre-decisional
engagement between a relevant Federal agency and the Committee
during which the Committee is provided a meaningful opportunity
to provide facts and opinions to inform: (1) the use of funds;
(2) the development, content, or conduct of a program or
activity; or (3) a decision to be taken.
Except in emergency situations, reprogramming requests
should be submitted no later than June 28, 2020. Moreover, the
Committee notes that when a Department or agency submits a
reprogramming or transfer request to the Committees on
Appropriations and does not receive identical responses from
the House and Senate, it is the responsibility of the
Department or agency to reconcile the House and Senate
differences before proceeding and, if reconciliation is not
possible, to consider the request to reprogram funds
unapproved.
The Committee further expects any agency or entity funded
in this bill that plans a reduction-in-force to notify the
Committee in writing at least 30 days in advance of the date of
such planned personnel action.
Other Matters and Directives
Reports.--The Committee stresses that all reports are
required to be completed in compliance with the timeframe
outlined for each respective directive. Furthermore, the
Committee expects that the specifications and conditions
associated with funding appropriated by this Act shall be
accomplished in the manner as directed in the report.
Budget Justifications.--Budget justifications are the
primary tool used by the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations to evaluate the resource requirements and fiscal
needs of agencies. The Committee is aware that the format and
presentation of budget materials is largely left to the agency
within presentation objectives set forth by OMB. In fact, OMB
Circular A-11, part 1, specifically instructs agencies to
consult with congressional committees beforehand. The Committee
expects that all agencies funded under this Act will heed this
directive.
The Committee continues the direction that justifications
submitted with the fiscal year 2021 budget request by agencies
funded under this Act contain the customary level of detailed
data and explanatory statements to support the appropriations
requests at the level of detail contained in the funding table
included at the end of this report. Among other items, agencies
shall provide a detailed discussion of proposed new
initiatives, proposed changes in the agency's financial plan
from prior year enactment, detailed data on all programs, and
comprehensive information on any office or agency
restructurings. At a minimum, each agency must also provide
adequate justification for funding and staffing changes for
each individual office and materials that compare programs,
projects, and activities that are proposed for fiscal year 2021
to the fiscal year 2020 enacted levels.
Customer Service Measures.--The Committee supports efforts
to improve customer service in accordance with Executive Order
13571, ``Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer
Service'', and directs all agencies funded by this Act to
develop standards to improve customer service and incorporate
the standards into the performance plans required under title
31 of the United States Code.
Federal Advertising.--The Committee understands that, as
the largest advertiser in the United States, the Federal
government should work to ensure fair access to its advertising
contracts for small disadvantaged businesses and businesses
owned by minorities and women. As such, the Committee directs
each of the agencies funded by this Act to include the
following information in its fiscal year 2021 budget
justification: expenditures for fiscal year 2019 and expected
expenditures for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, respectively, for
(1) all contracts for advertising services, and (2) contracts
for the advertising services of all Small Business
Administration-recognized socioeconomic subcategory-certified
small businesses, as defined in the Small Business Act, and all
minority-owned businesses.
Performance Measures.--The Committee directs each of the
agencies funded by this Act to comply with title 31 of the
United States Code, including the development of their
organizational priority goals and outcomes such as performance
outcome measures, output measures, efficiency measures, and
customer service measures.
Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.--The
Committee notes the importance of ensuring access to Federal
services and programs for all persons with limited English
proficiency. Therefore, the Committee directs agencies and
programs funded in this Act to comply fully with the
requirements of Executive Order 13166, ``Improving Access to
Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,'' and on
an ongoing basis, review and improve their efforts to provide
meaningful access to the programs, services, and information
they provide.
Grant Training Practices.--In its 2018 report, Actions
Needed to Ensure Staff Have Skills to Administer and Oversee
Federal Grants, GAO found that many agencies vary in following
best practices in training approaches for their grants training
programs. The Committee directs each department and agency with
grants specialists to establish a process to monitor and
evaluate grants training at a centralized level and expects
that such agencies will work toward implementation of the
recommendations contained in GAO-18-491. The Committee requests
that GAO provide a briefing to the Committee on progress made
to implement these processes within 90 days of enactment of
this Act.
Drinking Water.--The Committee notes that not every Federal
agency provides complimentary filtered drinking water for
employees and urges Federal agencies to explore options for
ensuring access to filtered drinking water.
Impoundment of Resources.--The Committee notes and agrees
with GAO decision B-330330, issued on December 10, 2018,
regarding the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA). In that
decision, GAO concluded that ``the ICA does not permit the
withholding of funds through their date of expiration'' and
that ``under the Constitution, the President must take care to
execute the appropriations that Congress has enacted.'' The
Committee further notes GAO's observation in that decision that
an ``appropriation is a law like any other; therefore, unless
Congress has enacted a law providing otherwise, the President
must take care to ensure that appropriations are prudently
obligated during their period of availability.''
The Committee recommendation expands upon the existing
requirements under the ICA to make budget authority prudently
available for obligation with new language in section 750. This
new provision requires that budget authority proposed for
rescission or deferral pursuant to sections 1012 or 1013 of the
ICA be made available, not just in time to be prudently
obligated (as is required under the ICA), but no later than 60
calendar days before such budget authority would expire. This
requirement applies to the current period of availability of
budget authority proposed for rescission or deferral under the
ICA procedures, as well as the initial period of availability
of such budget authority. Withholding budget authority with a
fixed period of availability through its expiration would not
just violate the ICA but would violate the requirements of this
new provision as well. In furtherance of this requirement, the
Committee recommendation requires that GAO report on the
Administration's compliance with section 750, and that the
President provide such information to GAO as the Comptroller
General determines is necessary to complete that report.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Departmental Offices
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $214,576,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 235,973,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 224,373,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +9,797,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -11,600,000
The Departmental Offices support the role of the Secretary
of the Treasury in executing the tax, economic, and financial
management policies of the Federal Government. The Secretary's
responsibilities funded by the Salaries and Expenses
appropriation include: recommending and implementing domestic
and international economic and tax policy; providing
recommendations regarding fiscal policy; governing the fiscal
operations of the government; managing the public debt;
managing development of financial policy; representing the U.S.
on international monetary, trade, and investment issues;
overseeing Treasury Department international operations;
directing the administrative operations of the Treasury
Department; and providing executive oversight of the bureaus
within the Treasury Department.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $224,373,000 for Departmental
Offices, Salaries and Expenses. The recommendation does not
include the requested increases for additional personnel to
implement Executive Order 12866, ``Reducing Regulation and
Controlling Regulatory Costs'', or for additional Domestic
Finance staff to support Administration priorities.
Financial Transactions.--The Committee encourages the
Department of the Treasury (the Department) to work with
Federal bank regulators, financial institutions, and money
service businesses to ensure that legitimate financial
transactions move freely and globally. The Committee is
frustrated that the Department has failed to report on its
efforts to ensure the appropriate flow of legitimate financial
transactions, and awaits the report directed in House Report
115-792.
Puerto Rico.--Within 90 days of the date of enactment of
this Act, the Department is directed to submit a report to the
Committee describing how the Department has used its authority
to provide technical assistance to Puerto Rico in fiscal year
2019 and how the Department plans to use its authority in
fiscal year 2020.
Controlled Foreign Corporations.--The Committee directs the
Department to submit a report within 90 days of the enactment
of this Act detailing the amounts of taxes avoided by companies
that establish and operate controlled foreign corporations in
Puerto Rico during the past five years, as well as the amount
of territorial and local taxes paid, the amount of sales per
year, and the number of jobs created on the island.
Cybersecurity.--The President's budget requested an
increase in funding for the Office of Critical Infrastructure
Protection (OCIP) of nearly 140 percent. The Committee
recognizes the need to protect the financial services sector
and its customers from the devastating effects of cyberattacks
and supports efforts by both industry and government to
mitigate this threat. However, the Department has not
adequately supported how the requested funding will further
this goal. Therefore, prior to the obligation of any funds for
this purpose, OCIP is directed to submit a report to the
Committee on its collaborative efforts with the financial
services sector to improve cybersecurity controls and
safeguards; proposed ways to enhance these efforts, including a
description of how these efforts will produce measurable
improvements; and estimated costs for each discrete activity,
including a proposed plan for the obligation of funds for each
activity in fiscal year 2020.
Cyber Fraud.--Cyber fraud and related cyber-enabled crimes
pose a severe threat to the national security and the financial
services sector of the United States. As a result of the unique
nature of cybercrime, it is very difficult for law enforcement
to respond to and prosecute cybercrime in a timely manner,
leading to the existing low level of deterrence and a rapidly
growing threat. The Committee determines that this status quo
is unacceptable and that if left unchecked, cybercrime's
effects on American Businesses will become more sever. The
Committee directs the Department of the Treasury and its
component agencies and bureaus to work with other relevant
Federal Agencies, the private sector, and Congress to establish
best practices for active cyber defense techniques to better
defend American companies from cyberattack.
Financial Literacy.--As the Department develops and
implements initiatives to educate and empower consumers to make
better informed financial decisions, the Committee directs the
Department to work with the Financial Literacy and Education
Commission (FLEC) to develop materials that effectively serve
at-risk groups, such as communities of color and historically
disadvantaged individuals. Further, the Committee encourages
the Department to explore the degree to which existing Federal
financial literacy programs benefit those individuals with low
literacy skills and to develop measurable goals and objectives
for the FLEC that address the needs of this population.
Finally, the Committee urges the Department to explore
opportunities to work with rural community-based adult and
family literacy organizations to promote and implement future
financial literacy initiatives.
Consumer Payment Choice.--The Committee is aware of a
growing trend by retailers to refuse to accept cash as a form
of payment. Studies have shown this practice has a negative
impact on underbanked, unbanked, and other populations
including the elderly and rural populations, and
disproportionate effects on wages, fees, and privacy. The
Department is directed to examine its policies and regulations
regarding a merchant's ability to refuse cash as a payment for
goods and services and to brief the Committee within 90 days of
the date of enactment of this Act on its findings.
Qualified Opportunity Zones.--The Committee notes that
Qualified Opportunity Zones (administered under Internal
Revenue Code 1400Z-1 and 1400Z-2) were created to incentivize
greater private-sector investments in rural and economically
distressed communities. The Committee urges the Department and
the Small Business Administration to work together to develop a
strategy to identify resources to support greater investment in
communities located in census tracts designated as Qualified
Opportunity Zones in the hopes of driving more capital to small
businesses in the aggregate.
Savings Bonds.--The Committee is concerned to learn that
approximately $24,000,000,000 in matured U.S. savings bonds are
presently left unclaimed in the U.S. Treasury. Further, the
Treasury Department has not taken sufficient action to reunite
bondholders or to provide the appropriate State agencies with
the necessary information for owners to redeem their unclaimed
bonds. Treasury must take all possible action and facilitate
collaboration with relevant State agencies to address this
issue. It is the Committee's understanding that claims filed
after six years of maturity of a savings bond are entertained
only if the claimant supplies the serial number of a bond.
However, in many cases the Treasury is the sole holder of that
information. Within 90 days of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary is directed to provide all necessary information
(including but not limited to the name, last known address, and
bond serial number) to any State which has or will obtain title
to bonds in order to facilitate bond owners' receipt of funds
for unclaimed U.S. Savings Bonds. This information must be
sufficient so that the owner may receive funds from their
matured bond even if those bonds are lost, stolen, destroyed,
or the physical bond is otherwise not available, without
constraints on age of the matured bond. The Committee directs
that the six-year limitation on claims run only after Treasury
has provided the aforementioned information.
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... $20,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 20,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +20,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
(CFIUS) was established in 1975 to monitor the impact of
foreign investment in the United States and to coordinate and
implement Federal policy on such investment. The Foreign
Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA)
expanded the jurisdiction of CFIUS to address growing national
security concerns over foreign exploitation of certain national
security structures which traditionally have fallen outside of
the Committee's jurisdiction, and modernized CFIUS processes to
better enable timely and effective reviews of covered
transactions. FIRRMA also established the CFIUS Fund to support
these expanded functions and responsibilities, and to collect
filing fees.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $20,000,000 for the CFIUS Fund.
The recommendation fully funds the Department's CFIUS mission
requirements, including expanded CFIUS reviews to guard against
transactions that pose national security risks.
The Committee is concerned by reports that previously-
sanctioned Russian-owned businesses are investing in U.S.
companies that serve as major suppliers in the U.S. defense
supply chain--potentially providing an avenue for Russia to
obtain access to sensitive technologies impacting U.S. national
security. The Committee expects Treasury to fully implement the
provisions of FIRRMA, including the interim regulations issued
by the Department in October 2018, which expanded the scope of
covered transactions subject to CFIUS review and required
mandatory declarations for certain transactions that may raise
national security concerns.
The Committee notes the importance of closely monitoring
anti-competitive consolidations that hurt small businesses and
often result in price inflation.
OFFICE OF TERRORISM AND FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $159,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 166,712,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 167,712,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +8,712,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +1,000,000
Economic and trade sanctions issued and enforced by the
Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence's (TFI) Office
of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) protect the financial system
from being polluted with criminal and illicit activities and
counteract national security threats from drug lords,
terrorists, human rights abusers, weapons of mass destruction
proliferators, and rogue nations, among others. In addition to
the enforcement of sanctions, TFI also produces vital analysis
of foreign intelligence and counterintelligence across all
elements of the national security community.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $167,712,000 for the Office of
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The recommendation
includes an increase of $1,000,000 above the request to augment
the enforcement of human rights and corruption-related
sanctions, as authorized by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act.
The Committee strongly supports the critical role of OFAC
in punishing malign actors' behavior, particularly Russia's
escalating aggression in Ukraine and insidious influence
operations in Europe and the United States. TFI is directed to
brief the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act on
the allocation of staffing and resources among OFAC's active
sanctions programs.
Russian Sanctions.--The Committee is concerned that
sanctioned Russian high-ranking officials and oligarchs are
evading sanctions by transferring assets to family members,
thereby weakening the sanctions regime on those responsible for
Russia's continued aggression in Ukraine and human rights
abuses. The Committee urges OFAC to conduct a review of the
transfer of Russian assets and apply sanctions to personal
relatives where appropriate. Such sanctions should be tied to
gross human rights abuses, such as illegal detainment of
prisoners of war and other freedom-fighters.
Iran Sanctions.--The Committee directs the Department of
the Treasury to submit a report to Congress on the status of
implementation and enforcement of U.S. sanctions against Iran
and the impact these sanctions have had on Iran.
Sanctions Enforcement in Africa.--Protracted conflicts in
nations such as Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African
Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have led to
sanctions regimes and international arms embargoes to cut off
the money flows that are fueling wars and contributing to
regional destabilization. The Committee is concerned about the
escalation of conflict and failure to abide by diplomatic
agreements in these particular African states, even after
sanctions have been imposed. The Committee supports the use of
funds to enhance regional expertise and capacity for these
sanctions programs.
Human Rights Sanctions Enforcement.--Government-sanctioned
abuses of human rights around the world have been on the rise
as authoritarianism increases. Multiple frameworks for human
rights abuse sanctions enforcement exist, including the Sergei
Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, the Global Magnitsky
Human Rights Accountability Act, Countering America's
Adversaries through Sanctions Act, and the Comprehensive Iran
Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act, among others.
These Congressionally-mandated sanctions, along with sanctions
imposed by Executive Order, are an important tool in
discouraging human rights abuses and targeting those who
violate human rights norms. The Committee supports robust
enforcement of human rights abuse related sanctions. Therefore,
the recommendation includes funding to enhance expertise and
investigatory capacity for sanctions investigations, policy
development, and enforcement of sanctions.
Venezuela Sanctions.--The Committee appreciates OFAC's
efforts to employ sanctions in response to the activities of
the Venezuelan government and Venezuelan individuals. These
sanctions are in place to address terrorism, drug trafficking,
human rights violations, corruption, and antidemocratic
activities. The Committee directs OFAC to vigorously enforce
these sanctions and take additional actions as necessary to
promote democracy and improve the lives of Venezuelans.
Sanctions Transparency.--In an effort to improve
transparency and inform the public about the status of various
sanctions regimes, both public and private, the Committee urges
OFAC to make publicly available in a concise and searchable
format via its internet site a list of the government and
private entities subject to sanctions by the United States, and
a list of government and private entities that have imposed
sanctions regimes on the United States and its allies.
CYBERSECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACCOUNT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $25,208,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 18,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 18,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -7,208,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Cybersecurity Enhancement Account (CEA) is a dedicated
account designed to identify and support Department-wide
investments for critical IT improvements including the systems
identified as High Value Assets.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $18,000,000 for the CEA.
The Treasury Chief Information Officer (CIO) is directed to
continue to review and approve each investment under the CEA
and submit quarterly reports on the progress of each
investment. To ensure the Treasury CIO retains control over the
execution of these funds, the recommendation does not permit
the transfers of funds from the CEA.
DEPARTMENT-WIDE SYSTEMS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $4,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 6,118,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 6,118,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +2,118,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Department-wide Systems and Capital Investments
Programs account funds capital investments that support the
missions of all Treasury bureaus and programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $6,118,000 for Department-wide
Systems and Capital Investments Programs.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $37,044,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 37,044,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 40,044,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +3,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +3,000,000
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides agency-wide
audit and investigative functions to identify and correct
operational and administrative deficiencies that create
conditions for fraud, waste, and mismanagement. The audit
function provides contract, program, and financial statement
audit services. Contract audits provide professional advice to
agency contracting officials on accounting and financial
matters relative to negotiation, award, administration,
repricing, and settlement of contracts. Program audits review
and evaluate all facets of agency operations. Financial
statement audits assess whether financial statements fairly
present the agency's financial condition and results of
operations, the adequacy of accounting controls, and compliance
with laws and regulations. The investigative function provides
for the detection and investigation of improper and illegal
activities involving programs, personnel, and operations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $40,044,000 for the OIG. The
recommendation includes an increase of $3,000,000 above the
request to ensure the OIG is properly staffed to conduct audits
of the Department's highest risk programs and continue its
investigative work to prevent, detect, and investigate
complaints of fraud, waste, and abuse impacting Treasury
programs and operations.
TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $170,250,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 166,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 171,350,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +1,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +5,350,000
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
(TIGTA) conducts audits, investigations, and evaluations to
assess the operations and programs of the Internal Revenue
Service and its related entities, the IRS Oversight Board, and
the Office of Chief Counsel. The purpose of those audits and
investigations is as follows: (1) To promote the economic,
efficient, and effective administration of the Nation's tax
laws and to detect and deter fraud and abuse in IRS programs
and operations; and (2) to recommend actions to resolve fraud
and other serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies in these
programs and operations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $171,350,000 for TIGTA. The
Committee appreciates the many issues that TIGTA has brought to
the Committee's attention and provides funding above the fiscal
year 2020 request to continue TIGTA's oversight of IRS
activities and use of appropriated funds.
SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE TROUBLED ASSET RELIEF PROGRAM
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $23,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 17,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 23,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +5,500,000
The Office of the Special Inspector General for the
Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) was established in the
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
343). The mission of SIGTARP is to conduct, supervise, and
coordinate audits and investigations of the purchase,
management, and sale of assets by the Secretary of the Treasury
under programs established pursuant to the Troubled Asset
Relief Program.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $23,000,000 for SIGTARP.
The President's budget proposes to cut funding for SIGTARP
by nearly 24 percent, despite the fact that more than
$4,800,000,000 is still available to be spent on housing
programs by 2023. The Committee rejects the Administration's
reckless proposal, and recommends funding at the fiscal year
2019 level to ensure SIGTARP is able to execute its vital
mission to target crime at financial institutions and protect
taxpayer dollars.
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $117,800,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 124,700,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 124,700,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +6,900,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The mission of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
(FinCEN) is to safeguard the financial system from illicit use,
combat money laundering, and promote national security through
the collection, analysis, and dissemination of financial
intelligence and strategic use of financial authorities. FinCEN
supports Federal, State, local, and international law
enforcement agency investigations of money laundering and other
financial crimes, and fosters interagency and global
cooperation against domestic and international financial
crimes.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $124,700,000 for FinCEN.
Wire Fraud in Real Estate.--The Committee directs the
Department to provide a report to the Committee, within 90 days
of enactment of this Act, detailing ongoing activities to both
combat and raise awareness of wire fraud in real estate. The
report should detail any joint activities conducted with the
Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal
Trade Commission, and other relevant agencies. The report
should also include recommendations to Congress on any
legislative changes that would enhance these efforts.
Innovative Efforts to Combat Money Laundering.--The
Committee urges FinCEN to continue to work with Federal
regulators and financial institutions to encourage innovative
approaches to detecting and combating money laundering and
terrorist financing, including artificial intelligence and
machine learning technology.
Human Trafficking.--The Committee appreciates FinCEN's
history of supporting law enforcement cases that combat human
trafficking, including its 2014 Guidance on Recognizing
Activity that May be Associated with Human Smuggling and Human
Trafficking to financial institutions, and emphasizes the
importance of continuing this effort as part of the Bureau's
broader mission to detect and disrupt all forms of financial
crime. Wherever possible, FinCEN should marshal its unique
expertise in analyzing financial flows for this important
effort in the course of ongoing strategic operations and
provide the appropriate assistance to law enforcement agencies
in their human trafficking investigations.
Bureau of the Fiscal Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $338,280,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 340,337,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 340,280,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -57,000
The mission of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (Fiscal
Service) is to promote the financial integrity and operational
efficiency of the U.S. Government through accounting,
borrowing, collections, payments, and shared services. The
Fiscal Service is the Federal Government's central financial
agent. The Fiscal Service also develops and implements reliable
and efficient financial methods and systems to operate the
government's cash management, credit management, and debt
collection programs in order to maintain government accounts
and report on the status of the government's finances. In
addition, the Fiscal Service is the primary agency for
collecting Federal non-tax debt owed to the government and is
responsible for all public debt operations and the promotion of
the sale of U.S. securities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $340,280,000 for the Fiscal
Service. Of the funds provided, $7,733,000 is available until
September 30, 2021, for information systems modernization and
cybersecurity enhancements.
Transparency in Federal Spending.--The Committee is
committed to transparency and accountability in Federal
spending and expects the Fiscal Service to meet its
transparency goals within USAspending.gov. As such the
Committee directs the Fiscal Service to continue to make basic
information about the use of financial agents publicly
available in a central location, including compensation paid to
each financial agent and a description of the services
provided. The Committee further directs the Fiscal Service to
coordinate with OMB to publish all unclassified vendor
contracts and grant awards for all Federal agencies online at
USAspending.gov. The Fiscal Service is directed to provide a
report to the Committee within 90 days of the date of enactment
of this Act on its progress in achieving government spending
transparency.
DATA Act Implementation.--The DATA Act requires federal
agency inspectors general and the Comptroller General to issue
publicly-available reports related to the completeness,
timeliness, quality, and accuracy of agency data reported under
the Act, and submit those reports to Congress no later than
November 2017, November 2019, and November 2021. In GAO-18-138,
GAO compared the data reported by the 24 Chief Financial
Officer Act agencies against the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) and found that approximately 7 percent of
programs were not included in the DATA Act submissions, even
though they made reportable awards during the second quarter.
The report also found that the accuracy of the data--measured
as consistency between reported data and authoritative agency
sources--differed sharply between budgetary and award record.
While GAO estimated with 95 percent confidence that between 56
and 75 percent of the newly-required budgetary data was fully
consistent with agency sources, less than one percent of award
records were fully consistent. The Committee recognizes that
the Comptroller General is currently working on the 2019 DATA
Act report to Congress and encourages GAO to continue to review
agency program spending totals, compare them to spending being
reported through agency financial and award sources, such as
CFDA or its successor system, and examine discrepancies in
program spending and obligation amounts.
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $119,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 115,427,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 119,600,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +4,173,000
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is
responsible for the enforcement of laws designed to eliminate
certain illicit activities and to regulate lawful activities
relating to distilled spirits, beer, wine, nonbeverage alcohol
products, and tobacco. TTB focuses on collecting revenue;
reducing taxpayer burden and improving service while preventing
diversion; and protecting the public and preventing consumer
deception in certain regulated commodities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $119,600,000 for the TTB.
Trade Practice Enforcement and Education.--The
recommendation includes $5,000,000 for TTB to continue its
education and enforcement efforts for industry trade practice
violations. Enforcement of basic trade practice functions,
required under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, is
critical to ensuring a competitive, fair, and safe marketplace.
Within 60 days of the date of enactment of this Act, the
Committee directs the TTB to report on how the funding will be
used to bolster enforcement, forensic audits, and
investigations, particularly in known points in the supply
chain that are susceptible to illegal activity, as well as
increase education activities and accessibility to permit
holders in all 50 states.
TTB Negotiated Settlements.--Within 60 days of the date of
enactment of this Act, TTB is directed to submit to the
Committee a report on TTB's use of negotiated settlements in
lieu of permit actions, and to make the report publicly
available on its website. The report shall describe the process
used during settlement negotiations including the factors,
criteria, and mitigating factors used to determine the amount
of an appropriate settlement.
Processing Time.--The surge of small brewers, distillers,
vintners, and cider makers emerging in the domestic market has
also meant a rapid annual growth in the number of alcohol
beverage label, formula, and permit applications submitted to
the TTB. The government shutdown exacerbated this problem,
causing a serious backlog that roughly doubled the average
label processing time and caused financial setbacks for small
producers, their suppliers, and local economies. The Committee
expects TTB to continue to seek ways to streamline the review
and approval processes to keep up with the growing volume of
label, formula, and permit applications and reduce delays.
Repackaging and Labeling.--The Committee recognizes the
rising popularity of shipping ``clubs'' that allow consumers to
receive unique shipments of small samples of distilled spirits
through the mail. TTB is encouraged to review its regulations
regarding the repackaging and labeling of distilled spirits to
ensure they are being appropriately enforced.
United States Mint
UNITED STATES MINT PUBLIC ENTERPRISE FUND
The United States Mint (the Mint) manufactures coins,
receives deposits of gold and silver bullion, and safeguards
the Federal Government's holdings of monetary metals. In 1997,
Congress established the United States Mint Public Enterprise
Fund (Public Law 104-52), which authorized the Mint to use
proceeds from the sale of coins to finance the costs of its
operations and consolidated all existing Mint accounts into a
single fund. Public Law 104-52 also provided that, in certain
situations, the levels of capital investments for circulating
coins and protective services shall factor into the decisions
of the Congress.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a spending level for capital
investments by the Mint for circulating coinage and protective
services of $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Program Account
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $250,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 14,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 300,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +50,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +286,000,000
The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI)
Fund provides grants, loans, equity investments, and technical
assistance, on a competitive basis, to new and existing CDFIs
such as community development banks, community development
credit unions, and housing and microenterprise loan funds.
Recipients use the funds to support mortgages, small business,
and economic development lending in underserved and distressed
neighborhoods and to support the availability of financial
services in these neighborhoods. The CDFI Fund is also
responsible for implementation of the New Markets Tax Credits.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $300,000,000
for the CDFI Fund program. Of the amounts recommended,
$191,000,000 is for financial and technical assistance grants,
$4,000,000 is for technical and financial support to CDFIs
assisting individuals with disabilities, $20,000,000 is for
Native Initiatives, $27,000,000 is for the Bank Enterprise
Award Program, $23,000,000 is for the Healthy Food Financing
Initiative, $10,000,000 is for a new small dollar loan program,
and $29,000,000 is for administrative expenses. In addition,
the Committee recommends a loan limit of $500,000,000 for the
Bond Guarantee Program.
CDFIs in U.S. Insular Areas.--The Committee notes the
absence of CDFIs serving American Samoa, Northern Mariana
Islands, and other U.S. insular areas and recommends that the
CDFI Fund use its Capacity Building Initiative to expand
service to these areas to the extent practical.
CDFI Program Integration for Individuals with
Disabilities--The Committee is pleased to include $4,000,000 in
dedicated funds for financial and technical assistance grants
to position more CDFIs to respond to the housing,
transportation, education, and employment needs of underserved,
low-income individuals with disabilities. By increasing the
visibility of the disability community, the Committee expects
CDFIs to incorporate the needs of the disabled into their
business plans and practices.
Within 180 days of enactment of this Act, the CDFI Fund is
required to submit a report to the Committee summarizing the
number of awards, amount of each award, types of programs,
impact of the funding on the number of CDFIs serving the
disability community, and recommendations to improve the award
process to CDFIs seeking funds for this program.
Persistent Poverty.--Building upon the existing investment
requirement in persistent poverty counties that has been
included in previous appropriations Acts, the Committee
supports increasing targeted investments in high-poverty areas,
defined as any census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20
percent as measured by the 2011-2015 5-year data series
available from the American Community Survey of the Census
Bureau. The Committee appreciates the CDFI Fund's efforts to
increase the overall dollar amount invested by awardees in
high-poverty areas. Within 180 days of the enactment of this
Act, the CDFI Fund is directed to submit a report on the amount
and percentage increase of financial assistance awardee
investments made in high-poverty areas over the most recent
three fiscal years. The report should also detail the impact
these investments have had on populations living in high-
poverty areas.
The Committee directs the Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund to place a priority on making additional
funds available to CDFI's that have provided no less than 15
percent of their total lending to recipients in persistent
poverty counties, as measured by a three-year average of their
activity. Within one year of enactment of this Act, the CDFI
Fund is directed to submit a report to the Committee on the
implementation of this request.
Small Dollar Loan Program.--The Committee is pleased to
dedicate $10,000,000 for a new Small Dollar Loan Program.
Funding will be used to encourage CDFIs to address the issue of
predatory lending in their communities and provide an
alternative to payday lenders. Financial Assistance grants will
provide funding for loan loss reserves to mitigate the
increased risk of default by the borrowers. Additionally, these
grants will assist to offset higher loan origination and
servicing costs on small dollar loans.
Internal Revenue Service
The Committee recommends $12,000,000,000 for the Internal
Revenue Service, which constitutes an increase of $697,446,000,
or 6.2 percent, above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and
$166,040,000 above the President's fiscal year 2020 request.
The fiscal year 2020 recommendation increases funding above the
fiscal year 2019 enacted level in all four IRS accounts. The
recommendation includes $400,000,000 under a discretionary
program integrity cap adjustment in fiscal year 2020 to fund
new and continuing investments in expanding and improving the
effectiveness and efficiency of the IRS's overall tax
enforcement program. Within the program integrity total, the
bill allocates $200,000,000 to the Enforcement account and
$200,000,000 to the Operations Support account.
Additionally, the recommendation includes $290,000,000 for
Business Systems Modernization, which is $140,000,000, or 93.3
percent, above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. These
resources are dedicated to finance the IRS Integrated
Modernization Business Plan that spans six years and will aim
to improve the taxpayer experience by modernizing core tax
administration systems, improving IRS operations, and
strengthening cybersecurity. The Committee supports efforts by
the IRS to modernize the agency's legacy systems and has
included report directives to the IRS to provide the Committee
with detailed strategy plans on completing the Customer Account
Data Engine 2 (CADE 2) and retiring the Individual Master File
(IMF).
The Committee remains discouraged with the level of service
taxpayers are receiving. Additionally, the Committee expresses
concern over continued cybersecurity threats and taxpayer ID
theft. Targeted reporting requirements are included to enable
the Committee to monitor and evaluate the IRS's progress in
these areas.
The Committee encourages continued compliance with the
implementation of section 1090 of Public Law 114-328, the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which
requires the Department of Defense, the Department of
Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the IRS to
calculate the cost to every taxpayer of the wars in
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The Committee believes it is
important that the IRS continues to comply with the law by
updating and archiving this information on an annual basis in a
centralized, publicly accessible, online location.
A description of the Committee's recommendation by
appropriation is provided below.
TAXPAYER SERVICES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $2,491,554,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 2,402,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,558,554,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +67,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +156,554,000
The Taxpayer Services appropriation provides for taxpayer
services, including forms and publications; processing tax
returns and related documents; filing and account services;
taxpayer advocacy services; and assisting taxpayers to
understand their tax obligations, correctly file their returns,
and pay taxes due in a timely manner. Within the overall
amount, the Committee recommends not less than $11,000,000 for
the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program, not less than
$13,000,000 for Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic grants, and not less
than $209,000,000 for operating expenses of the IRS Taxpayer
Advocate Service.
In addition, the recommendation includes not less than
$25,000,000 available until September 30, 2021 for the
Community Volunteer Tax Assistance matching grants program.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $2,558,554,000 for Taxpayer
Services.
Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud.--The Committee requires a
report, reviewed by the National Taxpayer Advocate, from the
IRS that covers the period 2010-2019 on: the number of
taxpayers who have had their tax return rejected because their
Social Security or taxpayer identification number was
improperly used by another individual to commit tax fraud; the
average time to resolve the situation and provide innocent
taxpayers with their refund when a refund is due; and the
number of cases involving taxpayer identification numbers of
residents of the territories. The report will also include a
discussion on IRS's progress and plans to expedite resolution
for these taxpayers, to prevent non-victims from becoming
victims, to educate the public on the threat of identity theft,
and to detect, prevent, and combat identity-based tax fraud and
actions. The Committee directs the IRS to submit the report to
the Committee within 120 days of enactment of this Act.
Assistance to Taxpayers During Shutdowns.--The Committee
values the vital work of the Taxpayer Advocate in providing
assistance to taxpayers to navigate the complex tax-code and is
concerned with the disruption of service provided during
Federal shutdowns. The Committee directs the IRS to review its
shutdown contingency plans, and where possible, provide the
necessary staff to the Taxpayer Advocate to remain operational
to assist taxpayers during Federal shutdowns.
Taxpayer Correspondence.--The IRS reported receiving 14.8
million pieces of undelivered mail in fiscal year 2017 and
noted that a system of tracking delivery status of taxpayer
correspondence would save both labor and postage costs. The
Committee encourages the IRS to consider a system for tracking
the delivery status of taxpayer correspondence utilizing the
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Intelligent Mail Barcode and
integrating that information into agency systems. Additionally,
the IRS should explore the secure destruction of undeliverable
mail that is offered through the USPS to better protect
taxpayers' personal identification data.
Refund Fraud.--The Committee remains concerned about IRS
capabilities to better assist the taxpayer, including its
ability to detect, address, and prevent tax refund fraud as
well as develop web and information technology services and
systems to continue to help the IRS transition to more
serviceable digital processes for both the taxpayer and the
government. The IRS should continue to explore next generation
registration and authentication services to further enable and
meet taxpayer and customer service demands through secure web
applications and/or online services. In addition to ongoing
reporting requirements to Congress, the IRS shall also report
semi-annually to the Committee on the progress achieved and
deployment of key modernization initiatives to further improve
the taxpayer experience, including identifying, proofing, and
better securing taxpayer services through multiple channels,
including those that are online and mobile.
ENFORCEMENT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $4,860,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 4,905,254,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,157,446,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +297,446,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +252,192,000
The Enforcement appropriation provides for the examination
of tax returns, both domestic and international; the
administrative and judicial settlement of taxpayer appeals of
examination findings; technical rulings; monitoring employee
pension plans; determining qualifications of organizations
seeking tax-exempt status; examining tax returns of exempt
organizations; enforcing statutes related to detection and
investigation of criminal violations of the internal revenue
laws; identifying underreporting of tax obligations; securing
unfiled tax returns; and collecting unpaid accounts.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $5,157,446,000 for Enforcement,
including $200,000,000 under a discretionary budget cap
adjustment to address the Federal tax gap. Of the funds
provided, the Committee recommends not less than $60,257,000 to
support IRS activities for the Interagency Crime and Drug
Enforcement program. Overall, this is a $297,446,000, or 6.1
percent increase, above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
Printed Forms and Instructions.--The Committee encourages
the IRS to continue to provide printed forms and instructions
to vulnerable populations, especially in rural communities
where internet usage rates are below the national average.
Virtual Currency Taxation Guidance.--The Committee directs
the IRS to issue additional guidance on the tax consequences
and basic reporting requirements for taxpayers that use virtual
currencies, including acceptable methods for calculating the
fair market value of virtual currencies, acceptable methods of
determining the cost basis of virtual currency dispositions,
and the tax treatment of tokens resulting from virtual currency
network forks. Within 180 days of enactment of this Act, the
IRS is required to submit to the Committee a report on the
progress in this effort.
Private Debt Collection Agencies.--The Committee is
concerned by the National Taxpayer Advocate's report regarding
the implementation of the private debt collection program and
its disproportionate impact on low income taxpayers, including
by obtaining installment agreements and payments from taxpayers
who cannot afford to pay their basic living expenses. In the
2018 Annual Report to Congress, the National Taxpayer Advocate
reported that 40 percent of taxpayers who entered into
installment agreements while their debts were assigned to
private collection agencies had incomes at or below their
allowable living expenses, meaning they agreed to pay tax
arrears while they could not pay for their basic living
expenses. The IRS is directed to provide an annual report to
the Committee detailing private debt collection revenue and
costs. The report should detail the distribution of funds
collected.
Tax Avoidance.--The Committee is concerned by the interplay
between new territorial tax laws (Puerto Rico Acts 20 and 22 of
2012) and section 933 of the U.S. Code that enables tax
avoidance and denies revenues to Federal, state, and
territorial governments, including Puerto Rico. Therefore, the
Committee directs the IRS to submit a report within 180 days of
enactment of this Act that provides the number of individuals
and businesses that have relocated from each state and the
District of Columbia to Puerto Rico since 2012 and have been
granted tax exemptions under Puerto Rico Acts 20 and 22. The
report should include the amount of Federal taxes paid by such
individuals and businesses by type of tax and jurisdiction of
former residences during each of the five years prior to their
move. In addition, the Committee directs the IRS to publish a
report in a user-friendly format with possible options and
policies that would minimize the revenue losses to the Federal,
state, and territorial governments.
White Collar Crime.--The Committee is concerned about
white-collar criminals' use of tax havens, low-tax countries,
and other insidious techniques designed to defraud the Federal
government of important revenue. The Committee recognizes that
the Treasury Department estimates that every $1 in enforcement
can produce $5 in additional revenue. Recapturing these funds
is a responsible first step in reducing the Federal deficit and
ensuring that the U.S. government can carry out its vital
services. The Committee recommendation of $5,157,446,000 for
enforcement activities should ensure effective enforcement of
white-collar criminal tax evasion schemes.
IRS Workforce.--The Committee is concerned by the decline
in staffing at the IRS since 2011 and the impact of
insufficient staffing on the agency's performance. The
Committee directs the IRS to engage in strategic workforce
planning and hire staff to fill mission critical occupations
such as tax examiners and revenue officers.
OPERATIONS SUPPORT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $3,724,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 4,236,706,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 3,994,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +270,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -242,706,000
The Operations Support appropriation provides for overall
planning and direction of the IRS, including shared service
support related to facilities services, rent payments,
printing, postage, and security. Specific activities include
headquarters management activities such as strategic planning,
communications and liaison, finance, human resources, Equal
Employment Opportunity and diversity, research, information
technology, and telecommunications.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $3,994,000,000 for Operations
Support, including $200,000,000 under a discretionary budget
cap adjustment to address the Federal tax gap. Overall, this is
$270,000,000, or 7.3 percent, above the fiscal year 2019
enacted level.
Obligations and Employment.--Within 45 days after the end
of each quarter for calendar year 2020, the IRS is directed to
submit to the Committee an obligation and personnel report. The
report shall include information about the obligations made
during the previous quarter by appropriation, object class,
office, and activity; the estimated obligations for the
remainder of the fiscal year by appropriation, object class,
office, and activity; the number of full-time equivalents
within each office during the previous quarter; and the
estimated number of full-time equivalents within each office
for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Information Technology Reports.--Within 30 days after the
end of each quarter for calendar year 2020, the IRS is required
to submit a report on major project activities to the Committee
and to GAO. The Committee expects the reports to include
detailed, plain English explanations of the cumulative
expenditures and schedule performance to date, specified by
fiscal year; the costs and schedules for the previous three
months; the anticipated costs and schedules for the upcoming
three months; and the total expected costs to complete IRS's
top five major information technology project activities. In
addition, the quarterly report should include the date the
project was started; the expected date of completion; the
percentage of work completed as compared to planned work; the
current and expected state of functionality; any changes in
schedule; and current risks unrelated to funding amounts and
mitigation strategies. The Committee directs the Department of
the Treasury to conduct a semi-annual review of IRS's IT
investments to ensure the cost, schedule, and scope of the
projects' goals are transparent.
In addition, the Committee directs GAO to review and
provide an annual report to the Committee evaluating the cost
and schedule of activities of all major IRS information
technology projects for the year, with a particular focus on
the projects included in IRS's quarterly reports.
BUSINESS SYSTEMS MODERNIZATION
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $150,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 290,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 290,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +140,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Business Systems Modernization (BSM) appropriation
provides funding to modernize key business systems of the IRS.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $290,000,000 for BSM. The
Committee continues to support the IRS in its efforts to
modernize its business systems such as CADE 2, the Enterprise
Case Management System, and the Return Review Program.
Completion of the Customer Account Data Engine 2 (CADE
2).--The Committee recognizes the importance of modernizing
IRS's IT legacy infrastructure, especially its core tax
administration systems. However, the Committee is concerned
with the ongoing efforts and finances that have been dedicated
toward completing the CADE 2 program. By October 1, 2021, the
IRS is directed to submit to the Committee a detailed multi-
year plan for completing all phases of the CADE 2 program. The
plan will: define the strategy and incremental approach for
completing all phases of the CADE 2 program; include total
resources needed to accomplish such plan by phase; and include
a schedule of deliverables with dates. Prior to submission to
the Committee, the plan shall be evaluated by an independent
reviewer on the plan's strengths, weakness, and feasibility of
success.
Retirement of the Individual Master File (IMF).--The
Committee recognizes the significance of replacing IRS's 1960s
IMF system which is the core tax processing system for over 250
million taxpayers with CADE 2. By April 30, 2021, the IRS is
directed to submit to the Committee a detailed, multi-year plan
for the retirement of the remaining functionality of the IMF.
The plan will define: the strategy and incremental approach for
retiring the IMF system; list the components and functions
which must be modernized to retire IMF; and include performance
milestones, cost estimates, and staff requirements. Prior to
submission to the Committee, the plan shall be evaluated by an
independent reviewer on the plan's strengths, weakness, and
feasibility of success.
Quarterly Reports.--The IRS Commissioner is directed to
continue submission of quarterly IT reports to the Committee
and the GAO within 30 days after the end of each quarter during
calendar year 2020.
The Committee expects the reports to include detailed,
plain English summaries on the status of plans, costs and
results for the IRS Integrated Modernization Business Plan
(Plan) including CADE 2, IMF, the Enterprise Case Management
System, and the Return Review Program. The reports should
include prior quarter results and expenditures; upcoming
quarter deliverables and costs; risks and mitigation strategies
associated with ongoing work; reasons for any cost and schedule
variances; total expenditures to date by fiscal year; and
estimated costs for completing each IT investment or phase of
the Plan.
The Committee further directs GAO to review and provide an
annual report to the Committee evaluating the cost and progress
of deliverables of the Plan as well as an assessment of the
functionality achieved.
Electronic Deposit Language.--The IRS shall study the
ability and resources required to modernize equipment and
processes to electronically deposit taxpayer checks which will
reduce use of couriers and bank processing costs as well as
allow for faster deposits into the U.S. Treasury.
Administrative Provisions--Internal Revenue Service
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Section 101. The Committee continues a provision that
allows for the transfer of up to four percent of the
Enforcement appropriation and up to five percent of other
appropriations made available to the IRS to any other IRS
appropriation, upon the advance approval of the Committees on
Appropriations of the House and the Senate.
Section 102. The Committee continues a provision that
requires the IRS to maintain a training program to include
taxpayer rights, dealing courteously with taxpayers, cross-
cultural relations, and the impartial application of tax law.
Section 103. The Committee continues a provision that
requires the IRS to institute and enforce policies and
procedures that will safeguard the confidentiality of taxpayer
information and protect taxpayers against identity theft.
Section 104. The Committee continues a provision that makes
funds available for improved facilities and increased staffing
to provide efficient and effective 1-800 number help line
service for taxpayers.
Section 105. The Committee continues a provision that
requires the IRS to notify employers of any address change
request and to give special consideration to offers in
compromise for taxpayers who have been victims of payroll tax
preparer fraud.
Section 106. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits the IRS from targeting U.S. citizens for exercising
their First Amendment rights.
Section 107. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits the IRS from targeting groups based on their
ideological beliefs.
Section 108. The Committee continues a provision that
requires the IRS to comply with procedures and policies on
conference spending as recommended by the Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration.
Section 109. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits funds for giving bonuses to employees or hiring
former employees without considering conduct and compliance
with Federal tax law.
Section 110. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits funds to violate the confidentiality of tax returns.
Section 111. The Committee includes a new provision
restoring the Streamline Critical Pay for information
technology specialists through September 20, 2023.
Administrative Provisions--Department of the Treasury
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Section 112. The Committee continues a provision that
authorizes the Department to purchase uniforms, insurance for
motor vehicles that are overseas, and motor vehicles that are
overseas without regard to the general purchase price
limitations; to enter into contracts with the State Department
for health and medical services for Treasury employees who are
overseas; and to hire experts or consultants.
Section 113. The Committee continues and modifies a
provision that authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between
``Departmental Offices--Salaries and Expenses'', ``Office of
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence'', ``Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network'', ``Bureau of the Fiscal Service'', and
``Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau'' appropriations
under certain circumstances.
Section 114. The Committee continues a provision that
authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between the Internal
Revenue Service and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration under certain circumstances.
Section 115. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits the Department of the Treasury from undertaking a
redesign of the one dollar Federal Reserve note.
Section 116. The Committee continues a provision that
provides for transfers from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service to
the Debt Collection Fund as necessary for the purposes of debt
collection.
Section 117. The Committee continues a provision requiring
congressional approval for the construction and operation of a
museum by the United States Mint.
Section 118. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits funds in this or any other Act from being used to
merge the United States Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing without the approval of the House and the Senate
committees of jurisdiction.
Section 119. The Committee continues a provision deeming
that funds for the Department of the Treasury's intelligence-
related activities are specifically authorized in fiscal year
2020 until enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for
fiscal year 2020.
Section 120. The Committee continues a provision permitting
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to use $5,000 from the
Industrial Revolving Fund for reception and representation
expenses.
Section 121. The Committee continues a provision requiring
the Department to submit a capital investment plan.
Section 122. The Committee continues a provision requiring
a report on the Department's Franchise Fund.
Section 123. The Committee modifies a provision requiring
quarterly reports of the Office of Financial Research.
Section 124. The Committee includes a new provision
requiring the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset
Relief Program to prioritize performance audits or
investigations of programs funded under the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act of 2008.
Section 125. The Committee includes a new provision that
prohibits funds provided for the Office of Terrorism and
Financial Intelligence to be used to pay the salary of a
Treasury employee detailed to another Department, agency, or
office funded in this bill.
Section 126. The Committee includes a new provision that
prohibits the use of funds from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund to
plan, design, construct, or carry out a project to construct a
wall, barrier, fence, or road along the southern border of the
United States, or a road to provide access to a wall, barrier,
or fence constructed along the southern border of the United
States.
TITLE II--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO
THE PRESIDENT
Funds appropriated in this title provide for the staff and
operations of the White House, along with other organizations
within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) that
formulate and coordinate policy on behalf of the President,
such as the National Security Council and the Office of
Management and Budget. The title also includes funding for the
Office of National Drug Control Policy and certain expenses of
the Vice President.
The White House
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $55,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 55,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 55,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The White House Salaries and Expenses account supports
staff and administrative services necessary for the direct
support of the President.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $55,000,000 for the White House.
American-Grown Flowers.--The Committee encourages the White
House to use American-grown cut flowers for all floral
arrangements and displays purchased using Federal funds.
Executive Residence at the White House
OPERATING EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $13,081,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 13,081,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 13,081,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
These funds provide for the care, maintenance, staffing,
and operations of the Executive Residence, including official
and ceremonial functions of the President.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $13,081,000 for the Operating
Expenses of the Executive Residence. The bill continues the
same restrictions on reimbursable expenses for use of the
Executive Residence as have been included in past years.
White House Repair and Restoration
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $750,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 750,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 750,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The White House Repair and Restoration account provides for
the repair, alteration, and improvement of the Executive
Residence at the White House.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $750,000 for White House Repair
and Restoration.
Council of Economic Advisers
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $4,187,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 4,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 4,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -187,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Council of Economic Advisers analyzes the national
economy and its various segments, advises the President on
economic developments, recommends policies for economic growth
and stability, appraises economic programs and policies of the
Federal Government, and assists in preparation of the annual
Economic Report of the President.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $4,000,000 for the Council of
Economic Advisers.
National Security Council and Homeland Security Council
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $12,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 11,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 11,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The National Security Council and the Homeland Security
Council have been combined to form the National Security Staff,
which advises and assists the President on the integration of
domestic, foreign, military, intelligence, and economic aspects
of national security policy and serves as the principal means
of coordinating executive departments and agencies in the
development and implementation of national security and
homeland security policies.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $11,500,000 for the National
Security Council and Homeland Security Council. The Committee's
recommendation does not include a separate representation and
reception appropriation.
Office of Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $100,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 94,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 94,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -6,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Office of Administration is responsible for providing
administrative services to the Executive Office of the
President. These services include financial, personnel,
procurement, information technology, records management, and
general office services.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $94,000,000 for the Office of
Administration. Of the recommended amount, not to exceed
$12,800,000 is available until expended for modernization of
information technology infrastructure within the Executive
Office of the President.
White House Visitor Logs.--The Committee encourages the
Office of Administration to establish and update, every 90
days, a publicly available database that contains the visitor
logs for the White House, the residence of the Vice President,
and any other location at which the President or the Vice
President regularly conducts official business.
Office of Management and Budget
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $103,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 101,600,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 101,600,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -1,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Office of Management and Budget assists the President
in the discharge of budgetary, economic, management, and other
executive responsibilities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $101,600,000 for OMB. The
recommendation also continues several long-standing provisions,
not requested by the President, limiting certain OMB
activities.
The Committee does not provide additional funding, as
requested by the President, to establish a new office to
provide government-wide strategic direction on Federal human
capital policy, as part of a proposed restructuring of the
Office of Personnel Management.
Budget Submission.--The recommendation provides sufficient
funds for OMB to consult with Congressional committees and
provide an appropriate number of printed copies of the
President's fiscal year 2021 budget request, including
documents such as the Appendix, Historical Tables, and
Analytical Perspectives.
Personnel and Obligations Reports.--The Committee continues
direction to OMB to provide the Committee with quarterly
reports on personnel and obligations consisting of on-board
staffing levels, estimated staffing levels by office for the
remainder of the fiscal year, total obligations incurred to
date, estimated total obligations for the remainder of the
fiscal year, and a narrative description of current hiring
initiatives.
Unobligated Balances Report.--OMB is directed to report to
the Committee within 45 days of the end of each fiscal quarter
on available balances at the start of the fiscal year, current
year obligations, and resulting unobligated balances for each
discretionary account within the jurisdiction of this Act.
Improper Payments.--The Committee encourages OMB to
continue working with agencies across the Federal government to
ensure processes are in place to eliminate payments to deceased
persons. OMB is again directed to report to the Committee
within 60 days of enactment of this Act on how it is reducing
improper payments to deceased individuals, and what initiatives
have proven to be most effective.
Online Budget Repository.--The Committee directs OMB to
issue guidance requiring all Federal departments, agencies, and
corporations to post their Federal agency budgets and
respective Congressional budget justifications on a publicly
available website in a searchable, sortable, and machine-
readable format, and directs OMB to create a single webpage
linking to these documents for a particular fiscal year within
three days after submission of the President's budget request
to Congress for that fiscal year. OMB is directed to report to
the Committee within 30 days of submission of the President's
budget request to Congress a list of all agencies that are not
in compliance with these requirements.
Recordkeeping Requirements.--The Committee is gravely
concerned by reports that White House officials are using
private messaging services for official White House business in
potential violation of Federal recordkeeping statutes. The
Committee directs OMB and the Office of Administration to issue
guidance to all staff within the Executive Office of the
President detailing their responsibilities under the applicable
recordkeeping statutes and to take steps to ensure that all
official business is conducted in accordance with such
statutes.
Inspector General Inquiries.--The Committee is concerned by
OMB's refusal to provide agency Inspector Generals with
information they have requested that is essential to their
oversight and audit activities, including investigations
conducted in response to Congressional requests. The Committee
directs OMB to fully comply with the Inspector General Act of
1978, which requires that the head of any Federal agency to
furnish an Inspector General with requested information or
assistance, insofar as is practicable and not in contravention
of any existing statutory restriction or regulation of the
Federal agency from which the information is requested.
Travel Policy.--In September 2017, in response to reports
of potential misuse of Federal resources, OMB issued a
memorandum stating that it is reviewing the existing guidance
around the use of Government-owned, rented, leased, or
chartered aircraft. The Committee is concerned by the delays in
the review process and directs OMB to, within 60 days of
enactment of this Act, either complete its review or report to
the Committee the current status of the review and a timeline
estimating when such a review will be completed.
Food Safety Modernization Act.--The Committee directs the
Office of Management and Budget to work closely with the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) to meet the timelines for
promulgation of rules and regulations outlined in the FDA Food
Safety Modernization Act (Public Law 111-353). The Committee
requests a report every 180 days after the enactment of this
Act describing any rule or regulation that is more than 60 days
overdue and the reasons why each rule or regulation is overdue.
Public Safety Telecommunicators.--The Committee recognizes
that the Standard Occupational Classification System's (SOC)
categorization of a ``public safety telecommunicator'' as an
``office and administrative support occupation'' is outdated
and does not reflect the nature of this life-saving work. The
Committee directs OMB to re-examine the classification of
public safety telecommunicators under the SOC and urges OMB to
correctly classify them as a ``protective service occupation.''
Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and
Efficiency (CIGIE).--The Committee requests that CIGIE, within
90 days of enactment of this Act, provide to the Committee and
publish on its website a spending plan and project plan for the
funds provided this year and in prior years. The Committee
expects that the funding provided will allow completion of the
whistleblower protection portal, the IG vacancies dashboard,
the Inspector General (IG) Open Recommendations project, the
disaster assistance web page, and the transition to CIGIE
hosting of IG websites, as well as additional upgrades. In
addition, the Committee expects to see details of how CIGIE
plans to provide a public-facing list of the total number and
date range of reports available on oversight.gov from each IG.
The Committee understands that GAO and many IGs include on
their websites information about a report when some content
must remain non-public because it is classified or sensitive.
The Committee expects, at a minimum, IGs and oversight.gov
report for any such report the title, date of publication,
agency responsible, details of the congressional request, a
description of the subject, and a general reason for redaction.
The Committee expects CIGIE to develop best practices to ensure
public and congressional awareness and access to all IG
reports, including classified or sensitive reports.
Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 1,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +1,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement
Coordinator (IPEC) was created in 2008 to develop and
coordinate overall U.S. intellectual property policy and
strategy.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends adopting the proposal in the
President's budget to create a separate appropriation of
$1,000,000 for IPEC. IPEC activities were previously funded
within the Office of Management and Budget.
Intellectual Property Protection.--The Committee continues
to strongly support IPEC and directs the Coordinator to
continue promoting private sector efforts to reduce online
copyright infringement and to continue implementing a
meaningful plan, as called for in the Joint Strategic Plan, to
enhance capacity building, outreach, and training programs to
promote meaningful protection of American intellectual property
abroad.
Office of National Drug Control Policy
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $18,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 16,400,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 18,400,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +2,000,000
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) was
established by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. As the
President's primary source of support for counter-drug policy
development and program oversight, ONDCP is responsible for
developing and updating a National Drug Control Strategy,
developing a National Drug Control Budget, and coordinating and
evaluating the implementation of Federal drug control
activities. In addition, ONDCP manages several counter-drug
programs, including the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
(HIDTA) and Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $18,400,000 for ONDCP Salaries and
Expenses.
The Committee notes the importance of the HIDTA and DFC
grant programs in combating the nation's opioid epidemic. The
Committee further notes that ONDCP ensures the HIDTA and DFC
programs are equitably managed across Federal, State, and local
agencies and with the necessary interagency flexibility to
address emerging threats. The Committee rejects the proposal in
the President's budget to transfer the HIDTA and DFC programs
out of ONDCP, and instead directs ONDCP to retain operational
control over these programs to maintain the interagency
benefits needed to address the opioid crisis.
The Committee strongly supports ONDCP programs to reduce
drug use and drug trafficking and believes it is critical for
ONDCP to remain a strong voice in the Executive Office of the
President and a visible presence nationally. The Committee
emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to
combating the epidemic and directs ONDCP to balance public
health and public safety in both strategy development and
resource allocation. The Committee notes the importance of:
identifying early intervention opportunities, improving access
to preventative and prescriptive treatment, strengthening
community and school-based education programs, and supporting
long-term recovery. The Committee directs ONDCP to brief on the
implementation of the 2019 National Drug Control Strategy
within 90 days of the date of enactment of this Act.
The Committee continues to be concerned about narcotics
trafficking and related violence in Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands, home to approximately 3.3 million American
citizens. The Committee is also concerned about the effect of
narcotics trafficking through the Caribbean region on U.S.
States, especially communities along the eastern seaboard.
Within 180 days of the date of enactment of this Act, ONDCP is
directed to submit to the Committee a Caribbean Border
Counternarcotics Strategy consistent with the requirements set
forth in the joint explanatory statement accompanying Public
Law 113-71. The Committee further directs ONDCP to include a
Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy in forthcoming
versions of the National Drug Control Strategy.
The Committee is concerned that Federal, State, and local
law enforcement face serious risk of accidental overdose due to
inadvertent exposure to extremely potent illicit opioids, such
as fentanyl and carfentanil. ONDCP is directed to work with the
Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, and Homeland
Security to develop strategies for ensuring law enforcement
officers and other government employees likely to encounter
opioids have access to FDA-approved, community-use overdose
reversing agents.
FEDERAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS
HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $280,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... 300,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +20,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +300,000,000
The HIDTA Program provides resources to Federal, State,
local, and tribal agencies in designated HIDTAs to combat the
production, transportation, and distribution of illegal drugs;
to seize assets derived from drug trafficking; to address
violence in drug-plagued communities; and to disrupt the drug
marketplace.
There are 29 HIDTAs operating in all 50 States plus the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Each HIDTA is managed by an Executive Board comprised of equal
numbers of Federal, State, local, and tribal officials. Each
HIDTA Executive Board is responsible for designing and
implementing initiatives for the specific drug trafficking
threats in its region. Intelligence and information sharing are
key elements of all HIDTA programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $300,000,000 for the HIDTA
Program, an increase of $20,000,000 above fiscal year 2019. The
Committee believes the collaborative structure of the HIDTA
Program provides Federal, State, local, and tribal law
enforcement leaders a balanced and equal voice in determining
program priorities and is an effective tool in combating
problems of drug trafficking and drug-related violence.
OTHER FEDERAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $118,327,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 12,101,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 121,851,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +3,524,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +109,750,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $121,851,000 for Other Federal
Drug Control Programs. The recommended level for fiscal year
2020 is distributed among specific programs and activities as
follows:
Drug-Free Communities................................. $100,500,000
Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance.......... 3,000,000
Anti-Doping Activities................................ 12,101,000
Model Acts Program.................................... 1,250,000
Community-Based Coalition Enhancement Grants (CARA 5,000,000
Grants)..............................................
Within the total for the Drug-Free Communities Program,
$2,500,000 is for training authorized by section 4 of Public
Law 107-82, as amended by Public Law 115-271.
The Committee supports the Model Acts Program and ONDCP's
continued work with nonprofit corporations to address the
problems associated with illicit drug and alcohol abuse in
States.
Unanticipated Needs
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $1,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 1,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Unanticipated Needs account enables the President to
meet unanticipated exigencies in support of the national
interest, security, or defense.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $1,000,000 for Unanticipated
Needs.
Information Technology Oversight And Reform
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $28,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 15,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 15,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -13,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
These funds support efforts to make the Federal
Government's investments in information technology more
efficient, secure, and effective.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $15,000,000 for information
technology oversight activities. This total reflects the
partial transition of the United States Digital Service to a
reimbursable model as well as the transfer of the information
technology dashboard to GSA.
Special Assistance to the President
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $4,288,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 4,288,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 4,288,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
These funds support the executive functions of the Office
of the Vice President.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $4,288,000 for the Office of the
Vice President.
Official Residence of the Vice President
OPERATING EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $302,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 302,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 302,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
These funds support the care and operation of the Vice
President's residence and specifically support equipment,
furnishings, dining facilities, and services required to
perform and discharge the Vice President's official duties,
functions, and obligations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $302,000 for the Operating
Expenses of the Vice President's residence.
Administrative Provisions--Executive Office of the President and Funds
Appropriated to the President
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Section 201. The Committee includes language permitting the
transfer of not to exceed ten percent of funds between various
accounts within the Executive Office of the President, with
advance approval of the Committee. The amount of an
appropriation shall not be increased by more than 50 percent.
Section 202. The Committee includes language requiring the
OMB Director to include a statement of budgetary impact with
any Executive Order or Presidential Memorandum issued or
rescinded during fiscal year 2020 where the regulatory cost
exceeds $100,000,000.
Section 203. The Committee includes a new provision
requiring the OMB Director to issue a memorandum to all Federal
departments, agencies, and corporations directing compliance
with title VII of this Act.
Section 204. The Committee includes a new provision
requiring OMB to make publicly available, in an automated
fashion, all documents apportioning an appropriation; to
provide the Committee with such information until the automated
system is implemented; and to provide information about
apportionment approval status to the Committee on a monthly
basis.
TITLE III--THE JUDICIARY
The funds in title III are for the operation and
maintenance of United States Courts and include the salaries of
judges, probation and pretrial services officers, public
defenders, court clerks, law clerks, and other supporting
personnel, as well as security costs, information technology,
and other expenses of the Federal Judiciary. The Committee
recommends a total of $7,511,302,000 in discretionary funding
for the Judiciary in fiscal year 2020.
In addition to direct appropriations, the Judiciary
collects various fees and has certain multiyear funding
authorities. The Judiciary uses these non-appropriated funds to
offset its direct appropriation requirements. Consistent with
prior year practices and section 608 of this Act, the Committee
expects the Judiciary to submit a financial plan, within 60
days of enactment of this Act, allocating all sources of
available funds including appropriations, fee collections, and
carryover balances. This financial plan will be the baseline
for purposes of reprogramming notification.
Improving the physical security at buildings occupied by
the Judiciary and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to ensure the
integrity of the judicial process is a priority for the
Committee. The fiscal year 2020 budget request proposes
$641,108,000, an increase of $33,998,000, or 5.6 percent, above
the fiscal year 2019 level. The request includes funding for
the continued implementation of the physical access control
systems replacement strategy, as well as security
infrastructure and additional court security officers (CSOs)
for new courthouses.
The Committee recognizes the Judiciary's cost containment
efforts over the past 12 years and is pleased with the
Judiciary's savings and cost avoidance. The Committee
highlights the reduction of usable square feet from the
Judiciary's rent bill, which equates to an annual cost
avoidance of nearly $36,000,000 and $105,000,000 over the past
five years.
Additionally, the Committee is pleased with the progress
the Judiciary is making toward implementing the Federal
Defender Organization staffing formula. The formula reflects
needed staff increases based on the weighted case averages over
the previous five years. The fiscal year 2020 budget request
proposes $1,234,574,000 for Defender Services, which is an
increase of $84,124,000, or 7.3 percent, above the fiscal year
2019 level. The recommendation supports additional staff to
ensure the right of individuals to retain counsel.
The Committee notes that a fair and efficient judicial
system depends on ensuring citizens have reasonable access to
the federal courts. The Committee encourages the Judiciary and
the GSA to collaborate with local stakeholders to ensure
continued community access to court services. For fiscal year
2020, the Judiciary is continuing to focus on effectively
managing the 13 courthouse/federal building projects whose
construction costs were funded in fiscal year 2016 and fiscal
year 2018.
Supreme Court of the United States
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $84,703,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 87,699,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 87,699,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +2,996,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $87,699,000 for fiscal year 2020
for the salaries and expenses of personnel and for the cost of
operating the Supreme Court, excluding the care of the building
and grounds. The Committee includes language making $1,500,000
available until expended for information technology
investments. The Committee directs the Court to include an
annual report with its budget justification materials showing
information technology carryover balances and describing
expenditures made in the previous fiscal year and planned
expenditures in the budget year.
Supreme Court Live and Video Access.--The Committee notes
that providing the American people with the opportunity to
access Supreme Court arguments in real time via video and/or
live audio would greatly expand the Court's accessibility to
average Americans and provide historical and educational value.
As such, the Committee encourages the Supreme Court to take
steps to permit video and live audio coverage of all open
sessions of the court unless the Court decides that allowing
such coverage in any case would violate the due process of one
or more of the parties before the Court.
