[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 114-53
114th Congress

An Act


 
To require the Transportation Security Administration to conform to
existing Federal law and regulations regarding criminal investigator
positions, and for other purposes. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``TSA Office of Inspection
Accountability Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Consistent with Federal law and regulations, for law
enforcement officers to qualify for premium pay as criminal
investigators, the officers must, in general, spend on average
at least 50 percent of their time investigating, apprehending,
or detaining individuals suspected or convicted of offenses
against the criminal laws of the United States.
(2) According to the Inspector General of the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS IG), the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) does not ensure that its cadre of criminal
investigators in the Office of Inspection are meeting this
requirement, even though they are considered law enforcement
officers under TSA policy and receive premium pay.
(3) Instead, TSA criminal investigators in the Office of
Inspection primarily monitor the results of criminal
investigations conducted by other agencies, investigate
administrative cases of TSA employee misconduct, and carry out
inspections, covert tests, and internal reviews, which the DHS
IG asserts could be performed by employees other than criminal
investigators at a lower cost.
(4) The premium pay and other benefits afforded to TSA
criminal investigators in the Office of Inspection who are
incorrectly classified as such will cost the taxpayer as much as
$17 million over 5 years if TSA fails to make any changes to the
number of criminal investigators in the Office of Inspection,
according to the DHS IG.
(5) This may be a conservative estimate, as it accounts for
the cost of Law Enforcement Availability Pay, but not the costs
of law enforcement training, statutory early retirement
benefits, police vehicles, and weapons.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

[[Page 503]]

(1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the
Transportation Security Administration.
(2) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary''
means the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security
(Transportation Security) of the Department of Homeland
Security.
(3) Inspector general.--The term ``Inspector General'' means
the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security.
SEC. 4. INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT.

(a) <>  Audit.--Not later than 60 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General shall
analyze the data and methods that the Assistant Secretary uses to
identify Office of Inspection employees of the Administration who meet
the requirements of sections 8331(20), 8401(17), and 5545a of title 5,
United States Code, and provide the relevant findings to the Assistant
Secretary, including a finding on whether the data and methods are
adequate and valid.

(b) Prohibition on Hiring.--If the Inspector General finds that such
data and methods are inadequate or invalid, the Administration shall not
hire any new employee to work in the Office of Inspection of the
Administration until--
(1) <>  the Assistant Secretary makes
a certification described in section 5 to the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate; and
(2) <>  the Inspector General
submits to such Committees a finding, not later than 30 days
after the Assistant Secretary makes such certification, that the
Assistant Secretary utilized adequate and valid data and methods
to make such certification.
SEC. 5. TSA OFFICE OF INSPECTION WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION.

(a) <>  Certification to Congress.--The Assistant
Secretary shall, by not later than 90 days after the date the Inspector
General provides its findings to the Assistant Secretary under section
4(a), document and certify in writing to the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate that only those Office of
Inspection employees of the Administration who meet the requirements of
sections 8331(20), 8401(17), and 5545a of title 5, United States Code,
are classified as criminal investigators and are receiving premium pay
and other benefits associated with such classification.

(b) Employee Reclassification.--The Assistant Secretary shall
reclassify criminal investigator positions in the Office of Inspection
as noncriminal investigator positions or non-law enforcement positions
if the individuals in those positions do not, or are not expected to,
spend an average of at least 50 percent of their time performing
criminal investigative duties.
(c) Projected Cost Savings.--
(1) <>  In general.--The
Assistant Secretary shall estimate the total long-term cost
savings to the Federal Government resulting from the
implementation of subsection (b), and provide such estimate to
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate by not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of this Act.

[[Page 504]]

(2) Contents.--Such estimate shall identify savings
associated with the positions reclassified under subsection (b)
and include, among other factors the Assistant Secretary
considers appropriate, savings from--
(A) law enforcement training;
(B) early retirement benefits;
(C) law enforcement availability and other premium
pay; and
(D) weapons, vehicles, and communications devices.
SEC. 6. INVESTIGATION OF FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL SERVICE MISCONDUCT.

Not <>  later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, or as soon as practicable, the Assistant
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate--
(1) <>  materials in the possession or
control of the Department of Homeland Security associated with
the Office of Inspection's review of instances in which Federal
Air Marshal Service officials obtained discounted or free
firearms for personal use;
(2) information on specific actions that will be taken to
prevent Federal Air Marshal Service officials from using their
official positions, or exploiting, in any way, the Service's
relationships with private vendors to obtain discounted or free
firearms for personal use; and
(3) information on specific actions that will be taken to
prevent the Federal Air Marshal Service from misusing Government
resources.
SEC. 7. STUDY.

