[House Report 113-172] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 113th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 113-172 ====================================================================== FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2014 _______ July 23, 2013.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Crenshaw, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following R E P O R T together with DISSENTING VIEWS [To accompany H.R. 2786] The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014. INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT Page number Bill Report Title I--Department of the Treasury........................ 2 7 Title II--Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President.......................... 24 23 Title III--The Judiciary................................... 38 33 Title IV--District of Columbia............................. 47 39 Title V--Independent Agencies.............................. 57 44 Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.................... 57 44 Consumer Product Safety Commission......................... 59 45 Election Assistance Commission............................. 46 Federal Communications Commission.......................... 60 47 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation...................... 61 50 Federal Election Commission................................ 61 50 Federal Labor Relations Authority.......................... 61 50 Federal Trade Commission................................... 62 51 General Services Administration............................ 64 51 Merit Systems Protection Board............................. 80 63 National Archives and Records Administration............... 81 63 National Credit Union Administration....................... 82 65 Office of Government Ethics................................ 82 65 Office of Personnel Management............................. 83 66 Office of Special Counsel.................................. 85 67 Postal Regulatory Commission............................... 86 68 Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board................ 86 68 Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board............. 87 69 Securities and Exchange Commission......................... 87 69 Selective Service System................................... 89 72 Small Business Administration.............................. 90 73 United States Postal Service............................... 94 77 United States Tax Court.................................... 95 78 Title VI--General Provisions--This Act..................... 95 78 Title VII--General Provisions--Government-wide: Departments, Agencies, and Corporations................ 112 82 Title VIII--General Provisions--District of Columbia....... 135 84 Title IX--Additional General Provisions--Spending Reduction Account................................................ 142 86 House of Representatives Reporting Requirements............ 86 Dissenting Views........................................... 146 Highlights of the Bill The Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee has jurisdiction over a diverse group of agencies responsible for regulating the financial and telecommunications industries; collecting taxes and providing taxpayer assistance; supporting the operations of the White House, the Federal Judiciary, and the District of Columbia; managing Federal buildings; and overseeing the Federal workforce. The activities of these agencies impact nearly every American and are integral to the operations of our government. However, with the Federal debt approaching $17 trillion, the Subcommittee is committed to reducing the cost and size of government. The bill provides a total of $16,966,000,000 in discretionary budget authority for fiscal year 2014 which is $4,282,000,000 or 20 percent below the fiscal year 2013 level (defined as the amount provided within Public Law 113-6 and excluding emergency funding, disaster relief adjustments, the 251A sequester, and any other adjustments imposed by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to section 3004 of Public Law 113-6). The bill is $7,045,380,000 or 29 percent below the Administration's request. TOTAL BUDGET AUTHORITY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2014 ($ in millions) Enacted Request Recommendation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Discretionary................. 21,248 24,011 16,966 Mandatory..................... 21,251 21,229 21,229 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Small Business and Job Creation Activities The bill makes programs that support small businesses and assist in private sector job creation a priority. The bill provides $263,160,000 for SBA's business loan program to provide $17,500,000,000 in 7(a) lending and $7,500,000,000 in 504 lending. The bill also provides $112,500,000 for Small Business Development Centers and $221,000,000 for Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund program. In addition, the bill requires certain regulatory agencies to report to the Committee on their efforts to eliminate duplicative, outdated and burdensome regulations. Law Enforcement and Intelligence Activities The bill provides $6,542,832,000 in discretionary funds for the operations of the Federal Judiciary to fulfill their statutory requirements to process criminal, civil, bankruptcy and appellate cases; to supervise defendants and offenders living in our communities; and provide defendant representation to those that cannot afford it. The bill continues to make combating illegal drugs a priority by providing $238,522,000 for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and $88,000,000 for the Drug-Free Communities program. For the District of Columbia, the bill provides sufficient funds for operations of the District of Columbia Courts and supervision of offenders and defendants. These amounts are offset by reductions in other Federal payments to the District of Columbia. For Treasury's financial intelligence activities, the bill provides $105,000,000 for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to enhance their capabilities to combat drug lords, terrorists, weapons of mass destruction proliferators, rogue nations and other threats. In addition, the bill provides $110,788,000 for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to support the financial intelligence requirements of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Program Reductions and Terminations In order to pay for the priorities described above while reducing overall spending, the Committee has reduced the operating expenses for many agencies below the fiscal year 2013 level (defined as the amount provided within Public Law 113-6 and excluding emergency funding, disaster relief adjustments, the 251A sequester, and any other adjustments imposed by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to section 3004 of Public Law 113-6) including: Department of Treasury-- Departmental Offices, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, the United States Sentencing Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the Federal Trade Commission, the General Services Administration, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the National Archives and Records Administration, the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Selective Service System, and all of the salaries and expenses accounts within the Executive Office of the President. In addition, the bill eliminates funding for several programs including: Unanticipated Needs-Executive Office of the President, a Federal payment for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, the Administrative Conference of the United States, the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, the Election Assistance Commission, Allowances for Former Presidents, the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation, the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, and the Public Company and Accounting Oversight Board's scholarship program. An indecent amount of spending on training, travel, and employee awards occurred during fiscal year 2010 when agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the General Services Administration (GSA) received a record high of appropriated funds following on the heels of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Similar to the curse of winning the lottery, agency staff celebrated their good fortune with ceremonies, food, travel, and presidential suites instead of extending better service to American taxpayers, who were struggling with elevated unemployment levels. Both IRS and GSA say they have changed their ways and point to numerous reforms that they have implemented. It is no coincidence, however, that these reforms coincide with the discretionary spending reductions enacted over the previous three fiscal years. The bill reduces overall agency funding, specifically limits the use of IRS funds for conferences until the TIGTA's conference recommendations are implemented, and requires all IGs funded in the bill to do a review of agency conference spending. Internal Revenue Service The Committee is disquieted by IRS' wasteful spending in fiscal year 2010 and inappropriate singling out of certain tax- exempt groups based on their political beliefs. The IRS' troubles are neither superficial nor simple. The Committee has taken steps to begin reforming the agency by reducing the IRS' appropriation by 24 percent compared to the fiscal year 2013 continuing resolution level, which is $3.9 billion, or 30 percent, below the budget request. In addition, the bill includes the following terms and conditions:Withholds 10 percent of the IRS' already reduced enforcement appropriation until all of the recommendations contained the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration's (TIGTA) report on inappropriate criteria being used to identify tax-exempt applications for review are fully implemented. Prohibits funds for conferences until all of TIGTA's recommendations regarding conferences are implemented. Prohibits funds for employee bonuses and awards until the IRS, with the assistance of the Office of Personnel Management, have determined the IRS' employee recognition programs actually improve employee performance and productivity. Requires extensive reporting on IRS spending. Prohibits funds for the production of videos that have not been reviewed for cost, topic, tone, and purpose and certified to be appropriate. Provides TIGTA with $5,462,000 above the budget request to enhance its audit and investigative oversight of the IRS. The Committee continues to be concerned with the IRS' role in implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the individual mandate in particular. At a time when the IRS has demonstrated little ability to self-police or self-correct, the IRS is on the precipice having even more authority over policing Americans' health coverage. The Committee finds this expansion of IRS authority to be unacceptable and, therefore, prohibits funding to implement the individual mandate and prohibits transfers from the Department of Health and Human Services to fund the IRS' implementation of the Affordable Care Act. General Services Administration In order to prevent the appalling activities that culminated in the General Services Administration's (GSA) Public Buildings Service 2010 Western Regions Conference and promote improved management in the GSA's facilities portfolio, the bill: Prohibits GSA from spending $2.4 billion of funds estimated to be collected in the Federal Buildings Fund. Restructures GSA appropriation accounts to separate the cost of administrative expenses from program activities. Reduces obligations in the Federal Buildings Fund for administrative expenses by 15 percent compared to the request. Requires GSA to provide quarterly reports on its property portfolio and space utilitization. Provides funding to consolidate underutilized Federal facilities when the project will reduce future costs to tenant agencies. Prohibits funds for awards and bonuses until a comprehensive review of GSA's employee recognition programs is complemented. Requires reporting on employee training activities. Requires reporting on the use of the Working Capital Fund and limits spending from the Fund. Increases funding for the GSA Inspector General by $5,092,000 above the request. Additional Transparency and Accountability Measures Makes the Office of Financial Research (OFR) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) subject to the appropriations process next year. Requires additional reporting on mandatory expenses from OFR, CFPB, the Office of Financial Stability and the Judgment Fund. Includes a bill-wide prohibition on travel, conferences and employee awards that are not in compliance with laws and regulations. Requires agency Inspectors General to report whether agencies funded in the bill have appropriate procedures in place to ensure compliance with laws and regulations on travel, conferences, and awards. Increases funds above the request by $7,500,000 for the Recovery and Accountability Oversight Board to continue oversight of stimulus and Hurricane Sandy spending, and develop tools that can be used government-wide to detect and prevent waste and fraud. Fully funds the request for the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Operating Plan and Reprogramming Procedures The Committee will continue to evaluate reprogrammings proposed by agencies. Although reprogrammings may not change either the total amount available in an account or the purposes for which the appropriation is legally available, they represent a significant departure from budget plans presented to the Committee in an agency's budget justification and supporting documents, which are the basis of this appropriations Act. The Committee expects agencies' reprogramming requests to explain thoroughly the reasons for the reprogramming and to include an assessment of whether the reprogramming will affect budget requirements for the subsequent fiscal year. Section 608 of this Act requires agencies or entities funded by the Act to notify the Committee and obtain prior approval from the Committee for any reprogramming of funds that: (1) creates a new program; (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel for any program, project, or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted by the Congress; (4) proposes to use funds directed for a specific activity by either the House or Senate Committees on Appropriations for a different purpose; (5) augments existing programs, projects, or activities in excess of $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; (6) reduces existing programs, projects, or activities by $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; or (7) creates or reorganizes offices, programs, or activities. Additionally, the Committee expects to be promptly notified of all reprogramming actions which involve less than the above- mentioned amounts if such actions would have the effect of significantly changing an agency's funding requirements in future years, or if programs or projects specifically cited in the Committee's reports are affected by the reprogramming. Reprogrammings meeting these criteria must be approved by the Committee regardless of the amount proposed to be reallocated. Section 608 also requires agencies to consult with the Committees on Appropriations prior to any significant reorganization or restructuring of offices, programs, or activities. This provision applies regardless of whether the reorganization or restructuring involves a reprogramming of funds. Agencies are encouraged to consult with the Committees early in the process so that any questions or concerns the Committees may have can be addressed in a timely manner. Agencies are directed under section 608 to submit operating plans for the Committee's review within 60 days of the bill's enactment. Each operating plan should include: (1) a table for each appropriation with a separate column to display the President's budget request, adjustments made by Congress, adjustments due to enacted rescissions, if appropriate, and the fiscal year enacted level; (2) a delineation in the table for each appropriation both by object class and program, project, and activity as detailed in the budget appendix for the respective appropriation; and (3) an identification of items of special congressional interest. TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Departmental Offices SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*..................... $308,388,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014..................... 311,775,000 Recommended in the bill.............................. 182,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013.................. -126,388,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014................. -129,775,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Departmental Offices' function in the Treasury Department is to support the Secretary of the Treasury in his capacity as the chief operating executive of the Department and in his role in determining the tax, economic, and financial management policies of the Federal government. The Secretary's responsibilities funded by the Salaries and Expenses appropriation include: recommending and implementing domestic and international economic and tax policy; providing recommendations regarding fiscal policy; governing the fiscal operations of the government; managing the public debt; managing development of financial policy; representing the U.S. on international monetary, trade and investment issues; overseeing Treasury Department overseas operations; directing the administrative operations of the Treasury Department; and providing executive oversight of the bureaus within the Treasury Department. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $182,000,000 for Departmental Offices, Salaries and Expenses, which is $129,775,000 less than the request. The recommendation fully funds the administrative expenses of implementing the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourism Opportunities, and Revived Economy of the Gulf Coast Act (RESTORE Act). Beginning fiscal year 2014, the Committee provides the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) with an appropriation separate from the ``Departmental Offices, Salaries and Expenses'' account. The scope and intensity of TFI's work has grown recently through the enactment of legislation and the adoption of executive orders, especially with regards to Iran, and merits its own appropriations to ensure the relentless and aggressive enforcement of sanctions against not only Iran, but also Hizballah, drug cartels, Syria, Al-Qa'ida, North Korea, and other threats to national security. Operating Plan.--The Committee requires an operating plan for the fiscal year 2014 resources provided to the Department, including all offices and bureaus, no later than 30 days after enactment of this Act. The plan must include information on program changes and major procurements at the Department. Economic Warfare and Financial Terrorism.--The Committee is disappointed by the Department's failure to provide a report on economic warfare and financial terrorism to Congress as required by the 2012 conference report. Treating Congressional requests with indifference and disregard is contrary to the cooperation and partnership that the Administration is seeking with Congress. The Committee again directs the Secretary to submit this report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate, the House Committee on Financial Services, and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, not more than 90 days after enactment of this Act. The Secretary shall consider what vulnerabilities currently exist and potentially may arise in the future. In preparing the report, the Secretary shall consult with appropriate agencies, departments, bureaus and commissions that have expertise in terrorism and complex financial instruments. The report may be submitted in classified and unclassified forms. Automated Clearing House Fraud and Theft.--The Committee encourages Treasury to work with bank regulators to examine instances of electronic fraud and theft from hacking into the online banking accounts of commercial account holders in order to develop a set of best practices for regulated entities to notify commercial customers when their accounts have been compromised. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.--The Committee is concerned about the ramifications of the Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd. potential acquisition of Smithfield Foods. The Committee believes that technology transfer, food safety, and food security issues are concerns that should be considered in any Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review of the acquisition. The Committee expects the Secretary of the Treasury, in conjunction with other relevant Federal agency heads, to consider the impact the acquisition will have on the short- and long-term ability of the United States to protect intellectual property rights, as well as the safety and security of the U.S. food supply system during the CFIUS review of the Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd. proposed acquisition of Smithfield Foods and to provide a detailed briefing to Congress about its findings. Improper Payments.--The Committee is dismayed that over the past decade the IRS has made more $100 billion in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) improper payments, which is over 20 percent of the program, or approximately $10 billion in payments, annually. EITC is an important program that helps many working families. However, taxpayers should not have to tolerate more than one-fifth of the payments being made in error. The Committee is disappointed that current and former Administrations have not done more to address the unacceptable improper payment rate for this program. The Committee understands that the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that the IRS does not even have improper payment targets as required by the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010. The Committee directs the Department, including the Office of Tax Policy and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, to work with IRS to develop improper payment elimination targets and improve the execution of the program. The Committee directs the Department to submit quarterly reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate that set EITC improper payment targets and describe the Administration's efforts to reduce these improper payments and achieve savings. Detailees.--The Committee has observed the Department's use of both reimbursable and non-reimbursable detailees. A detail is a temporary assignment of an employee to another position, within or outside the Department, for a specified time period. At the end of the assignment, the employee is expected to return to his or her official position. During the detail, the employee's salary and benefits are paid by either their official employer (non-reimbursable) or by their temporary employer (reimbursable). The Committee reminds the Department that agencies may not use non-reimbursable detailees to augment its appropriations and that appropriated funds may only be used for the purpose for which they were appropriated. The Committee further reminds the Department that it is inappropriate to use reimbursable detailees to avoid Congressional controls and limitations, such as section 608, especially with regards to creating, reorganizing, or moving offices or programs. OFFICE OF TERRORISM AND FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE SALARIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... - - - Recommended in the bill............................... $105,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +105,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +105,000,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. Economic and trade sanctions issued and enforced by the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence's (TFI) Office of Foreign Assets Control protect the financial system from being polluted with criminal and illicit activities and counteract national security threats from drug lords, terrorists, weapons of mass destruction proliferators, and rogue nations, among others. In addition to the enforcement of sanctions, TFI also produces vital analysis with regards to foreign intelligence and counterintelligence across all elements of the national security community. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $105,000,000 to carry out TFI's role in detecting and defeating security threats and separates its appropriation from the ``Departmental Offices'' account, where it was previously funded. The recommended level is $7,262,000 above the amount provided for these activities within ``Departmental Offices, Salaries and Expenses'' in the fiscal year 2014 request. Iran Sanctions Act.--The Committee directs the Department of the Treasury to post online and disseminate publicly those companies that are not compliant with the Iran Sanctions Act as well as any foreign entities doing business with the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps. No issue is of greater concern or urgency than preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $29,641,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 31,351,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 31,351,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +1,710,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides agency-wide audit and investigative functions to identify and correct operational and administrative deficiencies that create conditions for fraud, waste, and mismanagement. The audit function provides contract, program, and financial statement audit services. Contract audits provide professional advice to agency contracting officials on accounting and financial matters relative to negotiation, award, administration, repricing, and settlement of contracts. Program audits review and evaluate all facets of agency operations. Financial statement audits assess whether financial statements fairly present the agency's financial condition and results of operations, the adequacy of accounting controls, and compliance with laws and regulations. The investigative function provides for the detection and investigation of improper and illegal activities involving programs, personnel, and operations. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $31,351,000 for the OIG, which is the same as the request. The recommendation fully funds the cost of overseeing the Department's Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourism Opportunities, and Revived Economy of the Gulf Coast Act (RESTORE Act) activities. Separation of Funds and Activities.--The Committee directs the OIG to report not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on the separation of funds and activities between mandatory-funded offices, such as the Office of Financial Research and the Office of Financial Stability, and discretionary-funded offices that carry out related or overlapping work, such as the Office of Domestic Finance or Office of Economic Policy. TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $151,696,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 149,538,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 155,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +3,304,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +5,462,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) conducts audits, investigations, and evaluations to assess the operations and programs of the IRS and its related entities, the IRS Oversight Board, and the Office of Chief Counsel. The purpose of those audits and investigations is as follows: (1) to promote the economic, efficient, and effective administration of the Nation's tax laws and to detect and deter fraud and abuse in IRS programs and operations; and (2) to recommend actions to resolve fraud and other serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies in these programs and operations. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $155,000,000 for TIGTA, which is $5,462,000 more than the request. The Committee appreciates the many issues that TIGTA has brought to its attention and provides funding above the request to enhance TIGTA's oversight of IRS activities and use of appropriated funds. Identity Theft.--The Committee supports TIGTA's on-going work related to identity theft and commitment to monitor the issue until IRS significantly reduces the incidence of tax fraud through identity theft and significantly improves the quality of assistance it provides to victims of identity theft. Return-On-Investment.--The Committee directs TIGTA to report not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on the extent to which revenue estimated to be collected from enforcement initiatives is actually collected. Every year the IRS proposes enforcement initiatives and estimates the revenue to be collected from those specific initiatives. IRS divides the total estimated revenue by the total cost of initiatives to calculate a ratio, or return-on-investment (ROI), to justify the cost of the initiatives. The IRS has a mature methodology for estimating the revenue, but what is less well understood is whether the specific initiatives proposed in a specific budget perform as estimated. Threats.--TIGTA is responsible for, among other things, not only investigating IRS employee misconduct, but also protecting IRS employees against threats. However impatient or exasperated taxpayers become with the IRS, threatening IRS employees with violence is both uncalled for and illegal. The Committee supports TIGTA's investigation into threats and, if warranted, criminal prosecution of the perpetrators. SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE TROUBLED ASSET RELIEF PROGRAM SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $41,800,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 34,923,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 34,923,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -6,877,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) was established in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110- 343). Its mission is to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the purchase, management, and sale of assets by the Secretary of the Treasury under programs established pursuant to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $34,923,000 for operating expenses of the SIGTARP, which is $6,877,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and the same as the request. SIGTARP's operating expenses were initially funded with mandatory appropriations in the TARP. These funds, however, were provided in a limited amount. As such, every year the amount of remaining mandatory funds has been decreasing over time. In order to continue vigorous oversight of the outstanding TARP amounts, additional discretionary appropriations are provided. As TARP winds down, the Committee expects the request for discretionary appropriations in this account to also wind down in future years. Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).--The Committee is greatly concerned with SIGTARP's recent report regarding the redefault rates within Treasury's HAMP program, specifically, that homeowners participating in HAMP are more likely to redefault the longer they are in the program. This is an abysmal statistic for a program that was created to help struggling homeowners. The Committee appreciates the oversight SIGTARP has provided on this issue and strongly encourages SIGTARP to continue to aggressively monitor this program. Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF).--The Committee was displeased to learn from a recent SIGTARP report that many banks who received TARP loans and participated in the SBLF have not effectively increased small-business lending and instead used SBLF funds as a vehicle to exit the TARP program with little benefit for small businesses. In addition, many former TARP banks participating in SBLF provided dividends to shareholders while failing to increase their small business lending. The Committee encourages SIGTARP to continue its vigorous oversight of this program and urges Treasury to adopt SIGTARP's recommendations. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $110,788,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 103,909,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 110,788,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +6,879,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is responsible for implementing Treasury's anti-money laundering regulations through administration of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). It also collects and analyzes information to assist in the investigation of money laundering and other financial crimes. FinCEN supports law enforcement investigative efforts by Federal, State, local and international agencies, and fosters interagency and global cooperation against domestic and international financial crimes. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $110,788,000 for the FinCEN, which is $6,879,000 more than the request. The recommended amount is intended to capitalize on FinCEN's multi- year effort to modernize its information technology systems, to ensure FinCEN's information is accessible to the law enforcement and intelligence communities, and to ensure FinCEN can respond to increased requests for assistance from law enforcement now that BSA Modernization is operational. The data compiled and analyzed by FinCEN is a critical tool for investigating, among other crimes, money laundering, mortgage fraud, drug cartels, and terrorist financing. Human Trafficking.--The Committee appreciates FinCEN's history of supporting law enforcement cases that combat human trafficking, and emphasizes the importance of continuing this effort as part of the bureau's broader mission to detect and disrupt all forms of financial crime. Wherever possible, FinCEN shall marshal its unique expertise in analyzing financial flows for this important effort in the course of ongoing strategic operations, such as the Southwest Border Initiative. Reorganization.--Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, the Committee directs FinCEN to submit a progress report on the status of its reorganization as of the end of fiscal year 2013, a description of the remaining milestones for fiscal year 2014, and an assessment of how well the reorganization is addressing the weaknesses identified in the previous organization. Treasury Forfeiture Fund (RESCISSION) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... -$950,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... -950,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... -1,219,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -269,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -269,000,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,219,000,000 of unobligated balances in the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, which is $269,000,000 less than the request. The funds collected, disbursed and rescinded out of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund (the Fund) are incidental to law enforcement activities and priorities that led to the seizures and forfeitures. Disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations that pose the greatest threat to public safety and security is the highest priority of any law enforcement agency. The Fund can ensure resources are managed efficiently to cover the costs of an effective asset seizure and forfeiture program, including the costs of seizing, evaluating, inventorying, maintaining, protecting, advertising, forfeiting and disposing of property, but it must not be used to augment agency funding or to circumvent the appropriations process. Reliance on the Fund to offset the day-to-day operations, or to pay for new activities, creates an incentive to pursue cases suspected of high valued forfeitures rather than to target individuals or organizations that perpetrate the worst crimes against society. The Committee directs the Department to submit a detailed table every month reporting the interest earned, forfeiture revenue collected, unobligated balances, recoveries, expenses to date, and expenses estimated for the remainder of the fiscal year. Bureau of the Fiscal Service SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $383,440,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 360,165,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 359,465,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -23,975,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -700,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. FY13 Enacted level represents a combined appropriation level for the Financial Management Service and the Bureau of the Public Debt. The mission of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service is to promote the financial integrity and operational efficiency of the U.S. Government through accounting, borrowing, collections, payments, and shared services. The Fiscal Service is the Federal government's central financial agent. The Fiscal Service also develops and implements reliable and efficient financial methods and systems to operate the government's cash management, credit management, and debt collection programs in order to maintain government accounts and report on the status of the government's finances. In addition, the Fiscal Service is the primary agency for collecting Federal non-tax debt owed to the government, and is responsible for the conduct of all public debt operations and the promotion of the sale of U.S. securities. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $359,465,000 for the Fiscal Service, which is $23,975,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and $700,000 below the request. Of the funds provided, $4,210,000 is available until September 30, 2016, for information systems modernization. The Committee appreciates the savings which the Fiscal Service has already achieved through the sharing of certain services between the Financial Management Service (FMS) and the Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD). For fiscal year 2014, the budget request proposes to consolidate the FMS and BPD into one appropriation called the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The Committee approves this consolidation with the merger of the FMS and BPD appropriations. The Committee appreciates the future savings projected to be achieved through this consolidation, and will continue to monitor consolidation activities. Within this appropriation, funding is included for USAspending.gov. The Committee expects the Fiscal Service to meet its transparency goals within USAspending.gov and will monitor progress in achieving government spending transparency. Judgment Fund.--The Committee appreciates Treasury's release of the fiscal year 2011 annual report regarding payments made under 31 U.S.C. 1304 as required by the statement of managers accompanying P.L. 112-74. The Committee directs the Department to issue two additional reports covering payments made during fiscal year 2012 and 2013 and directs that the reports include all judgment fund payments since 2008, unless the disclosure of such information is otherwise prohibited by law or court order. The report shall consist of: (1) the name of the plaintiff or claimant, (2) the name of the counsel for the plaintiff or claimant; (3) the name of the agency that submitted the claim; (4) a brief description of the facts that gave rise to the claim; and (5) the amount paid representing principal, attorney fees, and interest, if applicable. The report regarding all judgment fund payments since 2008 is due within 60 days of enactment of this Act. Do Not Pay Business Center.--The Committee supports the Do Not Pay Business Center and its goal of preventing ineligible recipients from receiving payments or awards from the Federal Government. This program supports the implementation of the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-248) which requires executive agencies to review all payments and awards before issuance. The Do Not Pay Business Center is fully funded within the Fiscal Service appropriation for fiscal year 2014. Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $99,878,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 96,211,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 95,704,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -4,174,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -507,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is responsible for the enforcement of laws designed to eliminate certain illicit activities and to regulate lawful activities relating to distilled spirits, beer, wine and nonbeverage alcohol products, and tobacco. TTB focuses on collecting revenue; reducing taxpayer burden and improving service while preventing diversion; and protecting the public and preventing consumer deception in certain regulated commodities. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $95,704,000 for TTB, which is $4,174,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and $507,000 less than the request. United States Mint UNITED STATES MINT PUBLIC ENTERPRISE FUND The United States Mint manufactures coins, receives deposits of gold and silver bullion, and safeguards the Federal Government's holdings of monetary metals. In 1997, Congress established the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund (Public Law 104-52), which authorized the Mint to use proceeds from the sale of coins to finance the costs of its operations and consolidated all existing Mint accounts into a single fund. Public Law 104-52 also provided that, in certain situations, the levels of capital investments for circulating coins and protective services shall factor into the decisions of the Congress. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a spending level for capital investments by the Mint for circulating coinage and protective services of $19,000,000, which is $1,000,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and the same as the request. Community Development Financial Institutions Fund PROGRAM ACCOUNT Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $221,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 224,936,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 221,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -3,936,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund provides grants, loans, equity investments, and technical assistance, on a competitive basis, to new and existing CDFIs such as community development banks, community development credit unions, and housing and microenterprise loan funds. Recipients use the funds to support mortgages, small business and economic development lending in underserved and distressed neighborhoods and to support the availability of financial services in these neighborhoods. The CDFI Fund is also responsible for implementation of the New Markets Tax Credits. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $221,000,000 for the CDFI Fund program, which is $3,936,000 less than the request. Of the amounts provided, $189,000,000 is for financial and technical assistance grants, $12,000,000 is for Native Initiatives, and $20,000,000 is for the administrative expenses for all programs. Territories and Rural Communities.--The Committee notes the lack of CDFIs serving the territories and rural communities. The goals of the CDFI programs apply equally to distressed communities located both near and far from financial centers. The CDFI Fund, however, establishes goals based on the composition of financial institutions that apply for grants and loans in a given year, rather than the needs of the communities in distress. Consequently, some communities in distress are not supported by the CDFI Fund because no certified financial institution serves that community. The Committee expects the Department to extend the reach of CDFI programs to distressed communities. New Market Tax Credits.--The Committee supports qualified minority participation in the New Market Tax Credit program to increase entrepreneurship. Internal Revenue Service Selecting groups for additional review because of their political beliefs and delaying action of their tax-exempt application goes far beyond poor customer service. It crosses into harassment and intimidation. Instead of using its powers to uphold the law, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) repeatedly betrayed the trust of the American public: when it used inappropriate criteria to select tax-exempt applications for additional review; when it failed to correct testimony and correspondence to Congress on this topic as soon as it became evident that the record was incorrect; and when it squandered the very tax dollars that it collects from taxpayers on videos, event planners, and speakers. The Committee rejects the supposition that the IRS reverted to using shortcuts to deal with a growing workload of tax- exempt applications and a shrinking budget. To the contrary, these shortcuts began around March 2010 when then the number of tax-exempt applications was falling. The number of 501(c)(3), (4), (5), and (6) applications dropped from a record-high of 85,339 in 2008 to 63,148 in 2010, which is a decrease of 22,191 or 26 percent. Applications grew by less than 100 in the year after the shortcuts were initiated and then increased by over 10,000 in the year the shortcuts were stopped. The IRS' fiscal year 2010 appropriation was a record-high at $12,146,123,000 and the second consecutive year that the IRS' appropriation exceeded its request. And with this record-high amount of funding, the IRS indulged in a $4 million conference in California, complete with Star Trek and dance videos, presidential suites, and a cocktail reception, instead of providing faster and more accurate customer service. To ensure that the IRS changes its ways, the Committee reduces the IRS' appropriation by 24 percent compared to the fiscal year 2013 continuing resolution level, which is $3.9 billion, or 30 percent, below the budget request. In addition, the bill includes the following terms and conditions: Withholds $386,000,000 of the IRS' already reduced enforcement appropriation until all of the recommendations contained in the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration's (TIGTA) report on inappropriate criteria being used to identify tax-exempt applications for review are fully implemented. Prohibits funds for conferences until all of TIGTA's recommendations regarding conferences are implemented. Prohibits funds for employee bonuses and awards until the IRS, with the assistance of the Office of Personnel Management, has determined the IRS' employee recognition programs actually improve employee performance and productivity. Requires extensive reporting on IRS spending. Prohibits funds for the production of videos that have not been reviewed for cost, topic, tone, and purpose and certified to be appropriate. Provides TIGTA with $5,462,000 above the budget request to enhance its audit and investigative oversight of the IRS. The Committee is disappointed and frustrated that information provided by the IRS is not always accurate and reliable. The Committee believes that the legislative process and the American public is best served by open and honest communications between agencies and the Committee. When new information on topics of interest to the Committee becomes available or materially changes what the IRS has already reported to the Committee, the IRS has a duty to take the initiative and provide the Committee with the most current information. The Committee believes the IRS Office of Legislative Affairs has a responsibility to improve the timeliness and accuracy of the information provided. TAXPAYER SERVICES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $2,239,703,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 2,412,576,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 1,900,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -339,703,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -512,576,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Taxpayer Services appropriation provides for taxpayer services, including forms and publications; processing tax returns and related documents; filing and account services; taxpayer advocacy services; and assisting taxpayers to understand their tax obligations, correctly file their returns, and pay taxes due in a timely manner. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,900,000,000 for Taxpayer Services, which is $512,576,000 less than the request. Within the amount provided, the Committee expects the IRS to fund sufficiently the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Identity Theft.--Identity theft remains a persistent obstacle to accurate, fair, and efficient tax collection. Innocent taxpayers, who otherwise comply with their tax obligations, have their refunds delayed and are drawn unwittingly into the IRS examination process because their identity was stolen and misused. This problem is especially pernicious in the U.S. territories and possessions, where organized schemes fraudulently use the taxpayer identification numbers of territorial residents to obtain credits or refunds on tax returns filed with the United States, costing American taxpayers millions of dollars. The Committee directs the IRS to submit a report, reviewed by the National Taxpayer Advocate and the Federal Trade Commission, by January 31, 2014, that covers the 2009-2013 period on the number of taxpayers who have had their tax return rejected because their Social Security or taxpayer identification number was improperly used by another individual to commit tax fraud; the average time to resolve the situation and provide innocent taxpayers with their refund, when a refund is due; and the number of cases involving taxpayer identification numbers of residents of the territories. The report shall also include a discussion on the effectiveness of IRS actions taken or plans to take to expedite resolution for these taxpayers, to prevent non-victims from becoming victims, to educate the public on the threat of identity theft, and to detect and prevent identity based tax fraud and actions. Pre-Filled or ``Simple'' Tax Returns.--The Committee believes that converting a voluntary compliance system to a bill presentment model would represent a significant change in the relationship between taxpayers and their government. The simple return model would also strain IRS resources and the data retrieval systems required would create new burdens on employers, particularly small businesses. In addition, a fundamental conflict of interest seems to be inherent in the nation's tax collector and compliance enforcer taking on the simultaneous role of tax preparer and financial advisor. The Committee expects that the IRS will not begin work on a simple tax return pilot program or associated systems without first seeking specific authorization and appropriations from Congress, and should instead focus on helping Congress and the Administration achieve real tax simplification and reform. ENFORCEMENT Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $5,299,367,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 5,666,787,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 3,865,990,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,433,377,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,800,797,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Enforcement appropriation provides for the examination of tax returns, both domestic and international; the administrative and judicial settlement of taxpayer appeals of examination findings; technical rulings; monitoring employee pension plans; determining qualifications of organizations seeking tax-exempt status; examining tax returns of exempt organizations; enforcing statutes relating to detection and investigation of criminal violations of the internal revenue laws; identifying underreporting of tax obligations; securing unfiled tax returns; and collecting unpaid accounts. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,865,990,000 for Enforcement, which is $1,800,797,000 less than the request. Of the funds provided, the Committee recommends not less than $60,257,000 to support IRS activities under the Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement program. None of the funds requested for implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are provided. Tax Enforcement Blueprint.--The Committee appreciates that IRS has committed to conduct an agency-wide review of its compliance processes and selection criteria across of all business units. The Committee believes that in order to win back the trust of the American people the IRS make the results of this review and future reviews available to the American public. While the IRS must not make any personal taxpayer information or sensitive investigative techniques public, the IRS must vividly and repeatedly demonstrate to the public that it has safeguards in place to prevent inappropriate IRS conduct and protect taxpayers. To that end, the IRS is directed to submit within 180 days of enactment of this Act a Tax Enforcement Blueprint similar to the Taxpayer Assistance Blueprint. The Tax Enforcement Blueprint shall outline, in a manner that is appropriate to make available publically, the processes and procedures for all IRS enforcement activities to ensure that safeguards are in place to prevent IRS employees in Washington and in the field from taking inappropriate enforcement actions. This Blueprint shall describe how field staff conduct their work, and how field supervisors and IRS headquarters oversee them. The IRS shall include comments from the Taxpayer Advocate and the IRS Oversight Board without change. The report shall be submitted to the Committee and made available on the IRS' public website. Healthcare.--Since 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services has transferred nearly $500,000,000 to the IRS for implementation of Affordable Care Act provisions. The Committee prohibits further such transfers during fiscal year 2014 in section 106 of this Act. Reporting Interest Paid to Nonresident Aliens.--The Committee strongly believes that further action and clarification are needed regarding the Reporting Interest Paid to Nonresident Aliens (NRA) regulations that apply to payments of interest made after December 31, 2012. The final regulations included a list of countries with which the U.S. has a tax treaty or information exchange agreement. All countries on this list qualify for automatic information reports unless the U.S. determines that a country should not receive the information due to concerns regarding misuse of the information or the existence of other factors that would make it inappropriate. While confidentiality and safeguard requirements provide a measure of comfort, the Committee is concerned that some countries on the list have a well-known history of human rights violations. However unlikely the U.S. is to automatically exchange information with these countries, U.S. financial institutions are still required to file information returns for NRA customers that are residents of such a country. The Committee believes that the IRS should consider publishing on its public website a list of countries with which it is actively and automatically exchanging information about interest paid to NRAs. In addition, the Committee believes that the IRS should consider limiting the reporting requirement to only countries it is actively and automatically exchanging information about interest paid to NRAs. Finally, the Committee thinks that the IRS should consider establishing a program for monitoring the countries that it is actively and automatically exchanging information about interest paid to NRAs for compliance with confidentiality and safeguard requirements. OPERATIONS SUPPORT Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $3,947,416,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 4,480,843,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 2,900,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,047,416,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,580,843,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Operations Support appropriation provides for overall planning and direction of the IRS, including shared service support related to facilities services, rent payments, printing, postage, and security. Specific activities include headquarters management activities such as strategic planning, communications and liaison, finance, human resources, Equal Employment Opportunity and diversity, research, information technology, and telecommunications. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,900,000,000 for Operations Support, which is $1,580,843,000 less than the request. None of the funds requested for implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are provided. The Committee has made significant investments over many years in updating the information systems at the IRS. In light of this, the Committee is interested in actions the IRS has taken to modernize its collection system with respect to Schedule D filings. BUSINESS SYSTEMS MODERNIZATION Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $330,210,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 300,827,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 300,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -30,210,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -827,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Business Systems Modernization (BSM) appropriation provides funding to modernize key business systems of the Internal Revenue Service. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $300,000,000 for BSM, which is $827,000 less than the request. The funds provided under this heading for both 2012 and 2013 were watershed amounts. In previous years, funding for BSM was closer to $250 million. While the Committee understands that IRS is building capabilities into CADE2 such as linking historical returns with current returns and building a single interest and penalty calculator, the major costs of development and implementation are completed. The Committee expects funding requests to begin to decline as the IRS realizes savings from retiring legacy systems. Administrative Provisions--Internal Revenue Service (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Section 101. The Committee continues a provision that allows for the transfer of five percent (three percent in the case of Enforcement) of any appropriation made available to the IRS to any other IRS appropriation, upon the advance approval of the Committees on Appropriations. Section 102. The Committee continues a provision that requires the IRS to maintain a training program to include taxpayer rights, dealing courteously with taxpayers, cross- cultural relations, and the impartial application of tax law. The Committee includes a new reporting requirement about IRS training in fiscal years 2013 and 2014. Section 103. The Committee continues a provision that requires the IRS to institute and enforce policies and procedures that will safeguard the confidentiality of taxpayer information and protect taxpayers against identity theft. Section 104. The Committee continues a provision that makes funds available for improved facilities and increased staffing to provide efficient and effective 1-800 number help line service for taxpayers. Section 105. The Committee includes a new provision that moves the IRS's authority to hire experts and consultants into a single IRS-wide provision. Section 106. The Committee includes a new provision that prohibit funds made available in the healthcare reform act from being transferred to the IRS for implementing the healthcare reform act. Section 107. The Committee includes a new provision that prohibits funds from being used to implement the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act. Section 108. The Committee includes a new provision requiring videos produced by the IRS to be approved in advance by the Service-Wide Video Editorial Board. Section 109. The Committee includes a new provision that prohibits funding for employee bonus and award programs until IRS submits a report on employee salaries and awards and an evaluation of its employee awards program. Section 110. The Committee includes a new provision that prohibits funding for conferences until IRS implements recommendations from a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration audit. Section 111. The Committee includes a new provision requiring IRS to submit an organization, mission, and functions manual with its budget request. Section 112. The Committee includes a new provision requiring IRS spending reports. Administrative Provisions--Department of the Treasury (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS) Section 113. The Committee continues a provision that authorizes the Department to purchase uniforms, insurance for motor vehicles that are overseas, and motor vehicles that are overseas without regard to the general purchase price limitations; to enter into contracts with the State Department for health and medical services for Treasury employees that are overseas; and to hire experts or consultants. Section 114. The Committee continues a provision that authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between ``Departmental Offices--Salaries and Expenses'', ``Office of Inspector General'', ``Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program'', ``Financial Crimes Enforcement Network'', ``Bureau of the Fiscal Service'', ``Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau'', and ``Community Development Financial Institutions Fund'' appropriations under certain circumstances. Section 115. The Committee continues a provision that authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration under certain circumstances. Section 116. The Committee continues a provision that prohibits the Department of the Treasury from undertaking a redesign of the one dollar Federal Reserve note. Section 117. The Committee includes a provision that provides for transfers from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service to the Debt Collection Fund as necessary for the purposes of debt collection. Section 118. The Committee continues a provision that requires congressional approval for the construction and operation of a museum by the United States Mint. Section 119. The Committee continues a provision prohibiting funds in this or any other Act from being used to merge the Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing without the approval of the House and Senate Committees of jurisdiction. Section 120. The Committee continues a provision deeming that funds for the Department of the Treasury's intelligence- related activities are specifically authorized in fiscal year 2014 until enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2014. Section 121. The Committee continues a provision permitting the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to use $5,000 from the Industrial Revolving Fund for reception and representation expenses. Section 122. The Committee continues a provision that requires the Department to submit a capital investment plan. Section 123. The administrative expenses of the Office of Financial Research (OFR) and Office of Financial Stability Oversight (OFS) are funded through mandatory sources that are outside of the appropriation process. As a counterweight against unlimited spending, the Committee includes a new provision that requires a quarterly report from both the OFR and OFS. Section 124. The Committee includes a new provision with respect to the so-called people-to-people category of travel. As set forth in title 31, section 515.565(b)(2) of the Code of Federal Regulations, this category of travel contravenes the explicit prohibition against tourist activities as provided in section 910(b) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA). Furthermore, the stated purpose of people-to-people travel, which is to promote the Cuban people's independence from Cuban authorities, cannot be accomplished through itineraries that mainly feature interactions with representatives of a dictatorship that actively oppresses the Cuban people, nor can it be accomplished through itineraries that do not require meetings with pro- democracy activists or independent members of Cuban civil society. Section 125. The Committee includes a new provision that requires a report on a certain category of travel to Cuba. Section 126. The Committee includes a new provision that limits the fees available for obligation by the Office of Financial Research (OFR) to the amount provided in appropriations acts beginning in fiscal year 2015. The Committee believes that the activities of OFR should be subject to the annual review of Congress. Section 127. The Committee includes a new provision that requires a report about the Working Capital Fund. Section 128. The Committee includes a new provision that limits the obligations of the Working Capital Fund to $180,000,000. TITLE II--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT Funds appropriated in this title provide for the staff and operations of the White House, along with other organizations within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) which formulate and coordinate policy on behalf of the President, such as the National Security Council and the Office of Management and Budget. The title also includes funding for the Office of National Drug Control Policy and certain expenses of the Vice President. The Committee is disappointed that the Administration's request did not propose additional reductions for the EOP Salaries and Expenses accounts. The Committee believes that the chief executive of any organization experiencing a fiscal crisis should share in the funding sacrifice along with the rest of the organization. Therefore, the Committee has reduced the following appropriations under this heading to equal a 15 percent reduction compared to the fiscal year 2010 level--The White House, The Executive Residence at the White House, Council of Economic Advisors, National Security and Homeland Security Councils, Office of Administration, Office of Management and Budget, Special Assistant to the President and Official Residence of the Vice President. The Committee notes that House Member office authorizations have been reduced by a total of 20 percent since fiscal year 2010. The White House SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $56,974,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 55,110,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 50,272,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -6,702,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -4,838,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The White House Salaries and Expenses account supports staff and administrative services necessary for the direct support of the President. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $50,272,000 for the White House, which is $4,838,000 less than the request. The recommendation includes sufficient funds to support the Office of National AIDS Policy. Executive Residence at the White House OPERATING EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $13,425,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 12,768,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 11,762,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,663,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,006,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. These funds provide for the care, maintenance, staffing and operations of the Executive Residence, including official and ceremonial functions of the President. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $11,762,000 for the Operating Expenses of the Executive Residence, which is $1,006,000 less than the request. The bill continues the same restrictions on reimbursable expenses for use of the Executive Residence as were included in past years. White House Repair and Restoration Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $750,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 750,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 750,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. Funding in this account provides for the repair, alteration, and improvement of the Executive Residence at the White House. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $750,000 for White House Repair and Restoration, which is equal to the request. Council of Economic Advisers SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $4,192,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 4,192,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 3,570,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -622,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -622,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Council of Economic Advisers analyzes the national economy and its various segments, advises the President on economic developments, recommends policies for economic growth and stability, appraises economic programs and policies of the Federal Government, and assists in preparation of the annual Economic Report of the President. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,570,000 for the Council of Economic Advisers, which is $622,000 less than the request. National Security Council and Homeland Security Council SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $13,048,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 12,621,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 10,396,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -2,652,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -2,225,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council have been combined to form the National Security Staff which advises and assists the President in the integration of domestic, foreign, military, intelligence, and economic aspects of national security policy, and serves as the principal means of coordinating executive departments and agencies in the development and implementation of national security and homeland security policies. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $10,396,000 for the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council, which is $2,225,000 less than the request. Office of Administration SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $112,952,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 113,135,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 97,988,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -14,964,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -15,147,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Administration is responsible for providing administrative services to the Executive Office of the President. These services include financial, personnel, procurement, information technology, records management, and general office services. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $97,988,000 for the Office of Administration, which is $15,147,000 less than the request. Of the recommended amount, not to exceed $12,006,000 is available until expended for modernization of the information technology infrastructure within the Executive Office of the President. The Office of Administration is directed to provide an annual report to the Committee, at the same time the President's budget is submitted to Congress, detailing its progress on information technology modernization, including the amounts obligated and expended, and for what purposes, specific milestones achieved, and requirements and specific plans for further investment. Office of Management and Budget SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $89,456,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 93,397,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 78,934,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -10,522,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -14,463,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) assists the President in the discharge of budgetary, economic, management, and other executive responsibilities. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $78,934,000 for OMB, which is $14,463,000 less than the request. The recommendation also continues several long-standing provisos, not requested by the President, limiting certain OMB activities. The recommendation provides sufficient funds for OMB to consult with and provide Congressional Committees with an appropriate number of printed and electronic copies of the President's fiscal year 2015 budget request, including documents such as the Appendix, Historical Tables and Analytical Perspectives. The Committee believes that if the Administration wants the Congress to consider its proposed budget that it should provide the Congress with copies of the budget request. The Committee includes language limiting the level of funding available to OMB until the budget request is submitted. While OMB has many responsibilities, the Committee believes their most important one is preparing and submitting the budget request. The Committee was extremely disappointed that the Administration chose to submit the fiscal year 2014 budget request months after the statutory deadline. The Committee believes in non-transition years, the Administration should be held to the statutory deadline for submission of the budget request. The Committee directs OMB to provide the Appropriations Committees with quarterly reports on obligations by object class and full-time equivalents (FTE) by office. The reports shall display actual obligations and FTE to date, and estimated obligations and FTE for the remainder of the fiscal year. In addition, the quarterly reports shall contain obligation information regarding the operations of the Federal Government's core budgeting system. The Committee believes that OMB should work toward presenting its budget request and financial plans in a manner that allocates all OMB obligations by office or activity. Within the level of funds provided, the Committee continues to support the Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) and its important mission. The Committee remains concerned that the lack of permanent staffing for the Office of the IPEC will make the office less effective in fulfilling its important statutory mission. From within the funds provided, the Committee expects OMB to ensure the long term effectiveness of the Office of the IPEC through hiring of permanent senior staff. OMB is directed to report to the Committee within 120 days of enactment of this Act on the current budget for the Office of the IPEC, including the number of permanent full-time equivalents. The Committee is concerned that Federal agencies purchasing online advertisements may unwittingly have advertisements appear on websites operated by those engaged in criminal activity, including sites proliferating malware, or engaged in identity theft, theft of intellectual property or counterfeiting. The Committee believes the OMB should review this issue and provide guidance to Executive Branch agencies if necessary. OMB is directed to report to the Committee, within 180 days of enactment of this Act, on its progress in addressing this issue. On May 11, 2012, OMB issued Memorandum M 12 12 that called for agencies to reduce travel expenses by 30 percent compared to the fiscal year 2010 level and limit conference spending. The Committee directs OMB to report no later than 120 days after enactment of this Act on whether agencies have complied with this memorandum. The report shall identify the savings achieved by each agency, whether the 30 percent savings goal was achieved, and how or if the changes in travel and conference policies have impacted agencies' ability to perform mission critical activities. The report shall also include recommendations to improve upon OMB's travel policies. The Committee believes that in some instances using transaction-based or no-cost contracting models for delivering or procuring information technology goods and services can save resources and increase efficiencies. The Committee believes that OMB should provide guidance to agencies on transaction- based and no-cost funding models, including when it is appropriate to consider using these contract tools, how to calculate potential savings from their use, and standards and best practices for conducting their procurement. The Committee directs OMB to report within 90 days after enactment of this Act on the use of transaction-based or no-cost funding models for procuring information technology goods and services. The report shall include information on (a) transaction-based or no-cost funding model use by agencies; (b) quantifiable costs savings and cost avoidance through their use; (c) plans to continue or expand their future use; and (d) the status of the issuance of guidance to agencies regarding their use. The Committee believes it is essential for Federal departments and agencies to find and implement efficiencies in their operations in order to be successful in setting and meeting performance goals and reducing wasteful spending. The Committee believes that use of successful business management techniques including but not limited to continuous process improvement methods can improve the utilization of resources. The Committee encourages OMB and Federal agencies to use them. Office of National Drug Control Policy SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $24,500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 22,647,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 22,500,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -2,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -147,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) was established by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and most recently reauthorized in 2006. The Office is the President's primary source of support for counter-drug policy development and program oversight. Its responsibilities include developing and updating a National Drug Control Strategy, developing a National Drug Control Budget, and coordinating and evaluating the implementation of Federal drug control activities. In addition, ONDCP manages several counter-drug programs which are discussed under the ``Federal Drug Control Programs'' heading below. These include the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and Drug-Free Communities grants. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $22,500,000 for ONDCP Salaries and Expenses, $147,000 less than the request. The Committee expects ONDCP to focus resources on the counter-drug policy development, coordination and evaluation functions which are the primary mission of the Office and the original reason for its existence. The National Drug Control Strategy (Strategy) serves as a comprehensive plan to reduce illicit drug use and its consequences in the United States and the territories. The Committee notes that the Strategy does not adequately address the problem of drug trafficking and associated violence in the territories. The Committee expects ONDCP to give appropriate consideration to the territories in preparing future reports. The Committee directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop a biennial Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy, on terms equivalent to the existing Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy and the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy. This strategy shall be publicly available within 90 days of the date of enactment of this Act. The Committee continues to be concerned with methamphetamine production, trafficking and its widespread abuse. The Committee directs ONDCP to continue to work with various agencies, such as the Departments of Justice, State, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services, along with State and local governments, to develop and implement strategies to reduce the demand for and supply of methamphetamine in the U.S. A primary function of ONDCP is to facilitate effective and efficient coordination among the Federal Government's drug control programs. Coordination is critical to our nation's efforts to combat illicit drug use, drug trafficking, and terrorism. The most recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on duplicative programs found a lack of coordination between ONDCP, and the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. According to the report, poor coordination has resulted in fragmentation in information-sharing, inefficiencies and overlap. The Committee directs ONDCP to adopt GAO's recommendations to develop a mechanism to monitor and evaluate coordination among its field-based information- sharing entities and identify areas where coordination can be enhanced and overlap reduced. The Committee directs ONDCP to report to the Committee within 60 days of enactment of this Act on its efforts to implement GAO's recommendations and provide a plan for enhancing coordination among ONDCP's field-based information sharing entities going forward. The Committee is concerned about the spread of illegal marijuana growth in the United States and recognizes the difficulty that small and rural law enforcement agencies face with regards to marijuana eradication activities. The Committee directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy to coordinate with small and rural law enforcement agencies and develop strategies to improve the effectiveness of marijuana eradication efforts through shared intelligence, technology, and manpower despite limited resources. Starting in fiscal year 2015, the Committee directs ONDCP to display its Salaries and Expenses appropriation to reflect its varying activities including the amount of funds and FTE for drug policy work and for administering ONDCP programs. Federal Drug Control Programs HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $238,522,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 193,400,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 238,522,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +45,122,000 *Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program provides resources to Federal and State, local, and tribal agencies in designated HIDTAs to combat the production, transportation and distribution of illegal drugs; to seize assets derived from drug trafficking; to address violence in drug-plagued communities; and to disrupt the drug marketplace. Currently, 28 HIDTAs operate in 45 States plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Each HIDTA is managed by an Executive Board comprised of equal numbers of Federal, State, local or tribal officials. Each HIDTA Executive Board is responsible for designing and implementing initiatives for the specific drug trafficking threats in its region. Intelligence and information sharing are key elements of all HIDTA programs. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $238,522,000 for the HIDTA Program, $45,122,000 more than the request. The Committee believes that the HIDTA program has demonstrated its effectiveness and can serve as an important tool in combating problems of drug trafficking and drug-related violence. The Committee includes language requiring that existing HIDTAs receive funding at least equal to the fiscal year 2013 base allocation level unless the Director submits a justification for doing otherwise to the Committees on Appropriations, based on clearly articulated priorities and published performance measures. The recommendation includes language directing ONDCP to notify the Committees on Appropriations of the initial allocation of HIDTA funds no later than 45 days after enactment, and to notify the Committees of the proposed use of discretionary funds no later than 90 days after enactment. The language directs the ONDCP Director to work in consultation with the HIDTA Directors in determining the uses of that discretionary funding. Finally, the Committee recommendation specifies that up to $2,700,000 may be used for auditing services and related activities. OTHER FEDERAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $105,550,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 95,376,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 100,520,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -5,030,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +5,144,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. This account supports a variety of other drug control activities managed or undertaken by ONDCP. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $100,520,000 for Other Federal Drug Control Programs, $5,144,000 more than the request. The recommended level for fiscal year 2014 is distributed among specific programs and activities as follows: Drug-Free Communities................................. $88,000,000 Anti-Doping activities................................ 8,500,000 World Anti-Doping Agency dues......................... 1,900,000 Discretionary grants.................................. 2,120,000 Within the total for the account, the Committee recommends $88,000,000 for the Drug-Free Communities program. This program makes grants of up to $125,000 per year to support local coalitions to develop and implement community-based plans to reduce drug abuse among youth. These coalitions are required to include participants from a wide range of interests, including local government agencies, schools, the media, service organizations, law enforcement, parents, youth, and the business community. Local matching contributions are required. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, and may be renewed for up to five years, after which time the coalition must compete again for any further funding. Within this account, the Committee recommends $8,500,000 for anti-doping activities. Anti-doping activities support athlete drug testing programs, research initiatives, educational programs, enforce compliance with the World Anti- Doping Code. In addition, the Committee recommends $1,900,000 for the United States membership dues to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA is the international agency created to promote, coordinate, and monitor efforts against doping and illicit drug use in sport on a global basis. Additionally, the Committee includes $1,120,000 for drug court training and technical assistance and $1,000,000 for assistance to States in implementing effective drug laws. All funds under this heading are to be awarded under a competitive process. Information Technology Oversight and Reform (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $5,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014**.................... 14,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 5,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -9,000,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. **The budget request changes the heading of this account to Data Driven Innovation. These funds support efforts to make the Federal Government's investments in information technology (IT) more efficient, secure and effective. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $5,000,000. The Administration proposed $14,000,000 for similar activities under the heading Data Driven Innovation. The Committee appreciates the Administration's efforts to improve program and contract management of information technology (IT) investments as well as the Administration's efforts to utilize cloud computing and consolidate data centers. However, much more needs to be done to improve the management of the Federal Government's annual investment in IT which exceeds $80,000,000,000. In order to better understand the results of the Administration's IT reform efforts and the savings generated, bill language is continued requiring the submission of quarterly reports on savings identified by fiscal year, agency and appropriation. This information will not only inform the Committee on the results of OMB's IT reforms but will also inform the Committee's decisions on funding IT projects within agencies across the Federal government. Special Assistance to the President SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $4,328,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 4,328,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 3,913,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -415,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -415,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. These funds support the executive functions of the Office of the Vice President. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,913,000 for the Office of the Vice President, which is $415,000 less than the request. Official Residence of the Vice President OPERATING EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $307,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 307,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 281,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -26,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -26,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. These funds support the care and operation of the Vice President's residence and specifically support equipment, furnishings, dining facilities, and services required to perform and discharge the Vice President's official duties, functions and obligations. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $281,000 for the Operating Expenses of the Vice President's residence, which is $26,000 less than the request. Administrative Provisions--Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Section 201. The Committee includes language permitting the transfer of not to exceed ten percent of funds between various accounts within the Executive Office of the President, with advance approval of the Committees on Appropriations. The amount of an appropriation shall not be increased by more than 50 percent. Section 202. The Committee continues language requiring the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report on the costs of implementing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111-203). Section 203. The Committee includes language prohibiting funds to prepare, sign or approve statements abrogating legislation passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed by the President. Section 204. The Committee includes language prohibiting funding to prepare or implement Executive Orders in contravention of existing law. TITLE III--THE JUDICIARY The funds recommended by the Committee in title III of the accompanying bill are for the operation and maintenance of United States Courts and include the salaries of judges, probation and pretrial services officers, public defenders, court clerks, law clerks, and other supporting personnel, as well as security costs, information technology, and other expenses of the Federal Judiciary. The Committee recommends a total of $6,542,832,000 in discretionary funding for the Judiciary in fiscal year 2014, which is $192,410,000 less than the request. The Committee recognizes that the number of cases filed and the number of persons under supervision is not under the control of the Judiciary. However, the Committee believes the Judiciary needs to continue its cost containment efforts and identify ways to reduce staffing, travel, conferences, space and other financial requirements through the use of technology and best practices. In addition to direct appropriations, the Judiciary collects various fees and has certain multiyear funding authorities. The Judiciary uses these non-appropriated funds to offset its direct appropriation requirements. Consistent with prior year practices and section 608 of this Act, the Committee expects the Judiciary to submit a financial plan, within 60 days of enactment of this Act, allocating all sources of available funds including appropriations, fee collections, and carryover balances. This financial plan will be the baseline for purposes of reprogramming notification. The Committee is concerned with the cost and amount of space occupied by the Judiciary. In spite of staffing reductions in recent years, during fiscal year 2014 the Court of Appeals, District Courts and Other Judicial Services, Salaries and Expenses account is estimated to occupy an additional 78,000 square feet. The Committee recognizes that changes to the Judiciary's space footprint cannot be changed overnight. However, the Committee expects the Judiciary to do more to manage its space rental costs and has included an administrative provision requiring the Judicial Conference of the United States to develop a plan in fiscal year 2014 to reduce Judiciary space by fiscal year 2016. In addition, the Committee directs the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Court of International Trade to report to the Committee within 180 days of enactment of this Act on their efforts to reduce their facilities costs. The Committee expects these Courts to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States and the General Services Administration on this effort. Supreme Court of the United States SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $74,819,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 74,838,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 74,195,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -624,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -643,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $74,195,000 for fiscal year 2014 for the salaries and expenses of personnel and the cost of operating the Supreme Court, excluding the care of the building and grounds. The recommendation is $643,000 less than the request. The Committee includes bill language making $1,500,000 available until expended for the purpose of making information technology investments. The Committee requests that the Court include an annual report with its budget justification materials, showing information technology carryover balances and describing expenditures made in the previous fiscal year and planned expenditures in the budget year. CARE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $8,159,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 11,635,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 11,557,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013..................... +3,398,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................... -78,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $11,557,000 for fiscal year 2014, to remain available until expended, for personnel and other services relating to the structural and mechanical care of the Supreme Court building and grounds. The Architect of the Capitol has responsibility for these functions and supervises the use of this appropriation. The recommendation is $78,000 less than the request. Funding above the fiscal year 2013 amount will be used to perform maintenance and preservation of the exterior facades of the Supreme Court Building. A significant amount of stone cracking and deterioration of the building's facade presents a life safety hazard to building occupants and the public. United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $32,511,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 33,355,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 30,885,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,626,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -2,470,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has exclusive national jurisdiction over a large number of diverse subject areas, including government contracts, patents, trademarks, Federal personnel, and veterans' benefits. The Committee recommends an appropriation of $30,885,000 for fiscal year 2014, which is $2,470,000 less than the request. United States Court of International Trade SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $21,447,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 21,973,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 20,375,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,072,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,598,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Court of International Trade has exclusive nationwide jurisdiction of civil actions against the United States and certain civil actions brought by the United States, arising out of import transactions and administration and enforcement of the Federal customs and international trade laws. The Committee recommends an appropriation of $20,375,000 for fiscal year 2014, which is $1,598,000 less than the request. Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $5,015,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 5,170,239,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 4,999,197,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -15,803,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -171,042,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,999,197,000 for the operations of the regional courts of appeals, district courts, bankruptcy courts, the Court of Federal Claims, and probation and pretrial services offices. The recommendation is $171,042,000 less than the request. The Committee provides not to exceed $50,000,000 for cost containment initiatives and includes language prohibiting the obligation of funds until the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts has submitted an analysis to the Committee outlining how the future year savings estimated to occur as a result of each initiative will exceed the up- front costs. The funds are provided to pay up-front costs associated with information technology and facilities projects that, when implemented, will reduce costs and result in lower future funding requests. For information technology projects, the Committee expects the analysis to include potential costs and savings in areas such as staffing, facilities, energy, operations and maintenance, contracting and equipment. For facilities initiatives, the Committee expects the analysis to outline how the project will increase space utilization rates (the number of staff per square foot) and decrease rental payments. The Committee expects the costs of these initiatives to be recaptured in less than five years. VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION TRUST FUND Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $5,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 5,327,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 5,200,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +200,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -127,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a reimbursement of $5,200,000 for fiscal year 2014 from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund to cover expenses of the United States Court of Federal Claims associated with processing cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. The recommendation is $127,000 less than the request. DEFENDER SERVICES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $1,040,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 1,068,623,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 1,065,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +25,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -3,623,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION This account provides funding for the operation of the Federal Public Defender and Community Defender organizations and for compensation and reimbursement of expenses of panel attorneys appointed pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act for representation in criminal cases. The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,065,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 which is $3,623,000 less than the request. The recommendation does not provide an increase in the hourly panel attorney pay rate. FEES OF JURORS AND COMMISSIONERS Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $51,908,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 54,414,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 54,414,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +2,506,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $54,414,000 for payments to jurors, which is equal to the request. COURT SECURITY (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $500,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 524,338,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 520,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +20,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -4,338,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $520,000,000 for Court Security in fiscal year 2014 to provide for necessary expenses of security and protective services in courtrooms and adjacent areas. This is $4,338,000 less than the request. The recommendation will provide for the highest priority security needs identified by the courts and the U.S. Marshals Service. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $82,909,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 85,354,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 80,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -2,909,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -5,354,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) provides administrative and management support to the United States Courts, including the probation and bankruptcy systems. It also supports the Judicial Conference of the United States in determining Federal Judiciary policies, in developing methods to assist the courts to conduct business efficiently and economically, and in enhancing the use of information technology in the courts. The Committee recommends an appropriation of $80,000,000 for the AO, which is $5,354,000 less than the request. Federal Judicial Center SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013)*..................... $27,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 27,664,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 25,785,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,215,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,879,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) improves the management of Federal Judicial dockets and court administration through education for judges and staff, and research, evaluation, and planning assistance for the courts and the Judicial Conference. The Committee recommends an appropriation of $25,785,000 for the FJC for fiscal year 2014, which is $1,879,000 less than the request. United States Sentencing Commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $16,500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 17,016,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 15,758,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -742,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,258,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The purpose of the Commission is to establish, review, and revise sentencing guidelines, policies, and practices for the Federal criminal justice system. The Commission is also required to monitor the operation of the guidelines and to identify and report necessary changes to the Congress. The Committee recommends $15,758,000 for the Commission for fiscal year 2014, which is $1,258,000 less than the request. Administrative Provisions--The Judiciary (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Section 301. The Committee continues language to permit funds for salaries and expenses to be available for employment of experts and consultant services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109. Section 302. The Committee continues language that permits up to five percent of any appropriation made available for fiscal year 2014 to be transferred between Judiciary appropriations provided that no appropriation shall be decreased by more than five percent or increased by more than ten percent by any such transfer except in certain circumstances. In addition, the language provides that any such transfer shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under sections 604 and 608 of the accompanying bill and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth in those sections. Section 303. The Committee continues language authorizing not to exceed $11,000 to be used for official reception and representation expenses incurred by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Section 304. The Committee continues language to authorize a court security pilot program. Section 305. The Committee includes language requested by the Judicial Conference of the United States to extend temporary judgeships in the eastern district of Missouri, Kansas, Arizona, the northern district of Alabama, the central district of California, the southern district of Florida, New Mexico and the eastern district of Texas. Section 306. The Committee includes new language requiring the Judicial Conference of the United States to develop a space management plan to reduce the number of square feet funded by the Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services, Salaries and Expenses appropriation by fiscal year 2016. TITLE IV--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Federal Funds The Appropriations Committees have a special relationship with the District of Columbia that is unlike any other city in the country. For example, the Appropriations Committees are authorized by law to fund the court operations of the District of Columbia. Title IV of this Act provides a Federal payment totaling $546,731,000 for the cost of judges, court personnel, offender and defendant supervision, and defendant representation. Title IV also provides Federal Payments to District of Columbia programs in areas such as education and security. In addition, the United States Department of Justice provides hundreds of United States Attorneys and Deputy United States Marshals to prosecute local crimes and provide security at the D.C. Superior Court. The Federal Bureau of Prisons houses thousands of District of Columbia prisoners. Federal taxpayers do not fund similar activities in any other city. The citizens of the District of Columbia have approved a referendum providing local funds budget autonomy beginning in fiscal year 2015. The Committee considers the recent referendum in the District as an expression of the opinion of the residents, only, and without any authority to change or alter the existing relationship between Federal appropriations and the District. FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR RESIDENT TUITION SUPPORT Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $30,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 35,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 15,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -15,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -20,000,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Resident Tuition Support program provides up to $10,000 annually for undergraduate District students to attend eligible four-year public universities and colleges nationwide at in- state tuition rates. Grants up to $2,500 per year are available for students to attend private institutions in the D.C. metropolitan area, private historically black colleges and universities nationwide, and public two-year community colleges nationwide. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $15,000,000 for the resident tuition support program, which is $20,000,000 less than the request. The Administration proposed authorizing language reducing the annual household income threshold for program eligibility to $450,000. The Committee does not include this language but notes that District of Columbia is already authorized to prioritize applications based on income. In addition, the District of Columbia can contribute local funds to this program if there is demand for the program beyond the available level of Federal funds. FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING AND SECURITY COSTS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $24,700,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 14,900,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 14,900,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -9,800,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. As the seat of the national government, the District of Columbia has a unique and significant responsibility for protecting the property and personnel of the Federal government. The Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs is provided to help address the impact of the Federal presence on public safety in the District of Columbia. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $14,900,000 for emergency planning and security costs, which is the same as the request. The Committee continues to require that a detailed justification be submitted with the budget request each year, as well as a report detailing any deviation from the plan outlined in the justification no later than 60 days after the end of the fiscal year. FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $232,841,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 222,667,316 Recommended in the bill............................... 232,841,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +10,173,684 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $232,841,000 for operation of the District of Columbia Courts, which is $10,173,684 more than the request. This amount includes $13,033,000 for the Court of Appeals; $113,806,000 for the Superior Court; $69,096,000 for the Court System; and $36,906,000 for capital improvements to courthouse facilities. The Committee directs the District of Columbia Courts to provide quarterly expenditures, unobligated balances and staffing reports to the Committee for all programs, to be submitted within 30 days after the end of each quarter. FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR DEFENDER SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $55,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 49,890,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 49,890,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -5,110,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Committee recommends $49,890,000 for Defender Services in the District of Columbia Courts, which is the same as the request. The Committee directs the District of Columbia Courts to provide quarterly expenditure and unobligated balance reports to the Committee, within 30 days after the end of each quarter. FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $212,983,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 227,968,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 225,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +12,017,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -2,968,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $225,000,000 for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), which is $2,968,000 less than the request. Of the amounts provided, $166,089,000 is for Community Supervision and Sex Offender Registration and $58,911,000 is for the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). The recommendation includes an increase above the fiscal year 2013 level for costs associated with the upcoming expiration of facility leases. The Committee includes requested language expanding CSOSA's gratuity and gift authority. The Committee directs CSOSA to provide a quarterly report on its expenditures, unobligated balances and staffing to the Committee, to be submitted within 30 days after the end of each quarter. FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $37,241,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 40,607,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 39,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +1,759,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,607,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $39,000,000 for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, which is $1,607,000 less than the request. The recommended increase above the fiscal year 2013 level is for costs associated with the upcoming expiration of a facility lease. The Committee includes requested language expanding the agency's gift authority. FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $1,800,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 1,800,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 1,800,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) provides a forum for District of Columbia and Federal law enforcement to identify criminal justice issues and solutions, and improve the coordination of their efforts. In addition, the CJCC developed and maintains the Justice Integrated Information System which provides for the seamless sharing of information with Federal and local law enforcement. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $1,800,000 to the CJCC, which is the same as the request. FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR JUDICIAL COMMISSIONS Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 500,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 500,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. This appropriation provides funding for the two judicial commissions. The first is the Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC), which recommends a panel of three candidates to the President for each judicial vacancy in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and Superior Court. From the panel selected by the JNC, the President nominates a person for each vacancy and submits his or her name for confirmation to the Senate. The second commission is the Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure (CJDT), which has jurisdiction over all judges of the Court of Appeals and Superior Court to determine whether a judge's conduct warrants disciplinary action and whether involuntary retirement of a judge for health reasons is warranted. In addition, the CJDT conducts evaluations of judges seeking reappointment and judges who retire and wish to continue service as a senior judge. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $295,000 for the Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, and $205,000 for the Judicial Nomination Commission. This is the same as the request. FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $60,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 52,200,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 54,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -6,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +1,800,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR) authorizes funds to be evenly divided between District of Columbia Public Schools, Public Charter Schools and Opportunity Scholarships. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $54,000,000, for school improvement. Based on the statutory funding formula, this will provide $18,000,000 for District of Columbia Public Schools, $18,000,000 for Public Charter Schools and $18,000,000 for Opportunity Scholarships. The Secretary of Education shall award additional scholarships to eligible children with funds available for the Opportunity Scholarship Program from this and prior years. FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $375,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 500,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 375,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -125,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a Federal payment of $375,000, which is $125,000 less than the request. The Committee acknowledges the unique role of the D.C. National Guard in addressing emergencies that may occur as a result of the presence of the Federal Government. The Committee's recommendation provides $375,000 for the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program to pay the costs of a tuition assistance program for guard members. FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR TESTING AND TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $5,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 5,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 2,500,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -2,500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -2,500,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. Currently, 2.7 percent of the population of the District of Columbia has been diagnosed with HIV. The World Health Organization defines an HIV epidemic as ``severe'' when the percent of infection among residents exceeds one percent. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommendation includes $2,500,000 for a Federal payment for testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS, which is $2,500,000 below the request. District of Columbia Funds This bill provides local funds for the operation of the District of Columbia as approved by the District of Columbia Council and the Mayor. The local budget proposed by the Mayor provides an appropriation of $12,074,436,000 for operations of the District of Columbia. This amount includes estimated funding of $6,841,664,000 of local funds, $1,920,235,000 in Medicaid payments, and the remainder from other Federal and local funds. TITLE V--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS The Committee is flummoxed that after operating for three years the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) 2014 Strategic Plan, Budget, and Performance Plan and Report provides no measurable improvement in the level of detail about the CFPB's funding, staffing, or outcomes. This lack of documentation makes it difficult to understand how the CFPB spends over $2 million per workday, whether these funds are spent economically and, ultimately, what value the CFPB provides to American consumers. The CFPB has oversight over a wide range of consumer financial products. As such, the Bureau's activities have the potential to significantly affect access to credit and the operations of banks and non-banks. The Committees believes the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act provides inadequate checks on the CFPB's powers. The Committee's experience with the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and other Federal agencies with powers to protect consumers or investors leads it to conclude that a five-member commission is more suitable for guiding the CFPB than a single director. A commission ensures that multiple disciplines, experiences, and perspectives are brought to bear on CFPB rules, policies, and enforcement actions. The appointment and removal process, and staggered terms of commissioners can provide both a check and balance, and a measure of continuity that a director cannot. The Committee has serious concerns about recent reports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is building large databases to hold personal financial information, including individual credit card, mortgage, car and other payments histories, and that such information is being stored by private contractors. The Committee notes that the law that established the CFPB, Public Law 111-203, expressly prohibits the gathering of ``personally identifiable'' financial information for market monitoring purposes. The Committee believes that the scope of this data gathering is growing, and that necessary congressional oversight is warranted. Accordingly, the Committee directs the Government Accountability Office to investigate the CFPB personal financial information gathering initiative to ascertain its purpose, scope and use, the legal authority (both statutory and regulatory) under which such information is being collected and the safeguards against disclosure and other uses that are in-place. The Committee expects the GAO to provide its findings to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, and report back those findings within 180 days from the date of enactment of this Act, or applicable funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2014. The Committee includes the following provisions in the bill: Section 501. The Committee repeals the prohibition against the Committees on Appropriations reviewing transfers from the Federal Reserve System to the CFPB. Congress has a duty to examine and critique the activities of the CFPB, especially since its expenditures, like any other Federal agency, contribute to the Federal debt. Section 502. The Committee changes the CFPB's source of funding from transfers from the Federal Reserve System to annual appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2015. Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the CFPB can spend more than half a billion dollars without an annual review by Congress. The Committee believes the CFPB needs oversight as much as banks and nonbanks do and further reminds the CFPB to remain steadfast to its mission to promote fairness and transparency for mortgages, credit cards, and other consumer financial products and services and not to stray into consumer advocacy. Section 503. The Committee appreciates the CFPB's practice of making its transfer requests to the Federal Reserve System and the response from Federal Reserve System available on the Bureau's public website. The Committee codifies this practice and further requires the CFPB to notify Congress of when it makes such a request and to describe in detail how requested funds compare to the CFPB's budget justification. Section 504. The Committee directs the CFPB to submit quarterly reports on its activities and to testify on its activities when requested. The report shall include, among other things, how the CFPB allocates its funds and staff. Consumer Product Safety Commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $114,500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 117,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 114,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -3,000,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Consumer Product Safety Act established the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent Federal regulatory agency, to reduce the risk of injury associated with consumer products. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $114,000,000 for the CPSC, which is $3,000,000 less than the request. As the agency with jurisdiction over tens of thousands of consumer products, the CPSC has the opportunity to leverage its resources and contacts within the manufacturing industry to help drive education campaigns related to proper use of consumer products. Through working with industry, voluntary recalls have been largely successful. This cooperative relationship with industry can help save lives and CPSC resources, which can then be devoted to product recalls and promulgating risk-based rules. Import Safety.--The Committee remains supportive of the Import Safety initiative which places CPSC investigators at key ports of entry in order to stop defective products from entering the United States. The CPSC's coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) is a cost effective and efficient use of CPSC resources and enforcement capabilities. The Committee believes resources in this area are being spent in a targeted and effective way and expects the CPSC to continue to devote resources to this program. GAO Study.--The Committee has included Section 628 requiring GAO to conduct a quantitative and qualitative cost benefit analysis of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The Committee believes the CPSIA reform bill passed in the 112th Congress (P.L. 112-28) addressed some of the concerns related to lead limits and onerous third-party testing requirements, but the Committee believes the reforms did not go far enough and that an analysis of the impact of the CPSIA is necessary. Pool and Spa Safety.--The Committee commends the CPSC for continuing to provide resources for the national and grassroots ``Pool Safely'' campaign, a safety information and education program designed to reduce child drownings and neardrowning injuries and maintain a zero fatality rate for drain entrapments. This multifaceted initiative includes consumer and industry education efforts, press events, partnerships, outreach, and advertising. The Committee provides $500,000 to be available until expended, for the pool and spa safety grants program established by the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. The Committee encourages the CPSC to continue its pool and spa safety education campaign. Window Coverings.--The Committee supports the cooperative efforts of the CPSC and window coverings industry to educate consumers on window covering safety. The Committee encourages CPSC to continue to partner with the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) or industry in the national consumer education safety campaign. Election Assistance Commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $11,500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 11,060,000 Recommended in the bill............................... - - - Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -11,500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -11,063,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and is charged with implementing provisions of that Act relating to the reform of Federal election administration. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee strongly supports the successful administration of Federal elections and Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002. However, the Committee believes the EAC is no longer effectively carrying out its mandate and should be eliminated. At present, all statutorily mandated positions are vacant and the agency has been operating without legislative authorization since 2005. The EAC has been unable to finalize rules approving new standards that were due at the end of 2010, and it has been unable to hold hearings or rule on appeals. All of the funds appropriated for HAVA grants have been distributed to the States, and for three years the Administration has not requested additional grant funding. Without HAVA grants to distribute, the work of the EAC consists of auditing HAVA grant money previously distributed, a task carried out by the EAC Inspector General, and examining new voting technologies, a task largely performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In February 2013, rather than turn to the EAC, the President chose to form a new ad hoc commission to review and propose best practices related to concerns from the 2012 election regarding polling place wait times, and military and oversees voting. This decision highlights the lack of confidence the Administration has in this agency. This Committee is not advocating doing away with the changes made to voting law in HAVA. Rather, the Committee believes these laws should be carried out by another agency better equipped to carry out these functions: the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The Committee supports legislation that has been introduced in the 113th Congress, and passed in the previous Congress, to terminate the EAC and transfer its authority and functions to the FEC. The EAC has been unable to attend to its congressionally mandated duties for over a year and no longer has a purpose. Especially during a time of fiscal constraint, this Committee can see no way to justify spending any additional taxpayer money on a non-functioning agency. Federal Communications Commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $339,844,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 359,299,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 320,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -19,844,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -39,299,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The mission of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is to implement the Communications Act of 1934 and assure the availability of high quality communications services for all Americans. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $320,000,000 for the Salaries and Expenses of the FCC for fiscal year 2014, all of which is to be derived from offsetting collections. This is $39,299,000 less than the request. The Committee recommendation includes bill language, similar to language included in previous Appropriations Acts, which allows: (1) up to $4,000 for official reception and representation expenses; (2) purchase and hire of motor vehicles; (3) special counsel fees; (4) collection of $320,000,000 in section 9 fees; (5) a prohibition on amounts collected in excess of $320,000,000 from being available for obligation; (6) a prohibition on remaining offsetting collections from prior years from being available for obligation; and (7) a cap of $89,400,000 for the administration and implementation of incentive auctions, as required by P.L. 112-96, and (8) provides not less than $11,090,000 for the Office of the Inspector General. Organizational Structure.--The Committee believes the current organizational and management structure of the Commission does not reflect the technological development that has resulted in the convergence of today's telecommunications market. The increase in market-based competition should result in a smaller Commission with fewer staff. While the Commission is to be commended for its decision to establish a Technology Transition Task Force, its formation and membership affirms the Committee's view that the agency must organize itself to better reflect today's competitive environment. In order to address these issues, the Committee directs the Commission to submit a review of the current FCC organizational structure as well as a proposal for improvement that reflects today's technology landscape and competitive marketplace. This review should be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 180 days of enactment of this Act. Improved Economic Analysis and Staffing.