This week, the House approved the Department of Defense spending bill. The House Appropriations Committee approved the Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related Agencies spending bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies, and Legislative Branch spending bills.
Floor Action
Department of Defense
On June 20, the House approved, 407-19, the FY2007 Department of Defense spending bill (H.R. 5631). The House Appropriations Committee approved the bill on June 13 (see the Source, 6/16/06).
The bill would provide $427.4 billion in funding for FY2007, including $50 billion to support continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The funding level is $19.1 billion above FY2006 and $4 billion below President Bush’s request.
Overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid would be funded at $63.204 million, $2.273 million over FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
The bill also would provide level funding of $1 million to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation.
Committee Action
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies
On June 22, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved, 28-0, the FY2007 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R. 5384). The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies approved, by voice vote, the measure on June 20. The House approved the bill on May 23 (see the Source, 5/26/06).
The bill would provide $18.2 billion in discretionary funds for FY2007, $1.42 billion more than FY2006 and $886 million more than the administration’s request. It also would provide $94.579 billion in mandatory spending.
Report Language
The Senate Appropriations Committee report accompanying the bill includes language detailing a number of programs affecting women and their families. Although report language is not binding, federal agencies give careful consideration to such language as it indicates programs or initiatives that are particularly important for appropriators.
Under the bill, child nutrition programs would receive $13.654 billion, $99.366 million more than FY2006, and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) would receive $108.285 million. Under the administration’s request, this program would not have received funding. According to the committee report, CSFP “provides supplemental foods to infants and children up to age 6, and to pregnant, post partum, and breast-feeding women with low incomes, and who reside in approved project areas. In addition, this program operates commodity distribution projects directed at low-income elderly persons.”
The Food Stamp Program would receive $37.865 billion, $2.846 billion less than FY2006, and $69.9 million less the administration’s request. According to the report, the committee recommendation “includes statutory language to exclude special pay for military personnel deployed to designated combat areas when determining food stamp eligibility. This provision will ensure that food stamp participants will not be eliminated from the program due to special or supplemental military pay.”
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) would receive $5.264 billion, $60.43 million more than FY2006 and $64 million more than the administration’s request. The committee “does not include a limitation on state nutrition services and administration (NSA) grants as proposed in the budget. The budget request included a reduction of $152 million associated with this limitation. Establishing a cap on NSA grants will not only reduce essential nutrition services, but it will also serve as a disincentive for states to contain food costs which could cost the federal government significantly more over time.”
The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program would receive $100 million, $1 million above FY2006 and the administration’s request. According to the committee report, this program “provides for donations of U.S. agricultural products, as well as financial and technical assistance, for school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects in low-income, food-deficit countries that are committed to universal education.”
The Food for Peace Program (Title II) would receive $1.225 billion, $86.5 million more than FY2006 and $7 million more than President Bush’s request. The committee “recognizes the important mission of the P.L. 480 [Food for Peace] Program to combat hunger and malnutrition; promote broad-based equitable and sustainable development; expand international trade; develop and expand export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities; and to foster and encourage the development of private enterprise and democratic participation in developing countries. The committee strongly supports the continued efficient operation of this important program.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would receive $1.565 billion, $109.89 million more than FY2006 and $25.317 million more than the administration’s request. Included in those funds, the committee “recommends no less than $10.6 million in appropriated funds for activities related to the Mammography Quality Standards Act. Appropriations for this program fund research grants and various activities to develop and enforce quality standards for mammography services, including a federal advisory committee, accreditation bodies, inspections of government entities and facilities that provided 50 percent or more mammography screenings with grants provided through the Center for Disease Control’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, issuance and renewal of certificates, appeal procedures, certification of personnel, and imposing sanctions for noncompliance.”
The committee “is aware that the Institute of Medicine released a report entitled ‘Breast Imaging Quality Standards’ on May 23, 2005. Further, the committee is aware that the Government Accountability Office is scheduled to soon release a report dealing with mammography access and an assessment of states that act as both accrediting and certifying bodies. The committee directs FDA to provide a report within 120 days of enactment of this act on how it plans to respond to recommendations contained in these reports.”
