Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS)

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related

Agencies (CJS)

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Analyst in Crime Policy

May 24, 2017

Congressional Research Service

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www.crs.gov

R44409

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Summary

This report describes actions taken by the Administration and Congress to provide FY2017

appropriations for the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) accounts. It also

provides an overview of FY2016 appropriations for agencies and bureaus funded as part of

annual CJS appropriations.

Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113), provided $66.000 billion

for CJS, which included $9.246 billion for the Department of Commerce, $29.090 billion for the

Department of Justice (DOJ), $26.754 billion for the science agencies, and $910 million for the

related agencies (e.g., the Legal Service Corporation and the Office of the U.S. Trade

Representative).

For FY2017, the Obama Administration requested a total of $67.573 billion for CJS, which

included $9.728 billion for the Department of Commerce, $29.828 billion for DOJ, $26.995

billion for the science agencies, and $1.022 billion for the related agencies. The Obama

Administration proposed supplementing discretionary appropriations for the National Aeronautics

and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) with $763 million

and $400 million, respectively, in new one-time mandatory funding.

On April 21, 2016, the Senate Committee on Appropriations reported their FY2017 CJS

appropriations bill (S. 2837). The bill would have provided a total of $66.309 billion for CJS,

including $9.316 billion for the Department of Commerce, $29.246 billion for the Department of

Justice, $26.821 billion for the science agencies, and $925 million for the related agencies.

On June 7, 2016, the House Committee on Appropriations reported their FY2017 CJS

appropriations bill (H.R. 5393). The bill would have provided a total of $66.296 billion for CJS,

including $9.051 billion for the Department of Commerce, $29.437 billion for the Department of

Justice, $26.920 billion for the science agencies, and $887 million for the related agencies.

On May 5, 2017, President Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017

(P.L. 115-31). The act provides a total of $66.360 billion (which includes $109 million in

emergency funding) for CJS. Under the act, the Department of Commerce receives $9.237

billion, the Department of Justice receives $28.962 billion, the science agencies receive $27.240

billion, and the related agencies receive $921 million.

Over the past 10 fiscal years, nominal appropriations for CJS have experienced annual increases

and decreases. CJS appropriations increased from FY2007 to FY2010, but generally declined

from FY2010 to FY2013. Nominal appropriations for CJS were relatively flat in FY2014 and

FY2015. CJS appropriations increased again by approximately $4 billion from FY2015 to

FY2016, largely due to Congress increasing the discretionary budget cap in the Bipartisan Budget

Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-74).

Increases in CJS appropriations in FY2009 and FY2010 were largely the result of Congress

appropriating more funding for Commerce to support the 2010 decennial census. Although

subsequent decreases in appropriations for Commerce account for much of the overall decrease in

CJS appropriations between FY2010 and FY2013, cuts in funding for DOJ and NASA and

sequestration in FY2013 also contributed to the decrease. The exception the trend of decreasing

appropriations from FY2010 to FY2013 was the NSF. The NSF’s appropriations generally

increased each fiscal year since FY2007. Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and

Justice and for NASA have generally increased each fiscal year since FY2013.

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Contents

Overview of CJS ............................................................................................................................. 2

Department of Commerce ......................................................................................................... 2

Department of Justice ................................................................................................................ 3

The Science Agencies ............................................................................................................... 4

Office of Science and Technology Policy ........................................................................... 4

National Aeronautics and Space Administration ................................................................ 4

National Science Foundation .............................................................................................. 5

Related Agencies ....................................................................................................................... 5

FY2016 and FY2017 Appropriations for CJS ................................................................................. 5

FY2016 Appropriations ............................................................................................................. 5

The Obama Administration’s FY2017 Request ........................................................................ 5

The Senate Committee-Reported FY2017 CJS Appropriations Bill ......................................... 6

The House Committee-Reported FY2017 CJS Appropriations Bill ......................................... 7

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 ............................................................................. 8

Historical Funding for CJS ............................................................................................................ 15

Figures

Figure 1. Nominal and Inflation-Adjusted Appropriations for CJS, FY2007-FY2016 ................. 16

Figure 2. Nominal Total CJS Appropriations, by Major Component, FY2007-FY2016 .............. 17

Tables

Table 1. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations,

FY2016 and FY2017 .................................................................................................................. 10

Table 2. Appropriations for CJS Agencies, by Account, FY2007-FY2016 ................................... 18

Contacts

Author Contact Information .......................................................................................................... 22

Key Policy Staff ............................................................................................................................ 22

Congressional Research Service

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

his report describes actions taken by the Administration and Congress to provide FY2017

appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) accounts. It

also provides an overview of enacted FY2016 appropriations for agencies and bureaus

funded as part of annual CJS appropriations.

The amounts in this report reflect only new appropriations. Therefore, the amounts do not include

any rescissions of unobligated or de-obligated balances that may be counted as offsets to newly

enacted appropriations, nor do they include any scorekeeping adjustments (such as the balance on

the Crime Victims Fund). In the text of the report, appropriations are rounded to the nearest

million. However, percentage changes are calculated using the full appropriation, meaning that in

some instances the reported percentage change might not be consistent with the amount discussed

in the report.

The FY2016-enacted appropriations were taken from the text of the Consolidated Appropriations

Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113) and the joint explanatory statement to accompany the act, printed in the

December 17, 2015, Congressional Record. The Obama Administration’s FY2017 requested

amounts were taken from each department’s and agency’s respective budget justification and the

report to accompany S. 2837 (S.Rept. 114-239). The Senate Committee-reported amounts were

taken from S.Rept. 114-239. The House Committee-reported amounts were taken from H.Rept.