--The Committee is concerned that the Commission has too many administrative staff and believes the FCC should improve efficiency by focusing their hiring on essential staff. In a time of budget constraints, the Commission should be prioritizing mission- critical staffing positions within, for instance, the Office of Engineering and Technology, not within the General Counsel's office, the Office of the Managing Director, or administrative staff across the agency. In addition, the Committee believes the Commission should take seriously the use of its economists. More cost-benefit analysis of Commission rules can help ensure the Commission is promoting, not stifling, innovation and investment in the sectors over which it regulates. Auction Administration.--The Committee has been supportive of the FCC's administration of incentive auctions, as required by P.L. 112-96, and recognizes the substantial work associated with the implementation of these auctions. The Committee appreciates the Commission including a separate budget page related to auction administration in their Congressional Budget Justification for fiscal year 2014; however, the Committee believes greater budget transparency is needed in order to better understand how the use of these revenues fits into the Commission's overall budget request. The Committee directs the Commission to provide within 30 days of enactment to the Committees on Appropriations in the House and Senate, and thereafter annually in its annual budget submission, a detailed justification as to how the Commission intends to spend these funds, including FTE levels and programmatic initiatives. In addition, the Committee directs the Commission to make its related annual detailed report on its use of auction funds publically available on its website. Rulemaking.--The Committee is concerned that the Commission's rulemaking process is unnecessarily opaque and lacks participation by outside stakeholders and the public. The agency's methodology has been questioned regarding the Commission's determination of the costs and benefits of proposed rules. The Committee strongly encourages the Commission improve and make more transparent its use of cost- benefit analysis and to continue to review provisions within their jurisdiction to identify and remove outdated and onerous regulations. Regulatory Fees.--The offsetting collections are provided to the FCC to recover the costs of its regulatory activities including enforcement activities, policy and rulemaking activities, user information services, and international activities as provided for in Section 9 of the Communications Act. The Committee understands that despite the dramatic changes that have occurred in the communications marketplace, the methodology the FCC currently uses to derive its regulatory fees is essentially the same as the one developed in 1994. The Committee notes that there is longstanding broad and bipartisan support among Commissioners to update this methodology and is pleased the FCC recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address this issue. The Committee encourages the Commission to issue a Final Rule in time for next year's payments by regulated entities. Call Completion.--Voice calls in rural areas not completing poses a public safety risk and negatively affects rural businesses and consumers. The Committee recommends that the FCC, upon receiving public comments on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in WC Docket No. 13-39, expeditiously issue a Final Rule addressing the problems regarding rural call completion. Broadband Access.--The Committee is concerned about the disparity in access to broadband between the territories and the 50 states. The Committee encourages the Commission to implement policies that increase broadband accessibility and adoption in the territories. U.S. Satellite Interests.--The Committee is concerned about the satellite coordination dispute between the U.S. and Russia regarding areas serving critical regions of North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Because of the unique circumstances of this dispute, the Committee believes the Commission should lay out the specific steps it is taking to resolve this matter in a manner which protects U.S. rights and interests. The Committee will continue to actively monitor this issue and expects the Commission to update the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on any developments related to this issue. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $34,568,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 34,568,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 34,568,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. Funding for the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is provided pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1105(a)(25), which requires a separate appropriation account for appropriations for each Office of Inspector General established under section 11(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends $34,568,000 from the Deposit Insurance Fund and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) Resolution Fund to finance the OIG for fiscal year 2014, which is the same as fiscal year 2013 and the request. Federal Election Commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $66,367,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 65,791,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 65,791,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -576,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) administers the disclosure of campaign finance information, enforces limitations on contributions and expenditures, and performs other tasks related to Federal elections. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $65,791,000 for the Salaries and Expenses of the FEC for fiscal year 2014, which is $576,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and the same as the request. Federal Labor Relations Authority SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $24,723,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 25,490,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 24,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -723,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,490,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. Established by title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) serves as a neutral arbiter in the labor activities of non-postal Federal employees, Departments and agencies, and Federal unions on matters outlined in the Act, including collective bargaining and the settlement of disputes. Establishment of the FLRA gives full recognition to the role of the Federal Government as an employer. Under the Foreign Service Act of 1980, the FLRA also addresses similar issues affecting Foreign Service personnel by providing full staff support for the Foreign Service Impasse Disputes Panel and the Foreign Service Labor Relations Board. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $24,000,000 for the FLRA, which is $1,490,000 less than the request. Federal Trade Commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $311,563,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 301,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 295,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -16,563,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -6,000,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The mission of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is to enforce a variety of Federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. Appropriations for both the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Commission are partially financed by Hart-Scott-Rodino Act pre-merger filing fees. The Commission's appropriation is also partially offset by Do-Not- Call registry fees. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $295,000,000 for the Salaries and Expenses of the FTC for fiscal year 2014, which is $16,563,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and $6,000,000 less than the request. The Congressional Budget Office estimates $103,300,000 of collections from Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger filing fees and $15,000,000 of collections from Do- Not-Call list fees will partially offset the appropriation requirement for this account. Agency Overlap.--The creation of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) transferred some areas of consumer protection jurisdiction that were once the sole purview of the FTC to the CFPB. The Committee is aware of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both the CFPB and the FTC and understands that the agencies consult on areas of common jurisdiction, such as debt collection. The Committee intends to continue to monitor this issue as duplicative efforts in regulatory rulemaking are unhelpful to agency budgets and could place unnecessary burdens on businesses, the economy, and the American taxpayer. The Committee expects the FTC to continue to ensure duplicative efforts on rulemakings are avoided before agency resources are wasted. General Services Administration The Committee appreciates the General Services Administration's (GSA) renewed commitment to economy and ethics, subsequent to the Inspector General's (IG) management deficiency report (April 2, 2012) on the wasteful spending and outrageous behavior at the 2010 Western Regions Conference. GSA has since installed new leadership, whose goal is to rebuild a more humble and successful agency. However, the Committee believes that GSA will benefit from continued Congressional oversight to ensure the changes being put in place today are both effective and long-lasting. To that end, the Committee has restructured several of GSA's appropriations accounts to separate administrative funds from program funds. The mind reader, bicycles, and commemorative tokens at 2010 Western Regions Conference were financed out of the same appropriation made available to repair roofs and windows, to provide heating and air conditioning, and to provide building security. The Committee also divides the Operating Expenses appropriation into the three separate appropriations--Real and Personal Property Management Disposal, the Office of the Administrator, and the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals--because of the separate and unrelated nature of these activities. GSA, like many agencies, has a Working Capital Fund (WCF) to purchase and provide administrative services for its various offices. The Committee believes that when governed in a open and transparent manner to the benefit of its clients, a WCF reduces costs by using economies of scale. Over time, however, GSA's WCF has grown from providing bland commodities, such as printing, that are easy to measure on a per unit basis to include offices that provide program direction and policy coordination that are inherently difficult to measure. The amount of staff and dollars that roll in and out of the WCF has grown commensurate with these changes. Since these funds are outside of the Congressional review process, the Committee introduces language limiting the amount of funds that GSA can obligate from the WCF and asks for additional reports. The Committee also includes language requiring GSA to report to the Congress when it uses its taking and exchange authorities. The Committee appreciates that GSA is taking advantage its authorities to dispose of properties that no longer meet the needs of Federal agencies in exchange for assets of like value. The Committee believes that exchanges can be used to reduce the cost to taxpayers. However, the most valuable exchanges will inevitably involve very complex, multi- year, multi-party, multi-billion dollar contracts with covenants and contingencies--the only thing harder than negotiating an exchange is enforcing an exchange contract. The Committee's desire to be watchful and informed of these activities has resulted in the inclusion of language requiring GSA to regularly and routinely inform the Congress about its plans to exercise this authority. The Committee also wants to better understand both GSA's and the Federal government's inventory of properties. Therefore, the Committee requires GSA to provide additional data on its leased and owned portfolios and the costs associated with maintaining this portfolio and to release long overdue Federal Real Property Profile summaries to the public. Last year, the GSA IG found abuse in a GSA Hats Off awards program. This year, GSA IG issued a report (GSA Practices for Executive Performance Recognition and Awards, JEF12-017-000) that identified ``a willingness by GSA to violate legal requirements that resulted in an opaque evaluation and awards system, with a manufactured process that failed to protect the rights of [Senior Executive Service] members, made review of the validity of individual awards impossible, and impeded review of the overall program'' for the 2009-2011 period. The Committee is concerned that questionable bonuses and awards were not limited to a specific bureau in a specific region, but seem susceptible to abuse up and down the chain of command across the agency. To that end, the Committee includes language prohibiting funds for additional bonuses and awards until a comprehensive review of the employee award system is completed. While the Committee appreciates that the process for reviewing and organizing conferences has changed, the Committee wants to better understand the overlap between conferences and training, but more importantly, the substance and effectiveness of GSA's employee training program. The Committee includes a provision requiring additional information on GSA's training activities. The Committee appreciates GSA's efforts to correct its failures and be of use, rather an embarrassment, to other Federal agencies. The Committee includes the language described above to help GSA prove to the Congress and American people that truly has reformed and to steer GSA towards becoming a model Federal agency. REAL PROPERTY ACTIVITIES FEDERAL BUILDINGS FUND LIMITATIONS ON AVAILABILITY OF REVENUE Limitations on Availability of Revenue: Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2013...... $8,017,967,000 Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 9,950,560,000 fiscal year 2014..................................... Recommended in the bill........................... 7,541,470,000 Bill compared with: Availability limitation, fiscal year 2013......... -476,497,000 Availability limitation, fiscal year 2014 request. -2,409,090,000 The Federal Buildings Fund (FBF) finances the activities of the Public Buildings Service (PBS), which provides space and services for Federal agencies in a relationship similar to that of landlord and tenant. The FBF, established in 1975, replaces direct appropriations by using income derived from rent assessments, which approximate commercial rates for comparable space and services. The Committee makes funds available through a process of placing limitations on obligations from the FBF as a way of allocating funds for various FBF activities. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a limitation on the availability of funds of $7,541,470,000 for the FBF, which is $2,409,090,000 less than the request. To carry out the purposes of the FBF, the revenues and collections deposited into the FBF shall be available for necessary expenses in the aggregate amount of $7,541,470,000 of which: $635,000,000 is for capital projects, $106,470,000 is for installment acquisition payments (including payments on purchase contracts), $4,700,000,000 is for rental of space, $1,100,000,000 is for building operations and maintenance, and $1,000,000,000 is for Public Buildings Service, Salaries and Expenses. Historically prior to obligating funding for prospectus level construction, alterations or leases, the Administration has waited for the project to be authorized through a resolution approved by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the House and the Committee on Environment and Public Works in the Senate as required by title 40 of the United States Code and in accordance with the proviso included in the Federal Buildings Fund appropriations limiting the obligation of funds to prospectus-level projects approved by the authorizing committees. The Committee supports this process and believes that prospectus level projects warrant a thorough review from both the Appropriations Committee and the authorizing committee. The Committee expects the Administration to continue to follow this process. CAPITAL PROJECTS Limitations on Availability of Revenue: Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2013* **.. $330,000,000 Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 2,118,549,000 fiscal year 2014**................................... Recommended in the bill........................... 635,000,000 Bill compared with: Availability limitation, fiscal year 2013......... +305,000,000 Availability limitation, fiscal year 2014 request. -1,483,549,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. **Funding for this some of this activity was previously provided and funded under the ``Construction and Acquisition'' and ``Repairs and Alterations'' headings, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate. Capital projects are the project cost of design, construction, and management and inspection costs of new Federal facilities; the repair, alteration, and modernization of existing real estate assets; and the acquisition of land and buildings that exceed the prospectus threshold. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a limitation of $635,000,000 for capital projects, which is $1,483,549,000 less than the request. Funding for projects that exceed the prospectus threshold were previously provided under the headings ``Construction and Acquisition'' and ``Repairs and Alterations''. For 2014, the Committee recommends eliminating these headings and instead provides funding for both of these types of projects in amounts specific to the priorities of the Judiciary, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Public Buildings Service. With limited available funding, agencies are expected to prioritize their capital needs between construction of new facilities and major repair and alterations of existing facilities. Therefore, the Committee has combined funds for new construction and major repairs and alterations into one account that is available for the agencies' highest priority capital needs. The number of projects proposed in the budget request for the Federal Judiciary and the Federal Bureau of Investigation exceed that of other agencies. Therefore, the Committee has designated funds to meet the highest priorities needs of these agencies. Judiciary.--The Committee recommends $100,000,000 for the construction, acquisition, repair, alteration, and security projects for the Judiciary as prioritized by the Judicial Conference of the United States. The Administration requested $285,600,000 for 14 alternations and acquisition projects. The Judicial Conference requested $306,400,000 for four construction projects. The funds provided are less 20 percent of the identified capital need. The Judicial Conference of the United States shall prioritize these funds to address the highest capital needs. Federal Bureau of Investigation.--The Committee recommends $125,000,000 for the projects included in the budget request for the construction, acquisition, repair, and alteration projects for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as prioritized by the Director. The Administration requested $260,657,000 for five alterations and construction projects. The FBI shall fund its highest identified capital needs from these funds. Public Buildings Service.--The Committee recommends $50,000,000 for the projects included in the budget request for the construction, acquisition, repair, and alteration projects as prioritized by the Public Buildings Service Commissioner, which is $1,520,014,000 less than the request of $1,570,014,000 for 36 such projects, including those for the Judiciary and FBI. Consolidation Activities.--The Committee recommends $100,000,000 for the cost of consolidating space, which is equal to the request. Given the reduction in the Federal workforce and Federal agency budgets, the Committee believes that it is prudent to reduce the GSA building inventory, particularly with regard to the thousands of surplus and underutilized buildings. The Committee appreciates the Administration's commitment to ``freeze the footprint'' of the Federal government (OMB management procedures memorandum 2013- 02) by prohibiting increases in the total square footage of domestic offices and warehouses. The Committee gives preference to projects that achieve an ``all-in'' utilization rate of 170 usable square feet or less per person. The ``all-in'' utilization rate is determined by dividing the total usable square footage by the number of personnel in a building. Basic Repairs and Alternations.--The Committee recommends $260,000,000 for basic repairs and alterations, which is $118,535,000 less than the request. Basic repairs and alterations are non-recurring repairs and alterations projects between $10,000 and the current prospectus threshold of $2,850,000. Ports of Entry.--With the proper safeguards, a partnership among the General Services Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, local governments, and the private sector could enhance infrastructure around critical land ports, seaports, and airports. Conceptually, these partnerships could help facilitate trade and travel while making ports both secure and efficient. The Committee supports exploring this concept to work in the best interest of the American taxpayer. INSTALLMENT ACQUISITION PAYMENTS Limitations on Availability of Revenue: Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2013*..... $126,801,000 Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 113,470,000 fiscal year 2014..................................... Recommended in the bill........................... 106,470,000 Bill compared with: Availability limitation, fiscal year 2013......... -20,331,000 Availability limitation, fiscal year 2014 request. -7,000,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The installment acquisition payments are interest payments to the Federal Financing Bank for facilities constructed under the Public Building Amendment of 1972 and lease-purchase agreements since 1987, consisting of a total of 80 projects. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a limitation of $106,470,000 for installation acquisition payments, which is $7,000,000 less than the request. The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-6) provided $7,043,870 more than required in fiscal year 2013 for this activity. The Committee assumes these unobligated funds are available for this activity in fiscal year 2014. No personnel are funded in this account. RENTAL OF SPACE Limitations on Availability of Revenue: Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2013*..... $5,210,198,000 Limitation on availability, budget estimate, 5,387,109,000 fiscal year 2014..................................... Recommended in the bill........................... 4,700,000,000 Bill compared with: Availability limitation, fiscal year 2013......... -510,198,000 Availability limitation, fiscal year 2014 request. -687,109,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The rental of space program funds lease payments made to privately-owned buildings, temporary space for Federal employees during major repair and alteration projects, and relocations from Federal buildings due to forced moves and relocations as a result of health and safety conditions. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a limitation of $4,700,000,000 for rental of space, which is $687,109,000 less the request. No personnel are funded in this account. BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE Limitations on Availability of Revenue: Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2013* **.. - - - Limitation on availability, budget estimate, $1,158,869,000 fiscal year 2014**................................... Recommended in the bill........................... 1,100,000,000 Bill compared with: Availability limitation, fiscal year 2013......... +1,158,869,000 Availability limitation, fiscal year 2014 request. -58,869,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. **Funding for this activity was previously provided and requested under the ``Building Operations'' heading, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate. The building operations and maintenance program funds services that Federal agencies in GSA-owned buildings and occasionally in GSA-leased buildings, when not provided by the lessor, directly benefit from such as building security, cleaning, utilities, window washing, snow removal, pest control, and maintenance of heating, air conditioning, ventilating, plumbing, sewage, electrical, elevator, escalator, and fire protection systems. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a limitation of $1,100,000,000 for Building Operations and Maintenance, which is $58,869,000 less than the request. No personnel are funded in this account. PUBLIC BUILDINGS SERVICE SALARIES AND EXPENSES Limitation on availability, fiscal year 2013* **...... - - - Limitation on availability, budget estimate, fiscal $1,172,563,000 year 2014**.......................................... Recommended in the bill............................... 1,000,000,000 Bill compared with: Availability limitation, fiscal year 2013......... +1,172,563,000 Availability limitation, fiscal year 2014 request. -172,563,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. **Funding for this activity was previously provided and requested under the ``Building Operations'' heading, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate. The Public Buildings Service (PBS) Salaries and Expenses account funds all the personnel and administrative expenses for carrying out construction and acquisition, repair and alteration, and leasing activities. The project or program costs of these activities are funded separately. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a limitation of $1,000,000,000 for Public Buildings Service (PBS) Salaries and Expenses, which is $172,563,000 less than the request. GENERAL ACTIVITIES GOVERNMENT-WIDE POLICY Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $61,115,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 62,548,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 53,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -8,115,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -9,548,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Government-Wide Policy provides Federal agencies with guidelines, best practices, and performance measures for complying with all the laws, regulations, and executive orders related to: acquisition and procurement, personal and real property management, travel and transportation management, electronic customer service delivery, and use of Federal advisory committees. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $53,000,000, which is $9,548,000 less than the request. None of the funds for the Office are available for acquisition-related systems that collect information about campaign contributions. In combination with section 516, the Committee requires the public release of the Federal Real Property Reports for 2011-2013. Green Buildings.--The Committee shares the GSA's goal of reducing building expenses through the efficient use of energy and water. The Committee is concerned, however, that GSA's current green building policies and practices are tailored to reflect the standards of a specific third-party certification system rather than the public interest in greater energy and water efficiency. All agencies should be wary of becoming captured; no third-party certification program has a monopoly on how to attain efficiency, much less sustainability. For example, efficiency and sustainability can be achieved not just through the design of buildings or major renovations and the selection of materials, but also through proper building maintenance and usage, building codes, energy codes, energy efficiency rating systems, or a combination thereof. The Committee encourages GSA to take a comprehensive and science- based approach to the certification of green buildings, recognizing there are the multiple means to the same end. Greening projects for Federal buildings should not be undertaken unless GSA can clearly justify that the additional expenses will be more than offset by a reduction in subsequent operating expenses as a result of the project. The Committee directs GSA to report by March 14, 2014, on how it measures and monitors building operations costs; how it divides these costs among tenant agencies; and how it can give tenant agencies a greater ability to affect their consumption, and therefore, their cost of building services. Under the Federal Buildings Fund, language is included to prohibit funds to implement or use green building standards that are not voluntary consensus standards as defined by Office of Management and Budget Circular A-119. GSA contracting issues.--The Committee appreciates the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Council publication of a list of untimely contractors pursuant to section 1334 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. While this publication is a step in the right direction, the Committee remains concerned about untimely payments between prime contractors and subcontractors. Small businesses are often subcontractors and late payments from prime contractors create serious cash flow management problems for these small businesses. The Committee expects contracting officers for members of the FAR Council, to consider the unjustified failure by a prime contractor to make a full or timely payment to a subcontractor in evaluating the performance of the prime contractor. Additionally, the Committee strongly encourages GSA to make publically available the list of untimely contractors through the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System as specified in section 1334 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DISPOSAL Appropriation, fiscal year 2013* **................... $30,024,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014**.................... 28,030,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 28,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -2,024,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -30,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. **Funding for this activity was previously provided and requested under the ``Operating Expenses'' heading, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate. The account funds the Personal Property Utilization and Donation program, which transfers personal property no longer needed by a Federal agency to other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and nonprofit organizations. The account also funds the Office of Real Property Utilization and Disposal, which transfers or sells unneeded property assets to benefit the Federal government and surrounding communities. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $28,000,000 for Real and Personal Property Management Disposal, which is $30,000 less than the request. Funding for these activities was previously provided and requested within the Operating Expenses heading, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate in order to separate administrative from program expenses. Property Disposal.