NEWS
House Appropriations Committee
Chairman Hal Rogers
Website address: http://appropriations.house.gov/
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2015
Contact: Jennifer Hing, (202) 226-7007
Appropriations Committee Approves the Fiscal Year 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science Bill
Bill targets funding to federal law enforcement, national security efforts, and space exploration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill on a voice vote. The bill funds the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other related agencies.
The legislation contains $51.4 billion in total discretionary funding, an increase of $1.3 billion over fiscal year 2015 and $661 million below the President’s request for these programs. The bill prioritizes funding for law enforcement, national security, science, and space exploration programs.
“This bill supports a broad range of federal programs that are important to our safety, our economy, and our nation’s place as a global leader in research and innovation,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said. “It prioritizes law enforcement, counterterrorism and cyber security, and important science programs, while weeding out waste and excess. The sound investments in this legislation will help spur American innovation both today and into the future.”
“This is a tough budget year, but this bill ensures our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to protect our lives and property,” said CJS Subcommittee Chairman John Culberson. “It also makes important scientific research a top priority. Breakthroughs in these areas are vital to America’s future economic growth.”
The following amendments to the bill were adopted by the full committee today:
Rep. Culberson – The manager’s amendment makes technical and non-controversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Farr –The amendment increases funds for the NOAA Bay Watershed and Training education program by $7.2 million, offset by a cut to the NOAA Administrative account. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Wasserman-Schultz – The amendment adds $5 million to the DOJ Rape Survivor Child Custody Act program, offset by a cut to the Commerce Departmental Management account. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. McCollum – The amendment adds report language to support DOJ efforts to prevent the recruitment of at-risk youth to terrorist activities, and requests a report on these efforts. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Wasserman Schultz – The amendment designates $1 million in funding within the Missing and Exploited Children program, for the purpose of hiring wounded warriors to assist with these cases. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Fattah – The amendment names the Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement Officer Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) initiative in honor of officer Robert Wilson III. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
The bill was approved by the Committee on a voice vote.
For a bill summary, please visit:
http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394203
For the text of the bill, please visit:
http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/BILLS-114HR-SC-AP-FY2016-CJS-SubcommitteeDraft.pdf
For the bill report, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-114-hr-fy2016-cjs.pdf