The Committee is pleased to provide the Supreme Court,
Salaries and Expenses account, with the full fiscal year 2020
request. This appropriation provides for Supreme Court support
personnel and offices to carry out the functions of the Supreme
Court. The Committee regrets the need to remind such offices of
the importance of timely and thorough communications to the
Committee. This is essential to ensuring that the Committee has
the necessary information when analyzing funding needs as well
as scheduling hearings and meetings with Court personnel.
CARE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $15,999,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 16,390,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 15,590,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -409,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -800,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $15,590,000 for Care of the
Buildings and Grounds, to remain available until expended. The
Architect of the Capitol has responsibility for these functions
and supervises the use of this appropriation.
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $32,016,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 32,983,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 32,983,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +967,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has exclusive
national jurisdiction over a large number of diverse subject
areas, including government contracts, patents, trademarks,
Federal personnel, and veterans' benefits. The Committee
recommends $32,983,000 for United States Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit.
United States Court of International Trade
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $18,882,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 19,930,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 19,362,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +480,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -568,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Court of International Trade has exclusive nationwide
jurisdiction over civil actions against the United States and
certain civil actions brought by the United States arising out
of import transactions and administration and enforcement of
the U.S. customs and international trade laws. The Committee
recommends $19,362,000 United States Court of International
Trade.
Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $5,144,383,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 5,383,970,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,274,383,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +130,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -109,587,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $5,274,383,000 for the operations
of the regional Courts of Appeals, District Courts, Bankruptcy
Courts, the Court of Federal Claims, and probation and pretrial
services offices.
The Committee recommends a reimbursement of $9,070,000 from
the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund to cover expenses of
the United States Court of Federal Claims associated with
processing cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act of 1986.
Article III Judges.--The Committee notes that, according to
the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, a meaningful
percentage of the authorized judgeships in the U.S. District
Courts and the U.S. Courts of Appeals are currently vacant. The
Committee further notes that the Judicial Conference of the
United States, in its most recent report to Congress,
recommended the creation of a significant number of new Article
III judgeships in the District Courts and Courts of Appeals.
The Committee is concerned that, absent executive and
congressional action to fill existing judicial vacancies and
the passage of comprehensive bipartisan legislation to create
new judgeships, the ability of the federal courts to administer
justice in a swift, fair, and effective manner could be
compromised.
DEFENDER SERVICES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $1,150,450,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 1,234,574,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,234,574,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +84,124,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
This account provides funding for the operation of the
Federal Public Defender and Community Defender organizations
and for compensation and reimbursement of expenses of panel
attorneys appointed pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act for
representation in criminal cases. The Committee recommends
$1,234,574,000 for Defender Services.
FEES OF JURORS AND COMMISSIONERS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $49,750,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 51,851,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 51,851,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +2,101,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $51,851,000 for payments to jurors
and land commissioners.
COURT SECURITY
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $607,110,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 641,273,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 641,108,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +33,998,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -165,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $641,108,000 for Court Security to
provide for necessary expenses of security and protective
services in courtrooms and adjacent areas. The recommendation
will provide for the highest priority security needs identified
by the courts and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $92,413,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 96,945,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 94,261,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +1,848,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -2,684,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO)
provides administrative and management support to the United
States Courts, including the probation and bankruptcy systems.
It also supports the Judicial Conference of the United States
in determining Federal Judiciary policies, in developing
methods to assist the courts to conduct business efficiently
and economically, and in enhancing the use of information
technology in the courts. The Committee recommends $94,261,000
for the AO.
Federal Judicial Center
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $29,819,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 30,736,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 30,736,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +917,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) improves the management
of Federal Judicial dockets and court administration through
education for judges and staff and through research,
evaluation, and planning assistance for the courts and the
Judicial Conference. The Committee recommends $30,736,000 for
the FJC.
United States Sentencing Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $18,953,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 19,265,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 19,685,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +732,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +420,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The purpose of the U.S. Sentencing Commission is to
establish, review, and revise sentencing guidelines, policies,
and practices for the Federal criminal justice system. The
Commission is also required to monitor the operation of the
guidelines and to identify and report necessary changes to the
Congress. The Committee recommends $19,685,000 for the
Commission.
Administrative Provisions--The Judiciary
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Section 301. The Committee continues language to permit
funds for salaries and expenses to be available for employment
of experts and consultant services as authorized by 5 U.S.C.
3109.
Section 302. The Committee continues language that permits
up to five percent of any appropriation made available for
fiscal year 2020 to be transferred between Judiciary
appropriations provided that no appropriation shall be
decreased by more than five percent or increased by more than
ten percent by any such transfer except in certain
circumstances. In addition, the language provides that any such
transfer shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under
sections 604 and 608 of the accompanying bill and shall not be
available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance
with the procedures set forth in those sections.
Section 303. The Committee continues language authorizing
up to $11,000 to be used for official reception and
representation expenses incurred by the Judicial Conference of
the United States.
Section 304. The Committee continues language through
fiscal year 2020 regarding the delegation of authority to the
Judiciary for contracts for repairs of less than $100,000.
Section 305. The Committee continues language to authorize
a court security pilot program.
Section 306. The Committee includes language to extend
temporary judgeships in the districts of Arizona, California
Central, Florida Southern, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri Eastern,
New Mexico, North Carolina Western, and Texas Eastern.
TITLE IV--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Federal Funds
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR RESIDENT TUITION SUPPORT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $40,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... 40,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +40,000,000
The Resident Tuition Support program, also known as the
D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program, provides up to $10,000
annually for undergraduate District students to address the
difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates and
makes it possible for them to attend eligible four-year public
universities and colleges nationwide. Grants of up to $2,500
per year are available for students to attend private
universities and colleges in the D.C. metropolitan area,
private Historically Black Colleges and Universities
nationwide, and public two-year community colleges nationwide.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $40,000,000
for the Resident Tuition Support program. The District of
Columbia can contribute local funds to this program and is
authorized to prioritize applications based on income and need
if there is demand for the program beyond the available level
of Federal funds.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING AND SECURITY COSTS IN THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $12,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 11,400,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 16,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +4,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +4,600,000
As the seat of the national government, the District of
Columbia has a unique and significant responsibility for
protecting the property and personnel of the Federal
Government. The Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and
Security Costs helps address the impact of the Federal presence
on public safety in the District of Columbia.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $16,000,000
for emergency planning and security costs. The Committee
recommends $4,000,000 above the President's budget to support
increasing costs to the District of Columbia for major public
events and First Amendment-related events due to a significant
rise in the number of events.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $258,394,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 270,703,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 278,488,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +20,094,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +7,785,000
Under the National Capital Revitalization and Self-
Government Improvement Act of 1997, the Federal Government is
required to finance the District of Columbia Courts. This
Federal payment to the District of Columbia Courts funds the
operations of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals,
Superior Court, Court System, and Capital Improvement Program.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $278,488,000
for operation of the District of Columbia Courts.
The amount recommended by the Committee includes
$14,682,000 for the Court of Appeals, $125,638,000 for the
Superior Court, $75,518,000 for the Court System, and
$62,650,000 for capital improvements to courthouse facilities.
Funds for capital improvements are provided to improve life
safety compliance, conduct general repair projects and
upgrades, and move the various court offices into the owned
space and out of leased space.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR DEFENDER SERVICES IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $46,005,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 46,005,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 46,005,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The District of Columbia Courts appoint and compensate
attorneys to represent persons who are financially unable to
obtain such representation.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $46,005,000
for Defender Services in the District of Columbia Courts.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $256,724,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 248,524,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 248,524,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -8,200,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA)
for the District of Columbia is an independent Federal agency
created by the National Capital Revitalization and Self-
Government Improvement Act of 1997. CSOSA acquired operational
responsibilities for the former District agencies in charge of
probation and parole and houses the Pretrial Services Agency
for the District of Columbia within its framework.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $248,524,000
for CSOSA. Of the amounts provided, $181,065,000 is for
Community Supervision and Sex Offender Registration and
$67,459,000 is for pretrial services. In addition to the
regular baseline activities, the Committee's recommendation
includes a total of $4,816,000 to remain available until
September 30, 2022, for the costs associated with replacement
leases and relocation of the CSOSA and an offender field
office.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $45,858,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 42,404,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 43,569,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -2,289,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +1,165,000
The Public Defender Service (PDS) for the District of
Columbia is an independent organization authorized by the
National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement
Act of 1997. PDS's purpose is to provide legal representation
services within the District of Columbia justice system.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $43,569,000
for PDS for the District of Columbia. In addition to the
baseline activities, the Committee's recommendation includes
$344,000 to remain available until September 30, 2022, for the
costs associated with replacement leases and relocation of the
PDS offices.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $2,150,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 1,805,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,150,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +345,000
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) provides a
forum for District of Columbia and Federal law enforcement to
identify criminal justice issues and solutions and improve the
coordination of their efforts. In addition, the CJCC developed
and maintains the Justice Integrated Information System, which
provides for the seamless sharing of information with Federal
and local law enforcement.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $2,150,000 to
the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR JUDICIAL COMMISSIONS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $565,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 536,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 600,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +35,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +64,000
This appropriation provides funding for two judicial
commissions. The first is the Judicial Nomination Commission
(JNC), which recommends a panel of three candidates to the
President for each judicial vacancy in the District of Columbia
Court of Appeals and Superior Court. From the panel selected by
the JNC, the President nominates a person for each vacancy and
submits his or her name for confirmation to the Senate. The
second commission is the Commission on Judicial Disabilities
and Tenure (CJDT), which has jurisdiction over all judges of
the Court of Appeals and Superior Court to determine whether a
judge's conduct warrants disciplinary action and whether
involuntary retirement of a judge for health reasons is
warranted. In addition, the CJDT conducts evaluations of judges
seeking reappointment and judges who retire and wish to
continue service as a senior judge.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $325,000 for
the CJDT, and $275,000 for the JNC.
The Committee notes that the reduction proposed in the
President's request would significantly impair the Commission's
ability to conduct thorough and comprehensive investigations of
judicial misconduct complaints and conduct examinations of
candidates for the Judiciary in the District of Columbia.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $52,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 90,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 52,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -37,500,000
The Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act, as
reauthorized in the Financial Services and General Government
Appropriations Act, 2018, authorizes funds to be evenly divided
between District of Columbia Public Schools, Public Charter
Schools, and Opportunity Scholarships.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $52,500,000
for school improvement. Based on the statutory funding formula,
$17,500,000 is provided for District of Columbia Public
Schools, $17,500,000 is provided for Public Charter Schools,
and $17,500,000 is provided for Opportunity Scholarships. The
Committee also includes a new provision requiring schools
participating in the SOAR program to certify compliance with
Federal civil rights and special education laws.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $435,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 413,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 435,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +22,000
The Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of
Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program
pays for the costs of a tuition assistance program for guard
members.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $435,000. The
Committee acknowledges the unique role of the D.C. National
Guard in addressing emergencies that may occur as a result of
the presence of the Federal Government.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR TESTING AND TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $3,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 4,750,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +250,000
Currently, two percent of the population of the District of
Columbia has been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. This percentage
surpasses the generally accepted definition of an epidemic,
which is 1 percent of the population.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $5,000,000
for testing, education, and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $8,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... 8,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +8,000,000
The Federal Payment to the District of Columbia Water and
Sewer Authority supports the D.C. Clean Rivers Project, which
is designed to reduce combined sewer overflows to the Anacostia
and Potomac Rivers and Rock Creek.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $8,000,000
for implementation of the D.C. Clean Rivers project.
TITLE V--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Administrative Conference of the United States
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $3,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 3,100,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 3,100,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS)
studies Federal administrative procedures and processes to
recommend improvements to the President, Congress, and other
agencies.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $3,100,000 for ACUS.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was
established under title X of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act (P.L. 111-203) as a bureau under
the Federal Reserve System. The Act consolidated authorities
previously shared by seven Federal agencies under Federal
consumer protection laws in the CFPB and provided the Bureau
with additional authorities to conduct rulemaking, supervision,
and enforcement with respect to Federal consumer financial
laws. Funding required to support the Bureau's operations are
obtained from transfers from the Federal Reserve System.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee rejects the President's budget proposal to
restructure the CFPB and place it under the appropriations
process. The Committee strongly supports the CFPB's work to
empower and protect consumers by regulating offerings of
consumer financial products and enforcing violations of
consumer financial laws and regulations. The Committee directs
the CFPB to take aggressive action to protect consumers and
thoroughly assess any potential changes in CFPB rules and
regulations to ensure that consumers are not unduly harmed.
State Insurance Referrals.--Under current law, the CFPB
does not have the authority, in many cases, to regulate
insurance to the extent a person is engaged in the business of
insurance and state insurance regulators already regulate the
insurance activities. In cases where the CFPB does not have
authority, the Committee directs the CFPB to refer all
investigations/enforcements to the appropriate state insurance
commissioner.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $127,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 127,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 135,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +8,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +8,500,000
The Consumer Product Safety Act of 1972 established the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent
Federal regulatory agency, to reduce the risk of injury
associated with consumer products.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $135,500,000 for the CPSC. CPSC
has been chronically underfunded in recent years and this
increase is meant to address unfunded priorities as identified
by the Commission.
The recommendation includes $1,300,000 for the Virginia
Graeme Baker Grant Program and associated administrative costs
to reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with
pools and spas.
CPSC is directed to include in its VGB Grant Program
solicitation explicit language indicating that some aspects of
the grant proposal may be achieved by contracting with other
entities, including civic organizations.
The Committee commends the CPSC for continuing to provide
resources for the national and grassroots ``Pool Safely''
campaign, a safety information and education program to reduce
child drownings and near drowning injuries and maintain a zero
fatality rate for drain entrapments. This multifaceted
initiative includes consumer and industry education efforts,
press events, partnerships, outreach, and advertising. The
Committee expects the CPSC to maintain the fiscal year 2019
levels for the ``Pool Safely'' campaign.
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROV) Safety.--Within 60
days of enactment of this Act, CPSC is directed to begin
submitting quarterly reports to the Committee dating back to
October 1, 2018, that detail the following: (1) a list of all
deaths or serious injuries associated with the use of ROVs; (2)
a CPSC staff assessment of the adequacy of applicable voluntary
standards in addressing any fire-related hazards and debris
penetration hazards associated with ROVs; (3) a status update
on changes to all applicable voluntary standards made during
the reporting period to address the fire-related and debris
penetration hazards CPSC staff identified; and (4) the CPSC
staff's assessment of the technical validity of the lateral
stability, vehicle handling, and occupant protection
requirements in all applicable voluntary standards, based on
the most recent incident data available at the time of the
assessment.
Safety Report.--Within 60 days of enactment of this Act and
on a quarterly basis for the remainder of calendar year 2020,
the CPSC is directed to report to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations: (1) a list of all
open cases or investigations where a death or serious injury
has occurred associated with a consumer product, including the
date any investigation or Office of Compliance case was opened,
type of case, product type, hazard pattern, and disposition
(whether it resulted in a recall, preliminary determination,
etc.); (2) copies of all Office of Compliance reports and case
tracking documents distributed to the Chairman, Commissioners,
and staff; (3) number of recalls; (4) subpoenas issued and a
record of Commission votes on any proposed or staff recommended
subpoenas; (5) civil penalties and a record of Commission votes
on any proposed or staff recommended penalties; (6) recall
enforcement reports (including recall completion rates for
largest open recalls, any audits conducted, remedial efforts,
etc.); and (7) copies of all meeting logs from the Chairman's
and Commissioners' office meetings.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Section 501. The Committee continues language prohibiting
funds to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule on
recreational off-highway vehicles until a study is completed by
the National Academy of Sciences.
Election Assistance Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $9,200,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 11,995,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 16,171,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +6,971,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +4,176,000
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by
the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and is charged with
implementing provisions of that Act relating to the reform of
Federal election administration.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $16,171,000 for the Salaries and
Expenses of the EAC, of which $1,500,000 shall be transferred
to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
for election reform activities authorized under HAVA and
$2,400,000 is for EAC headquarters relocation expenses.
Over the past several years, the EAC has been chronically
underfunded, which has forced the agency to reduce its staffing
levels and placed a strain on the EAC's ability to maintain
even essential agency operations and execute its statutory
mandates. Given the threats posed by Russia and other foreign
actors to the U.S. democratic process, the EAC must be
appropriately resourced to provide State and local election
officials with the tools they need to adequately defend U.S.
election systems. Therefore, the Committee recommendation
includes an increase of $4,176,000 above the President's
request to enable the EAC to perform the vital mission of
protecting Federal elections.
The Committee recognizes that election poll workers must be
equipped with strategies to assist voters with diverse
backgrounds and need to ensure an accessible and efficient
voting process. The Committee directs the EAC to encourage
cultural competency training in any future best practices or
training materials produced and distributed to States.
The Committee encourages the EAC to work with States and
other stakeholders to incorporate the best practices and
recommendations from the forthcoming Voluntary Voting System
Guidelines 2.0 (and supporting documentation) into their ballot
design and election administration procedures.
The Committee is concerned with the threat of election
meddling from state and non-state actors through cyberattacks
on election and voter registration systems. The Committee
encourages the EAC to work with NIST and the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen coordination with and
outreach to State and local election officials on cybersecurity
best practices.
The Committee recognizes that young people historically
vote at lower rates than any other age group. The Committee
encourages the EAC to work with States to identify and
disseminate best practices to increase youth voter
participation.
ELECTION SECURITY GRANTS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... $600,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +600,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +600,000,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $600,000,000 for Election Security
Grants.
The Committee is gravely concerned with the state of the
Nation's election system, which is antiquated and vulnerable to
hacking, and the severe threats posed by foreign countries that
seek to influence the U.S. election process and promote their
strategic interests. The intelligence community confirmed that
Russia targeted at least 21 State election systems in the lead
up to the 2016 elections. In 2018, the intelligence community
observed further attempts by Russia, China, Iran, and other
foreign countries to influence election outcomes. The 2020
elections are fast-approaching, and the Nation's election
system is still in danger. In recognition of the urgent need to
protect the integrity of U.S. democratic process, the Committee
recommends robust funding to make payments to States to improve
the security of elections for Federal office.
The bill requires States to use payments to replace direct-
recording electronic (DRE) voting machines with voting systems
that require the use of an individual, durable, voter-verified
paper ballot, marked by the voter by hand or through the use of
a non-tabulating ballot marking device or system, and made
available for inspection and verification by the voter before
the vote is cast and counted. Funds shall only be available to
a State or local election jurisdiction for further election
security improvements after a State has submitted a
certification to the EAC that all DRE voting machines have been
or are in the process of being replaced. Funds shall be
available to States for the following activities to improve the
security of elections for Federal office: implementing a post-
election, risk-limiting audit system that provides a high level
of confidence in the accuracy of the final vote tally;
maintaining or upgrading election-related computer systems,
including voter registration systems, to address cyber
vulnerabilities identified through DHS scans or similar
assessments of existing election systems; facilitating cyber
and risk mitigation training for State and local election
officials; implementing established cybersecurity best
practices for election systems; and other priority activities
and investments identified by the EAC, in consultation with
DHS, to improve election security. The EAC shall define in the
Notice of Grant Award the eligible investments and activities
for which grant funds may be used by the States. The EAC shall
review all proposed investments to ensure funds are used for
the purposes set forth in the Notice of Grant Award.
The bill also requires that not less than 50 percent of the
payment made to a State be allocated in cash or in kind to
local government entities responsible for the administration of
elections for Federal office.
Federal Communications Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $339,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 335,660,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 339,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +3,340,000
The mission of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
is to implement and enforce the Communications Act of 1934 and
assure the availability of high-quality communications services
for all Americans.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $339,000,000 for the Salaries and
Expenses of the FCC, all of which is to be derived from
offsetting collections. The Committee also includes a cap of
$132,538,680 for the administration of spectrum auctions.
Broadband Access.--The Committee strongly encourages the
FCC to continue to allocate Universal Service Fund (USF) funds
for broadband expansion in rural and economically disadvantaged
areas. The Committee believes the deployment of broadband in
rural and economically disadvantaged areas is a driver of
economic development, jobs, and new education opportunities and
expects the FCC to prioritize efforts to ensure that rural
areas and other unserved areas have service that is reasonably
comparable to urban areas. Furthermore, the Committee is
concerned about the quality of broadband availability
information used by the FCC to allocate USF funding. The
Committee directs the FCC to improve the quality of its
broadband maps to ensure that unserved areas are accurately
identified and to report to the Committee within 180 days of
enactment of this Act the steps the FCC has taken to improve
mapping quality and the impact of those steps.
Broadcaster Relocation.--The Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141) provided an additional $1,000,000,000
over two years to the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund to
reimburse the service and equipment costs of channel relocation
incurred by the broadcast industry, as well as provide
financial assistance to FM stations, TV translators, and Low
Power stations. The Committee is aware of concerns about the
length of time and funds available to broadcasters to repack
stations and the Committee intends to monitor this issue
closely. Both broadcasters and entities who purchased spectrum
participated in good faith to make the incentive auction
successful. The Committee supported FCC's administration of the
incentive auction and expects the FCC to take into careful
consideration any participating entity's concerns.
Territories and Tribal Lands.--The Committee is concerned
about the disparity in access to broadband between the
territories, tribal lands, and the 50 states. The Committee
encourages the FCC to implement policies that increase
broadband access and adoption in these areas.
Tribal Access to Broadband.--The Committee is concerned
about disparities in access to communications services on
Tribal lands. The Committee directs the FCC to continue to
spend no less than $500,000 on regulatory, administrative,
consultation, and other work by the Office of Native Affairs
and Policy (ONAP) and associated work from other bureaus and
offices in support of ONAP.
Transmissions of Local Television Programming.--The
bipartisan Satellite Television Extension and Localism
Reauthorization (STELAR) Act of 2014 was enacted to promote
consumers' access to television broadcast station signals that
originate in their state of residence, with an emphasis on
localism and the cultural and economic importance of local
programming. Congress's intent was to ensure Americans have
access to local broadcast and media content. The Committee
notes that many broadcast stations do not neatly conform to
Nielsen-measured designated market area boundaries, preventing
many satellite television viewers from accessing local news,
politics, sports, and emergency programming. The Committee
notes that despite the reforms made in STELAR, many communities
continue to struggle with market modification petitions. The
Committee is particularly concerned with the lack of clarity
regarding the technical and economic feasibility requirement.
In reviewing this requirement, the FCC should provide a full
analysis to ensure decisions on market modification are
comprehensively reviewed and STELAR's intent to promote
localism is retained, including closely evaluating all claims
of technical or economic infeasibility to ensure that such
carriage is truly infeasible and that the FCC is not relying on
crude proxies for feasibility, such as whether a satellite
provider happens to be retransmitting a station's signal at
that particular time.
Hurricane Restoration.--The Committee is gravely concerned
by ongoing delays in restoring essential communications
services in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), and
other areas affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and other
storms. The Committee commends the FCC for providing an
immediate infusion of additional funds to Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands for network restoration following
Hurricanes Irma and Maria but is alarmed by the lack of
progress on a long-term funding plan for these areas. The
Committee directs the FCC to prioritize finalizing rules for
Stage 2 funding of the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the
Connect USVI Fund.
Hurricane Recovery and Resilience.--The Committee is
troubled that the FCC has not taken more aggressive steps to
promote network resiliency to mitigate the impact of future
weather events on communications networks. The Committee
directs the FCC to provide a report within 90 days of the
enactment of this Act detailing the latest status on efforts to
re-establish communications capabilities in Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and
Maria. The report must include the total amount of agency funds
used by month to restore telecommunications services in these
areas; steps taken to ensure that funds provided to
telecommunications providers were used properly; the level of
coordination with other federal agencies and local authorities
to restore telecommunications capabilities; the level of
outreach to local stakeholders and telecommunications
providers; impediments that prevented a rapid restoration of
telecommunications services; and lessons learned that will help
prepare for another disaster of such magnitude. In addition,
the report must include a list of all actions the FCC has taken
to mitigate the impact of future storms on communications
networks, including any actions undertaken in response to an
FCC investigation, report, or recommendation into a hurricane
event completed or initiated in the last five years.
Robocalls.--The Committee is gravely concerned about the
rapidly growing problem of robocalls and understands that the
Commission receives more consumer complaints about robocalls
than any other single issue. The Commission is directed to
provide a report to the Committee within 90 days of enactment
of this Act detailing the estimated number of robocalls each
year for the past five fiscal years, the total number of
consumer complaints about robocalls and unwanted calls received
each year for the past five years, and the status of compliance
by providers with any voluntary actions requested by the FCC or
commitments proactively offered by providers relating to
robocalls.
Robocall Division.--The Committee directs the Commission to
provide to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this
Act a detailed plan and timeline for potentially creating a
Robocall Division within the Enforcement Bureau that
consolidates staff and other agency resources dedicated to
enforcing violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
(TCPA) and other relevant robocall statutes and regulations.
Robocall Penalty Collection.--The Committee is aware of
significant delays in effectively collecting and enforcing
financial penalties levied under the TCPA and is, therefore,
concerned that these fines serve as an insufficient deterrent
to potential TCPA violators. The Committee urges the FCC to
regularly discuss collections of these fees with the Department
of Justice to ensure timely collection and to report to the
Committee every three months after enactment of this Act on the
status of collected and uncollected penalties.
USF Contribution Reform.--In recognition of the ongoing
rapidly changing communications industry landscape, the
Committee believes it is imperative that the FCC work with the
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to release for
public comment recommendations for USF contribution reform and
to take action as is deemed necessary to resolve inequities in
the current contributions structure and ensure the long-term
sustainability and viability of the USF programs.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Section 510. The Committee extends an exemption from the
Antideficiency Act for the USF.
Section 511. The Committee continues language prohibiting
the FCC from changing rules governing the USF regarding single
connection or primary line restrictions.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $42,982,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 42,982,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 42,982,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
Funding for the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is provided
pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1105(a)(25), which requires a separate
appropriation for each OIG established under section 11(2) of
the Inspector General Act of 1978.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $42,982,000 from the Deposit
Insurance Fund and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance
Corporation (FSLIC) Resolution Fund to finance the OIG.
Federal Election Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $71,250,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 70,537,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 71,497,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +247,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +960,000
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) administers the
disclosure of campaign finance information, enforces
limitations on contributions and expenditures, and performs
other tasks related to Federal elections.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $71,497,000 for the Salaries and
Expenses of the FEC.
The Committee is concerned that the FEC has not adequately
assessed its human capital needs, including the impact of the
growth in small-dollar donations on the agency's workload and
staffing requirements. The Committee encourages the FEC to
develop a workforce planning process to ensure the agency is
appropriately staffed to meet its mission.
Engagement in the political process is one of the hallmarks
of our democracy. Americans are increasingly turning to social
media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, to
engage in the political process. Indeed, spending on digital
political advertising reached a record $1,400,000,000 in the
2016 election cycle. Yet our campaign finance laws do not
require any meaningful transparency about who is behind
political advertisements run on digital platforms. Therefore,
the Committee directs the Commission to submit a report, within
90 days of the date of enactment of this Act, on how the
Commission plans to address the disparity in disclosure
requirements for broadcast advertisements and online political
advertisements.
Federal Labor Relations Authority
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $26,200,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 24,890,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 24,890,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -1,310,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
Established by title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of
1978, the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) serves as a
neutral arbiter in the labor activities of non-postal Federal
employees, Departments and agencies, and Federal unions on
matters outlined in the Act, including collective bargaining
and the settlement of disputes. Establishment of the FLRA gives
full recognition to the role of the Federal Government as an
employer. Under the Foreign Service Act of 1980, the FLRA also
addresses similar issues affecting Foreign Service personnel by
providing staff support for the Foreign Service Impasse
Disputes Panel and the Foreign Service Labor Relations Board.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $24,890,000 for the FLRA.
Federal Trade Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $309,700,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 312,300,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 349,700,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +40,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +37,400,000
The mission of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is to
enforce various Federal antitrust and consumer protection laws.
Appropriations for both the Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice and the FTC are partially financed by
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act pre-merger filing fees. The FTC's
appropriation is also partially offset by Do-Not-Call registry
fees.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $349,700,000 for the salaries and
expenses of the FTC. The Congressional Budget Office estimates
$141,000,000 of collections from Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger
filing fees and $18,000,000 of collections from Do-Not-Call
list fees, which partially offset the appropriation requirement
for this account.
The Committee is highly concerned by increasing instances
of fraudulent or deceptive data collection practices and other
violations of consumer protection laws, as well as by
increasing concentration in technology and other markets.
Accordingly, the Committee provides the FTC with substantial
additional resources to increase both its enforcement of
antitrust statutes and its capacity to investigate unfair,
deceptive, and fraudulent business practices. Within the total
amount provided for the FTC, $194,700,000 is for protecting
consumers and $155,000,000 is for promoting competition.
Fraudulent Calls to Seniors.--The Committee notes that
there has been a significant uptick in fraudulent telephone
calls to seniors from people claiming to represent the Social
Security Administration. In many cases, these callers are
spoofing the actual Social Security hotline number to appear on
the recipient's phone. The Committee urges FTC to prioritize
investigations into robocalls that attempt to defraud senior
citizens.
Fraudulent Health Care Calls.--The Committee is aware of
the growing practice of robocallers attempting to commit
financial fraud by targeting health care providers and
patients. In some cases, callers use a spoofed number, making
it appear like they are calling from a hospital or physician
office, and seek to obtain sensitive health-related or finance-
related information about patients. In other cases, callers
posing as agents of the Department of Justice or relevant
credentialing authorities contact hospitals, questioning the
licensing of physicians working at the hospital. These
practices pose a direct threat to patients and providers, and
they undermine the integrity and trust that are vital
components of the patient-physician and patient-hospital
relationship. The Committee urges the FTC to prioritize
investigations into robocalls that attempt to defraud patients,
physicians, hospitals, and other health care stakeholders.
Non-Foreign Areas.--The Committee remains concerned that
some companies and corporations engaged in interstate commerce
are unwilling to ship products to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico,
and the other territories, even though the Postal Service and
private shipping companies serve these areas. The Committee
believes that these non-foreign areas must be afforded equal
treatment to the other 48 states. The Committee requests the
FTC to work with the Postal Service on recommendations and
outreach materials to address these inequalities in interstate
commerce and to provide a report to the Committee within 120
days of the enactment of this Act.
Unproven Stem Cell Products.--The Committee commends the
FTC for its recent enforcement actions against companies making
deceptive health claims about the safety and efficacy of
unapproved and unproven stem cell products. Unproven stem cell
products have put many patients at risk and resulted in
patients being blinded, paralyzed, and infected with dangerous
pathogens. The Committee encourages the FTC to continue to
prioritize enforcement actions against companies making
deceptive and unproven health claims regarding the safety and
efficacy of unapproved stem cell-based products. Further, the
Committee encourages the FTC to continue to coordinate with the
Food and Drug Administration to optimize its enforcement and
consumer education activities.
Cryptocurrency.--Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that
use cryptography to secure or verify transactions and are an
important innovation with the potential to improve financial
services and fuel open source software networks. They are not
created by a government or central bank, but they can be
exchanged for U.S. dollars or other government-backed
currencies. As consumer interest in cryptocurrencies has grown,
so have scams such as deceptive investment and business
opportunities, bait-and-switch schemes, and deceptively
marketed mining machines. The Committee directs the FTC to work
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, other financial
regulators, and public and private stakeholders, as
appropriate, to identify and investigate allegations of fraud
in the cryptocurrencies market to empower and protect
consumers.
Contact Lenses.--In May, the FTC released a Supplemental
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking detailing potential adjustments
to its proposed changes to the Contact Lens Rule. This ensures
that the FTC will receive additional input from the public and
stakeholders on potential improvements to the rule to address
patient safety and enforcement mechanisms, among other issues.
The Committee urges the FTC to address the need for the
prescription verification process to be modernized to provide
for adequate enforcement of the law.
General Services Administration
The Committee continues several reporting requirements for
the General Services Administration.
Takings and Exchanges.--Using existing statutory
authorities, GSA has been working to dispose of properties that
no longer meet the needs of Federal agencies in exchange for
assets of like value. Some of these exchanges are very complex
in nature and involve multi-year, multi-party, and multi-
billion dollar contracts. In addition, GSA also has the
statutory authority to take properties. The Committee believes
that in some instances, employing such authorities can result
in savings to the taxpayer when appropriately executed. As
such, the Committee expects to be kept informed of these
activities. To provide increased transparency, the
Administrator is directed to report to the Committee not later
than 30 days after the end of each quarter on the use of these
authorities. The report shall include a description of all
takings and exchange actions that occurred or were considered
during the most recently completed quarter of the fiscal year,
including the costs, benefits, and risks for each action. The
report shall also include the planned or considered use of
takings and exchange authorities during the remainder of the
fiscal year, including the costs, benefits, and risks of each
action.