114-605. The FY2017 appropriated amounts were taken from the explanatory text to accompany

the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31).

This report provides an overview of the FY2017 appropriations for CJS. Please see the following

reports for a more in-depth review of appropriations for specific CJS departments and agencies:



CRS Report R43908, The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An

Appropriations Overview, by (name redacted)

CRS Report R44567, FY2017 Appropriations for the Census Bureau and Bureau

of Economic Analysis, by (name redacted)

CRS Report R43866, The National Telecommunications and Information

Administration (NTIA): An Overview of Programs and Funding, by (name reda

cted) .

CRS Report R44424, FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice, by

(name redacted)

CRS Report R44430, FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice

Grant Programs, by (name redacted)

CRS Report R44686, Gun Control: FY2017 Appropriations for the Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Other Initiatives, by

(name redacted) .

CRS Report R43935, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): History

and Overview, by (name redacted) and (name redacted).

CRS Report R44397, NASA: FY2017 Budget and Appropriations, by (name r

edacted).

CRS Report R44679, The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations

and Funding History, by (name redacted) and (name redacted)

CRS Report RL34016, Legal Services Corporation: Background and Funding,

by (name redacted)

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Overview of CJS

The annual CJS appropriations act provides funding for the Departments of Commerce and

Justice, the science agencies, and several related agencies. Appropriations for the Department of

Commerce include funding for agencies such as the Census Bureau, the U.S. Patent and

Trademark Office, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National

Institute of Standards and Technology. Appropriations for the Department of Justice (DOJ)

provide funding for agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Prisons;

the U.S. Marshals; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms, and Explosives, along with funding for a variety of grant programs for state, local, and

tribal governments. The vast majority of funding for the science agencies goes to the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.1 The annual

appropriation for the related agencies includes funding for agencies such as the Legal Services

Corporation and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Department of Commerce

The mission of the Department of Commerce is to promote “job creation, economic growth,

sustainable development and improved standards of living ... by working in partnership with

businesses, universities, communities and ... workers.”2 The department has wide-ranging

responsibilities including trade, economic development, technology, entrepreneurship and

business development, monitoring the environment, forecasting weather, managing marine

resources, and statistical research and analysis. The Department of Commerce affects trade and

economic development by working to open new markets for U.S. goods and services and

promoting pro-growth business policies. It also invests in research and development to foster

innovation. In addition, the department manages and monitors coastal and ocean resources and

assets to support both environmental and economic health. It also conducts the constitutionally

mandated decennial census. Finally, the Department of Commerce operates the national patent

system.

The agencies within the Department of Commerce and their missions include the following:



International Trade Administration (ITA) seeks to develop the export potential of

U.S. firms and improve the trade performance of U.S. industry;

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) enforces U.S. export laws consistent with

national security, foreign policy, and short-supply objectives;

Economic Development Administration (EDA) provides grants for economic

development projects in economically distressed communities and regions;

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) seeks to promote private- and

public-sector investment in minority businesses;

Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA), excluding the Census Bureau,

provides (1) information on the state of the economy through preparation,

development, and interpretation of economic data and (2) analytical support to

department officials in meeting their policy responsibilities;

Note that the science agencies funded in the CJS bill are not the only federal agencies that fund science.

U.S. Department of Commerce, “About Commerce,” at http://www.commerce.gov/about-department-commerce.

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS



Census Bureau, a component of ESA, collects, compiles, and publishes a broad

range of economic, demographic, and social data;

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) advises the

President on domestic and international communications policy, manages the

federal government’s use of the radio frequency spectrum, and performs research

in telecommunications sciences;

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) examines and approves

applications for patents of claimed inventions and registration of trademarks;

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assists industry in

developing technology to improve product quality, modernize manufacturing

processes, ensure product reliability, and facilitate rapid commercialization of

products on the basis of new scientific discoveries; and

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides scientific,

technical, and management expertise to (1) promote safe and efficient marine and

air navigation; (2) assess the health of coastal and marine resources; (3) monitor

and predict the coastal, ocean, and global environments (including weather

forecasting); and (4) protect and manage the nation’s coastal resources.

Department of Justice

DOJ’s mission is to “enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the

law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in

preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior;

and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.”3 DOJ also provides

legal advice and opinions, upon request, to the President and executive branch department heads.

The major functions of DOJ agencies and offices are described below:



Office of the United States Attorneys prosecute criminal offenses against the

United States, represent the federal government in civil actions, and initiate

proceedings for the collection of fines, penalties, and forfeitures owed to the

United States;

United States Marshals Service (USMS) provides security for the federal

judiciary, protects witnesses, executes warrants and court orders, manages seized

assets, detains and transports prisoners who have not been sentenced, and

apprehends fugitives;

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates violations of federal criminal

law; helps protect the United States against terrorism and hostile intelligence

efforts; provides assistance to other federal, state, and local law enforcement

agencies; and shares jurisdiction with the Drug Enforcement Administration over

federal drug violations;

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigates federal drug law

violations; coordinates its efforts with state, local, and other federal law

enforcement agencies; develops and maintains drug intelligence systems;

regulates legitimate controlled substances activities; and conducts joint

intelligence-gathering activities with foreign governments;

U.S. Department of Justice, “About DOJ,” at http://www.justice.gov/about/about.html.

