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Appropriations Subcommittee Approves Bill to Fund Justice, Science Programs

On April 30, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies approved, by voice vote, the FY2015 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).

According to a brief committee summary, the bill would provide $51.2 billion in discretionary funds for FY2015, $398 million over FY2014. The Department of Justice would receive $27.8 billion in FY2015. This amount is $383 million over FY2014 and includes $425.5 million for the Office on Violence Against Women and $45.4 million for victims of trafficking grant programs. The US Marshals Service, which provides assistance to states in locating and monitoring convicted sex offenders, would receive $2.8 billion in FY2015.

The legislation also would provide $125 million for the DNA Initiative – which includes funding for Debbie Smith Backlog and Sexual Assault Forensic Exam grants – and $36 million for “a new Community Backlog Reduction program to process sexual assault kits.”

Additional details will be made available once the committee releases its report.