Spending Report.--Within 50 days after the end of each
quarter, GSA is directed to submit a spending report to the
Committee. The reports shall include actual obligations
incurred and estimated obligations for the remainder of the
fiscal year for each appropriation in the Federal Buildings
Fund and regular discretionary appropriations. The reports must
also include obligations by object class, program, project, and
activity.
State of the Portfolio.--Not later than 45 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit
to the Committee a report on the state of the Public Buildings
Service's real estate portfolio for fiscal year 2019. The
content included in the report shall be comparable to the
tabular information provided in past State of the Portfolio
reports, including, but not limited to, the number of leases;
the number of buildings; amount of square feet, revenue,
expenses by type, and vacant space; top customers by square
feet and annual rent; and completed new construction, completed
major repairs and alterations, and disposals, in total and by
region where appropriate.
Land Ports of Entry State of the Portfolio.--Within 90 days
of the date of enactment of this Act, GSA is directed to
provide the Committee a report on the state of the land ports
of entry portfolio. The content of this report shall include,
but shall not be limited to, a prioritized list of new
construction and major repairs and alterations projects.
Rental Rates.--The Committee expects GSA to provide
workspace for its customers at commercially-comparable rental
rates and at a superior value to the taxpayer. The Committee
directs GSA to provide a report describing GSA's methodology
for calculating rental rates for Congressional offices located
in Federal Courthouses within 45 days of the date of enactment
of this Act.
Design Services.--The Committee recognizes the need for
transparency and oversight of Federally funded design services
and construction projects to ensure responsible, cost-
effective, and fair procurement practices. The Committee
supports efforts to ensure proper transparency and oversight of
such design services and construction projects, which are often
complex and site specific. Within six months of the enactment
of this Act, GSA is directed to submit a report to the
Committee addressing the enforcement of any existing
regulations requiring that independent design professionals be
consulted on Federally funded design services and construction
projects, as prescribed by the Brooks Act and Federal
Acquisition Regulation Part 36. The report should include how
many violations have been identified over the last five years
and any steps GSA has taken to mitigate any future violations.
Industrial Controls.--The Committee is concerned about the
vulnerability of industrial control systems in Federal
buildings. Modernized electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic
systems can improve energy management and reduce operating
costs at Federal facilities; however, higher connectivity to
these systems exposes exploitable vulnerabilities and increases
the threat from potential cyberattacks. The Committee directs
GSA to study the vulnerabilities of industrial control systems
in Federal buildings under its custody, control, and
jurisdiction, which it is responsible to operate, and report
back within 120 days of enactment of this Act with an analysis
of related critical vulnerabilities, supporting IT network
infrastructure considerations, and the required resources
needed to improve the environment and mitigate the cyber
threats.
REAL PROPERTY ACTIVITIES
FEDERAL BUILDINGS FUND
LIMITATIONS ON AVAILABILITY OF REVENUE
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2019.......... $9,285,082,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 10,203,596,000
year 2020............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 9,059,112,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2019........... -225,970,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2020 request... -1,144,484,000
The Federal Buildings Fund (FBF) finances the activities of
the Public Buildings Service (PBS), which provides space and
services for Federal agencies in a relationship similar to that
of landlord and tenant. The FBF, established in 1975, replaces
direct appropriations with income derived from rent
assessments, which approximate commercial rates for comparable
space and services. The Committee makes funds available through
a process of placing limitations on obligations from the FBF as
a way of allocating funds for various FBF activities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a limitation on the availability
of funds of $9,059,112,000 for the FBF. Within this total,
$333,322,000 is for construction, $848,894,000 is for repairs
and alterations, $5,493,390,000 is for rental of space, and
$2,383,506,000 is for building operations.
Historically, prior to obligating funds for prospectus-
level construction, alterations, or leases, GSA has waited for
the project to be authorized through a resolution approved by
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the House
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works in the Senate
as required by title 40 of the United States Code and in
accordance with the proviso included in the FBF appropriations
limiting the obligation of funds to prospectus-level projects
approved by the authorizing committees. The Committee supports
this process and believes that prospectus-level projects
warrant a thorough review from both the Committee and the
authorizing committees. The Committee expects GSA to continue
to follow this process.
Old Post Office Lease Agreement.--The Committee is deeply
concerned by the findings of a January 2019 report from GSA's
Office of Inspector General that, when managing the lease of
the Old Post Office Building to the Trump Old Post Office, LLC,
the Administration failed to take the Emoluments Clauses of the
U.S. Constitution and Section 37.19 of the lease itself into
proper account. Therefore, the GSA Office of General Counsel,
in consultation with the Department of Justice Office of Legal
Counsel, is directed to conduct a formal legal review of the
lease, including the legal obligations which the GSA faces to
ensure that the lease is being complied with and is itself in
compliance with the law, including the U.S. Constitution. If
the review concludes that the current lease is in violation of
the law, the review shall also include a plan for GSA to
rectify these violations. Within 180 days, GSA is directed to
transmit an update to the Committee on the full findings of the
review, including any potential plans for modification or
termination of the terms of the lease.
Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Court
Space.--The Committee is concerned with the lack of necessary
facilities for Immigration Judges on the U.S.-Mexico border.
For fiscal year 2019 Congress authorized 534 Immigration
Judges. However, the Committee notes that EOIR only has 426
courtrooms. Therefore, the Committee directs GSA to take
direction from EOIR on its new space requirements. The
Committee further directs GSA to conduct market research and
market surveys, with EOIR's program of requirements, that are
geographically adjacent to the southwest border with the
purpose of identifying potential facilities that can be used as
immigration courtrooms from Federal, State, local, and private
sources, including courtrooms where the cases of detained
aliens or aliens subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols
may be heard either in-person or by video teleconferencing. The
Committee expects GSA to use a turn-key leasing approach, when
possible, for court space acquisition. Furthermore, in Federal
locations along the U.S.-Mexico border, the Committee
encourages GSA to identify and prioritize the acquisition of
available space for use by EOIR as courtrooms, including
courtrooms where the cases of detained aliens or aliens subject
to the Migrant Protection Protocols may be heard, either in-
person or by video teleconferencing. Finally, the Committee
directs GSA to submit a report on its efforts within 90 days of
enactment of this Act.
FBI Headquarters Consolidation.--The Committee notes that
there is no current plan to proceed with construction of a new
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters. As such,
the recommendation does not include funding for this effort.
The Committee encourages GSA to work with the FBI to submit a
prospectus for a new consolidated headquarters in the National
Capital Region that meets Interagency Security Committee Level
V security standards.
CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2019.......... $958,900,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 649,290,000
year 2020............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 333,322,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2019........... -625,578,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2020 request... -315,968,000
The construction and acquisition fund finances the project
cost of design, construction, management and inspection of new
Federal facilities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a limitation of $333,322,000 for
the following projects:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Description Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA................................ Calexico, United $85,000,000
States Land Port of
Entry.
AZ................................ San Luis, United $248,322,000
States Land Port of
Entry.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee is concerned that many of our land ports of
entry on the southwest border were either not designed to
accommodate asylum seekers or do not have adequate space to
process the large numbers of asylum seekers who legally present
themselves for primary inspection by CBP officers. The lack of
processing space at land ports of entry strands vulnerable
asylum seekers in Mexico and leads some to attempt to cross
illegally in more remote locations between the ports of entry,
further overwhelming U.S. Border Patrol resources.
Therefore, the Committee directs GSA, in conjunction with
CBP, to explore establishing a Center of Excellence to
prioritize Construction and Acquisition program funding for
major repairs and alterations at southwest border land ports of
entry that have the highest number of asylum seekers. The
Administrator is directed to report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations within 60 days of enactment of
this Act on the prioritization of and investments for all
Capital Program--Construction and Acquisition projects.
Native Plant Materials.--GSA has maintained a steadfast
commitment to promoting sustainability in the over 9,000 assets
that fall under its purview. A valuable element in advancing
this overall sustainability strategy involves the integration
of regionally-adapted native plant materials into the grounds
and, as appropriate, structures of Federal properties.
Accordingly, the Committee instructs the GSA to develop and
implement a program whereby the sponsors of any development
project involving a Federal facility with a footprint that
exceeds 5,000 square feet are directed to use site planning,
design, construction and maintenance strategies for the
property that integrate, to the maximum extent technically
feasible, the use of locally-adapted native plant materials in
all natural spaces, including where feasible roofs and other
appropriate portions of the structure.
Mexico-America Border Coordinator.--Mexico is the second
largest importer of all goods to the U.S., in addition to being
the second largest recipient of all goods exported by the U.S.
The Committee is concerned that the lack of coordination
between Department of Homeland Security-Customs and Border
Protection, GSA, the Department of Transportation, and other
relevant Federal agencies is hampering freight infrastructure
development at the southwest border, which is critical to
maintaining this bilateral trade relationship. Therefore, the
Committee directs GSA to designate a border infrastructure
coordinator in each region along the southwest border to
facilitate more efficient development of these projects and to
coordinate with their appropriate counterpart within the
Mexican government. The Committee further directs GSA to submit
a report within 120 days of the enactment of this Act on its
efforts in this regard.
REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2019.......... $663,219,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 1,662,410,000
year 2020............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 848,894,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2019........... +185,675,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2020 request... -813,516,000
The repairs and alterations activity funds the project cost
of design, construction, management, and inspection for the
repair, alteration, and modernization of existing real estate
assets in addition to various special programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a limitation of $848,894,000 to
remain available until expended for repairs and alterations.
Major Repairs and Alterations.--The Committee recommends
$436,837,000 for repairs and alterations projects that exceed
the prospectus threshold. The funds are provided to address
GSA's highest priority facility needs. The Committee directs
GSA to submit a detailed plan, by project, regarding the use of
Major Repairs and Alterations funds, not later than 45 days
after enactment of this Act. GSA is further directed to provide
notification to the Committee no less than 15 days prior to any
changes in the use of these funds.
Basic Repairs and Alterations.--The Committee recommends
$382,057,000 for non-recurring repairs and alterations projects
between $10,000 and the current prospectus threshold of
$3,095,000.
Fire and Life Safety.--The Committee recommends $30,000,000
to improve building safety, abate hazardous material, and
repair structural deficiencies. These projects include, but are
not limited to, fire alarm, sprinkler, electrical, ventilation,
heating, and elevator systems.
RENTAL OF SPACE
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2019.......... $5,418,845,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 5,508,390,000
year 2020............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,493,390,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2019........... +74,545,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2020 request... -15,000,000
The rental of space program funds lease payments made to
privately-owned buildings, temporary space for Federal
employees during major repair and alteration projects, and
relocations from Federal buildings due to forced moves and
relocations as a result of health and safety conditions.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a limitation of $5,493,390,000 for
rental of space. The Committee expects GSA to continue its
efforts to reduce its leased inventory.
High Security Space.--The Committee directs GSA to
implement the recommendations of ``GSA Should Inform Tenant
Agencies When Leasing High-Security Space from Foreign
Owners'', GAO-17-195, which recommends that GSA determine
whether the beneficial owner of high-security space that GSA
leases is a foreign entity and, if so, share that information
with the tenant agencies so they can adequately assess and
mitigate any security risks. Additionally, the Committee
requests that GSA provide a briefing to the Committee on
efforts to implement this recommendation within 120 days of
enactment of this Act.
Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation Activities.--
The Committee directs GSA to examine whether funds made
available to the Pennsylvania Avenue Activities account within
the Federal Building Fund can address infrastructure
deficiencies in Federal buildings formerly under the
jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development
Corporation. The Committee is aware of challenges facing
tenants at the Federal building located at 1300 Pennsylvania
that have not been adequately addressed. For example, the
National Children's Museum, a congressionally designated
organization as mandated in Public Law 108-81, has encountered
issues related to out-of-date ductwork plans and an
insufficient amount of square footage. The Committee is
interested in understanding GSA's authority to remedy such
problems using the Pennsylvania Avenue Activities account
within the Federal Building Fund. Within 90 days of the
enactment of this Act, the Committee directs GSA to submit a
report to the Committee on how it can use funds in the
Pennsylvania Avenue Activities account within the Federal
Building Fund to address infrastructure deficiencies in Federal
buildings located within the footprint of the Pennsylvania
Avenue Development Corporation.
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2019.......... $2,244,118,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 2,383,506,000
year 2020............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,383,506,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2019........... +139,388,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2020 request... - - -
The building operations account funds services that
directly benefit Federal agencies in GSA-owned buildings and
occasionally in GSA-leased buildings when not provided by the
lessor, such as building security, cleaning, utilities, window
washing, snow removal, pest control, and maintenance of
heating, air conditioning, ventilating, plumbing, sewage,
electrical, elevator, escalator, and fire protection systems.
In addition, this account funds all the personnel and
administrative expenses for carrying out construction and
acquisition, repair and alteration, and leasing activities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a limitation of $2,383,506,000 for
Building Operations and Maintenance. Within this amount,
$1,197,045,000 is for building services and $1,186,461,000 is
for salaries and expenses. Up to five percent of the funds may
be transferred between these activities upon the advance
notification to the Committee. Not later than 60 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a
spend plan, by region, regarding the use of these funds to the
Committee.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES
GOVERNMENT-WIDE POLICY
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $60,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 65,843,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 65,843,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +5,843,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Office of Government-Wide Policy provides Federal
agencies with guidelines, best practices, and performance
measures for complying with all the laws, regulations, and
executive orders related to: acquisition and procurement,
personal and real property management, travel and
transportation management, electronic customer service
delivery, and use of Federal advisory committees.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $65,843,000 for Government-wide
Policy.
City-Pair Program.--GSA is charged with implementing the
Fly America Act, P.L. 93-623, which is accomplished through the
City-Pair Program. This Act requires travel paid for by the
U.S. Government to be conducted by U.S. air carriers as defined
by 49 U.S.C. Section 41102. The Committee is concerned that GSA
has awarded long-haul international travel contracts to U.S.
air carriers that do not have aircraft of sufficient range and
payload capable of performing each segment of the awarded
transportation in a commercially reasonable manner. These
awards are being flown by foreign air carriers, undermining the
purpose of the Fly America Act, which is to encourage to the
maximum extent feasible travel to and from the United States on
United States carriers. GSA must provide a report to the
Committee on foreign air carriers servicing routes in the
manner indicated above within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
The Committee expects that the GSA will use these reports to
inform their contract awards under the City-Pair Program for
fiscal year 2020.
Building Design.--The Committee recognizes the importance
of mitigating bird deaths due to collisions and encourages the
incorporation of materials and design features for each public
building constructed, acquired, or altered by GSA to have at
least 90 percent of the facade material from ground level to 40
feet not be composed of glass or employ one or more of the
following: (a) elements mounted outside the glass that
eliminate reflectivity; (b) UV patterned glass; (c) patterned
glass which restricts horizontal spaces to less than 2 inches
high or vertical spaces less than 4 inches wide; and (d)
opaque, etched, stained, or frosted glass. The Committee
recognizes that with the increase in local and state bird
friendly building ordinances and guidelines in states like
California and Minnesota that there is an increasing need for a
uniform minimum federal standard.
Internet of Things.--The Committee notes that the emerging
internet of things will result in billions of internet-
connected devices ranging from small home appliances to
complex, industrial automation systems. As the number of
internet-connected devices continues to grow, so does the
vulnerability to cyberattacks. In order to combat this
malicious activity, the Committee directs the GSA, in
consultation with OMB, to take specific steps within its
procurement process for government-owned devices to ensure that
high-risk IoT applications include relevant security mechanisms
that are consistent with international standards. The Committee
directs GSA to provide a report on the agency's plans to
implement these security mechanisms to the Committee within 180
days of enactment of this Act.
Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) Solutions.--The
Committee is aware that the GSA Office of Inspector General has
identified the need to improve the cybersecurity posture within
GSA encompassing sensitive data and control systems. The
Committee directs GSA, within 120 days of enactment of this
Act, to report on the acceleration of adoption of CDM solutions
to better secure its information assets and data.
Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions.--GSA plays a critical
role in assisting Federal agencies with the acquisition of
telecom services in an efficient, timely, and cost-effective
manner. While the Committee understands the challenges Federal
agencies face transitioning telecommunication services from one
set of contracts to another, the Committee believes it is
important for the GSA to effectively apply lessons learned from
prior transitions. According to the GAO's December 5, 2013
Report, ``TELECOMMUNICATIONS: GSA Needs to Share and Prioritize
Lessons Learned to Avoid Future Transition Delays,'' GAO-14-63,
in prior telecommunications transitions, delays in
transitioning away from dated contract vehicles resulted in
missed savings opportunities, increased transition costs, and
narrower ranges of products and services. GSA's Enterprise
Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract presents Federal
agencies with opportunities to transition existing services to
a more modern contract vehicle that offers significant savings
and the ability to choose a provider that offers seamless
support, a nationwide footprint, and the capability to offer
services that are not limited to a single underlying carrier's
network or product offering. The Committee is aware that EIS is
structured to maximize competition by providing Federal
agencies with the opportunity to receive best value by
logically grouping together relevant services in multiple fair
opportunity task orders as opposed to limiting competition by
awarding unrelated services to a single service provider that
provides the broadest array of products and services. To ensure
a timely and efficient transition to EIS, the Committee directs
GSA to instruct each agency to adopt an updated transition
management plan and an integrated transition time line, as
recommend by GAO. Further, the Committee directs GSA to provide
a report, no later than 60 days following enactment of this
Act, detailing steps taken to ensure a timely and efficient
transition to EIS that maximizes competition, efficiencies, and
taxpayer savings as described above.
High Performance Leasing.--The Administration has committed
time and resources to develop lease procedures to reduce
utility consumption, optimize building performance, and save
taxpayer funds on leasing inefficient facilities, in light of
its statutory obligation to provide for implementation of cost-
effective energy and water efficiency measures throughout
Federally leased properties. The Committee expects GSA to
follow statutory requirements and implement its policies for
leases, including compliance with the ENERGY STAR building
certification lease policies and procedures in applicable
projects. The Committee further encourages GSA to develop and
implement mechanisms to improve landlord compliance with energy
provisions of leases for Federal space.
Green Building Certification.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of incorporating energy and water efficiency in
constructing, modernizing and operating Federal facilities to
save taxpayer money and meet Federal goals. To the extent that
GSA utilizes certification systems in achieving this objective,
the systems should comply with the Department of Energy final
rule on Green Building Certification Systems for Federal
Buildings. 79 Fed. Reg. 61.563, 10 C.F.R. 433.300, 435.300.
First Aid Kit Enhancements.--The Committee is aware that
first aid products endorsed by the Department of Defense's
Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care help to reduce death
or trauma as a result of bleeding. To improve outcomes in
crisis situations, the Committee encourages the GSA to consult
with the Department of Defense's Committee on Tactical Combat
Casualty Care and determine whether it is appropriate to
incorporate CoTCC approved items in first aid kits in Federal
buildings, Federal courthouses and Federal law enforcement
vehicles.
Electronic Waste Recycling.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of electronic waste recycling (e-recycling) within
the U.S. Government. Proper e-recycling of products such as
televisions, computers, and cellphones conserves natural
resources, ensures appropriate handling of toxic materials,
provides a more sustainable source of precious metals, and
protects human health and the environment. The Committee
directs GSA to report on its efforts to promote e-recycling in
the Federal government no later than 180 days after the
enactment of this Act.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $49,440,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 49,440,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 49,440,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
This account provides appropriations for activities that
are not feasible for a user fee arrangement. Included under
this heading are personal property utilization and donation
activities of the Federal Acquisition Service; real property
utilization and disposal activities of the PBS; select
management and administration activities including support of
government-wide emergency management activities; and top-level,
agency-wide management communication activities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $49,440,000 for operating
expenses. Within the amount provided under this heading,
$26,890,000 is for Real and Personal Property Management and
Disposal, and $22,550,000 is for the Office of the
Administrator.
Federal Real Property Profile.--The Committee understands
that the GSA Federal Real Property Profile (FRPP) has been
making progress on the use of geospatial technology and the
transparency of the data. However, the Committee is aware of
the problem in gathering Federal real property data created by
the exemption language for Federal lands found in Executive
Order 13327. This exemption denies GSA the ability to collect
meaningful data from large landholding agencies within the
Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture.
The Committee is also aware that Section 7 of the Executive
Order provides flexibility for the Interior and Agriculture
Departments to still contribute their data into the FRPP. The
Committee expects GSA to increase the transparency, accuracy,
and accountability with both of these Departments given the
expansive amount of data which could be added to the FRPP.
CIVILIAN BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $9,301,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 9,301,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 9,301,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
This account provides appropriations for the Civilian Board
of Contract Appeals (CBCA). The CBCA is charged with
facilitating the prompt, efficient, and inexpensive resolution
of disputes through the use of alternate dispute resolution.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $9,301,000 for the Civilian Board
of Contract Appeals.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $65,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 68,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 68,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +3,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The GSA Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides agency-
wide audit and investigative functions to identify and correct
GSA management and administrative deficiencies that create
conditions for existing or potential instances of fraud, waste,
and mismanagement. The audit function provides internal and
contract audits. Internal audits review and evaluate all facets
of GSA operations and programs, test internal control systems,
and develop information to improve operating efficiencies and
enhance customer services. Contract audits provide professional
advice to GSA contracting officials on accounting and financial
matters relative to the negotiation, award, administration,
repricing, and settlement of contracts. The investigative
function provides for the detection and investigation of
improper and illegal activities involving GSA programs,
personnel, and operations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $68,000,000 for the OIG.
ALLOWANCES AND OFFICE STAFF FOR FORMER PRESIDENTS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $4,796,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 3,851,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 3,851,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -945,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
This appropriation provides pensions, office staff, and
related expenses for former Presidents Jimmy Carter, William
Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $3,851,000 for allowances and
office staff for former Presidents.
FEDERAL CITIZEN SERVICES FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $55,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 58,400,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 53,400,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -1,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -5,000,000
The Federal Citizen Services Fund (the Fund) provides for
the salaries and expenses of GSA's Office of Citizen Services
and Innovative Technologies (OCSIT). The Fund enables citizen
access and engagement with government through an array of
operational programs and direct citizen-facing services. The
Fund also provides electronic or other methods of access to and
understanding of Federal information, benefits, and services to
citizens, businesses, local governments, and the media.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $53,400,000 for the Federal
Citizen Services Fund. The Committee expects that the funds
provided for these activities, combined with efficiency gains
and resource prioritization, will result in increased delivery
of information to the public and in the ease of transaction
with the government. The recommendation does not include
funding to support an OPM IT transition.
FedRAMP.--The Federal Risk and Authorization Management
(FedRAMP) Program is a Government-wide program that provides a
standardized approach to security assessments, authorization,
and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services.
FedRAMP is designed to substantially increase the number of GSA
and customer agency cloud computing and operating services,
systems, deployments, and products with FedRAMP authorizations.
The Committee notes that in fiscal year 2019, GSA allocated
$10,497,000 toward these activities and urges GSA to continue
such an investment in this area.
Open Government.--The Committee recommendation includes
$5,000,000 for implementation of the OPEN Government Data Act's
(Title II of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking
Act, Public Law 115-435) Sec. 3511 requirements. Specifically,
these funds are to be used to support the establishment and
maintenance of a Federal Data Catalogue, implementation support
to Federal agencies for the requirement of Comprehensive Data
Inventories, and the establishment of an open data best
practices online repository, including additional personnel
dedicated to operational and standards setting support
functions.
PRE-ELECTION PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... $9,620,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 9,620,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +9,620,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
This appropriation supports activities authorized by the
Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act of 2010, Public Law
111-283. These activities include providing suitable office
space for Pre-Election transition activities, acquiring
communication services and information technology equipment,
and purchasing of supplies associated with the transition.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $9,620,000 for costs associate
with Pre-election Presidential transition activities.
TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $25,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 150,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 35,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +10,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -115,000,000
This account provides appropriations for the Technology
Modernization Fund (TMF), which is a full cost recovery fund
that finances the transition of IT systems for Federal agencies
to modern IT platforms.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $35,000,000 for the TMF. The
Committee encourages GSA and the TMF Board to prioritize and
fund those projects that have the most significant impact on
mission enhancement and that most effectively modernize
citizen-facing services, including updating public facing
websites, modernizing forms, and digitizing government
processes.
ASSET PROCEEDS AND SPACE MANAGEMENT FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $25,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 31,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... - - -
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -25,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -31,000,000
This account provides appropriations for the purposes of
carrying out actions pursuant to the recommendations of the
Public Buildings Reform Board consistent with Public Law 114-
287.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends no funds for the Asset Proceeds
and Space Management Fund (the Fund). The Committee notes that,
nearly three years after the Fund was authorized, the
Administration has still not selected a Chairman of the Public
Buildings Reform Board, which is responsible for making
recommendations on how the Fund should be administered. Because
of the inaction by the Administration, none of the $30,000,000
in funding appropriated in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 has been
obligated, and the Public Buildings Reform Board has made no
recommendations.
The Committee will continue to monitor the steps being
taken to stand up the Public Buildings Reform Board and looks
forward to supporting the Board once a Chairman has been
installed.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IMPROVEMENT FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $6,070,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 7,100,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 6,070,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -1,030,000
This account provides appropriations for the authorized
activities of the Environmental Review Improvement Fund and the
Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. The Council
leads ongoing government-wide efforts to modernize the Federal
permitting and review process for major infrastructure projects
and works with Federal agency partners to implement and oversee
adherence to the statutory requirements set forth in the Fixing
America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $6,070,000 for the Environmental
Review Improvement Fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Section 520. The Committee continues a provision providing
authority for the use of funds for the hire of motor vehicles.
Section 521. The Committee continues a provision providing
that funds made available for activities of the Federal
Buildings Fund may be transferred between appropriations with
advance approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the
House and the Senate.
Section 522. The Committee continues a provision requiring
funds proposed for developing courthouse construction requests
to meet appropriate standards and the priorities of the
Judicial Conference.
Section 523. The Committee continues a provision providing
that no funds may be used to increase the amount of occupiable
square feet, or provide cleaning services, security
enhancements, or any other service usually provided, to any
agency which does not pay the assessed rent.
Section 524. The Committee continues a provision that
permits GSA to pay small claims (up to $250,000) made against
the Federal Government.
Section 525. The Committee continues a provision requiring
the Administrator to ensure that the delineated area of
procurement for all lease agreements is identical to the
delineated area included in the prospectus unless prior notice
is given to the committees of jurisdiction.
Section 526. The Committee continues a provision requiring
a spend plan for certain accounts and programs.
Merit Systems Protection Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $46,835,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 42,266,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 46,835,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +4,569,000
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is an
independent, quasi-judicial agency established to protect the
civil service merit system. The MSPB adjudicates appeals
primarily involving personnel actions, certain Federal employee
complaints, and retirement benefits issues. The MSPB reports to
the President whether merit systems are sufficiently free of
prohibited employment practices.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $44,490,000 for the MSPB. The
recommendation includes a transfer of $2,345,000 from the Civil
Service Retirement and Disability Fund.
National Archives and Records Administration
OPERATING EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $373,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 345,609,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 354,706,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -18,294,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +9,097,000
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is
an independent agency established in 1934 to identify, access,
protect, preserve, and make available for use the important
documents and records of all three branches of the federal
government. Today, NARA's responsibilities also include
publishing the Federal Register, mediating Freedom of
Information Act disputes, and coordinating controlled
unclassified information.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $354,706,000 for NARA to support
basic operations, services to the public, operation of Public
Libraries, and declassification review. The reduction below the
fiscal year 2019 appropriation is due to the final payment of
debt related to construction of the National Archives facility
in College Park, Maryland, and other non-recurring initiatives.
Of the amount appropriated, $22,000,000 is available until
expended for the repair and alteration of the College Park,
Maryland, facility and related improvements necessary to
enhance the Federal Government's ability to electronically
preserve, manage, and store Government records. In addition, up
to $4,097,000 is available until expended to implement the
Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018. Finally,
the appropriated amount includes funding for the Electronic
Records Archives, which preserves, stores, and manages digital
Federal records for archival purposes, ensuring long-term
access.
Nixon Recordings.--The Committee encourages NARA to
continue its effort to make available online to researchers,
transcribers, and other interested parties the audio recordings
of former President Richard Nixon.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $4,823,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 4,801,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 4,823,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +22,000
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides audits and
investigations and serves as an independent, internal advocate
to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within NARA.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $4,823,000 for the NARA OIG.
REPAIRS AND RESTORATION
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $7,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 7,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 7,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
This account provides for the repair, alteration, and
improvement of Archives facilities and Presidential libraries
nationwide. It enables NARA to maintain its facilities in
proper condition for visitors, researchers, and employees, as
well as to ensure the structural integrity of the buildings.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $7,500,000 for repairs and
restoration.
NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS COMMISSION GRANTS PROGRAM
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $6,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... 7,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +1,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +7,000,000
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission
(NHPRC) program provides for grants to preserve and publish
records that document American history. Administered within
NARA, the NHPRC helps State, local, and private institutions
preserve non-Federal records; helps historical organizations
publish the papers of major figures in American history; and
helps archivists and records managers improve their techniques,
training, and ability to serve a range of information users.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $7,000,000 for NHPRC grants.
National Credit Union Administration
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REVOLVING LOAN FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +2,000,000
The Community Development Revolving Loan Fund Program
(CDRLF) was established in 1979 to assist officially designated
low-income credit unions in providing basic financial services
to low-income communities. Low-interest loans and deposits are
made available to assist these credit unions. Loans or deposits
are normally repaid in five years, although shorter repayment
periods may be considered. Technical assistance grants are also
available to low-income credit unions. Earnings generated from
the CDRLF are available to fund technical assistance grants in
addition to funds provided for in appropriations acts. Grants
are available for improving operations as well as addressing
safety and soundness issues.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $2,000,000 for the National Credit
Union Administration's (NCUA) CDRLF for technical assistance
grants.
Supporting Community Development Credit Unions.--Within 180
days of enactment, the Committee directs NCUA to issue a report
on its current efforts to support and advance Community
Development Credit Unions in low-income communities.
Office of Government Ethics
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $17,019,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 17,430,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 17,430,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +411,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Office of Government Ethics (OGE), established by the
Ethics in Government Act of 1978, partners with other executive
branch Departments and agencies to foster high ethical
standards. The OGE issues and monitors rules, regulations, and
memoranda pertaining to the prevention and resolution of
conflicts of interest, post-employment restrictions, standards
of conduct, and financial disclosure for executive branch
employees. OGE is also responsible for creating and running an
electronic financial disclosure system under the Stop Trading
on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $17,430,000 for OGE.
Executive Branch Ethics Concerns.--The Committee is deeply
concerned by the widely-documented conflicts of interest of the
President of the United States and senior members of the
current Administration. The frequent appearances of conflicts
of interest raises questions as to the need for increased focus
on ethics in the Administration and across Federal agencies.
The Committee is disappointed that three years have lapsed
since the National Government Ethics Summit, which were held
more frequently under previous administrations. The Committee
urges OGE to more frequently hold these summits, and to
increase engagement with designated agency ethics officials
across agencies to reaffirm the importance of ethics.
Office of Personnel Management
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $265,655,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... 309,066,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +43,411,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +309,066,000
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the Federal
agency responsible for management of Federal human resources
policy and oversight of the merit civil service system. OPM
provides a government-wide policy framework for personnel
matters, advises and assists agencies (often on a reimbursable
basis), and ensures that agency operations are consistent with
requirements of law. OPM oversees the examination of applicants
for employment; issues regulations and policies on hiring,
classification and pay, training, and investigations; and many
other aspects of personnel management. The agency also operates
a reimbursable training program for the Federal Government's
managers and executives. In addition, OPM is responsible for
administering the retirement, health benefits, and life
insurance programs covering most Federal employees, retired
Federal employees, and their survivors.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $148,668,000 for OPM's General
Fund. The Committee also recommends $160,398,000 for
administrative expenses to be transferred from the appropriate
trust funds.
OPM Re-Organization.--The Committee is concerned with the
Administration's proposal to eliminate OPM as a standalone
agency and transfer its functions to GSA and OMB. To ensure the
Committee remains appropriately informed of the
Administration's deliberations in this area, OPM is required to
submit quarterly reports to the Committee and the OPM Inspector
General that include detailed updates on any proposed
reorganization efforts, including but not limited to: timelines
of any planned moves, impact on OPM funding, changes in staff
levels in each functional unit, gained efficiencies, impact on
employee unions and space allocation, and improved service
deliverables. The OPM Inspector General is directed to review
and comment upon each such report within 60 days of receipt
from OPM and submit their analysis to the Committee.