The committee “believes that it is imperative for FDA to pay sufficient attention to gender-based research, ensuring that products approved by the FDA are safe and effective for women as well as men. The committee notes that in the budget request, the Office of Women’s Health at FDA is funded at not less than $4 million for program operation and oversight. The committee encourages FDA to ensure that the Office of Women’s Health is sufficiently funded to carry out its activities, and to enhance its funding if necessary.”
The committee is “aware of the effective work of the Partnership for Food Safety Education to provide information to the general public about simple, commonsense suggestions regarding safe food preparation and handling. Currently, the Partnership for Food Safety Education is working to develop a public education campaign aimed at populations vulnerable to listeria, including pregnant women and adults with weakened immune systems. The committee believes this is a worthwhile effort, and encourages FDA to continue working with the Partnership for Food Safety Education in executing this education campaign. In addition, the committee encourages the FDA to provide funding, as appropriate, to support this collaborative effort.”
Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related Agencies
On June 20, the House Appropriations Committee approved, by voice vote, the FY2007 Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R. 5672). The measure was approved by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related Agencies on June 14 (see the Source, 6/16/06).
The bill would allocate $59.84 billion in funding for FY2007, $2.63 billion more than FY2006 and $14 million more than the administration’s request.
An amendment by Rep. José Serrano (D-NY) that would restore funding for the Survey on Income and Program Participation, which collects information to estimate future costs and coverage for government programs, such as food stamps, was approved by voice vote. The additional funding would be offset by a $5 million reduction for the Justice Department general administration and $5 million reduction for the general administration of the State Department.
Amendments that were rejected included:
The House Appropriations Committee report accompanying the bill includes language detailing a number of programs affecting women and their families. Although report language is not binding, federal agencies give careful consideration to such language as it indicates programs or initiatives that are particularly important for appropriators.
Department of Justice
The Department of Justice would receive $22.1 billion in FY2007, a $724 million increase over FY2006 and $1.022 billion more than the administration’s request.
FBI: The committee report states, “According to some estimates, as many as 17,000 victims are trafficked into the United States each year, many of which are women and children who are forced to work in the sex industry, and in prison-like facilities. In order to begin to address this issue, the FBI established 14 Innocence Lost task forces. The recommendation fully funds the continued needs of the 14 existing task forces and encourages the FBI to continue to expand its efforts to combat human trafficking, prostitution and sexual exploitation.”
Office on Violence Against Women: Programs under the Violence Against Women Act would receive $390.296 million in FY2007, $8.73 million more than FY2006 and $43.283 million more than President’s Bush request. According to the committee report, “funding included under this heading will continue to provide resources to expand units of law enforcement officers and prosecutors specifically targeting crimes against women, to develop and implement effective arrest and prosecution policies to prevent, identify and respond to violent crimes against women, and to provide much needed victim services including specialized domestic violence court advocates to obtain protection orders.”
STOP Grants to prevent and end domestic violence would receive $172 million, $21.5 million more than FY2006 and $16.3 million over the administration’s request. Of that amount, $2.477 million would be allocated to the National Institute of Justice.
Rural domestic violence assistance grants would be funded at $39.166 million in FY2007, $500,000 more than FY2006 and $367,000 above the administration’s request.
Grants to reduce violent crimes against women on college campuses would receive $9.054 million, $116,000 more than FY2006 and $85,000 more than the administration’s request.
Civil assistance for victims of domestic violence would be funded at $42 million, $3.281 million above FY2006 and $3.774 million less than President Bush’s request.
Programs to enhance protection for older women from domestic violence would receive $4.540 million, $58,000 more than FY2006 and $81,000 more than the administration’s request.
Programs to enhance protection for disabled women from domestic violence would be funded at $7.115 million, $91,000 above FY2006 and $46,000 more than President Bush’s request.
The Safe Haven project would receive $13.894 million, $177,000 more than FY2006 and $128,000 more than the administration’s request.
Court-appointed special advocates would be funded at $11.897 million, $152,000 more than FY2006 and $147,000 above the administration’s request.
Judicial personnel training would receive $2.287 million, $29,000 above FY2006 and $24,000 more than President Bush’s request.
Under the bill and consistent with the administration’s request, funds for televised testimony would be eliminated. In FY2006, the program received $973,000.
