Highlights:
This bill provides FY2018 appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of FY2018. The bill also provides additional Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.
The bill extends several expiring programs, including:
The bill also includes legislation that addresses a wide range of policy issues and programs, including:
The bill also exempts specified provisions from the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO), the Senate PAYGO rule, and other budget enforcement rules.
Full Summary:
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018
(Sec. 3) Provides that references to "this Act" included in any division of this bill refer only to the provisions of the division unless the bill expressly provides otherwise.
(Sec. 4) Provides that the explanatory statement printed in the Congressional Record regarding this bill has the same effect as a joint explanatory statement of a conference committee.
(Sec. 5) Specifies that the sums in this bill are appropriated for FY2018.
(Sec. 6) Provides that amounts designated by this bill for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are only available (or rescinded, if applicable) if the President subsequently designates the amounts and transmits the designations to Congress.
(Sec. 7) Prohibits cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress during FY2018.
Provides appropriations for a payment to Emily Robin Minerva, heir of the late Representative Louise McIntosh Slaughter.
DIVISION A--AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018
This division provides FY2018 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service, which is included in division G (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018).
It also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Farm Credit Administration.
The division includes both discretionary and mandatory funding. The mandatory funding levels are generally set by authorizing legislation such as the farm bill and are frequently limited in the agriculture appropriations bill.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Provides appropriations for the following agricultural programs and services:
TITLE II--FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Provides appropriations for Farm Production and Conservation programs, including:
Provides appropriations for: (1) the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund, and (2) the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.
TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Provides appropriations for Rural Development Programs including:
TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Provides appropriations for the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.
Provides appropriations to the Food and Nutrition Service for:
TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Provides appropriations to the Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
Provides appropriations for the Foreign Agricultural Service, including:
TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Provides appropriations to:
TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS
(Sec. 701) Permits USDA to use funds provided by this division for the purchase, replacement, and hire of passenger motor vehicles.
(Sec. 702) Permits USDA to transfer unobligated balances to the Working Capital Fund for the acquisition of plant and capital equipment for financial, administrative, and information technology services. Permits the transferred funds to remain available until expended and specifies restrictions on the use of the funds.
(Sec. 703) Prohibits appropriations provided by this division from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless the division expressly provides otherwise.
(Sec. 704) Limits negotiated indirect costs on cooperative agreements between USDA and nonprofit institutions to 10% of the total direct cost of the agreement when the purpose of the agreement is to carry out programs of mutual interest between the two parties.
(Sec. 705) Permits appropriations for direct and guaranteed loans to remain available until expended to disburse obligations made in the current fiscal year for: (1) the Rural Development Loan Fund program account, (2) the Rural Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program account, and (3) the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account.
(Sec. 706) Prohibits USDA from using funds provided by this division to acquire new information technology systems or significant upgrades without approval of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Executive Information Technology Investment Review Board. Restricts the transfer of funds made available by this division to the CIO without prior approval of Congress. Prohibits funds from being used for specified information technology projects without the approval of the CIO.
(Sec. 707) Permits specified funds provided under the Federal Crop Insurance Act for the Agricultural Management Assistance Program in the current fiscal year to remain available until expended to disburse obligations made in the current fiscal year.
(Sec. 708) Makes a former Rural Utility Service borrower that has repaid or prepaid a loan under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 or any not-for-profit utility qualified to receive a loan under the Act eligible for rural economic development and job creation assistance in the same manner as a borrower.
(Sec. 709) Permits specified unobligated balances of appropriations provided by this division for salaries and expenses of the Farm Service Agency and the Rural Development mission area to remain available through FY2019 for information technology expenses.
(Sec. 710) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for first-class travel by employees of agencies funded by this division in contravention of specified regulations.
(Sec. 711) Provides that Commodity Credit Corporation funds authorized or required to be used for specified programs included in the Agricultural Act of 2014: (1) shall be available for salaries and administrative expenses associated with the programs without regard to allotment and transfer limits, and (2) shall not be considered to be a fund transfer or allotment for purposes of applying the limits.
(Sec. 712) Limits funds available for USDA advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces, except for panels used to comply with negotiated rulemaking or to evaluate competitively awarded grants.
(Sec. 713) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to pay indirect costs charged against any agricultural research, education, or extension grant awards issued by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that exceed 30% of total federal funds provided under each award.
Permits funds provided by this division for grants awarded competitively by NIFA to be used to pay full allowable indirect costs for specified research and development grants awarded under the Small Business Act.
(Sec. 714) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities.
(Sec. 715) Limits the amount of Section 32 funds that may be used for certain domestic food assistance programs, including:
(Section 32 is a program created to assist producers of agricultural commodities not supported by other mandatory farm support programs. It is funded by a permanent appropriation of a portion of the previous year's customs receipts less certain mandatory transfers to child nutrition and other programs.)