--Within 60 days of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service shall submit a report to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate on disposal of real property activities, including exchanges, for fiscal year 2013. In a searchable, electronic format, the report shall identify by address the property by date on which it entered the excess, transfer, surplus, conveyance, negotiated sale, public sale, and sold stage of the disposal process, including the size, annual cost of operating and maintaining the property while it is in the disposal process, and sale proceeds. If the property is sold for services instead of cash, the report will include a description of service, period of time for which the service is provided, and the agreed upon value of the service. In fiscal year 2014, every 30 days after the end of a quarter, the Commissioner will provide an update of this same activity. OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR Appropriation, fiscal year 2013* **................... $29,955,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014**.................... 27,378,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 26,500,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -3,455,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -878,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. **Funding for this activity was previously provided and requested under the ``Operating Expenses'' heading, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate. The Office of the Administrator account funds GSA's executive leadership offices: the Administrator; the Regional Administrators; the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs; the Office of Emergency Response and Recovery; and the Office of Communications and Marketing. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $26,500,000 to the Office of the Administrator, which is $878,000 less than the request. Funding for these activities was previously provided and requested within the Operating Expenses heading, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate in order to separate administrative from program expenses. Congressional Affairs.--The Committee is frustrated by the non-responses or delayed responses to its requests for information, briefings, and site visits. The Committee has a duty to perform oversight and to ask hard questions in order to report an informed bill to the House of Representatives. The Committee believes GSA Office of Congressional Affairs needs to work on facilitating timely and complete responses. CIVILIAN BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS Appropriation, fiscal year 2013* **................... 9,521,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014**.................... 9,045,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 8,966,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -555,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -79,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. **Funding for this activity was previously provided and requested under the ``Operating Expenses'' heading, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate. The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals was established in 2006 to hear and decide contract disputes between contractors and agencies. The Board's authority extends to all agencies except for the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,966,000 for the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, which is $79,000 less than request. Funding for this activity was previously provided and requested within the Operating Expenses heading, which the recommendation proposes to eliminate in order to separate administrative from program expenses. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $58,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 62,908,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 68,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +10,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +5,092,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. This appropriation provides agency-wide audit and investigative functions to identify and correct GSA management and administrative deficiencies that create conditions for existing or potential instances of fraud, waste, and mismanagement. The audit function provides internal and contract audits. Internal audits review and evaluate all facets of GSA operations and programs, test internal control systems, and develop information to improve operating efficiencies and enhance customer services. Contract audits provide professional advice to GSA contracting officials on accounting and financial matters relative to the negotiation, award, administration, repricing, and settlement of contracts. The investigative function provides for the detection and investigation of improper and illegal activities involving GSA programs, personnel, and operations. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $68,000,000 for the OIG, which is $5,092,000 more than the request. INFORMATION AND ENGAGEMENT FOR CITIZENS (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013* **................... $46,500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014**.................... 54,954,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 40,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -6,500,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -14,954,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. **Funding for this activity was previously provided and requested under the headings ``Electronic Government'' and ``Federal Citizen Services Fund'', which the recommendation proposes to eliminate. The Committee creates an ``Information and Engagement for Citizens'' account by combining the ``Electronic Government Fund'' and ``Federal Citizen Services Fund''. While these funds were created at different periods of time and developed different programs, they share a common objective--making it easier for citizens to understand and interact with their government. Whether that means delivering information in the mail or in a tweet, answering questions on the phone or on- line, or tracking grants and business opportunities, the purpose of ``Information and Engagement for Citizens'' is to provide electronic or other methods of providing access and understanding of Federal information, benefits, and services to citizens, businesses, other governments, and the media. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $40,000,000, which is $14,954,000 less than the request. The Committee expects the funds provided for these activities, combined with efficiency gains and resource prioritization will result in increased delivery of information to the public and in the ease of transaction with the government. The programmatic cost and responsibility for the USAspending.gov website is supported by the Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service in fiscal year 2014. All the income collected by the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies (OCSIT) in the form of reimbursements from Federal agencies, user fees for publications ordered by the public, payments from private entities for services rendered, and gifts from the public is available to the OCSIT without regard to fiscal year limitations, but is subject to an annual limitation of $90,000,000. Any revenues accruing in excess of this amount shall remain in the fund and are not available for expenditure except as authorized in Appropriation Acts. The Committee wants to continue to review the performance of ``e-initiatives'' and expects the Office of Management and Budget and General Services Administration to submit a detailed expenditure plan prior to obligation of funds under this account. The plan should describe the projects selected; and the budget, timeline, objectives and expected benefits and savings realized for each project. Administrative Provisions--General Services Administration (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Section 505. The Committee continues the provision providing authority for the use of funds for the hire of motor vehicles. Section 506. The Committee modifies the provision providing that funds made available for activities of the Federal Buildings Fund may be transferred between appropriations with advance approval of the Congress to apply to funds provided in prior appropriations Acts. Section 507. The Committee continues the provision requiring funds proposed for developing courthouse construction requests to meet appropriate standards and the priorities of the Judicial Conference. Section 508. The Committee continues the provision providing that no funds may be used to increase the amount of occupiable square feet, provide cleaning services, security enhancements, or any other service usually provided, to any agency which does not pay the requested rent. Section 509. The Committee continues the provision that permits GSA to pay small claims (up to $250,000) made against the Federal government. Section 510. The Committee continues the provision requiring the Administrator to ensure that the delineated area of procurement for all lease agreements is identical to the delineated area included in the prospectus unless prior notice is given to the Committees. Section 511. The Committee includes a new provision requiring GSA to submit quarterly reports on its use of its takings and exchanges authorities. The Committee wants to better understand how these authorities are utilized and how they affect future costs of the Federal Buildings Fund. Section 512. The Committee includes a new provision that requires a report about the Working Capital Fund. Section 513. The Committee includes a new provision that limits the obligations of the Working Capital Fund to $675,000,000. Section 514. The Committee includes a new provision requiring a report on training. Section 515. The Committee includes a new provision that prohibits funding for employee awards until GSA submits a report on employee salaries and awards and an evaluation of its employee awards program. Section 516. The Committee includes a new provision with regards to the Federal Real Property Report. Section 517. The Committee includes a new provision requiring a report on the Integrated Acquisition Environment and System for Award Management programs. Section 518. The Committee includes a new provision that requires quarterly reports about the Federal Buildings Fund portfolio, rental rates, space utilization rates, and expenses. The ``all-in'' utilization rate is determined by dividing the total usable square footage by the number of personnel in a building. Merit Systems Protection Board SALARIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $42,603,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 42,415,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 42,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -603,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -415,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is an independent, quasi-judicial agency established to protect the civil service merit system. The MSPB adjudicates appeals primarily involving personnel actions, certain Federal employee complaints, and retirement benefits issues. The MSPB reports to the President whether merit systems are sufficiently free of prohibited employment practices. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $42,000,000 for the MSPB, which is $415,000 less than the request. The recommendation includes a transfer of $2,345,000 from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. National Archives and Records Administration For fiscal year 2014, the Committee recommendation for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) includes funding for the Operating Expenses, Office of Inspector General, and Repairs and Restoration. The Committee recommends a total appropriation of $363,100,000 for NARA in fiscal year 2014, which is $11,400,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and $4,736,000 less than the request. OPERATING EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $373,300,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 370,706,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 369,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -4,300,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,706,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. This appropriation provides NARA with funds for its basic operations for management of the Federal government's archives and records, services to the public, operation of Presidential libraries, review for declassification of classified security information, and includes the Electronic Records Archives which preserves, stores, and manages digital Federal records for archival purposes, ensuring long-term access. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $369,000,000 for the Operating Expenses of NARA, which is $4,300,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and $1,706,000 less than the request. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $4,100,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 4,130,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 4,100,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... - - - Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -30,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides audits and investigations and serves as an independent, internal advocate to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within NARA. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,100,000 for the OIG, which is the same as fiscal year 2013 and $30,000 less than the request. REPAIRS AND RESTORATION Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $9,100,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 8,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 8,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,100,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. This appropriation provides for the repair, alteration, and improvement of Archives facilities and Presidential libraries nationwide. It enables the National Archives to maintain its facilities in proper condition for visitors, researchers, and employees, and also maintain the structural integrity of the buildings. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,000,000 for repairs and restoration, which is $1,100,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and the same as the request. National Historical Publications and Records Commission Grants Program Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $5,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 3,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 3,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -2,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY 13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) program provides for grants to preserve and publish records that document American history. Administered within the National Archives and Records Administration, the NHPRC helps State, local, and private institutions preserve non-Federal records, helps publish the papers of major figures in American history, and helps archivists and records managers improve their techniques, training, and ability to serve a range of information users. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,000,000 for the NHPRC grants program, which is $2,000,000 less than fiscal year 2013 and equal to the request. National Credit Union Administration COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REVOLVING LOAN FUND Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $1,247,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 1,128,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 1,200,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -47,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +72,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Community Development Revolving Loan Fund Program (CDRLF) was established in 1979 to assist officially designated ``low-income'' credit unions in providing basic financial services to low-income communities. Low-interest loans and deposits are made available to assist these credit unions. Loans or deposits are normally repaid in five years, although shorter repayment periods may be considered. Technical assistance grants are also available to low-income credit unions. Earnings generated from the CDRLF are available to fund technical assistance grants in addition to funds provided for specifically in appropriations acts. Grants are available for improving operations as well as addressing safety and soundness issues. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,200,000 for the National Credit Union Administration's CDRLF for technical assistance grants for fiscal year 2014, which is $47,000 less than fiscal year 2013. The Committee expects the CDRLF to continue making loans from their available funds derived from repaid loans and interest earned on previous loans to designated credit unions. Office of Government Ethics SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $18,664,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 15,325,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 15,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -3,664,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -325,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) established by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, partners with other executive branch Departments and agencies to foster high ethical standards. The OGE issues and monitors rules, regulations, and memoranda pertaining to the prevention and resolution of conflicts of interest, post-employment restrictions, standards of conduct, and financial disclosure for executive branch employees. The OGE is also responsible for creating and running an electronic financial disclosure system under the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $15,000,000 for the OGE, which is $325,000 less than the request. The Committee notes the STOCK Act gives OGE new responsibilities and directs OGE to provide the Committee with quarterly spending reports on the implementation of the requirements under the STOCK Act. Office of Personnel Management SALARIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $210,290,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 214,335,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 210,090,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -200,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -4,245,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the Federal agency responsible for management of Federal human resources policy and oversight of the merit civil service system. OPM provides a government-wide policy framework for personnel matters, advises and assists agencies (often on a reimbursable basis), and ensures that agency operations are consistent with requirements of law, with emphasis on such issues as veterans preference. OPM oversees examining of applicants for employment; issues regulations and policies on hiring, classification and pay, training, investigations; and many other aspects of personnel management, and operates a reimbursable training program for the Federal Government's managers and executives. OPM is also responsible for administering the retirement, health benefits and life insurance programs affecting most Federal employees, retired Federal employees, and their survivors. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $95,557,000 for the General Fund, which is $200,000 less than the request. The Committee also recommends $114,533,000 for administrative expenses, $4,045,000 less than the request, to be transferred from the appropriate trust funds. Additionally, as part of OPM's mission to recruit and hire the most talented and diverse Federal workforce, the Committee encourages Federal agencies to increase recruitment efforts within the United States territories. OPM has struggled for decades to process Federal retirees' pension claims quickly and accurately. As a result, tens of thousands of new retirees wait months to receive their complete annuities--some wait more than a year--and in the meantime they struggle to get by on reduced interim pensions. The Committee expects OPM to make retirement processing a priority and is pleased with OPM's recent efforts to correct this problem through the implementation of its strategic plan. Still, the Committee believes that the backlog and delays in retirement processing are unacceptable and directs OPM to provide the Committee with monthly reports on its progress in addressing the backlog in claims. Office of Inspector General SALARIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF TRUST FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $24,316,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 26,024,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 26,024,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +1,708,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. This appropriation provides for the Office of Inspector General's (OIG) agency-wide audit, investigative, evaluation, and inspection functions, which identify management and administrative deficiencies, fraud, waste and mismanagement. The OIG performs internal agency audits and insurance audits, and offers contract audit services. Internal audits review and evaluate all facets of agency operations, including financial statements. Evaluation and inspection services provide detailed technical evaluations of agency operations. Insurance audits review the operations of health and life insurance carriers, health care providers, and insurance subscribers. Contract auditors provide professional advice to agency contracting officials on accounting and financial matters regarding the negotiation, award, administration, repricing, and settlement of contracts. The investigative function provides for the detection and investigation of improper and illegal activities involving programs, personnel, and operations. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a general fund appropriation of $4,684,000 for the OIG, which is equal to the request. In addition, the recommendation provides $21,340,000 from appropriate trust funds, which is equal to the request. Office of Special Counsel SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $18,972,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 20,639,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 20,639,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +1,667,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC): (1) investigates Federal employee allegations of prohibited personnel practices (including reprisal for whistleblowing) and, when appropriate, prosecutes before the Merit Systems Protection Board; (2) provides a channel for whistleblowing by Federal employees; and (3) enforces the Hatch Act. The Office may transmit whistleblower allegations to the agency head concerned and require an agency investigation and a report to the Congress and the President when appropriate. Additionally, the Office enforces the civilian employment and reemployment rights of military service members under the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $20,639,000 for the OSC, which is equal to the request. Postal Regulatory Commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $14,304,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 14,304,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 14,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -304,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -304,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Commission establishes and maintains the U.S. Postal Service's ratemaking systems, measures service and performance, ensures accountability, and has enforcement mechanisms, including the authority to issue subpoenas. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation, out of the Postal Fund, of $14,000,000 for the Postal Regulatory Commission, which is $304,000 less than the request. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $900,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 3,100,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 3,100,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +2,200,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is an independent agency within the Executive Branch whose purpose is to (1) analyze and review actions the Executive Branch takes to protect the nation from terrorism, ensuring that the need for such actions is balanced with the need to protect privacy and civil liberties; and (2) ensure that liberty concerns are appropriately considered in the development and implementation of laws, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the nation against terrorism. The Board consists of 4 part-time members and full-time chairman. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends $3,100,000 for the Board which is the same as the budget request. While the Board was authorized in 2007, the Board did not have any Members until 2012 and did not have a chairman until May 2013. The Committee is disappointed that the Administration took so many years to fill these oversight positions. The Committee expects the Board to conduct vigorous oversight over the Executive Branch and directs the Board to provide quarterly reports to the Committees on Appropriations and the Committees on the Judiciary describing the oversight activities of the Board during the previous quarter and those planned for the remainder of the fiscal year. Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $28,350,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 12,500,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 20,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -8,350,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +7,500,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board (Recovery Board) was authorized in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (Recovery Act). The Recovery Board is comprised of Inspectors General of agencies administering programs and overseeing spending authorized in the Recovery Act. The Recovery Board conducts and coordinates activities related to the accountability, transparency, and oversight of spending under the Recovery Act and oversees the administration of Recovery.gov, a website providing detailed information on the implementation of the Recovery Act. The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 extended the Board's authorization for two years and expanded its responsibilities to process, track, and oversee the $60.2 billion in Hurricane Sandy spending. In addition, the Board assists other government entities investigate fraud, waste, and abuse by providing data analytic support through the Board's Recovery Operations Center. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends $20,000,000 for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which is $7,500,000 more than the request. The Committee supports the Board's work to improve transparency and identify fraud, waste, and abuse in government spending. Securities and Exchange Commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $1,321,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 1,674,000,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 1,371,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +50,000,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -303,000,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The primary mission of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is to protect investors, maintain the integrity of the securities markets, and assure adequate information on the capital markets is made available to market participants and policy makers. This includes monitoring the rapid evolution of the capital markets, ensuring full disclosure of all appropriate financial information, regulating the Nation's securities markets, and preventing fraud and malpractice in the securities and financial markets. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,371,000,000 for the SEC for fiscal year 2014, which is $303,000,000 less than the request. The Committee designates not less than $7,092,000 for Office of Inspector General and $44,353,000 for the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis. Information Technology.--The Committee is supportive of the SEC's prioritization of robust and effective information technology (IT) systems within the Commission. The SEC has indicated the use of the Dodd-Frank mandatory Reserve Fund to support the Commission's IT initiatives. This fund is not overseen by Congress and it is left to the discretion of the Commission as to its use. The Committee believes emergency reserve funds should be used for natural disaster emergencies and other crises, not discretionary priorities within a Federal agency. While the Committee does not support the use of the Reserve Fund, an increase to IT funding is provided through the Commission's overall appropriation. The Committee's recommended funding level for the SEC increases the overall funding level by $50,000,000 specifically to support IT funding priorities. The Committee has restricted funds from the Reserve Fund from being used in Section 618. Economic Analysis.--Since 2001, the SEC's budget has increased almost 300 percent. Based on the increases Congress has provided, the Commission should be able to provide for comprehensive economic analysis before promulgating rules that affect the capital markets. It appears that thorough economic analysis has not always been done before Commission rulemakings, and courts have overturned SEC rules due to insufficient economic examination. As the agency in charge of overseeing capital markets, economic analysis should be a cornerstone to all agency rulemaking. The Committee's recommended funding level for the SEC fully funds the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis to support increased hiring of economists and economic analysis within the Commission to enhance the understanding of the economic impacts of SEC rulemakings. The Committee expects the Commission to expand this division and prioritize nonpartisan economic analysis as a fundamental part of the Commission's rulemaking process. Cross Border Derivatives.--The Committee believes that the rules regarding cross border derivatives should be promulgated jointly by the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The current lack of regulatory coordination between regulators does not provide a cohesive landscape for investors and foreign regulators. The Committee strongly encourages the SEC and CFTC to work swiftly toward rules that mirror one another and provide certainty to our financial markets. Money Market Funds.--The Committee has seen the proposed rules recently released by the Commission with regard to money market funds. The Committee expects that the final rules will take into account the substantive concerns of stakeholders who use these products for short term financing needs. Impairing or restricting the use of money market funds could potentially result in a decrease in the ability of these products to provide liquidity, potentially resulting in hundreds of market participants issuing longer-term debt, significantly increasing their funding costs, slowing expansion rates, and depressing job and economic growth. The Committee believes before the final rules are promulgated with respect to money market funds, rigorous economic analysis should be conducted. Specifically, the final rules should carefully consider how any proposed changes would affect: (1) investor returns and cash management efficiencies; (2) the borrowing costs for businesses and governments that access money markets for financing purposes; (3) the concentration and capacity among providers of short- term financing; and (4) efficiency, competition, and capital formation. Organizational Structure.--The Committee remains concerned that a lack of managerial accountability, focus, prioritization, and internal communication hampers the effectiveness of the SEC. The Committee has concurred with the recommendation put forth in the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report that the SEC must reorganize in order to become more efficient. While progress has been made in reorganizing certain offices, the Committee believes there is more to be done to make the Commission better able to respond to dynamic markets. The Committee directs the SEC to provide a report on a reorganization plan outlining areas of improvement. Within the report the Committee directs the SEC to undertake a review of the regional offices, as directed by the BCG report, and submit this review to the Committee no later than 90 days after enactment of this Act. This report should include whether consolidation of regional offices is warranted and feasible. Registration Threshold.