A database to track stalking would receive $2.962 million, $38,000 more than FY2006 and the administration’s request.
Justice Assistance
In FY2007, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) would receive $55 million, $702,000 above FY2006 and $1.241 million less than the administration’s request. According to the committee report, “NIJ is the nation’s primary source of research and development in the field of criminal justice. NIJ fosters innovation in law enforcement technologies and practices, investigates causes and patterns of crime, and informs the public of research and development findings. The committee encourages NIJ to work with federal law enforcement agencies in the development of law enforcement technologies to ensure coordination of research and development efforts.”
The Missing Children’s Program would receive $55.473 million, $8.086 million more than FY2006 and $4.545 million above the administration’s request. According to the committee report, “this program provides funds to combat crimes against children, particularly kidnapping and sexual exploitation.” Included in that amount is $20.375 million for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces, $6.06 million more than FY2006 and $5 million above President Bush’s request.
State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance: The Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants program would receive $558 million in FY2007, $146.918 million above FY2006. Under the administration’s request, this program would not have been funded. The measure would provide $175.568 million for state and local crime laboratories to reduce and eventually eliminate backlogs of DNA casework samples, $68.423 million above FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request. The committee “recognizes that DNA technology will allow law enforcement to identify certain criminals quickly and accurately, solve additional crimes, especially violent crimes such as murder and rape, and identify persons mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes.”
Programs to combat trafficking in persons would receive $21.488 million, $11.616 million more than FY2006, and an amount equal to the administration’s request. The committee “encourages the Department of Justice to work with the Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen anti-trafficking training programs.”
The Committee “commends the Department [of Justice] and the United States Marshals Service for Operation Falcon II, which led to the arrest of 1,102 fugitives wanted for committing sexual offenses and violent crimes against women, children and the elderly, as well as unregistered convicted sex offenders. The committee encourages the United States Marshals Service to conduct similar operations in fiscal year 2007.”
Grant to states to combat methamphetamine manufacturing, sale, and use in “hot spots” would receive $99 million, $36.222 million above FY2006 and $58.916 million above the administration’s request. The committee is “aware that the production, trafficking, and abuse of methamphetamine, an extremely destructive and addictive synthetic drug, continues to be a serious national problem. Within the amount provided, the committee has included $20 million to reimburse the DEA for assistance to state and local law enforcement for proper removal and disposal of hazardous materials at clandestine methamphetamine labs, including funds for training, technical assistance, a container program, and purchase of equipment.”
Project Safe Neighborhoods/Anti-Gang Initiative would receive $40 million, $511,000 above FY2006 and $25.121 million more than the administration’s request. According to the committee report, “gangs and other criminal enterprises, operating in the U.S. and throughout the world, pose increasing concerns for the international law enforcement and intelligence communities. Today, gangs are more violent, more organized, and more widespread than ever before. They pose one of the greatest threats to the safety and security of all Americans. The Department of Justice estimates there are approximately 30,000 gangs, with 800,000 members, impacting 2,500 communities across the U.S. The innocent people in these communities face daily exposure to violence from criminal gangs trafficking in drugs and weapons and gangs fighting amongst themselves to control or extend their turf and their various criminal enterprises.”
The committee “commends the Department [of Justice] for the development of its Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which calls for U.S. Attorneys to work with federal, state and local officials to develop local plans to address the growth of computer-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes committed against children. In order to support the administration’s efforts and reduce child exploitation, the recommendation funds the department’s request for 26 additional U.S. Attorney positions to increase federal child exploitation prosecutions and fully funds the requested $1.984 million for the continued development of a nationwide sex offender registry system that links state systems together.”
Under the bill, the Boys and Girls Clubs would receive $75 million, $8.914 million below FY2006 and $15.488 million above the administration’s request.
The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-79) would receive $22.943 million, $5 million above FY2006 and $20.959 million more than the administration’s request. The committee “is disappointed that the administration’s request significantly reduces funding for the program and fears that this action demonstrates a lack of commitment to fully implement the Prison Rape Elimination Act.”