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS



Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) enforces federal law

related to the manufacture, importation, and distribution of alcohol, tobacco,

firearms, and explosives (ATF and its mission was transferred from the

Department of the Treasury to DOJ by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 [P.L.

107-296]);

Federal Prison System (Bureau of Prisons; BOP) provides for the custody and

care of the federal prison population, the maintenance of prison-related facilities,

and the boarding of sentenced federal prisoners incarcerated in state and local

institutions;

Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) coordinates legislative and other

initiatives relating to violence against women and administers grant programs to

help prevent, detect, and stop violence against women, including domestic

violence, sexual assault, and stalking;

Office of Justice Programs (OJP) manages and coordinates the activities of the

Bureau of Justice Assistance; Bureau of Justice Statistics; National Institute of

Justice; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; Office of Sex

Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking, and

Office of Victims of Crime; and

Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) advances the practice of

community policing by awarding grants to law enforcement agencies to hire and

train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy crime-fighting

technologies, and develop and test innovative policing strategies.

The Science Agencies

The science agencies support research and development and related activities across a wide

variety of federal missions, including national competitiveness, space exploration, and

fundamental discovery.

Office of Science and Technology Policy

Congress established the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) through the National

Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-282). The act

states that “the primary function of the OSTP director is to provide, within the Executive Office

of the President, advice on the scientific, engineering, and technological aspects of issues that

require attention at the highest level of Government.” The OSTP director also manages the

National Science and Technology Council,4 which coordinates science and technology policy

across the executive branch of the federal government, and co-chairs the President’s Council of

Advisors on Science and Technology,5 a council of external advisors that provides advice to the

President on matters related to science and technology policy.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created by the National

Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-568) to conduct civilian space and aeronautics

Executive Order 12881 established the National Science and Technology Council.

Executive Order 13539 established the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

activities. It has four mission directorates. The Human Exploration and Operations Mission

Directorate is responsible for human spaceflight activities, including the International Space

Station and development efforts for future crewed spacecraft. The Science Mission Directorate

manages robotic science missions, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars rover Curiosity,

and satellites for Earth science research. The Space Technology Mission Directorate develops

new technologies for use in future space missions, such as advanced propulsion and laser

communications. The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate conducts research and

development on aircraft and aviation systems. In addition, NASA’s Office of Education manages

formal and informal education programs for schoolchildren, college and university students, and

the general public.

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports basic research and education in the nonmedical

sciences and engineering. Congress established the foundation as an independent federal agency

in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and

welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes.”6 The NSF is a primary source of

federal support for U.S. university research. It also is responsible for significant shares of the

federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education program portfolio

and federal STEM student aid and support.

Related Agencies

The annual CJS appropriations act includes funding for several related agencies: the U.S.

Commission on Civil Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the International

Trade Commission, the Legal Services Corporation, the Marine Mammal Commission, the Office

of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the State Justice Institute.

FY2016 and FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

FY2016 Appropriations

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act,

2016 (P.L. 114-113). Division B of the act (the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Appropriations Act, 2016) provided $66.000 billion for CJS, which included $9.246 billion for

the Department of Commerce, $29.090 billion for DOJ, $26.754 billion for the science agencies,

and $910 million for the related agencies.

The Obama Administration’s FY2017 Request

For FY2017, the Obama Administration requested a total of $67.573 billion for CJS, which

included $66.410 billion in discretionary funding and $1.163 billion in new mandatory funding.

The Administration’s FY2017 budget proposal included $9.728 billion for the Department of

Commerce, $29.828 billion for DOJ, $26.995 billion for the science agencies, and $1.022 billion

for the related agencies. The request also included $1.163 billion in new mandatory funding for

NASA and NSF (see Table 1). The proposal was an attempt to fund what the Obama

The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (P.L. 81-507), Purpose.

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Administration believed to be critical investments in science while adhering to existing budget

caps on discretionary spending. The Obama Administration’s FY2017 request included the

following:



A $248 million (22.6%) increase for the Census Bureau’s Periodic Censuses and

Programs account to help the agency prepare to conduct the 2020 census.

An $11 million (28.7%) increase for the NTIA for, among other things, efforts to

make more spectrum available for wireless broadband.

A $40 million (21.9%) increase for the NIST’s Industrial Technology Services

account to support efforts to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers

and develop a manufacturing research infrastructure to solve industry-relevant

problems.

A $27 million (85.7%) increase for DOJ’s Justice Information Sharing account to

support increased cybersecurity efforts.

A $704 million (8.0%) increase for the FBI, which is largely the result of a

proposed $475 million increase in the FBI’s Construction account to build a new

headquarters.

A $179 million (2.4%) reduction for the BOP, which is the result of a proposed

$417 million (78.7%) reduction in the BOP’s Construction account. The

Administration proposed a 3.4% increase for BOP’s Salaries and Expenses

account.

A transfer $326 million from the CVF to the OVW.

A $74 million (34.9%) increase for the COPS account.

A proposal for $763 million in mandatory funding for NASA. The

Administration’s request was $260 million (1.3%) below the FY2016 NASA

appropriation with the mandatory funding and $1.023 billion (5.3%) below the

FY2016 level without the mandatory funding.

A proposal for $400 million in mandatory funding for the NSF. The

Administration’s request was $501 million (6.7%) greater than the FY2016 NSF

appropriation with the mandatory funding and $101 million (1.3%) greater

without the mandatory funding.