Not <>  later than 180 days after the date that the
Assistant Secretary submits the certification to Congress under section
5(a), the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate a study--
(1) reviewing the employee requirements, responsibilities,
and benefits of criminal investigators in the TSA Office of
Inspection with criminal investigators employed at agencies
adhering to the Office of Personnel Management employee
classification system; and
(2) identifying any inconsistencies and costs implications
for differences between the varying employee requirements,
responsibilities, and benefits.
SEC. 8. INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL SERVICE PERSONNEL
ISSUES.

Not <>  later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General shall submit to the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a study that--
(1) reviews the Federal Air Marshal Service's existing
personnel policies and procedures for identifying misuse of
Government resources; and

[[Page 505]]

(2) reviews the administration of the Federal Air Marshal
Service's existing code of conduct or integrity policies with
respect to instances of misconduct.

The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or
other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several departments,
agencies, corporations, and other organizational units of Government for
fiscal year 2016, and for other purposes, namely:
Sec. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate for
operations as provided in the applicable appropriations Acts for fiscal
year 2015 and under the authority and conditions provided in such Acts,
for continuing projects or activities (including the costs of direct
loans and loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided
for in this Act, that were conducted in fiscal year 2015, and for which
appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in the
following appropriations Acts:
(1) The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
(division A of Public Law 113-235), except section 743 and title
VIII.
(2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2015 (division B of Public Law 113-235).
(3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2015
(division C of Public Law 113-235), except title X.
(4) The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2015 (division D of Public Law 113-235).
(5) The Financial Services and General Government
Appropriations Act, 2015 (division E of Public Law 113-235).
(6) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act,
2015 (Public Law 114-4).
(7) The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division F of Public Law 113-
235).
(8) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
(division G of Public Law 113-235), except title VI.
(9) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2015
(division H of Public Law 113-235).
(10) The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division I of Public
Law 113-235).
(11) The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2015 (division J of Public
Law 113-235), except title IX.
(12) The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division K of Public
Law 113-235).
(13) Section 11 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235).

(b) <>  The rate for operations provided by
subsection (a) is hereby reduced by 0.2108 percent.

Sec. 102. (a) No appropriation or funds made available or authority
granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be
used for: (1) the new production of items not funded for production in
fiscal year 2015 or prior years; (2) the increase in production rates
above those sustained with fiscal year

[[Page 506]]

2015 funds; or (3) the initiation, resumption, or continuation of any
project, activity, operation, or organization (defined as any project,
subproject, activity, budget activity, program element, and subprogram
within a program element, and for any investment items defined as a P-1
line item in a budget activity within an appropriation account and an R-
1 line item that includes a program element and subprogram element
within an appropriation account) for which appropriations, funds, or
other authority were not available during fiscal year 2015.
(b) <>  No appropriation or funds made available
or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of
Defense shall be used to initiate multi-year procurements utilizing
advance procurement funding for economic order quantity procurement
unless specifically appropriated later.

Sec. 103. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be available to
the extent and in the manner that would be provided by the pertinent
appropriations Act.
Sec. 104. Except as otherwise provided in section 102, no
appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to
section 101 shall be used to initiate or resume any project or activity
for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available
during fiscal year 2015.
Sec. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant to this
Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures incurred for any project
or activity during the period for which funds or authority for such
project or activity are available under this Act.
Sec. 106. <>  Unless otherwise provided for
in this Act or in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year
2016, appropriations and funds made available and authority granted
pursuant to this Act shall be available until whichever of the following
first occurs: (1) the enactment into law of an appropriation for any
project or activity provided for in this Act; (2) the enactment into law
of the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2016 without any
provision for such project or activity; or (3) December 11, 2015.

Sec. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this Act shall be charged to
the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in
which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is contained
is enacted into law.
Sec. 108. Appropriations made and funds made available by or
authority granted pursuant to this Act may be used without regard to the
time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments set forth
in section 1513 of title 31, United States Code, but nothing in this Act
may be construed to waive any other provision of law governing the
apportionment of funds.
Sec. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, except
section 106, for those programs that would otherwise have high initial
rates of operation or complete distribution of appropriations at the
beginning of fiscal year 2016 because of distributions of funding to
States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, such high initial rates
of operation or complete distribution shall not be made, and no grants
shall be awarded for such programs funded by this Act that would impinge
on final funding prerogatives.
Sec. 110. This Act shall be implemented so that only the most
limited funding action of that permitted in the Act shall be taken in
order to provide for continuation of projects and activities.