Prohibits the use of Section 32 funds to reestablish farmers' purchasing power by making payments in connection with the normal production of any agricultural commodity for domestic consumption. Includes an exception for a limited amount of carryover funds.
(Sec. 716) Prohibits funds from being used to prepare proposals for the President's budget that assume savings from certain user fee proposals without identifying additional spending reductions that should occur if the proposals are not enacted.
(Sec. 717) Sets forth procedures, requirements, and restrictions for reprogramming and transferring funds provided by this division.
(Sec. 718) Permits USDA to assess a one-time fee for any guaranteed business and industry loan and limits the fee to 3% of the guaranteed principal portion of the loan.
(Sec. 719) Prohibits funds from being used to provide reports, questions, or responses to questions that are a result of information requested for the appropriations hearing process to anyone not employed by USDA, the Food and Drug Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the Farm Credit Administration.
(Sec. 720) Prohibits any executive branch agency from using funds provided by this division to produce a prepackaged news story for U.S. broadcast or distribution unless the story includes a clear notification that it was prepared or funded by the agency.
(Sec. 721) Prohibits USDA employees from being detailed or assigned from an agency funded by this division to any other USDA agency or office for more than 60 days in a fiscal year unless the individual's employing agency is reimbursed by the receiving agency for the salary and expenses of the employee.
(Sec. 722) Establishes a Working Capital Fund to be administered by the FDA. Specifies purposes and transfer authority for the fund.
(Sec. 723) Directs the agencies funded by this division to submit spending plans to Congress.
(Sec. 724) Rescinds specified unobligated balances from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
(Sec. 725) Requires USDA to continue an intermediary loan packaging program based on the FY2013 pilot program for packaging and reviewing section 502 single family direct loans. (The loan program assists low-income applicants in purchasing homes in rural areas. Funds may also be used to build, repair, or renovate a house, including providing water and sewage facilities.)
(Sec. 726) Permits USDA to increase the program level by up to 25% for certain loans and loan guarantees that do not require budget authority and have program levels established by this division. Requires congressional notification prior to implementing any increase.
(Sec. 727) Provides that certain credit card refunds or rebates transferred to the Working Capital Fund: (1) shall not be available for obligation without congressional approval; and (2) shall only be available for the acquisition of plant and capital equipment for USDA financial, administrative, and information technology services.
(Sec. 728) Prohibits funds provided by this division from be used for the variety requirements of the final USDA rule titled "Enhancing Retailer Standards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)" until USDA amends the definition of "variety" to increase the number of items that qualify as acceptable varieties in each staple food category so that the total number of such items in each staple food category exceeds the number of such items in each staple food category included in the final rule.
Specifies that, until the amendments are promulgated, USDA must apply the requirements regarding acceptable varieties and breadth of stock to SNAP retailers that were in effect on the day before the enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014.
(Sec. 729) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used: (1) in contravention of a provision of the Agricultural Act of 2014 that permits an institution of higher education or a state department of agriculture to grow or cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes; or (2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or use of industrial hemp or seeds of such plant, that is grown or cultivated in accordance with the Agricultural Act of 2014, within or outside the state in which it is grown or cultivated.
(Sec. 730) Specifies the matching requirements that apply to funds appropriated for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
(Sec. 731) Provides appropriations for disaster assistance payments under the Tree Assistance Program to certain orchardists or nursery tree growers of pecan trees for losses incurred during 2017.
(Sec. 732) Sets forth the authorities that apply for USDA to provide loans for housing and buildings on adequate farms.
(Sec. 733) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for regulations to allow or require information intended for a prescribing health care professional, in the case of a drug or biological product, to be distributed electronically (in lieu of in paper form) until a federal law is enacted to allow or require electronic distribution.
(Sec. 734) Prohibits the FDA from acknowledging applications for an exemption for investigational use of a drug or biological product in research in which a human embryo is intentionally created or modified to include a heritable genetic modification. Provides that any submission is deemed not to have been received, and the exemption may not go into effect.
(Sec. 735) Prohibits funds from being used to carry out provisions of the final FDA rule titled "Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals" with respect to certain requirements that apply to the production, distribution, sale, or receipt of dried spent grain by-products of the alcoholic beverage production process.
(Sec. 736) Provides that funds for title II of the Food for Peace Act may only be used to assist nations if adequate monitoring and controls exist to ensure that emergency food aid is received by the intended beneficiaries in areas affected by food shortages and not diverted for unauthorized or inappropriate purposes.
(Sec. 737) Appropriates funds for direct reimbursement payments for geographically disadvantaged farmers or ranchers to transport agricultural commodities.
