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