In addition, the Committee reminds OPM of its obligation to
engage in prior consultation with and notify the Committee of
any reorganizations, restructurings, new programs, or
elimination of programs as described in title VI of this Act.
Backlog of Pension Benefits.--The Committee is concerned
with the growing backlog of processing and disbursement of
pension benefits and the undue financial burden these delays
may cause for retiring Federal employees. Tens of thousands of
new retirees wait months to receive their complete annuities,
with some waiting more than a year, and in the meantime they
may be constrained by reduced interim pensions. The Committee
expects OPM to continue to prioritize retirement processing and
disability processing and to move to a fully automated
electronic filing system. Within 90 days of enactment of this
Act, OPM is directed to issue a report to the Committee
outlining steps to address the processing backlog and to ensure
retiring employees throughout the Federal Government are
receiving their hard-earned benefits in a timely manner. The
Committee believes that the backlog and delays in retirement
processing are unacceptable and directs OPM to continue to
provide the Committee with monthly reports on its progress in
addressing the backlog in claims.
Recruitment.--The Committee is concerned with the length of
time it often takes the Federal Government to hire qualified
employees and directs OPM to continue to find ways to reduce
barriers to Federal employment and reduce delays in the hiring
process. Rigid rules along with long delays in the hiring and
interview process discourage top candidates from applying for
or accepting Federal positions. Specifically, the Committee
encourages OPM to seek input from hiring managers on the type
of challenges they face and improvements that could be made to
make the Federal hiring process more efficient and effective.
Within 90 days of enactment of this Act, OPM is required to
report to the Committee on a plan to reduce barriers to Federal
employment, reduce delays in the hiring process, and improve
the overall Federal recruitment and hiring process.
As part of OPM's mission to recruit and hire the most
talented and diverse Federal workforce, the Committee
encourages Federal agencies to increase recruitment efforts
within the United States and its territories and at Hispanic
Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and
Universities.
Federal Government Hiring Process and USAJOBS.--The
Committee continues to be concerned that capable candidates
with the option to work in either the private or public sector
may be dissuaded from applying for or accepting Federal
positions due to the length and cumbersome nature of the
Federal hiring process. To focus on one important aspect of
this persistent challenge, the Committee directs OPM, within 90
days of enactment of this Act, to provide a report to the
Committee on the specific feedback OPM collects from applicants
and agencies regarding the USAJOBS website; any barriers to
collecting applicant and agency feedback; the steps OPM is
taking to improve the user experience on USAJOBS as a result of
applicant and agency feedback; and the measures OPM will use to
assess user satisfaction with future changes to USAJOBS and the
overall effectiveness of the website as a recruitment and
hiring tool. In addition, the Committee directs GAO to report
on ways to simplify, streamline, and otherwise enhance the user
experience on USAJOBS.
Hiring Guidelines.--The Committee encourages OPM to review
its policies and guidelines regarding hiring and firing of
individuals who use marijuana in states where that individual's
private use of marijuana is not prohibited under the law of the
State. These policies should reflect updated changes to the law
on marijuana usage and clearly state the impact of marijuana
usage on Federal employment.
Federal Telework Programs.--The Telework Enhancement Act
mandated that OPM provide an annual report to Congress
addressing the telework programs of each Executive Branch
agency (5 U.S.C. 6506). As noted in the 2018 Status of Telework
in the Federal Government Report, telework data collection
continues to be a challenge. As such, the Committee urges OPM
to direct Federal agencies to continue to track telework
successes, compile best practices, and expand telework
programs. The Committee recognizes that Federal agencies are
very active in using telework to improve government
performance, especially in the areas of employee attitudes,
emergency preparedness, recruitment, and retention. The
Committee supports cost savings and productivity improvements
from well-managed telework programs in the Federal workplace.
Constituent Services.--The Committee is aware of the
ongoing backlog in processing constituent service cases and
requests that OPM conduct a monthly review of this backlog.
Further, OPM should develop a strategy for reducing the
caseload and handling cases more expeditiously, including
adjusting the number of caseworkers needed to reduce the
backlog and meet service demands.
Locality Pay.--The Committee is interested in a comparison
of salary and retirement benefits of Federal employees and
retirees living in the states of Alaska and Hawaii and the
territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the
Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, with those in the
contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Within 120
days of enactment of this Act, OPM is directed to issue a
report analyzing the calculation of locality pay (5 U.S.C 5304)
in salary and benefit adjustments for employees living in non-
foreign areas (5 CFR 591.205). The report must also assess how
the calculations compare with those of Federal employees living
in the rest of the United States to determine if there are any
inequities in such calculations. In addition, the report should
include information, where possible, on the differential in pay
received by retirees in these locations who did not receive
consideration of full locality pay amounts in their high-3
earnings on which annuities are calculated and of survivor
annuitants of such Federal employees. The Committee further
directs OPM to include policy recommendations for Congress to
consider in the report.
Within 30 days of enactment of this Act, OPM is directed to
provide a briefing to the Committee on the expected date on
which the Cost of Living Adjustment for locality pay for Alaska
and Hawaii will be completely phased out.
The Committee is aware of instances in which a Federal
agency or department directs one or more employees to work at a
temporary work site in a General Schedule locality pay area
which has a higher rate than that of the locality pay area in
which the employee's official duty station is located. The
Committee encourages OPM to consider promulgating guidelines to
Federal agencies or departments directing them to compensate
employees at the higher rate of the two locality zones in
instances when employees are directed on a regular or
reoccurring basis to work at a temporary work site with a
higher locality pay than the employee's duty station.
Contractor Backpay.--The Committee recognizes the hardships
experienced by contract workers and their families during the
Federal government shutdown. While Federal employees received
backpay at the end of the shutdown, Federal contract workers
did not. Federal contract workers perform jobs that are
critical to the daily operations of the Federal government,
such as food service, security, and custodial work. The
Committee encourages Federal agencies to examine the fairness
and equity of Federal government shutdown policies and
guidelines and their impact on contract employees.
Enhancing the Utility of the Fedscope Database.--The
Committee notes that Fedscope, a publicly-accessible database
maintained by OPM, is a valuable source of information about
Federal employees and agencies. Fedscope provides national-
level and state-level data about the number of Federal
employees, the agencies that employ them, and selected
characteristics of those employees. To enhance its utility to
Congress and the public, the Committee urges OPM to provide
information about the number of Federal employees employed in
each county in the United States, or the functional equivalent
in the case of U.S. States and territories that do not use the
county system. Within 120 days of enactment of this Act, OPM is
directed to provide a report to the Committee on the
feasibility and expected timeline of publishing this
information.
Federal Financial Systems.--The Committee supports OPM's
efforts to modernize and replace the Federal Financial Systems
(FFS), which is the core centralized accounting system used to
manage OPM's trust funds. This system supports the accounting
and financial management activities associated with one
trillion dollars in combined assists for the Retirement, Health
Benefits, and Life Insurance programs for Federal employees. No
later than April 1, 2020, OPM is directed to submit a report to
the Committee that provides an update on the implementation of
the FFS modernization by phase, including planned and achieved
milestones. The report must also include explanations for unmet
milestones, a plan to complete the project, funding received to
date, and unobligated balances. Additionally, the report should
include cost estimates for future activities, as well as
projected dates for system completion. Furthermore, the
Committee directs GAO to examine OPM's effort to modernize and
replace FFS. GAO's review should also examine the extent to
which OPM's Federal Financial Systems project has adopted
leading information technology management practices in
requirements management, cost and schedule estimation, and
cybersecurity.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $30,265,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... 30,265,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +30,265,000
This appropriation provides for the Office of Inspector
General's (OIG) agency-wide audit, investigative, evaluation,
and inspection functions, which identify management and
administrative deficiencies, fraud, waste, and mismanagement.
The OIG performs internal agency audits and insurance audits
and offers contract audit services. Internal audits review and
evaluate all facets of agency operations, including financial
statements. Evaluation and inspection services provide detailed
technical evaluations of agency operations. Insurance audits
review the operations of health and life insurance carriers,
health care providers, and insurance subscribers. Contract
auditors provide professional advice to agency contracting
officials on accounting and financial matters regarding the
negotiation, award, administration, repricing, and settlement
of contracts. The investigative function provides for the
detection and investigation of improper and illegal activities
involving programs, personnel, and operations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a general fund appropriation of
$5,000,000 for the OIG. In addition, the recommendation
includes $25,265,000 from the appropriate trust funds.
OPM Organization.--The Committee is concerned with the
Administration's proposal to eliminate OPM as a standalone
agency and transfer its functions to GSA and OMB. The Committee
directs the OIG to monitor these efforts and to provide updates
to the Committee. Updates should include timelines of any
planned moves, impact on OPM funding, changes in staff levels
in each functional unit, gained efficiencies, and improved
services.
Office of Special Counsel
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $26,535,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 26,252,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 28,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +1,465,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +1,748,000
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) (1) investigates
Federal employee allegations of prohibited personnel practices
(including reprisal for whistleblowing) and, when appropriate,
prosecutes before the Merit Systems Protection Board; (2)
provides a channel for whistleblowing by Federal employees; and
(3) enforces the Hatch Act. The Office may transmit
whistleblower allegations to the agency head concerned and
require an agency investigation and a report to the Congress
and the President when appropriate. Additionally, OSC is
responsible for the enforcement of the civilian employment and
reemployment rights of military service members under the
Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $28,000,000 for the OSC.
Postal Regulatory Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $15,200,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 16,615,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 16,615,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +1,415,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) establishes and
maintains the U.S. Postal Service's ratemaking systems,
measures service and performance, ensures accountability, and
has enforcement mechanisms, including the authority to issue
subpoenas.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $16,615,000
out of the Postal Fund for the PRC.
Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $5,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 8,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 7,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +2,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -1,000,000
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (the Board)
is an independent agency within the Executive Branch whose
purpose is to (1) analyze and review actions the Executive
Branch takes to protect the nation from terrorism, ensuring
that the need for such actions is balanced with the need to
protect privacy and civil liberties; and (2) ensure that
liberty concerns are appropriately considered in the
development and implementation of laws, regulations, and
policies related to efforts to protect the nation against
terrorism. The Board consists of 4 part-time members and a
full-time chairman.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $7,500,000 for the Board.
Public Buildings Reform Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... $3,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... - - -
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -3,500,000
The Public Buildings Reform Board (Board) was created under
the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 to identify
opportunities for the Government to significantly reduce its
inventory of civilian real property and reduce cost to the
Government.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends no funds for the Board in fiscal
year 2020. The Committee is concerned that the Administration
has not nominated a Chairman to the Board and that the Board
has taken no formal actions. The Board received $5,000,000 in
fiscal year 2018 and only recently gained a quorum of Board
members. The Committee will continue to the monitor the
progress of the Board over the next year.
Securities and Exchange Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $1,712,091,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 1,756,479,104
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,860,524,799
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +148,433,799
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +104,045,695
The primary mission of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) is to protect investors, maintain the
integrity of the securities markets, and assure adequate
information on the capital markets is made available to market
participants and policymakers. To facilitate this, the SEC
monitors the capital markets, ensures full disclosure of all
appropriate financial information, regulates the Nation's
securities markets, and takes action to prevent fraud and
malpractice in the securities and financial markets.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends total budget (obligational)
authority of $1,850,000,000 for the salaries and expenses of
the SEC, to be fully derived from offsetting fee collections.
Within this amount, the Committee recommendation provides
substantial additional resources above fiscal year 2019 levels
for the SEC to monitor securities fraud, protect retail
investors, and supervise major market participants. The
Committee provides additional direction for SEC salaries and
expenses, including funding of at least $609,434,000 for the
Division of Enforcement, at least $404,676,000 for the Office
of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, at least
$98,423,000 for the Division of Trading and Markets, at least
$103,087,000 for Other Program Offices, at least $20,106,000
for the Office of the Inspector General, and no more than
$73,713,000 for the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis.
The Committee is particularly concerned about the
enforcement capabilities of the SEC and expects that the
recommended funding level is sufficient to grow the Division of
Enforcement to approximately 1,460 FTEs. The SEC is directed to
prioritize adding staff to the Market Abuse Unit, Asset
Management Unit, and Complex Financial Instruments Unit, as
well as allocate resources to the Office of the Whistleblower
to reduce the existing backlog in processing unresolved award
claims and to expedite processing of new claims. The Committee
is also concerned about examination capabilities and expects
that this funding level is sufficient to grow the Office of
Compliance Inspections and Examinations to approximately 1,080
FTEs. The Committee also provides additional resources to the
Division of Trading and Markets to increase the SEC's market
supervisory capabilities.
The Committee recommendation also includes significant
additional resources within the ``Other Program Offices''
category to increase the size and activities of the Office of
Investor Education and Advocacy and the Office of the Investor
Advocate. In addition, the Committee is concerned that too many
small-dollar investors lack access to high-quality legal advice
and representation, either because they cannot afford
representation, or their claims are too small to obtain private
counsel. Seventeen law school clinics around the country focus
on investor advocacy and have played a vital role in helping to
fill this gap, but the lack of external funding makes it
difficult for law schools to afford the costs of keeping
existing clinics operating or opening new clinics in
underserved communities. The Committee directs the SEC, through
the Office of the Investor Advocate, to conduct outreach to
existing investor advocacy clinics. The Office of the Investor
Advocate should develop recommendations for a grant program
that could assist in the creation, development, expansion, or
continuation of investor advocacy clinics to help expand the
availability of high-quality legal assistance for small claims
investors. The SEC is directed to provide the recommendations
to the Committee, and to Financial Services Committee, within
180 days of enactment of this Act.
The Committee's recommendation also includes $10,524,799
for costs associated with relocation under a replacement lease
for the Commission's New York Regional Office, also to be
derived from offsetting collections. The Committee expects the
Commission to work closely with GSA and to keep the Committee
informed of progress on the replacement lease.
Cross-Border Harmonization.--The Committee encourages the
SEC to work with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(CFTC) to harmonize the definition of a ``U.S. person.''
Currently, the definition of a ``U.S. person'' differs between
the two agencies, which can result in operational challenges
and potentially different regulatory treatment of entities
making transactions in otherwise similar instruments. Global
firms could face significant costs and burdens if the SEC's and
CFTC's regulatory approaches produce different outcomes
regarding whether an entity or transaction would be subject to
the Dodd-Frank Act. Derivatives transactions for swaps and
security-based swaps that are traded typically by the same
trading desk or desks should not always be analyzed
differently. The Committee urges these agencies to work
together in an expeditious manner toward a consistent
definition of ``U.S. person.''
Searchable Data.--The Committee encourages the SEC to
continue its efforts to implement consistent and searchable
open data standards for information filed and submitted by
publicly-traded companies and financial firms. The Committee
continues to recommend that financial regulatory agencies
across the U.S. Government take similar steps to update
reporting standards commensurate with currently available
technology.
Data Security.--The Committee recognizes the important
steps the SEC has taken in the wake of the EDGAR (Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system) breach and
strongly supports the SEC's efforts to strengthen and protect
its information technology systems. It is critically important
to both investors and the U.S. capital markets that the SEC
succeed in its work to fortify its cybersecurity threat
detection, response, and mitigation process. The SEC continues
to collect an increasing amount of market-sensitive data and
personally identifiable information, including through Form N-
PORT and the Consolidated Audit Trail, and the security of this
data is crucial. The Committee strongly supports the SEC's
recently appointed, and first, Chief Risk Officer (CRO) whose
efforts deserve appropriate resources from the Commission. The
Committee urges the Commission to continue to strengthen its
efforts to combat cyber criminals and to protect the SEC's most
sensitive data.
Current Expected Credit Loss.--The Committee is concerned
about whether the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL)
accounting standard could adversely affect the U.S. financial
economy, especially during times of recession or economic
crisis. The Committee directs the SEC, in consultation with the
Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, and NCUA, to conduct a study of the potential impact
of the CECL accounting standard issued by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and provide the study to the
Committee, and to the Financial Services Committee, within 180
days of the enactment of this Act. The study shall address the
impact of the CECL standard on credit availability, costs to
consumers, and overall stability of the banking sector, and
assess whether the FASB employed sound economic analysis and
modeling.
Prosecuting White Collar Criminals.--The Committee
recognizes the threats to economic growth, financial stability,
and national security posed by white-collar crimes and directs
the SEC to work with the Department of Justice to prioritize
prosecution of white-collar criminals, particularly in cases of
large high-dollar crimes. The Committee is concerned that
prosecutions of white-collar crimes have fallen every year for
seven years straight, hitting their lowest level in over 30
years in 2018 and requests a report from the Commission, to be
provided to the Committee and to the House Financial Services
Committee, on prosecution referrals of white-collar criminals
within 90 days of enactment of this Act.
SEC Mandatory Arbitration Disclosure.--The Committee is
concerned about proposals that would remove shareholder rights,
thereby immunizing companies from accountability. The Committee
believes such clauses are harmful to investors and unlawful.
The Committee therefore urges the SEC staff to continue to
provide no-action relief to companies that seek to exclude
these types of unlawful proposals from their proxy ballots.
Automatic Disqualification Provision Waiver Reform.--The
Committee is concerned by the SEC's overreliance on monetary
penalties as the sole sanction for rule-breaking by regulated
entities. The Committee directs the SEC to administer these
decisions at the Commission level, not the staff level.
Civil versus Criminal Enforcement of Securities Laws.--
Despite the Court's clear authorization of a private right of
action for insider trading in Shapiro v. Merrill Lynch and
subsequent cases, the SEC appears to be approaching
distribution plans with a very strict interpretation of
privity. The Committee directs the SEC's Division of Economic
and Risk Analysis to study SEC recoveries for injured parties
and compare to private plaintiffs for the most recent 5-year
period for which data is available and report the findings to
the Committee, and to the House Financial Services Committee,
within 180 days of enactment of this Act.
Reg A+ and Reg D Effectiveness.--The Committee is concerned
about the implications of private and quasi-public market
growth on public markets and investors. The Committee believes
public markets offer certain valuable benefits to investors
that private and quasi-public markets do not provide, including
more robust transparency, better pricing efficiency, more
accurate valuations, deeper levels of liquidity and lower
trading costs, and stronger accountability mechanisms. The
Committee directs the SEC's Division of Economic and Risk
Analysis to study the performance of Reg A+ and Reg D offerings
and within 180 days issue a public report comparing the
performance of Reg A+ and Reg D offerings versus all other
offerings.
Selective Service System
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $26,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 25,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 24,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... -1,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -500,000
The Selective Service System was established by the
Selective Service Act of 1948. The mission of the System is to
be prepared to supply manpower to the Armed Forces adequate to
ensure the security of the United States during a time of
national emergency. Since 1973 the Armed Forces have relied on
volunteers to fill military manpower requirements, but
selective service registration was reinstituted in July 1980.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $24,500,000 for the Selective
Service System.
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) assists and
protects the interests of small businesses through programs
including loans, loan guarantees, counseling, and contracting
preferences.
The recommendation provides a total of $995,777,000 for
SBA. Detailed guidance for the SBA appropriations accounts is
presented below.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $267,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 272,157,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 272,157,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +4,657,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $272,157,000
for SBA Salaries and Expenses.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs.--The SBIR and
STTR programs facilitate high-tech innovation by reserving a
small percentage of total Federal research and development
dollars for small businesses. These programs provide much-
needed capital to promising small businesses, help create jobs,
and improve the U.S.'s international competitiveness. SBA is
directed to fund the SBIR and STTR programs at no less than the
fiscal year 2019 level.
Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program
Licensing.--The Committee is aware of the often slow pace of
licensing within the SBIC program. The Committee urges SBA to
develop an expedited and streamlined licensing process for
known, repeat SBICs that have the same management teams and a
proven track record in the SBIC program. A fast-track process
for repeat licenses should be completed no later than 60 to 90
days after an application is submitted to SBA, which will allow
SBA to properly redirect their licensing resources to more
first-time applications. SBA should improve their ``green light
letter'' so that it clearly outlines the needed benchmarks for
license approvals. SBA should not reduce the amount or type of
SBIC program data it has historically reported and should make
that data available no less than ten business days after the
end of each quarter.
Employee-Owned Businesses.--The Committee recognizes that
employee ownership provides wide-ranging benefits for
businesses, workers, and the local economy, and supports SBA's
implementation of the requirements of section 862 of Public Law
115-232 to expand opportunities for employee-owned business
concerns through SBA loan programs.
Wildland Firefighting and Fuel Management Contracts.--The
Committee is aware of concerns that the size standards set by
SBA for wildland firefighting and fuels management contracts
may be limiting the Forest Service's ability to effectively
respond to the increasing threat of wildland fires. The
Committee is aware that SBA plans to review size standards for
government contracting this summer and expects SBA to assess
the thresholds for fire suppression services as a part of this
review.
8(a) Business Development Program.--The Committee is aware
that nonprofit organizations, many of which are operationally
indistinguishable from traditional businesses, are not eligible
to participate in the 8(a) Business Development Program because
of their status as a nonprofit. As a result, these entities--
which play a key role in assisting individuals transitioning
back into the workforce--do not have access to business
opportunities, mentoring, and training resources available to
small businesses that participate in the program. The Committee
encourages SBA to assess the potential benefits of expanding
the qualification criteria for the 8(a) Business Development
Program to certain nonprofit organizations that employ
minorities or disadvantaged persons and which might otherwise
qualify for 8(a) status but for their corporate structure.
Emerging Leaders Initiative.--The Committee supports the
SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative, which provides free education
and training to help entrepreneurs accelerate the growth of
small businesses in emerging markets.
ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $247,700,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 180,650,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 281,800,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +34,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +101,150,000
SBA's Entrepreneurial Development Programs (EDP) support
non-credit business assistance to entrepreneurs. The
appropriation includes funding for a network of resource
partners located throughout the United States that provide
training, counseling, and technical assistance to small
business entrepreneurs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $281,800,000 for EDP. The
Committee recommendations, by program, are displayed in the
following table:
7(j) Technical Assistance Program (Contracting $2,800,000
Assistance)..........................................
Entrepreneurship Education............................ 2,500,000
Growth Accelerators................................... 1,000,000
HUBZone Program....................................... 3,000,000
Microloan Technical Assistance........................ 35,000,000
National Women's Business Council..................... 1,500,000
Native American Outreach.............................. 2,000,000
PRIME Technical Assistance............................ 7,000,000
SCORE................................................. 13,000,000
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)............. 150,000,000
State Trade & Export Promotion (STEP)................. 20,000,000
Veterans Outreach*.................................... 14,000,000
Women's Business Centers (WBC)........................ 30,000,000
-----------------
Total, Entrepreneurial Development Programs......... $281,800,000
*Veterans Outreach includes funding for: Boots to Business, Veterans
Business Outreach Centers (VBOC), Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of
Entrepreneurship (V-Wise), Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with
Disabilities (EBV), and Boots to Business reboot.
SBA shall not reduce these non-credit programs from the
amounts specified above and SBA shall not merge any of the non-
credit programs without advance written approval from the
Committee. The Committee strongly supports the development
programs listed in the table above and will carefully monitor
SBA support of these programs.
The Committee urges SBA to make a particular effort to
engage students at minority serving institutions through its
EDP programming and grantmaking.
Native American Outreach.--The Committee directs that
Native American Outreach activities be managed by an Assistant
Administrator of the Office of Native American Affairs, or
through SBA 7(j) management and technical assistance, to
continue organizing multi-agency workshops and Native supplier
initiative events around the country, and to facilitate Native
contractors' participation in SBA's 8(a) Business Development
Program, HUB Zone, Women's Business Centers, Veteran and
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business programs, and
other small business contracting programs.
SCORE.--The Committee is dismayed by the findings from the
recent Office of Inspector General audit of SBA's oversight of
the SCORE program (OIG Report 19-12), including the use of
program funds for unallowable costs and a lack of performance
measures to adequately assess the program's effectiveness. SBA
is directed to brief the Committee within 30 days of the date
of enactment of this Act on the status of efforts to address
the deficiencies identified by the OIG.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC).--The Committee
notes that the terms and conditions of the cooperative
agreement between SBA and SBDCs include the cross-promotion of
services, as appropriate. The Committee encourages SBA to
engage with state SBDCs to improve awareness of the programs,
products, and services of SBA and SBDCs among small business
owners within the communities they serve.
Qualified Opportunity Zones.--The Committee notes that
Qualified Opportunity Zones (administered under IRC 1400Z-1 and
1400Z-2) were created to incentivize greater private-sector
investments in rural and economically distressed communities.
The Committee encourages SBA to provide support across its
network of SBDCs for new businesses that are looking to attract
investors in census tracts designated as Qualified Opportunity
Zones.
Women's Business Centers (WBC).--The Committee notes the
absence of WBCs serving many of the U.S. territories and other
U.S. insular areas, and recommends that SBA consider including
these areas in WBC services.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $21,900,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 21,900,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 21,900,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The mission of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to
provide independent, objective oversight to improve the
integrity, accountability, and performance of SBA and its
programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $21,900,000 for the SBA OIG.
OFFICE OF ADVOCACY
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $9,120,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 9,120,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 9,120,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The Office of Advocacy was established by Congress in 1976
to serve as the independent voice for small business within the
Federal government.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $9,120,000 for the Office of
Advocacy.
BUSINESS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $159,150,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 250,150,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 260,800,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +101,650,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +2,650,000
The SBA Business Loans Program serves as an important
source of capital for America's small businesses. The
recommendation supports the 7(a) Business Loan Program at a
level of $30,500,000,000, the 504 certified development company
program at a level of $8,000,000,000, SBIC debentures, and the
Secondary Market Guarantee Program.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a total of $260,800,000 for the
Business Loans Program Account. The recommendation includes
$100,650,000 for guaranteed loans subsidy for the 7(a) program.
The recommendation also includes $5,000,000 for loans subsidy
for the Microloan Program, an increase of $1,000,000 above the
request, to support a Microloan Program level of $46,000,000.
DISASTER LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $10,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... $177,136,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 150,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +140,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -27,136,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a total of $150,000,000 for
Disaster Loans Program administrative expenses, which may be
transferred and merged with Salaries and Expenses. Of the total
amount recommended, $1,600,000 is for the OIG for audits and
reviews of the Disaster Loans Program.
The Committee directs SBA to continue providing updates on
available resources for the Disaster Loans Program on a monthly
basis.
Federal Lands.--SBA is directed to conduct outreach,
including to State and local governments, to ensure that small
business owners are aware that SBA disaster loans are available
for businesses and individuals impacted by disasters, including
fires, that occur on Federal land.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Section 530. The Committee continues a provision
authorizing transfers of up to five percent between SBA
appropriations, provided that transfers do not increase an
appropriation by more than 10 percent. The provision also
requires that transfers be treated as a reprogramming of funds.
Section 531. The Committee modifies a provision authorizing
the transfer of not to exceed three percent of funding
available under the SBA ``Salaries and Expenses'' and
``Business Loans Program Account'' appropriations to the SBA
``Information Technology System Modernization and Working
Capital Fund''.
United States Postal Service
PAYMENT TO THE POSTAL SERVICE FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $55,235,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 56,711,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 56,711,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +1,476,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... - - -
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is funded almost
entirely by Postal ratepayers, rather than taxpayers. Funds
provided to USPS in the Payment to the Postal Service Fund
include appropriations for revenue forgone, including for
providing free mail for the blind and for overseas absentee
voting.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $56,711,000 for Payment to the
Postal Service Fund. The recommendation funds free mail for the
blind and overseas voting and reconciliation of prior year cost
adjustment.
Semipostal Stamps.--The Committee strongly supports the
Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamp and
Alzheimer's Stamp. The Committee includes language directing
USPS to continue to sell existing copies of these stamps in
fiscal year 2020.
Rural Post Offices.--The Committee believes that the United
States postal facility network is an asset of significant
value. The closure of post offices in rural communities creates
an economic burden for people in the United States that depend
on USPS for communication and package services. In addition to
typical postal services, post offices are part of the identity
of rural communities and provide a significant social value.
The Committee recommends that no funds be used to consolidate
or close small rural and other small post offices.
Notification to Congress.--Title 39 of the U.S. Code
requires USPS to provide the public with notice prior to
closing or consolidating a post office. The Committee
understands that it is USPS's policy to inform Member of
Congress' district and Washington, D.C. offices when the public
receives notice. The Committee directs USPS to keep Members of
Congress informed of USPS activities impacting their
constituents and expects USPS to ensure that Members of
Congress are appropriately informed simultaneously or prior to
all public notices.
Accessibility for Disabled Individuals.--The Committee
notes that under the Architectural Barriers Act, USPS is
required to meet accessibility requirements for disabled
individuals.
Delivery Complaints.--The Committee is concerned with the
prevalence of reports of irregular delivery, mail delivered
during late hours, and other service complaints. The Committee
directs USPS to report to the Committee within 180 days on the
adequacy of current personnel levels, the number of City
Carrier Assistants currently employed compared to previous
years, and the consolidation of distribution centers. The
report shall be accompanied by a comprehensive plan to better
provide timely and consistent mail delivery service that
addresses the concerns of local communities.
Mail Theft.--The Committee remains concerned about the
prevalence of mail theft from USPS cluster box units throughout
the country, but commends USPS for replacing some aging cluster
box units susceptible to theft with new cluster box units that
have more advanced and secure features. The Committee directs
the USPS to develop and implement a plan to further reduce
levels of mail theft regionally and locally. The Committee
urges USPS to continue to replace aging cluster box units in
areas with high theft incidences and to further enhance
security at other USPS delivery sites. The Committee directs
USPS to continue to regularly submit a report to Congress every
six months on its plan and related actions to address mail
theft issues.
Postal Fleet Review.--USPS is in the process of replacing
its aging delivery vehicle fleet--the largest civilian fleet in
the world--as part of its Next Generation Delivery Vehicle
initiative. The Committee directs USPS to examine all available
procurement alternatives to the USPS's expiring fleet of high-
emission, inefficient vehicles, to include an assessment of new
and existing fleet technologies on procurement costs, fuel
consumption, and emissions. The Committee directs USPS to
submit a report to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of
this Act on the status of this examination and to brief the
Committee on its findings. As USPS replaces or upgrades its
fleet of delivery vehicles, the Committee also strongly
encourages USPS to take all reasonable steps to ensure that its
vehicles are equipped with climate control units to protect the
health and safety of its mail carriers, especially those
working in areas of the country that are subject to extreme
temperatures.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Working
Group.--The Committee appreciates the important service
provided by USPS in collecting data about the status and
condition of residential and commercial addresses throughout
the nation. This crucial information is shared with HUD, which
in turn makes the anonymized data available for research. This
data could be a powerful tool for understanding vacancy and
blight across communities and regions but does not currently
exist in a format that can adequately inform public policy
decisions. The Committee directs USPS to set up a working group
with HUD, academic researchers, and other users of this data to
improve its collection and categorization of such data, to
include studying ways to improve data consistency, segregate
P.O. Box data, further differentiate no-stat addresses,
distinguish vacant single-family homes from vacant units in
multi-family building, preserve the geographic integrity of the
data across time, and improve documentation of data collection
practices and standards.
Alternative Funding Sources.--The Committee encourages USPS
to find additional sources of revenue through non-postal
products, including studying the feasibility of adding
surcharge-free automated teller machines (ATMs) in post
offices. This would enable seniors who receive their Social
Security benefits on prepaid cards to more easily access funds,
especially in areas with limited bank branches. These ATMs
could also provide cash access to State-issued electronic funds
transfer cards and other Federal benefit cards. The Committee
directs USPS to provide a report to the Committee within 90
days of enactment of this Act regarding the benefits and
feasibility of such a program.
Mail Interdiction of Heroin & Opioids.--The Committee is
concerned with investigations that have revealed how
international drug traffickers are harnessing vulnerabilities
in our mail systems to import significant quantities of deadly
narcotics. Efforts to expand the Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) and Postal Service pilot program to all five
International Service Centers (ISCs) are positive, but the
Committee is concerned that delays and differences regarding
important aspects of implementation hinder improvements in
interdiction of deadly illicit narcotics. The Committee urges
USPS to increase the percentages of packages inspected and work
with CBP to fully automate the process of identifying packages
targeted for inspection at ISCs.
