WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies – today released the following statement after the Senate passed the FY2019 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:

“This bipartisan bill achieves an appropriate balance between fiscal responsibility and investing in our future by supporting law enforcement, national security interests, economic development and scientific innovation. Ranking Member Shaheen and I have worked in an open and transparent manner to address the many important priorities within our jurisdiction, and I am pleased this legislation passed the Senate with bipartisan support.”

The FY2019 measure funds the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation and other agencies. The Senate-passed bill invests in federal law enforcement agencies, state and local law enforcement and victim’s assistance grants, space exploration, basic science research, economic development programs, trade enforcement, ocean observations and weather forecasting and the STOP School Violence Act.

FY2019 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act highlights:

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

The bill funds the U.S. Department of Commerce at $11.41 billion. The Committee continues its strong support for economic development, strengthening trade enforcement, improving fisheries management, protecting intellectual property rights and advancing severe weather forecasting. 

International Trade Administration (ITA) – $495 million for the International Trade Administration. $118 million for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to allow BIS to hire additional staff to improve the timeliness of the section 232 tariff exclusion process.

Economic Development Administration (EDA) – $304 million for EDA, including $117.5 million for its Public Works program, which supports brick-and-mortar projects in distressed communities across the nation. Funding for EDA also includes $23.5 million for the Regional Innovation Program to promote and strengthen regional innovation to spur job creation through private-public partnerships. 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) – $3.37 billion for USPTO to protect the ideas and inventions of our nation’s entrepreneurs in an effort to advance and innovate all sectors of the economy.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – $985.5 million for NIST to strengthen the U.S. cybersecurity posture through cutting-edge research and development, expand opportunities in the areas of advanced manufacturing and continue promotion of the highest-quality standards to maintain fairness in the global marketplace. Funding for NIST includes $140 million for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which is a private-public partnership present in all 50 states dedicated to serving small- and medium-sized manufacturers.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – $5.42 billion for NOAA to continue core NOAA operations including: ocean monitoring, fisheries management, coastal grants to states, aquaculture research, weather satellites and severe weather forecasting.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

The bill funds the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) at $30.934 billion. Salaries and expenses for most federal law enforcement agencies are increased by roughly two percent. The constantly changing landscape of criminal activity at home and abroad tests DOJ’s ability to deal with emerging threats, and this bill directs federal law enforcement agencies to work cooperatively to safeguard taxpayer dollars while preserving public safety.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – $9.577 billion for FBI Salaries and Expenses and Construction. This funding will enable the FBI to continue protecting and defending against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, both at home and abroad. The bill fully funds the request of $91.6 million for the Innocent Images National Initiative to target and investigate sexual predators on the Internet, and increases funding for cybersecurity activities to neutralize, mitigate and disrupt illegal computer-supported operations.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – $2.687 billion for DEA Salaries and Expenses and Diversion Control supporting DEA’s mission to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States, including efforts to combat heroin use and prescription drug abuse.

United States Marshals Service (USMS) – $2.925 billion for the USMS. This funding enables USMS to continue executing its broad mission which includes but is not limited to Fugitive Apprehension, Federal Judicial Security; Adam Walsh Act enforcement requirements, such as apprehending convicted sex offenders who fail to register as fugitives; and executing responsibilities under International Megan’s Law, including alerting foreign governments when registered sex offenders travel abroad. The bill also provides continued support for Regional Fugitive Task Forces.

U.S. Attorneys – $2.212 billion for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the 94 U.S. Attorneys offices. This funding includes $48.34 million, which is equal to the President’s budget request, to continue the focus on Adam Walsh Act investigations and prosecutions related to the sexual exploitation of children. This funding also includes $60.5 million to continue efforts to combat cybercrime and intrusions.

DOJ Grant Programs – $2.91 billion for state and local law enforcement, crime prevention and victim assistance grant programs, which includes grants for State and local law enforcement, the Office on Violence Against Women and juvenile justice programs. The bill provides $423.5 million for Byrne JAG; approximately $182 million for DNA Initiatives and Sexual Assault Kits; $347 million for Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) programs, including $99 million in support for Drug Courts and Veterans Treatment Courts to further combat the opioid and heroin epidemic; $87.5 million for Second Chance Act grants to reduce recidivism for adults released from jail by offering substance abuse treatment, employment assistance and other rehabilitation services; $32 million for COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Forces grants; and $8 million for COPS Office Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces grants.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) – PSN focuses on combating violent crime and is funded at $20 million.

STOP School Violence Act – The STOP School Violence Act, passed in the FY2018 Omnibus, is fully funded at its authorized level of $100 million. 

Crime Victims Fund (CVF) – The bill provides $3.353 billion to victims and for victim services in FY2019. Additionally, $10 million is reserved for the DOJ Office of the Inspector General to audit grants funded through this distribution, and five percent of the total distribution is set aside to improve services for tribal victims of crime.

SCIENCE

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – $21.5 billion for NASA to support the human and robotic exploration of space, to fund science missions that enhance the understanding of the Earth, the solar system and the universe and to support fundamental aeronautics research. Using the same account funding structure as in previous years, this includes:

• $5.05 billion for Exploration to advance NASA’s human exploration program through providing $2.15 billion for the Space Launch System (SLS), $1.35 billion for the Orion crewed spacecraft to continue development of NASA’s next deep-space crewed capsule and $450 million to begin development of the Lunar Orbital Platform.
• $6.9 billion for Science, including $1.9 billion for Earth science, $2.758 billion for Planetary science, $1.191 billion for astrophysics, $304 million for the Webb telescope and $720 million for Heliophysics. 
• $725 million for Aeronautics. The bill supports the ongoing work on aeronautics x-vehicles, advanced research into aeronautics materials and materials characterization and further research on unmanned aerial systems and unmanned traffic management.  
• $110 million is provided for NASA’s education programs under a newly named Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement activity. Within STEM Engagement, Space Grant is funded at $44 million, NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is funded at $21 million and the the Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers is funded at $5 million.
• $927 million is provided for Space Technology. Funding is included to advance projects in early stages of development that are expected to eventually demonstrate capabilities needed for future space exploration.

National Science Foundation (NSF) – $8 billion for NSF. Funding is provided for basic research across scientific disciplines to support the development of effective STEM programs.

• These funds will allow NSF to provide more grants to highly competitive research projects and help provide opportunities to prepare the next generation of STEM leaders.
• $176 million is provided for EPSCoR.
• $127 million is provided for the design and construction of three Regional Class Research Vessels (RCRV). By having three regional ships, the Gulf of Mexico and the East and West coasts will be able to have a dedicated RCRV to maximize research time in each of these regions.

RELATED AGENCIES

International Trade Commission (ITC) – $95 million for ITC. ITC is an independent agency responsible for providing Congress and the President with impartial advice on U.S. international trade policy. 

Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) – $68 million for USTR, of which up to $15 million is available to be derived from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund for enforcement activities authorized by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. As the federal government’s lead negotiator for trade agreements, this funding will maintain the strong bargaining position of USTR, as well as its trade coordination and enforcement actions.

For USTR, the bill also includes language that directs the agency to establish an exclusion process for the third and latest round of section 301 tariffs, which cover $200 billion worth of imported goods from China. 

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