[[Page 507]]

Sec. 111. (a) For entitlements and other mandatory payments whose
budget authority was provided in appropriations Acts for fiscal year
2015, and for activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008,
activities shall be continued at the rate to maintain program levels
under current law, under the authority and conditions provided in the
applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2015, to be continued
through the date specified in section 106(3).
(b) <>  Notwithstanding section 106, obligations
for mandatory payments due on or about the first day of any month that
begins after October 2015 but not later than 30 days after the date
specified in section 106(3) may continue to be made, and funds shall be
available for such payments.

Sec. 112. <>  Amounts made available under section
101 for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department
and agency may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to
avoid furloughs within such department or agency, consistent with the
applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2015, except that such
authority provided under this section shall not be used until after the
department or agency has taken all necessary actions to reduce or defer
non-personnel-related administrative expenses.

Sec. 113. Funds appropriated by this Act may be obligated and
expended notwithstanding section 10 of Public Law 91-672 (22 U.S.C.
2412), section 15 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956
(22 U.S.C. 2680), section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization
Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (22 U.S.C. 6212), and section 504(a)(1)
of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3094(a)(1)).
Sec. 114. <>  (a) Each amount
incorporated by reference in this Act that was previously designated by
the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 or as being for disaster relief pursuant to
section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act is designated by the Congress for
Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to
section 251(b)(2)(A) of such Act or as being for disaster relief
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act, respectively.

(b) The reduction in section 101(b) of this Act shall not apply to--
(1) amounts designated under subsection (a) of this section;
or
(2) amounts made available by section 101(a) by reference to
the second paragraph under the heading ``Social Security
Administration--Limitation on Administrative Expenses'' in
division G of Public Law 113-235; or
(3) amounts made available by section 101(a) by reference to
the paragraph under the heading ``Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services--Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account''
in division G of Public Law 113-235.

(c) <>  Section 6 of Public Law 113-235 shall
apply to amounts designated in subsection (a) for Overseas Contingency
Operations/Global War on Terrorism.

Sec. 115. During the period covered by this Act, discretionary
amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2016 that were provided in advance
by appropriations Acts shall be available in the amounts provided in
such Acts, reduced by the percentage in section 101(b).
Sec. 116. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for
``Department of Agriculture--Domestic Food Programs--Food

[[Page 508]]

and Nutrition Service--Commodity Assistance Program'' at a rate for
operations of $288,317,000, of which $221,298,000 shall be for the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
Sec. 117. Amounts made available by section 101 for ``Department of
Agriculture--Rural Housing Service--Rental Assistance Program'' may be
apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to pay ongoing debt
service for the multi-family direct loan programs under sections 514 and
515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1484 and 1485): <>  Provided, That the Secretary may waive the
prohibition in the second proviso under such heading in division A of
Public Law 113-235 with respect to rental assistance contracts entered
into or renewed during fiscal year 2015.

Sec. 118. Amounts made available by section 101 for ``Department of
Commerce--National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Procurement,
Acquisition and Construction'' may be apportioned up to the rate for
operations necessary to maintain the planned launch schedules for the
Joint Polar Satellite System.
Sec. 119. <>  (a) The first proviso under the
heading ``United States Marshals Service--Federal Prisoner Detention''
in title II of division B of Public Law 113-235 shall not apply during
the period covered by this Act.

(b) The limitation in section 217(c) of division B of Public Law
113-235 on the amount of excess unobligated balances available under
section 524(c)(8)(E) of title 28, United States Code, shall not apply
under this Act to the use of such funds for ``United States Marshals
Service--Federal Prisoner Detention''.
Sec. 120. <>  (a) The authority
regarding closeout of Space Shuttle contracts and associated programs
provided by language under the heading ``National Aeronautics and Space
Administration--Administrative Provisions'' in the Omnibus
Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-8) shall continue in effect
through fiscal year 2021.

(b) <>  This section shall be
applied as if it were in effect on September 30, 2015.

