[House Report 117-79]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 117-79
======================================================================
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2022
_______
July 1, 2021.--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. 4345]
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, 2022.
INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT
_______________________________________________________________________
Page Number
Bill Report
Title I--Department of the Treasury........................ 3
13
Title II--Executive Office of the President and Funds
Appropriated to the President.......................... 30
35
Title III--The Judiciary................................... 48
49
Title IV--District of Columbia............................. 57
55
Title V--Independent Agencies.............................. 68
60
Administrative Conference of the United States..... 68
60
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau...............
60
Consumer Product Safety Commission................. 68
61
Election Assistance Commission..................... 70
62
Federal Communications Commission.................. 73
64
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.............. 75
68
Federal Election Commission........................ 75
68
Federal Labor Relations Authority.................. 75
69
Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.... 76
70
Federal Trade Commission........................... 77
70
General Services Administration.................... 78
73
Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation.............. 93
88
Merit Systems Protection Board..................... 93
88
Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation.... 94
89
National Archives and Records Administration....... 95
90
National Credit Union Administration............... 97
93
Office of Government Ethics........................ 97
93
Office of Personnel Management..................... 97
94
Office of Special Counsel.......................... 101
99
Postal Regulatory Commission....................... 101
99
Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board........ 101
100
Public Buildings Reform Board...................... 102
101
Securities and Exchange Commission................. 102
101
Selective Service System........................... 105
105
Small Business Administration...................... 105
105
United States Postal Service....................... 111
112
United States Tax Court............................ 113
116
Title VI--General Provisions--This Act..................... 113
117
Title VII--General Provisions--Government-wide:
Departments, Agencies, and Corporations................ 128
119
Title VIII--General Provisions, District of Columbia....... 179
123
House of Representatives Report Requirements...............
124
Minority Views.............................................
205
Summary of Estimates and Appropriations
The following table compares on a summary basis the
appropriations, including trust funds, for fiscal year 2022,
the budget request for fiscal year 2022, and the Committee
recommendation for fiscal year 2022 in the accompanying bill.
SUMMARY TABLE--AMOUNTS IN NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY
[Net Discretionary Funding in Thousands of Dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year Committee Recommendation
------------------------------------------------ compared to
Title 2022 Committee ---------------------------------
2021 Enacted 2022 Budget Recommendation 2021 Enacted 2022 Budget
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I--Department of the $13,488,335 $14,998,191 $14,998,191 +1,509,856 - - -
Treasury\1\..................
Title II--Executive Office of 758,773 825,823 841,073 +82,300 +15,250
the President and Funds
Appropriated to the President
Title III--The Judiciary...... 7,719,832 8,122,562 8,152,134 +432,302 +29,572
Title IV--District of Columbia 747,478 794,494 794,494 +47,016 - - -
Title V--Other Independent 1,785,232 4,274,292 3,773,758 +1,988,526 -500,534
Agencies\2\..................
Title VI--General Provisions-- -74,150 850 -19,150 +55,000 -20,000
This Act.....................
Title VII--Genral Provisions-- -1,000 -2,000 -500 +500 +1,500
Government-wide..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Total does not include Program Integrity funding requested in the 2022 Budget and included in the 2022
Committee Recommendation.
\2\Total does not include Disaster Relief funding provided under the Small Business Administration.
Introduction
The Committee recommends a total of $29,099,897,000 in new
discretionary budget authority for fiscal year 2022, which
includes allocation adjustments of $416,897,000 for tax
enforcement and $143,000,000 for disaster relief. The
recommendation is $4,836,533,000 above the comparable fiscal
year 2021 enacted level.
The Committee report refers to certain organizations,
offices, and institutions as follows: the Government
Accountability Office as GAO; the Office of Management and
Budget as OMB; the Office of Personnel Management as OPM; the
Internal Revenue Service as IRS; the General Services
Administration as GSA; and full-time equivalent as FTE.
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 2022, that was
submitted to Congress on May 28, 2021.
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
2022 Committee recommendation include the following:
Internal Revenue Service (IRS).--The fiscal year 2022
budget invests significantly in improving the taxpayer
experience, strengthening IRS collections and enforcement, and
modernizing IRS systems. The recommendation of $13,156,926,000
in discretionary funding, a 10.4 percent increase above fiscal
year 2021, supports efforts to rebuild IRS after years of
budget cuts that have left the agency understaffed and lacking
critical modernized IT. An additional $416,897,000 is included
to increase IRS Enforcement and Operations Support. Recent
hearings and reports have exposed that the current tax gap of
$441 billion is underestimated. The Committee is pleased with
IRS's efforts to increase oversight of high-income taxpayers
and corporations to ensure all taxpayers are compliant with tax
laws.
IRS played a critical role in the pandemic relief effort by
providing over 480 million economic impact payments to the
American people. This effort continues with the rollout of the
monthly Advanced Child Tax Credit. These payments will help
many struggling families and could reduce child poverty in the
U.S. by 55 percent. The Committee commends the IRS for their
dedication to serving the American people during these
challenging times and supports the agency as it takes on new
initiatives and programs in the next year.
Election Security.--The United States continues to face
threats from Russia and other actors attempting to influence
the U.S. democratic process. Since fiscal year 2018, Congress
has provided $805,000,000 in grants to States to improve
election security, and an additional $400,000,000 in fiscal
year 2020 to help states prepare for the 2020 elections during
the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of these investments and the
dedicated work by U.S. officials at all levels of government,
the 2020 election was declared ``the most secure in American
history'' by the Department of Homeland Security. However, the
threats to U.S. democracy are constant and ever evolving, and
vulnerabilities continue to exist throughout the Nation's
election system. While Congress has made significant
investments in election security, the funding has been
inconsistent, unpredictable, and insufficient to meet the vast
need across all the States and territories. Congress must
provide a consistent, steady source of Federal funds to support
State and local election officials on the frontlines of
protecting U.S. elections. The Committee recommends
$500,000,000 for Election Security Grants and reaffirms the
commitment to providing a consistent, steady source of Federal
funds to support State and local election officials on the
frontlines of protecting U.S. elections. In addition to
providing support to State and local election officials, the
Committee has supported efforts to rebuild the Election
Assistance Commission (EAC), nearly doubling funding for the
agency's operating expenses from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal
year 2021. The recommendation continues to support EAC's growth
and includes $22,834,000, an increase of $5,834,000 above
fiscal year 2021, to ensure the agency is appropriately
resourced to execute its vital mission of protecting 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. The enactment of the
Anti-Money Laundering Act and Corporate Transparency Act in
early 2021 represented the first comprehensive revision to
anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism
laws in nearly 20 years. The Committee recommendation includes
$190,539,000 for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
(FinCEN), an increase of $63,576,000 above fiscal year 2021, to
implement the programs established in that Act. These new
programs and authorities, coupled with the resources included
in this bill, will strengthen FinCEN's collection and analysis
of financial intelligence that can be used by law enforcement
to investigate financial crimes and money laundering. The
recommendation also includes $185,192,000 for the Office of
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, an increase of
$10,192,000 above fiscal year 2021. The additional funds
included in this bill will support Treasury's continued efforts
to protect the integrity of the U.S. and international
financial system.
Supporting Underserved Small Businesses and
Entrepreneurs.-- Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S.
economy. The United States has more than 30 million small
businesses that employ nearly half of the country's private
workforce. One element critical to the ability of small
businesses to grow and thrive 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 loan programs enable small businesses and
entrepreneurs to access loans for working capital, fixed
assets, and other assistance to establish, operate, acquire, or
expand a small business. SBA also provides several programs to
help small businesses win Federal government contracts. The
bill supports the President's budget proposal to invest in
programs to help underserved entrepreneurs access capital and
contracting opportunities, with a goal of increasing the share
of Federal contracts awarded to Small Disadvantaged Businesses
to 15 percent by 2025. SBA also serves the small business
community through its Entrepreneurial Development Programs
(EDP), which provide training, counseling, mentoring, technical
assistance, and other support. The Committee recommendation
includes $323,800,000 for EDPs, which is an increase of
$51,800,000 above fiscal year 2021, with a focus on programs
that support underserved entrepreneurs, including women,
veterans, and minority populations.
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund.--
The CDFI Fund has been a lifeline for many struggling low-
income and distressed communities across the country who are
particularly disadvantaged when it comes to accessing credit.
The CDFI Fund has a successful track record promoting access to
capital and local economic growth through the Funds' Financial
and Technical Assistance Grants, Native Initiatives, the Bank
Enterprise Award Program, and Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Programs. As the United States recovers from the pandemic, the
CDFI Fund is well positioned to invest in businesses, housing,
commercial real estate, human development, and urban activities
that promote long-term economic and social viability. The
Committee provides $330,000,000 to the CDFI Fund, an increase
of $60,000,000 over fiscal year 2021, with growth to all CDFI
programs.
Protecting Consumers.--The Committee is concerned about
ongoing consumer protection issues, including hidden and
emerging product safety incidents, market concentration,
privacy and data security violations, 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 $172,000,000--an increase of
$37,000,000 over fiscal year 2021--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 in relation to toys and other products that pose a
disproportionate risk for children, including crumb rubber.
The Committee recommends $389,800,000--a $38,800,000
increase over fiscal year 2021--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 customer data or that engage in
other problematic trade practices. The Committee recommendation
also increases resources to protect investors, facilitate
capital formation, and combat market manipulation. To that end,
the recommendation includes $1,999,663,000--an increase of
$73,501,000 over fiscal year 2021--for the Securities and
Exchange Commission to increase enforcement related to
securities and financial fraud, monitoring of major market
participants, compliance examinations, and investor education
activities.
Supporting COVID-19 Response.--The agencies and Departments
funded in the Financial Services and General Government Act
administer numerous programs to help alleviate the financial,
economic, health, and educational impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic. In addition to making more than 480 million economic
impact payments and supporting the new monthly Advanced Child
Tax Credit, the IRS oversaw an extended tax filing season and
launched new relief initiatives for unpaid tax liabilities. SBA
operates several relief programs to help small business owners
impacted by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection
Program, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program, and the
Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The Department of the Treasury
is administering multiple new programs, to provide assistance
to State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to respond
to the pandemic and to help homeowners and renters struggling
to make payments for their mortgage, rent, utilities, and other
living expenses. The Federal Communicaitons Commission is
responsible for programs expanding telehealth services,
enhancing educational connectivity, and subsidizing broadband
services. GSA is also helping to thoroughly clean all Federal
buildings and expand digital access to the Federal government.
The Committee notes that the agencies it oversees were able to
stand up these programs quickly under trying circumstances,
including transitioning most of the Federal workforce to an
unexpected telework regime. The recommendation includes
sufficient funding to continue to operate and conduct robust
oversight of these programs, as well as to keep deploying and
upgrading innovations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic
that enhance the government's ability to reach and serve the
public.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion.--Decades of systemic
discrimination and unequal opportunity have stifled the
progress of Americans of color. These inequities have worsened
during the COVID-19 pandemic, with communities of color falling
ill and dying disproportionately from coronavirus and lagging
other groups in vaccination rates. The recommendation includes
robust funding to enhance diversity and inclusion. This
includes initiatives at several agencies to enhance the
collection and publication of demographic data on Federal
hiring and spending. The recommendation provides funding for
the National Archives and Records Administration to increase
digitization of records that document the history of
underserved and underrepresented communities in America,
including records related to the creation of Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, and creates a new Commission to
identify names, monuments, statues, and other symbols located
on Federal Government property that are inconsistent with the
values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The recommendation
also includes a mandate for GSA to conduct an analysis of
prominent Americans after which Federal buildings are named and
identify Federal buildings that have not been named. The
Committee recommends funding increases for SBA to ensure fair
access to capital, Federal contracting opportunities, and other
resources for all small businesses, with a focus on programs
that support underserved entrepreneurs. In addition, the
recommendation includes funding for OPM to re-establish a
Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Accessibility (DIEA) office,
consistent with the January 20, 2021, Executive Order on
Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
Through the Federal Government. This office will provide
Government-wide guidance on DIEA efforts, including technical
assistance to agencies, policy guidance, management of
intergovernmental working groups on DIEA, and development of a
government-wide DIEA strategic plan. The recommendation also
funds a new Diversity Fellowship Program within the Judiciary's
Defender Services Program that will increase the diversity of
attorneys qualified to join Federal Defender Offices. The CDFI
Fund receives robust funding to continue to promote economic
advancement in underserved communities and for people of color.
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 again includes a provision
requiring OMB to remind all Federal agencies of the compliance
obligations detailed in title VII of this Act.
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 among programs, projects, and
activities. 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 receive prior approval from the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate
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 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 $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; (6) reduces
existing programs, projects, or activities by $5,000,000 or 10
percent, whichever is less; or (7) creates or reorganizes
offices, programs, or activities. In addition, prior to any
significant reorganization, restructuring, relocation, or
closing of offices, programs, or activities, each agency or
entity funded in this Act shall consult with the Committees on
Appropriations.
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, each agency shall submit a report to establish the
baseline for application of reprogramming and transfer
authorities for fiscal year 2021. The amount appropriated for
agencies shall be reduced by $100,000 per day for each day
after the required date that the report has not been submitted
to the Committees.
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 2022, and non-appropriated resources such as fee
collections that are used to meet program requirements in
fiscal year 2022.
To assess a reprogramming request, the Committee expects it
would require the following information, 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.
The Committee directs that, for purposes of this report and
the Act, the term ``consult'' 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, 2022. Moreover, the
Committee notes that when an agency or entity 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 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 2023 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 2023
to the fiscal year 2022 enacted levels.
Community Project Funding Oversight, Transparency, and
Accountability.--The Committee includes, as part of the fiscal
year 2022 appropriations process, Community Project Funding,
which identifies the specific recipients of certain Federal
funds. Community Project Funding is being included in most of
the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills, consistent with
House Rules XXI and XXIII, and the Committee highlights the
public transparency and accountability that underpins the
process for vetting these proposals.
Consistent with those goals, the Committee directs GAO to
undertake an audit of Community Project Funding contained in
fiscal year 2022 appropriations legislation, with the goal of
informing the Committee's consideration of Community Project
Funding in subsequent fiscal years.
To support those oversight efforts, the Committee
recommendation requires any non-Federal recipient of Community
Project Funding to retain records relevant to the obligation or
expenditure of such funding. The recommendation further
requires that each recipient of Community Project Funding make
such records, as well as the entity's staff and facilities,
available to GAO to support the agency's oversight efforts.
The Committee recognizes that recipients of Community
Project Funding will have varying levels of institutional
capacity for record-keeping and does not intend for the record-
retention requirements to impose undue administrative burdens
upon recipients. The Committee expects that the Comptroller
General will make similar efforts to reasonably accommodate
recipients in their direct interactions to similarly not
subject them to undue burden.
Federal Law Enforcement.--The Committee notes that the
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2022, directs the Attorney General to continue efforts to
implement training programs to cover the use of force and de-
escalation, racial profiling, implicit bias, and procedural
justice; to include training on the duty of Federal law
enforcement officers to intervene in cases where another law
enforcement officer is using excessive force; and to make such
training a requirement for Federal law enforcement officers.
The Committee further notes that several Departments and
agencies funded by this Act employ Federal law enforcement
officers and are Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
partner organizations. The Committee directs such Departments
and agencies to adopt and follow the training programs
implemented by the Attorney General, and to make such training
a requirement for its Federal law enforcement officers. The
Committee further directs such Departments and agencies to
brief the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on
their efforts relating to training no later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of this Act.
In addition, the Committee directs such Departments and
agencies, to the extent that such Departments and agencies have
not already done so, to submit their use of force data to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)'s National Use of Force
Data Collection database. The Committee further directs such
Departments and agencies to brief the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations no later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act on their current efforts to
tabulate and submit their use of force data to the FBI.
Transparency in the Federal Home Loan Banking System.--The
Committee supports the mandate of the Federal Home Loan Banking
System to support housing finance and community investment. The
Committee recognizes that one way that Federal Home Loan Banks
demonstrate their successful commitment to this mandate is by
achieving threshold core mission asset ratios. The Committee
urges the Federal Housing Finance Agency to ensure all Federal
Home Loan Banks publicly disclose primary mission asset ratios
and core mission asset ratios and collect these asset ratios in
one easily accessible webpage to increase transparency in the
Federal Home Loan Banking System.
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. The Committee directs the
Agencies to submit a report to the Committees on progress in
this regard within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
Grants Training Practices.--In report 18-491, Actions
Needed to Ensure Staff Have Skills to Administer and Oversee
Federal Grants, GAO found that many agencies vary in following
best practices in 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 directs
GAO to submit a report to the Committee on progress made in
this regard within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
American Flag Purchases.--The Committee again urges all
Federal agencies to purchase flags that contain 100 percent
American-made materials. Although current law requires the
Federal government to purchase flags made of only 50 percent
American-made materials, providing more support for American
manufacturers is recommended.
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.
Funds Management.--The Committee agrees with GAO's
recommendation to require OMB to publicly post all
apportionments of executive branch appropriations, as outlined
in GAO's Proposals to Reinforce Congress's Constitutional Power
of the Purse (report B-333181, issued on April 29, 2021) and in
additional testimony before the House Committee on the Budget
on April 29, 2021. In support of its recommendation, GAO
stated: ``The Antideficiency Act requires OMB to apportion
appropriations to prevent the need for a deficiency or
supplemental appropriation. . . . [M]any of GAO's inquiries
into potential violations of the Impoundment Control Act
include requesting the relevant apportionment documents from
OMB. The public posting of all apportionments and
reapportionments would substantially expedite GAO's inquiries.
Moreover, publicly available apportionments would greatly
increase visibility into OMB's use of its apportionment
authority, enhancing Congress's ability to conduct oversight of
OMB's operations.'' GAO also said that public posting of
apportionments would enable GAO to provide more timely advice
and legal decisions to Congress. Consistent with GAO's
recommendation, the Committee includes a new requirement to
make apportionments of appropriations publicly available in a
timely fashion.
In addition, the Committee notes that apportionments are
only legally binding under the Antideficiency Act to the extent
that they are consistent with the law, and the Committee
expects that any department or agency will promptly notify
Congress in the event that an apportionment contains contrary
direction. To that end, the recommendation includes a provision
that requires each department and agency of the executive
branch to notify Congress if an apportionment is not provided
in the required timeframe, conditions (or purports to
condition) availability on some further action, could hinder
the department or agency's obligation of budgetary resources,
or otherwise improperly restricts budgetary resources.
Impoundment of Resources.--The Committee agrees with GAO
decision B-330330, issued on December 10, 2018, regarding the
withholding of budgetary authority from obligation pending
congressional consideration of a special message under 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 also agrees with GAO's recommendation to
Congress in report B-333181 to clarify the law ``[t]o ensure
consistency in the application of the Impoundment Control Act
and the timely obligation of enacted budget authority.'' In
support of its recommendation, GAO explained that ``allow[ing]
such so-called `pocket rescissions' would upset the delicate
balance of powers provided for in the Constitution. Congress
wields the authority to introduce, consider, and pass
legislation--including appropriations--and the President must
take care that enacted laws be faithfully executed.
Appropriations are laws like any other and can be rescinded
only through the bicameralism and presentment procedures that
the Constitution prescribes. Indeed, the Supreme Court has
noted that there `is no provision in the Constitution that
authorizes the President to enact, to amend, or to repeal
statutes.' Interpreting the Impoundment Control Act as
authorizing the President to unilaterally cancel budget
authority would bestow powers upon the President beyond those
the Constitution contemplates and would deny Congress its
constitutionally prescribed role in the enactment of law.''
Consistent with GAO's recommendation, the Committee
includes new requirements in title VII of this Act that expand
upon the existing requirements under the ICA to make budget
authority available in sufficient time for prudent obligation.
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, in any case, no
later than 90 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. The Committee
recommendation includes a corresponding requirement that
appropriations be released to agencies through administrative
apportionment processes in time for the agencies to prudently
obligate their appropriations (as is already required under
current law), but in any case, to release funds to agencies no
later than 90 calendar days before such appropriation would
expire.
In furtherance of those requirements, the Committee
recommendation requires that GAO report on the Administration's
compliance with these new requirements, and that the President
provide to GAO such information, documentation, views, and
access to personnel as the Comptroller General determines is
necessary to complete any such report.
Executive Branch Responsiveness to GAO.--In report B-
333181, GAO detailed the difficulty they have encountered in
getting timely responses from agencies; in some cases, they
received no responses at all. This has occurred during both
Democratic and Republican Administrations, and it has impacted
GAO's ability to provide timely decisions to Congress. For
these reasons, GAO recommended that ``[t]o ensure that GAO
receives timely responses to our requests, we recommend a
provision of law to require agencies to respond to our letters
within a certain time period.'' Consistent with GAO's
recommendation, the Committee expands upon GAO's current law
access to information by including a requirement for executive
agencies to respond to GAO's written requests for information,
documentation, and views relating to a decision or opinion on
budget or appropriations law not later than 20 days after the
agency receives the request, unless such request provides a
later deadline. The bill requires the Comptroller General to
notify Congress in the event that requested information is not
provided to GAO within the required timeframe, and it
authorizes the Comptroller General to bring suit to compel
production of information, documentation, or views withheld in
violation of this section.
The Committee also expands the reporting requirements in
the Antideficiency Act to ensure that Congress has access to
essential oversight information. Section 145 of OMB Circular A-
11 (revised April 28, 2021) sets out reporting requirements for
Antideficiency Act violation reports, which includes a summary
of the cause of the violation, identification of the position
of the officials responsible for the violation, and
descriptions of the actions the agency will take to prevent the
recurrence of such violation. The Committee commends OMB's
April 2021 revisions to the Circular that restore the
longstanding requirement that Antideficiency Act violation
reports are required when GAO finds that a violation has
occurred. Accordingly, the Committee amends the reporting
requirements for Antideficiency Act violations to require more
detailed information, including by codifying and mandating
compliance with these existing reporting practices.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Departmental Offices
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $233,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 270,669,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 270,669,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +37,669,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Departmental Offices support the Secretary of the
Treasury as the chief operating executive of the Department and
in their role in determining 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 $270,669,000 for Departmental
Offices, Salaries and Expenses.
Administrative Funding for COVID Relief Programs.--The
Committee notes the new language proposed in the budget request
providing financial management flexibility to the Department to
administer COVID-19 recovery and stabilization programs. The
Committee will continue to work with the Department to ensure
it has the necessary resources to administer these programs
effectively and efficiently.
COVID Relief for the Motorcoach Industry.--The Committee
recognizes that the motorcoach industry is a central component
of the nation's transportation infrastructure and provides
critical services across the United States. In 2020, the
motorcoach industry was the primary mode of transportation for
evacuating coronavirus-stricken Americans from cruise ships;
for deploying first-responders to areas impacted by hurricanes
and wildfires; and for evacuating many individuals, including
low-income, elderly, and disabled Americans, from these
disaster areas. The American motorcoach industry has been
devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee supports the
Department's administration of the Coronavirus Economic Relief
for Transportation Services Program, which will provide
eligible transportation service companies with resources to
help maintain payroll, hire back laid-off employees, and cover
applicable overhead and operational expenses.
Treasury Forfeiture Fund.--The Department is directed to
continue to submit a detailed table each month reporting the
interest earned, forfeiture revenue collected, unobligated
balances, recoveries, expenses to date, and expenses estimated
for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Equity Analyses in Annual Revenue Proposals.--The Committee
directs the Department to include racial and gender equity
analyses in its annual revenue proposals.
Cybersecurity in the Financial Services Sector.--The
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
formally codified Sector Risk Management Agencies (SRMAs),
which are responsible for managing engagement between the
Federal government and private-sector entities within a given
critical infrastructure sector. National resilience requires
that the government and private sector be able to identify,
assess, and mitigate risk across national critical
infrastructure in order to withstand and quickly recover from
an attack. As designated SRMA for the financial services
sector, the Department of the Treasury is responsible for
protecting the financial services sector and its customers from
the devastating effects of cyberattacks. The Committee urges
continued coordination to develop consistent and workable
cybersecurity safeguards across the financial services sector,
including within the payment processing and financial
technology industries. The Committee expects the Department to
prioritize the activities of the Office of Cybersecurity and
Critical Infrastructure Protection (OCCIP) to improve
communication and coordination with the financial services
sector. OCCIP is directed to brief the Committee, within 90
days of enactment of this Act, on its collaborative efforts
with the financial services sector to enhance cybersecurity
controls and safeguards, and the proposed methods and tools to
improve these efforts.
Financial Literacy.--The Committee is concerned about the
low level of financial literacy and numeracy skills among the
adult population of the United States. 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.
Central Bank Digital Currency.--The Committee is aware of
ongoing work by the Federal Reserve to assess the possibility
of issuing central bank digital currency and encourages
continued consultation with the Department on this issue.
Federal Insurance Office.--Established under the Dodd-Frank
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Federal
Insurance Office (FIO) has the authority to monitor all aspects
of the insurance sector, including the extent to which
traditionally underserved communities and consumers have access
to affordable insurance products. The Committee urges the
Department to ensure the FIO is supported with the necessary
resources to carry out this important mission.
Automobile Insurance Rates.--The Committee is aware of
concerns regarding the lack of reliable data regarding
disparate pricing practices in the automobile insurance market.
The Committee believes that the availability of such data on
people of color and those in lower-income communities would be
useful to policymakers and researchers. Therefore, the
Committee directs the FIO to examine the impact of non-driving
related factors, such as a consumer's credit history,
homeownership status, census tract, marital status,
professional occupation, and educational attainment, on the
affordability of auto insurance premiums for traditionally
underserved communities.
Climate-Related Financial Risk.--The Committee strongly
supports the President's Executive Order on Climate-Related
Financial Risk and the Treasury Secretary's role as the Chair
of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), in
assessing and identifying climate-related financial risk to
financial stability. The FIO is tasked with assessing climate-
related issues or gaps in the supervision and regulation of
insurers and the potential for major disruptions of private
insurance coverage in regions of the country particularly
vulnerable to climate change impacts, including areas with high
wildfire activity. The Committee expects the FIO will make
recommendations to help Americans access affordable insurance
to mitigate these risks.
Treasury-Backed Green Bonds.--The Department is encouraged
to assess the feasibility and potential benefits of issuing a
Treasury-backed ``Green Bond,'' a type of fixed-income
instrument that is earmarked to raise money for climate and
environmental projects. Such assessment should examine issues
such as taxonomy, a national standard for Green Bonds, and
proposed uses of the funds raised by Treasury-backed Green
Bonds.
Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Treatment.--The
Committee recognizes the role international banks play in
providing credit to U.S. businesses, enhancing liquidity to
financial markets, and employing people in the United States.
The Committee encourages the Secretary, as chair of FSOC, to
work in close coordination with other FSOC member agencies to
ensure that the current prudential regulatory and supervisory
regimes are aligned and promote a level playing field between
international banks and their U.S. peers based on their risk
profile and footprint within the United States.
Financial Stability Oversight Council Guidance.--The
Committee recognizes the guidance finalized by FSOC on December
4, 2019, regarding the designation of nonbank financial
companies as systemically important financial institutions,
which outlines an activities-based approach and is intended to
make FSOC's process more transparent, accountable, and
rigorous. While FSOC's guidance is important, the Committee
recognizes Congress may also codify these changes to require
FSOC to focus on activities-based risk assessments for nonbank
financial companies, which would target areas of potential
systemic risk, instead of on designations of individual
companies.
Student Loans.--The Committee urges Treasury, in
coordination with Federal banking regulators, to continue
efforts encouraging financial institutions to work
constructively with private student loan borrowers experiencing
financial difficulties.
Treatment of U.S. Territories.--The Committee is concerned
with the continued inclusion of U.S. territories on the
European Union's (EU) list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for
tax purposes, and with the EU's decision to analyze U.S.
territories separately from the United States as a whole. This
blacklisting is damaging to investment and economic development
in the territories, particularly as the territories are
striving to recover from recent emergencies and natural
disasters. The Committee finds the blacklisting to be
unsubstantiated and rejects the inclusion of U.S. territories
on the list. The Committee urges the Department to continue its
efforts to have all U.S. territories removed from the list.