A $90 million (23.4%) increase in funding for the Legal Services Corporation.

The Senate Committee-Reported FY2017 CJS Appropriations Bill

On April 21, 2016, the Senate Committee on Appropriations reported their FY2017 CJS

appropriations bill (S. 2837). The bill would have provided a total of $66.309 billion for CJS, an

amount that was 0.5% greater than the FY2016 appropriation, but 0.2% less than the Obama

Administration’s request (excluding the requested $1.163 billion in mandatory funding). The

Senate committee-reported bill included $9.316 billion for the Department of Commerce, $29.246

billion for the DOJ, $26.821 billion for the science agencies, and $925 million for the related

agencies. Notably, the Senate Committee on Appropriations did not accept the Obama

Administration’s request to provide a total of $1.163 billion in new mandatory funding for NASA

and NSF. The Senate Committee on Appropriations did not accept the Obama Administration’s

proposal to increase funding for many CJS accounts, instead proposing funding for many CJS

accounts at or near the FY2016-enacted level. S. 2837 included the following:

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS



A $148 million (10.8%) increase in funding for the Census Bureau compared to

the FY2016-enacted appropriation. The entire increase in the Census Bureau’s

funding was for the Periodic Censuses and Programs account.

The committee did not accept the Obama Administration’s proposal to decrease

funding for NIST’s Construction of Research Facilities account. Instead, the

Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended funding the account at the

FY2016-enacted level ($119 million). The committee also did not accept the

Obama Administration’s near-doubling of NIST funding for the National

Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), recommending the FY2016enacted level ($25 million).

A $525 million (169.9%) increase in the FBI’s Construction account. The

proposed increase was to help the FBI plan and build a new headquarters in the

National Capital Region.

A transfer of $379 million from the Crime Victims Fund to the Office on

Violence Against Women.

The committee proposed reducing funding for the State and Local Law

Enforcement Assistance account by $225 million (16.0%). However, the

recommended amount was $86 million (7.8%) more than the Obama

Administration’s request.

A $21 million (0.1%) increase for NASA.

A $46 million (0.6%) increase for NSF.

The House Committee-Reported FY2017 CJS Appropriations Bill

On June 7, 2016, the House Committee on Appropriations reported its FY2017 CJS

appropriations bill (H.R. 5393). The House committee-reported bill would have provided a total

of $66.296 billion for CJS, an amount that was 0.4% greater than the FY2016 appropriation, but

1.9% less than the Obama Administration’s request (excluding the new mandatory funding). H.R.

5393 included $9.051 billion for the Department of Commerce, $29.437 billion for the

Department of Justice, $26.920 billion for the science agencies, and $887 million for the related

agencies. Like S. 2837, the House committee-reported bill did not include the $1.163 billion in

new mandatory funding for NASA and NSF the Obama Administration requested. The House

Committee on Appropriations also largely declined the Administration’s proposal to increase

funding for many CJS accounts, with a few notable exceptions. The House bill included the

following:



A $4 million (1.3%) increase in funding for the Economic Development

Administration compared to the FY2016 appropriation. The amount

recommended by the House Committee on Appropriations was $6 million (2.3%)

more than the Obama Administration’s request.

The committee proposed reducing funding for NIST by $99 million (10.3%)

compared to last fiscal year’s appropriation. The funding cuts included a $20

million (12.9%) reduction for the NNMI in the Industrial Technology Services

account and a $69 million (58.0%) reduction in the Construction of Research

Facilities account.

A $100 million (7.3%) increase for the Census Bureau, though the amount would

have been $164 million (10.0%) less than the Obama Administration’s request.

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS



A $185 million (3.2%) decrease for NOAA, which was largely the result of a

$183 million (7.6%) reduction in the Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction

account.

No supplemental funding for the Office on Violence Against Women with a

transfer of funds from the Crime Victims Fund.

The committee-reported bill included increases of $43 million (1.6%) for the

U.S. Marshals, $279 million (3.2%) for the FBI, $23 million (1.1%) for the DEA,

and $18 million (1.4%) for the ATF.

$299 million for the COPS account, an amount that is $87 million (41.0%)

greater than the FY2016-enacted appropriation and $13 million (4.5%) greater

than the Administration’s request.

The House Committee on Appropriations recommended a $223 million (1.2%)

increase for NASA compared to the FY2016-enacted appropriation.

A reduction of $57 million (0.8%) for NSF, including a $113 million reduction in

the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction account.

The House Committee on Appropriations recommended $65 million for the

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, an $11 million (19.3%) increase over the

FY2016 appropriation. Approximately one-fourth of the appropriation ($15

million) would come from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund.

In addition to these funding changes, the House Committee on Appropriations funded the

Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA)

through separate accounts. For FY2016, funding for EOIR and OPA came from the

Administrative Review and Appeals account.7

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) provides a total of $66.360 billion for

CJS. This amount includes $109 million in emergency funding provided under the NASA

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration account for repairs at NASAowned facilities that were damaged during recent natural disasters. The total appropriation

includes $9.237 billion for the Department of Commerce, $28.962 billion for the Department of

Justice, $27.240 billion for the science agencies, and $921 million for the related agencies. The

total appropriation for CJS was mostly in line with the Obama Administration’s request and the

amounts recommended by the House and Senate appropriations committees. The FY2017

appropriation is 0.5% greater than the FY2016 appropriation. The act includes the following:



Congress did not accept the Obama Administration’s proposal to provide new

mandatory funding for NASA and NSF.

