House Approves CJS Spending Bill

On May 29, the House approved, 321-87, the FY2015 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R. 4660). The House Appropriations Committee approved the legislation on May 8 (see The Source, 5/9/14).

The measure would allocate $51.202 billion in discretionary funding in FY2015. This amount is $398 million below FY2014 and $1.028 billion over President Obama’s FY2015 request.

The Department of Justice would receive $27.737 billion in FY2015. This amount is $383 million over FY2014 and $136 million over the president’s request.

During consideration of the bill, the House approved the following amendments by voice vote:

• An amendment by Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to increase funding for grants to reduce violent crimes against women on campus by $1 million;
• An amendment by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to increase funding for Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution programs by $500,000;
• An amendment by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) to increase funding for sexual assault kits by $5 million; and
• An amendment by Rep. Pete Gallego (D-TX) to increase funding for rural domestic violence and child abuse assistance by $2.5 million.