Army, Diplomatic, and Fleet Mail.--The Committee is
concerned about the recent restructuring of the zone alignments
for the USPS International Service Centers used as domestic
sending locations for Army Post Office (APO), Diplomatic Post
Office (DPO), and Fleet Post Office (FPO) shipments. The
Committee directs USPS to report to Congress within 90 days of
enactment of this Act on the impacts of providing a separate
price chart for APO/DPO/FPO shipments based on a pre-2018
consolidation pricing formula, and the estimated changes in
revenue, by zone, of the 2018 consolidation and zone pricing
change.
Cost Increases.--The Committee is concerned about increased
costs to postal consumers due to changes in application of
dimensional pricing, and urges USPS to provide the Committee,
within 90 days of enactment of this Act, with a report
summarizing the impact of any recent such changes.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $250,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 250,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 252,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... +2,000,000
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts audits,
reviews, and investigations and keeps Congress informed on the
efficiency and economy of USPS programs and operations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $252,000,000
for the OIG, which includes sufficient funds for the OIG to
continue its aggressive drug interdiction efforts.
United States Tax Court
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019....................... $51,515,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020...................... 55,550,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 53,550,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019..................... +2,035,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.................... -2,000,000
The U.S. Tax Court adjudicates controversies involving
deficiencies in income, estate, and gift taxes. The Court also
has jurisdiction to determine deficiencies in certain excise
taxes, to issue declaratory judgments in the areas of
qualifications of retirement plans and exemptions of charitable
organizations, and to decide certain cases involving disclosure
of tax information by the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue
Service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $53,550,000
for the U.S. Tax Court.
TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS ACT
(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)
Section 601. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting pay and other expenses for non-Federal parties in
regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act.
Section 602. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting obligations beyond the current fiscal year and
prohibits transfers of funds unless expressly so provided
herein.
Section 603. The Committee continues a provision limiting
procurement contracts for consulting service expenditures to
contracts that are matters of public record and available for
public inspection.
Section 604. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting transfer of funds in this Act without express
authority.
Section 605. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the use of funds to engage in activities that would
prohibit the enforcement of section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act.
Section 606. The Committee continues a provision concerning
compliance with the Buy American Act.
Section 607. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the use of funds by any person or entity convicted
of violating the Buy American Act.
Section 608. The Committee continues and modifies a
provision specifying reprogramming procedures. The provision
requires that agencies or entities funded by the Act consult
with the Committee at least 60 days in advance of, notify the
Committee in writing at least 30 days in advance of, and obtain
prior approval from the Committee for any reprogramming of
funds that: (1) creates a new program; (2) eliminates a
program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel
for any program, project, or activity for which funds have been
denied or restricted by the Congress; (4) proposes to use funds
directed for a specific activity by the Committee on
Appropriations of either the House of Representatives or the
Senate for a different purpose; (5) augments existing programs,
projects, or activities in excess of $1,000,000 or 10 percent,
whichever is less, or increases the number of full-time
employee equivalents by 10 percent; (6) reduces existing
programs, projects, or activities by $1,000,000 or 10 percent,
whichever is less, or reduces the number of full-time employee
equivalents by 10 percent; (7) relocates an office or
employees; or (8) creates, reorganizes, or restructures a
branch, division, office, bureau, board, commission, agency,
administration, or department different from the budget
justifications submitted to the Committee or the tables in the
report accompanying this Act, whichever is more detailed. The
provision also directs the agencies funded by this Act to
submit operating plans for the Committee's review within 60
days of the bill's enactment.
Section 609. The Committee continues a provision providing
that fifty percent of unobligated balances may remain available
through September 30, 2020, for certain purposes.
Section 610. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funding for the Executive Office of the President
to request either a Federal Bureau of Investigation background
investigation or Internal Revenue Service determination with
respect to section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
except with the express consent of the individual involved in
an investigation or in extraordinary circumstances involving
national security.
Section 611. The Committee continues a provision regarding
cost accounting standards for contracts under the Federal
Employee Health Benefits Program.
Section 612. The Committee continues a provision regarding
non-foreign area cost-of-living allowances.
Section 613. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the expenditure of funds for abortion under the
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Section 614. The Committee continues a provision making
exceptions to the preceding provision where the life of the
mother is in danger or the pregnancy is a result of an act of
rape or incest.
Section 615. The Committee continues a provision carried
annually since 2004 waiving restrictions on the purchase of
non-domestic articles, materials, and supplies in the case of
acquisition of information technology by the Federal
Government.
Section 616. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting officers or employees of any regulatory agency or
commission funded by this Act from accepting travel payments or
reimbursements from a person or entity regulated by such agency
or commission.
Section 617. The Committee continues a provision permitting
the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodities Futures
Trading Commission to fund a joint advisory committee to advise
on emerging regulatory issues, notwithstanding section 708 of
this Act.
Section 618. The Committee continues a provision requiring
certain agencies in this Act to consult with the General
Services Administration before seeking new office space or
making alterations to existing office space.
Section 619. The Committee continues language providing for
several appropriated mandatory accounts. These are accounts
where authorizing language requires the payment of funds. The
Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost for the
following programs addressed in this provision: $450,000 for
Compensation of the President including $50,000 for expenses,
$222,000,000 for the Judicial Retirement Funds (Judicial
Officers' Retirement Fund, Judicial Survivors' Annuities Fund,
and the United States Court of Federal Claims Judges'
Retirement Fund), $13,887,000,000 for the Government Payment
for Annuitants, Employee Health Benefits, $44,000,000 for the
Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Life Insurance, and
$7,758,000,000 for the Payment to the Civil Service Retirement
and Disability Fund.
Section 620. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds for the Federal Trade Commission to complete
or publish the study, recommendations, or report prepared by
the Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children.
Section 621. The Committee includes language to prevent
conflicts of interest by prohibiting contractor security
clearance related background investigators from undertaking
final Federal reviews of their own work.
Section 622. The Committee includes language requiring that
the head of any executive branch agency ensure that the Chief
Information Officer has authority to participate in the budget
planning process and approval of the information technology
budget.
Section 623. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds in contravention of the Federal Records Act.
Section 624. The Committee includes language prohibiting
agencies from requiring Internet Service Providers to disclose
electronic communications information in a manner that violates
the Fourth Amendment.
Section 625. The Committee continues language relating to
Universal Service Fund payments for wireless providers.
Section 626. The Committee includes language prohibiting
funds to be used to deny Inspectors General access to records.
Section 627. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting any funds made available in this Act from being
used to establish a computer network unless such network blocks
the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.
Section 628. The Committee continues language prohibiting
any funds made available in this Act from being used to pay for
award or incentive fees for contractors with below satisfactory
performance.
Section 629. The Committee continues language prohibiting
funds made available under this Act from being used for certain
travel and conference activities unless an agency or entity
determines that the travel is in the national interest and
advance notice is provided to the Appropriations Committees.
Section 630. The Committee continues language that
prohibiting funds made available under this Act from being used
to fund first-class or business-class travel in contravention
of Federal regulations.
Section 631. The Committee includes language providing an
additional $1,000,000 for the Inspectors General Council Fund
to expand and update the Federal-wide Inspectors General (IG)
website oversight.gov. The Committee expects that this amount,
when combined when funds provided in previous years, is
sufficient to complete all proposed upgrades to oversight.gov
and that CIGIE will fund all future operation and maintenance
costs for the improved website.
Section 632. The Committee includes a new provision
prohibiting funds made available by this Act or any other Act
from being used to reorganize or to transfer the Office of
Personnel Management functions or authority to the General
Services Administration or Office of Management and Budget.
Section 633. The Committee includes a new provision
prohibiting funds made available in this Act from being used to
penalize a financial institution for providing financial
services to an entity that participates in a business or
organized activity involving marijuana that is conducted
pursuant to a law established by a state or a unit of local
government.
Section 634. The Committee includes a new provision
prohibiting use of funds in this or any other Act to propose,
promulgate, or implement any rule, principle, policy, standard,
or guidance changing the 2017 methodology for determining the
Official Poverty Measure.
Section 635. The Committee includes language rescinding
$16,369,000 in prior year unobligated balances from the Small
Business Administration--Business Loans Program account.
TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS--GOVERNMENT-WIDE
Departments, Agencies, and Corporations
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Section 701. The Committee continues a provision requiring
agencies to administer a policy designed to ensure that all of
its workplaces are free from the illegal use of controlled
substances.
Section 702. The Committee continues a provision
establishing price limitations on vehicles to be purchased by
the Federal Government with an exemption for the purchase of
electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and hydrogen fuel cell
vehicles.
Section 703. The Committee continues a provision allowing
funds made available to agencies for travel to also be used for
quarters allowances and cost-of-living allowances.
Section 704. The Committee continues a provision, modified
to provide an exemption for recipients of Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals, prohibiting the employment of noncitizens
with certain exceptions.
Section 705. The Committee continues a provision giving
agencies the authority to pay General Services Administration
bills for space renovation and other services.
Section 706. The Committee continues a provision allowing
agencies to finance the costs of recycling and waste prevention
programs with proceeds from the sale of materials recovered
through such programs.
Section 707. The Committee continues a provision providing
that funds made available to corporations and agencies subject
to 31 U.S.C. 91 may pay rent and other service costs in the
District of Columbia.
Section 708. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting interagency financing of groups absent prior
statutory approval.
Section 709. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the use of funds for enforcing regulations
disapproved in accordance with the applicable law of the U.S.
Section 710. The Committee continues a provision, with
modifications, limiting the amount of funds that can be used
for redecoration of offices under certain circumstances.
Section 711. The Committee continues a provision to allow
for interagency funding of national security and emergency
telecommunications initiatives.
Section 712. The Committee continues a provision requiring
agencies to certify that a Schedule C appointment was not
created solely or primarily to detail the employee to the White
House.
Section 713. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the payment of any employee who prohibits,
threatens or prevents another employee from communicating with
Congress.
Section 714. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting Federal training not directly related to the
performance of official duties.
Section 715. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting, other than for normal and recognized executive-
legislative relationships, propaganda, publicity and lobbying
by executive agency personnel in support or defeat of
legislative initiatives.
Section 716. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting any Federal agency from disclosing an employee's
home address to any labor organization, absent employee
authorization or court order.
Section 717. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds to be used to provide non-public information
such as mailing, telephone, or electronic mailing lists to any
person or organization outside the government without the
approval of the Committees on Appropriations.
Section 718. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the use of funds for propaganda and publicity
purposes not authorized by Congress.
Section 719. The Committee continues a provision directing
agency employees to use official time in an honest effort to
perform official duties.
Section 720. The Committee continues a provision
authorizing the use of funds to finance an appropriate share of
the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board.
Section 721. The Committee continues a provision
authorizing the transfer of funds to the General Services
Administration to finance an appropriate share of various
government-wide boards and councils and for Federal Government
Priority Goals under certain conditions.
Section 722. The Committee continues a provision that
permits breastfeeding in a Federal building or on Federal
property if the woman and child are authorized to be there.
Section 723. The Committee continues a provision that
permits interagency funding of the National Science and
Technology Council and provides for a report on the budget and
resources of the National Science and Technology Council.
Section 724. The Committee continues a provision requiring
documents involving the distribution of Federal funds to
indicate the agency providing the funds and the amount
provided.
Section 725. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the use of funds to monitor personal access or use
of Internet sites or to collect, review, or obtain any
personally identifiable information relating to access to or
use of an Internet site.
Section 726. The Committee continues a provision requiring
health plans participating in the Federal Employees Health
Benefits Program to provide contraceptive coverage and provides
exemptions to certain religious plans.
Section 727. The Committee continues language supporting
strict adherence to anti-doping activities.
Section 728. The Committee continues a provision allowing
funds for official travel to be used by departments and
agencies, if consistent with OMB Circular A-126, to participate
in the fractional aircraft ownership pilot program.
Section 729. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds for the implementation of OPM regulations
limiting detailees to the legislative branch and placing
certain limitations on the Coast Guard Congressional Fellowship
program.
Section 730. The Committee continues a provision that
restricts the use of funds for Federal law enforcement training
facilities.
Section 731. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits Executive Branch agencies from creating prepackaged
news stories that are broadcast or distributed in the United
States unless the story includes a clear notification within
the text or audio of such news story that the prepackaged news
story was prepared or funded by that executive branch agency.
This provision confirms the opinion of the Government
Accountability Office dated February 17, 2005 (B-304272).
Section 732. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting use of funds in contravention of section 552a of
title 5, United States Code (the Privacy Act) and regulations
implementing that section.
Section 733. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds from being used for any Federal Government
contract with any foreign incorporated entity which is treated
as an inverted domestic corporation.
Section 734. The Committee continues a provision requiring
agencies to pay a fee to the Office of Personnel Management for
processing retirement of employees who separate under Voluntary
Early Retirement Authority or who receive Voluntary Separation
Incentive payments.
Section 735. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds for the painting of a portrait of an employee
of the Federal Government, including the President, the Vice
President, a Member of Congress, the head of an executive
branch agency, or the head of an office of the legislative
branch.
Section 736. The Committee continues a provision limiting
the pay increases of certain prevailing rate employees.
Section 737. The Committee continues a provision, with
modification, requiring agencies to submit reports to
Inspectors General concerning expenditures for agency
conferences.
Section 738. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds to be used to increase, eliminate, or reduce
funding for a program or project unless such change is made
pursuant to reprogramming or transfer provisions.
Section 739. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting agencies from using funds to implement regulations
changing the competitive areas under reductions-in-force for
Federal employees.
Section 740. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits the use of funds to begin or announce a study or a
public-private competition regarding the conversion to
contractor performance of any function performed by civilian
Federal employees pursuant to Office of Management and Budget
Circular A-76 or any other administrative regulation,
directive, or policy.
Section 741. The Committee continues a provision ensuring
contractors are not prevented from reporting waste, fraud, or
abuse by signing confidentiality agreements that would prohibit
such disclosure.
Section 742. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the expenditure of funds for the implementation of
certain nondisclosure agreements unless certain provisions are
included in the agreements.
Section 743. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds to any corporation with certain unpaid
Federal tax liabilities unless an agency has considered
suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a
determination that further action is not necessary to protect
the interests of the Government.
Section 744. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds to any corporation that was convicted of a
felony criminal violation within the preceding 24 months unless
an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the
corporation and made a determination that further action is not
necessary to protect the interests of the Government.
Section 745. The Committee continues a provision requiring
the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to notify the
Committees on Appropriations of the House and the Senate, the
Committee on Financial Services of the House, and the Committee
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate of
requests for a transfer of funds from the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as well as post any such
notifications on the Bureau's website.
Section 746. The Committee continues a provision addressing
possible technical scorekeeping differences for fiscal year
2020 between the Office of Management and Budget and the
Congressional Budget Office.
Section 747. The Committee continues a provision, with
modifications, that provides adjustments in rates of basic pay
for Federal employees, to be paid for by appropriations.
Section 748. The Committee modifies a provision regarding
pay increases for the Vice President and certain senior
political appointees.
Section 749. The Committee includes a new provision
addressing collective bargaining agreements.
Section 750. The Committee includes a new provision related
to impoundment of resources.
Section 751. The Committee continues a provision concerning
the non-application of these general provisions to title IV and
to title VIII.
TITLE VIII--GENERAL PROVISIONS--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Section 801. The Committee continues a provision
establishing reprogramming procedures for Federal funds.
Section 802. The Committee modifies a provision that
prohibits the use of Federal funds for any abortion except in
the cases of rape or incest or if necessary to save the life of
the mother.
Section 803. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the obligation of Federal funds beyond the current
fiscal year and transfers of funds unless expressly provided
herein.
Section 804. The Committee continues a provision providing
that not to exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances from
Federal appropriations for salaries and expenses may remain
available for certain purposes.
Section 805. The Committee continues a provision
appropriating local funds during fiscal year 2021 if there is
an absence of a continuing resolution or regular appropriation
for the District of Columbia. Funds are provided under the same
authorities and conditions and in the same manner and extent as
provided for in fiscal year 2020.
Section 806. The Committee modifies language limiting
access to the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program to families
with a taxable annual income of less than $750,000 subject to
inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
Section 807. The Committee continues a provision that
concerns a ``conscience clause'' on legislation that pertains
to contraceptive coverage by health insurance plans.
Section 808. The Committee continues a provision limiting
references to ``this Act'' as referring to only this title and
title IV.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS
The following items are included in accordance with various
requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives:
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is a statement of
general performance goals and objectives for which this measure
authorizes funding:
The Committee on Appropriations considers program
performance, including a program's success in developing and
attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing
funding recommendations.
Rescission of Funds
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following table is submitted
describing the rescissions recommended in the accompanying
bill:
Department or Activity Amount
Small Business Administration......................... $16,369,000
Transfer of Funds
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following list is submitted
describing the transfer of funds in the accompanying bill:
UNDER TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Language is included under the Committee on Foreign
Investment in the United States allowing the transfer of funds
to a department or agency represented on the Committee upon the
advance notification.
Language is included under Department-Wide Systems and
Capital Investments allowing the transfer of funds to accounts
necessary to satisfy the requirement of the Department's
offices, bureaus, and other organizations.
Section 101 allows the transfer of up to four percent of
the Enforcement appropriation and up to five percent of other
appropriations made available to the IRS to any other IRS
appropriation, upon the advance approval of the Committees.
Section 113 authorizes transfers, up to two percent,
between Departmental Offices--Salaries and Expenses, Office of
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and Alcohol
and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau appropriations under certain
circumstances.
Section 114 authorizes transfers, up to two percent,
between the IRS and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration under certain circumstances.
UNDER TITLE II--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS
APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT
Language is included under Federal Drug Control Programs,
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, which allows for
the transfer of funds to Federal departments or agencies and
State and local entities.
Language is included under Other Federal Drug Control
Programs allowing the transfers of funds to other Federal
departments and agencies to carry out activities.
Language is included under Information Technology Oversight
and Reform allowing the transfer of funds to other agencies to
carry out projects.
Language is included under the Official Residence of the
Vice President, Operating Expenses, allowing the transfer of
funds to other Federal departments or agencies.
Section 201 permits the Executive Office of the President
to transfer up to 10 percent of certain appropriations, subject
to approval of the Committee.
UNDER TITLE III--THE JUDICIARY
Language is included under Court Security allowing the
transfer of funds to the United States Marshals Service for
courthouse security.
Section 302 permits the Judiciary to transfer up to five
percent of any appropriation with certain limitations.
UNDER TITLE IV--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Language is included under Federal Payment for Defender
Services in District of Columbia Courts allowing funds to be
transferred to and merged with funds made available under
Federal Payment to the District of Columbia Courts.
UNDER TITLE V--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Language is included under the Election Assistance
Commission allowing the transfer of funds to the National
Institute of Standards and Technology.
Language is included under the General Services
Administration allowing the transfer of funds within the
Federal Buildings Fund, under certain circumstances, upon the
advance approval of the Committees.
Language is included under the General Services
Administration, Federal Citizens Services Fund, allowing the
transfer of funds from the Federal Citizens Services Fund to
Federal agencies.
Language is included under the General Services
Administration, Pre-Election Presidential Transition, allowing
the transfer of funds to the Acquisition Services Fund or
Federal Buildings Fund.
Section 521 permits the General Services Administration to
transfer funds in the Federal Buildings Fund upon the advance
approval of the Committees.
Language is included under the Merit Systems Protection
Board, Salaries and Expenses, allowing the transfer from the
Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund.
Language is included under the Morris K. Udall and Stewart
L.Udall Trust Fund, allowing the transfer of funds to the
Office of Inspector General of the Department of the Interior.
Language is included under the Office of Personnel
Management, Salaries and Expenses, allowing the transfer of
certain trust funds to the Salaries and Expenses account for
administrative expenses.
Language is included under the Office of Personnel
Management, Office of Inspector General, allowing the transfer
of certain trust funds to the Office of Inspector General
account for administrative expenses.
Language is included under the Postal Regulatory
Commission, Salaries and Expenses, allowing the transfer of
amounts from the Postal Service Fund.
Language is included under the Small Business
Administration, Business Loans Program Account, allowing funds
to be transferred to and merged with the Salaries and Expenses
appropriation.
Language is included under the Small Business
Administration, Disaster Loans Program Account, allowing funds
to be transferred to and merged with the Office of Inspector
General and Salaries and Expenses appropriations.
Section 530 permits the transfer of funds between
appropriations of the Small Business Administration.
Section 531 permits the transfer of funds from the Small
Business Administration Salaries and Expenses and Business
Loans Program Account appropriations into the Information
Technology Systems Modernization and Working Capital Fund.
Language is included under the United States Postal
Service, Office of Inspector General, allowing the transfer of
amounts from the Postal Service Fund.
UNDER TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS--GOVERNMENT-WIDE
Section 721 authorizes departments and agencies to transfer
funds to the General Services Administration to support certain
financial, information technology, procurement, and other
management initiatives.
Section 745 authorizes with notification the transfer of
funds to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
Disclosure of Earmarks and Congressionally Directed Spending Items
Neither the bill nor the report contains any Congressional
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as
defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
Compliance With Rule XIII, Cl. 3(e) (Ramseyer Rule)
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
PART III--EMPLOYEES
* * * * * * *
SUBPART I--MISCELLANEOUS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 95--PERSONNEL FLEXIBILITIES RELATING TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE
* * * * * * *
Sec. 9503. Streamlined critical pay authority
(a) Notwithstanding section 9502, and without regard to the
provisions of this title governing appointments in the
competitive service or the Senior Executive Service and
chapters 51 and 53 (relating to classification and pay rates),
the Secretary of the Treasury may, [Before] before September
30, 2013, establish, fix the compensation of, and appoint
individuals to, designated critical administrative, technical,
and professional positions needed to carry out the functions of
the Internal Revenue Service, if--
(1) the positions--
(A) require expertise of an extremely high
level in an administrative, technical, or
professional field; and
(B) are critical to the Internal Revenue
Service's successful accomplishment of an
important mission;
(2) exercise of the authority is necessary to recruit
or retain an individual exceptionally well qualified
for the position;
(3) the number of such positions does not exceed 40
at any one time;
(4) designation of such positions are approved by the
Secretary of the Treasury;
(5) the terms of such appointments are limited to no
more than 4 years, but are renewable for an additional
two years based on critical organization need;
(6) appointees to such positions were not Internal
Revenue Service employees prior to June 1, 1998;
(7) total annual compensation for any appointee to
such positions does not exceed the highest total annual
compensation payable at the rate determined under
section 104 of title 3; and
(8) all such positions are excluded from the
collective bargaining unit.
(b) Individuals appointed under this section shall not be
considered to be employees for purposes of subchapter II of
chapter 75.
(c) The Secretary may exercise the authority provided by
subsection (a) with respect to positions for IT specialists
through September 30, 2023.
* * * * * * *
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JUDICIAL IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1990
TITLE II--FEDERAL JUDGESHIPS
* * * * * * *
SEC. 203. DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS.
(a) In General.--The President shall appoint, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate--
(1) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of Arkansas;
(2) 2 additional district judges for the northern
district of California;
(3) 5 additional district judges for the central
district of California;
(4) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of California;
(5) 2 additional district judges for the district of
Connecticut;
(6) 2 additional district judges for the middle
district of Florida;
(7) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Florida;
(8) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Florida;
(9) 1 additional district judge for the middle
district of Georgia;
(10) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Illinois;
(11) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Iowa;
(12) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of Louisiana;
(13) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Maine;
(14) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Massachusetts;
(15) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Mississippi;
(16) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Missouri;
(17) 1 additional district judge for the district of
New Hampshire;
(18) 3 additional district judges for the district of
New Jersey;
(19) 1 additional district judge for the district of
New Mexico;
(20) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of New York;
(21) 3 additional district judges for the eastern
district of New York;
(22) 1 additional district judge for the middle
district of North Carolina;
(23) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Ohio;
(24) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Oklahoma;
(25) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of Oklahoma;
(26) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Oregon;
(27) 3 additional district judges for the eastern
district of Pennsylvania;
(28) 1 additional district judge for the middle
district of Pennsylvania;
(29) 1 additional district judge for the district of
South Carolina;
(30) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Tennessee;
(31) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of Tennessee;
(32) 1 additional district judge for the middle
district of Tennessee;
(33) 2 additional district judges for the northern
district of Texas;
(34) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Texas;
(35) 5 additional district judges for the southern
district of Texas;
(36) 3 additional district judges for the western
district of Texas;
(37) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Utah;
(38) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Washington;
(39) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of West Virginia;
(40) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of West Virginia; and
(41) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Wyoming.
(b) Existing Judgeships.--(1) The existing district
judgeships for the western district of Arkansas, the northern
district of Illinois, the northern district of Indiana, the
district of Massachusetts, the western district of New York,
the eastern district of North Carolina, the northern district
of Ohio, and the western district of Washington authorized by
section 202(b) of the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal
Judgeship Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-353, 98 Stat. 347-348)
shall, as of the effective date of this title, be authorized
under section 133 of title 28, United States Code, and the
incumbents in those offices shall hold the office under section
133 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this title.
(2)(A) The existing 2 district judgeships for the eastern and
western districts of Arkansas (provided by section 133 of title
28, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the
effective date of this title) shall be district judgeships for
the eastern district of Arkansas only, and the incumbents of
such judgeships shall hold the offices under section 133 of
title 28, United States Code, as amended by this title.
(B) The existing district judgeship for the northern and
southern districts of Iowa (provided by section 133 of title
28, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the
effective date of this title) shall be a district judgeship for
the northern district of Iowa only, and the incumbent of such
judgeship shall hold the office under section 133 of title 28,
United States Code, as amended by this title.
(C) The existing district judgeship for the northern,
eastern, and western districts of Oklahoma (provided by section
133 of title 28, United States Code, as in effect on the day
before the effective date of this title) and the occupant of
which has his or her official duty station at Oklahoma City on
the date of the enactment of this title, shall be a district
judgeship for the western district of Oklahoma only, and the
incumbent of such judgeship shall hold the office under section
133 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this title.
(c) Temporary Judgeships.--The President shall appoint, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate--
(1) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of California;
(2) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Hawaii;
(3) 1 additional district judge for the central
district of Illinois;
(4) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Illinois;
(5) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Kansas;
(6) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of Michigan;
(7) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Missouri;
(8) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Nebraska;
(9) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of New York;
(10) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Ohio;
(11) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Pennsylvania; and
(12) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Virginia.
Except with respect to the district of Kansas, the western
district of Michigan, the eastern district of Pennsylvania, the
district of Hawaii, and the northern district of Ohio, the
first vacancy in the office of district judge in each of the
judicial districts named in this subsection, occurring 10 years
or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill
the temporary judgeship created by this subsection, shall not
be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in
the district of Kansas occurring [28] 29 years and 6 months or
more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the
temporary judgeship created for such district under this
subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the
office of district judge in the western district of Michigan,
occurring after December 1, 1995, shall not be filled. The
first vacancy in the office of district judge in the eastern
district of Pennsylvania, occurring 5 years or more after the
confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary
judgeship created for such district under this subsection,
shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of
district judge in the northern district of Ohio occurring 19
years or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to
fill the temporary judgeship created under this subsection
shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of the
district judge in the district of Hawaii occurring [25] 26
years and 6 months or more after the confirmation date of the
judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created under this
subsection shall not be filled. For districts named in this
subsection for which multiple judgeships are created by this
Act, the last of those judgeships filled shall be the
judgeships created under this section.
* * * * * * *
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TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE JUDICIARY,
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT,
2006
DIVISION A--TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT,
THE JUDICIARY, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006
* * * * * * *
TITLE IV
THE JUDICIARY
* * * * * * *
Sec. 406. The existing judgeship for the eastern district of
Missouri authorized by section 203(c) of the Judicial
Improvements Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-650, 104 Stat. 5089)
as amended by Public Law 105-53, as of the effective date of
this Act, shall be extended. The first vacancy in the office of
district judge in this district occurring [26] 27 years and 6
months or more after the confirmation date of the judge named
to fill the temporary judgeship created by section 203(c) shall
not be filled.
* * * * * * *
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21ST CENTURY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT
* * * * * * *
DIVISION A--21ST CENTURY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHORIZATION ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS
* * * * * * *
SEC. 312. ADDITIONAL FEDERAL JUDGESHIPS.
(a) Permanent District Judges for the District Courts.--
(1) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate--
(A) 5 additional district judges for the
southern district of California;
(B) 1 additional district judge for the
western district of North Carolina; and
(C) 2 additional district judges for the
western district of Texas.
(2) [Omitted--Amendatory]
(b) District Judgeships for the Central and Southern
Districts of Illinois, the Northern District of New York, and
the Eastern District of Virginia.--
(1) Conversion of temporary judgeships to permanent
judgeships.--The existing district judgeships for the
central district and the southern district of Illinois,
the northern district of New York, and the eastern
district of Virginia authorized by section 203(c) (3),
(4), (9), and (12) of the Judicial Improvements Act of
1990 (Public Law 101-650, 28 U.S.C. 133 note) shall be
authorized under section 133 of title 28, United States
Code, and the incumbents in such offices shall hold the
offices under section 133 of title 28, United States
Code (as amended by this section).
(2) [Omitted--Amendatory]
(3) Effective date.--With respect to the central or
southern district of Illinois, the northern district of
New York, or the eastern district of Virginia, this
subsection shall take effect on the earlier of--
(A) the date on which the first vacancy in
the office of district judge occurs in such
district; or
(B) July 15, 2003.
(c) Temporary Judgeships.--
(1) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate--
(A) 1 additional district judge for the
northern district of Alabama;
(B) 1 additional judge for the district of
Arizona;
(C) 1 additional judge for the central
district of California;
(D) 1 additional judge for the southern
district of Florida;
(E) 1 additional district judge for the
district of New Mexico;
(F) 1 additional district judge for the
western district of North Carolina; and
(G) 1 additional district judge for the
eastern district of Texas.
(2) Vacancies not filled.--The first vacancy in the
office of district judge in each of the offices of
district judge authorized by this subsection, except in
the case of [the central district of California and the
western district of North Carolina] ``the central
district of California, the western district of North
Carolina, and the northern district of Alabama,
occurring [17] 18 years or more after the confirmation
date of the judge named to fill the temporary district
judgeship created in the applicable district by this
subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in
the office of district judge in the central district of
California occurring [16 years] 17 years and 6 months
or more after the confirmation date of the judge named
to fill the temporary district judgeship created in
that district by this subsection, shall not be filled.
The first vacancy in the office of district judge in
the western district of North Carolina occurring [15]
16 years or more after the confirmation date of the
judge named to fill the temporary district judgeship
created in that district by this subsection, shall not
be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district
judge in the northern district of Alabama occurring 17
years or more after the confirmation date of the judge
named to fill the temporary district judgeship created
in that district by this subsection, shall not be
filled.
(3) Effective date.--This subsection shall take
effect on July 15, 2003.
(d) Extension of Temporary Federal District Court Judgeship
for the Northern District of Ohio.--
(1) In general.--[Omitted--Amendatory]
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this
subsection shall take effect on the date of enactment
of this Act.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
section, including such sums as may be necessary to provide
appropriate space and facilities for the judicial positions
created by this section.
* * * * * * *
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UNIVERSAL SERVICE ANTIDEFICIENCY TEMPORARY SUSPENSION ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE III--UNIVERSAL SERVICE
* * * * * * *
SEC. 302. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN TITLE 31 PROVISIONS TO UNIVERSAL
SERVICE FUND.
(a) In General.--During the period beginning on the date of
enactment of this Act and ending on [December 31, 2019]
December 31, 2020, section 1341 and subchapter II of chapter 15
of title 31, United States Code, do not apply--
(1) to any amount collected or received as Federal
universal service contributions required by section 254
of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254),
including any interest earned on such contributions;
nor
(2) to the expenditure or obligation of amounts
attributable to such contributions for universal
service support programs established pursuant to that
section.
(b) Post-2005 Fulfillment of Protected Obligations.--Section
1341 and subchapter II of chapter 15 of title 31, United States
Code, do not apply after [December 31, 2019] December 31, 2020,
to an expenditure or obligation described in subsection (a)(2)
made or authorized during the period described in subsection
(a).
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS ACT OF 1999
* * * * * * *
SEC. 3. PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAM.
(a) Grants.--
(1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under
subsection (i) the Mayor shall award grants to eligible
institutions that enroll eligible students to pay the
difference between the tuition and fees charged for in-
State students and the tuition and fees charged for
out-of-State students on behalf of each eligible
student enrolled in the eligible institution.