Puerto Rico Technical Assistance.--Within 90 days of
enactment of this Act, the Department is directed to provide a
report to the Committee describing how the Department has used
its authority to provide technical assistance to Puerto Rico in
fiscal year 2021 and how it plans to use it in fiscal year
2022, in light of any financial hardships that may have been
experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opportunity Zones.--The Department is directed to brief the
Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act on how
Opportunity Zone designations are being leveraged to increase
economic development and job creation, and to drive capital to
small businesses in economically distressed communities.
U.S. Foreign Indebtedness.--The Department is directed to
brief the Committee within 180 days of enactment of this Act on
U.S. foreign indebtedness, including current levels of foreign
indebtedness and the potential national security concerns with
such indebtedness.
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $20,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 20,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 20,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 that 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. In
addition, $24,556,000 is recommended under the Salaries and
Expenses appropriation for CFIUS activities.
The Committee supports the Department's efforts to hire and
fully staff operations for CFIUS activities, including its
critical role in reviewing transactions that may pose a
national security threat. The Committee notes the importance of
closely monitoring anticompetitive consolidations that hurt
small business and often result in artificial price inflation.
Spending Plan.--The Department is directed to provide a
detailed accounting of planned expenditures of the Department
and member agencies prior to obligating or transferring amounts
available in the CFIUS Fund.
CFIUS Fund Interagency Transfers.--The Department is
directed to brief the Committee not later than 90 days after
the enactment of this Act on the process for distributing CFIUS
funds across the interagency. The briefing shall include
details on the criteria and process used to approve CFIUS Fund
requests within Treasury and the interagency. It shall also
describe how the Department aggregates and quantifies workload
by agency for CFIUS case research and reviews.
OFFICE OF TERRORISM AND FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $175,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 185,192,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 185,192,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +10,192,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $185,192,000 for TFI.
Treasury is directed to include in the Department's fiscal
year 2022 operating plan, submitted pursuant to section 608 of
this Act, a projected allocation of funding by office within
TFI, including the projected allocation of staffing and
resources among OFAC's active sanctions programs.
Russian Sanctions.--The Committee is concerned that high-
ranking Russian 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.
Central America Sanctions.--The Committee is deeply
concerned by the corruption and degradation of the rule of law
in the Northern Triangle. Economic sanctions are an important
tool in combating corruption and reducing human rights abuses.
The Committee supports the use of funds to increase OFAC's
capacity for investigations, policy development, and
enforcement of sanctions against individuals from Central
America that are involved with corruption, human rights abuses,
and anti-democratic activities. OFAC is directed to brief the
Committee on the challenges to investigating, developing, and
enforcing sanctions in this region within 90 days of enactment
of this Act.
Sanctions Enforcement in Africa.--The Committee is
concerned that corruption continues to be an impediment to
social, economic, and political development in nations such as
Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the
Democratic Republic of Congo. The Committee supports the use of
funds to enhance regional expertise and capacity to promote the
effectiveness of sanctions regimes and international arms
embargoes designed to curtail money flows that are fueling wars
and contributing to regional destabilization.
OFAC Guidance.--Cash transfer apps frequently use the
Department's ``Specially Designated Nationals'' list to flag
potentially suspicious transactions. OFAC should consider the
potential benefits of putting guidance on its website
indicating what, if any, information is kept by OFAC after a
flagged transaction has been cleared.
CYBERSECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACCOUNT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $18,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 132,027,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 132,027,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +114,027,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $132,027,000 for the CEA. The
recommendation includes $114,027,000 to support Department-wide
efforts to address the impacts of the SolarWinds attack and to
implement measures to minimize the impacts of such incidents in
the future.
Quarterly Reports.--Within 60 days of enactment of this
Act, the Department is directed to submit a plan for the
obligation of funds by quarter for each CEA investment. The
plan shall include prior year unobligated balances and
delineate planned obligations by source year of appropriation.
The plan shall also include anticipated unobligated balances at
the close of the fiscal year and the planned obligation of
carryover in future years, by quarter, until all funds are
obligated. Treasury is directed to submit quarterly updates on
this plan.
DEPARTMENT-WIDE SYSTEMS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $6,118,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 6,118,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 6,118,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 2021....................... $41,044,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 42,362,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 42,362,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +1,318,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $42,362,000 for the OIG 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 2021....................... $170,250,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 175,762,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 175,762,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +5,512,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Office of Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration (TIGTA) conducts audits, investigations, and
evaluations to assess the operations and programs of the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 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 $175,762,000 for TIGTA.
Stimulus Payment Reports.--The Committee appreciates
TIGTA's briefings and reports on the prevention and detection
of fraud and abuse and requests updates on its audits and
investigations in this area. The Committee has a continued
interest in TIGTA's reviews of IRS's implementation of programs
under the CARES Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, and the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021, including the distribution of benefit
payments to the American people. The Committee is especially
interested in the implementation of the Child Tax Credit. TIGTA
is directed to assess the IRS's Child Tax Credit implementation
plan to ensure that the payments are accurate and information
provided by individuals to the IRS using the online portal is
secure.
Enforcement.--The Committee directs TIGTA to review the
IRS's strategy to recruit and train employees to conduct audits
of high-earners and large businesses that underreport income as
well as to collect taxes from taxpayers who have the ability to
pay their outstanding debts, while also protecting taxpayer
rights in the course of its enforcement efforts.
SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE TROUBLED ASSET RELIEF PROGRAM
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $19,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 17,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 17,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... -2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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). SIGTARP's mission 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 $17,000,000 for SIGTARP, to enable
the office to continue to execute its vital mission to target
crime at financial institutions and protect taxpayer dollars.
Special Hiring Authority.--The Committee notes the new
special hiring authority language proposed in the budget
request and will continue to work with SIGTARP to ensure the
agency is able to backfill critical vacancies with qualified
personnel.
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $126,963,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 190,539,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 190,539,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +63,576,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $190,539,000 for FinCEN. The
recommendation includes an increase of $60,279,000 to support
FinCEN's implementation of the programs and requirements
included in the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020. Of this
amount, $29,126,000 is to develop a system to collect and
secure information on the beneficial ownership of corporations,
limited liability companies, and similar entities. The
Committee directs FinCEN to provide quarterly updates on its
progress.
In developing the beneficial ownership database, the
Committee encourages FinCEN to include multilingual name-
matching technology that uses phonetics and linguistics to
identify the names of persons and entities written in different
languages in non-standardized domestic and international data
systems.
Business Email Compromise.--Email compromise fraud schemes
generally entail criminal attempts to compromise the email
accounts of victims to send fraudulent payment instructions to
financial institutions or business associates in order to
misappropriate funds or to assist in financial fraud. The
Committee is concerned with the prevalence of such schemes in
the real estate sector. FinCEN is directed to brief the
Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act on its
ongoing efforts to combat and raise awareness of business email
compromise scams, including joint activities conducted with the
Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal
Trade Commission, and other relevant agencies.
Automated Technology to Combat Money Laundering.--The
Committee is aware of reports of Muslim Americans whose bank
accounts have been suddenly and erroneously closed due to
increased scrutiny by financial institutions. The Committee
supports FinCEN's work with Federal regulators and financial
institutions to encourage innovative approaches to detect and
combat money laundering and terrorist financing, including the
use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology.
However, the Committee is concerned that such tools may contain
implicit biases that result in discrimination against
individuals based on race, religion, or culture. The Anti-Money
Laundering Act of 2020 contained significant revisions to
existing law to strengthen anti-money laundering programs,
while also taking into account the potential effects of such
programs on de-risking and financial inclusion. As the new
mandates are implemented, the Department and FinCEN are urged
to carefully consider the disparate impact that these tools and
processes may have on certain individuals and groups.
Bureau of the Fiscal Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $345,569,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 360,266,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 360,266,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +14,697,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $360,266,000 for the Fiscal
Service.
Treasury Cross-Servicing Program.--The Committee encourages
the Fiscal Service to increase its oversight of private
collection agencies that assist in the collection of non-tax
debt through the Treasury Cross-Servicing Program. As the
Fiscal Service prepares future solicitations for private debt
collection, the Committee encourages the Fiscal Service to
conduct robust market research to identify qualified small- and
medium-sized entrants, and to prioritize private collection
agencies that have the strongest record of performance and a
demonstrated record of compliance with applicable consumer
protection laws. Fiscal Service is directed to brief the
Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act on this
program.
Transparency in Federal Spending.--Transparency and
accountability are critical to a democratic and fiscally
responsible government, and USASpending.gov is the primary
portal through which the public can review and understand
Federal spending. The Committee is pleased by ongoing
improvements to the website and expects the Fiscal Service to
continue to work with OMB and other Federal agencies to improve
the accessibility, searchability, and reliability of spending
information on USASpending.gov. 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 Committee
expects the Fiscal Service to keep the Committee apprised of
its progress in improving data quality and transparency
regarding Federal spending.
Matured Unredeemed Debt.--The Committee directs Treasury to
brief the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act on
its progress regarding the digitization of mature unredeemed
debt.
Paper Savings Bonds.--The Committee encourages the Fiscal
Service to consider the potential benefits of providing paper
savings bonds to cultivate a culture of concrete savings to be
passed down from generation to generation.
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $124,337,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 131,330,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 131,330,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +6,993,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is
responsible for the enforcement of laws designed to eliminate
certain illicit activities and the regulation of lawful
activities relating to distilled spirits, beer, wine, and
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 $131,330,000 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.
The Committee urges the TTB to increase its outreach to educate
and inform the industry on trade practice laws and regulations.
Within 90 days 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 to increase education activities
and accessibility to permit holders in all 50 States.
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 Congress.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a spending level for capital
investments by the Mint for circulating coinage and protective
services of $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
Coin Metal Modification.--In the March 2019 report,
Financial Benefit of Switching to a $1 Coin Is Unlikely, but
Changing Coin Metal Content Could Result in Cost Savings, GAO
recommended that Congress consider amending the law to provide
the Secretary of the Treasury with the authority to alter the
metal composition of circulating coins. The Committee supports
changes to the metal content of coins if it reduces costs
incurred by the U.S. taxpayers, allows coins to work
interchangeably in most coin acceptors, and has a minimal
adverse impact on the public and stakeholders.
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Program Account
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $270,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 330,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 330,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +60,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 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 $330,000,000 for the CDFI Fund
program. Of the amounts recommended, $211,883,000 is for
financial and technical assistance grants, $21,500,000 is for
Native Initiatives, $28,000,000 is for the Bank Enterprise
Award Program, $25,000,000 is for the Healthy Food Financing
Initiative, $10,000,000 is for the Small Dollar Loan Program,
and $33,617,000 is for administrative expenses. In addition,
the Committee recommends a loan limit of $500,000,000 for the
Bond Guarantee Program.
Persistent Poverty Areas.--The Committee supports targeted
investments in impoverished areas. The Committee directs the
CDFI Fund to develop and implement measures to increase the
share of investments in high-poverty census tracts 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, and any other impoverished areas
the CDFI Fund determines to be appropriate areas to target. The
Committee directs the Department to submit a report to the
Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate within 180
days of enactment of this Act on its efforts to develop and
implement such measures, including a description of how such
measures are implemented; itemized descriptions of investments
in impoverished areas implemented pursuant to such measures;
and an assessment of the economic impact of such investments,
including, to the extent practicable, data on impacted
individuals disaggregated by household income, race, gender,
age, national origin, and disability status. Such report shall
include the percentage of funds invested in fiscal years 2019,
2020, and 2021 and, when available, estimates for fiscal year
2022, in high-poverty census tracts and any other impoverished
areas the CDFI Fund determines to be appropriate areas to
target.
Further, the Committee directs the CDFI Fund to place a
priority on making additional funds available to CDFIs 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 in fiscal years 2019,
2020, and 2021. The Committee also supports the CDFI Fund's
efforts to increase the overall dollar amount invested by
awardees in high-poverty areas.
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 practicable.
CDFI Program Integration for Individuals with
Disabilities.--The Committee recommends $8,000,000 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. 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
directed 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.
Small Dollar Loan Program.--The Committee recommends
$10,000,000 for the Small Dollar Loan Program. The Committee
directs the CDFI Fund to brief the Committee within 90 days of
enactment of this Act on the implementation of the program.
Minority Lending Institutions.--The Committee encourages
the Secretary to establish an Office of Minority Lending
Institutions led by a Deputy Director for Minority Lending
Institutions to help ensure that at least 40 percent of
financial assistance, technical assistance, and awards are
distributed directly to community development financial
institutions that are minority lending institutions, as defined
under subsection (c) of section 523 of division N of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). The
Secretary should provide a detailed description of the
Department's efforts to support minority lending institutions,
including amounts and types of assistance and other support the
Department provides to minority lending institutions, and a
list of such recipients in a report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations, the House Committee on Financial
Services, and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs by September 30, 2022.
Internal Revenue Service
The Committee bill recommends $13,156,926,000 for the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is an increase of
$1,237,872,000, or 10.4 percent, above the fiscal year 2021
enacted level, to administer the nation's tax systems. The
fiscal year 2022 bill increases funding above the fiscal year
2021 enacted level in each of the IRS appropriations accounts.
In addition, the recommendation includes the requested
$416,897,000 program integrity allocation adjustment to
increase tax collections and reduce the tax gap, including
$287,452,000 for Enforcement and $129,445,000 for Operations
Support. These investments are projected to generate
$38,600,000,000 in new direct revenue over 10 years.
The Committee recommendation includes program increases to
implement Taxpayer First Act initiatives, establish enforcement
strategies to ensure a fair tax system, increase telephone and
in-person customer service, and modernize IRS legacy systems.
The Committee is pleased to provide sufficient funding for the
Taxpayer First Act of 2019 to revamp customer service,
introduce new taxpayer protections, and deliver new online
service platforms to facilitate filing and payment for
individuals and businesses.
The Committee appreciates the IRS's initial Taxpayer First
Act report to Congress and looks forward to future briefings on
IRS's proposed budget structure realignment and reorganization.
The Committee recognizes IRS's request to establish a working
capital fund for IRS centralized services and will continue to
discuss budget realignment options with the IRS.
The Committee, and the American people, are appreciative of
the extraordinary efforts undertaken by the IRS to issue more
than 480 million Economic Impact Payments, totaling more than
$822 billion in 2020 and 2021. However, the additional workload
during filing season and the challenge of transitioning to a
remote work environment during the pandemic, coupled with years
of budget cuts, created historic backlogs and resulted in the
lowest levels of IRS customer service on record. During the
filing season, customer service levels hovered around 15
percent, and the IRS struggled to handle a backlog of over 25
million tax returns, resulting in delayed refunds for American
taxpayers. The Committee recommends an increase of $385,270,000
for Taxpayer Services and expects these additional resources
will help improve customer service and the overall taxpayer
experience.
As part of the American Rescue Plan, the IRS received
$379,000,000 to implement the Advanced Child Tax Credit, which
authorizes monthly payments to eligible individuals starting in
July 2021. The Committee looks forward to improvements to IRS's
two new portals to help families access the Advanced Child Tax
Credit and the agency's outreach efforts with partner
organizations to ensure the roughly 39 million households,
covering 88 percent of the children in the United States,
receive these payments.
Additionally, Enforcement funding inclusive of the program
integrity allocation adjustment totals $5,750,275,000 and
supports more than 8,000 new Enforcement personnel to conduct
investigations of underreported income and pursue non-compliant
taxpayers to reduce the tax gap. The Committee recognizes that
funding and staff allocated to enforcement initiatives have
declined by 30 percent since 2010 and is pleased to include
robust funding to reverse that trend and improve the fairness
of our tax system.
Child Tax Credits and Recovery Rebate Credits.--The
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 expanded the Child Tax Credit
(CTC) to better meet the needs of low- and middle-income
families, including those not required to file. The American
Families Plan would extend those provisions until 2025. The
Committee is aware of the need to continue outreach and
education and to expand digital and print services for the
recently expanded and improved CTC. The Committee is also aware
that there are millions of children and families who were not
eligible for the Child Tax Credit before this new law. The new
law will therefore require the IRS to focus on reaching low-
income and underserved communities who are not connected to the
tax system, which is a key change and improvement identified as
a goal in the Taxpayer First Act of 2019. Additionally, the
Committee strongly encourages the IRS to continue to work with
potentially eligible individuals, including unhoused
individuals and non-traditional filers, to claim both the CTC
and Recovery Rebate Credit and create an online tool to assist
non-filers in claiming these credits.
The Committee directs the IRS to submit a report no later
than 30 days after enactment of this Act with details of how
the additional implementation funding was used to support its
outreach to communities, families, and other customer and
community services resources and what additional funding and
resources are needed. The Committee also directs the IRS to
report on the number of families who newly claimed the CTC
under the American Rescue Plan expansion and filed their taxes
this year.
User Fee and Spending Reports.--The Committee directs the
IRS to submit a user fee spending plan within 60 days of
enactment of this Act detailing planned spending on its four
appropriations accounts. Additionally, the Committee directs
the IRS to submit on a quarterly basis FTE usage and
obligations by account and anticipated FTE usage and spending
through fiscal year 2022.
Obligations and Employment.--Within 45 days of the end of
each quarter for calendar year 2022, 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 FTE within each office
during the previous quarter; and the estimated number of FTE
within each office for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Wearable Health Monitoring Devices.--Recent studies
indicate that wearable devices that collect and analyze a
variety of physiological parameters can help provide early
indicators of the onset of COVID-19 and similar acute
conditions. Similarly, studies have long indicated that a
growing list of wearable devices and associated software
applications that consumers and patients use to collect and
analyze physiological parameters such as electrocardiogram
readings, catastrophic falls, heart rate variability, and
temperature have saved lives and helped reduce costs associated
with rehospitalization and other expensive episodes. The
Committee encourages the Secretary to explore the possibility
of treating wearable devices and associated software
applications purchased for the purpose of medical care as a
reimbursed expense for medical care for the purposes of
Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.
A description of the Committee's recommendation by
appropriation is provided below.
TAXPAYER SERVICES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $2,555,606,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 2,940,876,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,940,876,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +385,270,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Taxpayer Services appropriation provides for taxpayer
services, including forms and publications; processing of tax
returns and related documents; filing and account services;
taxpayer advocacy services; and assistance to taxpayers to
understand their tax obligations, correctly file their returns,
and pay taxes due in a timely manner.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $2,940,876,000 for Taxpayer
Services.
Free File Program.--The Committee is concerned about
confusing guidance and low participation of the Free File
program. The Committee urges the IRS to increase promotion of
the Free File program via press releases, press outreach,
social media, and other communications with taxpayers.
Furthermore, the Committee urges the IRS to include Military
Tax and other free tax preparation and filing services provided
by the Department of Defense in all promotional material
targeted at military servicemembers.
Certifications of U.S. Tax Residency.--The Committee urges
the IRS to process and issue Certifications of U.S. Tax
Residency (CoR) in a timely manner, allowing U.S. taxpayers
invested in U.S. mutual funds to avail themselves of tax treaty
benefits. Currently, the IRS processes these paper forms
manually, resulting in significant delays. The Committee
believes the IRS should digitize the CoR.
Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA).--The Committee
supports the IRS's efforts to modernize its forms and digital
services consistent with the requirements of the 21st Century
Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA) (Public Law 115-336).
The Committee directs the IRS to allocate an additional
$10,000,000 towards efforts to modernize its existing website
and mobile applications with the goal of improving up-time and
page load speed, satisfy users demand for efficient
experiences, and modernize underlying technology to support a
seamless experience. The Committee directs the IRS to provide a
briefing not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act on
plans to modernize its websites as required by section 3(a) and
(b) of Public Law 115-336.
Customer Service.--The Committee remains concerned with
IRS's ``Level of Service'' (LOS) that measures IRS telephone
customer service. During the recent filing season, the IRS LOS
was at a historic low of 15 percent. Taxpayers made more than
173 million calls to the IRS, an increase of more than 100
percent from the 2020 filing season, but many of these calls
went unanswered. Of those that were answered, taxpayers waited
an average of 20 minutes to speak to an IRS assistor. The
Committee will continue to monitor IRS customer service and
directs the IRS to continue to include in its fiscal year 2023
Congressional budget submission data on the number of calls
received, the number of calls answered by telephone assistors,
and the percentage of all calls answered by telephone
assistors, and to report this data separately for its Accounts
Management telephone lines, its compliance telephone lines, and
all telephone lines combined.
Taxpayer ID Theft.--The Committee reminds the IRS of the
directive in House Report 116-122 that requires the IRS to
report 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 shall 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 continue their work related to identity theft tax refund
fraud in fiscal year 2022.
Lien Processing at IRS.--The Committee encourages IRS to
move towards electronic processing of lien documents,
especially in States where all counties have the necessary
capabilities.
Backlog of Returns.--Within 180 days of enactment of this
Act, the Internal Revenue Service is directed to submit a
report to the Committee clarifying the reasons for the backlog
of over 2 million individual paper returns from calendar year
2020 and recommendations to prevent similar backlog issues for
future filing seasons.
Virtual Currency Taxation Guidance.--The Committee notes
that the current tax treatment and continuing ambiguities make
the tax filing process incredibly cumbersome for users of
cryptocurrency. This is becoming increasingly problematic with
the expanded adoption of cryptocurrencies by individuals and as
companies begin to hold cryptocurrencies on their balance sheet
and accept cryptocurrency for payment transaction. The
Committee directs the IRS to continue to update its 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. Furthermore, the
Committee directs the IRS to produce tax guidance that
discusses the potential use of a de minimis tax exemption as
used in other currency conversions for small transactions from
fiat currency to cryptocurrency or vice versa.
Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics Counseling for the Elderly
(LITC).--The Committee supports the efforts of the LITCs to
provide services to low-income taxpayers and individuals for
whom English is a second language, especially during the
pandemic. With fiscal year 2020 funding, the LITC Program
represented more than 20,000 taxpayers and secured more than
$6.8 million in refunds for low-income taxpayers. The Committee
recognizes the need to raise the LITC grant award amount from
$100,000 to $150,000 to continue the success of the program.
ENFORCEMENT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $5,212,622,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 5,750,275,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,750,275,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +537,653,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The recommendation includes $287,452,000 in discretionary program
integrity allocation adjustment funding.
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 of employee
pension plans; determinations of qualifications of
organizations seeking tax-exempt status; examinations of tax
returns of exempt organizations; enforcement of statutes
relating to detection and investigation of criminal violations
of the internal revenue laws; identification of underreporting
of tax obligations; securing of unfiled tax returns; and
collecting of unpaid accounts.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $5,750,275,000 for Enforcement.
The Committee recommends not less than $60,257,000 to support
IRS activities for the Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement
program.
White Collar Criminals.--The Committee is concerned about
white-collar criminals' use of tax havens, low-tax countries,
and other techniques to defraud the Federal government of
important revenue. The Committee is deeply concerned that
recent reports show that the top one percent of U.S. earners do
not report 21 percent of their income. 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 the U.S. government can carry out its
vital services.
Reducing the Tax Gap.--The IRS reports the most recent tax
gap, which covers filing calendar years 2012-2014, was
$441,000,000,000. This translates to an 83.6 percent voluntary
compliance rate, which has remained relatively constant.
Increasing the voluntary compliance rate can have a significant
impact on reducing the tax gap. TIGTA, the National Taxpayer
Advocate, and the GAO have identified measures that contribute
to the tax gap and threaten the tax system's integrity as well
as recommendations to help reduce it.
The Committee's recommendation for fiscal year 2022
restores critical funding to increase audits and examinations.
The Committee encourages the IRS to prioritize audits of high-
income individuals and large corporations that have neglected
to pay their full tax obligation. Additionally, no later than
60 days after enactment of this Act, the IRS is directed to
publish distributional estimates of the tax gap, showing which
income groups are most responsible for revenue losses.
IRS Audit Rates.--The Committee notes IRS audit rates that
are geographically concentrated in counties that have a higher
percentage of Black, Hispanic, or Native American taxpayers.
The Committee directs the IRS to submit a report to the
Committee, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, identifying
whether IRS audit policies have a disparate impact on minority
taxpayers; and what new tools, authorities, or resources the
IRS needs to address this issue.
Criminal Investigators.--The IRS is urged to increase the
number of Special Agents in the Criminal Investigations unit
who are responsible for investigating money laundering,
violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, and criminal violations of
the tax code. Additional agents will help solidify U.S. efforts
to combat money laundering and ensure that offenders are
prosecuted to the fullest extent, in conjunction with the
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Department of
Justice.
Adjusted Tax Basis.--The Committee urges the IRS to
evaluate how best to upgrade and automate its ability to
historically verify the adjusted tax basis of reportable
assets, including cryptocurrencies and alternative investments.
OPERATIONS SUPPORT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $3,928,102,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 4,577,640,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 4,577,640,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +649,538,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The recommendation includes $129,445,000 in discretionary program
integrity allocation adjustment funding.
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 $4,577,640,000 for Operations
Support. The recommendation is $649,538,000 above fiscal year
2021.
Information Technology Reports.--Within 30 days of the end
of each quarter for calendar year 2022, the IRS is required to
submit a report on major information technology 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 for 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 2021....................... $222,724,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 305,032,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 305,032,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +82,308,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Business Systems Modernization (BSM) appropriation
provides funding to modernize key business systems of the IRS.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $305,032,000 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.
Quarterly Reports.--The IRS is directed to continue to
submit quarterly reports to the Committees and GAO, no later
than 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter, on the
status of BSM-funded items in this bill. In addition, GAO is
directed to conduct an annual review of BSM-funded initiatives.
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, the Individual Master File, 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.
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. The Committee is aware of
concerns that religious beliefs have been used as a factor in
the denial of certain organizations' tax exempt status under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and reminds the
IRS of its obligations under section 106 of this Act
prohibiting consideration of such beliefs in determining an
organization's tax exempt status.
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.
Administrative Provisions--Department of the Treasury
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Section 111. 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 112. The Committee continues a provision that
authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between ``Departmental
Offices--Salaries and Expenses'', ``Office of Inspector
General'', ``Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset
Relief Program'', ``Financial Crimes Enforcement Network'',
``Bureau of the Fiscal Service'', and ``Alcohol and Tobacco Tax
and Trade Bureau'' appropriations under certain circumstances.
Section 113. The Committee includes a new provision
directing the transfer of $4,000,000 from the Internal Revenue
Service to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration upon Congressional approval.
Section 114. The Committee continues a provision that
prohibits the Department of the Treasury from undertaking a
redesign of the one dollar Federal Reserve note.
Section 115. 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 116. The Committee continues a provision requiring
Congressional approval for the construction and operation of a
museum by the United States Mint.
Section 117. 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 118. The Committee continues a provision deeming
that funds for the Department of the Treasury's intelligence-
related activities are specifically authorized in fiscal year
2022 until enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for
fiscal year 2022.
Section 119. 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 120. The Committee continues a provision requiring
the Department to submit a Capital Investment Plan.
Section 121. The Committee continues a provision requiring
a report on the Department's Franchise Fund.
Section 122. The Committee continues a provision requiring
quarterly reports of the Office of Financial Stability and the
Office of Financial Research.
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 2021....................... $55,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 76,262,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 76,262,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +21,262,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $76,262,000 for the White House.
Executive Residence at the White House
OPERATING EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $13,641,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 15,077,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 15,077,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +1,436,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Executive Residence at the White House Operating
Expenses account provides for the care, maintenance, staffing,
and operations of the Executive Residence, including official
and ceremonial functions of the President.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $15,077,000 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 2021....................... $2,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 2,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $2,500,000 for White House Repair
and Restoration.
Council of Economic Advisers
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $4,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 4,732,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 4,732,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +732,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $4,732,000 for the Council of
Economic Advisers.
National Security Council and Homeland Security Council
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $12,150,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 12,894,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 12,894,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +744,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $12,894,000 for the National
Security Council and Homeland Security Council.
Office of Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $100,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 110,768,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 110,768,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +10,768,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $110,768,000 for the Office of
Administration (OA). 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.
The Committee notes the new language proposed in the budget
request regarding Senior Executive Service positions in OA. The
Committee will continue to work with OA on this issue.