Sec. 121. <>  (a) Notwithstanding section 1552 of
title 31, United States Code, funds made available, including funds that
have expired but have not been cancelled, and identified by Treasury
Appropriation Fund Symbol 13-09/10-0554 shall remain available for
expenditure through fiscal year 2020 for the purpose of liquidating
valid obligations of active grants.

(b) For the purpose of subsection (a), grants for which the period
of performance has expired but are not finally closed out shall be
considered active grants.
(c) <>  This section shall be
applied as if it were in effect on September 30, 2015.

Sec. 122. <>  The following provisions shall
be applied by substituting ``2016'' for ``2015'' through the earlier of
the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act or the date of the
enactment of an Act authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for
military activities of the Department of Defense:
(1) Section 1215(f)(1) of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81; 10 U.S.C. 113
note), as most recently amended by section 1237 of the Carl
Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291).
(2) Section 127b(c)(3)(C) of title 10, United States Code.

[[Page 509]]

Sec. 123. (a) Funds made available by section 101 for ``Department
of Energy--Energy Programs--Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and
Decommissioning Fund'' may be apportioned up to the rate for operations
necessary to avoid disruption of continuing projects or activities
funded in this appropriation.
(b) <>  The Secretary of Energy shall
notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate not later than 3 days after each use of the authority
provided in subsection (a).

Sec. 124. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, except
section 106, the District of Columbia may expend local funds under the
heading ``District of Columbia Funds'' for such programs and activities
under the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2015 (title IV of
division E of Public Law 113-235) at the rate set forth under ``District
of Columbia Funds--Summary of Expenses'' as included in the Fiscal Year
2016 Budget Request Act of 2015 (D.C. Act 21-99), as modified as of the
date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 125. Notwithstanding section 101, no funds are provided by this
Act for ``Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board--Salaries and
Expenses''.
Sec. 126. Amounts made available by section 101 for ``Small Business
Administration--Business Loans Program Account'' may be apportioned up
to the rate for operations necessary to accommodate increased demand for
commitments for general business loans authorized under section 7(a) of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)).
Sec. 127. <>  Sections 1101(a)
and 1104(a)(2)(A) of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (title XI of division
C of Public Law 105-277; 47 U.S.C. 151 note) shall be applied by
substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for
``October 1, 2015''.

Sec. 128. <>  Section 101 shall be applied by
assuming that section 7 of Public Law 113-235 was enacted as part of
title VII of division E of Public Law 113-235.

Sec. 129. <>  The authority provided by
section 831 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391) shall
continue in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this
Act.

Sec. 130. <>  Section 401(b)
of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of
1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) shall be applied by substituting the date
specified in section 106(3) of this Act for ``September 30, 2015''.

Sec. 131. <>  Section 610(b)
of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) shall be
applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act
for ``September 30, 2015''.

Sec. 132. <>  Subclauses
101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II) and (III) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II) and (III)) shall be applied by
substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act for
``September 30, 2015''.

Sec. 133. <>  Section 220(c)
of the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 (8
U.S.C. 1182 note) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in
section 106(3) of this Act for ``September 30, 2015''.

Sec. 134. Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement
Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) is amended by striking all that follows after
``shall terminate'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017.''.

[[Page 510]]

Sec. 135. In addition to the amount otherwise provided by section
101 for ``Department of Agriculture--Forest Service--Wildland Fire
Management'', there is appropriated $700,000,000 for an additional
amount for fiscal year 2016, to remain available until expended, for
urgent wildland fire suppression activities: Provided,
That <>  such funds shall only
become available if funds previously provided for wildland fire
suppression will be exhausted imminently and the Secretary of
Agriculture notifies the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate in writing of the need for these
additional funds: Provided further, That such funds are also available
for transfer to other appropriations accounts to repay amounts
previously transferred for wildfire
suppression: <>  Provided further, That
such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985, except that such amount shall be available
only if the President subsequently so designates such amount and
transmits such designation to the Congress.

Sec. 136. <>  The authorities provided by
sections 117 and 123 of division G of Public Law 113-76 shall continue
in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act.

Sec. 137. <>  (a) The authority provided by
subsection (m)(3) of section 8162 of the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 2000 (40 U.S.C. 8903 note; Public Law 106-79) shall
continue in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of this
Act.

(b) <>  For the period covered by this Act, the
authority provided by the provisos under the heading ``Dwight D.
Eisenhower Memorial Commission--Capital Construction'' in division E of
Public Law 112-74 shall not be in effect.