(Sec. 738) Prohibits the FDA from deeming partially hydrogenated oils to be unsafe or any food containing a partially hydrogenated oil to be adulterated prior to June 18, 2018.
(Sec. 739) Provides appropriations for the costs of refinancing certain loans under the pilot program that permits USDA to use certain funds from rural electrification loans made by the Federal Financing Bank for refinancing debt.
(Sec. 740) Prohibits the Food and Nutrition Service from using funds provided by this division for any new research and evaluation projects until after a research and evaluation plan is submitted to Congress.
(Sec. 741) Provides additional funds to remain available until expended for the Rural Energy Savings Program. Permits funds provided for the program by the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 to remain available until September 30, 2019.
(The program helps rural families and small businesses achieve cost savings by providing loans to consumers to implement durable cost-effective energy efficiency measures.)
Permits USDA to allow eligible entities to offer loans to customers in any part of their service territory and to offer loans to replace a manufactured housing unit with another manufactured housing unit, if replacement would be more cost effective in saving energy.
(Sec. 742) Requires the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to conduct audits in a manner that evaluates the following factors in the country or region being audited, as applicable:
Requires APHIS to make reports regarding the audits publicly available.
(Sec. 743) Provides appropriations for USDA to carry out a pilot program that provides forestry inventory analysis, forest management, and economic outcomes modeling for certain currently enrolled Conservation Reserve Program participants.
(Sec. 744) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to issue or renew licenses under the Animal Welfare Act for certain dealers who sell dogs and cats for research, experiments, teaching, or testing.
(Sec. 745) Provides appropriations to remain available until expended for implementing non-renewable agreements for wetlands preservation on eligible lands, including flooded agricultural lands.
(Sec. 746) Prohibits funds provided for the rural water, waste water, waste disposal, and solid waste management programs authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act from being used for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public water or wastewater system unless all of the iron and steel products used in the project are produced in the United States. Specifies exceptions and waiver procedures.
(Sec. 747) Directs USDA to set aside specified additional funds for Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zones.
(Sec. 748) Prohibits USDA from including incarcerated prison populations to determine eligibility or the level of program assistance for Rural Development programs.
(Sec. 749) Provides appropriations to remain available until expended for a pilot program for USDA to award grants to non-profit organizations and public housing authorities to provide technical assistance to Rural Housing Service (RHS) multi-family housing borrowers to facilitate the acquisition of RHS multi-family housing properties in areas where there is a risk of loss of affordable housing. Requires the grants to be used to assist acquisitions by non-profit housing organizations and public housing authorities that commit to keep the properties in the RHS multi-family housing program for a period of time determined by USDA.
(Sec. 750) Prohibits a state electronic benefit transfer (EBT) contractor or subcontractor from issuing fees related to the switching or routing of benefits for USDA domestic food assistance programs. (Switching is the routing of an intrastate or interstate transaction that consists of transmitting the details of a transaction electronically recorded through the use of an EBT card in one state to the issuer of the card that may be in the same or different state).
(Sec. 751) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to influence congressional action on any legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress, other than to communicate with Congress as permitted under current law.
(Sec. 752) Requires USDA to establish a pilot program to permit state Farm Service Agency offices to make county-level payments to agricultural producers under the Agriculture Risk Coverage Program using an alternate calculation method if it is necessary to ensure that there are not significant yield calculation disparities between comparable counties in the state. Specifies requirements for the alternative calculation method and provides appropriations for the program.
(Sec. 753) Provides appropriations to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture for relocation expenses and for the alteration and repair of leased buildings and public improvements.
(Sec. 754) Permits USDA to receive access to certain information from federal tax returns to verify the income for individuals participating in loan programs under the Housing Act of 1949.
(Sec. 755) Provides appropriations to remain available through FY2019 to allow allied professional associations to develop a training program for school nutrition personnel that focuses on school food service meal preparation and workforce development.
(Sec. 756) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to procure raw or processed poultry products from China for the National School Lunch Program, the Child and Adult Food Care Program, the Summer Food Service Program, or the School Breakfast Program.
(Sec. 757) Permits USDA to respond to a community with inadequate drinking water supplies due to a natural disaster by providing potable water through the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant Program for up to 120 days beyond the time period established in the program.
(Sec. 758) Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to make USDA's authority to collect fees from lenders to accessing USDA systems to participate in the Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program, subject to authority provided in advance in appropriations bills.
(Sec. 759) Requires at least 10% of the funds provided by this division for specified Rural Development programs to be allocated for assistance in persistent poverty counties. Defines a "persistent poverty county" as a county that has had at least 20% of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the decennial censuses.
