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House Approves First FY2013 Appropriations Bill

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

House Bill

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:

  • An amendment by Rep. Jon Runyan (R-NJ) to increase the funding for the Office of Violence Against Women by $5 million, offset by a cut to the DOJ Legal Activities administrative account, by voice vote;
  • An amendment by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to set aside $30 million for Missing and Exploited Children Programs, by voice vote;
  • An amendment by Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL) to increase funding for the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance program by $20 million, offset by a cut to the Census Bureau, by voice vote.