White House Virtual Visitor Logs.--The Committee believes
that disclosure of White House visitors is essential to helping
the public, the press, and Congress understand the development
of White House policies and initiatives, and that this
disclosure is especially vital in the formative days of a new
Administration. The Committee is pleased that the Biden-Harris
Administration has committed to reinstating a White House
visitors log disclosure policy. However, the Committee is
concerned that social distancing procedures and the resulting
increase in virtual meetings will limit the amount of relevant
disclosures and harm the public interest. The Committee directs
the Executive Office of the President to explore the
feasibility of disclosing ``virtual'' visitors to the Executive
Office of the President in a manner that provides similar
information as provided for other visitors and that is
retroactive to January 20, 2021. The Committee directs EOP to
provide a briefing on this topic no later than 120 days after
enactment of this Act.
Office of Management and Budget
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $106,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 121,854,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 122,854,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +16,254,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +1,000,000
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) assists the
President in the discharge of budgetary, economic, management,
and other executive responsibilities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $122,854,000 for OMB. This
includes $1,000,000 above the request to implement a system to
make publicly available, in an automated fashion, all documents
apportioning an appropriation and all relevant delegations of
apportionment authority, as required by Section 204. The
recommendation continues several longstanding provisions, not
requested by the President, limiting certain OMB activities.
Budget Submission.--The recommendation includes sufficient
funds for OMB to consult with Congressional committees and
provide an appropriate number of printed copies of the
President's fiscal year 2023 budget request, including
documents such as the Appendix, Historical Tables, and
Analytical Perspectives.
Personnel and Obligations Report.--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 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.
Performance Measures.--The Committee continues to urge OMB
to ensure that agencies comply with title 31 of the United
States Code, including the development of organizational
priority goals and outcomes such as performance outcome
measures, output measures, efficiency measures, and customer
service measures. OMB should also ensure that agency funding
requests in fiscal year 2023 are directly linked to agency
performance plans. The Committee requests OMB to highlight
specific examples where priority goals and performance outcomes
influenced fiscal year 2023 budget justifications.
Online Budget Repository.--The Committee includes a new
administrative provision in the bill requiring OMB to make
available on a website a list of each Federal agency with a
link to its budget justification materials.
Food Safety Modernization Act.--The Committee directs OMB
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 to correctly
classify them as a ``protective service occupation.''
Retail Redlining.--Redlining is a complex practice that
detrimentally impacts employment opportunities, the local tax
base, redevelopment, and economic growth. The Committee is
keenly interested in this topic and notes that OMB has not
complied with previous directives to report on this issue. OMB
is directed to submit a report to the Committee, within 180
days of enactment of this Act, that examines redlining's
effects on the placement of Class A commercial investment and
other business lending in the U.S., particularly in areas with
high minority populations. The report shall examine communities
that fail to attract Class A investment despite meeting
relevant median income levels, public transportation access, or
other requirements for such investment, as well as
disincentives for such investment such as higher down payments,
higher interest rates, shorter maturities, extra fees, and
outside collateral requirements. The report shall identify
current Federal programs that may be helpful to communities
impacted by retail redlining and recommendations that might
help reduce retail redlining practices.
Persistent Poverty Counties.--The Committee supports
targeted investment in areas with high poverty rates. The
Committee directs OMB, in consultation with Federal agencies,
to develop and implement measures to increase the share of
Federal investments targeted to persistent poverty counties,
high-poverty census tracts, and other areas of high and
persistent poverty. The Committee directs OMB to include in its
fiscal year 2023 budget submission a list of programs that
provide aid to State and local governments, U.S. territories,
Tribal governments, and private entities that include targeted
investments in persistent poverty counties, along with relevant
demographic and statistical data about such investments. The
budget submission should also include legislative and budgetary
proposals by OMB to expand the number of programs that make
such targeted investments.
Building Resiliency.--The Committee recognizes that
individuals, businesses, and communities across the country are
impacted by catastrophes on an increasingly frequent basis and
believes that a nationwide effort is necessary to ensure that
Federally-supported infrastructure projects are constructed to
meet or exceed adequate resiliency and sustainability
standards. The Committee notes that the Executive Order on
Climate-Related Financial Risk, issued on May 20, 2021,
reinstates Executive Order 13690 of January 30, 2015
(Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a
Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder
Input), which partially addresses this issue. The Committee
encourages OMB, in consultation with stakeholders and
international standards-setting bodies, to update its Guidance
for Grants and Agreements to establish uniform minimum Federal
resiliency and sustainability standards for Federally-supported
capital projects and to continue working with agencies across
the Federal government to ensure processes are in place to
guarantee compliance.
Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity.--Within 120 days of
enactment of this Act, OMB is directed to report to the
Committee, and to release to the public, a final report on the
activities conducted and conclusions reached by the Interagency
Working Group for Revision of the Standards for Maintaining,
Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity,
consistent with the commitments made in the Notice published on
March 1, 2017, at 82 Fed. Reg. 12242.
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, businesses owned
by minorities and women, and local media. As such, the
Committee directs OMB to require each agency to include in its
fiscal year 2023 budget justification expenditures for fiscal
year 2021 and 2022 for all contracts for advertising services
of Small Business Administration-recognized socioeconomic
subcategory-certified small businesses and all minority-owned
businesses, as well as for local media.
Guidance for Working with Whistleblowers.--The Committee
recognizes that Federal inspectors general have played a vital
role over the past four decades in investigating agency
mismanagement, waste, fraud, and abuse, and in providing
recommendations to improve Federal programs and the work of
Federal agencies. Whistleblowers are equally important in
achieving a more effective, ethical, and accountable Federal
government. However, attacks on whistleblowers who make legal
disclosures of wrongdoing continue, discouraging others from
coming forward. The Committee encourages the Council of the
Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to establish
best practices for working with whistleblowers, and to direct
each inspector general to establish a written process outlining
required procedures in this area. All such written process
should be posted publicly on oversight.gov. Those procedures
should cover intake and evaluation, investigations, ongoing
communication with whistleblowers, and training for staff on
whistleblower retaliation and anonymity. Inspectors general
should develop strong and clear procedures to handle
whistleblower claims against their own offices.
Inclusion of Puerto Rico in Federal Statistical Programs.--
The Committee notes that Puerto Rico is currently excluded from
a considerable number of the statistical programs conducted by
the principal Federal statistical agencies. The absence of
accurate, reliable Federal data hinders efforts to analyze
conditions in the territory and develop informed policy
decisions. The Committee directs OMB to develop a plan to
collect and publish statistics regarding Puerto Rico and other
Territories in the same manner as statistics are collected and
reported by the Federal agencies for States. The Committee
encourages the U.S. Chief Statistician to place the subject of
Territorial inclusion in Federal statistical programs on the
agenda of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy;
develop an action plan with short-term, medium-term, and long-
term objectives; and describe this action plan in the
Statistical Programs of the United States Government document
submitted annually to Congress, as previously recommended by
the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico.
Infrastructure-as-a-Service in Federal Procurement.--The
Committee is aware that the procurement of information and
communication technology (ICT) by Federal agencies is
increasingly utilizing an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS)
model where agencies no longer purchase outright computer
hardware, peripherals, printers, servers, and software. The
Committee notes the significant cost of ownership as well as
important cybersecurity benefits of this IaaS acquisition model
and encourages its continued and expanded use, but also
recognizes the importance of facilitating small business
competition for these ICT procurements. The Committee directs
OMB to examine the government's use of ICT IaaS procurements
and the ability of small businesses to successfully compete for
these types of contracts. OMB should report to the Committee
within 120 days of enactment of this Act with suggestions on
improvements to the IaaS procurement process to allow better
competition for small businesses.
Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreements.--The
Committee is aware that conflicting information about
intergovernmental purchasing has created confusion among local
governments and has discouraged them from utilizing such
agreements, which are a highly successful procurement method.
The Committee notes that Federal regulations encourage non-
Federal entities to enter into intergovernmental agreements
when utilizing Federal funding. The Committee encourages OMB to
issue guidance confirming the eligibility of the use of
intergovernmental purchasing by non-Federal entities so that
they can capitalize on the cost and time savings associated
with such agreements.
Metropolitan Statistical Area Designations.--The Committee
is concerned about OMB's proposal to increase the population
threshold for metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) to more
than 50,000. Hundreds of Federal programs use metropolitan
designations to help allocate funding. Given the potential
funding impacts, the Committee urges OMB to reconsider
proceeding with any change to the definition of an MSA.
Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation.--The
Committee supports creation of an independent office within the
Executive Office of the President dedicated to manufacturing
and industrial innovation. Such an office would provide
manufacturing and industrial perspectives and advice to the
President, develop a strategic national manufacturing policy
for the United States, and engage in a comprehensive survey and
cross-administration management of efforts to ensure global
leadership in manufacturing critical to the long-term economic
health and national security of the United States. The
Committee will work with OMB and other EOP offices to ensure
that such an office is authorized and funded in a timely
manner.
Advancing Equity.--Advancing Racial Equity and Support for
Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
(Executive Order 13985) is intended to advance racial equity
and support for underserved communities through the Federal
government. To promote equity, the Committee urges OMB to
require each Federal agency to include a summary of the plan
required by section 7 of Executive Order 13985 in its fiscal
year 2023 budget justification. In addition, the Committee
notes that Executive Order 13985 clarifies the Federal
government's essential role in advancing racial equity and the
role data play in tracking progress and holding the Federal
government accountable. The Committee urges the Interagency
Working Group on Equitable Data (Data Working Group),
established by section 9 of Executive Order 13985, in
accordance with their described functions, to provide the
Committee on Appropriations the initial assessment of data
collection efforts within each agency detailing the
availability and type of data collected on race, gender, and
other key demographic categories. The Committee will use this
information as a baseline to assess recommendations and
progress by the Data Working Group. The Data Working Group is
urged in fiscal year 2023 to report to the Committee on
Appropriations every 6 months on how its recommendations will
improve the quality and availability of data by race, gender,
and other demographic variables, so the Committee can better
understand funding implications and develop targeted solutions
to ensure more equitable outcomes.
Federal and Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.--In
recent months, the nation's information technology and critical
infrastructure--which support global food supply chains,
transportation systems, healthcare providers, and more--have
been subject to a disturbing uptick in ransomware and
cyberattacks. Executive Order 13800, issued on May 11, 2017,
directs agency heads to implement several risk management and
cybersecurity measures, including the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Framework for Improving Critical
Infrastructure Cybersecurity. The Committee is concerned that
agencies have not implemented these foundational cybersecurity
measures, including the following risk-based vulnerability
management practices: 1) discovering all assets connected to
the agency's network, 2) continuously assessing and monitoring
these assets for cybersecurity vulnerabilities, 3) managing
users to prevent exploitation from attackers, and 4)
prioritizing remediation of identified cybersecurity
vulnerabilities posing the greatest risk. OMB is directed to
report, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, on the status
of compliance with Executive Order 13800 by each applicable
agency. The report shall identify risk management and
cybersecurity compliance gaps and outline steps each agency
must take to implement risk-based vulnerability management
practices. The report shall include a timeline and cost
estimates to meet the requirements set forth in Executive Order
13800.
Hunger Conference.--The Committee is increasingly concerned
about rising levels of hunger in the United States and
challenges related to the supply chain and delivery of
nutritious food to underserved populations, which was
exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee directs OMB
to convene a conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health
no later than 120 days after enactment of this Act, for the
purpose of developing of a roadmap to end hunger and improve
nutrition by 2030. The conference should be developed in
consultation with Federal, State, and local officials; anti-
hunger, food supply, and health care experts drawn from across
the country; and people with lived experience of hunger. The
conference should examine why hunger persists and where gaps
exist, and develop cross departmental strategies to eliminate
hunger. The conference should examine limitations in the
nation's food supply chain, advancements in nutrition, and ways
to improve health and reduce costs by eliminating hunger and
improving access to nutritious foods. The conference should
also examine how limited opportunities for economic mobility
and other inequities have contributed to hunger. The conference
shall produce a final report detailing its findings and
proposed policies changes to end hunger and improve nutrition
security nationally by 2030.
Hunger Report.--In preparation for the conference on Food,
Nutrition, Hunger, and Health described above, no later than 90
days after enactment, OMB shall consult with all Cabinet-level
departments and the Small Business Administration and shall
report initial findings to the Committee. The findings shall
identify current programming that directly or indirectly
impacts food insecurity; specific statutory, regulatory, and
budgetary barriers to ending hunger in the United States and
the Territories; existing examples of coordination mechanisms
between Federal agencies, Federal agencies and state and local
governments, and all levels of government and program
implementers; and additional authorities or resources needed to
eliminate hunger and improve nutrition and health.
Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $1,800,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 1,838,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,838,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +38,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $1,838,000 for IPEC.
Piracy Prevention.--The Committee continues to strongly
support IPEC's efforts to promote voluntary, stakeholder-driven
initiatives to deprive piracy services from revenue from
legitimate payment processors and advertising networks. The
Committee directs IPEC to build upon this work and engage
hosting entities such as registries and registrars to combat
piracy. IPEC should work to ensure that U.S. companies that
provide hosting and analogous services work proactively and
effectively so that their legitimate services are not
manipulated to facilitate the theft of copyrighted works.
Office of the National Cyber Director
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... $15,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 18,750,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +18,750,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +3,750,000
The Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) was
created in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) to
advise the President on cybersecurity and related emerging
technology issues and to coordinate cybersecurity strategy and
policy, including Executive Branch development of an integrated
national cybersecurity.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $18,750,000 for the ONCD.
Cyber Coordination.--The Committee notes the increasing
regularity of highly damaging cyberattacks, including attacks
against critical U.S. infrastructure, and supports the creation
of new Federal cyber policy expertise and capabilities. The
Committee also notes that cyber policy functions are currently
distributed among numerous Federal agencies and offices and
seeks clarity on ONCD's jurisdiction. The Committee directs
ONCD to consult with OMB, the National Security Council, the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the United
States Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, and
other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, to
ensure coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of,
the activities of the ONCD with the activities of other parts
of the Federal government. The Committee directs ONCD to
provide a briefing within 90 days of enactment of this Act
outlining its spending plan for funding provided by this Act
and delineating the specific responsibilities of ONCD in
relation to other Federal departments and agencies.
Office of National Drug Control Policy
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $18,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 21,300,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 21,300,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +2,900,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $21,300,000 for ONDCP Salaries and
Expenses.
Administration of HIDTA and DFC.--The HIDTA and DFC grant
programs play an important role in combating the nation's
opioid epidemic. The Committee 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 supports
the President's fiscal year 2022 budget proposal to keep
operational control over these programs within ONDCP to
maintain the interagency benefits needed to address the opioid
crisis.
Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy.--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, and their
effect on U.S. States, especially communities along the Eastern
seaboard. The Committee expects that ONDCP will continue to
include a Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy in
forthcoming versions of the National Drug Control Strategy.
National Drug Control Strategy and U.S. Territories.--The
Committee is concerned that the National Drug Control Strategy
does not adequately address the problem of substance abuse,
drug trafficking, and associated violence in the U.S.
territories. The Committee directs ONDCP to take all reasonable
steps to consider, collect, and publish relevant information
from the five U.S. territories in future reports and
forthcoming versions of the National Drug Control Strategy, in
the same manner that such data is considered, collected, and
published for the States and the District of Columbia.
Alternative Livelihood Opportunities.--The Committee
recognizes the importance of creating alternative livelihood
opportunities for farmers in opium poppy crop-producing regions
of Mexico to reduce the supply of opioids flowing into the
United States. The Committee urges ONDCP to lead interagency
efforts with the Government of Mexico to develop an alternative
livelihood program in Mexico to increase economic opportunities
for farmers, reduce their dependence on opium poppy as a cash
crop, and complement other existing drug supply reduction
strategies.
FEDERAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS
HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $290,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 293,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 300,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +10,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +6,500,000
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 $10,000,000 above fiscal year 2021. The
recommendation includes $3,500,000, as requested, for a new
grants management system.
The Committee notes the additional funds proposed in the
request for auditing services and associated activities to
enhance oversight and accountability in the HIDTA program. The
Committee will continue to work with ONDCP to ensure the
necessary resources are provided to support and oversee this
program.
Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP).--
The Committee recognizes the effectiveness of ODMAP in
facilitating information sharing and supporting efforts by
public health and public safety officials to mobilize rapid
response to a suspected overdose event. The Committee
encourages ONDCP, in consultation with the HIDTA Directors, to
prioritize discretionary funds towards programs that promote
public health and public safety collaboration, including ODMAP.
OTHER FEDERAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $128,182,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 132,617,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 136,617,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +8,435,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +4,000,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $136,617,000 for Other Federal
Drug Control Programs. The recommended level for fiscal year
2022 is distributed among specific programs and activities as
follows:
Drug-Free Communities................................. $110,000,000
Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance.......... 3,000,000
Anti-Doping Activities................................ 14,000,000
World Anti-Doping Agency.............................. 3,167,000
Model Acts Program.................................... 1,250,000
Community-Based Coalition Enhancement Grants (CARA 5,200,000
Grants)..............................................
The Committee notes the modifications proposed in the
budget request to increase the cap on administrative funding
available for the DFC and CARA Grants programs. The Committee
will continue to work with ONDCP to ensure the necessary
resources are provided to support and oversee these programs.
Unanticipated Needs
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $1,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 1,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 2021....................... $12,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 10,442,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 10,442,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... -2,058,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Information Technology Oversight and Reform account
supports efforts to make the Federal government's investments
in information technology more efficient, secure, and
effective.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $10,442,000 for information
technology oversight activities.
Special Assistance to the President
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $4,698,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 5,726,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,726,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +1,028,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
These funds support the executive functions of the Office
of the Vice President.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $5,726,000 for the Office of the
Vice President.
Official Residence of the Vice President
OPERATING EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $302,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 313,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 313,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +11,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Official Residence of the Vice President Operating
Expenses account supports the care and operation of the Vice
President's residence and supports 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 $313,000 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 continues a provision permitting
the transfer of not to exceed 10 percent of funds among 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 continues a provision requiring
the OMB Director to include a statement of budgetary impact
with any Executive Order or Presidential Memorandum issued or
rescinded during fiscal year 2022 where the regulatory cost
exceeds $100,000,000.
Section 203. The Committee continues a 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 implement a system to make publicly available,
in an automated fashion, all documents apportioning an
appropriation and all relevant delegations of apportionment
authority, and to provide the Committee with such information
until the automated system is implemented. This provision also
includes a requirement for a contemporaneous explanation of the
apportionment schedule and any footnotes for apportioned
amounts (as those terms are used in OMB Circular A-11). This
requirement would apply to any appropriation apportioned under
the President's apportionment authority, including
appropriations provided in prior years and those included in
Acts other than appropriations Acts.
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 $8,152,134,000 in discretionary funding
for the Judiciary in fiscal year 2022. This is a $432,302,000
increase above fiscal year 2021 levels.
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.
The Committee realizes the challenges of forecasting
financial requirements as the Federal Government transitions
back to pre-COVID work levels and appreciates the Judiciary's
efforts and transparency with the process. Additionally, the
Supreme Court is commended for their continued success with
real-time audio oral arguments. The Committee is hopeful that
the momentum created from using technology to continue
operations during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue, allowing
greater public access to the courts. The Committee is also
keenly interested in how technology and telework will play a
role in the Judiciary's future as courts reopen; jury trials
resume; and defender, probation, and pretrial workloads
increase.
The Committee is concerned with the safety of all Judicial
employees and with the number of recent attacks and threats
made to Judicial staff. The Committee requests to be kept
informed of the security resources needed to protect the Third
Branch of the Federal Government.
Supreme Court of the United States
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $94,690,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 97,501,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 98,338,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +3,648,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +837,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $98,338,000 for fiscal year 2022
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 with
its budget justification materials a report showing information
technology carryover balances and describing expenditures made
in the previous fiscal year and planned expenditures in the
budget year.
Supreme Court Live Audio and Video Access.--The Committee
notes that providing Supreme Court arguments in real time via
video would greatly expand the Court's accessibility to
Americans and provide historic and educational value. As such,
the Committee encourages the Supreme Court to permit video
coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless allowing such
coverage in any case would violate the due process of one or
more of the parties in a case before the Court. Should a
majority of Justices remain reluctant about video broadcasts of
oral arguments, the Committee encourages the Court to continue
providing the public with live audio access to its arguments,
as it has done since May 2020.
Supreme Court Code of Conduct.--The Committee urges the
Supreme Court to adopt a Code of Conduct applicable for the
Justices. The Committee expects to be briefed on proposals for
the adoption of a Code of Conduct within 60 days of enactment
of this Act.
CARE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $10,618,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 10,309,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 10,309,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... -309,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $10,309,000 for Care of 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 2021....................... $33,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 34,280,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 34,506,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +1,006,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +226,000
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 $34,506,000 for the United States Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit.
United States Court of International Trade
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $20,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 20,675,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 20,766,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +766,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +91,000
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 $20,766,000 United States Court of International
Trade.
Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $5,393,701,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 5,651,379,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,724,360,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +330,659,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +72,981,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $5,724,360,000 for the operations
of the regional Courts of Appeals, District Courts, Bankruptcy
Courts, the Court of Federal Claims, and probation and pretrial
services offices.
In addition, the Committee recommends a reimbursement of
$9,850,000 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.
Additional Judges.--The Committee requests the temporary
designation and assignment, pursuant to chapter 13 of title 28
of the United States Code, of additional judges to those
districts with expanding caseloads. As a result of the high
level of filings and the robust caseload within the California
jurisdiction, the Judiciary is directed to brief the Committee
within 90 days of enactment of this Act on how the number of
judgeships can be expanded in the Central District of
California as well as how more judges can be located in the
Eastern Division.
DEFENDER SERVICES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $1,316,240,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 1,409,591,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,368,175,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +51,935,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. -41,416,000
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
$1,368,175,000 for Defender Services, which is based on the
Judiciary's revised budget estimates that project a higher
fiscal year 2021 carryforward into fiscal year 2022.
FEES OF JURORS AND COMMISSIONERS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $32,517,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 53,690,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 46,957,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +14,440,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. -6,733,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $46,957,000 for payments to jurors
and commissioners, which is based on the Judiciary's revised
budget estimates that project a higher fiscal year 2021
carryforward into fiscal year 2022 and a reduction in estimated
fees of jurors due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
COURT SECURITY
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $664,011,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 682,140,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 682,265,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +18,254,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +125,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $682,265,000 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 2021....................... $95,675,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 100,342,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 103,628,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +7,953,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +3,286,000
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 $103,628,000
for the AO.
Workplace Misconduct.--The Judiciary is directed to submit
a report to the Committee within 180 days of enactment of this
Act on the number of formal workplace misconduct complaints
received, investigations conducted, and types of misconduct
alleged or found in each judicial circuit; each appellate,
district, and bankruptcy court; and each judicial branch
agency, including the AO, the Federal Judicial Center, the
Sentencing Commission, and Federal public defender offices.
The Committee directs the Administrative Office's Office of
Judicial Integrity to continue to inform Congress in their
annual Congressional budget on the challenges remaining to
provide an exemplary workplace for every judge and every court
employee.
Workplace Survey.--The Committee directs the Director of
the AO to develop and promulgate a model climate survey for use
by courts of appeals, district courts (to include probation and
pretrial services), bankruptcy courts, federal public defender
offices, and the AO to assess their workplace environments,
with a particular emphasis on issues related to workplace
conduct. The Director shall provide a report detailing the
status of these efforts no later than 120 days after the
enactment of this Act.
Pilot Program.--The Committee expresses continued interest
in finding ways to expand access to representation under
1915(e)(1) of title 28, United States Code, and looks forward
to receiving the briefing requested in House Report 116-456 on
the potential feasibility of creating a pilot program to
broaden access to appointed representation under title 28.
Judiciary Materials.--The Committee directs the Judiciary
to include in their annual budget justification a report on the
steps the AO is taking to ensure materials concerning pending
legislation are consistent with both the Code of Conduct for
United States Judges and the Code of Conduct for Judicial
Employees.
Courthouse Priority Determination.--The Committee is
interested in the priority of courthouse construction projects.
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts shall submit a
report to the Committees, within 90 days of enactment of this
Act, that clearly highlights criteria that was decisive in
priority determinations, along with justifications for added
projects and priority adjustments made between fiscal years
2018 through 2022.
Federal Judicial Center
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $29,015,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 31,864,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 32,151,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +3,136,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +287,000
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 $32,151,000 for
the FJC.
Education and Training of Judges.--The Committee recognizes
the importance of national security considerations in reviewing
bankruptcy and investment transactions, and encourages the FJC
to educate bankruptcy judges on the Committee on Foreign
Investment in the United States process and how bankruptcy
court decisions impact this process and national security. Not
later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the Center
is directed to report to the Committee on its plans to
incorporated national security considerations into bankruptcy
judge educational activities.
United States Sentencing Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $19,965,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 20,626,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 20,829,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +864,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +203,000
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
Congress. The Committee recommends $20,829,000 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 2022 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
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. The Committee continues language through
fiscal year 2022 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 continues language to extend
temporary judgeships in the districts of Alabama-Northern,
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 2021....................... $40,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 40,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 40,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 2021....................... $51,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 25,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 25,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... -26,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 (EPSF) helps address the impact of the Federal
presence on public safety in the District of Columbia.
The Committee notes the significant role that the D.C.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) played in quelling the
deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. At
approximately 1:00 pm on January 6, 2021, the U.S. Capitol
Police called the D.C. MPD for assistance.
MPD was prepared for a significant event that might turn
violent. As a result, all leave and days off for MPD officers
were canceled the week of January 4, and all MPD officers were
working 12-hour shifts. Due to this level of preparation, MPD
was prepared with staffing to support the U.S. Capitol Police
and were able to respond quickly. During the height of the
incident, approximately 850 MPD officers were at the Capitol,
and by dawn on January 7, an estimated additional 250 officers
had been in the area to directly support the response and
aftermath.
According to written testimony provided by the Chief of the
D.C. MPD, 65 members of the D.C. MPD were injured and more than
80 D.C. MPD officers tested positive for COVID-19 in the
aftermath of the riot. Funding for the EPSF provided in fiscal
year 2021 was used to reimburse the District of Columbia for
expenditures made in defense of the U.S. Capitol, Members of
Congress, and their staff.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $25,000,000
for emergency planning and security costs and additional costs
incurred by the District of Columbia.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $250,088,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 273,508,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 273,508,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +23,420,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $273,508,000
for operation of the District of Columbia Courts.
The amount recommended by the Committee includes
$14,366,000 for the Court of Appeals, $133,829,000 for the
Superior Court, $83,443,000 for the Court System, and
$41,870,000 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 owned space
and out of leased space.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR DEFENDER SERVICES IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $46,005,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 46,005,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 46,005,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 2021....................... $245,923,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 283,425,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 283,425,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +37,502,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $283,425,000
for CSOSA. Of the amounts provided, $206,006,000 is for
Community Supervision and Sex Offender Registration and
$77,419,000 is for pretrial services. The recommendation
includes $14,747,000 to remain available until September 30,
2024, for the costs associated with relocation under
replacement leases for headquarters offices, field offices, and
related facilities for CSOSA and $7,304,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2023, for the costs associated
with a replacement lease and relocation of the Pretrial
Services Agency.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $46,212,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 57,676,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 57,676,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +11,464,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $57,676,000
for PDS for the District of Columbia.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $2,150,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 2,150,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,150,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 2021....................... $600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 630,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 630,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +30,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $330,000 for
the CJDT and $300,000 for the JNC.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $52,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 52,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 52,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act, as
reauthorized in P.L. 116-94, 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 retains bill language requiring schools
participating in the SOAR program to certify compliance with
Federal civil rights and special education laws.