(Sec. 760) Prohibits USDA from using funds to finalize the proposed rule titled "Eligibility of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to Export to the United States Poultry Products from Birds Slaughtered in the PRC" unless USDA meets specified requirements, including ensuring that the poultry slaughter inspection system for the PRC is equivalent to that of the United States.
(Sec. 761) Amends the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to increase from $5 million to $25 million the threshold for estimated federal construction costs for certain watershed projects that requires USDA to comply with certain congressional reporting and approval requirements.
(Sec. 762) Provides appropriations for Food for Peace Title II grants and specifies that the funds may be used for both emergency and non-emergency purposes.
(Sec. 763) Provides appropriations for the Farm to School Grant Program. (The program provides competitive grants and technical assistance to implement farm-to-school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools.)
(Sec. 764) Prohibits the FDA from using funds provided by this division to develop, issue, promote, or advance any regulations applicable to food manufacturers for population-wide sodium reduction actions or to develop, issue, promote or advance final guidance applicable to food manufacturers for long term population-wide sodium reduction actions until the dietary reference intake report with respect to sodium is completed.
(Sec. 765) Permits USDA to provide financial and technical assistance to remove and dispose of debris and sediment that could adversely affect health and safety on non-federal land in a flood-affected county or parish. Specifies that the assistance: (1) may be used to restore pre-disaster hydraulic capacity of the watershed, and (2) may not be used to correct an operation and maintenance issue that existed prior to the disaster.
(Sec. 766) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to exempt certain recipients of USDA conservation assistance from specified reporting requirements. Exempts producers or landowners eligible to participate in any USDA conservation program from reporting requirements related to subawards, executive compensation, the Universal Identifier, and the System for Award Management.
(Sec. 767) Appropriates funds for the pilot program to demonstrate new technologies that increase growth of reforested hardwood trees on private nonindustrial forests lands on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
(Sec. 768) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used in contravention of provisions of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and USDA regulations that prohibit schools from physically segregating, overtly identifying, or discriminating against children eligible to receive a free lunch, a reduced price lunch, or free milk under the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, or the Special Milk Program.
(Sec. 769) Provides additional funds to USDA for loans and grants that are consistent with the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and that support projects to provide access to healthy food in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities.
(Sec. 770) Prohibits the FDA from allowing the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of any food that contains genetically engineered salmon until the FDA publishes final labeling guidelines for informing consumers of the content.
(Sec. 771) Provides additional funds to APHIS to remain available through FY2019 for one-time control and management and associated activities directly related to the multiple-agency response to citrus greening.
(Sec. 772) Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to authorize USDA to establish the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation to replace the existing position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
(Sec. 773) Prohibits the FDA from using funds to enforce the rule titled "Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption" with respect to the regulation of the production, distribution, sale, or receipt of grapes that are grown, harvested, and used solely for wine and receive commercial processing that adequately reduces the presence of microorganisms of public health significance.
(Sec. 774) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to revoke an exception made: (1) under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration rule titled "Exceptions to Geographic Areas for Official Agencies Under the USGSA"; and (2) before April 14, 2017. (The rule established criteria to allow more than one designated official agency to inspect or weigh grain within a single geographic area.)
(Sec. 775) Provides appropriations for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas to help address the opioid epidemic in rural America.
(Sec. 776) Provides that, for the 2018-2019 school year, only school food authorities with a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account as of January 31, 2018, are required to establish a price for paid lunches using the formula specified under current law (known as Paid Lunch Equity requirements).
(Sec. 777) Provides appropriations to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to remain available through FY2019 for a pilot program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for programs and services to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans.
(Sec. 778) Provides appropriations to the FDA for expenses related to processing and inspecting opioid and other articles imported or offered for import through international mail facilities of the U.S. Postal Service.
(Sec. 779) Provides appropriations for USDA to conduct a new broadband loan and grant pilot program and specifies requirements for the program.
(Sec. 780) Provides additional appropriations for the cost of direct loans and grants made under the Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account.
(Sec. 781) Requires the USDA and the FDA to post on a public website in a searchable format information regarding certain grant awards, including the congressional district in which the recipient is located.
Prohibits the USDA or the FDA from providing advance notice of grants awards to anyone outside of USDA or the FDA except for potential awardees until the information is posted.
(Sec. 782) Prohibits funds from being used to inspect horses for slaughter purposes.
(Sec. 783) Prohibits funds from being used for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program.
DIVISION B--COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018
This division provides FY2018 appropriations to the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice (DOJ), science agencies, and several related agencies.
The division funds agencies with a wide range of responsibilities for issues such as:
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Provides appropriations to the Department of Commerce for:
Provides appropriations to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for:
Provides appropriations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for:
Provides appropriations for Departmental Management, including:
(Sec. 101) Permits funds provided by this division to be used for advanced payments (prior to the receipt of goods, services, or other assets) that are not otherwise authorized only if designated Commerce officials certify that the payments are in the public interest.