An $8 million (19.0%) reduction in funding for the National Telecommunications

and Information Administration.

Administrative Review and Appeals account included funding for the Executive Office for Immigration Review

(EOIR) and the Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA). The EOIR is responsible for the review and adjudication of

immigration cases in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. The OPA receives and reviews petitions

for executive clemency.

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS



Congress provided a $15 million (5.7%) increase in the Economic Development

Administration’s funding. The entire increase in funding was for economic

development assistance programs.

Congress did not accept the Obama Administration’s proposal to nearly double

funding for the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation under NIST.

A $100 million (7.3%) overall increase in funding for the Census Bureau, which

is all for the Periodic Censuses and Programs account. However, the FY2017

appropriation is $164 million (10.0%) and $148 million (11.0%), respectively,

less than what the Obama Administration requested.

A $90 million (1.6%) reduction in funding for NOAA, which is largely the result

of a $158 million (6.6%) reduction in funding for the Procurement, Acquisition,

and Construction account.

Congress provided a $277 million (3.3%) increase for the FBI’s Salaries and

Expenses account. However, Congress declined to fully fund the Obama

Administration’s request for additional funding under the FBI’s Construction

account. The Obama Administration requested $646 million under the

Construction account to cover costs related to the construction of a new FBI

headquarters. Congress provided $323 million for this purpose.

Congress provided a total of $482 million for the Office on Violence Against

Women account, $326 million of which is derived from a transfer from the Crime

Victims Fund.

Congress decreased funding for the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance

account by $128 million (9.1%). However, the FY2017 appropriation is $183

million (16.6%) greater than the Obama Administration’s request.

NASA received a $477 million (2.5%) increase in funding (a $368 million (1.9%)

increase excluding the emergency funding for facility repairs due to natural

disasters). The FY2017 total includes a $178 million (3.1%) increase in the

Science account, a $20 million (3.1%) increase in the Aeronautics accounts, and

a $294 million (7.3%) increase in the Exploration account.

Congress provided a $9 million (0.1%) increase in funding for NSF. This

increase is to the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction account,

which received $9 million more than the FY2016-enacted appropriation.

Congress provided a $8 million (13.8%) increase in funding for the Office of the

U.S. Trade Representative. Of the $62 million appropriated for FY2017, $15

million is from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund.

In addition to these funding changes, for FY2017, Congress changed the Administrative Review

and Appeals account under DOJ to the Executive Office for Immigration Review account. The

Executive Office for Immigration Review was traditionally funded through the Administrative

Review and Appeals account, along with the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Funding for the

Pardon Attorney was moved to the General Legal Activities account.

Table 1 outlines the FY2016-enacted appropriations, the Administration’s FY2017 request, the

Senate and the House committee-reported, and the FY2017-enacted amounts for the Departments

of Commerce and Justice, the science agencies, and the related agencies.

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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Table 1. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations,

FY2016 and FY2017

(Budget authority in millions of dollars)

Departments and

Related Agencies

FY2016

Enacted

FY2017

Administration’s

Request

FY2017

Senate

Committeereported

FY2017

House

CommitteeReported

FY2017

Enacted

Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

$483.0

$521.4

$483.0

Bureau of Industry and Security

112.5

126.9

112.5

114.0

112.5

Economic Development

Administration

261.0

258.5

254.0

264.5

276.0

Economic Development

Assistance Programs

(222.0)

(215.0)

(225.0)

(237.0)

Salaries and Expenses

(39.0)

(43.5)

(39.0)

(39.5)

(39.0)

Minority Business Development

Agency

32.0

35.6

32.0

34.0

Economics and Statistics

Administration (excluding Census)

109.0

114.6

109.0

107.0

107.3

1,370.0

1,633.6

1,518.3

1,470.0

Current Surveys and Programs

(270.0)

(285.3)

(270.0)

Periodic Censuses and Programs

(1,100.0)

(1,348.3)

(1,248.3)

(1,200.0)

National Telecommunications and

Information Administration

39.5

50.8

39.5

36.3

32.0

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

(USPTO)a

3,272.0

3,230.0

Offsetting Fee Receipts (USPTO)

-3,272.0

-3,230.0

National Institute of Standards and

Technology

964.0

1,014.5

974.0

865.0

952.0

Scientific and Technical Research

and Services

(690.0)

(730.5)

(700.0)

(680.0)

(690.0)

Industrial Technology Services

(155.0)

(189.0)

(155.0)

(135.0)

(153.0)

Manufacturing Extension

Partnerships

(130.0)

(142.0)

(130.0)

National Network for

Manufacturing Innovation

(25.0)

(47.0)

(25.0)

(5.0)

(25.0)

Adjustment for Prior Year

Recoveries

—

(-2.0)

Construction of Research

Facilities

(119.0)

(95.0)

(119.0)

(50.0)

(109.0)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

5,765.6

5,848.2

5,691.2

5,580.6

5,675.4

Operations, Research, and

Facilitiesb

(3,305.8)

(3,494.2)

(3,339.4)

(3,298.0)

(3,367.9)

Census Bureau

Congressional Research Service

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

FY2017

Administration’s

Request

FY2017

Senate

Committeereported

FY2017

House

CommitteeReported

(2,400.4)

(2,270.1)

(2,286.9)

(2,217.6)

(2,242.6)

Other Fishery Activities

(65.4)

(84.4)

(65.4)