(2) Maximum student amounts.--An eligible student
shall have paid on the student's behalf under this
section--
(A) not more than $10,000 for any 1 award
year (as defined in section 481 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088)); and
(B) a total of not more than $50,000.
(3) Proration.--The Mayor shall prorate payments
under this section for students who attend an eligible
institution on less than a full-time basis.
(b) Reduction for Insufficient Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--If the funds appropriated pursuant
to subsection (i) for any fiscal year are insufficient
to award a grant in the amount determined under
subsection (a) on behalf of each eligible student
enrolled in an eligible institution, then the Mayor
shall--
(A) first, ratably reduce the amount of the
tuition and fee payment made on behalf of each
eligible student who has not received funds
under this section for a preceding year; and
(B) after making reductions under
subparagraph (A), ratably reduce the amount of
the tuition and fee payments made on behalf of
all other eligible students.
(2) Adjustments.--The Mayor may adjust the amount of
tuition and fee payments made under paragraph (1) based
on--
(A) the financial need of the eligible
students to avoid undue hardship to the
eligible students; or
(B) undue administrative burdens on the
Mayor.
(3) Further adjustments.--Notwithstanding paragraphs
(1) and (2), the Mayor may prioritize the making or
amount of tuition and fee payments under this
subsection based on the income and need of eligible
students.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible
institution'' means an institution that--
(A) is a public institution of higher
education located--
(i) in the State of Maryland or the
Commonwealth of Virginia; or
(ii) outside the State of Maryland or
the Commonwealth of Virginia, but only
if the Mayor--
(I) determines that a
significant number of eligible
students are experiencing
difficulty in gaining admission
to any public institution of
higher education located in the
State of Maryland or the
Commonwealth of Virginia
because of any preference
afforded in-State residents by
the institution;
(II) consults with the
Committee on Government Reform
of the House of
Representatives, the Committee
on Governmental Affairs of the
Senate, and the Secretary
regarding expanding the program
under this section to include
such institutions located
outside of the State of
Maryland or the Commonwealth of
Virginia; and
(III) takes into
consideration the projected
cost of the expansion and the
potential effect of the
expansion on the amount of
individual tuition and fee
payments made under this
section in succeeding years;
(B) is eligible to participate in the student
financial assistance programs under title IV of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070 et seq.); and
(C) enters into an agreement with the Mayor
containing such conditions as the Mayor may
specify, including a requirement that the
institution use the funds made available under
this section to supplement and not supplant
assistance that otherwise would be provided to
eligible students from the District of
Columbia.
(2) Eligible student.--The term ``eligible student''
means an individual who--
(A)(i) in the case of an individual who
begins an undergraduate course of study within
3 calendar years (excluding any period of
service on active duty in the armed forces, or
service under the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C.
2501 et seq.) or subtitle D of title I of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12571 et seq.)) of graduation from a
secondary school, or obtaining the recognized
equivalent of a secondary school diploma, was
domiciled in the District of Columbia for not
less than the 12 consecutive months preceding
the commencement of the freshman year at an
institution of higher education;
(ii) in the case of an individual who
graduated from a secondary school or received
the recognized equivalent of a secondary school
diploma before January 1, 1998, and is
currently enrolled at an eligible institution
as of the date of enactment of the District of
Columbia College Access Improvement Act of
2002, was domiciled in the District of Columbia
for not less than the 12 consecutive months
preceding the commencement of the freshman year
at an institution of higher education; or
(iii) in the case of any other individual and
an individual re-enrolling after more than a 3-
year break in the individual's post-secondary
education, has been domiciled in the District
of Columbia for at least 5 consecutive years at
the date of application;
(B)(i) graduated from a secondary school or
received the recognized equivalent of a
secondary school diploma on or after January 1,
1998;
(ii) in the case of an individual who did not
graduate from a secondary school or receive a
recognized equivalent of a secondary school
diploma, is accepted for enrollment as a
freshman at an eligible institution on or after
January 1, 2002; or
(iii) in the case of an individual who
graduated from a secondary school or received
the recognized equivalent of a secondary school
diploma before January 1, 1998, is currently
enrolled at an eligible institution as of the
date of enactment of the District of Columbia
College Access Improvement Act of 2002;
(C) meets the citizenship and immigration
status requirements described in section
484(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1091(a)(5));
(D) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment,
on at least a half-time basis, in a degree,
certificate, or other program (including a
program of study abroad approved for credit by
the institution at which such student is
enrolled) leading to a recognized educational
credential at an eligible institution;
(E) if enrolled in an eligible institution,
is maintaining satisfactory progress in the
course of study the student is pursuing in
accordance with section 484(c) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(c));
(F) has not completed the individual's first
undergraduate baccalaureate course of study;
and
(G) (i) for individuals who began an undergraduate
course of study prior to school year 2015-2016, is from
a family with a taxable annual income of less than
$1,000,000; (ii) for individuals who begin an
undergraduate course of study in or after school year
2016-2017 but before school year 2019-2020, is from a
family with a taxable annual income of less than
[$750,000.]; (iii) for individuals who begin an
undergraduate course of study in or after school year
2019-2020 but before school year 2020-2021, is from a
family with a taxable annual income of less than
$500,000; and (iv) for individuals who begin an
undergraduate course of study in or after school year
2020-2021, is from a family with a taxable income of
less than $750,000. [Beginning with school year 2017-
2018, the Mayor shall adjust the amounts in clauses (i)
and (ii)] The Mayor shall adjust the amounts in this
subparagraph for inflation, as measured by the
percentage increase, if any, from the preceding fiscal
year in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
of [the Department of Labor; and] the Department of
Labor, beginning with school year 2017-2018 in the case
of the amounts in clauses (i) and (ii), beginning with
school year 2020-2021 in the case of the amount in
clause (iii), and beginning with school year 2021-2022
in the case of the amount in clause (iv).
[(iii) For individuals who begin an
undergraduate course of study in or after
school year 2019-2020, is from a family with a
taxable annual income of less than $500,000.
Beginning with school year 2020-2021, the Mayor
shall adjust the amount in the previous
sentence for inflation, as measured by the
percentage increase, if any, from the preceding
fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.]
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning
given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Mayor.--The term ``Mayor'' means the Mayor of the
District of Columbia.
(5) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school''
has the meaning given that term under section 9101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of Education.
(d) Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
require an institution of higher education to alter the
institution's admissions policies or standards in any manner to
enable an eligible student to enroll in the institution.
(e) Applications.--Each student desiring a tuition payment
under this section shall submit an application to the eligible
institution at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by
such information as the eligible institution may require.
(f) Administration of Program.--
(1) In general.--The Mayor shall carry out the
program under this section in consultation with the
Secretary. The Mayor may enter into a grant, contract,
or cooperative agreement with another public or private
entity to administer the program under this section if
the Mayor determines that doing so is a more efficient
way of carrying out the program.
(2) Policies and procedures.--The Mayor, in
consultation with institutions of higher education
eligible for participation in the program authorized
under this section, shall develop policies and
procedures for the administration of the program.
(3) Memorandum of agreement.--The Mayor and the
Secretary shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement
that describes--
(A) the manner in which the Mayor shall
consult with the Secretary with respect to
administering the program under this section;
and
(B) any technical or other assistance to be
provided to the Mayor by the Secretary for
purposes of administering the program under
this section (which may include access to the
information in the common financial reporting
form developed under section 483 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090)).
(g) Mayor's Report.--The Mayor shall report to Congress
annually regarding--
(1) the number of eligible students attending each
eligible institution and the amount of the grant awards
paid to those institutions on behalf of the eligible
students;
(2) the extent, if any, to which a ratable reduction
was made in the amount of tuition and fee payments made
on behalf of eligible students; and
(3) the progress in obtaining recognized academic
credentials of the cohort of eligible students for each
year.
(h) GAO Report. Beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
monitor the effect of the program assisted under this section
on educational opportunities for eligible students. The
Comptroller General shall analyze whether eligible students had
difficulty gaining admission to eligible institutions because
of any preference afforded in-State residents by eligible
institutions, and shall expeditiously report any findings
regarding such difficulty to Congress and the Mayor. In
addition the Comptroller General shall--
(1) analyze the extent to which there are an
insufficient number of eligible institutions to which
District of Columbia students can gain admission,
including admission aided by assistance provided under
this Act, due to--
(A) caps on the number of out-of-State
students the institution will enroll;
(B) significant barriers imposed by academic
entrance requirements (such as grade point
average and standardized scholastic admissions
tests); and
(C) absence of admission programs benefiting
minority students;
(2) assess the impact of the program assisted under
this Act on enrollment at the University of the
District of Columbia; and
(3) report the findings of the analysis described in
paragraph (1) and the assessment described in paragraph
(2) to Congress and the Mayor.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations. There are authorized to
be appropriated to the District of Columbia to carry out this
section $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and (subject to
section 7) such sums as may be necessary for each of the 12
succeeding fiscal years. Such funds shall remain available
until expended.
(j)) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect with
respect to payments for periods of instruction that begin on or
after January 1, 2000.
Changes in the Application of Existing Law
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following statements are
submitted describing the effect of provisions proposed in the
accompanying bill which may be considered, under certain
circumstances, to change the application of existing law,
either directly or indirectly. The bill provides that
appropriations shall remain available for more than one year
for a number of programs for which the basic authorizing
legislation does not explicitly authorize such extended
availability. In addition, the bill carries language, in some
instances, permitting activities not authorized by law, or
exempting agencies from certain provisions of law, but which
has been carried in appropriations acts for many years.
The bill includes several limitations on official
entertainment, reception, and representation expenses. Similar
provisions have appeared in many previous appropriations Acts.
The bill includes a number of limitations on the purchase of
automobiles or office furnishings that also have appeared in
many previous appropriations Acts. Language is included in
several instances permitting certain funds to be credited to
the appropriations recommended. Language is also included in
several instances permitting funding for services authorized by
5 U.S.C. 3109 and for the hire of passenger motor vehicles.
Title I--Department of the Treasury
Language is included for Departmental Offices, Salaries and
Expenses, that provides funds for operation and maintenance of
Treasury Buildings; hire of passenger motor vehicles;
maintenance, repairs, and improvements of, and purchase of
commercial insurance policies for real properties leased or
owned overseas; and for domestic finance and tax policy
activities. Language is also included designating funds for
official reception and representation expenses; unforeseen
emergencies of a confidential nature; and extending the period
of availability for certain funds.
Language is included for the Committee on Foreign
Investment in the United States Fund that provides for the
transfer of funds to departments or agencies represented on the
Committee for expenses of implementing section 721 of the
Defense Production Act of 1950. Language is included that
provides for the assessment and collection of offsetting
collections.
Language is included for Office of Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds to
safeguard the financial system from national security threats.
Language is included for the Cybersecurity Enhancement
Account that provides funds for enhanced cybersecurity for
systems operated by the Department of the Treasury.
Language is included for Department-wide Systems and
Capital Investments Programs that provides funds for equipment,
software, and repairs and renovations to buildings owned by the
Department of the Treasury.
Language is included for the Office of Inspector General,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds to carry out the
provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, including the
hire of vehicles, unforeseen emergencies of a confidential
nature, official reception and representation expenses, and
unforeseen emergencies of a confidential nature.
Language is included for the Treasury Inspector General for
Tax Administration, Salaries and Expenses that provides funds
to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of
1978, including consulting services, official reception and
representation expenses, the purchase and hire of motor
vehicles, unforeseen emergencies of a confidential nature, and
specifies the period of availability for certain funds.
Language is included for the Special Inspector General for
the Troubled Asset Relief Program, Salaries and Expenses, that
provides funds for carrying out the provisions of the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-343).
Language is included for Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for the
hire of motor vehicles; travel and training of non-Federal and
foreign government personnel attending meetings involving
domestic or foreign financial intelligence, law enforcement,
and regulation; official reception and representation expenses;
and assistance to Federal law enforcement agencies with or
without reimbursement. Language is also included that extends
the period of availability for certain amounts.
Language is included for the Bureau of the Fiscal Service,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for necessary
expenses, including for official reception and representation
expenses, and extends the period of availability for
information systems modernization funds. Language is also
included specifying an amount to be derived from the Oil Spill
Liability Trust Fund.
Language is included for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and
Trade Bureau, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for
the hire of passenger motor vehicles, official reception and
representation expenses, cooperative research and development
programs, and laboratory assistance to State and local
agencies. Language is included that extends the period of
availability for certain amounts.
Language is included for the United States Mint, United
States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, which identifies the source
of funding for the operations and activities of the U.S. Mint
and specifies the level of funding for circulating coinage and
protective service capital investments.
Language is included for the Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund Program account that provides
specific amounts for: financial and technical assistance;
individuals with disabilities; Native American initiatives;
Bank Enterprise Awards, Healthy Food Financing Initiatives; and
administrative expenses for the program and cost of direct
loans. Language is included for clarifying the amount for the
Bond Guarantee Program. Language is included for a new program
that provides funding for small dollar loans.
Language is included under Internal Revenue Service,
Taxpayer Services, that provides funds for pre-filing
assistance and education, filing and account services, and
taxpayer advocacy services, and dedicating funding for the Tax
Counseling for the Elderly Program, low-income taxpayer clinic
grants, and Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grants.
Language is included for the Internal Revenue Service,
Enforcement, that provides funds to determine and collect owed
taxes, provide legal and litigation support, conduct criminal
investigations, enforce criminal statutes, purchase and hire of
vehicles; and designates funding for the Interagency Crime and
Drug Enforcement program. Language is included specifying the
period of availability for certain funds. Language is included
under a budget cap adjustment to address the Federal tax gap.
Language is included for the Internal Revenue Service,
Operations Support, that provides funds for operating and
supporting taxpayer services and tax law enforcement programs;
rent; facilities services; printing; postage; physical
security; headquarters and other IRS-wide administration
activities; research and statistics of income;
telecommunications; information technology development,
enhancement, operations, maintenance, and security; hire of
passenger motor vehicles; and official reception and
representation expenses. Language is included specifying the
period of availability for certain funds and requiring reports
on information technology. Language is included under a budget
cap adjustment to address the Federal tax gap.
Language is included for Internal Revenue Service, Business
Systems Modernization that provides for the business systems
modernization program, including capital asset acquisition of
information technology, including management and related
contractual costs and IRS labor costs of said acquisitions,
contractual costs associated with operations, an extended
availability of the funds and requires quarterly reports.
Language is included to report on the Integrated Business
Systems Modernization plan.
In addition, the bill provides the following administrative
provisions:
Section 101. Language is included that allows for the
transfer of up to four percent of the Enforcement appropriation
and up to five percent of other appropriations made available
to the IRS to any other IRS appropriation, upon the advance
approval of the Committees on Appropriations.
Section 102. Language is included that requires the IRS to
maintain a training program in taxpayers' rights, dealing
courteously with taxpayers, cross-cultural relations, and the
impartial application of tax law.
Section 103. Language is included that requires the IRS to
institute and enforce policies and procedures that will
safeguard the confidentiality of taxpayer information and
protect taxpayers against identity theft.
Section 104. Language is included that makes funds
available for improved facilities and increased staffing to
provide efficient and effective 1-800 number help line service
for taxpayers.
Section 105. Language is included to require the IRS to
issue notices to employers of any address change request and to
give special consideration to offers in compromise for
taxpayers who have been victims of payroll tax preparer fraud.
Section 106. Language is included to prohibit the IRS from
targeting U.S. citizens for exercising their First Amendment
rights.
Section 107. Language is included to prohibit the use of
funds by the IRS to target groups based on their ideological
beliefs.
Section 108. Language is included to prohibit the use of
funds by the IRS on conferences that do not adhere to
recommendations made by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration.
Section 109. Language is included prohibiting funds for IRS
employee awards or hiring programs that do not consider
employee conduct and Federal tax compliance.
Section 110. Language included to prohibit the use of funds
in contravention of section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (relating to confidentiality and disclosure of returns
and return information).
Section 111. Language is included to restore the Streamline
Critical Pay for information technology specialists.
Section 112. Language is included to authorize the
Department to purchase uniforms, insurance for motor vehicles
that are overseas, and motor vehicles that are overseas,
without regard to the general purchase price limitations; to
enter into contracts with the State Department for health and
medical services for Treasury employees that are overseas; and
to hire experts or consultants.
Section 113. Language is included to authorize transfers,
up to two percent, between Departmental Offices--Salaries and
Expenses, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence,
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Bureau of the Fiscal
Service, and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
appropriations under certain circumstances.
Section 114. Language is included to authorize transfers,
up to two percent, between the IRS and TIGTA under certain
circumstances.
Section 115. Language is included prohibiting the
Department of the Treasury from undertaking a redesign of the
$1 Federal Reserve note.
Section 116. Language is included providing for transfers
from and reimbursements to Bureau of the Fiscal Service,
Salaries and Expenses, for the purposes of debt collection.
Section 117. Language is included prohibiting funds from
being used by the United States Mint to construct or operate
any museum without the approval of the House and Senate
committees of jurisdiction.
Section 118. Language is included prohibiting funds from
being used to merge the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing without the approval of the House and Senate
committees of jurisdiction.
Section 119. Language is included deeming that funds for
the Department of the Treasury's intelligence-related
activities are specifically authorized in fiscal year 2020
until enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for
fiscal year 2010.
Section 120. Language is included permitting the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing to use $5,000 from the Industrial
Revolving Fund for reception and representation expenses.
Section 121. Language is included requiring the Department
of the Treasury to submit a capital investment plan.
Section 122. Language is included requiring the Department
of the Treasury to submit a report on the Franchise Fund.
Section 123. Language is included requiring a quarterly
report from the Office of Financial Research.
Section 124. Language is included requiring SIGTARP to
prioritize performance audits or investigations of programs
funded under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
Section 125. Language is included prohibiting funds for the
Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to be used to
pay the salary of a Treasury employee detailed to another
Department, agency, or office, funded in this bill.
Section 126. Language is included prohibiting the use of
Treasury Forfeiture Funds for activities related to
construction of physical barriers along the southern border of
the United States.
Title II--Executive Office of the President
Language is included for The White House, Salaries and
Expenses, that provides funds for services authorized by 5
U.S.C. 3109 and 3 U.S.C. 103, 105 and 107, hire of vehicles,
and official reception and representation expenses; and the
Office of Policy Development.
Language is included for Executive Residence at the White
House, Operating Expenses, that provides funds for necessary
expenses as authorized by 3 U.S.C. 105, 109, 110, and 112-114.
Language is included for Executive Residence at The White
House, Reimbursable Expenses, that specifies the authorized use
of funds; specifies that reimbursable expenses are the
exclusive authority of the Executive Residence to incur
obligations and receive offsetting collections; requires the
sponsors of political events to make advance payments; requires
the national committee of the political party of the President
to maintain $25,000 on deposit; requires the Executive
Residence to ensure that amounts owed are billed within 60 days
of a reimbursable event and collected within 30 days of the
bill notice; authorizes the Executive Residence to charge and
assess interest and penalties on late payments; authorizes all
reimbursements to be deposited into the Treasury as
miscellaneous receipts; requires a report to the Committee on
the reimbursable expenses within 90 days of the end of the
fiscal year; requires the Executive Residence to maintain a
system for tracking and classifying reimbursable events; and
specifies that the Executive Residence is not exempt from the
requirements of subchapter I or II of chapter 37 of title 31,
United States Code.
Language is included for White House Repair and Restoration
that provides funds for the repair, alteration, and improvement
of the Executive Residence at the White House; and allows funds
to remain available until expended.
Language is included for Council of Economic Advisors,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides for necessary expenses in
carrying out the Employment Act of 1946.
Language is included for National Security Council and
Homeland Security Council, Salaries and Expenses, that provides
for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109.
Language is included for Office of Administration, Salaries
and Expenses, that provides funds for continued modernization
of the information resources within the Executive Office of the
President, to remain available until expended, and provides for
services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and 3 U.S.C. 107, and for
the hire of vehicles.
Language is included for Office of Management and Budget,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for expenses;
services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109; the hire of vehicles;
carrying out provisions of chapter 35 of title 44 United States
Code and to prepare the budget request; specifies funds for
official representation expenses; prohibits the review of
agricultural marketing orders; prohibits the use of funds for
the purpose of altering the transcript of testimony except for
OMB officials; prohibits the use of funds for evaluating or
determining if water resource project or study reports
submitted by the Chief of Engineers are in compliance with all
applicable laws, regulations, and requirements; prohibits the
use of funds for altering the Corp of Engineers annual work
plan; and specifies the amount of time to perform budgetary
policy reviews of water resource matters on which the Chief of
Engineers has reported before the report is considered
approved, and specifies notification requirements.
Language is included for Intellectual Property Enforcement
Coordinator, that provides funds for expenses authorized by
title III of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for
Intellectual Property Act of 2008 and services authorized by 5
U.S.C. 3109.
Language is included for the Office of National Drug
Control Policy, Salaries and Expenses, providing funds for
research activities; official reception and representation
expenses; and participation in joint projects or the provision
of services to nonprofit, research, or public organizations or
agencies, with or without reimbursement. Language is included
permitting gifts for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the
work of the Office.
Language is included for Federal Drug Control Programs,
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, that provides
funds for drug control activities, allows for the transfer of
funds, and requires notification on the distribution of funds.
Language is included for Other Federal Drug Control
Programs that provides specific amounts for drug control
activities and allows for the transfer of funds.
Language is included for Unanticipated Needs that provides
for the use of funds as authorized by 3 U.S.C. 108 and extends
the availability of funds.
Language is included for Information Technology Oversight
and Reform that provides for the use of funds, extends the
availability of funds, and allows for the transfer of funds.
Language is included for Special Assistance to the
President, Salaries and Expenses, that enables the Vice
President to provide assistance to the President, services
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and 3 U.S.C. 106, and the hire of
vehicles.
Language is included for Official Residence of the Vice
President, Operating Expenses, provides funds for operation and
maintenance of the official residence of the Vice President,
the hire of vehicles, expenses authorized by 3 U.S.C. 106(b)(2)
and provides for the transfer of funds as necessary.
In addition, the bill provides the following administrative
provisions:
Section 201. Language is included permitting the transfer
of not to exceed ten percent of funds among various
appropriations within the Executive Office of the President,
with advance approval of the Committees on Appropriations. The
amount of an appropriation shall not be increased by more than
50 percent.
Section 202. Language is included requiring the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget to include a statement of
budgetary impact with any Executive Order or Presidential
Memorandum issued or rescinded during fiscal year 2020.
Section 203. Language is included requiring the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget to issue a memorandum to
all Federal departments, agencies, and corporations directing
compliance with the provisions in title VII of this Act.
Section 204. Language is included requiring the Office of
Management and Budget to provide to the Committees on
Appropriations each document apportioning an appropriation, to
implement an automated system to post each document
apportioning an appropriation on a publicly accessible website,
and to provide to the Committees on Appropriations certain
information about each document apportioning an appropriation
that has not been approved by the Office of Management and
Budget.
Title III--The Judiciary
Language is included under Supreme Court, Salaries and
Expenses, providing for certain funds to remain available until
expended; the hire of passenger motor vehicles, official
reception and representation, and miscellaneous expenses.
Language is included providing funds for salaries of judges as
authorized by law.
Language is included under Supreme Court, Care of the
Building and Grounds, permitting funds to remain available
until expended.
Language is included under United States Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit, Salaries and Expenses, for necessary
expenses of the court. Language is included providing funds for
salaries of judges as authorized by law.
Language is included under United States Court of
International Trade, Salaries and Expenses, for necessary
expenses of the court. Language is included providing funds for
salaries of judges as authorized by law.
Language is included under Courts of Appeals, District
Courts, and Other Judicial Services, Salaries and Expenses,
providing funds for the salaries of certain judges, and all
other employees not otherwise provided for; necessary expenses;
the purchase, rental, repair and cleaning of uniforms for
Probation and Pretrial Services Office staff; firearms and
ammunition; and specifies certain funds remain available for
certain periods for specific purposes. Language is included
providing funds for salaries of judges as authorized by law.
Language is also included providing funding from the Vaccine
Injury Compensation Trust Fund for certain purposes.
Language is included under Defender Services, providing for
the compensation and reimbursement of expenses for attorneys,
investigative, expert and other services, the operation of
Federal Defender organizations, travel, training, general
administrative expenses and permitting funds to remain
available until expended.
Language is included under Fees of Jurors and Commissioners
permitting funds to remain available until expended and
specifying limitations for the compensation of land
commissioners.
Language is included under Court Security providing for
protective guard services and procurement, installation and
maintenance of security systems and equipment, building
ingress-egress control, inspection of mail and packages,
directed security patrols, perimeter security and services
provided by the Federal Protective Services. Language is
included permitting certain funds to remain available until
expended, which may be transferred to the United States
Marshals Service.
Language is included under Administrative Office of the
United States Courts, Salaries and Expenses, providing for
travel, the hire of passenger motor vehicles, advertising and
rent in the District of Columbia. Language is included
specifying certain amounts for official reception and
representation expenses.
Language is included under Federal Judicial Center,
Salaries and Expenses, extending the availability of certain
funds for education and training, and specifying certain
amounts for official reception and representation expenses.
Language is included under United States Sentencing
Commission, Salaries and Expenses, specifying certain amounts
for official reception and representation expenses.
In addition, the bill provides the following administrative
provisions:
Section 301. Language is included permitting funds for
salaries and expenses to be available for the employment of
experts and consultant services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109.
Section 302. Language is included permitting up to five
percent of any appropriation made available for fiscal year
2020 to be transferred between Judiciary appropriations
provided that no appropriation shall be decreased by more than
five percent or increased by more than ten percent by any such
transfer except in certain circumstances. In addition, the
language provides that any such transfer shall be treated as a
reprogramming of funds under sections 604 and 608 of the
accompanying bill and shall not be available for obligation or
expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth
in those sections.
Section 303. Language is included allowing not to exceed
$11,000 to be used for official reception and representation
expenses incurred by the Judicial Conference of the United
States.
Section 304. Language is included allowing the delegation
of authority to the Judiciary for contracts for repairs of less
than $100,000 through fiscal year 2020.
Section 305. Language is included allowing a court security
pilot program.
Section 306. Language is included requested by the Judicial
Conference of the United States extending temporary judgeships
in Arizona, California Central, Florida Southern, Hawaii,
Kansas, Missouri Eastern, New Mexico, North Carolina Western,
and Texas Eastern.
Title IV--District of Columbia
Language is included under Federal Payment for Resident
Tuition Support, permitting the amount appropriated to remain
available until expended; specifying conditions for the use,
award, and financial accounting of funds; and requiring
quarterly reports.
Language is included under Federal Payment for Emergency
Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia,
providing that the amount appropriated shall remain available
until expended for providing public safety at events, including
support of the United States Secret Service, and to respond to
terrorist threats or attacks.
Language is included under Federal Payment to the District
of Columbia Courts, authorizing official reception and
representation expenses; specifying certain amounts for
specific purposes; providing all amounts under this heading
shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of Management and
Budget and obligated and expended in the same manner as funds
appropriated for salaries and expenses of other Federal
agencies; allowing funds made available for capital
improvements to remain available until September 30, 2020;
providing for the reallocation of funds and providing for
certain payments.
Language is included under Federal Payment for Defender
Services in the District of Columbia Courts, providing that the
amount appropriated shall remain available until expended;
specifying who shall administer these funds; and providing that
all amounts under this heading shall be apportioned quarterly
by the Office of Management and Budget and obligated and
expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for salaries
and expenses of other Federal agencies; and that not more than
$20,000,000 in unobligated funds provided in this account may
be transferred to and merged with funds made available under
the heading Federal Payment to District of Columbia Courts.
Language is included under Federal Payment to the Court
Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of
Columbia, allowing the transfer and hire of motor vehicles;
authorizing official reception and representation expenses;
specifying certain amounts for specific purposes and programs;
allowing $3,818,000 to remain available until September 30,
2022 for costs associated with replacement leases; providing
that all amounts under this heading shall be apportioned
quarterly by the Office of Management and Budget and obligated
and expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for
salaries and expenses of other Federal agencies; allowing the
use of programmatic incentives for offenders and defendants who
successfully meet the terms of their supervision; authorizing
the Director to accept, solicit and use on the behalf of the
Agency any monetary or nonmonetary gift to support offenders
and defendants successfully meeting terms of supervision.
Language is included under Federal Payment to District of
Columbia Public Defender Service, allowing the transfer and
hire of motor vehicles; providing that all amounts under this
heading shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of
Management and Budget and obligated and expended in the same
manner as funds appropriated for salaries and expenses of other
Federal agencies; and authorizing the acceptance and use of
voluntary and uncompensated services to facilitate the work of
the District of Columbia Public Defender Service.
Language is included under Federal Payment to the Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council, specifying that the amount
appropriated shall remain available until expended to support
initiatives related to the coordination of Federal and local
criminal justice resources.
Language is included under Federal Payment for Judicial
Commissions, specifying certain amounts for certain commissions
and allowing for appropriations to remain available until
September 30, 2020.
Language is included under Federal Payment for School
Improvement, allowing for appropriations to remain available
until expended for payments authorized under the Scholarship
for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR). Additional language is
included requiring schools participating in the SOAR program to
certify compliance with Federal civil rights and special
education laws.
Language is included under Federal Payment for the District
of Columbia National Guard, providing funds for the National
Guard Retention and College Access Program to remain available
until expended.
Language is included under Federal Payment for Testing and
Treatment of HIV/AIDS for testing and treatment.
Title V--Independent Agencies
Language is included for the Administrative Conference of
the United States, Salaries and Expenses, that provides for
expenses, including official reception and representation, and
extends the availability of funds.
Language is included for the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for
expenses, the hire of motor vehicles, services as authorized by
5 U.S.C. 3109 (with a limitation on rates for individuals), and
official reception and representation expenses.
The bill includes the following administrative provision
under the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Section 501. Language is included prohibiting funds to
finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule on
recreational off-highway vehicles until a study is completed by
the National Academy of Sciences.
Language is included for the Election Assistance
Commission, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds to carry
out the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and for relocation
expenses.
Language is included for the Election Assistance
Commission, Election Security Grants, that provides funds to
make payments to states for activities to improve the
administration of elections for Federal office, including to
enhance election technology and make election security
improvements.
Language is included under the Federal Communications
Commission, Salaries and Expenses, permitting funds for
uniforms and allowances therefor, official reception and
representation expenses, purchase and hire of motor vehicles,
special counsel fees, and services as authorized by 5 U.S.C.
3109. Language provides for the assessment and collection of
offsetting collections, authorizes retention of such
collections, and provides that they remain available until
expended. Language limits the use of proceeds from the use of a
competitive bidding system. Language provides funding for the
Office of Inspector General.
The bill includes the following administrative provisions
under the Federal Communications Commission:
Section 510. Language is included extending an exemption
from the Antideficiency Act for the Universal Service Fund.
Section 511. Language is included prohibiting the FCC from
changing rules governing the Universal Service Fund regarding
single connection or primary line restrictions.
Language is included for the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, Office of Inspector General, that provides for the
funds to be derived from the Deposit Insurance Fund, and the
FSLIC Resolution Fund.
Language is included for the Federal Election Commission,
Salaries and Expenses, providing for expenses including
official reception and representation expenses.
Language is included for the Federal Labor Relations
Authority, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for
services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, the hire of experts and
consultants, hire of motor vehicles, reception and
representation expenses and the rental of conference rooms;
authorizes travel payments to public members of the Federal
Service Impasses Panel; and allows for fees collected to be
transferred to and merged with the appropriation.
Language is included for the Federal Trade Commission,
Salaries and Expenses, permitting funds for uniforms and
allowances therefor, services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109,
official reception and representation expenses, hire of motor
vehicles, and contract for collection services. Language
provides for the crediting and retention of certain fees.