(Sec. 102) Permits funds provided by this division to be used for hiring passenger motor vehicles, employment of temporary or intermittent experts and consultants, and the purchase of uniforms.
(Sec. 103) Permits the transfer of funds between Commerce accounts, subject to specified limitations and requirements. Requires Commerce to notify Congress prior to the acquisition or disposal of any capital asset not provided for in an Act providing appropriations to Commerce.
(Sec. 104) Extends requirements for NOAA to make and report to Congress on determinations regarding the identification and management of technical, cost, and schedule risk; the reliance on demonstrated technologies; and compliance with relevant policies, prior to entering into a contract for a major program with a life cycle cost of more than $250 million.
Specifies the life cycle costs for the Joint Polar Satellite System and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series Program.
(Sec. 105) Permits Commerce to: (1) furnish services to facilitate the use or occupancy of Department of Commerce buildings, and (2) credit specified reimbursements received for the services to the appropriation or fund which bears the cost of the services.
(Sec. 106) Specifies that grant recipients may continue to deter child pornography, copyright infringement, or any other unlawful activity over their networks.
(Sec. 107) Permits NOAA to use, with consent and reimbursement, resources of other federal, state, local, and international entities to carry out the responsibilities of any statute administered by NOAA.
(Sec. 108) Prohibits the National Technical Information Service from charging for copies of reports or documents generated by the legislative branch unless the service has provided information on how a copy may be obtained for free online. Requires any charge to be limited to the service's cost.
(Sec. 109) Permits Commerce to waive the requirement for bonds with respect to contracts for the construction, alteration, or repair of vessels under the Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947.
(Sec. 110) Permits NOAA to work with federal and non-federal agencies and governments by entering into agreements; using land, services, equipment, personnel, and facilities provided by the entities; or receiving and expending funds made available on a consensual basis.
(Sec. 111) Permits the Economic and Statistics Administration, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the U.S. Census Bureau to use funds to enter into cooperative agreements to assist in improving statistical methodology and research.
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2018
Provides FY2018 appropriations to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Provides appropriations to DOJ for General Administration, including:
Provides appropriations to the U.S. Parole Commission.
Provides appropriations for Legal Activities, including:
Provides appropriations to the U.S. Marshals Service for:
Provides appropriations to DOJ for:
Provides appropriations to the Office On Violence Against Women for Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs.
Provides appropriations to the Office of Justice Programs for:
Provides appropriations for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs.
(Sec. 201) Provides additional funds to the Attorney General for official reception and representation expenses.
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to pay for an abortion, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or in the case of rape or incest.
(Sec. 203) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to require any person to perform or facilitate the performance of an abortion.
(Sec. 204) Specifies that: (1) section 203 of this division does not remove the obligation of the Bureau of Prisons to provide escort services to an inmate receiving an abortion outside of a federal facility, and (2) nothing in this section diminishes the effect of section 203 intended to address the philosophical beliefs of individual employees of the Bureau of Prisons.
(Sec. 205) Sets forth requirements and procedures for transferring and reprogramming DOJ funds provided by this division.
(Sec. 206) Prohibits the FBI or the U.S. Marshals Service from using funds provided by this title to transport prisoners classified as maximum or high security, other than to a facility certified by the Bureau of Prisons as appropriately secure.
(Sec. 207) Prohibits federal prisons from using funds provided by this division to purchase cable television services, or to rent or purchase audiovisual or electronic media or equipment used primarily for recreational purposes. Includes exceptions for inmate training, religious, or educational programs.
(Sec. 208) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for a new or enhanced information technology program with estimated development costs exceeding $100 million unless the Deputy Attorney General and the Department Investment Review Board certify to Congress that the program: (1) has appropriate program management controls and contractor oversight mechanisms in place, and (2) is compatible with DOJ enterprise architecture.
(Sec. 209) Requires DOJ to follow reprogramming procedures for: (1) any deviation from the program amounts specified in this division or the explanatory statement, or (2) for any use of deobligated balances of funds provided by this title in previous years.
(Sec. 210) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a public-private competition for work performed by employees by the Bureau of Prisons or Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated.
(Sec. 211) Prohibits U.S. Attorneys from holding dual or additional responsibilities that exempt them from statutory residency requirements.
(Sec. 212) Specifies percentages of grant and reimbursement funds provided to the Office of Justice Programs that may be used for: (1) training and technical assistance; and (2) criminal justice research, evaluation and statistics.