Consistent with the language in the fiscal year 2022 budget
request for the District of Columbia for the Opportunity
Scholarship Program, the Committee expects the Administration
to phase out the Opportunity Scholarship Program in fiscal year
2023. Therefore, the Committee directs the District of
Columbia, in consultation with the nonprofit corporation that
administers the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, to submit
a plan within 180 days of enactment of this Act that ensures
that students currently participating in the program are
allowed to complete their education at their current school and
also ensures that no new students are admitted to the program.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 600,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 600,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of
Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program
pays for a tuition assistance program for guard members.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $600,000. 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 2021....................... $4,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 5,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +1,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 one 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 2021....................... $8,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 8,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 8,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 2021....................... $3,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 3,400,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 3,400,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS)
is an independent agency that studies Federal administrative
procedures and processes to recommend improvements to the
President, Congress, and other agencies.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $3,400,000 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 CFPB with
additional authorities to conduct rulemaking, supervision, and
enforcement with respect to Federal consumer financial laws.
Funding required to support the CFPB's operations are obtained
from transfers from the Federal Reserve System.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
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 CFPB to
take aggressive action to protect consumers, including those
negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $135,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 170,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 172,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +37,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +2,000,000
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 $172,000,000 for the CPSC. CPSC
has been chronically underfunded in recent years. The
recommendation includes a significant increase to address
unfunded priorities identified by CPSC in prior years,
including increased import surveillance, expanded hazard
identification capability, and increased Internet surveillance
for dangerous products.
The recommendation includes $2,000,000 for the Virginia
Graeme Baker (VGB) Grant Program and the associated
administrative costs to reduce the number of injuries and
deaths associated with pools and spas.
Pool Safely.--The Committee commends the CPSC for
continuing to provide resources for the national and grassroots
``Pool Safely'' campaign, a safety information and education
program designed 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
increase funding for the ``Pool Safely'' campaign above the
fiscal year 2021 levels.
VGB Grant Program Facilitation.--The 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.
Carbon Monoxide Hazards.--The Committee encourages the CPSC
to continue its efforts to educate the American public on the
dangers of carbon monoxide. Currently, CPSC helps promote
carbon monoxide safety by raising awareness of carbon monoxide
hazards and the need for correct use and regular maintenance of
fuel-burning appliances and by developing voluntary and
mandatory standards for fuel-burning appliances.
Crumb Rubber.--The CPSC is directed to conduct applied
research on exposure to potential chronic hazards related to
nanotechnology in consumer products and crumb rubber
(artificial field turf and playgrounds). In addition, as part
of the Healthy Children initiative and in coordination with
other relevant Federal agencies, the CPSC is directed to
conduct a hazard analysis and quantitative risk assessment on
crumb rubber to determine whether it may be ``hazardous,'' as
defined in the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Within 180
days of enactment of this Act, the CPSC is directed to provide
to the Committee and post online a report on its activities
related to crumb rubber.
Illegal Aerial Fireworks.--The Committee is concerned about
ongoing consumer protection issues posed by illegal aerial
fireworks. The Committee directs the CPSC to submit a report
within 180 days of enactment of this Act on its investigation
of the importation and shipment of illegal aerial fireworks and
to develop recommendations for stopping their importation and
shipment and educating the public about their danger.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Section 501. The Committee continues a provision
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 2021....................... $17,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 22,834,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 22,834,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +5,834,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is a bipartisan
Federal commission that helps election officials administer and
voters participate in elections. Established by the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), EAC distributes, administers,
and audits HAVA funds, serves as the Nation's clearinghouse for
information on election administration, conducts the Election
Administration and Voting Survey and other studies, develops
the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, accredits testing
laboratories and certifies voting systems, and administers the
National Mail Voter Registration Form in accordance with the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $22,834,000 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.
The Committee remains committed to ensuring EAC has the
resources necessary to support State and local election
officials on all aspects of election administration, including
enhancing election security.
Discriminatory Election Laws.--The 2020 elections exposed
the discriminatory laws and policies that continue to serve as
barriers to voting for people of color across the country. The
Committee supports outreach and investments to dismantle these
long-standing barriers, promote full and active participation
in the election process, and protect the right to vote for all
Americans.
Vote-by-Mail.--The proportion of voters that cast ballots
by mail more than doubled from 2016 to 2020. The Committee
encourages EAC to review the lessons learned from the 2020
elections and make recommendations to States on best practices
to improve the administration of vote-by-mail and expand access
to the ballot.
Support to Local Election Jurisdictions.--The Committee
urges EAC to increase outreach and trainings to local election
jurisdictions, with particular attention to those jurisdictions
which are consistently last to report polling data for Federal
elections.
Election Cybersecurity Support.--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 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.
Grants for Innovations in Election Administration.--EAC is
directed to assess the feasibility of establishing a
competitive grant program for research and other innovative
initiatives to improve election administration. Such
initiatives may include (but are not limited to): combating the
dissemination and public acceptance of misinformation about
elections, using data analysis to evaluate the integrity of
State systems, and identifying recommendations for voter
registration, mail ballots, and official communications to
modernize and fortify election systems. EAC is directed to
brief the Committee not later than 90 days after enactment of
this Act on its assessment.
ELECTION SECURITY GRANTS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... $100,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 500,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +500,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +400,000,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $500,000,000 for Election Security
Grants.
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. Further, the bill requires States
to submit semi-annual financial reports and annual progress
reports to the EAC.
Federal Communications Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $374,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 387,950,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 387,950,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +13,950,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $387,950,000 for the FCC, to be
derived from offsetting collections. The Committee also
includes a cap of $128,621,000 for the administration of
spectrum auctions.
Broadband Maps.--The Committee remains highly interested in
implementation of the Broadband DATA Act (P.L. 116-130). The
FCC is directed to provide an updated spend plan and status
report on Broadband Data Act spending no later than 60 days
after enactment of this Act.
Mapping Partnership with USPS.--The Committee notes that
the FCC released a report in May 2021 on the feasibility of
partnering with the United States Postal Service to facilitate
the collection of mobile wireless broadband data, as required
by the Broadband DATA Act. The report outlines several
challenges but says that ``the Commission is continuing to
explore possible solutions to the issues.'' The Committee
encourages the FCC to continue its work to address these
obstacles and create a feasible partnership that will help
improve wireless mapping in rural and underserved communities
across the country.
Broadband Access.--The Committee believes that deployment
of broadband in rural and economically disadvantaged areas is a
driver of economic development, jobs, and new educational
opportunities. The Committee supports FCC efforts to
judiciously allocate Universal Service Fund (USF) funds for
these areas.
Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.--In the Rural Digital
Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction, 180 bidders won $9.2
billion over 10 years to provide broadband to more than 5
million locations in U.S. States and territories. The RDOF
Phase I auction represents an opportunity to bring broadband
access to unserved rural communities across this country and to
help close the digital divide in rural communities, but the
Committee remains concerned about program implementation. The
Committee expects the FCC to fully enforce its rules related to
buildout requirements and performance tier commitments.
Territorial Access to Broadband.--The Committee is
concerned about disparities in access to communications
services on Tribal lands and in territories. The Committee
encourages the FCC to implement policies to increase broadband
access and adoption in these areas. The Committee commends the
FCC's work in establishing the Uniendo, a Puerto Rico Fund, and
the Connect U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Fund to make additional
USF funding available to rebuild fixed and mobile voice and
broadband networks damaged in the 2017 hurricane season. In
September 2019, the FCC approved $950,000,000 in Stage 2
funding to improve, expand, and harden communications networks
in Puerto Rico and the USVI. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the
FCC is allocating more than $180,000,000 over ten years in
support fixed networks, and $4,000,000 over three years for
mobile networks. The Committee supports these efforts and urges
the FCC to expeditiously move forward with its funding
commitments under these programs.
Tribal Access to Broadband.--The Committee urges the FCC to
responsibly and efficiently take action to increase access to
broadband on Tribal lands and supports consultation with
Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native villages and
corporations, and entities related to Hawaiian home lands to
help close the digital divide. The FCC is encouraged to use all
available resources to increase funding for consultation with
Federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and
entities related to Hawaiian home lands; other work by the
Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP); and associated work
from other bureaus and offices in support of ONAP.
School Broadband.--The Committee believes that access to
broadband is an important factor in student success in school.
The coronavirus pandemic highlighted this issue, but it will
continue for many students even after full-time remote learning
ends. The Committee notes that Congress established a
$7,171,000,000 Emergency Connectivity Fund in the American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) to help address this
issue. The Committee directs the FCC to evaluate new or
existing programs that could be used to permanently extend
telecommunications and information services to students at
locations other than schools and libraries. The Committee
directs the FCC to provide a briefing on implementation of the
Emergency Connectivity Fund and any findings from its
evaluations no later than 120 days after the enactment of this
Act.
Telehealth Funding.--The Committee notes that the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) required
that ``To the extent feasible, the Commission shall ensure, in
providing assistance under the COVID-19 Telehealth Program . .
. that not less than 1 applicant in each of the 50 States and
the District of Columbia has received funding from the Program
since the inception of the Program, unless there is no such
applicant eligible for such assistance in a State or in the
District of Columbia.'' The Committee is pleased that the FCC
has decided to adopt rules that ``seek to ensure that at least
two applications with lead health care providers from every
state, territory, and the District of Columbia receive Program
funding, if such applications exist.'' The Committee supports
the FCC's decision to include all territories of the United
States in its rule adoption.
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 channel relocation service and equipment costs
incurred by the broadcast industry, as well as to provide
financial assistance to FM stations, TV translators, and low-
power stations. The Committee is aware of concerns about funds
available to broadcasters to repack stations and is monitoring
this issue closely. Both broadcasters and entities who
purchased spectrum rights 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. Within 90 days of enactment of this Act, the FCC
shall provide a report detailing the total amount of funding
provided and requested by each category of eligible recipient.
5G Networks.--The Committee remains concerned about the
digital divide and supports measures to bring broadband
services to unserved and underserved communities as well as to
address broadband affordability and adoption. The Committee
also recognizes that ensuring the United States is the global
leader in the 5G economy is an economic and national security
imperative. The Committee supports policies to ensure that 5G
technologies are developed domestically and among our allies,
and that the United States leads the world in the deployment of
multiple, facilities-based commercial 5G networks. To that end,
the Committee supports a phased approach to making additional
spectrum available for commercial licensed and unlicensed use.
Additionally, the Committee supports the Commission's efforts
to make more mid-band spectrum available for auction and
flexible commercial use. The Committee opposes efforts to use
Federally allocated spectrum to create a national wholesale 5G
network owned, operated, or controlled by the government and
continues to support private sector efforts to deploy 5G.
Transmissions of Local Television Programming.--The
Committee encourages consumer access to local television
programming, especially in rural areas, for its economic,
safety, and cultural importance. 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 also notes that
despite the reforms made to the Satellite Television Extension
and Localism Reauthorization (STELAR) Act of 2014, many
communities continue to struggle with market modification
petitions to the FCC. 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. The Committee therefore
directs the FCC to adhere to statutory requirements and
Congressional intent when taking administrative action related
to satellite television carriage issues.
Robocalls.--The Committee remains 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 status of implementation of the
TRACED Act, (P.L. 116-105).
Robocall Penalty Collection.--The Committee is aware of
significant delays in collecting and enforcing financial
penalties levied under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
(TCPA) and is concerned that these fines serve as an
insufficient deterrent to potential TCPA violators. The
Committee urges the FCC to regularly discuss collections of
these fines 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.
5G Supply Chain.--The Committee notes the importance of a
secure 5G technology supply chain. The Committee encourages the
FCC to investigate options for increasing supply chain
diversity, bolstering competition in the 5G equipment market,
and strengthening 5G network security via hardware and software
solutions that use virtualization technology, open standard-
based interfaces, and interoperable equipment.
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 on
recommendations for USF modernization, including contribution
reform to ensure the long-term sustainability and viability of
the USF programs and resolve inequities in the current
contributions structure.
Lifeline Participation.--According to Universal Service
Administrative Company estimates, less than 30 percent of
eligible households participate in the Lifeline program. The
Committee encourages the FCC to expeditiously address all
recommendations made in GAO Report 21-235 to increase consumer
awareness of and improve user experience with Lifeline. The
Committee also encourages the FCC to work with community-based
organizations to conduct outreach in areas with large amounts
of unserved eligible households about the availability of the
Lifeline program.
Cybersecurity Certification and Labeling.--The Committee
encourages the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology to
begin assessing existing cybersecurity certifications pertinent
to critical infrastructure and to develop further informational
and technological resources, as needed, to inform consumer and
critical infrastructure owner and operator purchasing decisions
for secure information and communications technologies.
Cloud Migration.--The Committee recognizes the importance
of cloud migration for continued FCC operations and
cybersecurity. Throughout much of the last decade, the FCC has
released plans for IT modernization and cloud migration with
the intention of decreasing their data center footprint in
accordance with the Data Center Optimization Initiative (DCOI)
mandated by Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform
Act (P.L. 113-291). The FCC is directed to provide a report to
Committee no later than 120 days after enactment of this Act on
its plans for re-architecting legacy systems, moving to
commercial cloud solutions, and complying with DCOI.
Municipal Broadband.--The Committee urges the FCC to study
the role of municipal-owned networks in expanding broadband
access to unserved and underserved communities.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Section 510. The Committee continues and modifies a
provision extending an exemption from the Antideficiency Act
for the USF.
Section 511. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting the FCC from changing rules governing the USF
regarding single connection or primary line restrictions.
Section 512. The Committee continues a provision relating
to Universal Service Fund payments for wireless providers.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $42,982,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 46,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 46,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +3,518,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $46,500,000 from the Deposit
Insurance Fund and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance
Corporation Resolution Fund to finance the OIG.
Federal Election Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $71,497,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 76,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 76,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +5,003,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022 ................. - - -
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 $76,500,000 for the Salaries and
Expenses of the FEC.
FEC Staffing.--The FEC is tasked with the critical mission
of protecting the integrity of the Federal campaign finance
process. The growth in small-dollar campaign donations and
recent changes to fundraising and spending practices of
political committees has caused an exponential growth in the
volume of campaign finance data that the FEC must process,
review, and disclose to the public. Between the 2018 and 2020
election cycles, the number of campaign finance transactions
reported to the FEC more than doubled from nearly 300 million
to over 600 million. While the FEC has realized efficiencies in
the past several years, the growth in workload has outpaced the
FEC's resources and personnel. The Committee recommendation
supports the budget request to backfill critical vacancies to
manage this growing workload. To support future budget
requests, the Committee encourages the FEC to develop a
staffing model to determine the number of personnel needed to
ensure the agency is appropriately resourced to meet its
mission. The FEC is directed to brief the Committee not later
than 180 days after the enactment of this Act on its progress
on this issue.
Zombie Campaigns.--The Committee supports the FEC's actions
to continue to investigate the use of dormant campaign
accounts, also known as ``zombie campaigns,'' for personal use
by former candidates, especially in light of the record-setting
fundraising from the 2020 Presidential election campaign. The
Committee directs the FEC to submit a report, not later than
120 days after the enactment of this Act, detailing the
agency's efforts to investigate the personal use of dormant
campaign funds by former candidates. The report shall include
any appropriate legislative recommendations for Congress to
improve the agency's oversight capacity on this issue.
Federal Labor Relations Authority
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $26,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 29,247,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 29,247,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +2,647,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $29,247,000 for the FLRA.
Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IMPROVEMENT FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $10,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 10,650,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 10,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. -650,000
This account funds the authorized activities of the
Environmental Review Improvement Fund and the Federal
Permitting Steering Council (FPISC). The FPISC 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 Act.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $10,000,000 for the FPISC.
Federal Trade Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $351,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 389,800,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 389,800,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +38,800,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 premerger filing fees. The FTC's
appropriation is also partially offset by Do-Not-Call registry
fees.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $389,800,000 for the FTC. The
Congressional Budget Office estimates $138,000,000 of
collections from Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger filing fees and
$20,000,000 of collections from Do-Not-Call 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. The
Committee provides the FTC with additional resources to
increase both its enforcement of antitrust statutes and its
capacity to investigate unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent
business practices.
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, making it
appear as if they are calling from the Social Security hotline.
The Committee urges the 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 as if they are calling from a hospital or physician's
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 directs 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 U.S. territories, as is offered for the
continental United States, or are only willing to ship to these
areas at significantly higher rates. The Committee believes
that these non-foreign areas must be afforded equal treatment
to the other 48 states. The Committee requests the FTC to
continue monitoring these inequalities in interstate commerce
and to continue issuing relevant outreach and educational
materials.
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, 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. 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 encourages the FTC to
work with the Securities and Exchange Commission, other
financial regulators, consumer groups, law enforcement,
research organizations, and other public and private
stakeholders to identify and investigate fraud related to
cryptocurrencies market and discuss methods to empower and
protect consumers. The Committee recommends that the FTC
increase its engagement with stakeholders on this issue and
that the FTC promptly publish any public education or consumer
protection best practices developed from its activities on its
website.
Consumer Right to Repair.--The Committee is aware of the
FTC's ongoing work examining how manufacturers, particularly
mobile phone and car manufacturers, may limit repairs by
consumers and repair shops, and how those limitations may
increase costs, limit choice, and impact consumers' rights
under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The Committee appreciates
the FTC's timely and comprehensive report, ``Nixing the Fix: An
FTC Report to Congress on Repair Restrictions,'' issued in May
2021. The report notes that ``[t]o address unlawful repair
restrictions, the FTC will pursue appropriate law enforcement
and regulatory options, as well as consumer education,
consistent with our statutory authority.'' The Committee
requests a briefing, within 120 days of enactment of this Act,
on law enforcement, regulatory, and educational actions the
agency has taken in relation to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
since the publication of that report, including an assessment
of how repair restrictions might impact rural communities,
communities of color, and indigenous communities.
Environmental Marketing Claims.--The Committee is concerned
that the rise in consumer demand for ``environmentally
friendly'' products and services has resulted in the marketing
of products as recyclable, compostable, or sustainable that do
not reflect consumer understanding of recyclability or
compostability or the realities of the recycling and composting
process. The FTC Green Guides are designed to help marketers
avoid making environmental claims that mislead consumers.
However, the Green Guides were last updated in 2012, and in the
sections on recyclability, the Guides address the availability
of recycling facilities but not the access or viability of the
end-market for those products. The Committee believes that an
update to the Green Guides is overdue, given the shifts in the
marketplace, and requests the FTC to initiate a review of the
Green Guides and develop updated guidance for marketers. The
FTC should examine the viability of materials end-markets,
should work with the Environmental Protection Agency to conform
the guides to the national standard recycling label, and should
consider whether additional marketer and consumer educational
activities are warranted.
Plant-Based Products.--The Committee is aware of the
ongoing debate around plant-based labels and the use of
traditional meat, dairy, and egg terminology. The Committee
encourages the FTC to work with the Food and Drug
Administration on labeling requirements to ensure that
consumers have clear, accurate information about plant-based
food products.
Children's Privacy.--The Committee is aware of the
significant increase in online activity by children during the
COVID 19 pandemic and is concerned that this may lead to a
greater opportunity for bad actors to unlawfully gather and use
children's personal information. The Committee urges the FTC to
prioritize investigations into potential violations of the
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act Rule (COPPA Rule) and
to incorporate findings from new and recent cases relating to
children's privacy into its ongoing COPPA Rule review process.
Not later than 120 days after the enactment of this Act, the
FTC is directed to provide to the Committee a report detailing
the current amount of resources and personnel focused on
enforcing the COPPA Rule; the number of investigations into
violations of the COPPA Rule in the past 5 years; and the types
of relief obtained, if any, for any completed investigations.
Flushable Wipes.--The Committee is concerned about products
marketed as ``flushable wipes'' that are not actually
flushable. Such wipes can clog homeowner and municipal sewer
pipes and damage wastewater treatment equipment, necessitating
expensive repairs. The Committee notes that the FTC final
consent order with Nice-Pak Products, Inc., required Nice-Pak
to substantiate its flushability advertising claims. The
Committee encourages the FTC to investigate the marketing
claims of other flushable wipe manufacturers to ensure that
such companies are not misrepresenting the nature of their
products.
Contact Lenses.--The Committee supports maintaining
longstanding regulation and oversight of the contact lens
marketplace in the recently finalized Contact Lens Rule. The
Committee supports the Commission's efforts to enforce the
Rule's verification requirements, particularly related to new
online market entrants.
Online Marketplaces.--The Committee encourages the FTC to
increase enforcement efforts to stop the sale of counterfeit
and pirated goods on online marketplaces.
General Services Administration
The Committee continues several reporting requirements for
the General Services Administration (GSA) for fiscal year 2022.
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. 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. In order to provide
increased transparency and keep the Committee informed, 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 of 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.--Within 45 days of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee a
report on the state of the Public Buildings Service real estate
portfolio for fiscal year 2021. 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 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.
Diversity in Federal Public Building Names.--The Committee
recognizes the Administrator of GSA's role in naming or
renaming Federal buildings, and the honor and significance of
naming a Federal public building after an individual. The
Committee also recognizes the significant contributions to the
prosperity of the United States made by individuals from Black,
Latino, Native America, and Asian American and Pacific Islander
communities, as well as the history of underrepresentation that
these communities have experienced in the United States. Within
180 days after the enactment of this Act, the Committee directs
the GSA to conduct an analysis of the diversity of the
individuals after which Federal buildings are named after and a
list of all unnamed GSA owned buildings above 10,000 gross
square feet and the congressional district they are located
within.
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 2021.......... $9,065,489,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 10,931,485,000
year 2022............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 10,405,316,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2021......... +1,339,827,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2022 request. -526,169,000
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 $10,405,316,000 for the FBF.
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 Appropriations
Committee and the authorizing committees. The Committee expects
GSA to continue to follow this process.
Light Touch Facilities.--The Committee encourages GSA's
Public Buildings Services to continue to explore new tools and
facility enhancements that achieve dual purpose of ensuring
security and combating against communicable diseases, including
commercially available technology and products that allow
individuals to move through facilities while touching as few
surfaces as possible, such as touchless, automatic doors. GSA
is strongly encouraged to evaluate the deployment of this
technology across the leased and owned Federal real estate
portfolio, taking into consideration expected life-of-the-
product costs including repairs and maintenance, and should
source products used for these improvements in a manner that
supports U.S. manufacturing jobs.
Social Cost of Carbon.--For the purpose of life cycle cost
analyses on projects receiving funding in this Act, the
Administrator is directed to apply the social cost of carbon,
the social cost of nitrous oxide, and the social cost of
methane as established pursuant to Executive Order 13990, with
interim values to be used until final values are published.
Improving Building Resiliency.--The Committee is aware that
increasingly destructive natural catastrophes are occurring
with greater frequency and are as equally devastating to
Federal assets as they are to property owned by individuals,
businesses, and communities. The Committee directs GSA to
establish uniform minimum Federal resiliency and sustainability
standards for Federal buildings and to promulgate rules or
issue guidance to require that every public building
constructed, acquired, or altered by GSA conform to such
standards.
Mitigating Bird Deaths.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of mitigating bird deaths due to collisions with
buildings. The Committee directs GSA, to the maximum extent
practicable, to incorporate methods and strategies to reduce
bird mortality from collisions with public buildings
constructed, acquired, altered, or operated by GSA. GSA is
encouraged to follow current best practices for building facade
materials, design features, lighting practices, and operations,
including those practices referenced in green building system
credits, and to obtain certification for such credits when
green building systems are applied.
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 the
Administration to follow statutory requirements and implement
its policies for leases, including compliance with the ENERGY
STAR and building rating certification lease policies and
procedures in applicable projects. The Committee further
encourages the Administration to develop and implement
mechanisms to improve landlord compliance with energy
provisions of leases for Federal space.
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.
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 may be heard. 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 may be heard. Finally, the Committee directs GSA to
submit a report on its efforts within 120 days of enactment of
this Act that includes the resources necessary to carry out
this request.
Plumbing Requirements.--During the next revision of GSA's
building construction requirements (GSA P100), the Committee
directs GSA to evaluate additional codes and standards,
including those that have achieved American National Standard
Institute (ANSI) designation, or were developed by an ANSI
Audited Designator, to better align with the intent of Federal
policy on the use of codes, standards, and directives that
Congress has given Federal departments and agencies through
more than 100 Committee Reports since the 108th Congress.
Design Excellence Program.--The Committee supports the
Design Excellence Program, administered by the Public Buildings
Service within GSA. The Committee believes it is an essential
part of GSA's mission, encouraging architectural achievement
and providing value to the American taxpayer. The Committee is
concerned that GSA solicitations for design services in 2019
and 2020 established a de facto preferred architectural design
style outside of the design process. The Committee directs GSA
to strictly adhere to the Guiding Principles of Federal
Architecture of 1962 in all solicitations for design services
and other procurement practices. The Committee further directs
GSA to consider input from advisory panels, including the
Commission of Fine Arts, as non-binding, pursuant to their
statutory authority.
Building Feasibility Study and Prospectus Activities
Relating to CDC Chamblee Campus.--The Committee directs GSA to
complete a feasibility study of the Internal Revenue Service
facility located on land adjacent to Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's (CDC) Chamblee Campus. This
feasibility study will provide data to determine cost and
options for viable next steps to support future agency growth
and to ensure that Federal land is utilized in the best manner
while meeting CDC's long term operational goals to expand
currently-owned space and eliminate costly leased space.
CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2021.......... $230,000,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 417,202,000
year 2022............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 616,702,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2021......... +386,702,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2022 request. +199,500,000
The construction and acquisition fund finances the project
cost of design, construction, and management and inspection
costs of new Federal facilities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a limitation of $616,702,000 for
the following projects:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Description Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA................................ Calexico, United $103,376,000
States Land Port of
Entry.
DC................................ DHS Consolidation at 253,797,000
St. Elizabeths.
DC................................ Southeast Federal 9,000,000
Center Remediation.
MO................................ Kansas City, Former 28,553,000
Hardesty Federal
Complex Remediation.
Nationwide........................ United States 221,976,000
Courthouse
Construction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Courthouse Construction.--The recommendation provides for
funding for the Judiciary's two highest priority courthouse
construction projects of the Federal Judiciary in the ``Federal
Judiciary Courthouse Project Priorities'' plan approved by the
Judicial Conference of the United States in September 2020, and
submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
on February 23, 2021. This includes funding for the site and
design work for the Judicial Space Emergency Courthouse
construction project and completion of the next highest
priority courthouse from the Federal Judiciary Courthouse
Project Priorities list. The Committee also encourages the
Administration to request additional funding for courthouse
construction programs in fiscal year 2023 to address other
courthouse project priorities as approved by the Judicial
Conference of the United States.
Mexico-American Border Coordinators.--Mexico is the second
largest importer of all goods into the United States, in
addition to being the second largest recipient of all goods
exported by the United States. The Committee is concerned that
a lack of coordination among Customs and Border Protection
(CBP), GSA, the Department of Transportation, and other
relevant Federal agencies is hampering freight infrastructure
development at land ports of entry with the highest amount of
annual trade at the southwest border, which are 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 the 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 and any additional resources necessary
to support these positions.
Land Ports of Entry--Centers of Excellence.--The Committee
is concerned that many U.S. 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. 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, including the costs associated with
establishing such a Center of Excellence. The Committee urges
the Department to collaborate with local academic institutions
at the border in the creation of the Center of Excellence. The
Administrator is further directed to brief the Committee within
120 days of enactment of this Act on the prioritization of and
investments for all Capital Program--Construction and
Acquisition projects.
Land Ports of Entry Study.--The Committee directs GAO to
study the Federal government's efforts to modernize and design
land ports of entry. The Committee directs GAO to report to the
Committee no later than one year after the enactment of this
Act on how Federal agencies determine designs for modernization
projects, plan and prioritize projects and other modernization
efforts, and manage and oversee those projects and efforts.
New Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters.--The
Committee recognizes GSA's extensive time and taxpayer
investment in reviews of Request for Expressions of Interest
applications that resulted in the selection of three acceptable
sites in the National Capital Region to host the fully
consolidated Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Headquarters. The Committee directs GSA to work with the FBI to
submit a prospectus for a new, fully-consolidated headquarters
building in the National Capital Region that complies with
prior Congressional directives and conditions set forth under
the December 8, 2011 Senate Environment & Public Works
Committee GSA Resolution. Any fully consolidated headquarters
building should meet Interagency Security Committee Level V
security standards as further described in the General Services
Administration's Fiscal Year 2017 PNCR-FBI-NCR 17.