Fisheries Finance Program

Account

(-6.0)

(-0.4)

Departmental Management

109.1

123.9

103.0

97.0

94.7

Subtotal: Department of

Commerce

9,245.6

9,728.2

9,316.5

9,051.4

9,237.0

659.0

714.7

682.5

706.4

676.7

(142.5)

(183.5)

(164.1)

(155.0)

(145.1)

Salaries and Expenses

(111.5)

(125.9)

(114.1)

(115.0)

(114.1)

Justice Information Sharing

Technology

(31.0)

(57.6)

(50.0)

(40.0)

(31.0)

Administrative Review & Appeals

(422.8)

(433.4)

(422.8)

—

Executive Office of Immigration

Review

—

(453.2)

(436.0)

Office of the Pardon Attorney

—

(4.5)

—

Office of the Inspector General

(93.7)

(97.8)

(95.6)

(93.7)

95.6

13.3

14.0

13.3

3,314.6

3,352.9

3,342.6

3,364.3

3.353.8

General legal activities

(893.0)

(957.4)

(893.0)

(897.5)

United States Attorneys

(2,000.0)

(2,074.4)

(2,030.0)

(2,050.0)

(2.035.0)

Antitrust Division

(165.0)

(180.5)

(165.0)

Offsetting Fee Collections

(Antitrust Division)

(-124.0)

(-125.0)

U.S. Trustee Program

(225.9)

(229.7)

(225.9)

Offsetting Fee Collections (U.S.

Trustee Program)

(-162.0)

(-163.0)

New fees for U.S. Trustee

Programc

—

(-125.0)

—

Foreign Claims Settlement

Commission

(2.4)

Fees and Expenses of Witnesses

(270.0)

Community Relations Service

(14.4)

(19.0)

(14.4)

(15.5)

Assets Forfeiture Fundd

(20.5)

Vaccine Injury Compensation

Trust Fund

(9.4)

(12.0)

(9.4)

(10.0)

Departments and

Related Agencies

Procurement, Acquisition, and

Construction

FY2016

Enacted

FY2017

Enacted

Department of Justice

General Administration

U.S. Parole Commission

Legal Activities

Congressional Research Service

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Departments and

Related Agencies

FY2016

Enacted

FY2017

Administration’s

Request

FY2017

Senate

Committeereported

FY2017

House

CommitteeReported

FY2017

Enacted

United States Marshals Service

2,700.0

2,789.2

2,713.5

2,743.0

2,713.5

Salaries and Expenses

(1,230.6)

(1,275.2)

(1,249.0)

(1,258.0)

(1,249.0)

(15.0)

(10.0)

(1,454.4)

(1,504.0)

(1,454.4)

(1,475.0)

(1,454.4)

National Security Division

95.0

97.3

95.0

97.3

96.0

Interagency Law Enforcement

512.0

522.1

512.0

522.1

517.0

Federal Bureau of Investigation

8,798.8

9,502.4

9,451.1

9,077.9

9,006.4

Salaries and Expenses

(8,489.8)

(8,718.9)

(8,617.1)

(8,768.9)

(8,767.2)

(309.0)

(783.5)

(834.0)

(309.0)

(420.2)

—

(-181.0)

Drug Enforcement Administration

2,080.0

2,103.0

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms

and Explosives

1,240.0

1,306.1

1,258.6

1,257.8

1,258.6

Federal Prison System

7,481.2

7,301.9

7,094.2

7,159.5

7,141.5

(6,948.5)

(7,186.2)

(6,978.5)

(7,016.8)

(7,008.8)

(530.0)

(113.0)

(140.0)

(130.0)

Limitation on Administrative

Expenses, Federal Prison

Industries

(2.7)

Office on Violence Against Women

101.0e

163.0f

102.5g

527.5

155.5h

Office of Justice Programs

1,883.0

1,675.5

1,662.9

1,566.5

1,705.8

(116.0)

(154.0)

(118.0)

(93.0)

(89.0)

(1,408.5)

(1,097.8)

(1,183.6)

(1,199.9)

(1,280.5)i

Juvenile Justice Programs

(270.2)

(334.4)

(272.0)

(184.3)

(247.0)

Public Safety Officers Benefits

(88.3)

(89.3)

212.0

286.0

215.0

299.0

221.5

Obligation Cap on the Crime Victims

Fund

3,042.0

2,000.0

2,957.0

2,737.0

2,573.0

Offsetting Receipts

-3,042.0

-2,000.0

-2,957.0

-2,737.0

-2,573.0

Subtotal: Department of Justice

29,089.8

29,828.1

29,246.2

29,437.5

28,962.5

Office of Science and Technology

Policy

5.6

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration

19,285.0

19,025.1

19,306.0

19,508.0

19,762.3

Construction

Federal Prisoner Detention

Construction

Transfer of Balances from the

Working Capital Fund

Salaries and Expenses

Construction

Research, Evaluation, and

Statistics

State and Local Law Enforcement

Assistance

Community Oriented Policing

Services

Science Agencies

Congressional Research Service

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

FY2017

Administration’s

Request

FY2017

Senate

Committeereported

FY2017

House

CommitteeReported

(5,589.4)

(5,302.5)

(5,395.0)

(5,597.0)

(5,764.9)

—

(298.0)

—

(640.0)

(634.5)

(601.0)

(712.0)

(660.0)

—

(155.9)

—

(686.5)

(690.0)

(686.5)

(739.2)