Language also prohibits funds from being used to implement
subsection (e)(2)(B) of section 43 of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Federal Buildings Fund that allows for revenues
and collections to be spent from the Fund; specifies the
conditions under which funds made available can be used; limits
the availability of funds for certain purposes; specifies
funding for construction and acquisition projects; specifies
funding for special emphasis programs; provides for certain
transfers of funds; requires spending plans; and prohibits
excess funds from being available.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Government-wide Policy, that provides funds for
policy and evaluation activities associated with the management
of real and personal property assets and certain administrative
services; support responsibilities relating to acquisition,
telecommunications, motor vehicles, information technology
management, and related technology activities; and services
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Operating Expenses that provides funds for
Government-wide activities associated with personal and real
property disposal, and services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109;
for expenses for activities associated with agency-wide policy
direction and management.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Civilian Board of Contract Appeals for
activities associated with the Civilian Board of Contract
Appeals.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Office of Inspector General that makes certain
funds available until expended and provides for awards in
recognition of efforts that enhance the office. Language is
included for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and
designates funds for information and detection of fraud.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Allowances and Office Staff for Former
Presidents, for carrying out the provisions of 3 U.S.C. 102
note and Public Law 95-138.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Federal Citizen Services Fund, which provides
funds for the Office of Citizen Services and other information
technology costs. Language is included allowing for certain
transfers to the Federal Citizen Services Fund. Language is
also included for the Federal Citizen Services Fund that
authorizes funds to be deposited in the Fund and limits the
availability of funds in the Fund.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Pre-Election Presidential Transition, which
funds activities authorized by the Pre-Election Presidential
Transition Act of 2010.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Technology Modernization Fund, for technology-
related modernization activities.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Environmental Review Improvement Fund for the
authorized activities of the Environmental Review Improvement
Fund and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.
In addition, the bill includes the following administrative
provisions under the General Services Administration:
Section 520. Language is included providing authority for
the use of funds for the hire of motor vehicles.
Section 521. Language is included providing that funds made
available for activities of the Federal Buildings Fund may be
transferred between appropriations with advance approval of the
Congress to apply to funds provided in prior appropriations
Acts.
Section 522. Language is included requiring funds proposed
for developing courthouse construction requests to meet
appropriate standards and the priorities of the Judicial
Conference.
Section 523. Language is included providing that no funds
may be used to increase the amount of occupiable square feet,
provide cleaning services, security enhancements, or any other
service usually provided, to any agency which does not pay the
assessed rent.
Section 524. Language is included permitting GSA to pay
small claims (up to $250,000) made against the Federal
Government.
Section 525. Language is included requiring the
Administrator to ensure that the delineated area of procurement
for all lease agreements is identical to the delineated area
included in the prospectus unless prior notice is given to the
Committees.
Section 526. Language is included requiring a spend plan
for certain accounts and programs.
Language is included for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship
Foundation as established by section 10 of Public Law 93-642.
Language is included for the Merit Systems Protection
Board, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for services
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, rental of conference rooms, hire
of passenger motor vehicles, direct procurement of survey
printing, official reception and representation expenses,
specifies the period of availability for certain funds,
provides for administration expenses to adjudicate retirement
appeals, and provides for the transfer of some funds.
Language is included for the National Archives and Records
Administration, Operating Expenses, that provides funds for
uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C.
5901, including maintenance, repairs, and cleaning; the hire of
passenger motor vehicles; activities of the Public Interest
Declassification Board; the review and declassification of
documents; and the operations and maintenance of the electronic
records archive. Language is included that designates funds for
repair and alteration of the National Archives facility in
College Park, Maryland, and related improvements necessary to
enhance the Federal Government's ability to electronically
preserve, manage, and store Government records and for
implementation of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection
Act of 2018, and provides that such funds remain available
until expended.
Language is included for the National Archives and Records
Administration, Office of Inspector General, that provides
funds for the hire of motor vehicles.
Language is included for the National Archives and Records
Administration, Repairs and Restoration, that provides funds
for the repair, alteration, and improvement of archives
facilities and provision of adequate storage for holdings; and
provides that funds remain available until expended.
Language is included under the National Archives and
Records Administration, National Historical Publications and
Records Commission Grants Program, that provides funds for
allocations and grants for historical publications and records;
and provides that funds remain available until expended.
Language is included under the National Credit Union
Administration, Community Development Credit Union Revolving
Loan Fund, that provides funds for technical assistance and
extends the availability of funds.
Language is included under the Office of Government Ethics,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for services
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, rental of conference rooms, hire
of passenger motor vehicles, and official reception and
representation expenses.
Language is included under the Office of Personnel
Management, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for
services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, medical examinations for
veterans, rental of conference rooms, hire of passenger motor
vehicles, official reception and representation expenses,
advances for reimbursements, payment of per diem or subsistence
allowances, and the transfer of administrative expenses;
directs that provisions shall not affect other authorities;
prohibits funds for the Legal Examining Unit; and authorizes
the acceptance of donations under certain conditions.
Language is included for the Office of Personnel
Management, Office of Inspector General, Salaries and Expenses,
that provides funds for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109,
hire of passenger motor vehicles, rental of conference rooms,
and a transfer for administrative expenses.
Language is included for the Office of Special Counsel,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for services
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, payment of fees and expenses for
witnesses, rental of conference rooms, and the hire of
passenger motor vehicles.
Language is included for the Postal Regulatory Commission,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds derived from a
transfer from the Postal Service Fund.
Language is included for the Privacy and Civil Liberties
Oversight Board, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds
authorized by section 1061 of 42 U.S.C. 2000ee.
Language is included for the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Salaries and Expenses, that provides for rental of
space, services, reception and representation expenses, a
permanent secretariat for the International Organization of
Securities Commissions, and consultations and meetings hosted
by the Commission. Language is included designating funds for
enforcement, compliance inspections and examinations, trading
and markets, other program offices, the inspector general, the
economics division, and a replacement lease for the NY regional
office. Language is included that provides for the crediting of
offsetting collections. Language provides for the assessment
and collection of offsetting collections, authorizes retention
of such collections, and provides that they remain available
until expended.
Language is included for the Selective Service System,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for attendance of
meetings, training, hire of passenger motor vehicles, services
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, and official reception and
representation expenses; authorizes certain exemptions under
certain conditions; and prohibits funds used in connection with
the induction of any person into the Armed Forces of the United
States.
Language is included for the Small Business Administration,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for the hire of
motor vehicles and official reception and representation
expenses; designates funds for lender oversight activities;
provides authority to charge fees and credit such fees to the
account without further appropriation; authorizes the
acceptance of gifts; and extends the period of availability of
funds for the Loan Modernization and Accounting System.
Language is included for the Small Business Administration,
Entrepreneurial Development Programs, that provides funds for
programs supporting entrepreneurial and small business
development grant programs. Language is included extending the
availability of funds.
Language is included for the Small Business Administration,
Office of Inspector General, that provides funds to carry out
the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978.
Language is included for the Small Business Administration,
Office of Advocacy, that provides funds to carry out the
provisions of the Independent Office of Advocacy Act of 2003
and the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, and provides such
funds to remain available until expended.
Language is included for the Small Business Administration,
Business Loans Program Account, providing funds for the cost of
direct loans and guaranteed loans, to remain available until
expended, and limiting commitments for certain guaranteed loan
programs. Language is also included authorizing the transfer of
funds to the Salaries and Expenses appropriation for
administrative expenses.
Language is included for the Small Business Administration,
Disaster Loans Program Account, that provides funds for
administrative expenses, to remain available until expended,
and authorizes the transfer of funds to the Office of Inspector
General and the Salaries and Expenses appropriations.
In addition, the bill includes the following administrative
provisions the Small Business Administration (SBA):
Section 530 allows for the transfer of funds between Small
Business Administration appropriations.
Section 531 allows for the transfer of funds from SBA
Salaries and Expenses and Business Loans Program Account
appropriations into the Information Technology Systems
Modernization and Working Capital Fund.
Language is included for the United States Postal Service,
Payment to the Postal Service Fund, that provides funds for
revenue foregone; stipulates that mail for overseas voting and
mail for the blind is free; provides that 6-day delivery shall
continue at not less than the 1983 level; prohibits funds in
this Act from being used to charge a fee to a child support
enforcement agency seeking the address of a postal customer;
prohibits funds from being used to consolidate or close small
rural and other small post offices; and requires the Postal
Service to continue to offer for sale copies of the
Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp and
the Alzheimer's Semipostal Stamp.
Language is included for the United States Postal Service,
Office of Inspector General, that provides for transfer from
the Postal Service Fund.
Language is included for the United States Tax Court,
Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for contract
reporting and services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, that
extends the availability of some funds, and that requires that
travel expenses of the judges shall be paid upon the written
certificate of the judge.
Title VI--General Provisions--This Act
In addition, the bill provides the following provisions
under this title:
Section 601. Language is included prohibiting pay and other
expenses for non-Federal parties in regulatory or adjudicatory
proceedings funded in this Act.
Section 602. Language is included prohibiting obligations
beyond the current fiscal year and prohibits transfers of funds
unless expressly so provided herein.
Section 603. Language is included limiting procurement
contracts for consulting service expenditures to contracts that
are matters of public record and available for public
inspection.
Section 604. Language is included prohibiting transfer of
funds in this Act without express authority.
Section 605. Language is included prohibiting the use of
funds to engage in activities that would prohibit the
enforcement of section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act.
Section 606. Language is included concerning compliance
with the Buy American Act.
Section 607. Language is included prohibiting the use of
funds by any person or entity convicted of violating the Buy
American Act.
Section 608. Language is included specifying reprogramming
procedures. The provision requires that agencies or entities
funded by the Act consult with the Committee, notify the
Committee, and obtain prior approval from the Committee for any
reprogramming of funds that: (1) creates a new program; (2)
eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds
or personnel for any program, project, or activity for which
funds have been denied or restricted by the Congress; (4)
proposes to use funds directed for a specific activity by the
Committee on Appropriations of either the House of
Representatives or the Senate for a different purpose; (5)
augments existing programs, projects, or activities in excess
of $1,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, or increases
the number of full-time employee equivalents by 10 percent or
more; (6) reduces existing programs, projects, or activities by
$1,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, or reduces the
number of full-time employee equivalents by 10 percent or more;
(7) relocates an office or employees; or (8) creates,
reorganizes, or restructures a branch, division, office,
bureau, board, commission, agency, administration, or
department different from the budget justifications submitted
to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate or the tables in the report
accompanying this Act, whichever is more detailed. The
provision also directs the agencies funded by this Act to
submit operating plans for the Committee's review within 60
days of the bill's enactment.
Section 609. Language is included providing that fifty
percent of unobligated balances may remain available for
certain purposes.
Section 610. Language is included prohibiting funding for
the Executive Office of the President to request either a
Federal Bureau of Investigation background investigation or
Internal Revenue Service determination with respect to section
501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, except with the
express consent of the individual involved in an investigation
or in extraordinary circumstances involving national security.
Section 611. Language is included regarding cost accounting
standards for contracts under the Federal Employee Health
Benefits Program.
Section 612. Language is included regarding non-foreign
area cost of living allowances.
Section 613. Language is included prohibiting the
expenditure of funds for abortion under the Federal Employees
Health Benefits program.
Section 614. Language is included making exceptions to the
preceding provision where the life of the mother is in danger
or the pregnancy is a result of an act of rape or incest.
Section 615. Language is included waiving restrictions on
the purchase of non-domestic articles, materials, and supplies
in the case of acquisition of information technology by the
Federal government.
Section 616. Language is included prohibiting officers or
employees of any regulatory agency or commission funded by this
Act from accepting travel payments or reimbursements from a
person or entity regulated by such agency or commission.
Section 617. Language is included permitting the Securities
and Exchange Commission and Commodities Futures Trading
Commission to fund a joint advisory committee to advise on
emerging regulatory issues, notwithstanding Section 708 of this
Act.
Section 618. Language is included requiring certain
agencies in this Act to consult with the General Services
Administration before seeking new office space or making
alterations to existing office space.
Section 619. Language is included providing for several
appropriated mandatory accounts. These are accounts where
authorizing language requires the payment of funds. The
Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost for the
following programs addressed in this provision: $450,000 for
Compensation of the President including $50,000 for expenses,
$220,000,000 for the Judicial Retirement Funds (Judicial
Officers' Retirement Fund, Judicial Survivors' Annuities Fund,
and the United States Court of Federal Claims Judges'
Retirement Fund), $13,887,000,000 for the Government Payment
for Annuitants, Employee Health Benefits, $44,000,000 for the
Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Life Insurance, and
$7,758,000,000 for the Payment to the Civil Service Retirement
and Disability Fund.
Section 620. Language is included prohibiting funds for the
Federal Trade Commission to complete or publish the study,
recommendations, or report prepared by the Interagency Working
Group on Food Marketed to Children.
Section 621. Language is included preventing conflicts of
interest by prohibiting contractor security clearance related
background investigators from undertaking final Federal reviews
of their own work.
Section 622. Language is included requiring that the head
of any executive branch agency ensure that the Chief
Information Officer has authority to participate in the budget
planning process and approval of the information technology
budget.
Section 623. Language is included prohibiting funds in
contravention of the Federal Records Act.
Section 624. Language is included prohibiting agencies from
requiring Internet Service Providers to disclose electronic
communications information in a manner that violates the Fourth
Amendment.
Section 625. Language is included relating to Universal
Service Fund payments for wireless providers
Section 626. Language is included prohibiting funds to be
used to deny inspectors general access to records.
Section 627. Language is included prohibiting any funds
made available in this Act from being used to establish a
computer network unless such network blocks the viewing,
downloading, and exchanging of pornography.
Section 628. Language is included prohibiting any funds
made available in this Act from being used to pay for award or
incentive fees for contractors with below satisfactory
performance.
Section 629. Language is included prohibiting funds made
available in this Act from being used for certain travel and
conference activities unless an agency or entity determines
that the travel is in the national interest and advance notice
is provided to the Appropriations Committees.
Section 630. Language is included prohibiting funds made
available in this Act from being used to fund first-class or
business-class travel in contravention of Federal regulations.
Section 631. Language is included providing $1,000,000 for
the Inspectors General Council Fund for expenses related to
enhancement to www.oversight.gov.
Section 632. Language is included prohibiting funds made
available in this Act or any other Act from being used to
reorganize or to transfer the Office of Personnel Management
functions or authority to the General Services Administration
or Office of Management and Budget.
Section 633. Language is included prohibiting funds made
available in this Act from being used to penalize a financial
institution for providing financial services to an entity that
participates in a business or organized activity involving
marijuana that is conducted pursuant to a law established by a
state or a unit of local government.
Section 634. Language is included prohibiting use of funds
in this or any other Act to propose, promulgate, or implement
any rule, principle, policy, standard, or guidance changing the
2017 methodology for determining the Official Poverty Measure.
Section 635. Language is included rescinding $16,369,000 in
prior year unobligated balances from the Small Business
Administration--Business Loans Program account.
Title VII--General Provisions--Government-Wide
In addition, the bill provides the following provisions
under this title:
Section 701. Language is included requiring agencies to
administer a policy designed to ensure that all of its
workplaces are free from the illegal use of controlled
substances.
Section 702. Language is included establishing price
limitations on vehicles to be purchased by the Federal
Government with certain exceptions.
Section 703. Language is included allowing funds made
available to agencies for travel to also be used for quarters
allowances and cost-of-living allowances.
Section 704. Language is included prohibiting the
employment of noncitizens with certain exceptions.
Section 705. Language is included giving agencies the
authority to pay General Services Administration bills for
space renovation and other services.
Section 706. Language is included allowing agencies to
finance the costs of recycling and waste prevention programs
with proceeds from the sale of materials recovered through such
programs.
Section 707. Language is included providing that funds made
available to corporations and agencies subject to 31 U.S.C. 91
may pay rent and other service costs in the District of
Columbia.
Section 708. Language is included prohibiting interagency
financing of groups absent prior statutory approval.
Section 709. Language is included prohibiting the use of
funds for enforcing regulations disapproved in accordance with
the applicable law of the U.S.
Section 710. Language is included limiting the amount of
funds that can be used for redecoration of offices under
certain circumstances.
Section 711. Language is included allowing for interagency
funding of national security and emergency telecommunications
initiatives.
Section 712. Language is included requiring agencies to
certify that a Schedule C appointment was not created solely or
primarily to detail the employee to the White House.
Section 713. Language is included prohibiting the payment
of any employee who prohibits, threatens or prevents another
employee from communicating with Congress.
Section 714. Language is included prohibiting Federal
training not directly related to the performance of official
duties.
Section 715. Language is included prohibiting, other than
for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships,
propaganda, publicity and lobbying by executive agency
personnel in support or defeat of legislative initiatives.
Section 716. Language is included prohibiting any Federal
agency from disclosing an employee's home address to any labor
organization, absent employee authorization or court order.
Section 717. Language is included prohibiting funds to be
used to provide non-public information such as mailing,
telephone, or electronic mailing lists to any person or
organization outside the government without the approval of the
Committees on Appropriations.
Section 718. Language is included prohibiting the use of
funds for propaganda and publicity purposes not authorized by
Congress.
Section 719. Language is included directing agency
employees to use official time in an honest effort to perform
official duties.
Section 720. Language is included allowing the use of funds
to finance an appropriate share of the Federal Accounting
Standards Advisory Board.
Section 721. Language is included allowing the transfer of
funds to the General Services Administration to finance an
appropriate share of various government-wide boards and
councils and for Federal Government Priority Goals under
certain conditions.
Section 722. Language is included permitting breast feeding
in a Federal building or on Federal property if the woman and
child are authorized to be there.
Section 723. Language is included permitting interagency
funding of the National Science and Technology Council and
provides for a report on the budget and resources of the
National Science and Technology Council.
Section 724. Language is included requiring documents
involving the distribution of Federal funds to indicate the
agency providing the funds and the amount provided.
Section 725. Language is included prohibiting the use of
funds to monitor personal access or use of Internet sites or to
collect, review, or obtain any personally identifiable
information relating to access to or use of an Internet site.
Section 726. Language is included requiring health plans
participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
to provide contraceptive coverage and provides exemptions to
certain religious plans.
Section 727. Language is included supporting strict
adherence to anti-doping activities.
Section 728. Language is included allowing funds for
official travel to be used by departments and agencies, if
consistent with OMB Circular A-126, to participate in the
fractional aircraft ownership pilot program.
Section 729. Language is included prohibiting the
implementation of OPM regulations limiting detailees to the
legislative branch and placing certain limitations on the Coast
Guard Congressional Fellowship program.
Section 730. Language is included restricting the use of
funds for Federal law enforcement training facilities.
Section 731. Language is included prohibiting Executive
Branch agencies from creating prepackaged news stories that are
broadcast or distributed in the United States unless the story
includes a clear notification within the text or audio of that
news story that the prepackaged news story was prepared or
funded by that executive branch agency.
Section 732. Language is included prohibiting use of funds
in contravention of section 552a of title 5, United States Code
(the Privacy Act) and regulations implementing that section.
Section 733. Language is included prohibiting funds from
being used for any Federal Government contract with any foreign
incorporated entity which is treated as an inverted domestic
corporation.
Section 734. Language is included requiring agencies to pay
a fee to the Office of Personnel Management for processing
retirement of employees who separate under Voluntary Early
Retirement Authority or who receive Voluntary Separation
Incentive payments.
Section 735. Language is included prohibiting funds for the
painting of a portrait of an employee of the Federal government
including the President, the Vice President, a Member of
Congress, the head of an executive branch agency, or the head
of an office of the legislative branch.
Section 736. Language is included limiting the pay
increases of certain prevailing rate employees.
Section 737. Language is included requiring agencies to
submit reports to Inspectors General concerning expenditures
for agency conferences.
Section 738. Language is included prohibiting funds to be
used to increase, eliminate, or reduce funding for a program or
project unless such change is made pursuant to reprogramming or
transfer provisions.
Section 739. Language is included prohibiting agencies from
using funds to implement regulations changing the competitive
areas under reductions-in-force for Federal employees.
Section 740. Language is included that prohibits the use of
funds for a public-private competition regarding the conversion
to contractor performance of any function performed by civilian
Federal employees.
Section 741. Language is included ensuring contractors are
not prevented from reporting waste, fraud, or abuse by signing
confidentiality agreements that would prohibit such disclosure.
Section 742. Language is included prohibiting the
expenditure of funds for the implementation of certain
nondisclosure agreements unless certain provisions are included
in the agreements.
Section 743. Language is included prohibiting funds to any
corporation with certain unpaid Federal tax liabilities unless
an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the
corporation and made a determination that further action is not
necessary to protect the interests of the Government.
Section 744. Language is included prohibiting funds to any
corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation
within the preceding 24 months unless an agency has considered
suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a
determination that further action is not necessary to protect
the interests of the Government.
Section 745. Language is included requiring the Bureau of
Consumer Financial Protection to notify certain Committees of
requests for a transfer of funds from the Federal Reserve
System and to post any such notifications on the Bureaus
website.
Section 746. Language is included addressing possible
technical scorekeeping differences for fiscal year 2019 between
the Office of Management and Budget and the Congressional
Budget Office.
Section 747. Language is included that provides adjustment
in rates of basic pay for Federal employees, to be paid for by
appropriations.
Section 748. Language is included that increases pay for
the Vice President and certain senior political appointees.
Section 749. Language is included addressing collective
bargaining agreements.
Section 750. Language is included concerning the non-
application of these general provisions to title IV and to
title VIII.
Title VIII--General Provisions--District of Columbia
In addition, the bill provides the following provisions
under this title:
Section 801. Language is included establishing
reprogramming procedures for Federal and local funds.
Section 802. Language is included prohibiting the use of
Federal funds for abortion except in the cases of rape or
incest or if necessary to save the life of the mother.
Section 803. Language is included prohibiting the
obligation of Federal funds beyond the current fiscal year and
transfers of funds unless expressly provided herein.
Section 804. Language is included providing that not to
exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances from Federal
appropriations for salaries and expenses may remain available
for certain purposes.
Section 805. Language is included appropriating local funds
during fiscal year 2020 if there is an absence of a continuing
resolution or regular appropriation for the District of
Columbia. Funds are provided under the same authorities and
conditions and in the same manner and extent as provided for in
fiscal year 2019.
Section 806. Language is included limiting access to the
D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program to families with a
taxable annual income of less than $750,000 subject to
inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
Section 807. Language is included providing for a
``conscience clause'' on legislation that pertains to
contraceptive coverage by health insurance plans.
Section 808. Language is included limiting references to
``this Act'' as referring to only this title and title IV.
Appropriations not Authorized by Law
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following table lists the
appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not
authorized by law for the period concerned:
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation
Last Year of Authorization in Last Year Appropriations
Account Authorization Level of in this bill
Authorization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I--Department of the Treasury
Departmental Offices--Salaries and Expenses. n/a n/a n/a 224,373
Office of Terrorism and Financial 2013 such sums 100,000 167,712
Intelligence...............................
Cybersecurity Enhancement Account........... n/a n/a n/a 18,000
Department-Wide Systems and Capital n/a n/a n/a 6,118
Investments Program........................
Finance Crimes Enforcement Network.......... 2013 such sums 110,788 124,700
Bureau of the Fiscal Service................ n/a n/a n/a 340,280
Community Development and Financial 1998 111,000 80,000 300,000
Institutions Fund..........................
Internal Revenue Service:
Taxpayer Services....................... n/a n/a n/a 2,558,554
Enforcement............................. n/a n/a n/a 5,157,446
Operations Support...................... n/a n/a n/a 3,994,000
Business Systems Modernization.......... n/a n/a n/a 290,000
Title II--Executive Office of the President
Office of Management and Budget............. 2003 such sums n/a 101,600
Information Technolog Oversight and Reform.. 2007 such sums n/a 15,000
Title IV--District of Columbia
Federal Payment for Resident Tuition Support 2012 such sums 30,000 40,000
Federal Payment for the Judicial Commission. n/a n/a n/a 600
Federal Payment for School Improvement...... 2019 60,000 52,500 52,500
Federal Payment for the DC National Guard... n/1 n/a n/a 435
Federal Payment for Testing and Treatment of n/a n/a n/a 5,000
HIV/AIDS...................................
Title V--Independent Agencies
Administrative Conference of the United 2011 3,200 2,750 3,100
States.....................................
Consumer Safety Product Commission.......... 2014 136,409 118,000 135,500
Pool Safety Grant Program............... 2016 such sums n/a 1,300
Election Assistance Commission:
Salaries and Expenses................... 2005 10,000 14,000 16,171
Election Grants......................... 2005 3,600,000 1,500,000 600,000
Federal Election Commission................. 1981 9,400 9,662 71,497
Federal Labor Relations Authority........... 1978 such sums n/1 24,890
General Services Administration:
Government-wide Policy.................. n/a n/a n/a 65,843
Federal Citizen Services Fund........... n/a n/a n/a 53,400
Technology Modernization Fund........... 2019 250,000 25,000 35,000
Merit Systems Protection Board.............. 2007 such sums 29,110 46,835
Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall
Foundation:
Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall n/a n/a n/a 1,800
Trust Fund.............................
Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund... 2008 4,000 2,000 3,200
National Historical Publications and Records 2009 10,000 11,250 7,000
Commission Grants..........................
NCUA: Community Development Revolving Loan 1998 such sums 1,000 2,000
Fund.......................................
Office of Governmental Ethics............... 2007 such sums 11,148 27,430
Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. 2007 such sums n/a 7,500
Securities and Exchange Commission.......... 2015 2,250,000 1,500,000 1,860,525
Small Business Administration:
Salaries and Expenses................... various various n/a 272,157
Entrepreneurial Development Programs.... various various n/1 281,800
Business Loans Program Account.......... 2006 such sums 1,300 260,800
Disaster Loans Programs Account......... 2006 such sums n/a 150,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Duplication
No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of
another Federal program, a program that was included in any
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance.
Committee Hearings
For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the
116th Congress--
The following hearings were used to develop or consider the
Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act,
2020:
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on February 26, 2019, entitled
``Leveraging Private Capital for Underserved Communities and
Individuals: A Look Into Community Development Financial
Institutions (CDFIs)''. The Subcommittee received testimony
from:
Ms. Annie Donovan, Senior Fellow, Center for Community
Investment
Mr. Joe Neri, CEO, Illinois Facilities Fund
Mr. Bob Jones, President and CEO, United Bank
Ms. Grace Fricks, President and CEO, Access to Capital for
Entrepreneurs, Inc.
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on February 27, 2019, entitled
``Election Security: Ensuring The Integrity of U.S. Election
Systems''. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Eric Rosenbach, Co-Director, Belfer Center
for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Dr. J. Alex Halderman, Professor of Computer Science and
Engineering and Director of the Center for Computer Security
and Society, University of Michigan
Mr. Steven Sandvoss, Executive Director, Illinois State
Board of Elections
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on March 7, 2019, entitled ``Supreme
Court Budget Hearing''. The Subcommittee received testimony
from:
The Honorable Samuel Alito, Associate Justice, Supreme
Court of the United States
The Honorable Elena Kagan, Associate Justice, Supreme Court
of the United States The Subcommittee on Financial Services and
General Government held a hearing on March 12, 2019, entitled
``Treasury's Role in Combatting Financial Crimes''. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
Sigal Mandelker, Undersecretary, U.S. Department of the
Treasury
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on March 13, 2019, entitled ``GSA
Oversight Hearing''. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
Emily W. Murphy, Administrator, GSA
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on March 26, 2019, entitled ``Office
of Management and Budget Request for FY 2020''. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
Russ Vought, Acting Director, Office of Management and
Budget
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on March 27, 2019, entitled ``Member
Day Hearing''. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Abby Finkenauer, Member of Congress
The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, Member of Congress
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on March 27, 2019, entitled ``Public
Witness Hearing''. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
General Arthur T. Dean (Ret.), Chairman and CEO, Community
Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
Mr. Rion Dennis, Legislative and Advocacy Specialist,
Americans for Financial Reform
Mr. Kel McClanahan, Executive Director, National Security
Counselors
Mr. Sean Moulton, Senior Policy Analyst, Project On
Government Oversight
Mr. Bartlett Collins Naylor, Financial Policy Advocate,
Congress Watch--Public Citizen
Mr. Daniel Schuman, Policy Director, Demand Progress
Ms. Jacque Simon, Director of Policy, American Federation
of Government Employees
Ms. Rachel Weintraub, Legislative Director and General
Counsel, Consumer Federation of America
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on April 3, 2019, entitled ``Federal
Communications Commission Budget Hearing''. The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
Ajit Pai, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications
Commission
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on April 9, 2019, entitled
``Department of the Treasury Budget Request for Fiscal Year
2020''. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Steven Mnuchin, Secretary, U.S. Department of
Treasury
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on April 9, 2019, entitled ``Internal
Revenue Service Budget Request for FY2020''. The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
The Honorable Charles P. Rettig, Commissioner, Internal
Revenue Service
Comparison With the Budget Resolution
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives and Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table compares
the levels of new budget authority provided in the bill with
the appropriate allocations under section 302(b) of the Budget
Act:
BUDGETARY IMPACT OF FY 2020 FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL PREPARED IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS AMENDED
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
302(b) Allocation This Bill
---------------------------------------------------
Budget Budget
Authority Outlays Authority Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with Committee allocations
to its subcommittees: Subcommittee on Financial Services
and General Government
General Purpose Discretionary........................... 24,550 24,300 24,950 \1\24,382
Mandatory............................................... 22,483 22,475 22,483 \1\22,475
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year authority.
NOTE--Consistent with the funding recommended in the bill for tax enforcement activities (including tax
compliance to address the Federal tax gap), in accordance with section 1(f) of House Resolution 293 of the
116th Congress, and after the bill is reported to the House, the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget will
provide a revised section 302(a) allocation reflecting an additional $400,000,000 in discretionary budget
authority and $338,000,000 in associated outlays. The new allocation will eliminate the technical difference
prior to Floor consideration.
In addition, the amounts in this report do not include $57,000,000 in discretionary outlays from funding
provided by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019, that was designated as
being for emergency requirements pursuant to section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Act of 1985. Consistent with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, in the House of Representatives such
amounts do not count against the Committee's allocation.
Five-Year Outlay Projections
In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
(Public Law 93-344), as amended, the following table contains
five-year projections associated with the budget authority
provided in the accompanying bill.
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projection of outlays associated with the recommendation:
2020.................................................... ........... ........... ........... \1\41,258
2021.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 4,418
2022.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 1,203
2023.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 200
2024 and future years................................... ........... ........... ........... 113
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
Financial Assistance to State and Local Governments
In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, the Congressional
Budget Office has provided the following estimates of new
budget authority and outlays provided by the accompanying bill
for financial assistance to State and local governments.
[In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget
Authority Outlays
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial assistance to State and local 748 \1\200
governments for 2020.........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
Comparative Statement of New Budget (Obligational) Authority
The following table provides a detailed summary, for each
Department and agency, comparing the amounts recommended in the
bill with amounts enacted for fiscal year 2019 and budget
estimates presented for fiscal year 2020.
Minority Views
We appreciate the collegial and collaborative efforts of
Full Committee Chairwoman Lowey and Subcommittee Chairman
Quigley in producing a Financial Services and General
Government Appropriations bill. The bill includes several
bipartisan priorities that support small business development,
operations of the Federal judiciary, drug control programs, and
sanctions enforcement.
Unfortunately, we are not able to support the bill as
currently drafted. The bill provides $24,950,000,000, which is
$1,795,000,000 or eight percent above the fiscal year 2019
level. Given the growing size of the Federal debt, which
exceeds $22,000,0000,0000,000, this level of increase for
general government activities is excessive.
This bill like the other bills approved by the
Appropriations Committee is drafted using an unrealistic
topline spending level. Bills drafted to this level do not
reflect a bipartisan or bicameral agreement and have no chance
of being enacted into law--potentially leading to sequestration
cuts that would be disastrous to our nation's military and
national security.
In addition to the extravagant spending provided in this
bill, we are concerned with several policy provisions the
majority has included. We object to language in the bill
regarding apportionments, rescission messages, the hiring of
certain immigrants by the Federal government, restrictions on
agencies' ability to negotiate collective bargaining
agreements, a prohibition on the transfer of functions from the
Office of Personnel Management to the General Services
Administration, and a prohibition on the use of Treasury
Forfeiture Funds for securing our southern border.
We are also disappointed that the bill eliminates
Congressional oversight of District of Columbia local funds and
omits a long-standing prohibition on the use of local District
of Columbia taxpayer funds for abortions.
Unfortunately, the majority rejected several Republican
amendments offered in the Committee. If passed, these
amendments would have improved the bill by: allowing the Trump
Administration to use Treasury Forfeiture Funds to address the
crisis at the southern border; prohibiting the use of District
of Columbia local funds for abortion; preventing the District
of Columbia from legalizing the solicitation of a prostitute
and the sex industry; enhancing accountability of the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau; protecting the integrity of the
Federal procurement process; improving educational
opportunities for low income students in the District of
Columbia; and reducing unnecessary spending.
Despite our disagreements over the issues discussed above,
we appreciate the majority's willingness to address Member
priorities in the bill and report. We will continue to work in
good faith with our colleagues as we proceed through the
appropriations process in order to produce a final bill that
Congress can pass and President Trump can sign into law.
Kay Granger.
Tom Graves.
[all]