Future of Federal Office Space.--The Committee notes that
prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that some office space within
the Federal Buildings Fund was underutilized. As a result of
the pandemic, many agencies maximized their use of telework
beginning in March 2020 and are continuing to telework. This
expanded use of telework presents an opportunity for the
Executive Branch to reconsider its office space requirements.
Therefore GSA, in coordination with OMB, shall report to the
Committee within 180 days of enactment of this Act on how the
Federal government can reduce its office space requirements
based on the lessons learned from the use of telework during
the pandemic. The report shall include estimated savings in
rent for leased space, building operations, and utilities
within the Federal Buildings Fund each year over the next ten
years because of the expanded use of telework and a declining
need for office space.
The Committee wants to ensure that the limited amount of
construction and renovation funding available is not used to
provided office space that will be underutilized. Therefore,
the Committee directs that prior to any prospectus level
construction or renovation investment within the Federal
Buildings Fund, GSA, OMB, and the agency occupying the space
conduct an analysis of the occupying agency's office
requirements in light of the telework lessons learned during
the pandemic. GSA shall include this information in any
prospectus submitted pursuant to 40 U.S.C. 3307 in fiscal year
2023.
REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2021.......... $576,581,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 1,656,093,000
year 2022............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,037,585,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2021......... +461,004,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2022 request. -618,508,000
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 $1,037,585,000 to
remain available until expended for repairs and alterations.
Major Repairs and Alterations.--The Committee recommends
$432,625,000 for repairs and alterations projects that exceed
the prospectus threshold. The funds are provided to address
GSA's highest priority facility needs as detailed in the budget
submission. 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 not less than 15 days prior to any changes in the
use of these funds.
Basic Repairs and Alterations.--The Committee recommends
$384,960,000 for non-recurring repairs and alterations projects
between $10,000 and the current prospectus threshold of
$3,095,000.
Special Emphasis Programs.--The Committee recommends
$220,000,000 for special emphasis programs. This funding
includes:
Consolidation Activities.............................. $25,000,000
Climate and Resilience................................ $100,000,000
Fire Protection and Life Safety Program............... $50,000,000
Child Care Facilities Security and Systems $45,000,000
Improvements.........................................
Energy Performance Savings Contracts.--Within available
funds, the Committee recommends not less than $15,000,000 to
leverage energy savings performance contracts to ensure that
the capital improvement projects involving energy systems,
energy controls, and building envelopes awarded in fiscal year
2022 provide the maximum return on investment to the taxpayer.
The Committee directs the Administrator to ensure the
availability of sufficient acquisition FTEs to ensure energy
saving measures have a proper accounting, and to streamline and
find efficiencies in the approval of projects to continue to
provide climate, resilience, and economic benefits.
Child Care Centers in GSA Buildings.--The Committee
recommendation includes funding for a comprehensive assessment
to identify security vulnerabilities at child care centers
located in GSA-controlled buildings and to expedite upgrades at
these facilities. In fiscal year 2021, the Committee expressed
concern about the January 2020 GSA Inspector General (IG)
report entitled ``Child Care Centers in GSA Controlled
Buildings Have Significant Security Vulnerabilities.'' The GSA
IG identified significant security vulnerabilities at several
child care centers, such as child care centers in GSA-
controlled buildings that do not meet the minimum security
standards, and found that many of the recommended security
countermeasures have not been implemented.
RENTAL OF SPACE
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2021.......... $5,725,464,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 5,913,185,000
year 2022............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,906,024,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2021......... +180,560,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2022 request. -7,161,000
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 $5,906,024,000 for
rental of space. The Committee expects GSA to continue its
efforts to reduce its leased inventory.
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Limitations on Availability of Revenue:
Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2021.......... $2,533,444,000
Limitation on availability, budget request, fiscal 2,945,005,000
year 2022............................................
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,845,005,000
Bill compared with:
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2021......... +311,561,000
Availability limitation, fiscal year 2022 request. -100,000,000
The building operations account funds services that Federal
agencies in GSA-owned buildings and occasionally in GSA-leased
buildings, when not provided by the lessor, directly benefit
from, 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 $2,845,005,000 for
building operations and maintenance. Not later than 60 days
after enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
the Committee a spend plan, by region, regarding the use of
these funds.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES
GOVERNMENT-WIDE POLICY
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $64,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 67,820,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 71,820,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +7,820,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +4,000,000
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 $71,820,000 for Government-wide
Policy.
Supply Chain Security Pilot.--There is growing consensus in
the Federal government that increased measures need to be taken
to better identify and effectively respond to threats to the
Federal government's information technology, networks, and
supply chains. Commercial off-the-shelf supply chain tools have
been developed to address supply chain issues such as
understanding supply chains with precision, identifying cyber
or other threats to them, and providing continuous critical
information for when specific threats are identified. GSA
should, as a matter of policy, consider using commercial off-
the-shelf supply chain management tools to accomplish
government supply chain monitoring missions. To support the
critical monitoring of government supply chain programs, the
Committee includes $4,000,000 above the fiscal year 2022 budget
request to provide funding for demonstrations and contracts to
test and evaluate the utility of commercial solutions for
supply chain risk management for the Office of Information
Technology Category within the GSA Federal Acquisition Service.
GSA's Federal Acquisition Service has previously
demonstrated similar technologies through its Information
Technology Category but has been unable to transition these
services into meaningful improvements to the Administration's
acquisition framework. The Committee further directs the
Administrator of GSA to submit a strategy to Congress with the
President's fiscal year 2023 budget submission to Congress on
how commercial off-the-shelf supply chain risk management tools
has been implemented and how the program could be expanded to
improve the Administration's overall acquisition framework.
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'' high
or vertical spaces less than 4'' 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 such as California and
Minnesota that there is an increasing need for a uniform
minimum Federal standard.
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. GSA is encouraged
to build on its successful track record of using green building
certification on construction projects by utilizing
certification or recertification of existing buildings to
ensure continued focus on excellence in performance operations.
The Committee encourages GSA to engage its staff and
contractors through competitions and awards as appropriate.
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 (CoTCC) help to
reduce death or trauma as a result of bleeding. To improve
outcomes in crisis situations, the Committee encourages GSA to
consult with CoTCC 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.
Energy Metrics.--The Committee recognizes that building
occupancy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted
energy use in complex ways. Further, it will be necessary in
the future to better link building energy use with occupancy to
enable achieving high levels of efficiency. The Committee
directs GSA to analyze its data and develop additional metrics
to help inform work by Federal agencies on, and ensure progress
on, energy efficiency, and to publish a report of that analysis
within 180 days from enactment of this Act.
Single Use Plastics.--The Committee recognizes the
environmental importance of reducing single use plastics
throughout the government, both to reduce resource consumption
and to prevent litter. The Committee encourages GSA to explore
starting a Plastic Reduction Initiative and work with other
Federal agencies to shift to reusable products in foodware and
to install water refill stations to reduce plastic water bottle
usage.
National Capital Region Non-Standard Area.--GSA is directed
to review the Washington, D.C. Non-Standard Area to determine
whether any locality should be reinstated as a part of the
Area. GSA should consider connectivity and proximity to Federal
agencies, airports, and transit in order to minimize travel
expenses for Federal employees. Within 180 days of enactment of
this Act, GSA shall produce a report on its findings.
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. 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. The
Committee encourages GSA to not award a city-pair contract
through the City-Pair Program to a Federal Aviation
Administration certificated air carrier that does not have
aircraft capable of operating each nonstop segment on the
proposed city pair routing, that is not enrolled in the
Department of Defense Civil Reserve Air Fleet program section
corresponding to the routes for which it receives awards, and
whose city-pair award revenue does not substantially benefit
U.S. air carriers and U.S. air carrier employees. Within 180
days of enactment of this Act, the Committee directs GSA to
provide a report on its compliance with the Fly America Act in
its awards for the City-Pair Program.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $49,440,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 52,440,000
Recommended in the bill 52,440,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +3,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $52,440,000 for operating
expenses. Within the amount provided, $28,122,000 is for Real
and Personal Property Management and Disposal and $24,318,000
is for the Office of the Administrator.
CIVILIAN BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $9,301,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 10,080,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 10,080,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +779,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $10,080,000 for the Civilian Board
of Contract Appeals.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $67,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 69,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 69,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The GSA Office of Inspector General (GSA IG) 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 $69,000,000 for the GSA IG.
ALLOWANCES AND OFFICE STAFF FOR FORMER PRESIDENTS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $4,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 5,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,000,000
Bill compared with:...................................
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
This appropriation provides pensions, office staff, and
related expenses for former Presidents Jimmy Carter, William
Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $5,000,000 for allowances and
office staff for former Presidents.
FEDERAL CITIZEN SERVICES FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $55,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 59,200,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 59,200,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +4,200,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The Federal Citizen Services Fund provides for the salaries
and expenses of GSA's Office of Citizen Services and Innovative
Technologies. 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 $59,200,000 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 ease of transaction with the
government.
Open Government.--The recommendation includes up to
$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) section 3511 requirements.
Specifically, these funds are used to support the establishment
and maintenance of a Federal Data Catalogue; assistance to
Federal agencies for implementation of 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.
TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $25,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 500,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 50,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +25,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. -450,000,000
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 $50,000,000 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.
The Committee notes that the TMF received $1,000,000,000 in
funding in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2).
Additionally, GSA has noted they expect to allocate
$250,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2022 for the
TMF. The Committee supports additional funding requests in
future fiscal years for the TMF.
ASSET PROCEEDS AND SPACE MANAGEMENT FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $16,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 16,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 4,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... -12,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. -12,000,000
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 $4,000,000 for the Asset Proceeds
and Space Management Fund.
Sales Proceeds.--The Committee notes that the fiscal year
2022 GSA budget request for the Asset Proceeds and Space
Management Fund includes a provision that would make sales
proceeds deposited in the Asset Proceeds and Space Management
Fund in fiscal year 2022 available without appropriation by
Congress. The Committee does not adopt the proposed language
but supports the mission of the Public Buildings Reform Board
(PBRB). Therefore, the Committee directs GSA, in consultation
with the PBRB, to include in the fiscal year 2023 budget
request a spending plan for proceeds received in fiscal year
2022.
WORKING CAPITAL FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... $28,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 28,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +28,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
This account is a revolving fund that finances GSA's
administrative services. Examples of these core support
services include: IT management; budget and financial
management; legal services; human resources; equal employment
opportunity services; procurement and contracting oversight;
emergency planning and response; and facilities management of
GSA-occupied space. WCF offices also provide external
administrative services such as human resource management for
other Federal agencies, including small boards and commissions
on a reimbursable basis.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $28,500,000 for the Working
Capital Fund.
Shared Services.--The Committee remains concerned about
GSA's implementation and program management of its Payroll
Shared Services Initiative NewPay, including the return on
investment for current Federal agency personnel and customers.
No appropriated funds were requested for this initiative and
none are provided in this bill. The Committee is also concerned
about the migration and other costs per Federal employee that
Federal agencies and departments might incur to transition very
limited payroll services of the current payroll and related
systems applications to NewPay. The Committee understands that
GSA has established a NewPay Project Management Office within
its own organization. However, the Committee wants to avoid
establishing duplicative agency offices and expertise, and to
ensure that Federal employees' payroll and human resources
services are not interrupted or adversely impacted during
transition to NewPay's services. The Committee directs GSA to
continue to consult with the existing Federal civilian payroll
and human resource management shared services providers for the
program management and implementation efforts associated with
NewPay and related shared services initiatives, and provide a
briefing on those consultations within 180 days of enactment of
this Act.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... $300,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 300,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +300,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
This appropriation provides funding to support electrifying
the Federal fleet by providing the mechanism for GSA to procure
zero emission and electric vehicles and the associated charging
infrastructure on behalf of Federal agencies.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $300,000,000 for the procurement
of zero emission and electric passenger motor vehicles and the
associated charging infrastructure.
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, 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.
Section 527. The Committee includes a new provision to
expand the definition of items that can be acquired to
implement the Chief Financial Officer's Act of 1990.
Section 528. The Committee includes a new provision
requiring GSA to transmit a new prospectus for consolidation of
a new Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters.
Section 529. The Committee includes a new provision
prohibiting the use of funds for any contracts inconsistent
with the Brooks Act and part 36.6 of the Federal Acquisition
Regulation.
Section 530. The Committee includes a new provision
prohibiting the use of funds for any Executive Order that would
establish a preferred architectural style for Federal buildings
and courthouses or would conflict with existing GSA
architectural guidelines.
Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,400,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +2,400,000
The Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation is an independent
agency established by Congress in 1975 (Public Law 93-642) to
encourage exceptional college students to pursue careers in
public service through the Truman Scholarship program. The
Truman Scholarship is a merit-based award available to college
juniors who plan to pursue careers in government or elsewhere
in public service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $2,400,000 for the Harry S Truman
Scholarship Foundation.
Merit Systems Protection Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $46,835,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 48,372,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 48,372,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +1,537,000
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 $48,372,000 for the MSPB. The
recommendation includes a transfer of $2,345,000 from the Civil
Service Retirement and Disability Fund.
Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
MORRIS K. UDALL AND STEWART L. UDALL TRUST FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $1,800,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 1,800,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,800,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The General Fund payment to the Morris K. Udall and Stewart
L. Udall Trust Fund is invested in Treasury securities with
maturities suitable to the needs of the Fund. Interest earnings
from the investments are used to carry out the activities of
the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The
Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships, and grants, and
funds activities of the Udall Center. The Foundation also
supports training programs for professionals in healthcare
policy and public policy, such as the Native Nations Institute
(NNI). NNI, based at the University of Arizona, provides Native
Americans with leadership and management training and analyzes
policies relevant to tribes.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $1,800,0000 for the Morris K.
Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $3,200,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 3,586,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 3,586,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +386,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution is
a Federal program established by Public Law 105-156 to assist
parties in resolving environmental, natural resource, and
public lands conflicts. The Institute is part of the Morris K.
Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation and serves as an
impartial, nonpartisan institution providing professional
expertise, services, and resources to all parties involved in
such disputes. The Institute helps parties determine whether
collaborative problem solving is appropriate for specific
environmental conflicts, how and when to bring all the parties
together for discussion, and whether a third-party facilitator
or mediator might be helpful in assisting the parties in their
efforts to reach consensus or to resolve the conflict. In
addition, the Institute maintains a roster of qualified
facilitators and mediators with substantial experience in
environmental conflict resolution and can help parties in
selecting an appropriate neutral professional.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $3,586,000 for the Environmental
Dispute Resolution Fund.
National Archives and Records Administration
OPERATING EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $377,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 403,677,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 403,677,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +26,677,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $403,677,000 for NARA to support
basic operations, services to the public, operation of Public
Libraries, and declassification review. Of the amount
appropriated, $29,000,000 is available until expended and up to
an additional $2,000,000 is available until expended to
implement the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of
2018.
The Committee recommendation supports NARA's work related
to the Electronic Records Initiative, mass digitization,
preservation of archival electronic records, cybersecurity, and
increased access to records that document the history of
underserved and underrepresented communities in America.
The Committee notes the new language proposed in the budget
request requesting updates to NARA's authorities and will work
closely with NARA to make necessary changes.
Transition to Electronic Records.--The Committee supports
efforts by OMB and NARA to transition the Federal government to
electronic records, including the issuance of OMB-NARA
Memorandum M-19-21, which helps Federal agencies reduce their
analog records and their reliance on NARA for temporary records
storage. The Committee notes that this shift may impact NARA's
personnel, real estate, and technology needs, and directs NARA
to promptly report to the Committee any unforeseen challenges
it faces in finding additional archival storage space, meeting
its digitization goals, and implementing new tools to provide
increased public access to its electronic record holdings.
NARA is also directed to provide to the Committee, within
90 days of enactment of this Act, comprehensive financial
projections--including revenue and operational cost estimates--
for the Federal Records Centers Program for the next five years
and legislative recommendations for the future of the program.
Records Backlog.--The Committee notes ongoing Congressional
concerns over the backlog in processing of records requests at
the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis,
Missouri, despite the provision of $50 million in emergency
funding for the Records Center Revolving Fund in the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). Records
at the NPRC are required for veterans to receive COVID-19
vaccinations from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), G.I.
Bill education benefits, VA loans, medical benefits, burial
benefits, disability compensation, and other important
services, but the backlog has grown to more than 500,000
records as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on NPRC
operating hours and staffing levels. The Committee expects NARA
to restore the NPRC to full operational capacity as quickly as
feasible, to continue to use its emergency funding
expeditiously to streamline operations and reduce the records
backlog, and to continue to prioritize critical veterans
records. The Committee directs NARA to provide quarterly
reports detailing obligations and planned spending for this
emergency funding, the current status of the backlog and an
estimate for when it will be fully cleared, and lessons learned
about NPRC operations as a result of the pandemic and
recommendations for future improvements.
Seattle Archives and Records Center.--The Committee notes
that OMB has withdrawn its approval for the sale of the Federal
Archives and Records Center in Seattle, pending further
consultation with local stakeholders. As OMB notes, ``the
process that led to the decision to approve the sale of the
Federal Archives and Records Center is contrary to this
Administration's tribal-consultation policy.'' The Committee
urges NARA to continue to engage with Tribal members and other
stakeholders so that NARA is fully informed about the actions
necessary to maintain ongoing access to the records stored at
the facility.
Public Access to Records.--The Committee supports NARA's
increasing use of digital methods to improve the efficiency of
its interactions with the public, including pre-visit
consultations and pre-ordering of records. However, the
Committee is concerned about reductions in research services
staff, hours of operation, and the number of documents
available daily for research, as well as aging equipment
related to these services. Those cuts may harm veterans in
documenting their requests for critically needed benefits and
burden educators, historians, lawyers, students, government
agencies, and other who use NARA's research rooms. As pandemic-
related restrictions are lifted, the Committee expects NARA to
restore access to public research rooms, improve and streamline
access to critical records, and take steps to reduce research
backlogs. The Committee directs NARA to provide a report,
within 60 days of enactment of this Act, on its actions to
increase access and services in its public research rooms and
assessing potential changes to its hours of operation,
staffing, equipment, and digitization capabilities that might
improve its ability to serve the public, including lessons
learned from the impact of COVID-19 on its research room
services.
WWI Medals Reviews.--The Committee recognizes the efforts
by the WWI Valor Medals Review Task Force to research those
servicemembers not receiving the Medal of Honor--but downgraded
due to racial and religious bias to the Distinguished Service
Cross and/or the Navy Cross--and strongly encourages the
National Archives to support the efforts to submit Medal of
Honor nominations to the appropriate Secretary for review.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $4,823,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 5,323,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 5,323,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The NARA 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 $5,323,000 for the NARA OIG.
REPAIRS AND RESTORATION
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $9,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 7,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 37,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +28,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +30,000,000
The NARA Repairs and Restoration 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
its buildings.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $37,500,000 for Repairs and
Restoration. This includes $30,000,000 in one-time funding to
prepare for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United
States.
NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS COMMISSION GRANTS PROGRAM
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $6,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 9,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 9,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +3,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $9,500,000 for NHPRC grants. The
Committee supports the use of $3,000,000 of this funding to
implement a new grants program to preserve and digitize the
records of the creation of Historically Black Colleges and
Universities.
National Credit Union Administration
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REVOLVING LOAN FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $1,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 2,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 4,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +2,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +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 $4,000,000 for the National Credit
Union Administration's (NCUA) CDRLF for technical assistance
grants. The Committee continues to support NCUA's policy of
prioritizing access to such grants by minority depository
institutions and credit unions with less than $100 million in
assets. The Committee expects that NCUA shall ensure that grant
writers shall be an eligible expense for technical assistance
grants to small credit unions provided under the CDRLF Program.
Underbanked Individuals.--The Committee recognizes the
significant impact that underbanking has on individuals and
communities. The Committee encourages NCUA to identify census
tracts with large shares of underbanked individuals and to
explore new strategies for increasing access to democratically
owned and controlled credit unions in these communities.
Office of Government Ethics
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $18,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 20,371,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 20,371,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +1,771,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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. 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 $20,371,000 for the OGE.
Administration Officials.--The Committee notes that Cabinet
members are subject to criminal conflict of interest laws and
that OGE Letter 83x16 (Oct. 20, 1983) recommends that, as a
matter of policy, the President and the Vice President should
conduct themselves as if they were so bound. In addition, under
Federal acquisition regulations, Government employees generally
cannot receive Federal contracts. We expect that these laws and
regulations have the effect of preventing, in almost all the
cases, the President, Vice President, and Cabinet members from
contracting with the Federal government.
Office of Personnel Management
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF TRUST FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $329,755,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 372,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 372,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +42,245,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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
manages 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 $197,000,000 for OPM's General
Fund. The Committee also recommends $175,000,000 for
administrative expenses to be transferred from the appropriate
trust funds. The increase of $42,245,000 is provided to
strengthen OPM's workforce so that it can better lead and
administer Federal personnel policies and guidance.
Additionally, the funds support OPM's IT modernization effort
of the Trust Fund Federal Financial System that supports $1
trillion in combined assets for the retirement, health
benefits, and life insurance programs for Federal employees.
The Committee strongly encourages OPM to address key
recommendations in the Congressionally mandated report by a
panel of the National Academy of Public Administration,
Elevating Human Capital: Reframing the U.S. Office of Personnel
Management's Leadership Imperative, and looks forward to
working with OPM on the implementation of these
recommendations.
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.
Pathways Programs.--According to the Analytical
Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal
Year 2020 the number of new hires of student interns fell from
35,000 in 2010 to 4,000 in 2018, or 89 percent. The Pathways
programs has the potential to be a main pipeline for people to
enter government. To begin revitalizing the Pathways programs,
OPM needs to better measure and determine the effectiveness of
each program as a pipeline of new and diverse talent. The
Committee directs OPM, within 90 days of enactment of this Act,
to produce a publicly available report on the different
Pathways programs, for the last seven fiscal years, by agency
and government-wide. The report should model the Feds Hire Vets
report and should include: Pathways program participants as a
percentage of total FTEs; the number Pathways participants by
agency; the number of Pathways participants in the internship
program by agency; the number of Pathways participants in the
recent graduates program by agency; and the number of
Presidential Management Fellows by agency.
Intern Pilot Program.--The Committee directs OPM to conduct
a feasibility study to increase the number of interns working
in the Federal government. OPM should include the requirements
of recruitment, onboarding, professional development,
offboarding, and evaluating the internships; the amount
required to pay intern stipends; and the elements necessary to
achieve the desired outcome of a fully successful and
sustainable program. The Committee directs OPM to brief the
Committee on their findings within 180 days after enactment of
this Act.
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 American public, the Committee encourages OPM
to provide information about the number of Federal employees
employed in each congressional district. Further, in order to
increase data and transparency regarding the diversity of the
Federal workforce, including political appointees, the
Committee encourages OPM to continue to offer an Ethnicity and
Race Indicator as a category in Fedscope. Within 120 days of
the enactment of this Act, OPM is directed to provide a report
to the Committee on the feasibility and expected timeline of
publishing this information.
Transparency in Political Appointments.--The Committee
recognizes and encourages new efforts to increase the diversity
of the Federal workforce, including political appointees. The
Committee also recognizes the need for data and transparency in
order to achieve a workforce that is drawn from all segments of
society. The Committee directs OPM to release, on a quarterly
basis, aggregate self-reported data on currently serving
political appointees by categories such as gender, race,
veteran status, appointment type, and disability and grouped by
agency where possible within 90 days after enactment of this
Act.
Federal Government Hiring Process.--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 and 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,
improvements that could be made to make the Federal hiring
process more efficient and effective, and which hiring
authorities they find most beneficial. The Committee directs
OPM to submit a report to the Committees within 60 days of
enactment of this Act on progress in this regard as well as
input on how this information can be tracked in Fedscope by
agency.
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, Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, and other Minority Serving Institutions.
Federal Employment Guidelines.--The Committee supports the
updated guidance on agencies' consideration of how an
individual's marijuana use may or may not adversely affect the
integrity or efficiency of the government and impact an
individual's suitability or fitness for a position. The
Committee encourages OPM and the Suitability Executive Agent to
continue to review these 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.
IRS Hiring Authorities.--The fiscal year 2022 IRS budget
request and the American Families Plan support increased staff
for Taxpayer Services and Enforcement. As such, the IRS plans
to onboard 27,000 personnel in Taxpayer Services and
Enforcement over the next 18 months. The Committee is committed
to helping the IRS meets its hiring plans and directs OPM to
assist the IRS in maximizing its ability to expeditiously
onboard staff with existing or new hiring authorities.
Bureau of Prisons Direct Hire Authority.--The Committee is
aware of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) request to OPM to provide
direct hire authority to BOP facilities. To ensure the safety
of staff and inmates, the Committee encourages OPM to
expeditiously grant direct hire authority for BOP facilities in
which 10 percent or more of the total available positions are
vacant, prioritizing facilities with the largest number of
vacancies.
Bureau of Prison Retention Bonuses.--The Committee
recognizes that agencies have the authority to approve a
retention incentive without OPM approval for payments of up to
10 percent for a group or category of employees. OPM approval
is required for an agency to exceed these limits, based on
critical agency need. Under an OPM retention incentive waiver,
an agency could approve a retention incentive of up to 50
percent of basic pay. To ensure the safety of staff and
inmates, the Committee encourages OPM to expedite and grant
requests for group and category of employees incentive payments
above 10 percent for BOP facilities in which 10 percent or more
of the total available positions are vacant, prioritizing
facilities with the largest number of vacancies.
Federal Wage System.--The Committee is concerned that some
General Schedule (GS) localities include several Federal Wage
System areas, which creates pay increase disparities for hourly
workers within a GS locality. The Committee encourages OPM to
explore limiting the number of local wage areas defined within
a GS Pay Locality to a single wage area.
Civilian Buyback.--The Committee directs OPM to conduct a
study to analyze the number of Federal civilian service members
that have creditable service under the Federal Employees
Retirement System (FERS) to retire but whose service started as
a temporary or intermittent employee performed after January 1,
1989. OPM shall submit a report to the Committee 180 days after
enactment of this Act providing by agency the number of Federal
civilian employees eligible to pay a deposit covering missing
retirement contributions while in temporary or intermittent
status to the Federal Government so that they could retire at
30 years.
Military Buy Back Program.--The Committee directs OPM to
issue guidance requiring Federal agencies to notify within 90
days any former active duty new hire that they qualify for the
Military Buy Back Program.
Telework.--Before the pandemic, only 23 percent of Federal
employees teleworked at least one day a week. That number more
than tripled to 74 percent at the height of the pandemic. The
Committee directs OPM to brief the Committees on new
developments, recommendations, and guidance regarding Federal
telework and remote work post pandemic.
Retirement Services.--The Committee is concerned with the
level of customer service provided to annuitants seeking help
from OPM regarding their retirement benefits. In March 2020,
the Committee learned of long wait times and other difficulties
annuitants have reaching an OPM customer service
representative. The Committee expects quarterly briefings on
the measures OPM is taking to improve the level of service
including the number of calls answered, wait times, and numbers
of individuals who could not reach an OPM operator.
Additionally, the Committee expects OPM to continue providing
monthly FTE reports so that it can monitor the staffing levels
dedicated to the Retirement Services Program.
IT Modernization.--The Committee remains concerned with
OPM's overall progress in improving its IT security and
infrastructure. The Committee directs OPM to brief the
Committee within 180 days of enactment of this Act on how
blockchain technology can help improve its IT security and
infrastructure. The briefing should include but is not limited
to an examination of the feasibility of employing distributed
ledger technologies, like blockchain, to do the following:
tamper-seal and verify actual users and authenticate data,
without the need for third-party authentication; employ Digital
Security Certificates that never expire; ensure an unbroken
chain-of-custody of all Federal employee personal information;
provide a clear audit trail of any transactions that include a
Federal employee's personal information; secure digital
signatures; and eventually replace password-based security
verification with proof of identity via uniquely identifiable
methods.
Federal Financial Systems.--The Committee continues to
support 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. OPM is
directed to continue to brief the Committee as outlined in
House Report 116-456.
