On May 10, the House approved, 247-163, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies FY2013 spending bill (H.R. 5326), which would fund the Department of Justice and related agencies until September 30, 2013. On April 26, the House Appropriations Committee approved the bill by voice vote (see The Source, 4/27/12). On April 19, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the bill (S. 2323) (see The Source, 4/20/12).
According to the committee report, the legislation would provide $51.459 billion in overall spending in FY2013 for the departments and agencies funded in the bill, $1.613 billion below FY2012 and $731.029 million below President Obama’s FY2013 budget request. In the context of attempting to reduce overall spending, “the committee’s funding recommendations focus resources on the areas of highest priority, reflecting the committee’s assessment of national priorities and ongoing challenges.”
The legislation would provide $2.02 billion in funds to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), $301 million less than FY2012 and $544 million less than the president’s request. State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance programs would receive $1.85 billion in FY2013. This amount is $377.5 million below FY2012, but $51.413 over the president’s FY2013 request. Unlike the president’s budget, which funds several State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance programs through the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), the House bill would fund these programs directly (p. 53). For example, the committee recommends direct appropriations for the Office on Violence Against Women (p. 50) and Juvenile Justice programs (p. 57), while the president’s request funds these programs through the CVF.
The committee identifies the investigation and prosecution of crimes of human trafficking as a top priority. The legislation therefore includes increased resources and guidance to combat trafficking in persons, as this crime “frequently targets the most vulnerable in society and in many instances is the equivalent of modern-day slavery.” (p. 36) The committee also urges U.S. Attorneys to establish and maintain a regional human trafficking task force and to undertake proactive investigations.
The legislation includes $25 million in funding for transitional housing assistance, equal to FY2012 but an increase of $3 million compared to the president’s request. The committee understands the importance of this assistance, as “domestic violence victims and their families have a critical need for safe and affordable housing as they seek to rebuild their lives after escaping a dangerous environment.” (p. 51)
In order to decrease the occurrence of sexual abuse in the prison system, the committee urges the Department of Justice to issue its final rule for the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA, P.L. 108-79). Additionally, the Department of Justice is encouraged to provide assistance in the form of training, implementation grants, and technical assistance to achieve compliance with PREA national standards.
The chart below compares detailed funding levels for programs in the legislation important to women and their families. Funding levels are shown for FY2012, the president’s FY2013 request, the House bill (H.R. 5326), and the Senate bill (S. 2323).
Agency/Program |
FY2012 |
President’s FY2013 Request |
Senate Bill |
|
Department of Justice |
||||
Office on Violence Against Women | $412.5 million | $412.5 million | $415 million | $412.5 million |
Grants to Combat Violence Against Women (STOP Grants) | $189 million | $189 million* | $189 million | $189 million |
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies | $50 million | $50 million | $50 million | $50 million |
Transitional Housing Assistance | $25 million | $22 million | $25 million | $25 million |
Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women | $3 million | $3 million | $3.5 million | $3 million |
Sexual Assault Victims Services | $23 million | $23 million | $23 million | $25 million |
Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement | $34 million | $37 million | $36.5 million | $35 million |
Violence on College Campuses | $9 million | $9 million | $9 million | $9 million |
Civil Legal Assistance | $41 million | $41 million | $41 million | $39 million |
Elder Abuse Grant Program | $4.25 million | $4.25 million | $4.25 million | $4.25 million |
Safe Havens Program | $11.5 million | $11.5 million | $11.5 million | $15 million (includesCourt Training and Improvement Program) |
Education and Training for Disabled Female Victims | $5.75 million | $5.75 million | $5.75 million | $5.75 million |
Court Training and Improvement Program | $4.5 million | $4.5 million | $4.5 million | See Safe Havens Programabove |
Research on Violence Against Indian Women | $1 million | $500,000 | $1 million | $1 million |
Indian Country Sexual Assault Clearinghouse | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
National Resource Center on Workplace Responses | $1 million | $500,000 | $500,000 | $1 million |
Consolidated Youth Oriented Program | $10 million | $10 million | $10 million | $10 million |
Office of Justice Programs | $2.321 billion | $2.564 billion | $2.02 billion | $2.25 billion |
Victims of Trafficking Grants | $10.5 million | $10.5 million* | $13.5 million | $10.5 million |
Prison Rape Prevention and Prosecution | $12.5 million | $10.5 million | $12.5 million | $0 |
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) | $4.5 million | $0 | $4.5 million | $6 million |
National Sex Offender Public Website | $1 million | $1 million | $1 million | $1 million |
DNA Initiative | $125 million | $100 million* | $125 million | $125 million |
Debbie Smith Backlog Grants | $117 million | $0 | $117 million | $117 million |
Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program Grants | $4 million | $0 | $4 million | $4 million |
Related Agencies |
||||
Commission on Civil Rights | $9.193 million | $9.4 million | $9.193 million | $9.4 million |
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | $373.136 million | $371.71 million | $366.568 million | $374 million |
Legal Services Corporation | $348 million | $402 million | $328 million | $402 million |
*Funding in part or in full from CVF.
During consideration of the bill, the House adopted several amendments, including: