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Bill to Fund Justice Department, Science Programs Passes Subcommittee

On July 10, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies approved, by voice vote, the FY2014 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).

According to the subcommittee summary, the measure would provide $47.4 billion in total funding for FY2014. This amount is $2.8 billion below FY2013* and $350 million below the current level imposed by the across-the-board spending cuts, also known as sequestration (Budget Control Act, P.L. 112-25).

The Department of Justice would receive $26.3 billion in FY2014. This represents a decrease of $720 million below FY2013; President Obama requested $27.6 billion for the department in FY2014. Included in the FY2014 funding level is $413 million for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and $13.5 million for Victims of Trafficking grants. Under the bill, OVW would receive $2.025 million less than FY2013, but roughly the same amount as requested by the president. The Victims of Trafficking grants would receive about $3 million more than FY2013 and in the administration’s request.

The U.S. Marshals Service, which provides assistance to state and local law enforcement officials in locating and monitoring sex offenders, would receive $2.7 billion in FY2014, $115 million less than FY2013.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) would receive $7 billion in FY2014. The amount is $259 million below FY2013 and $631 million below the administration’s request. NSF funds programs to encourage women and minorities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

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

*Congress enacted a continuing resolution (P.L. 112-175) in September 2012 (see The Source, 9/21/12), which then was extended through September 2013 on March 21 (see The Source, 3/22/13).