Quarterly Briefings on Modernization.--The Committee is
concerned with OPM's modernization efforts and requests the
continuation of quarterly briefings to the Committees. Each
briefing should include the total IT modernization budget
broken out by project; obligations and unobligated balances by
project; and the progress, anticipated completion date, and
significant concerns for each project.
OPM IT Working Capital Fund.--New in fiscal year 2022 is
language creating an OPM Information Technology Working Capital
Fund (IT-WCF) utilizing the authority provided to Federal
agencies by the Modernizing Government Technology Act (P.L.
115-91). The IT-WCF provides sustained funding to improve and
replace OPM's legacy systems and enhance their cybersecurity
posture.
Remote Site Pay Allowance.--The Committee is aware that
remote and isolated military installations in the United States
have significant challenges with recruiting and retaining
employees. Some of the contributing factors include a lack of
local shops, limited spousal employment, and increased
transportation costs to nearby communities. The Remote Site Pay
Allowance provided under section 5942 of title 5, United States
Code, has not been adjusted since 1971 and is currently set at
a level not to exceed $10 per day. Adjusting for inflation,
that amount should be at least $65.50. The Committee directs
OPM to complete an assessment of the current Remote Site Pay
Allowance and propose new rates adjusted for inflation.
Congressional, Legislative, and Intergovernmental Affairs
(CLIA).--The Committee recognizes the need to increase the
capacity of the OPM's CLIA advocates to perform their duty of
engaging with Congress and State, local, and tribal officials
on Federal human resources management policy. To ensure the
CLIA advocates' ability to meet the demands made of their
office, especially in their Constituent Services activities,
the Committee encourages OPM to increase its support for CLIA
advocates.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $32,265,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 34,910,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 35,910,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +3,645,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +1,000,000
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
$5,345,000 for the OIG. In addition, the recommendation
includes $30,565,000 from the appropriate trust funds.
Office of Special Counsel
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $29,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 30,440,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 31,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +1,060,000
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 OSC may transmit whistleblower
allegations to the agency head concerned and require an agency
investigation and a report to 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 $31,500,000 for the OSC.
Postal Regulatory Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $17,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 19,585,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 19,585,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +2,585,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $19,585,000 out of the Postal Fund
for the PRC.
Rate Increases for Market-Dominant Products.--The Postal
Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) required the
PRC to review the existing Market Dominant rate and
classification system 10 years after the enactment of the PAEA.
Based on this review, the PRC adopted rules in November 2020
providing greater pricing flexibility to the United States
Postal Service (USPS). USPS has used this expanded authority to
propose increasing certain postal rates effective August 20,
2021, by approximately 7 percent. The Committee is concerned
with the size and timing of the rate increase and that the PAEA
process did not account for the impact of the pandemic,
including factors such as higher package revenues and emergency
funding provided to the USPS. The PRC is directed to study
these factors and report to the Committee within 270 days on
how these factors should impact the rate increases proposed by
the USPS and the PRC rules adopted in November.
First-Class Service Standards.--The Committee is concerned
about further changes to the service standards for market-
dominant mail products, particularly the Postal Service's
recent proposal to extend first-class service standards to as
long as five days. The Committee believes this change would
further erode public confidence in the USPS. The Committee
directs the PRC to analyze the feasibility of restoring service
standards for market-dominant products that were in effect on
July 1, 2012, including an examination of the resources and
structural and operational changes needed, and the impacts on
market growth and revenue. If service standards are decreased
from their January 2021 levels, the PRC shall also conduct a
similar analysis of the costs and benefits of restoring USPS
service and performance levels to their January 1, 2021,
levels. The PRC shall report to the Committee on its findings
within 1 year of enactment of this Act.
Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $8,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 9,600,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 9,600,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +1,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 four part-time members and a
full-time chairman.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $9,600,000 for the Board.
Public Buildings Reform Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $3,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 4,500,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 4,500,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +1,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $4,500,000 funds for the Board.
Securities and Exchange Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $1,926,162,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 1,999,663,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 1,999,663,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +73,501,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $1,992,917,000 for the salaries
and expenses of the SEC, to be fully derived from offsetting
fee collections. In addition, the Committee recommends
$6,746,000 for move, replication, and related costs associated
with replacement leases for the Commission's Fort Worth
Regional Office facilities, also to be fully derived from
offsetting fee collections. The Committee expects the
Commission to work closely with GSA on its replacement leases
and to keep the Committee informed of any notable developments.
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 because their claims are too small to obtain
private counsel. There are currently 11 law school clinics
around the country focused on investor advocacy that have
played a vital role in helping to fill this gap, but the lack
of external funding makes it difficult for law schools to keep
existing clinics operating or open new clinics in underserved
locations. In House Report 116-122, the Committee asked the SEC
for recommendations related to a potential grant program that
could assist in the creation, development, expansion, or
continuation of investor advocacy clinics. The Committee looks
forward to additional discussions with the SEC about expanding
the availability of high-quality, low-cost legal assistance for
small claims investors.
Consolidated Audit Trail.--Stakeholders have raised
concerns about the amount of personally identifiable
information (PII) being collected by the SEC and the self-
regulatory organizations through the Consolidated Audit Trail
(CAT). The Committee supports the actions taken by the SEC in
Release No. 34-88393 to allow a CAT Customer ID Alternative and
a Modified PII approach that would minimize the collection of
PII and support the SEC's policy to collect only the
``information sufficient to achieve regulatory objectives.''
The Committee urges the Commission to carefully monitor its CAT
policy and implementation to minimize risk to the PII of system
participants and directs the SEC to provide a briefing no later
than 60 days after the enactment of this Act on the steps it
has taken to secure information collected through the CAT.
Data Security.--It is critically important to both
investors and the U.S. capital markets that the SEC fortify its
cybersecurity threat detection, response, and mitigation
process. The SEC is collecting an increasing amount of market-
sensitive data and PII, including through Form N-PORT and the
CAT. As a repository for sensitive market data and a likely
target for those who wish to manipulate U.S. markets, the
security of the CAT system and data is paramount. The Committee
strongly supports the SEC's efforts to strengthen and protect
its information technology systems and systems it oversees
maintained by the self-regulatory organizations, including the
CAT system and EDGAR (the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis,
and Retrieval system). The Committee also strongly urges the
SEC, in its oversight of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, to ensure the CAT has adequate breach notification
policies in place so affected participants are promptly
notified of critical security events.
Prosecuting White Collar Criminals.--The Committee
continues to have concerns over 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 Federal prosecution of white-collar
criminals, particularly in cases of high-dollar crimes. The
Committee requests a report within 90 days of enactment of this
Act on the SEC's prosecution efforts involving white-collar
crimes over the past year.
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 supports the SEC staff's decision to
provide no-action relief to companies that seek to exclude
these types of unlawful proposals from their proxy ballots.
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, lower trading
costs, and stronger accountability mechanisms. The SEC's report
comparing the performance of Regulation A+ and Regulations D
offerings versus all other offerings notes the ongoing
popularity of exempt offerings, particularly Regulation D
offerings, as capital-raising tools.
Investor Advisory Committee.--The Committee is concerned
about new guidelines approved by the SEC in August 2020 that
give the SEC staff increased influence regarding appointments
to the Investor Advisory Committee (IAC). Congress established
the IAC in 2010 to replace a similar committee established by
the SEC, to provide a statutory foundation and set
congressional prerogatives for the IAC's composition and
function. Given Congress' direct role in creating the IAC, and
the clarity with which Congress spoke on the IAC's mandate and
composition, the Committee believes these new guidelines may
undermine Congressional intent. The Committee urges the SEC to
promptly review the new guidelines and restore the role that
Commissioners previously played in nominating IAC members.
Regulation Best Interest.--Strong, effective implementation
of the Regulation Best Interest and the Investment Advisers Act
is needed to prevent conflicts of interest in the advice and
recommendations that fiduciaries provide to retail investors.
The Committee urges the SEC to provide guidance clarifying the
central requirements of Regulation Best Interest and the
Investment Advisers Act. The Commission should also study the
prevalence of conflicts of interest in the broker-dealer and
investment adviser business models--and the extent to which
they are permitted to influence recommendations--to determine
whether further rulemaking is needed. The SEC should also
examine the effectiveness of the required disclosures,
particularly whether they enable investors to make informed
decisions and protect themselves against conflicts of interest.
Federal Reserve Board Coordination.--As a result of the
Dodd-Frank Act, the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) has become one
of the primary regulators of capital markets participants and
activities. Given the vital role that robust, efficient, and
safe capital markets serve in the global economy, the Committee
believes that the FRB should continue to develop its
understanding of the impact its regulations and guidance can
have on capital markets activities by consulting with other
primary regulators with experience and expertise in relevant
areas. The Committee encourages the SEC to work closely with
the FRB to prevent inconsistencies in capital markets
regulations and enforcement as the role of the FRB continues to
evolve.
Rental Income Securitizations.--The Committee urges the SEC
to examine transparency and ratings requirements and procedures
in the rental income securitizations market for issues that
might contribute to financial or housing price instability.
E-Delivery.--The need to modernize the SEC's rules to
reflect investors' preference to receive investment information
through electronic means has been recognized broadly. The
Committee supports efforts by the SEC to modernize how
registered investment companies, business development
companies, and funds may deliver information to shareholders,
such as by permitting investment entities to electronically
deliver, or e-deliver, information to shareholders while
delivering such information in paper via U.S. mail to any
shareholder who requests it. Such changes will better satisfy
investor preferences and reduce costs for fund shareholders.
They will also facilitate positive investor engagement,
allowing immediate interaction with shareholders. The Committee
expects any action by the SEC to incorporate investor
protections into these rules, including allowing those
investors who prefer paper communications to easily select
their preferred method of delivery.
Registered Index Linked Annuities.--The Committee is
concerned that the current registration process for registered
index linked annuities (RILAs) is cumbersome and requires
significant information not needed for other registered
insurance products. The Committee encourages the SEC to create
a tailored filing form for RILAs.
Climate-Related Disclosures.--The Committee believes that
effective climate risk mitigation and capital allocation
requires a robust, standardized climate disclosure framework,
for both financial and non-financial corporations. However, in
the absence of international alignment on climate and broader
environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures, a
patchwork of standards across jurisdictions may arise that will
reduce the comparability and reliability of information
provided by companies and weaken the ability of financial
market participants to make informed sustainable investment
decisions. The Committee encourages the SEC to leverage the
recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial
Disclosures, along with other globally recognized standards, to
ensure better international alignment on climate-related
disclosures.
ESG Reporting Standards.--The Committee recognizes that ESG
factors can impact a company's long-term performance. To make
informed choices about their investments, investors seek
material information that is accurate, comparable, and timely.
The Committee encourages the Commission to consider the
recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial
Disclosures and the standards of the Sustainability Accounting
Standards Board (SASB) as it examines creating a regulatory
framework for public company disclosures related to ESG. The
Committee encourages the SEC to work with international
regulators to facilitate a global baseline for disclosure of
material information that serves as a foundation for
jurisdictional initiatives.
Climate Change Risks to Municipal Bond Markets.--The
Committee directs the SEC to provide to the Committee, within
180 days of enactment of this Act, with a report on the long-
and short-term risks that climate change may pose to the State
and local municipal bond market.
Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations.--
The Committee notes that Section 939(f) of Dodd-Frank required
the SEC to carry out a study of the credit rating ecosystem and
conflicts of interest stemming from the issuer-pay and
subscriber-pay business models, and to examine the feasibility
of an independent ratings function with nationally recognized
statistical ratings organizations assigned to rate structured
finance products. The Committee notes that this study was
completed but is concerned that the SEC has never fully
addressed conflicted and inflated ratings. The Committee
requests the SEC to submit a report to the Committee, within
180 days of enactment of this Act, detailing measures taken
since the release of that report to prevent conflicted and
inflated ratings, enforcement actions involving rate shopping
and other conflicts of interest, the feasibility of
implementing an independent rating function within the SEC, and
regulatory or process-related barriers to implementation.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION--SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Section 540. The Committee includes a new provision
restricting the use of funds to implement certain rules
relating to proxy solicitations.
Selective Service System
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $26,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 27,600,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 29,200,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +3,200,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +1,600,000
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 $29,200,000 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 Committee recommends a total of $1,033,675,000 for SBA.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $270,157,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 293,625,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 293,625,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +23,468,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends $293,625,000 for SBA Salaries and
Expenses.
Ensuring Fair Access to Capital.--Women, people of color,
and other underserved entrepreneurs face barriers in accessing
capital as a result of historic discrimination and other long-
standing policies and practices that are facially neutral but
result in unequal access to Federal resources. The Committee
supports the Administration's efforts to address racial and
socioeconomic disparities to ensure all entrepreneurs have fair
access to resources and opportunities.
Employee Ownership.--The Committee recognizes that
employee-owned businesses are uniquely structured and provide
wide-ranging benefits for businesses, workers, and the local
economy. The Committee notes that the Main Street Employee
Ownership Act, which Congress enacted in section 862 of Public
Law 115-232, requires SBA to make structural changes in SBA
lending programs to ease the challenges faced by employee-owned
businesses in accessing financing. This legislation also
requires SBA to use Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
establish an employee-owned business promotion program to
provide assistance on structure, business succession, and
planning. SBA is directed to fully implement these
requirements. The Committee further directs SBA to work with
the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, and Commerce to provide
education and outreach to businesses, employees and financial
institutions about employee-ownership, including cooperatives
and employee stock ownership plans; provide technical
assistance to assist employees' efforts to become businesses;
and assist in accessing capital sources.
Small Business Succession Planning.--The Committee is
concerned that more than 58 percent of businesses do not have
succession plans. The Committee encourages SBA to work with its
resource partners to develop guidance, training, best
practices, workshops, and other resources to assist small
business owners and entrepreneurs in establishing and executing
a business succession plan. In addition, SBA should consider
the development of a publicly available online toolkit that can
be used by SBA and its resource partners to guide small
businesses through the process of creating a business
succession plan.
Small Business Participation in Federal Contracting.--The
SBA Office of Government Contracting employs a team of Area
Directors, Procurement Center Representatives (PCR), Commercial
Market Representatives (CMR), and size and industrial
specialists that collaborate with Federal agencies to increase
Federal contract awards to small businesses. These
professionals are critical to helping small business
contractors succeed, encouraging new entrants into the Federal
marketplace, and maintaining a strong industrial base. PCRs
increase the small business share of Federal procurement awards
by initiating small business set-asides; reserving procurements
opportunities for competition among small business firms;
providing small business sources to Federal buying activities;
and counseling small firms. SBA is urged to assess the current
funding and staffing levels for PCRs and CMRs to ensure the
proper resources are allocated to these positions.
Office of Rural Affairs.--The SBA Office of Rural Affairs
was authorized in 1990 to help SBA serve farmers and rural
small businesses, but the office has never been fully
established. In 2020, SBA took steps to implement this long-
overdue Congressional mandate, but the mission, operations,
organization, and funding requirements for the Office have not
been clearly defined or explained. The Committee continues to
await submission of the report required in House Report 116-456
on the Office of Rural Affairs.
Investment in Rural Small Businesses.--The Committee
encourages SBA to coordinate with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture in administering the Small Business Investment
Company and Rural Business Investment Company programs, to
improve access to capital and increase investment in small
businesses in rural areas.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Immigrant- and Minority-
Owned Businesses.--The Committee recognizes that immigrant- and
minority-owned businesses have been disproportionately affected
by the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of these small business
owners face unique challenges, such as language barriers,
misinformation or lack of information on eligibility for
Federal resources, and discrimination. Asian American and
Pacific Islander-owned businesses have additionally experienced
an increase in anti-Asian hate incidents, including violence
and vandalism. The Committee supports SBA's efforts through the
Community Navigator Pilot Program to increase outreach and
direct support to small businesses in underserved communities
and urges SBA to continue to expand in-language services and
resources available to small businesses. The Committee
encourages the Administrator to work with the U.S. Census
Bureau to explore the feasibility of collecting disaggregated
data on the impact of the pandemic on minority-owned
businesses, including the access and application of Federal
relief resources.
Outreach to Closed Businesses.--The Committee encourages
SBA, through its resource partners and the Community Navigator
Pilot Program, to engage in outreach to former businessowners
who lost their small businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
on the resources available to help relaunch or start a new
small business.
Businesses with Multiple SBA Loans.--The Committee
recognizes that many of the same businesses and nonprofits that
took out loans due to the COVID-19 pandemic also have pre-
existing loans through SBA due to natural disasters. The
Committee encourages SBA to consider the efficacy of
establishing a process for businesses and nonprofits to combine
previous SBA loans with SBA loans taken out due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Oversight of Pandemic Relief Programs.--In response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, Congress created several new programs and
provided more than $1 trillion in economic relief to small
businesses. SBA was responsible for quickly implementing these
new programs and administering the funds that helped businesses
survive during the pandemic. The Committee expects the
Administrator to continue to work closely with the SBA Office
of Inspector General to mitigate the risk of fraud in COVID-19
relief programs and to recover funding from fraudulent loans
and loans provided to ineligible businesses where possible.
ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $272,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 318,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 323,800,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +51,800,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +5,800,000
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 $323,800,000 for EDP. The
Committee recommendations, by program, are displayed in the
following table:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7(j) Technical Assistance Program (Contracting $9,800,000
Assistance)..........................................
Entrepreneurship Education............................ 4,500,000
Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership 10,000,000
Program..............................................
Growth Accelerators................................... 10,000,000
HUBZone Program....................................... 3,000,000
Microloan Technical Assistance........................ 41,000,000
National Women's Business Council..................... 1,500,000
Native American Outreach.............................. 3,000,000
PRIME Technical Assistance............................ 12,500,000
Regional Innovation Clusters.......................... 10,000,000
SCORE................................................. 13,500,000
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)............. 140,000,000
State Trade & Export Promotion (STEP)................. 20,000,000
Veterans Outreach*.................................... 19,000,000
Women's Business Centers (WBC)........................ 26,000,000
-----------------
Total, Entrepreneurial Development Programs....... $323,800,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*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's support of these programs.
Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem.-- The Committee
supports SBA's efforts to stimulate innovation and
entrepreneurship through the Federal and State Technology
Partnership Program (FAST), the Growth Accelerator Fund
Competition, and Regional Innovation Clusters. These programs
provide entrepreneurs with access to the tools, networks, and
services they need to bring cutting-edge innovation to the
market. FAST provides direct assistance to underserved
innovation-based entrepreneurs with the goal of increasing
their success in obtaining Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding,
and is particularly important in States that are seeking to
build high technology industries but are underrepresented in
the SBIR/STTR programs. Small Business and Technology
Development Centers (SBTDCs) provide intellectual property and
technology commercialization assistance to small businesses in
high technology industries. Within the amount provided for
FAST, the Committee recommends robust funding for awards to
SBTDCs fully accredited for technology designation as of
December 31, 2021.
Native American Outreach.--The Committee directs the
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Native American
Affairs (ONAA) to continue to manage Native American Outreach
activities. The Assistant Administrator is responsible for
organizing multi-agency workshops and Native supplier
initiative events around the country, and facilitating 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. The Administrator
should consult with the Assistant Administrator for ONAA
regarding grantmaking decisions under the Community Navigator
Pilot Program to ensure the appropriate resources are made
available to support Native businesses.
SCORE.--The Committee notes that SCORE has addressed all
recommendations from the SBA Office of Inspector General audit
of SCORE's fiscal year 2017 award. The Committee supports
efforts by SCORE to continue to improve program operations,
strengthen financial monitoring, and increase outreach to
underserved communities.
SBDC Minimum Funding Awards.--SBA should assess the minimum
funding levels awarded to States and U.S. territories through
the SBDC Program to ensure adequate resources are provided to
meet the demand of each State.
Cybersecurity Assistance Pilot Program.--The Financial
Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2021,
included $3,000,000 for a Cybersecurity Assistance Pilot
Program to award up to three grants to States to provide new
small businesses with access to cybersecurity tools during
their formative and most vulnerable years. Within 60 days of
enactment of this Act, SBA is directed to brief the Committee
on the status of the pilot program.
Outreach to Rural Entrepreneurs.--The Committee encourages
SBA and its resource partners to consider innovative
approaches, such as partnerships with State libraries, that may
expand the ability to reach potential and existing
entrepreneurs in large rural states.
Assistance to Coal Communities.--To diversify and enhance
economic opportunities, SBA and its resource partners should
ensure the appropriate resources and support are directed to
communities and regions that have experienced job losses due to
the economic downturn of the coal industry.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $22,011,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 24,905,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 24,905,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +2,894,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $24,905,000 for the SBA OIG.
OFFICE OF ADVOCACY
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $9,190,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 9,620,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 9,620,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +430,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $9,620,000 for the Office of
Advocacy.
BUSINESS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $180,300,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 171,300,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 171,300,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... -9,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
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 $30,000,000,000; the 504 certified development company
program at a level of $7,500,000,000; the 504 Commercial Real
Estate Refinance Program at a program level of $7,500,000,000;
the Secondary Market Guarantee Program at a program level of
$13,000,000,000; and Small Business Investment Company
debenture authority of $4,000,000,000.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a total of $171,300,000 for the
Business Loans Program Account. The recommendation includes
$6,000,000 for loans subsidy for the Microloan Program to
support a program level of $110,000,000. In addition, the
recommendation includes $5,000,000 to facilitate access to
capital to support climate change resiliency and the clean
energy economy.
DISASTER LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $168,075,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 178,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 178,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +9,925,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The recommendation includes $143,000,000 in disaster relief funding.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a total of $178,000,000 for the
administrative expenses of the Disaster Loans Program, of which
$143,000,000 is designated as being for disaster relief for
major disasters. The recommendation includes $5,000,000 to
facilitate access to capital to support climate change
resiliency and the clean energy economy.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Section 550. The Committee continues a provision
authorizing transfers of up to five percent among 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 551. The Committee continues a provision
authorizing the transfer of not to exceed 3 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''.
Section 552. The Committee includes a new provision
providing funds for initiatives related to small business
development and entrepreneurship, including programmatic and
construction activities, to be awarded as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recipient Project Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware State University, Center for Urban $1,000,000
Dover, DE. Revitalization and
Entrepreneurship
Columbia County Economic Team, Columbia County $175,000
St. Helens, OR. Small Business
Resource Center.
Gwinnett County University of Gwinnett County $100,000
Georgia Small Business University of
Development Center, Georgia Small
Lawrenceville, GA Business
Development Center.
Western Illinois University, Business Ownership $400,000
Moline, IL. Lifecycle
Initiatives.
The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber Project Elevate.... $1,000,000
of Business and Industry,
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Institute for Native Pacific Leeward Community $500,000
Education and Culture, Kapolei, Small Business
HI Incubator.
South Carolina State University, Small Business $1,000,000
Orangeburg, SC. Research and
Entrepreneurial
Leadership
Institute.
Black Business Association of Memphis ReStart $750,000
Memphis, Memphis, TN Initiative.
Center for Inclusive North Cascades $180,644
Entrepreneurship, Mount Vernon, Community
WA Enterprise Program.
Vested In, Philadelphia, PA..... Our Businesses, Our $149,324
Neighborhoods, Our
Stories.
SUNY Buffalo State Small e-Commerce for $750,000
Business Development Center, Disadvantaged
Buffalo, NY Businesses.
Westminster Economic Development West Side Bazaar $950,000
Initiative, Inc., Buffalo, NY Expansion Project.
County of San Diego, San Diego, County of San Diego $1,000,000
CA. Child Care
Expansion Fund.
Chicago Southland Economic Ascending House.... $200,000
Development Corporation, Hazel
Crest, IL
Mississippi Small Business Mississippi Small $742,800
Development Centers, University Business Tech
of Mississippi, University, MS. Commercialization
Center.
HIRE360, Chicago, IL............ HIRE360 Business $1,000,000
Development Center.
Connecticut Center for Advanced Connecticut $900,000
Technology, East Hartford, CT Manufacturing &
Technology
CommUNITY eCommons.
City of Southfield, Southfield, Centrepolis $200,000
MI. Accelerator.
Detroit Economic Growth Detroit Means $200,000
Corporation, Detroit, MI. Business.
City of Henderson, Henderson, NV Henderson Workforce $1,000,000
Training Center.
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Manhattan $800,000
Foundation, New York, NY. Storefront
Revitalization &
Small Business
Entrepreneurship
Project.
City of Doraville, Atlanta, GA.. City of Doraville- $250,000
Small and Local
Business Facade
Improvement Grants.
Neighborhood Development Center, Neighborhood $1,000,000
Saint Paul, MN. Development Center
(NDC) Small
Business Incubator
Project.
Local Initiatives Support Local Initiatives $1,000,000
Corporation, Saint Paul, MN. Support
Corporation (LISC)
Twin Cities
Creative
Placemaking.
Creative Hub Worcester, Inc., Creative Hub $300,000
Worcester, MA. Community Arts
Center.
City of Stockton, Stockton, CA.. Resurgent Stockton: $1,000,000
Economic
Development,
Workforce
Development and
Youth Employment.
New River Gorge Development Southern WV $750,000
Authority, Beckley, WV. Emerging Industry
Accelerator.
Urban League of Rochester, NY, Community Business $200,000
Inc., Rochester, NY Academy.
Trustees of Columbia University High School $134,000
in the City of New York, New Training Program
York, NY for Small Business
Accounting.
36Squared Business Incubator, 36Squared Business $80,000
Chicago, IL. Incubator.
Northside Economic Opportunity NEON Food $1,000,000
Network (NEON), Minneapolis, MN Entrepreneur
Incubation Center.
El Pajaro Community Development El Pajaro Alisal $200,000
Corporation, Watsonville, CA Kitchen Incubator.
Institute for Entrepreneurial Small Businesses $971,977
Leadership, Inc., Newark, NJ Need Us.
Wisconsin Small Business University of $173,507
Development Center at the Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin- Small Business
Madison, Madison, WI Development Center.
Town of Morrisville, Morrisville Small $300,000
Morrisville, NC. Business
Development
Program.
Youngstown Edison Incubator Valley Internet of $312,744
Corporation, Youngstown, OH Things Initiative
(VIOTI).
CNMI Small Business Development CNMI SBDC Business $952,394
Center at Northern Marianas Innovation
College, Saipan, MP. Incubator.
Florida International University Startup FIU Tech $500,000
Brickell Campus, Miami, FL and Food Business
Hub.
Central Alabama Redevelopment Small Business $474,355
Alliance, Fairfield, AL Accelerator
Program.
The Valley Economic Alliance, Business Technical $138,000
Sherman Oaks, CA. Assistance Program.
World Relief Seattle, Kent, WA.. Entrepreneurship $673,000
Incubation Hub:
Teaching &
Commercial Kitchen
for Refugee &
Immigrant.
City of Tempe, Tempe, AZ........ Growing BIPOC $500,000
Micromanufacturing
Entrepreneurs.
Clinton County Government Clinton County $1,000,000
Center, Plattsburgh, NY Business-Ready
Capital Project.
City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV Small Business $437,200
Support Center.
ProsperUS Detroit Micro Lending, ProsperUS Detroit $1,000,000
Detroit, MI. Micro Lending.
California State Polytechnic Bronco STEA2M $1,000,000
University, Pomona, CA Innovation Hub.
Entrepreneurship for All, Inc., Entrepreneurship $1,000,000
Lowell, MA. for All -
Statewide
Initiative.
Sinclair Community College, Sinclair Community $1,000,000
Dayton, OH. College Center for
Advanced
Manufacturing.
Wright Patterson Regional Wright Patterson $1,000,000
Council of Governments, Regional Council
Fairborn, OH of Governments.
United Way of the Battle Creek Asset, Limited, $50,000
and Kalamazoo Region, Income
Kalamazoo, MI Constrained, and
Employed (ALICE)
Friendly Workplace
Project.
Atlantic City Office of the Atlantic City Small $800,000
Business Administrator, Business
Atlantic City, NJ Assistance
Initiative.
Texas A&M Engineering Experiment RGV Small Business $500,000
Station, College Station, TX Innovation
Research and
Technology
Transfer Program.