(686.5)

—

(136.1)

—

(4,030.0)

(3,163.9)

(4,330.0)

(4,183.0)

(4,324.0)

—

(173.0)

—

(5,029.2)

(5,075.8)

(4,950.7)

(4,890.3)

(4,950.7)

(115.0)

(100.1)

(108.0)

(115.0)

(100.0)

(2,768.6)

(2,836.8)

(2,796.7)

(2,835.4)

(2,768.6)

Construction and Environmental

Compliance and Restoration

(388.9)

(419.8)

(400.0)

(398.0)

(469.7)j

Inspector General

(37.4)

(38.1)

(37.9)

National Science Foundation

7,463.5

7,964.0

7,509.8

7,406.1

7,472.2

Research and Related Activities

(discretionary)

(6,033.6)

(6,079.4)

(6,033.6)

(6,079.4)

(6,033.6)

Research and Related Activities

(new mandatory)

—

(346.0)

—

Education and Human Resources

(discretionary)

(880.0)

(898.9)

(880.0)

Education and Human Resources

(new mandatory)

—

(54.0)

—

Major Research Equipment and

Facilities Construction

(200.3)

(193.1)

(246.6)

(87.1)

(209.0)

Agency Operations and Award

Management

(330.0)

(373.0)

(330.0)

(340.0)

(330.0)

National Science Board

(4.4)

Office of the Inspector General

(15.2)

Subtotal: Science Agencies

26,754.0

26,994.7

26,821.3

26,919.7

27,240.1

Science Agencies (Discretionary)

26,754.0

25,831.7

26,821.3

26,919.7

27,240.1

—

1,163.0

—

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

9.2

9.4

9.2

Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission

364.5

376.6

364.5

Departments and

Related Agencies

Science (discretionary)

Science (new mandatory)

Aeronautics (discretionary)

Aeronautics (new mandatory)

Space Technology (discretionary)

Space Technology (new

mandatory)

Exploration (discretionary)

Exploration (new mandatory)

Space Operations

Education

Safety, Security, and Mission

Services

Science Agencies (New

Mandatory)

FY2016

Enacted

FY2017

Enacted

Related Agencies

Congressional Research Service

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Departments and

Related Agencies

FY2016

Enacted

FY2017

Administration’s

Request

FY2017

Senate

Committeereported

FY2017

House

CommitteeReported

FY2017

Enacted

International Trade Commission

88.5

92.9

88.5

90.0

91.5

Legal Services Corporation

385.0

475.0

395.0

350.0

385.0

Marine Mammal Commission

3.4

Office of the U.S. Trade

Representative

54.5

59.4

65.0

62.0

State Justice Institute

5.1

910.3

1,021.9

925.2

887.3

920.8

CJS Total

65,999.7

67,572.9

66,309.1

66,295.8

66,360.3

CJS Total (Discretionary)

65,999.7

66,409.9

66,309.1

66,295.8

66,360.3

—

1,163.0

—

878.7

757.5

840.1

890.8

1,142.3

Subtotal: Related Agencies

CJS Total (New Mandatory)

Rescission of Unobligated

Balances

Sources: The FY2016-enacted amounts were taken from the joint explanatory statement to accompany P.L.

114-113, printed in the December 17, 2015, Congressional Record (pp. H9732-H9759). The Administration’s

FY2017 requested amounts were taken from the departments’ and agencies’ respective budget justifications and

S.Rept. 114-239. The Senate Committee-reported amounts were taken from S.Rept. 114-239. The House

Committee-reported amounts were taken from H.Rept. 114-605. The FY2017-enacted amounts were taken

from the joint explanatory statement to accompany P.L. 115-31, printed in the May 3, 2017, Congressional Record

(pp. H3365-H3390).

Notes: Amounts may not add to totals due to rounding. The amounts in Table 1 do not include any rescissions

of unobligated balances, nor do they reflect any scorekeeping adjustments. Amounts in Table 1 in parenthesis

are subaccounts.

a. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is fully funded by user fees. The fees collected but not

obligated during the current fiscal year are available for obligation in the following fiscal year and do not

count toward the appropriations totals. Only newly appropriated funds count toward the annual

appropriations totals. Total figures for the Department of Commerce exclude the USPTO.

b. The amount for the Operations, Research, and Facilities account includes a transfer out for the Promote

and Develop Fund.

c. In the FY2017 budget request for the Department of Justice, the Administration proposed an amendment

to 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a) to increase the amount of fees the U.S. Trustees can collect.

d. As a part of the annual CJS appropriations act, Congress traditionally sets a limit on the amount of expenses

that can be paid for the purposes authorized under (B), (F), and (G) of Section 524(c)(1) of Title 28 of the

United States Code.

e. This amount does not include the $379 million transfer from the Crime Victims Fund to the Office on

Violence Against Women per P.L. 114-113.

The Administration proposed transferring $326 million from the Crime Victims Fund to the Office on

Violence Against Women.

g. S. 2837 included a proposal to transfer $379 million from the Crime Victims Fund to the Office on Violence

Against Women.

h. This amount does not include a $326 million transfer from the Crime Victims Fund to the Office on

Violence Against Women per P.L. 115-31.

This amount includes $7 million that was appropriated pursuant to the Further Continuing and Security

Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 114-254) for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance

Grant (JAG) program to reimburse overtime costs associated with providing security for President-elect

Donald Trump that was extended until the end of FY2017 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017

(P.L. 115-31). This amount also includes $15 million that was appropriated for the Emergency Federal Law

Congressional Research Service

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Enforcement Assistance program pursuant to section 542 of Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations

Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31).