The committee “understands that experts have conservatively estimated that at least 13 percent of the inmates in the United States have been sexually assaulted in prison and that many inmates have suffered repeated assaults. Under this estimate, nearly 200,000 inmates now incarcerated have been, or will be, the victims of prison rape. The total number of inmates who have been sexually assaulted in the past twenty years likely exceeds 1,000,000. The committee understands that prison rape contributes to the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases, such as HIV and AIDS. The committee also recognizes that mentally ill and juvenile inmates are particularly vulnerable to sexual victimization. The committee further understands that most prison staff are not adequately trained or prepared to prevent, report, or treat inmate sexual assaults, and that prison rape often goes unreported. The committee looks forward to the recommendations of the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission and the data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) to further illuminate the problem and identify ways to improve the Nation’s prison system. The committee hopes that BJS will work to address the concerns raised by the Prison Rape Elimination Commission on the question order of the 2006 National Inmate Survey of Sexual Assault so that the results will be consistent with the intent of the Congress and will fully display the prevalence of prison rape.”
The committee report restates existing law, which prohibits “the use of funds to perform abortions in the federal prison system” and/or “the use of the funds in this bill to require any person to perform, or facilitate the performance of, an abortion.” The committee report also states that nothing “removes the obligation of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to provide escort services to female inmates who seek to obtain abortions outside a federal facility.”
Juvenile Justice Programs: In FY2007, these programs would receive $280.739 million, $57.622 less than FY2006. According to the committee report, “The budget request proposes to fund juvenile justice programs under the Justice Assistance account.” The total would include $15 million for the Victims of Child Abuse Act, $102,000 more than FY2006 and $3.321 million above the administration’s request.
The State Department
Under the bill, the State Department would be funded at $9.658 billion in FY2007, a $225 million increase over FY2006 and $391 million less than the administration’s request. The committee “continues to be concerned about the serious problem of international trafficking in persons. The committee recommendation increases the staff level of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. The committee expects the Department [of State] to increase the number of personnel dedicated to the efforts of the office by five in 2007. The committee expects this office to further strengthen the annual reporting process and those of the Department-led Senior Policy Operating Group to coordinate interagency activities to implement the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act of 2000 [P.L. 106-386]. The recommendation assumes continuation of grant programs regarding trafficking in persons.”
Contributions to International Peacekeeping Programs would be funded at $1.135 billion in FY2007, $113.052 more than FY2006 and an amount identical to the administration’s request. According to the committee report, “disturbing allegations of sex abuse of minors by U.N. peacekeepers and civilian personnel have led to significant reform in the planning and conduct of peacekeeping missions. The committee strongly urges the administration, including the State Department, to continue to pursue the recommendations contained in the Prince Zeid report [report by Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al Hussein, Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to the United Nations], including personal accountability, and improvements in the systems of justice in troop contributing countries as a means to restore confidence in peacekeeping missions. Further, the committee directs the U.S. to work to ensure adequate training is provided to peacekeeping personnel prior to deployment.”
Independent Agencies
The bill would provide $642.792 million for the Small Business Administration, $965.774 million below FY2006, including $1.158 billion in supplemental appropriations provided in response to hurricane disaster, and $3.791 million above President Bush’s request. The Women’s Business Centers and Women’s Business Council would receive $12.5 million and $750,000, respectively.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would receive $322.807 million, $4.191 million below FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
The Legal Services Corporation would be funded at $313.860 million, $12.718 million less than FY2006 and $3 million more than the administration’s request. According to the committee report, “the Legal Services Corporation is a private, nonprofit corporation that provides low-income individuals with access to legal assistance and information concerning civil legal problems. Created in 1974, the Legal Services Corporation is charged by Congress to provide assistance to those who would otherwise be unable to afford adequate legal counsel.”
Under the bill, the Civil Rights Commission would be level-funded at $8.933 million, $376,000 less than the administration’s request.
The bill would allocate $6.02 billion for the National Science Foundation, $438.846 million more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request. The committee “fully supports and encourages the National Science Board’s creation of a new Commission on 21st Century Education in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics]. This commission will develop a national action plan to address known K12 problems; propose practical and affordable solutions; act as a catalyst for concerted action by the appropriate federal agencies; and identify the explicit role of NSF [National Science Foundation] in the context of the larger, national education system.”