Urban League of Greater Atlanta, Small Business $150,000
Inc., Decatur, GA. Accelerator
Program in the
Atlanta Area.
Louisville Metro Government, Black and Diverse $250,000
Louisville, KY. Business Wealth
Initiative.
Community Ventures Corporation, Chef Space Consumer- $330,000
Inc., Lexington, KY Packaged Goods
Expansion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States Postal Service
PAYMENT TO THE POSTAL SERVICE FUND
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $55,333,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 52,570,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 58,570,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +3,237,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. +6,000,000
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 $58,570,000 for Payment to the
Postal Service Fund. The recommendation funds free mail for the
blind and overseas voting and includes a reconciliation
adjustment.
Postal Non-Banking Financial Services Modernization Pilot
Program.--The Committee notes that USPS currently plays a major
role in the financial services market. For example, USPS is the
largest single provider of paper money orders in the United
States, in addition to offering electronic funds transfers and
U.S. Treasury check cashing. However, current USPS offerings
are out-of-date and do not fully reflect the needs of modern
customers. By updating its services to reflect new
technological and financial trends, the USPS can offer an
improved customer experience and expand its affordable non-bank
financial services to tens of millions of unbanked and
underbanked Americans. The Committee includes $6,000,000 for
USPS above its budget request to carry out pilot programs (in
at least five rural zip codes and at least five non-rural zip
codes) to modernize its current postal banking services to
include surcharge-free automated teller machines, wire
transfers, check cashing, and bill payment to the fullest
extent permitted under current statutory authority, as
described in the 2015 USPS Office of the Inspector General
(OIG) Report ``The Road Ahead for Postal Financial Services'''
(RARC-WP-15-011). The Committee directs USPS, in collaboration
with the USPS OIG, to report to the Committee within one year
of the enactment of this Act regarding findings from the pilot
programs.
Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamp.--
The recommendation continues a provision requiring USPS not to
destroy, and to continue to offer for sale, existing copies of
the Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamp.
Alzheimer's Semipostal Fundraising Stamp.--The Committee
notes its strong support for the Alzheimer's Semipostal
Fundraising Stamp, of which millions of copies of the original
printing remain. USPS is directed to continue to offer the
stamp for sale to the public, in addition to any other
semipostal stamps the Postal Service may issue under its rules
and regulations. USPS is further directed not to destroy any
copies of the stamp.
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. The Postal
Service shall take into consideration the importance of
providing consistent and on-time delivery to all Americans,
including those in rural and mountainous areas.
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.
Electric Vehicles.--The Committee believes USPS, as one of
the U.S. government's largest vehicle fleet operators, has an
important role to play in moving the Federal government toward
a fleet of clean and zero-emission vehicles and spurring
investment in this technology nationwide. The Committee is
therefore disappointed that USPS's recent Next Generation
Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) contract award fails to include robust
investment in electric vehicle technology. The Committee
directs USPS to prioritize robust procurement of a battery
electric vehicle fleet under the NGDV program to the greatest
extent possible, which would comply with the spirit of
Executive Order 14008 on ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home
and Abroad.'' The Committee notes that its recommendation
includes $300 million for a new program to fund electric
vehicles government-wide, including at USPS, and expects USPS
to consult with GSA on effective use of that funding to
increase its investment in electric vehicles.
Mail Theft.--The Committee recognizes that mail theft from
aging USPS cluster box units continues to be a problem
throughout the country. The Committee supports actions taken by
the USPS to address this issue and directs the USPS to continue
to follow the directive on this issue included House Report
116-122.
Pandemic-Related Mail Issues.--The Committee is concerned
about the reported increase in mail and package theft during
the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as by the increase in late mail
delivery. The Committee directs the USPS to provide a report
with 90 days of enactment of this Act examining package theft
during the COVID-19 pandemic and developing recommendations to
help mitigate this issue, as well as on the reasons for delayed
mail delivery and the USPS's plan to address the issue.
Delivery Complaints.--The Committee is concerned by the
prevalence of reports of irregular delivery, unresponsiveness,
and other complaints about USPS service. The Committee directs
USPS to keep customers and Members of Congress informed of USPS
activities impacting their constituents and expects USPS to
create an outreach program explaining the scope of mail
delivery distribution delays and providing timely notices to
customers. The Committee directs USPS to provide a report
within 180 days of enactment of this Act on the adequacy of
current personnel levels, the number of employees on leave
compared to previous years, and average mail processing times.
The Committee requests that the USPS strategic plan includes
steps to provide better provide timely, consistent mail
delivery service that addresses the concerns of local
communities.
Ballot Delivery.--The USPS OIG, in its report ``Service
Performance of Election and Political Mail During the November
2020 General Election,'' noted that USPS significantly improved
timeliness in the delivery of election mail over 2018 but ``did
find opportunities for the Postal Service to increase the
volume of ballots included in service performance.'' The
Committee expects USPS to implement recommendations provided by
the OIG well in advance of the 2022 mid-term elections to
ensure improved delivery of ballots and election mail.
Delivery Vehicle Climate Control.--The Committee recognizes
that heat stress is a persistent issue for USPS vehicle
operators. The Committee is pleased that the Next Generation
Delivery Vehicle will include air conditioning and heating.
Mail Interdiction of Heroin and Opioids.--The Committee
remains concerned that international drug traffickers are
harnessing vulnerabilities in our mail system to import
significant quantities of deadly narcotics. The Committee is
encouraged that USPS is pursuing innovative tools and
technologies to detect opioids in parcels and that it has
increased the capture of Customs and Border Protection hold
requests at International Service Centers to more than 80
percent. The Committee expects USPS to reach 100 percent
capture rates and to continue seeking out and implementing new
tools to increase accurate detection of opioids and related
substances.
Postal Worker Safety.--Despite the best efforts of USPS and
Customs and Border Protection, U.S. mail remains a primary
method for moving narcotics into and throughout the country.
The increasing use of extremely potent illegal narcotics, such
as fentanyl, poses significant risks of exposure to potentially
deadly doses of illicit opioids for postal workers unknowingly
handling these packages. The Committee encourages USPS to
evaluate how best to deploy countermeasures, such as naloxone,
to ensure the safety of postal workers.
Accurate Address Listing.--The Committee directs USPS to
conduct an internal review of instances in which assigned zip
codes overlap multiple municipal jurisdictions, resulting in
end user mailing/address information with incorrect or multiple
city listings. Recognizing the importance of last-line city
designations to reliable mail delivery, the Committee directs
USPS to provide a report of its findings within 120 days of
enactment of this Act, including options to ensure proper city
designation in the future.
Endangered and Invasive Species.--The Committee recognizes
the critical role that coordination among the United States
Postal Inspection Service, Customs and Border Protection, and
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plays in the
mitigation of endangered species trafficking and in combating
the spread of invasive species. The Committee encourages the
Postal Inspection Service to coordinate with all appropriate
law enforcement entities to address the illegal trafficking of
endangered and invasive species.
Fighting Birds.--The Committee is concerned by the
continued use of the Postal Service to ship birds intended for
use in animal fighting ventures, in violation of U.S. law. The
Committee directs the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to
increase its cooperative efforts with state and Federal law
enforcement, and its use of predictive tools, including
artificial intelligence, to enhance its ability to detect and
intercept such shipments.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $250,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 263,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 263,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +13,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The USPS 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 $263,000,000 for the OIG, which
includes sufficient funds for the OIG to continue its
aggressive drug interdiction efforts.
Postal Retail Facilities in Underserved Areas.--The
Committee recognizes the vital service that USPS provides,
especially for low-income, minority, and rural communities.
During the pandemic, the reliance of these communities on USPS
for critical services, such as access to medication or banking
services, has grown. However, the Committee is concerned that
USPS may not equitably distribute resources among its retail
facilities. Post Offices and retail facilities in higher-income
areas may provide better service and receive more maintenance
funding. The Committee directs the OIG to examine the
difference between the distribution of resources for retail
facility repair and maintenance between low-income and higher
income communities, as well as assess the expected impact of
the USPS Strategic Plan on this issue. The report should also
include an analysis of the ratio of retail facilities to
population in high-income versus low-income communities.
United States Tax Court
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021....................... $56,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022...................... 58,200,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 58,200,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2021................... +2,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2022.................. - - -
The United States 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 $58,200,000 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 a provision specifying
reprogramming procedures. The provision requires that agencies
or entities funded by this Act 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 $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; (6) reduces
existing programs, projects, or activities by $5,000,000 or 10
percent, whichever is less; or (7) creates or reorganizes
offices, programs, or activities different from the budget
justifications submitted to the Committees on Appropriations or
the tables in the report accompanying this Act, whichever is
more detailed. The provision also direct agencies to consult
with the Committees prior to any significant reorganization,
restructuring, relocation, or closing of offices, programs, or
activities and 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, 2023, 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 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 614. 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 615. The Committee continues a provision permitting
the SEC and Commodities Futures Trading Commission to fund a
joint advisory committee to advise on emerging regulatory
issues, notwithstanding section 708 of this Act.
Section 616. The Committee continues a provision requiring
certain agencies in this Act to consult with GSA before seeking
new office space or making alterations to existing office
space.
Section 617. The Committee continues language providing for
several appropriated mandatory accounts. These are accounts
where authorizing language requires the payment of funds.
Section 618. 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 619. 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 620. The Committee continues a provision
prohibiting funds in contravention of the Federal Records Act.
Section 621. 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 622. The Committee includes language prohibiting
funds to be used to deny inspectors general access to records.
Section 623. 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 624. 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 625. 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 626. The Committee continues language prohibiting
funds made available under this Act from being used to fund
first-class or business-class travel in contravention of
Federal regulations.
Section 627. The Committee includes language providing an
additional $850,000 for the Inspectors General Council Fund to
expand and update the Federal-wide Inspectors General (IG)
website oversight.gov.
Section 628. The Committee continues a provision relating
to contracts for public relations services.
Section 629. 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 cannabis that is conducted
pursuant to a law established by a State or a unit of local
government.
Section 630. The Committee includes language rescinding
unobligated balances from the Department of the Treasury,
Treasury Forfeiture Fund.
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 and modifies a
provision prohibiting the employment of noncitizens with
certain exceptions, including an exemption for recipients of
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Section 705. The Committee continues a provision giving
agencies the authority to pay GSA 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 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 GSA 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 GAO opinion 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 OPM 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 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 OMB 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 the use of funds to enter into any agreement with
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 the use of funds to enter into any agreement with
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
eliminating the automatic statutory pay increase for the Vice
President and certain senior political appointees.
Section 747. The Committee includes a new provision related
to impoundment of resources.
Section 748. The Committee includes a new provision
requiring executive branch agencies to respond to GAO's written
requests for information relating to a decision or opinion on
budget or appropriations law not later than 20 days after the
agency receives the request.
Section 749. The Committee includes a new provision
requiring that any executive branch agency notify the Committee
if an apportionment of an appropriation for such agency is not
approved in a timely and appropriate manner.
Section 750. The Committee includes a new provision
restricting funds from being used to prevent union activities,
limit teleworking, or deny unions space in Federal buildings.
Section 751. The Committee includes a new provision
creating a Commission to review the assigning, modifying, or
removing of names, monuments, statues, public art, historical
markers, or other symbols owned or located on Federal
Government property which are inconsistent with the values of
diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Section 752. The Committee includes a new provision
addressing interagency funding for the United States Army
Medical Research and Development Command and the
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs and the
National Institutes of Health research programs.
Section 753. The Committee includes a new provision making
technical amendments related to the Pandemic Response
Accountability Committee.
Section 754. The Committee includes a new provision related
to recordkeeping requirements for certain GAO audits.
Section 755. The Committee includes a new provision related
to the purchase of remote computing services.
Section 756. 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 and modifies a
provision establishing reprogramming procedures for Federal
funds.
Section 802. 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 803. 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 804. The Committee continues a provision
appropriating local funds during fiscal year 2023 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 2022.
Section 805. The Committee includes a new provision
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 806. The Committee continues a provision that
concerns a ``conscience clause'' on legislation that pertains
to contraceptive coverage by health insurance plans.
Section 807. The Committee continues a provision providing
the District of Columbia authority to transfer, receive, and
acquire lands and funding it deems necessary for the
construction and operation of interstate bridges over navigable
waters, including related infrastructure, for projects to
expand commuter and regional passenger rail service and provide
bike and pedestrian access crossings.
Section 808. The Committee includes a new provision
prohibiting the federalization of the District of Columbia
Metropolitan Police Department by the President of the United
States.
Section 809. The Committee includes a new provision
increasing the maximum annual tuition assistance grant, maximum
lifetime grant, and authority to ratably reduce the grants for
students receiving less than $10,000 annually before reducing
the grants for students receiving less than $10,000 annually.
Section 810. 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
Department of the Treasury--Treasury Forfeiture Fund.. $20,000,000
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 112 authorizes transfers, up to two percent,
between Departmental Offices--Salaries and Expenses, Office of
Inspector General, Special Inspector General for the Troubled
Asset Relief Program, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network,
Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and
Trade Bureau appropriations under certain circumstances.
Section 114 provides for the transfer of $4,000,000 from
the IRS into the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration appropriation.
Section 115 allows the transfer from the Bureau of the
Fiscal Service to the Debt Collection Fund as necessary to
cover the costs of debt collection.
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 V--Independent Agencies
Language is included under the Election Assistance
Commission providing for 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, Working Capital Fund, allowing the transfer of
funds from the Working Capital Fund to other Federal agencies.
Language is included under the General Services
Administration, Electric Vehicles Fund, allowing the transfer
of funds from the Electric Vehicles Fund to other Federal
agencies.
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 Office of Personnel
Management, Salaries and Expenses, allowing the transfer of
certain trust funds to the Salaries and Expenses account for
administrative expenses, and allowing the transfer of up to
three percent of the appropriation into an information
technology working capital fund upon the advance approval of
the Committees.
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 550 permits the transfer of funds between
appropriations of the Small Business Administration.
Section 551 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, Salaries and Expenses,
allowing the transfer of funds 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.
Disclosure of Earmarks and Congressionally Directed Spending Items
The following table is submitted in compliance with clause
9 of rule XXI, and lists the congressional earmarks (as defined
in paragraph (e) of clause 9) contained in the bill or in this
report. Neither the bill nor the report contain any limited tax
benefits or limited tariff benefits as defined in paragraphs
(f) or (g) of clause 9 of rule XXI.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT
[Community Project Funding Items]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency Account Recipient Project Amount Requestor(s)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Delaware State------------Center for Urban-------------$1,000,000--Blunt Rochester-------
University, Dover, DE Revitalization and
Entrepreneurship
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Columbia County Economic--Columbia County Small----------$175,000--Bonamici--------------
Team, St. Helens, OR Business Resource
Center
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Gwinnett County-----------Gwinnett County----------------$100,000--Bourdeaux-------------
University of Georgia University of Georgia
Small Business Small Business
Development Center, Development Center
Lawrenceville, GA
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Western Illinois----------Business Ownership-------------$400,000--Bustos----------------
University, Moline, IL Lifecycle Initiatives
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----The Greater Wilkes-Barre--Project Elevate--------------$1,000,000--Cartwright------------
Chamber of Business and
Industry, Wilkes-Barre,
PA
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Institute for Native------Leeward Community Small--------$500,000--Case------------------
Pacific Education and Business Incubator
Culture, Kapolei, HI
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----South Carolina State------Small Business Research------$1,000,000--Clyburn---------------
University, Orangeburg, and Entrepreneurial
SC Leadership Institute
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Black Business------------Memphis ReStart----------------$750,000--Cohen-----------------
Association of Memphis, Initiative
Memphis, TN
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Center for Inclusive------North Cascades-----------------$180,644--DelBene---------------
Entrepreneurship, Mount Community Enterprise
Vernon, WA Program
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Vested In, Philadelphia,--Our Businesses, Our------------$149,324--Evans-----------------
PA Neighborhoods, Our
Stories
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----SUNY Buffalo State Small--e-Commerce for-----------------$750,000--Higgins (NY)----------
Business Development Disadvantaged
Center, Buffalo, NY Businesses
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Westminster Economic------West Side Bazaar---------------$950,000--Higgins (NY)----------
Development Initiative, Expansion Project
Inc., Buffalo, NY
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----County of San Diego, San--County of San Diego----------$1,000,000--Jacobs (CA)-----------
Diego, CA Child Care Expansion
Fund
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Chicago Southland---------Ascending House----------------$200,000--Kelly (IL)------------
Economic Development
Corporation, Hazel
Crest, IL
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Mississippi Small---------Mississippi Small--------------$742,800--Kelly (MS)------------
Business Development Business Tech
Centers, University of Commercialization
Mississippi, Center
University, MS
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----HIRE360, Chicago, IL------HIRE360 Business-------------$1,000,000--Krishnamoorthi--------
Development Center
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Connecticut Center for----Connecticut--------------------$900,000--Larson (CT)-----------
Advanced Technology, Manufacturing &
East Hartford, CT Technology CommUNITY
eCommons
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----City of Southfield,-------Centrepolis Accelerator--------$200,000--Lawrence--------------
Southfield, MI
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Detroit Economic Growth---Detroit Means Business---------$200,000--Lawrence--------------
Corporation, Detroit,
MI
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----City of Henderson,--------Henderson Workforce----------$1,000,000--Lee (NV)--------------
Henderson, NV Training Center
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Manhattan Chamber of------Manhattan Storefront-----------$800,000--Maloney, Carolyn B.---
Commerce Foundation, Revitalization & Small
New York, NY Business
Entrepreneurship
Project
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----City of Doraville,--------City of Doraville-Small--------$250,000--McBath----------------
Atlanta, GA and Local Business
Facade Improvement
Grants
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Neighborhood Development--Neighborhood-----------------$1,000,000--McCollum--------------
Center, Saint Paul, MN Development Center
(NDC) Small Business
Incubator Project
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Local Initiatives---------Local Initiatives------------$1,000,000--McCollum--------------
Support Corporation, Support Corporation
Saint Paul, MN (LISC) Twin Cities
Creative Placemaking
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Creative Hub Worcester,---Creative Hub Community---------$300,000--McGovern--------------
Inc., Worcester, MA Arts Center
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----City of Stockton,---------Resurgent Stockton:----------$1,000,000--McNerney--------------
Stockton, CA Economic Development,
Workforce Development
and Youth Employment
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----New River Gorge-----------Southern WV Emerging-----------$750,000--Miller (WV)-----------
Development Authority, Industry Accelerator
Beckley, WV
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Urban League of-----------Community Business-------------$200,000--Morelle---------------
Rochester, NY, Inc., Academy
Rochester, NY
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Trustees of Columbia------High School Training-----------$134,000--Nadler----------------
University in the City Program for Small
of New York, New York, Business Accounting
NY
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----36Squared Business--------36Squared Business--------------$80,000--Newman----------------
Incubator, Chicago, IL Incubator
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Northside Economic--------NEON Food Entrepreneur-------$1,000,000--Omar------------------
Opportunity Network Incubation Center
(NEON), Minneapolis ,
MN
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----El Pajaro Community-------El Pajaro Alisal---------------$200,000--Panetta---------------
Development Kitchen Incubator
Corporation,
Watsonville, CA
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Institute for-------------Small Businesses Need----------$971,977--Payne-----------------
Entrepreneurial Us
Leadership, Inc.,
Newark, NJ
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Wisconsin Small Business--University of Wisconsin--------$173,507--Pocan-----------------
Development Center at Madison Small Business
the University of Development Center
Wisconsin-Madison,
Madison, WI
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Town of Morrisville,------Morrisville Small--------------$300,000--Ross------------------
Morrisville, NC Business Development
Program
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Youngstown Edison---------Valley Internet of-------------$312,744--Ryan------------------
Incubator Corporation, Things Initiative
Youngstown, OH (VIOTI)
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----CNMI Small Business-------CNMI SBDC Business-------------$952,394--Sablan----------------
Development Center at Innovation Incubator
Northern Marianas
College, Saipan, MP
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Florida International-----Startup FIU Tech and-----------$500,000--Salazar---------------
University Brickell Food Business Hub
Campus, Miami, FL
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Central Alabama-----------Small Business-----------------$474,355--Sewell----------------
Redevelopment Alliance, Accelerator Program
Fairfield, AL
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----The Valley Economic-------Business Technical-------------$138,000--Sherman---------------
Alliance, Sherman Oaks, Assistance Program
CA
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----World Relief Seattle,-----Entrepreneurship---------------$673,000--Smith (WA)------------
Kent, WA Incubation Hub:
Teaching & Commercial
Kitchen for Refugee &
Immigrant
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----City of Tempe, Tempe, AZ--Growing BIPOC------------------$500,000--Stanton---------------
Micromanufacturing
Entrepreneurs
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Clinton County------------Clinton County Business------$1,000,000--Stefanik--------------
Government Center, Ready Capital Project
Plattsburgh, NY
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----City of Las Vegas, Las----Small Business Support---------$437,200--Titus-----------------
Vegas, NV Center
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----ProsperUS Detroit Micro---ProsperUS Detroit Micro------$1,000,000--Tlaib-----------------
Lending, Detroit, MI Lending
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----California State----------Bronco STEA2M----------------$1,000,000--Torres (CA)-----------
Polytechnic University, Innovation Hub
Pomona, CA
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Entrepreneurship for------Entrepreneurship for---------$1,000,000--Trahan----------------
All, Inc., Lowell, MA All - Statewide
Initiative
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Sinclair Community--------Sinclair Community-----------$1,000,000--Turner----------------
College, Dayton, OH College Center for
Advanced Manufacturing
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Wright Patterson----------Wright Patterson-------------$1,000,000--Turner----------------
Regional Council of Regional Council of
Governments, Fairborn, Governments
OH
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----United Way of the Battle--Asset, Limited, Income----------$50,000--Upton-----------------
Creek and Kalamazoo Constrained, and
Region, Kalamazoo, MI Employed (ALICE)
Friendly Workplace
Project
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Atlantic City Office of---Atlantic City Small------------$800,000--Van Drew--------------
the Business Business Assistance
Administrator, Atlantic Initiative
City, NJ
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Texas A&M Engineering-----RGV Small Business-------------$500,000--Vela------------------
Experiment Station, Innovation Research
College Station, TX and Technology
Transfer Program
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Urban League of Greater---Small Business-----------------$150,000--Williams (GA)---------
Atlanta, Inc., Decatur, Accelerator Program in
GA the Atlanta Area
Small Business Administration
--------------------------------------Salaries and Expenses----Louisville Metro----------Black and Diverse--------------$250,000--Yarmuth---------------
Government, Louisville, Business Wealth
KY Initiative
Small Business Administration Salaries and Expenses Community Ventures Chef Space Consumer- $330,000 Yarmuth
Corporation, Inc., Packaged Goods
Lexington, KY Expansion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 italics, existing law in which no change
is proposed is shown in roman):
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 italics, existing law in which no change
is proposed is shown in roman):
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 [30 years and 6 months] 31
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 [27
years and 6 months] 28 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.
* * * * * * *
----------
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 [28 years and 6
months] 29 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.
* * * * * * *
----------
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, occurring [19
years] 20 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 [18 years and 6 months] 19 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 [17 years] 18 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.
* * * * * * *
----------
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, 2021]
December 31, 2022, 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, 2021] December 31, 2022,
to an expenditure or obligation described in subsection (a)(2)
made or authorized during the period described in subsection
(a).
* * * * * * *
----------
TITLE 40, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
SUBTITLE II--PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS
* * * * * * *
PART A--GENERAL
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 31--GENERAL
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER VI--MISCELLANEOUS
* * * * * * *
Sec. 3173. Working capital fund for General Services Administration
(a) Establishment and Purpose.--There is a working capital
fund for the necessary expenses of administrative support
services including accounting, budget, personnel, legal support
and other related services; and the maintenance and operation
of printing and reproduction facilities in support of the
functions of the General Services Administration, other Federal
agencies, and other entities; and other such administrative and
management services that the Administrator of GSA deems
appropriate and advantageous (subject to prior notice to the
Office of Management and Budget).
(b) Composition.--
(1) In general.--Amounts received shall be credited
to and merged with the Fund, to remain available until
expended, for operating costs and capital outlays of
the Fund: Provided, That entities for which such
services are performed shall be charged at rates which
will return in full all costs of providing such
services.
(2) Cost and capital requirements.--The Administrator
shall determine the cost and capital requirements of
the Fund for each fiscal year and shall develop a plan
concerning such requirements in consultation with the
Chief Financial Officer of the General Services
Administration. Any change to the cost and capital
requirements of the Fund for a fiscal year shall be
approved by the Administrator. The Administrator shall
establish rates to be charged to entities for which
services are performed, in accordance with the plan.
(c) Deposit of Excess Amounts in the Treasury.--At the close
of each fiscal year, after making provision for anticipated
operating needs reflected in the cost and capital plan
developed under subsection (b), the uncommitted balance of any
funds remaining in the Fund shall be transferred to the general
fund of the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
(d) Transfer and Use of Amounts for Major Equipment
Acquisitions.--
(1) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (2),
unobligated balances of amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available to the General Services
Administration for operating expenses and salaries and
expenses may be transferred and merged into the ``Major
equipment acquisitions and development activity'' of
the working capital fund of the General Services
Administration for agency-wide acquisition of capital
equipment, automated data processing systems and
financial management and management information
systems: Provided, That acquisitions are limited to
those needed to implement the Chief Financial Officers
Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-576, 104 Stat. 2838) and
related laws or regulations or for agency-wide
acquisition of equipment or systems or the acquisition
of services as necessary to implement the Act.
(2) Requirements and Availability.--
(A) Time for transfer.--Transfer of an amount
under this section must be done no later than
the end of the fifth fiscal year after the
fiscal year for which the amount is
appropriated or otherwise made available.
(B) Approval for use.--An amount transferred
under this section may be used only with the
advance approval of the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate.
(C) Availability.--An amount transferred
under this section remains available until
expended.
* * * * * * *
----------
CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT
* * * * * * *
DIVISION B--EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR CORONAVIRUS HEALTH RESPONSE
AND AGENCY OPERATIONS
* * * * * * *
TITLE V
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
* * * * * * *
pandemic response accountability committe
Sec. 15010. (a) In this section--
(1) the term ``agency'' has the meaning given the
term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code;
(2) the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committees on Appropriations of the
Senate and the House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of
the House of Representatives; and
(D) any other relevant congressional
committee of jurisdiction;
(3) the term ``Chairperson'' means the Chairperson of
the Committee;
(4) the term ``Council'' means the Council of the
Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
established under section 11 of the Inspector General
Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App);
(5) the term ``Committee'' means the Pandemic
Response Accountability Committee established under
subsection (b);
(6) the term ``covered funds'' means any funds,
including loans, that are made available in any form to
any non-Federal entity, not including an individual,
under--
(A) the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act (divisions A and B);
(B) the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public
Law 116-123);
(C) the Families First Coronavirus Response
Act (Public Law 116-127);
(D) the Paycheck Protection Program and
Health Care Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-
139); [or]
(E) divisions M and N of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021; and
(F) the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
(Public Law 117-2); and
(7) the term ``Coronavirus response'' means the
Federal Government's response to the nationwide public
health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health
and Human Services, retroactive to January 27, 2020,
pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 247d), as a result of confirmed cases of
the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States.
(b) There is established within the Council the Pandemic
Response Accountability Committee to promote transparency and
conduct and support oversight of covered funds and the
Coronavirus response to--
(1) prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and
mismanagement; and
(2) mitigate major risks that cut across program and
agency boundaries.
(c)(1) The Chairperson of the Committee shall be selected by
the Chairperson of the Council from among Inspectors General
described in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of paragraph (2)
with experience managing oversight of large organizations and
expenditures.
(2) The members of the Committee shall include--
(A) the Chairperson;
(B) the Inspectors General of the Departments of
Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland
Security, Justice, Labor, and the Treasury;
(C) the Inspector General of the Small Business
Administration;
(D) the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration; and
(E) any other Inspector General, as designated by the
Chairperson from any agency that expends or obligates
covered funds or is involved in the Coronavirus
response.
(3)(A) There shall be an Executive Director and a Deputy
Executive Director of the Committee.