This amount includes $109 million in emergency funding for repairing NASA-owned facilities that were

damaged by natural disasters appropriated pursuant to section 540 of Division B of the Consolidated

Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31).

Historical Funding for CJS

Figure 1 shows the total appropriations, in both nominal and inflation-adjusted dollars, for CJS

for FY2007-FY2016 (more detailed historical appropriations data can be found in Table 2).8 The

data show that nominal appropriations for CJS increased between FY2007 and FY2010.

Appropriations for CJS peaked in FY2009 at $76.782 billion if emergency supplemental

appropriations from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA; P.L. 111-5)

are included. If ARRA funding is not considered, appropriations peaked in FY2010 at $69.146

billion. ARRA provided a substantial increase in appropriations for FY2009. The $15.992 billion

Congress appropriated for CJS under ARRA was equal to approximately 25% of the amount

Congress provided for CJS through regular appropriations.

Appropriations for CJS decreased from FY2010 to FY2013. Nominal appropriations for CJS

were relatively flat in FY2014 and FY2015, though appropriations in both FY2014 and FY2015

were higher than they were in FY2013. If not for sequestration, which cut nearly $4 billion out of

the total amount Congress appropriated for CJS for FY2013, funding for CJS would have held

steady at approximately $61 billion between FY2011 and FY2015. CJS appropriations increased

by approximately $4 billion in FY2016, largely due to the fact that Congress increased the

discretionary budget cap when it passed, and the President signed, the Bipartisan Budget Act of

2015 (P.L. 114-74).

In FY2007, the CJS Appropriations Act included funding for the Department of State. Appropriations for the

Department of State are not reflected in the total appropriations for FY2007. In addition, in FY2007 and FY2008, the

CJS appropriations acts included several “related agencies” (e.g., the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal

Communications Commission, the Small Business Administration) that are no longer funded through the CJS

appropriations act. To make the total appropriations for each fiscal year as comparable as possible, the total only

includes appropriations for the “related agencies” that are currently in the CJS appropriations act.

Congressional Research Service

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

Figure 1. Nominal and Inflation-Adjusted Appropriations for CJS, FY2007-FY2016

(Appropriations in billions of dollars)

Sources: FY2007-enacted amounts were taken from H.Rept. 110-240 and P.L. 110-28; FY2008-enacted amounts

were taken from the House Committee on Appropriations’ Committee Print on the Omnibus Appropriations

Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-8), Division B; FY2009-enacted amounts were taken from H.Rept. 111-149; FY2010-enacted

amounts were taken from S.Rept. 111-229; FY2011-enacted amounts were taken from H.Rept. 112-169;

FY2012-enacted amounts were taken from H.Rept. 112-463; FY2013 post-sequestration amounts were provided

by the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and each of the respective related

agencies; FY2014-enacted amounts were taken from the joint explanatory statement to accompany P.L. 113-76,

printed in the January 15, 2014, Congressional Record (pp. H507-H532); FY2015-enacted amounts were taken

from the joint explanatory statement to accompany P.L. 113-235, printed in the December 11, 2014,

Congressional Record (pp. H9342-H9363); and FY2016-enacted amounts were taken from the joint explanatory

statement to accompany P.L. 114-113, printed in the December 17, 2015, Congressional Record (pp. H9732H9759).

Notes: Inflation-adjusted appropriations are presented in FY2015 dollars. Appropriations were adjusted using

the Gross Domestic Product (Chained) Price Index presented in Table 10.1 of the Historical Tables in the

President’s FY2017 budget submission. The amounts presented in Figure 1 do not include rescissions of

unobligated balances or scorekeeping credits (e.g., the balance on the Crime Victims Fund). The amounts in

Figure 1 include any rescissions of current-year budget authority.

Figure 2 shows total appropriations for CJS for FY2007-FY2016 by major component (i.e., the

Departments of Commerce and Justice, NASA, and the NSF). The data indicate that the increases

in CJS appropriations in FY2009 (not including ARRA funding) and FY2010 resulted from

Congress appropriating more funding for the Department of Commerce in support of the 2010

decennial census.

Although decreased appropriations for the Department of Commerce mostly explain the overall

decrease in CJS appropriations between FY2010 and FY2013 (a 47.4% reduction), cuts in

funding for DOJ (-8.7%) and NASA (-9.8%) also contributed to the decrease. However, despite

the reductions in funding for DOJ and NASA during these fiscal years, their appropriation in

Congressional Research Service

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for CJS

FY2013, even after sequestration, was greater in nominal terms than their appropriation in

FY2007. Appropriations for both the Departments of Commerce and Justice and NASA have

generally increased in the three fiscal years since FY2013.

Nominal funding for the NSF has, for the most part, steadily increased over the past 10 fiscal

years. The NSF’s appropriation increased in seven of the ten fiscal years from FY2007 to

FY2016. The decrease in the NSF’s funding for FY2013 was the result of sequestration. Increased

appropriations for the NSF have mostly resulted from Congress increasing funding for the NSF’s

Research and Related Activities account.

Figure 2. Nominal Total CJS Appropriations, by Major Component, FY2007-FY2016

(Appropriations in billions of dollars)

Source: FY2007-enacted amounts were taken from H.Rept. 110-240 and P.L. 110-28; FY2008-enacted amounts