(Sec. 213) Permits DOJ, upon receiving a request from a grantee with a fiscal hardship, to waive matching requirements for Second Chance Act adult and juvenile reentry demonstration projects; state, tribal, and local reentry courts; and drug treatment programs.
(Sec. 214) Waives the requirement that DOJ reserve certain funds provided for offender incarceration for payments for incarceration on tribal lands.
(Sec. 215) Prohibits funds, other than funds for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System established under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, from being used to transfer an operable firearm to a known or suspected agent of a drug cartel if law enforcement personnel do not continuously monitor or control the firearm.
(Sec. 216) Establishes limitations and requirements for the obligation of specified funds from the Department of Justice Working Capital Fund and the Assets Forfeiture Fund.
(Sec. 217) Permits funds provided by this division for the Office of Justice Programs to be used to participate in Performance Partnership Pilot collaboration programs.
TITLE III--SCIENCE
Science Appropriations Act, 2018
Provides appropriations to: (1) the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and (2) the National Space Council.
Provides appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for:
Includes administrative provisions for NASA that establish requirements and procedures for the availability of funds for an announced prize, the reprogramming and transfer of funds provided by this division, and NASA's spending plan.
Provides appropriations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for:
Establishes requirements for the transfer or reprogramming of funds provided by this division to the NSF.
TITLE IV--RELATED AGENCIES
Provides appropriations for related agencies, including:
Specifies restrictions, terms, and conditions on the use of funds by the Legal Services Corporation.
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
(Sec. 501) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for publicity or propaganda purposes that are not authorized by Congress.
(Sec. 502) Prohibits funds provided by this division from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year, unless expressly permitted in the division.
(Sec. 503) Limits expenditures for consulting services to contracts where the expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, unless otherwise provided by law or executive order.
(Sec. 504) Provides that if any provision of this division or the application of the provision is held invalid, the remainder of the division is not affected.
(Sec. 505) Establishes restrictions and requirements for the reprogramming of funds provided by this division.
(Sec. 506) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to award contracts or subcontracts to a person who has been found to have intentionally affixed a ''Made in America'' label to any product that was not made in America. Requires promotional items purchased using funds provided by this division to be manufactured, produced, or assembled in the United States or its territories or possessions, to the extent it is practicable.
(Sec. 507) Requires Commerce, DOJ, the NSF, and NASA to provide quarterly reports to Congress regarding the status of balances of appropriations at the account level.
(Sec. 508) Requires costs incurred by agencies for personnel actions due to funding reductions in this division to be absorbed within the budgetary resources available to the department or agency. Provides transfer authority between appropriation accounts to carry out this provision, subject to reprogramming procedures. Specifies that this section applies to Commerce actions taken for the care and protection of loan collateral or grant property.
(Sec. 509) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products or to seek the reduction or removal of foreign restrictions on the marketing of tobacco products, except for restrictions which are not applied equally to all products of the same type.
(Sec. 510) Establishes obligation limits for funds from the Crime Victims Fund. Requires specified funds to be provided to: (1) the DOJ Office of Inspector General for oversight and auditing purposes, and (2) the Office for Victims of Crime for grants to Indian tribes to improve services for victims of crime.
(Sec. 511) Prohibits DOJ from using funds provided by this division to discriminate against or denigrate the religious or moral beliefs of students who participate in programs for which financial assistance is provided, or of the parents or legal guardians of the students.
(Sec. 512) Prohibits the transfer of funds provided by this division to a department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. government, unless the transfer is pursuant to an appropriations Act.
(Sec. 513) Establishes timetables and procedures for specified audits by Inspectors General of the departments and agencies funded in this division.
(Sec. 514) Prohibits Commerce, DOJ, NASA, or the NSF from using funds provided by this division to acquire certain information systems unless the agency has:
(Sec. 515) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to support or justify the use of torture by any official or contract employee of the U.S. government.
(Sec. 516) Prohibits funds from being used to require export licenses for exporting components, parts, or attachments for certain firearms to Canada.
(Sec. 517) Prohibits funds from being used to deny certain import applications for firearms, parts, or ammunition that are curios or relics. (Curios or relics are firearms which are of special interest to collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons.)
(Sec. 518) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division to include specified patent provisions from the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement, or the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement in any new bilateral or multilateral trade agreement.
(Sec. 519) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to authorize or issue a national security letter (NSL) in violation of specified laws authorizing the FBI to issue an NSL. (An NSL is a written directive, comparable to an administrative subpoena, used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to demand certain information from third parties such as telecommunication providers, financial institutions, and consumer credit reporting agencies.)
(Sec. 520) Requires congressional notification regarding Commerce, DOJ, NSF, or NASA projects that total more than $75 million and are expected to have cost increases of at least 10%.
(Sec. 521) Deems funds provided by this division for intelligence or intelligence related activities as authorized by Congress during FY2018 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2018.
(Sec. 522) Prohibits contracts or grant awards above $5 million unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies that the organization has filed all federal tax returns, has not been convicted of a criminal offense under the Internal Revenue Code, and has no unpaid federal tax assessment.
(Sec. 523) Rescinds specified unobligated balances from prior appropriations to DOJ and Commerce and requires the departments to submit reports to Congress regarding the rescissions.
(Sec. 524) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to purchase first class or premium airline travel in violation of specified federal travel regulations.
(Sec. 525) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to pay for the attendance of more than 50 department or agency employees at any single conference outside the United States, unless it is a law enforcement training or operational event where the majority of federal attendees are law enforcement personnel stationed outside the United States.
(Sec. 526) Prohibits funds from being used to transfer or release any individual detained at U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Guantanamo) who is not a U.S. citizen or member of the Armed Forces into the United States, its territories, or possessions.
(Sec. 527) Prohibits funding from being used to construct, acquire, or modify any U.S. facility (other than the facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) to house any individual detained at Guantanamo.
(Sec. 528) Requires the Office of Management and Budget to direct departments, agencies, and instrumentalities funded by this division to track undisbursed balances in expired grant accounts and include specified details in annual performance and accountability reports.
(Sec. 529) Prohibits NASA or the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) from using funds provided by this division to: (1) engage in bilateral activities with China or a Chinese-owned company unless the activities are authorized by a law enacted after enactment of this division, or (2) host official Chinese visitors at NASA facilities. Includes an exception if NASA or OSTP have made a specified certification to Congress regarding an activity.
(Sec. 530) Prohibits funds from being used to deny or fail to act on application for the importation of any shotgun model if: (1) all other requirements of law with respect to the proposed importation are met, and (2) no application for the importation of models in the same configuration had been denied by DOJ prior to January 1, 2011, on the basis that the shotgun was not particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.
(Sec. 531) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a computer network that does not block pornography, except for law enforcement purposes.
(Sec. 532) Requires specified agencies funded by this division to submit spending plans to Congress.
(Sec. 533) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division to implement the Arms Trade Treaty regulating international trade in conventional arms until it is ratified by the Senate.
(Sec. 534) Requires Commerce, NASA, NSF, and the OSTP to report monthly to Congress on official travel of employees to China.
(Sec. 535) Requires at least 10% of the funds provided by this division for specified programs to be allocated for assistance in persistent poverty counties. Defines a "persistent poverty county" as a county that has had at least 20% of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses and the most recent Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates.
(Sec. 536) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to pay award or incentive fees for contractors with performance that is below satisfactory or does not meet the basic requirements of the contract.
(Sec. 537) Prohibits DOJ or the DEA from using funds provided by this division in contravention of a provision of the Agricultural Act of 2014 that permits an institution of higher education or a state department of agriculture to grow or cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes.
(Sec. 538) Prohibits DOJ from using funds provided by this division to prevent specified states, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico from implementing their own laws authorizing the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
(Sec. 539) Requires Commerce to: (1) lift the stay on the effective date of the final rule for the seafood import monitoring program for specified species with a compliance date that is no later than December 31, 2018; and (2) establish a traceability program for U.S. inland, coastal, and marine aquaculture of shrimp and abalone from point of production to entry into U.S. commerce. Specifies requirements for the confidentiality of the information collected from the program.
(Sec. 540) Provides additional appropriations to DOJ to keep young athletes safe.
DIVISION C--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018
This division provides FY2018 appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military activities, including appropriations for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)/ Global War on Terrorism.
TITLE I--MILITARY PERSONNEL
Provides appropriations for active-duty and reserve personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force (the military departments), and for National Guard personnel in the Army and Air Force.
TITLE II--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Provides appropriations for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) for the military departments, other DOD agencies, the Reserve Components, and the Army and Air National Guard.
Provides appropriations for:
TITLE III--PROCUREMENT
Provides appropriations for Procurement by the military departments, including:
TITLE IV--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION
Provides appropriations for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) by the military departments and defense agencies.
TITLE V--REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS
Provides appropriations for the Defense Working Capital Funds.
TITLE VI--OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS
Provides appropriations for other DOD programs, including:
TITLE VII--RELATED AGENCIES
Provides appropriations for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund and the Intelligence Community Management Account.
TITLE VIII--GENERAL PROVISIONS
(Sec. 8001) Prohibits appropriations provided by this division from being used for publicity or propaganda purposes not authorized by Congress.
(Sec. 8002) Exempts DOD from laws prohibiting the compensation or employment of foreign nationals if specified conditions are met.
(Sec. 8003) Prohibits funding provided by this division from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless this division expressly provides otherwise.