(B)(i)(I) Not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Executive Director of the
Committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the
Council, in consultation with the majority leader of
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate, and
the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(II) Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the
Deputy Executive Director of the
Committee shall be appointed by the
Chairperson of the Council, in
consultation with the majority leader
of the Senate, the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, the minority leader
of the Senate, the minority leader of
the House of Representatives, and the
Executive Director of the Committee.
(ii) The Executive Director and the Deputy
Executive Director of the Committee shall--
(I) have demonstrated ability in
accounting, auditing, and financial
analysis;
(II) have experience managing
oversight of large organizations and
expenditures; and
(III) be full-time employees of the
Committee.
(C) The Executive Director of the Committee shall--
(i) report directly to the Chairperson;
(ii) appoint staff of the Committee, subject
to the approval of the Chairperson, consistent
with subsection (f);
(iii) supervise and coordinate Committee
functions and staff; and
(iv) perform any other duties assigned to the
Executive Director by the Committee.
(4)(A) Members of the Committee may not receive additional
compensation for services performed.
(B) The Executive Director and Deputy Executive
Director of the Committee shall be compensated at the
rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5,
United States Code.
(d)(1)(A) The Committee shall conduct and coordinate
oversight of covered funds and the Coronavirus response and
support Inspectors General in the oversight of covered funds
and the Coronavirus response in order to--
(i) detect and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and
mismanagement; and
(ii) identify major risks that cut across programs
and agency boundaries.
(B) The functions of the Committee shall include--
(i) developing a strategic plan to ensure
coordinated, efficient, and effective
comprehensive oversight by the Committee and
Inspectors General over all aspects of covered
funds and the Coronavirus response;
(ii) auditing or reviewing covered funds,
including a comprehensive audit and review of
charges made to Federal contracts pursuant to
authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security Act, to determine
whether wasteful spending, poor contract or
grant management, or other abuses are occurring
and referring matters the Committee considers
appropriate for investigation to the Inspector
General for the agency that disbursed the
covered funds, including conducting randomized
audits to identify fraud;
(iii) reviewing whether the reporting of
contracts and grants using covered funds meets
applicable standards and specifies the purpose
of the contract or grant and measures of
performance;
(iv) reviewing the economy, efficiency, and
effectiveness in the administration of, and the
detection of fraud, waste, abuse, and
mismanagement in, Coronavirus response programs
and operations;
(v) reviewing whether competition
requirements applicable to contracts and grants
using covered funds have been satisfied;
(vi) serving as a liaison to the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget, the
Secretary of the Treasury, and other officials
responsible for implementing the Coronavirus
response;
(vii) reviewing whether there are sufficient
qualified acquisition, grant, and other
applicable personnel overseeing covered funds
and the Coronavirus response;
(viii) reviewing whether personnel whose
duties involve the Coronavirus response or
acquisitions or grants made with covered funds
or are otherwise related to the Coronavirus
response receive adequate training, technology
support, and other resources;
(ix) reviewing whether there are appropriate
mechanisms for interagency collaboration
relating to the oversight of covered funds and
the Coronavirus response, including
coordinating and collaborating to the extent
practicable with State and local government
entities;
(x) expeditiously reporting to the Attorney
General any instance in which the Committee has
reasonable grounds to believe there has been a
violation of Federal criminal law; and
(xi) coordinating and supporting Inspectors
General on matters related to oversight of
covered funds and the Coronavirus response.
(2)(A)(i) The Committee shall submit to the President and
Congress, including the appropriate congressional committees,
management alerts on potential management, risk, and funding
problems that require immediate attention.
(ii) The Committee shall submit to Congress
such other reports or provide such periodic
updates on the work of the Committee as the
Committee considers appropriate on the use of
covered funds and the Coronavirus response.
(B) The Committee shall submit biannual reports to
the President and Congress, including the appropriate
congressional committees, and may submit additional
reports as appropriate--
(i) summarizing the findings of the
Committee; and
(ii) identifying and quantifying the impact
of any tax expenditures or credits authorized
under this Act to the extent practicable.
(C)(i) All reports submitted under this paragraph
shall be made publicly available and posted on the
website established under subsection (g).
(ii) Any portion of a report submitted under
this paragraph may be redacted when made
publicly available, if that portion would
disclose information that is not subject to
disclosure under sections 552 and 552a of title
5, United States Code, or is otherwise
prohibited from disclosure by law.
(3)(A) The Committee shall make recommendations to agencies
on measures to prevent or address fraud, waste, abuse and
mismanagement, and to mitigate risks that cut across programs
and agency boundaries, relating to covered funds and the
Coronavirus response.
(B) Not later than 30 days after receipt of a
recommendation under subparagraph (A), an agency shall
submit a report to the President and the appropriate
congressional committees on--
(i) whether the agency agrees or disagrees
with the recommendations; and
(ii) any actions the agency will take to
implement the recommendations, which shall also
be included in the report required under
section 2(b) of the GAO-IG Act (31 U.S.C. 1105
note).
(e)(1) The Committee shall conduct audits and reviews of
programs, operations, and expenditures relating to covered
funds and the Coronavirus response and coordinate on such
activities with the Inspector General of the relevant agency to
avoid unnecessary duplication and overlap of work.
(2) The Committee may--
(A) conduct its own independent investigations,
audits, and reviews relating to covered funds or the
Coronavirus response;
(B) collaborate on audits and reviews relating to
covered funds with any Inspector General of an agency;
and
(C) provide support to relevant agency Inspectors
General in conducting investigations, audits, and
reviews relating to the covered funds and Coronavirus
response.
(3)(A) In conducting and supporting investigations, audits,
and reviews under this subsection, the Committee--
(i) shall have the authorities provided under
section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978
(5 U.S.C. App.);
(ii) may issue subpoenas to compel the
testimony of persons who are not Federal
officers or employees; and
(iii) may enforce such subpoenas in the event
of a refusal to obey by order of any
appropriate United States district court as
provided for under section 6 of the Inspector
General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App).
(B) The Committee shall carry out the powers under
paragraphs (1) and (2) in accordance with section
4(b)(1) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C.
App.).
(C) Whenever information or assistance requested by
the Committee or an Inspector General is unreasonably
refused or not provided, the Committee shall
immediately report the circumstances to the appropriate
congressional committees.
(D) The Committee shall leverage existing information
technology resources within the Council, such as
oversight.gov, to carry out the duties of the
Committee.
(4)(A) The Committee may hold public hearings and Committee
personnel may conduct necessary inquiries.
(B) The head of each agency shall make all officers
and employees of that agency available to provide
testimony to the Committee and Committee personnel.
(C) The Committee may issue subpoenas to compel the
testimony of persons who are not Federal officers or
employees at such public hearings, which may be
enforced in the same manner as provided for subpoenas
under section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5
U.S.C. App.).
(5) The Committee may enter into contracts to enable the
Committee to discharge its duties, including contracts and
other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and other
services with public agencies and with private persons, and
make such payments as may be necessary to carry out the duties
of the Committee.
(6) The Committee may establish subcommittees to facilitate
the ability of the Committee to discharge its duties.
(7) The Committee may transfer funds appropriated to the
Committee for expenses to support administrative support
services and audits, reviews, or other activities related to
oversight by the Committee of covered funds or the Coronavirus
response to any Office of the Inspector General or the General
Services Administration.
(f)(1)(A)(i) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Committee may
exercise the authorities of subsections (b) through (i) of
section 3161 of title 5, United States Code (without regard to
subsection (a) of that section) to carry out the functions of
the Committee under this section.
(ii) For purposes of exercising the authorities
described under clause (i), the term ``Chairperson''
shall be substituted for the term ``head of a temporary
organization''.
(iii) In exercising the authorities described in
clause (i), the Chairperson shall consult with members
of the Committee.
(iv) In addition to the authority provided by section
3161(c) of title 5, United States Code, upon the
request of an Inspector General, the Committee may
detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any personnel of
the Council to that Inspector General to assist in
carrying out any audit, review, or investigation
pertaining to the oversight of covered funds or the
Coronavirus response.
(B) In exercising the employment authorities under
section 3161(b) of title 5, United States Code, as
provided under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph--
(i) section 3161(b)(2) of that title
(relating to periods of appointments) shall not
apply; and
(ii) no period of appointment may exceed the
date on which the Committee terminates.
(C)(i) A person employed by the Committee shall
acquire competitive status for appointment to any
position in the competitive service for which the
employee possesses the required qualifications upon the
completion of 2 years of continuous service as an
employee under this subsection.
(ii) No person who is first employed as
described in clause (i) more than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act may acquire
competitive status under clause (i).
(2)(A) The Committee may employ annuitants covered by section
9902(g) of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of the
oversight of covered funds or the Coronavirus response.
(B) The employment of annuitants under this paragraph
shall be subject to the provisions of section 9902(g)
of title 5, United States Code, as if the Committee was
the Department of Defense.
(3) Upon request of the Committee for information or
assistance from any agency or other entity of the Federal
Government, the head of such entity shall, insofar as is
practicable and not in contravention of any existing law, and
consistent with section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978
(5 U.S.C. App.), furnish such information or assistance to the
Committee, or an authorized designee, including an Inspector
General designated by the Chairperson.
(4) Any Inspector General responsible for conducting
oversight related to covered funds or the Coronavirus response
may, consistent with the duties, responsibilities, policies,
and procedures of the Inspector General, provide information
requested by the Committee or an Inspector General on the
Committee relating to the responsibilities of the Committee.
(g)(1)(A) Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Committee shall establish and maintain a user-
friendly, public-facing website to foster greater
accountability and transparency in the use of covered funds and
the Coronavirus response, which shall have a uniform resource
locator that is descriptive and memorable.
(B) The Committee shall leverage existing information
technology and resources, such as oversight.gov, to the
greatest extent practicable to meet the requirements
under this section.
(2) The website established and maintained under paragraph
(1) shall be a portal or gateway to key information relating to
the oversight of covered funds and the Coronavirus response and
provide connections to other Government websites with related
information.
(3) In establishing and maintaining the website under
paragraph (1), the Committee shall ensure the following:
(A) The website shall provide materials and
information explaining the Coronavirus response and how
covered funds are being used. The materials shall be
easy to understand and regularly updated.
(i) The website shall provide accountability
information, including findings from Inspectors
General, including any progress reports,
audits, inspections, or other reports,
including reports from or links to reports on
the website of the Government Accountability
Office.
(ii) The website shall provide data on
relevant operational, economic, financial,
grant, subgrant, contract, and subcontract
information in user-friendly visual
presentations to enhance public awareness of
the use of covered funds and the Coronavirus
response.
(iii) The website shall provide detailed data
on any Federal Government awards that expend
covered funds, including a unique trackable
identification number for each project,
information about the process that was used to
award the covered funds, and for any covered
funds over $150,000, a detailed explanation of
any associated agreement, where applicable.
(iv) The website shall include downloadable,
machine-readable, open format reports on
covered funds obligated by month to each State
and congressional district, where applicable.
(v) The website shall provide a means for the
public to give feedback on the performance of
any covered funds and of the Coronavirus
response, including confidential feedback.
(vi) The website shall include detailed
information on Federal Government awards that
expend covered funds, including data elements
required under the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31
U.S.C. 6101 note), allowing aggregate reporting
on awards below $50,000, as prescribed by the
Director of the Office of Management and
Budget.
(vii) The website shall provide a link to
estimates of the jobs sustained or created by
this Act to the extent practicable.
(viii) The website shall include appropriate
links to other government websites with
information concerning covered funds and the
Coronavirus response, including Federal agency
and State websites.
(ix) The website shall include a plan from
each Federal agency for using covered funds.
(x) The website shall provide information on
Federal allocations of mandatory and other
entitlement programs by State, county, or other
geographical unit related to covered funds or
the Coronavirus response.
(xi) The website shall present the data such
that funds subawarded by recipients are not
double counted in search results, data
visualizations, or other reports.
(xii) The website shall include all
recommendations made to agencies relating to
covered funds and the Coronavirus response, as
well as the status of each recommendation.
(xiii) The website shall be enhanced and
updated as necessary to carry out the purposes
of this section.
(4) The Committee may exclude posting contractual or other
information on the website on a case-by-case basis when
necessary to protect national security or to protect
information that is not subject to disclosure under sections
552 and 552a of title 5, United States Code.
(h)(1) Nothing in this section shall affect the independent
authority of an Inspector General to determine whether to
conduct an audit or investigation of covered funds or the
Coronavirus response.
(2) If the Committee requests that an Inspector General of an
agency conduct or refrain from conducting an audit or
investigation and the Inspector General rejects the request in
whole or in part, the Inspector General shall, not later than
30 days after rejecting the request, submit a report to the
Committee, the head of the applicable agency, and the
appropriate congressional committees, that states the reasons
that the Inspector General has rejected the request in whole or
in part.
(i) The Committee shall coordinate its oversight activities
with the Comptroller General of the United States and State
auditors.
(j) For the purposes of carrying out the mission of the
Committee under this section, there are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the
duties and functions of the Committee.
(k) The Committee shall terminate on September 30, 2025.
* * * * * * *
----------
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] $15,000 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]
$75,000.
(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 payment of each eligible student who
receives more than $10,000 for the award year;
and
[(B)] (C) after making reductions under
[subparagraph (A)] subparagraphs (A) and (B),
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. Beginning with school year 2017-2018, the
Mayor shall adjust the amounts in clauses (i) and (ii)
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
[(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.]
(G) is from a family with a taxable annual
income of less than the applicable family
income limit, as defined in paragraph (7).
(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 8101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of Education.
(7) Applicable family income limit.--The term
``applicable family income limit'' means, with respect
to an individual, the following:
(A) In the case of an individual who began an
undergraduate course of study prior to school
year 2015-2016, $1,000,000.
(B) In the case of an individual who begins
an undergraduate course of study in school year
2016-2017, $750,000.
(C) In the case of an individual who begins
an undergraduate course of study in school year
2017-2018 or school year 2018-2019, the
applicable family income limit under this
paragraph for an individual who began an
undergraduate course of study in the previous
school year, adjusted by the Mayor 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.
(D) In the case of an individual who begins
an undergraduate course of study in school year
2019-2020, $500,000.
(E) In the case of an individual who begins
an undergraduate course of study in school year
2020-2021, the amount described in subparagraph
(D), adjusted by the Mayor 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.
(F) In the case of an individual who begins
an undergraduate course of study in school year
2021-2022, $750,000.
(G) In the case of an individual who begins
an undergraduate course of study in school year
2022-2023 or any succeeding school year, the
applicable family income limit under this
paragraph for an individual who began an
undergraduate course of study in the previous
school year, adjusted by the Mayor 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.
(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;
Small Dollar Loans Program; Economic Mobility Corps; 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 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 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 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 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 112. Language is included to authorize transfers,
up to two percent, between Departmental Offices Salaries and
Expenses, Office of Inspector General, Special Inspector
General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and Alcohol
and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau appropriations under certain
circumstances.
Section 113. Language is included to direct the transfer of
$4,000,000 from the Internal Revenue Service to the Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration upon Congressional
approval.
Section 114. Language is included prohibiting the
Department of the Treasury from undertaking a redesign of the
$1 Federal Reserve note.
Section 115. 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 116. 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 117. 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 118. Language is included deeming that funds for
the Department of the Treasury's intelligence-related
activities are specifically authorized in fiscal year 2022
until enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for
fiscal year 2022.
Section 119. 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 120. Language is included requiring the Department
of the Treasury to submit a capital investment plan.
Section 121. Language is included requiring the Department
of the Treasury to submit a report on the Franchise Fund.
Section 122. Language is included requiring quarterly
reports from the Office of Financial Stability and the Office
of Financial Research.
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;
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 and official reception
and representation expenses.
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; provides for
services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and 3 U.S.C. 107, and for
the hire of vehicles; and provides funds for a program to
provide payments to students, recent graduates, and veterans
recently discharged from active duty who are performing
voluntary services in the Executive Office of the President
under section 3111(b) of title 5, United States Code, or
comparable authority. Language is provided specifying that such
payments to students, recent graduates, and veterans shall not
be considered payments for purposes of section 3111(b) and may
be paid in advance.
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; 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; and requires
OMB to make publicly available on a website a tabular list for
each agency that submits budget justification materials that
includes the name of the agency, the date on which the budget
justification materials of the agency were submitted to
Congress, and a uniform resource locator where the budget
justification materials are published on the website of the
agency.
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 the National Cyber
Director, Salaries and Expenses, that provides funds for
expenses authorized by section 1752 of the William M. (Mac)
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2021 (Public Law 116-283), and official reception and
representation expenses
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, that provides funds for
operation and maintenance of the official residence of the Vice
President, the hire of vehicles, and 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 2022 where
the regulatory cost exceeds $100,000,000.
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 OMB to
implement a system to make publicly available, in an automated
fashion, all documents apportioning an appropriation and all
relevant delegations of apportionment authority, and to provide
the Committee with such information until the automated system
is implemented. This requirement would apply to any
appropriation apportioned under the President's apportionment
authority, including appropriations provided in prior years and
those included in Acts other than appropriations Acts.
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
2022 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 2021.
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 Alabama Northern, 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, 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, 2023;
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.
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 $14,747,000 to remain available until September 30,
2024 for costs associated with replacement leases for
headquarters offices, field offices and related facilities for
Community Supervision and Sex Offender Registration; allowing
$7,304,000 to remain available until September 30, 2023 for
costs associated with replacement leases for headquarters
offices, field offices and related facilities for Community
Supervision and Sex Offender Registration; 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, 2023.
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.
Language is included under Federal payment to the District
of Columbia to continue implementation of the Combined Sewer
Overflow Long-Term Plan.
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.
Section 512. Language is included relating to Universal
Service Fund payments for wireless providers.
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 and funds for
the Office of the Inspector General.
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 Permitting Improvement
Steering Council, Environmental Review Improvement Fund, that
provides for services provided pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4370m--
8(d).
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;
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, that
provides funds for activities associated with the Civilian
Board of Contract Appeals and extends the period of
availability for certain funds.
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, Technology Modernization Fund, that provides
funds for technology-related modernization activities.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Asset Proceeds and Space Management Fund, that
provides funds to carry out section 16(b)(2) of Public Law 114-
287.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Working Capital Fund, that provides funds for
GSA's administrative services.
Language is included for the General Services
Administration, Electric Vehicles Fund, that provides funds for
the procurement of zero emission and electric vehicles and the
associated charging infrastructure on behalf of Federal
agencies.
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 the General
Services Administration 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.
Section 527. Language is included to expand the definition
of items that can be acquired to implement the Chief Financial
Officer's Act of 1990.
Section 528. Language is included requiring GSA to transmit
a new prospectus for consolidation of a new Federal Bureau of
Investigation headquarters.
Section 529. Language is included prohibiting the use of
funds for any contracts inconsistent with the Brooks Act and
part 36.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Section 530. Language is included prohibiting the use of
funds for any Executive Order that would establish a preferred
architectural style for Federal buildings and courthouses or
would conflict with existing GSA architectural guidelines.
Language is included for the Harry S Truman Scholarship
Foundation, providing for payment to the Harry S Truman
Scholarship Foundation Trust Fund.
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 Morris K. Udall and Stewart L.
Udall Foundation, for payment to the Morris K. Udall and
Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund, pursuant to the Morris K. Udall
and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Act (20 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.).
Language is included for the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L.
Udall Foundation, Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund, to
carry out activities under sections 10 and 11 of Public Law
111-90.
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 for expenses 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 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 that creates a new OPM IT Working Capital Fund.
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 Public Buildings Reform Board,
that provides funds for carrying out the Federal Assets Sale
and Transfer Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-287).
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
move, replication, and related costs associated with a
replacement lease for the Commission's Fort Worth Regional
Office facilities. 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.
In addition, the bill includes the following administrative
provision under the Securities and Exchange Commission:
Section 540. Language is included restricting the use of
funds to implement certain rules relating to proxy
solicitations.
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, 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:
Section 550. Language is included allowing for the transfer
of funds between Small Business Administration appropriations.
Section 551. Language is included allowing for 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.
Section 552. Language is included providing funds for
initiatives related to small business development and
entrepreneurship, including programmatic and construction
activities.
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.
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; other services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109; and
official reception and representation expenses; 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 Provision--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 prohibiting 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 this Act 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 $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; (6) reduces
existing programs, projects, or activities by $5,000,000 or 10
percent, whichever is less; or (7) creates or reorganizes
offices, programs, or activities different from the budget
justifications submitted to the Committees on Appropriations or
the tables in the report accompanying this Act, whichever is
more detailed. The provision also direct agencies to consult
with the Committees prior to any significant reorganization,
restructuring, relocation, or closing of offices, programs, or
activities and 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 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 614. 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 615. 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 616. 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 617. Language is included providing for several
appropriated mandatory accounts. These are accounts where
authorizing language requires the payment of funds.
Section 618. 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 619. 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 620. Language is included prohibiting funds in
contravention of the Federal Records Act.
Section 621. Language is included prohibiting agencies from
requiring Internet Service Providers to disclose electronic
communications information in a manner that violates the Fourth
Amendment.
Section 622. Language is included prohibiting funds to be
used to deny inspectors general access to records.
Section 623. 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 624. 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 625. 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 626. 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 627. Language is included providing an additional
$850,000 for the Inspectors General Council Fund to expand and
update the Federal-wide Inspectors General (IG) website
oversight.gov.
Section 628. Language is included relating to contracts for
public relations services.
Section 629. 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 630. Language is included rescinding $20,000,000 in
unobligated balances from the Department of the Treasury,
Treasury Forfeiture Fund.
Title VI--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 the prohibits 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 that eliminates the
automatic statutory pay increase for the Vice President and
certain senior political appointees.
Section 747. Language is included related to the
impoundment of resources.
Section 748. Language is included requiring an executive
agency or the District of Columbia Government to respond to
information requests from the Government Accountability Office.
Section 749. Language is included on the notification of
apportionments.
Section 750. Language is included restricting funds from
preventing certain union activities.
Section 751. Language is included creating a Commission to
review the assigning, modifying, or removing of names,
monuments, statues, public art, historical markers, or other
symbols owned or located on Federal Government property which
are inconsistent with the values of diversity, equity, and
inclusion.
Section 752. Language is included addressing interagency
funding for the Unites States Army Medical Research and
Development Command, the Congressionally Directed Medical
Research Programs, and the National Institutes of Health
research programs.
Section 753. Language is included making technical
amendments to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
Section 754. Language is included requiring recordkeeping
requirements for certain GAO audits.
Section. 755. Language is included prohibiting funding for
government cloud computing unless they do not store or transmit
images which depict violations of child exploitation law.
Section. 756. Language is included concerning the non-
application of these general provisions to title IV and to
title VIII.
Title VII General Provisions--District of Columbia
In addition, the bill provides the following provisions
under this title:
Section 801. Language is included that continues and
modifies a provision establishing reprogramming procedures for
Federal funds.
Section 802. Language is included prohibiting the
obligation of Federal funds beyond the current fiscal year and
transfers of funds unless expressly provided herein.
Section 803. 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 804. Language is included appropriating local funds
during fiscal year 2023 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 2022.
Section 805. Language is included that modifies a provision
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 806. Language is included that concerns a
``conscience clause'' on legislation that pertains to
contraceptive coverage by health insurance plans.
Section 807. Language is included providing the District of
Columbia authority to transfer, receive, and acquire lands and
funding it deems necessary for the construction and operation
of interstate bridges over navigable waters, including related
infrastructure, for a project to expand commuter and regional
passenger rail service and provide bike and pedestrian access
crossings.
Section 808. Language is included prohibiting the
federalization of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police
Department by the President of the United States.
Section 809. Language is included to increase the maximum
award for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program from
$10,000 to $15,000 and to increase the total limit on awards
from $50,000 to $75,000.
Section 810. Language is included that continues a
provision 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]
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 clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, the following hearings
were used to develop or consider the Financial Services and
General Government Appropriations Act, 2022:
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on February 16, 2021, entitled
``Election Assistance Commission Oversight Hearing''. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Benjamin Hovland, Chairman, U.S. Election
Assistance Commission
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on February 23, 2021, entitled
``Oversight of the Internal Revenue Service''. The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
The Honorable Charles P. Rettig, Commissioner, Internal
Revenue Service
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on February 24, 2021, entitled ``The
Judiciary's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2022''. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable John W. Lungstrum, Chair, Judicial Conference
Committee on the Budget
The Honorable Roslynn R. Mauskopf, Director, Administrative
Office of the U.S. Courts
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on March 11, 2021, entitled
``Oversight of the U.S. Postal Service''. The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
The Honorable Louis DeJoy, United States Postmaster
General, United States Postal Service
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on May 18, 2021, entitled ``The Need
for Universal Broadband: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic''.
The Subcommittee received testimony from:
Joi Chaney, National Urban League
Matt Dunne, Center on Rural Innovation
Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service
Lang Zimmerman, Yelcot Communications
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on May 26, 2021, entitled
``Securities and Exchange Commission Oversight Hearing''. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Gary Gensler, Chair, Securities and Exchange
Commission
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on May 27, 2021, entitled
``Department of the Treasury Oversight Hearing''. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Janet Yellen, Secretary, Department of the
Treasury
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on May 28, 2021, entitled ``Small
Business Administration Oversight Hearing''. The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
The Honorable Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator,
Small Business Administration
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government held a hearing on June 9, 2021, entitled ``Office of
Management and Budget FY22 Budget Request''. The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
The Honorable Shalanda Young, Acting Director, Office of
Management and Budget
Full Committee Votes
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 2021 and budget
estimates presented for fiscal year 2022.
MINORITY VIEWS
We appreciate the collegial and collaborative efforts of
Full Committee Chair DeLauro and Subcommittee Chair 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, and drug control programs.
Unfortunately, we are not able to support the bill as
currently drafted. The bill provides $29,099,897,000 in new
discretionary budget authority for fiscal year 2022, which
includes allocation adjustments of $416,897,000 for tax
enforcement and $143,000,000 for disaster relief. This is
$4,836,533,000, or 20 percent above the comparable fiscal year
2021 enacted level. This level of spending is not justified and
ignores our unsustainable fiscal trajectory.
We were hoping that in fiscal year 2022 we could start to
limit Federal spending as the costs associated with the
pandemic wane. Instead, numerous agencies funded in the bill
receive a double-digit percentage increase over last year,
including a 39 percent increase for the White House Offices
appropriation and a 15 percent increase for the Office of
Management and Budget.
While we believe the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could
use some additional resources, the bill provides them with a
$1,654,769,000, or 14 percent, increase. It was not too long
ago that the IRS was targeting groups based on their political
beliefs and wasting taxpayer dollars on lavish conferences,
inappropriate videos, and employee bonuses.
While much of the Federal workforce has been teleworking
for more than a year, this bill provides a $1,441,553,000
increase to the General Services Administration, most of which
is for Federal buildings and vehicles at a time when the
Administration is preserving Executive Branch employees'
ability to keep working from home. We were hoping that the
lessons learned during the pandemic could lead to savings in
office space and travel expenses, not more spending.
We are already seeing the inflation and historically-high
debt ushered in by the Administration's excessive spending. We
are greatly concerned these realities will hinder the recovery
and burden future generations of Americans.
There are also several controversial policy changes
included in the bill such as allowing District of Columbia tax
dollars to fund abortions and removing the prohibition on the
Federal employee health benefits program funding for abortions.
Unfortunately, the Majority rejected several Republican
amendments offered in the Committee. If passed, these
amendments would have improved the bill by: promoting pro-life
policies; holding the Iranian regime accountable; improving
educational opportunities for low-income students in the
District of Columbia; preventing further unnecessary bailouts
of State and local governments; protecting small businesses
from unnecessary and burdensome disclosures; and reducing
Federal regulations.
While we have many concerns with the bill at this stage in
the process, we are hopeful that, at some point in the near
future, we will be able to reach a bipartisan and bicameral
agreement on spending and eliminate controversial policy
changes.
We are confident that as this process moves forward, we can
continue working together to find bipartisan agreement on the
items that matter most.
Kay Granger.
Steve Womack.
[all]