Sec. 138. Section 3096(2) of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck''
McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 is
amended <>  by inserting ``for fiscal year 2015''
after ``$37,000,000''.

Sec. 139. Funds made available in prior appropriations Acts for
construction and renovation of facilities for the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention may also be used for construction on leased land.
Sec. 140. Subsection (b) of section 163 of Public Law 111-242, as
amended, <>  is further amended by striking
``2015-2016'' and inserting ``2016-2017''.

Sec. 141. <>  Section 101 shall be applied by
assuming that section 139 of Public Law 113-164 was enacted as part of
division G of Public Law 113-235, and section 139 of Public Law 113-164
shall be applied by adding at the end the following: ``and of the
unobligated balance of amounts deposited or available in the Child
Enrollment Contingency Fund from appropriations to the Fund under
section 2104(n)(2)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act and the income
derived from investment of those funds pursuant to 2104(n)(2)(C) of that
Act, $1,664,000,000 is rescinded''.

Sec. 142. <>  Section 114(f)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011c(f)) shall be
applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act
for ``September 30, 2015''.

Sec. 143. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, there is
appropriated for payment to Tori B. Nunnelee, widow of Alan Nunnelee,
late a Representative from the State of Mississippi, $174,000.

[[Page 511]]

Sec. 144. Of the discretionary unobligated balances of the
Department of Veterans Affairs from fiscal year 2015 or prior fiscal
years, or discretionary amounts appropriated in advance for fiscal year
2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may transfer up to $625,000,000
to ``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental Administration--
Construction, Major Projects'', to be merged with the amounts available
in such account: Provided, That no amounts may be transferred from
amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement
pursuant to the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget, the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, or the Statutory Pay-As-You-
Go Act of 2010: <>  Provided further, That no
amounts may be transferred until the Secretary submits to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a
request for, and receives from the Committees written approval of, such
transfers: Provided further, That the Secretary shall specify in such
request the donor account and amount of each proposed transfer, the
fiscal year of each appropriation to be transferred, the amount of
unobligated balances remaining in the account after the transfer, and
the project or program impact of the transfer.

Sec. 145. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for
``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental Administration--General
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'' at a rate for
operations of $2,697,734,000.
Sec. 146. Notwithstanding section 101, section 226(a) of division I
of Public Law 113-235 shall be applied to amounts made available by this
Act by substituting ``division I of Public Law 113-235'' for ``division
J of Public Law 113-76'' and by substituting ``2015'' for ``2014''.
Sec. 147. <>  Section 209 of
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6436) shall
be applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this
Act for ``September 30, 2015''.

Sec. 148. Amounts made available by section 101 for ``Broadcasting
Board of Governors--International Broadcasting Operations'', ``Bilateral
Economic Assistance--Funds Appropriated to the President--Economic
Support Fund'', ``International Security Assistance--Department of
State--International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement'',
``International Security Assistance--Department of State--
Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs'', and
``International Security Assistance--Funds Appropriated to the
President--Foreign Military Financing Program'' shall be obligated at a
rate for operations as necessary to sustain assistance for Ukraine to
counter external, regional aggression and influence, including for the
costs of authorized loan guarantees.
Sec. 149. <>  Section 1334 of the Foreign
Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6553) shall be
applied by substituting the date specified in section 106(3) of this Act
for ``October 1, 2015''.

Sec. 150. (a) Funds made available by section 101 for ``Department
of Housing and Urban Development--Management and Administration--
Administrative Support Offices'' may be apportioned up to the rate for
operations necessary to maintain the planned schedule for the New Core
Shared Services Project.
(b) <>  Not later than 3 days before the first use
of the apportionment authority in subsection (a), each 30 days
thereafter, and 3 days after the authority expires under this Act, the
Secretary

[[Page 512]]

of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report
specifying each use of the authority through the date of the report.

This Act may be cited as the ``Continuing Appropriations Act,
2016''.

Approved September 30, 2015.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 719:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENATE REPORTS: No. 114-111 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015):
Feb. 10, considered and passed House.
Sept. 17, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Sept. 24, House concurred in Senate amendment with an
amendment pursuant to H. Res. 434. Senate considered
concurring in House amendment with an amendment.
Sept. 28, 29, Senate considered concurring in House
amendment with an amendment.
Sept. 30, Senate considered and concurred in House amendment
with an amendment. House concurred in Senate amendment.