(Sec. 8004) Prohibits more than 25% of the appropriations provided by this division for the current fiscal year from being obligated during the last 2 months of the fiscal year, with an exception for support of active duty training of reserve components or summer camp training of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
(Sec. 8005) Specifies authorities and restrictions for transferring specified funds provided by this division for other military functions.
(Sec. 8006) Requires tables included in the explanatory statement accompanying this division to be treated as if they were included in the text of this division.
(Sec. 8007) Requires DOD to submit a report to Congress to establish the baseline for application of reprogramming and transfer authorities for FY2018. Prohibits funds provided by this division from being reprogrammed or transferred until the report is provided or DOD certifies to Congress that the reprogramming or transfer is necessary as an emergency requirement. Includes exceptions for: (1) the Environmental Restoration accounts, and (2) Drug Interdiction and Counter-drug activities.
(Sec. 8008) Prohibits cash balances in DOD Working Capital Funds from exceeding the level necessary for cash disbursements to be made from the funds. Sets forth requirements and limitations for transfers of balances in the funds to specified accounts.
(Sec. 8009) Prohibits the initiation of a special access program without notifying Congress in advance.
(Sec. 8010) Establishes limitations and conditions on the use of funds provided by this division to initiate or terminate certain multiyear procurement contracts.
(Sec. 8011) Appropriates O&M funds for the costs of humanitarian and civic assistance provided in conjunction with military operations.
(Sec. 8012) Prohibits DOD from managing civilian personnel on the basis of any end-strength or subjecting civilian personnel to any end-strength limitations.
(Sec. 8013) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to directly or indirectly influence congressional action on legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress.
(Sec. 8014) Prohibits compensation from being paid to any member of the Army participating as a full-time student and receiving benefits paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs from the DOD Education Benefits Fund if the time spent as a student is counted toward the member's service commitment. Applies the restriction only to active components of the Army and exempts members that have reenlisted with this option prior to October 1, 1987.
(Sec. 8015) Permits funds appropriated in title III of this division for the Department of Defense Pilot Mentor-Protege Program to be transferred to any other account contained in this division to implement a developmental assistance agreement under the program.
(Sec. 8016) Prohibits DOD from purchasing certain anchor and mooring chains unless they are manufactured in the United States.
(Sec. 8017) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to support the procurement of malt beverages and wine with nonappropriated funds for resale on a military installation located in the United States unless the beverages are procured within the state in which the installation is located and specified conditions are met.
(Sec. 8018) Prohibits funds from being used to demilitarize or dispose of certain small firearms, small arms ammunition, or ammunition components that are not otherwise prohibited from commercial sale under federal law, unless the Army has certified that the small arms, ammunition, or components are unserviceable or unsafe for further use.
(Sec. 8019) Limits funding for the relocation of any DOD entity into or within the National Capital Region. Permits DOD to waive the limitation by certifying to Congress that a relocation is required in the best interest of the government.
(Sec. 8020) Provides specified funds for incentive payments for federal contracts involving contractors, subcontractors, or suppliers that are Indian organizations or Indian-owned economic enterprises.
(Sec. 8021) Prohibits funds provided by this division for the Defense Media Activity from being used for national or international political or psychological activities.
(Sec. 8022) Permits DOD to incur obligations of up to $350 million for DOD military compensation, construction projects, and supplies and services in anticipation of contributions from the government of Kuwait.
(Sec. 8023) Provides appropriations from specified Air Force accounts to support Civil Air Patrol Corporation operation and maintenance, procurement, readiness, counterdrug activities, drug demand reduction activities involving youth programs, and vehicle procurement.
(Sec. 8024) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to establish a new DOD federally-funded research and development center (FFRDC). Limits compensation for FFRDC members or consultants.
Prohibits a defense FFRDC from using FY2018 DOD funds for new building construction, cost-sharing payments for projects funded by government grants, absorption of contract overruns, or certain charitable contributions.
Limits the staff years that may be funded for FFRDCs from FY2018 funds, and requires DOD to submit a report on the allocation of staff years with the FY2019 budget request.
Reduces the total amount appropriated by this division for FFRDCs.
(Sec. 8025) Prohibits DOD from procuring carbon, alloy, or armor steel plating not melted and rolled in the United States or Canada. Permits DOD to waive the prohibition if adequate domestic supplies are not available and an acquisition is necessary for national security purposes.
(Sec. 8026) Specifies that "congressional defense committees" includes the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense.
(Sec. 8027) Permits DOD to acquire the modification, depot maintenance, and repair of aircraft, vehicles, and vessels; and production of components through competition between DOD activities and private firms.
(Sec. 8028) Revokes blanket waivers of the Buy Ame