--Congress intends for Title VI of the JOBS Act (P.L. 112-106) to apply to Savings and Loan holding companies defined by the Home Owners Loan Act. The Committee believes the Securities and Exchange Commission should use its existing authority pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to ensure this result. Disclosures.--Corporate disclosures are at the core of investor protection but, to be effective, disclosures must be timely, accurate, and understandable to both retail and institutional investors. Corporate disclosures should also be provided to investors in an easily accessible format. Voluminous, overly-complex, legalistic and immaterial corporate disclosures both increase investor confusion and discourage shareholder participation in important corporate governance matters. Recent SEC actions to improve investor access to corporate disclosures, including the new eXtensible business reporting language (XBRL) electronic data filing requirements, have so far been met with limited success. The Committee requests a report from the SEC within 90 days of this Act on (i) the SEC's efforts to update the Federal securities laws to ensure that investors are receiving timely, accurate, and meaningful corporate disclosures in an understandable and accessible format; (ii) the effects of unnecessary and burdensome corporate disclosure obligations on public companies; (iii) the SEC's efforts to appropriately scale disclosure requirements under the Federal securities laws for smaller public companies, which generally have fewer resources to devote toward costly compliance functions; and (iv) the SEC's efforts to permit public companies to issue a simplified or one-page summary of their quarterly and annual filings to enhance the retail investor's understanding of material information that is important to an investment decision. Rulemaking.--The Committee is concerned that rules promulgated by the SEC have been thrown out in court in part due to the Commission's failure to meet statutory requirements to thoroughly review the potential economic repercussions of its rules. This Committee believes that the Commission has an obligation to consider the effects of a new rule upon efficiency, competition, and capital formation. The Committee strongly encourages the Commission to undertake a review of the analysis used during the Commission's rulemaking process to be sure the tangible economic impacts of its rules are considered before issuing final rules. The Committee believes the SEC should undertake all statutory rulemakings of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) and the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act) before undertaking any discretionary rulemakings. The Committee directs the SEC to work cooperatively with the CFTC on all joint rulemakings as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Capital Formation.--The Committee believes the SEC should do more to facilitate capital formation. The Committee strongly encourages the SEC to prioritize and issue rule proposals, in addition to the provisions included in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (P.L. 112-106), to implement a majority of the recommendations made by the SEC's Government-Business Forum on Small Business and its Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies. The Committee also encourages the Securities and Exchange Commission to propose rules for public comment that would modernize the Business Development Company regulatory infrastructure. Selective Service System SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $23,984,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 24,134,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 23,500,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -484,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -634,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Selective Service System was established by the Selective Service Act of 1948. The mission of the System is to be prepared to supply manpower to the Armed Forces adequate to ensure the security of the United States during a time of national emergency. Since 1973, the Armed Forces have relied on volunteers to fill military manpower requirements, but selective service registration was reinstituted in July 1980. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $23,500,000 for the Selective Service System for fiscal year 2014, which is $634,000 less than the request. Small Business Administration The Small Business Administration (SBA) assists small businesses through programs involving loans, grants, and contracting preferences. These programs maintain and strengthen an economy that depends on small businesses for 60 to 80 percent of job creation. SBA programs also serve disadvantaged populations so that their small business enterprises may overcome economic and social obstacles to success. The recommendation provides a total of $896,942,000 for the SBA. This amount is $71,896,000 less than the request. Detailed guidance for the SBA appropriations accounts is presented below. SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $417,348,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 485,923,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 415,882,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,466,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -70,041,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends $415,882,000 for the salaries and expenses of the SBA, which is $70,041,000 less than the request. Within the amounts made available under this heading, the Committee recommendation provides $183,940,000 for the SBA non-credit business assistance programs, which is $26,400,000 less than the request. The Committee recommendations for non-credit business assistance, by program, are displayed in the following table: NON-CREDIT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS [In thousands of dollars] Small Business Development Centers............................ $112,500 Veterans Business Development................................. 2,500 SCORE......................................................... 7,000 Women's Business Centers...................................... 14,000 National Women's Business Council............................. 900 Microloan Technical Assistance................................ 20,000 Entrepreneurship Education.................................... 5,000 PRIME......................................................... 3,500 Native American Outreach...................................... 1,250 7(j) Technical Assistance..................................... 2,790 HUBZone....................................................... 2,500 Entrepreneurial Development Initiative (Clusters)............. 5,000 Boots to Business............................................. 7,000 Total, non-credit initiatives................................. 183,940 The SBA shall not reduce these non-credit programs from the amounts specified above and the SBA shall not merge any of the non-credit programs without advance written approval from the Committee. The Committee recommendation includes funding above the request level for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program, SCORE, Women's Business Centers, Microloan Technical Assistance, HUBZone, Native American Outreach, and PRIME. The Committee encourages the SBA to support small business development and entrepreneurship throughout the country by funding non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education that train and educate an entrepreneurial workforce and provide business development services designed to accelerate industry sectors that build regional assets. The Committee strongly supports the SBA's Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program and believes that it is a critical resource for distressed communities, especially during the current economic downturn. The Committee is aware that there are certain rural areas that are underutilized business areas, but are excluded from HUBZone designation based on the current program authorization. The Committee encourages the SBA to continue to examine ways to incorporate underutilized business areas into any future revisions of the Small Business Act. The Committee recognizes the value of the 8(a) program in assisting small and disadvantaged businesses to compete in the marketplace and provides sufficient funding to execute the mission of the 8(a) program. Additionally, as part of SBA's mission to provide business training and counseling to a wide diversity of geographic areas, demographic populations, and economic environments; the Committee encourages SBA to expand the presence of Women's Business Centers in the United States territories. The Committee strongly encourages the SBA to support efforts to ensure that minority- and women-owned businesses throughout the country are able to receive access to capital in order to facilitate job creation and strengthen our economy. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on duplicative programs found that SBA has not routinely conducted program evaluations for many of its economic development programs. According to the GAO report, only three of SBA's ten programs that provide technical assistance have undergone recent review and none of SBA's other nine financial assistance and government contracting programs have been reviewed on a regular basis. Regular performance evaluations are critical in measuring the success and utility of these programs for small businesses while also protecting the taxpayer's investment. The Committee expects SBA to conduct regular performance evaluations of its programs. The Committee directs SBA to report to the Committee within 60 days of enactment on its efforts to bring-to-date performance reviews on all of its economic programs and provide a plan for their continued review going forward. The Committee remains concerned about the quality of lender oversight at SBA. At the close of calendar year 2012, SBA's loan portfolio totaled $103 billion, yet SBA's loan programs depend on an array of outside parties to be executed. In fiscal year 2011, more than half of loan dollars guaranteed by the SBA were made using delegated authorities with limited oversight. A recent SBA Office of Inspector General report found lender oversight reviews are inadequate and that SBA often failed to recognize significant lender weaknesses and corresponding risk. The Committee expects SBA to adopt the recommendations included in the IG report and directs SBA to report to the Committee within 60 days of enactment of this Act on its efforts to implement GAO's recommendations. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $16,267,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 19,400,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 17,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +733,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -2,400,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends $17,000,000 for the Office of Inspector General of the SBA, which is $2,400,000 less than the request. In addition, $1,000,000 is made available by transfer from the Disaster Loans Program Account. OFFICE OF ADVOCACY Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $9,120,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 8,455,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 9,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -120,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. +545,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends $9,000,000 for the Office of Advocacy of the SBA, which is $545,000 more than the request. The Committee supports the Office's mission to reduce regulatory burdens that Federal policies impose on small businesses and maximize the benefits small businesses receive from the government. The Committee is disappointed that the Administration proposed reducing resources for the Office. BUSINESS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $485,236,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 263,160,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 263,160,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -222,076,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The SBA Business Loans Program serves as an important source of capital for America's small businesses. The recommendation supports the 7(a) business loan program, the 504 certified development company program, Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) debentures, and the Secondary Market Guarantee Program. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends a total of $263,160,000 for the Business Loans Program Account, which is equal to the request. Of the amount appropriated, $151,560,000 is for administrative expenses related to business loan programs. The amount provided for administrative expenses may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for SBA salaries and expenses to cover the common overhead expenses associated with business loans. The amount provided for loan subsidies is reduced from the fiscal year 2013 level because subsidy rates have declined. Therefore, the amount provided will support the same level of lending but requires fewer subsidy dollars. The recommendation includes $107,000,000 for the subsidy cost of the 504 certified development program. This funding will help to stimulate small business investment and will contribute to economic growth. The effect of small businesses on the economy is considerable. Firms employing fewer than 500 employees comprise about 99.7 percent of all businesses in the nation and employ roughly half of all private sector employees. The subsidy funding provided in this account will help to ensure the continued strength of the small business sector. The recommendation also includes $4,600,000 in loan subsidy for the Microloan Program. The amount provided is estimated to support $25,000,000 in microloans. The Committee notes the mission of the Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) program is to provide and manage surety bond guarantees for qualified small and emerging businesses, in direct partnership with surety companies and their agents, utilizing the most efficient and effective operational policies and procedures. The Committee is supportive of SBG's efforts to encourage surety companies to bond small businesses who otherwise would have difficulty obtaining bonding on their own. DISASTER LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $117,300,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 191,900,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 191,900,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... +74,600,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION As required by the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, the Congress is required to appropriate an amount sufficient to cover the subsidy costs associated with all direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments made in fiscal year 2014, as well as the administrative expenses of the loan programs. The Committee recommends a total of $191,900,000 for administrative expenses for fiscal year 2014, which is the same as the request. The Committee provides $1,000,000 for the Office of Inspector General for audits and reviews of the disaster loans program and $9,000,000 may be transferred to Salaries and Expenses for administrative expenses. When the budget request was submitted, it assumed sufficient prior year funds would be available to cover estimated subsidy costs. However, the Committee wants to ensure that there are sufficient funds available to meet the lending needs of eligible victims. Therefore, the Committee directs the SBA to continue providing updates on available resources for the disaster loans program on a monthly basis. The Committee funds this program within its discretionary allocation. The Administration proposed funding these costs with a disaster cap adjustment. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Section 519. The Committee continues a provision for the SBA authorizing transfers of up to five percent of any SBA appropriation to other appropriations, provided that transfers do not increase an appropriation by more than 10 percent. The provision also requires that transfers be treated as reprogrammings of funds. United States Postal Service PAYMENT TO THE POSTAL SERVICE FUND Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $78,153,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 70,751,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 70,751,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -7,402,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. - - - *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is funded almost entirely by Postal ratepayers rather than taxpayers. Funds provided to the Postal Service in the Payment to the Postal Service Fund include appropriations for revenue forgone in providing free mail for the blind, and for overseas absentee voting. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends appropriations totaling $70,751,000 for Payment to the Postal Service Fund, which is the same as the request. This is an advance appropriation for fiscal year 2015. The Committee includes language specifying that 6-day delivery and rural delivery of mail shall continue at not less than the 1983 level. The Committee is concerned by reports that the Postal Service is attempting to sell off many of its historic properties without regard for the preservation of these buildings. The Committee is particularly concerned that the Postal Service may not be following Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act in the relocation and sales process of these historic properties. The Committee notes that the Office of the Inspector General is currently conducting an investigation into whether the Postal Service is complying with its statutory and regulatory requirements in the relocation of services, closure, and sale of these types of properties. Until such an analysis is complete, the Committee believes the Postal Service should refrain from the relocation of services from historic post offices, and believes the Postal Service should suspend the sale of any historic post office. Office of Inspector General SALARIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $241,468,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 241,468,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 240,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -1,468,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,468,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts audits, reviews and investigations, and keeps Congress informed on the efficiency and economy of United States Postal Service (USPS) programs and operations. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $240,000,000, which is $1,468,000 less than the request. United States Tax Court SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriation, fiscal year 2013*...................... $51,079,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014...................... 52,653,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 51,000,000 Bill compared with: Appropriation, fiscal year 2013................... -79,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2014.................. -1,653,000 *FY13 Enacted level does not include the 251A sequester or Sec. 3004 OMB ATB. The U.S. Tax Court adjudicates controversies involving deficiencies in income, estate, and gift taxes. The Court also has jurisdiction to determine deficiencies in certain excise taxes, to issue declaratory judgments in the areas of qualifications of retirement plans and exemptions of charitable organizations, and to decide certain cases involving disclosure of tax information by the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends an appropriation of $51,000,000 for the U.S. Tax Court, which is $1,653,000 less than the request. TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS ACT Section 601. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting pay and other expenses for non-Federal parties in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act. Section 602. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting obligations beyond the current fiscal year and prohibits transfers of funds unless expressly so provided herein. Section 603. The Committee continues the provision limiting procurement contracts for consulting service expenditures to contracts that are matters of public record and available for public inspection. Section 604. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting transfer of funds in this Act without express authority. Section 605. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds to engage in activities that would prohibit the enforcement of section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act. Section 606. The Committee continues the provision concerning compliance with the Buy American Act. Section 607. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds by any person or entity convicted of violating the Buy American Act. Section 608. The Committee continues the provision specifying reprogramming procedures. The provision requires that agencies or entities funded by the Act notify the Committee and obtain prior approval from the Committee for any reprogramming of funds that: (1) creates a new program; (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel for any program, project, or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted by the Congress; (4) proposes to use funds directed for a specific activity by either the House or Senate Committees on Appropriations for a different purpose; (5) augments existing programs, projects, or activities in excess of $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; (6) reduces existing programs, projects, or activities by $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; or (7) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities. The provision directs agencies funded by this Act to consult with the Committee prior to any significant reorganization. The provision also directs the agencies funded by this Act to submit operating plans for the Committee's review within 60 days of the bill's enactment. Section 609. The Committee continues the provision providing that fifty percent of unobligated balances may remain available for certain purposes. Section 610. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting funding for the Executive Office of the President to request a Federal Bureau of Investigation background investigation except with the express consent of the individual involved or in extraordinary circumstances involving national security. Section 611. The Committee continues the provision regarding cost accounting standards for contracts under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. Section 612. The Committee continues the provision regarding non-foreign area cost of living allowances. Section 613. The Committee includes language prohibiting the expenditure of funds for abortion. Section 614. The Committee continues the provision making exceptions to the preceding provision where the life of the mother is in danger or the pregnancy is a result of an act of rape or incest. Section 615. The Committee continues the provision carried annually since 2004 waiving restrictions on the purchase of non-domestic articles, materials, and supplies in the case of acquisition of information technology by the Federal Government. Section 616. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting officers or employees of any regulatory agency or commission funded by this Act from accepting travel payments or reimbursements from a person or entity regulated by such agency or commission. Section 617. The Committee continues the provision permitting the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodities Futures Trading Commission to fund a joint advisory committee to advise on emerging regulatory issues, notwithstanding Section 708 of this Act. Section 618. The Committee includes language prohibiting the obligation of funds in fiscal year 2014 from the Securities and Exchange Commission Reserve Fund established by the Dodd- Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Committee believes the Commission should request the level of funding it believes is necessary in any given fiscal year and not have access to reserve funding that is outside of the Congressional review process. Section 619. The Committee continues the provision requiring certain agencies to provide quarterly reports on unobligated prior year balances after the end of the quarter. Section 620. The Committee continues the provision that requires certain agencies in this Act to consult with the General Services Administration before seeking new office space or making alterations to existing office space. Section 621. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting funds for the Federal Trade Commission to complete the draft report entitled ``Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children: Preliminary Proposed Nutrition Principles to Guide Industry Self-Regulatory Efforts'' unless the Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children complies with Executive Order 13563, including the requirement in it to provide quantified present and future benefits and costs. Section 622. The Committee modifies the provision prohibiting funding for certain czars including the White House Director of the Office of Health Reform, the Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury assigned to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and Senior Counselor for Manufacturing Policy, and the White House Director of Urban Affairs, or any substantially similar positions. Section 623. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting funds from being used by any agency in this Act for any new hires not verified through the E-Verify Program established under section 403(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note). Section 624. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting funding made available by this Act to be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. Section 625. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting funding made available by this Act to be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any corporation that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. Section 626. The Committee includes language providing for several appropriated mandatory accounts. These are accounts where authorizing language requires the payment of funds. The budget request assumes the following estimated cost for the programs addressed in this provision: $450,000 for Compensation of the President including $50,000 for expenses, $126,931,000 for the Judicial Retirement Funds (Judicial Officers' Retirement Fund, Judicial Survivors' Annuities Fund, and the United States Court of Federal Claims Judges' Retirement Fund), $11,404,000,000 for the Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Health Benefits, $53,000,000 for the Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Life Insurance, and $9,178,000,000 for Payment to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. In addition, language is included for certain retirement, healthcare and survivor benefits required by 3 U.S.C. 102 note. Section 627. The Committee includes language which amends the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to allow for a greater number of States and municipalities to qualify for the program. Section 628. The Committee includes a provision directing the Comptroller General to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Section 629. The Committee includes language requiring certain regulatory agencies to provide a report on increasing public participation in rulemaking, improving coordination among Federal agencies, and identifying ineffective or excessively burdensome regulations. Section 630. The Committee includes language prohibiting agencies within this Act from spending funds on travel, conferences, or employee awards programs that are not authorized by Federal law, regulation, or Executive Order. No later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, each Inspector General of a department or agency, board or commission, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, or senior ethics official in agencies without inspectors general funded by this Act shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate as to whether the entity concerned has effective procedures in place to ensure compliance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and Executive Orders on travel, conferences, and employee awards programs. Section 631. The Committee includes a provision limiting funds made available for terrestrial broadband operations. Section 632. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting funds to be used to eliminate or reduce funding for a program or project unless such change is made pursuant to reprogramming or transfer provisions. Section 633. The Committee includes new language authorizing the Office of Personnel Management's Inspector General to access funds from the Office of Personnel Management's revolving fund to conduct oversight of revolving fund activities. Section 634. The bill includes a provision directing the Secretary of the Treasury and the Administrator of the General Services Administration, working with the Government Accountability Office, to provide a comprehensive report that provides updated performance metrics that are measurable, repeatable, and directly linked to requests for funding. Performance measures in future budget justifications should clearly demonstrate the extent to which prior year investments in programs, projects and activities can be tied to progress toward achieving priority goals and include estimates for how proposed investments will contribute to additional progress. In particular, performance measures should measure outcome (results and impact), output (volume), and efficiency. TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS, GOVERNMENT-WIDE Departments, Agencies, and Corporations (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Section 701. The Committee continues the provision requiring agencies to administer a policy designed to ensure that all of its workplaces are free from the illegal use of controlled substances. Section 702. The Committee continues the provision establishing price limitations on vehicles to be purchased by the Federal Government with an exemption for the purchase of electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Section 703. The Committee continues the provision allowing funds made available to agencies for travel to also be used for quarter allowances and cost-of-living allowances. Section 704. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting the employment of noncitizens. Section 705. The Committee continues the provision giving agencies the authority to pay General Services Administration bills for space renovation and other services. Section 706. The Committee continues the provision allowing agencies to finance the costs of recycling and waste prevention programs with proceeds from the sale of materials recovered through such programs. Section 707. The Committee continues the provision providing that funds made available to corporations and agencies subject to 31 U.S.C. 91 may pay rent and other service costs in the District of Columbia. Section 708. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting interagency financing of groups absent prior statutory approval. Section 709. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds for enforcing regulations disapproved in accordance with the applicable law of the U.S. Section 710. The Committee continues the provision limiting the amount of funds that can be used for redecoration of offices under certain circumstances. Section 711. The Committee continues, with technical adjustments, the provision to allow for interagency funding of national security and emergency telecommunications initiatives. Section 712. The Committee continues the provision requiring agencies to certify that a Schedule C appointment was not created solely or primarily to detail the employee to the White House. Section 713. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting the payment of any employee who prohibits, threatens or prevents another employee from communicating with Congress. Section 714. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting Federal training not directly related to the performance of official duties. Section 715. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting, other than for normal and recognized executive- legislative relationships, propaganda, publicity and lobbying by executive agency personnel in support or defeat of legislative initiatives. Section 716. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting any Federal agency from disclosing an employee's home address to any labor organization, absent employee authorization or court order. Section 717. The Committee continues the provision, with a modification, prohibiting funds to be used to provide non- public information such as mailing, telephone, or electronic mailing lists to any person or organization outside the government without the approval of the Committees on Appropriations. Section 718. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds for propaganda and publicity purposes not authorized by Congress. Section 719. The Committee continues the provision directing agency employees to use official time in an honest effort to perform official duties. Section 720. The Committee continues the provision authorizing the use of funds to finance an appropriate share of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board. Section 721. The Committee continues the provision authorizing agencies to transfer $17,000,000 to the Government- wide Policy account of General Services Administration to finance an appropriate share of various government-wide boards and councils. Section 722. The Committee continues the provision that permits breast feeding in a Federal building or on Federal property if the woman and child are authorized to be there. Section 723. The Committee continues the provision that permits interagency funding of the National Science and Technology Council and provides for a report on the budget and resources of the National Science and Technology Council. The report should include the entire budget of the National Science and Technology Council. Section 724. The Committee continues the provision requiring documents involving the distribution of Federal funds to indicate the agency providing the funds and the amount provided. Section 725. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds to monitor personal access or use of Internet sites or to collect, review, or obtain any personally identifiable information relating to access to or use of an Internet site. Section 726. The Committee continues a provision requiring health plans participating in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program to provide contraceptive coverage and provides exemptions to certain religious plans. Section 727. The Committee continues language supporting strict adherence to anti-doping activities. Section 728. The Committee continues a provision allowing funds for official travel to be used by departments and agencies, if consistent with OMB Circular A-126, to participate in the fractional aircraft ownership pilot program. Section 729. The Committee continues a provision prohibiting funds for implementation of Office of Personnel Management regulations limiting detailees to the Legislative Branch, and implementing limitations on the Coast Guard Congressional Fellowship Program. Section 730. The Committee continues the provision that restricts the use of funds for Federal law enforcement training facilities. Section 731. The Committee continues the provision that prohibits Executive Branch agencies from creating prepackaged news stories that are broadcast or distributed in the United States unless the story includes a clear notification within the text or audio of that news story that the prepackaged news story was prepared or funded by that executive branch agency. This provision confirms the opinion of the Government Accountability Office dated February 17, 2005 (B-304272). Section 732. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting use of funds in contravention of section 552a of title 5, United States Code (the Privacy Act) and regulations implementing that section. Section 733. The Committee continues the provision prohibiting funds from being used for any Federal Government contract with any foreign incorporated entity which is treated as an inverted domestic corporation. Section 734. The Committee continues the provision requiring agencies to pay a fee to the Office of Personnel Management for processing retirement of employees who separate under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or who receive Voluntary Separation Incentive payments. Section 735. The Committee includes language prohibiting funds to require any entity submitting an offer for a Federal contract or participating in an acquisition to disclose political contributions. Section 736. The Committee includes language prohibiting funds for the painting of a portrait of an employee of the Federal government including the President, the Vice President, a Member of Congress, the head of an executive branch agency, or the head of an office of the legislative branch. Section 737. The Committee continues the provision concerning the non-application of these general provisions to title IV and to title VIII. Section 738. The Committee includes language that would prohibit funding in the bill to pay more than 75 percent of the salary of the Commissioner and any Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue if the Internal Revenue Service agency does not comply with certain Inspector General recommendations by July 1, 2014. TITLE VIII--GENERAL PROVISIONS--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) Section 801. The Committee continues language that appropriates funds for refunding overpayments of taxes collected and for paying settlements and judgments against the District of Columbia government. Section 802. The Committee continues language prohibiting the use of Federal funds for publicity or propaganda purposes. Section 803. The Committee continues the provision that establishes reprogramming procedures for Federal and local funds. Section 804. The Committee continues language prohibiting the use of Federal funds to provide salaries or other costs associated with the offices of United States Senator or Representative. Section 805. The Committee continues language restricting the use of official vehicles to official duties. Section 806. The Committee continues language prohibiting the use of Federal funds for any petition drive or civil action which seeks to require Congress to provide for voting representation in Congress for the District of Columbia. Section 807. The Committee includes language prohibiting the use of Federal funds for needle exchange programs. Section 808. The Committee continues language providing for a ``conscience clause'' on legislation that pertains to contraceptive coverage by health insurance plans. Section 809. The Committee continues language prohibiting the use of Federal funds to legalize or reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution on any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative. Section 810. The Committee continues the provision that prohibits the use of funds for abortion except in the cases of rape or incest or if necessary to save the life of the mother. Section 811. The Committee continues the provision requiring the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to submit a revised operating budget for all agencies in the D.C. government, no later than 30 calendar days after the enactment of this Act that realigns budgeted data with anticipated actual expenditures. Section 812. The Committee continues the provision requiring the CFO to submit a revised operating budget for D.C. Public Schools, no later than 30 calendar days after the enactment of this Act, that realigns school budgets to actual school enrollment. Section 813. The Committee modifies a provision allowing the transfer of local funds and capital and enterprise funds. Section 814. The Committee includes language prohibiting the obligation of Federal funds beyond the current fiscal year and transfers of funds unless expressly provided herein. Section 815. The Committee includes language to provide that not to exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances from Federal appropriations for salaries and expenses may remain available for certain purposes. This provision will apply to the District of Columbia Courts, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency and the District of Columbia Public Defender Service. Section 816. The Committee continues the provision which limits references to ``this Act'' as referring to only this title and title IV. Section 817. The Committee includes a sense of Congress that the Congress should not pass any legislation that authorizes spending cuts that would increase poverty in the United States. TITLE IX--ADDITIONAL GENERAL PROVISIONS Section 901. The Committee includes language prohibiting funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission to require the disclosure of political contributions, contributions to tax exempt organizations, or dues paid to trade associations. Section 902. The Committee includes language prohibiting funds for the collection of certain wire and electronic communication without a warrant. Section 903. The Committee includes language prohibiting funds for the Internal Revenue Service to target groups for regulatory scrutiny based on their political beliefs and prohibiting funds to issue regulations, revenue rulings, or interpretative guidance relating to the primary purpose standard for purposes of determining an organization's tax exempt status under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. SPENDING REDUCTION ACCOUNT Section 904. The Committee includes a provision establishing a ``Spending Reduction Account'' in the bill. House of Representatives Report Requirements The following items are included in accordance with various requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives: Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following is a statement of general performance goals and objectives for which this measure authorizes funding: The Committee on Appropriations considers program performance, including a program's success in developing and attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing funding recommendations. Rescission of Funds Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table is submitted describing the rescissions recommended in the accompanying bill: Treasury Forfeiture Fund.............................. $1,219,000,000 Transfer of Funds Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following is submitted describing the transfer of funds provided in the accompanying bill: UNDER TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Under the Department of the Treasury, ``Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Salaries and Expenses'', unobligated balances associated with these activities under the Departmental Offices heading shall be transferred and merged with this account. Section 101 allows the transfer of five percent of any appropriation (or three percent of Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ``Enforcement'') made available to the IRS to any other IRS appropriation, subject to prior congressional approval. Section 114 authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between Departmental Offices, Office of Inspector General, Special Inspector General for Troubled Asset Relief Program, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund appropriations under certain circumstances. Section 115 authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between the IRS and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration under certain circumstances. Section 117 authorizes the transfer of funds from the ``Bureau of the Fiscal Service'' to the ``Debt Collection Fund'' as necessary to cover the cost of debt collection. UNDER TITLE II--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Language is included under Federal Drug Control Programs, ``High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program'', which allows for the transfer of funds to Federal departments or agencies and State and local entities. Language is included under ``Other Federal Drug Control Programs'', allowing the transfer of funds to other Federal departments and agencies to carry out activities. Language is included under ``Information Technology Oversight and Reform'', allowing the transfer of funds to other agencies to carry out projects. Language is included under the Official Residence of the Vice President, ``Operating Expenses'', allowing the transfer of funds to other Federal departments or agencies. Section 201 permits the Executive Office of the President to transfer up to 10 percent of any appropriation, subject to approval of the Committee. UNDER TITLE III--THE JUDICIARY Language is included under ``Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services, Court Security'', allowing funds to be transferred to the United States Marshals Service for courthouse security. Section 302 permits the Judiciary to transfer up to five percent of any appropriation with certain limitations. UNDER TITLE V--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES Under Title V, Independent Agencies, a number of transfers are allowed. (1) Under the General Services Administration, amounts may be transferred within the Federal Buildings Fund after approval of the Committee. (2) Under the General Services Administration, ``Information and Engagement for Citizens'', transfers are allowed from the Federal Citizens Services Fund to Federal agencies. (3) Under Merit Systems Protection Board, an amount is transferred from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. (4) Under Office of Personnel Management, amounts from certain trust funds are transferred to the Salaries and Expenses and Office of Inspector General accounts for administrative expenses; (5) Under the Postal Regulatory Commission, amounts are transferred from the Postal Service Fund; (6) Under Small Business Administration, Business Loans Program Account, amounts may be transferred to and merged with Salaries and Expenses. (7) Under Small Business Administration, Disaster Loans Program Account, amounts may be transferred to and merged with the Office of Inspector General, and Salaries and Expenses. (8) Under Administrative Provision-Small Business Administration, amounts may be transferred between appropriations of the Small Business Administration. (9) Under United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, amounts are transferred from the Postal Service Fund. UNDER TITLE VII--GOVERNMENT-WIDE Section 721 authorizes departments and agencies to transfer funds to the General Services Administration to support certain financial, information technology, procurement and other management initiatives. UNDER TITLE VIII--GENERAL PROVISIONS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Section 803 authorizes the District of Columbia to transfer local funds and section 813 allows transfer funds between operations and capital accounts. Disclosure of Earmarks and Congressionally Directed Spending Items Neither the bill nor the report contains any Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. Compliance With Rule XIII, Cl. 3(e) (Ramseyer Rule) In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (Public Law 111-203) * * * * * * * TITLE I--FINANCIAL STABILITY * * * * * * * Subtitle B--Office of Financial Research * * * * * * * SEC. 155. FUNDING. (a) * * * (b) Use of Funds.-- (1) In general.--Funds obtained by, transferred to, or credited to the Financial Research Fund shall be [immediately] available to the Office as provided for in appropriations acts, and shall remain available until expended, to pay the expenses of the Office in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Office. [(2) Fees, assessments, and other funds not government funds.--Funds obtained by, transferred to, or credited to the Financial Research Fund shall not be construed to be Government funds or appropriated moneys.] [(3)] (2) Amounts not subject to apportionment.-- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts in the Financial Research Fund shall not be subject to apportionment for purposes of chapter 15 of title 31, United States Code, or under any other authority, or for any other purpose. * * * * * * * (d) [Permanent Self-funding] Assessment Schedule.--Beginning 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish, by regulation, and with the approval of the Council, an assessment schedule, including the assessment base and rates, applicable to bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of 50,000,000,000 or greater and nonbank financial companies supervised by the Board of Governors, that takes into account differences among such companies, based on the considerations for establishing the prudential standards under section 115, to collect assessments equal to the total expenses of the Office. * * * * * * * TITLE X--BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION * * * * * * * Subtitle A--Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection * * * * * * * SEC. 1017. FUNDING; PENALTIES AND FINES. (a) Transfer of Funds From Board Of Governors.-- (1) In general.--Each year (or quarter of such year), beginning on the designated transfer date, and each quarter thereafter, the Board of Governors shall transfer to the Bureau from the combined earnings of the Federal Reserve System, the amount determined by the Director to be reasonably necessary to carry out the authorities of the Bureau under Federal consumer financial law, taking into account such other sums made available to the Bureau from the preceding year (or quarter of such year). (2) Funding cap.-- (A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), and in accordance with this paragraph, the amount that shall be transferred to the Bureau in each fiscal year shall not exceed a fixed percentage of the total operating expenses of the Federal Reserve System, as reported in the Annual Report, 2009, of the Board of Governors, equal to-- (i) 10 percent of such expenses in fiscal year 2011; (ii) 11 percent of such expenses in fiscal year 2012; and (iii) 12 percent of such expenses in fiscal year 2013, and in each year thereafter. (B) Adjustment of amount.--The dollar amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be adjusted annually, using the percent increase, if any, in the employment cost index for total compensation for State and local government workers published by the Federal Government, or the successor index thereto, for the 12-month period ending on September 30 of the year preceding the transfer. [(C) Reviewability.--Notwithstanding any other provision in this title, the funds derived from the Federal Reserve System pursuant to this subsection shall not be subject to review by the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.] (3) Transition period.--Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and until the designated transfer date, the Board of Governors shall transfer to the Bureau the amount estimated by the Secretary needed to carry out the authorities granted to the Bureau under Federal consumer financial law, from the date of enactment of this Act until the designated transfer date. (4) Budget and financial management.-- (A) Financial operating plans and forecasts.--The Director shall provide to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget copies of the financial operating plans and forecasts of the Director, as prepared by the Director in the ordinary course of the operations of the Bureau, and copies of the quarterly reports of the financial condition and results of operations of the Bureau, as prepared by the Director in the ordinary course of the operations of the Bureau. (B) Financial statements.--The Bureau shall prepare annually a statement of-- (i) assets and liabilities and surplus or deficit; (ii) income and expenses; and (iii) sources and application of funds. (C) Financial management systems.--The Bureau shall implement and maintain financial management systems that comply substantially with Federal financial management systems requirements and applicable Federal accounting standards. (D) Assertion of internal controls.--The Director shall provide to the Comptroller General of the United States an assertion as to the effectiveness of the internal controls that apply to financial reporting by the Bureau, using the standards established in section 3512(c) of title 31, United States Code. (E) Rule of construction.--This subsection may not be construed as implying any obligation on the part of the Director to consult with or obtain the consent or approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget with respect to any report, plan, forecast, or other information referred to in subparagraph (A) or any jurisdiction or oversight over the affairs or operations of the Bureau. (F) Financial statements.--The financial statements of the Bureau shall not be consolidated with the financial statements of either the Board of Governors or the Federal Reserve System. (5) Audit of the bureau.-- (A) In general.--The Comptroller General shall annually audit the financial transactions of the Bureau in accordance with the United States generally accepted government auditing standards, as may be prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United States. The audit shall be conducted at the place or places where accounts of the Bureau are normally kept. The representatives of the Government Accountability Office shall have access to the personnel and to all books, accounts, documents, papers, records (including electronic records), reports, files, and all other papers, automated data, things, or property belonging to or under the control of or used or employed by the Bureau pertaining to its financial transactions and necessary to facilitate the audit, and such representatives shall be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians. All such books, accounts, documents, records, reports, files, papers, and property of the Bureau shall remain in possession and custody of the Bureau. The Comptroller General may obtain and duplicate any such books, accounts, documents, records, working papers, automated data and files, or other information relevant to such audit without cost to the Comptroller General, and the right of access of the Comptroller General to such information shall be enforceable pursuant to section 716(c) of title 31, United States Code. (B) Report.--The Comptroller General shall submit to the Congress a report of each annual audit conducted under this subsection. The report to the Congress shall set forth the scope of the audit and shall include the statement of assets and liabilities and surplus or deficit, the statement of income and expenses, the statement of sources and application of funds, and such comments and information as may be deemed necessary to inform Congress of the financial operations and condition of the Bureau, together with such recommendations with respect thereto as the Comptroller General may deem advisable. A copy of each report shall be furnished to the President and to the Bureau at the time submitted to the Congress. (C) Assistance and costs.--For the purpose of conducting an audit under this subsection, the Comptroller General may, in the discretion of the Comptroller General, employ by contract, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (41 U.S.C. 5), professional services of firms and organizations of certified public accountants for temporary periods or for special purposes. Upon the request of the Comptroller General, the Director of the Bureau shall transfer to the Government Accountability Office from funds available, the amount requested by the Comptroller General to cover the full costs of any audit and report conducted by the Comptroller General. The Comptroller General shall credit funds transferred to the account established for salaries and expenses of the Government Accountability Office, and such amount shall be available upon receipt and without fiscal year limitation to cover the full costs of the audit and report. * * * * * * * ---------- SECTION 203 OF THE JUDICIAL IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1990 SEC. 203. DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS. (a) * * * * * * * * * * (c) Temporary Judgeships.--The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate-- (1) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of California; (2) 1 additional district judge for the district of Hawaii; (3) 1 additional district judge for the central district of Illinois; (4) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of Illinois; (5) 1 additional district judge for the district of Kansas; (6) 1 additional district judge for the western district of Michigan; (7) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of Missouri; (8) 1 additional district judge for the district of Nebraska; (9) 1 additional district judge for the northern district of New York; (10) 1 additional district judge for the northern district of Ohio; (11) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of Pennsylvania; and (12) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of Virginia. Except with respect to the district of Kansas, the western district of Michigan, the eastern district of Pennsylvania, the district of Hawaii, and the northern district of Ohio, the first vacancy in the office of district judge in each of the judicial districts named in this subsection, occurring 10 years or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created by this subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the district of Kansas occurring [22 years and 6 months] 23 years and 6 months or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created for such district under this subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the western district of Michigan, occurring after December 1, 1995, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the eastern district of Pennsylvania, occurring 5 years or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created for such district under this subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the northern district of Ohio occurring 19 years or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created under this subsection shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of the district judge in the district of Hawaii occurring 19 years and 6 months or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created under this subsection shall not be filled. For districts named in this subsection for which multiple judgeships are created by this Act, the last of those judgeships filled shall be the judgeships created under this section. * * * * * * * ---------- SECTION 406 OF THE TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE JUDICIARY, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, OF 2006 Sec. 406. The existing judgeship for the eastern district of Missouri authorized by section 203(c) of the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-650, 104 Stat. 5089) as amended by Public Law 105-53, as of the effective date of this Act, shall be extended. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in this district occurring [20 years and 6 months] 21 years and 6 months or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary judgeship created by section 203(c) shall not be filled. ---------- 21ST CENTURY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT * * * * * * * DIVISION A--21ST CENTURY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT * * * * * * * TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS * * * * * * * SEC. 312. ADDITIONAL FEDERAL JUDGESHIPS. (a) * * * * * * * * * * (c) Temporary Judgeships.-- (1) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate-- (A) 1 additional district judge for the northern district of Alabama; (B) 1 additional judge for the district of Arizona; (C) 1 additional judge for the central district of California; (D) 1 additional judge for the southern district of Florida; (E) 1 additional district judge for the district of New Mexico; (F) 1 additional district judge for the western district of North Carolina; and (G) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of Texas. (2) Vacancies not filled.--The first vacancy in the office of district judge in each of the offices of district judge authorized by this subsection, except in the case of the central district of California and the western district of North Carolina, occurring [11] 12 years or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary district judgeship created in the applicable district by this subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the central district of California occurring [10 years and 6 months] 11 years and 6 months or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary district judgeship created in that district by this subsection, shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of district judge in the western district of North Carolina occurring 10 years or more after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary district judgeship created in that district by this subsection, shall not be filled. (3) Effective date.--This subsection shall take effect on July 15, 2003. * * * * * * * ---------- VIRGINIA GRAEME BAKER POOL AND SPA SAFETY ACT TITLE XIV--POOL AND SPA SAFETY * * * * * * * SEC. 1405. STATE SWIMMING POOL SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM. (a) * * * (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under the program, a State shall-- (1) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commission that it has a State statute, or that, after the date of enactment of this title, it has enacted a statute, or amended an existing statute, and provides for the enforcement of, a law that-- (A) except as provided in section 1406(a)(1)(A)(i), applies to [all swimming pools constructed after the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2012 in the State] all swimming pools constructed in the State after the date the State submits an application to the Commission for a grant under this section; and (B) meets the minimum State law requirements of section 1406; and (2) submit an application to the Commission at such time, in such form, and containing such additional information as the Commission may require. * * * * * * * (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--[There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010 $2,000,000 to carry out this section, such sums to remain available until expended.] There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section through fiscal year 2016. Any amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection that remain unexpended and unobligated at the end of [fiscal year 2012] fiscal year 2016 shall be retained by the Commission and credited to the appropriations account that funds enforcement of the Consumer Product Safety Act. SEC. 1406. MINIMUM STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS. (a) In General.-- (1) Safety standards.--A State meets the minimum State law requirements of this section if-- (A) the State requires by statute-- (i) the enclosure of all outdoor residential pools and spas by barriers to entry that will effectively prevent small children from gaining unsupervised and unfettered access to the pool or spa; and [(ii) that all pools and spas be equipped with devices and systems designed to prevent entrapment by pool or spa drains;] [(iii)] (ii) that pools and spas built more than 1 year after the date of the enactment of such statute have-- (I) more than 1 drain; (II) 1 or more unblockable drains; or (III) no main drain; and [(iv) every swimming pool and spa that has a main drain, other than an unblockable drain, be equipped with a drain cover that meets the consumer product safety standard established by section 1404; and [(v) that periodic notification is provided to owners of residential swimming pools or spas about compliance with the entrapment protection standards of the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 performance standard, or any successor standard; and] (B) the State meets such additional State law requirements for pools and spas as the Commission may establish after public notice and a 30-day public comment period. [(2) No liability inference associated with state notification requirement.--The minimum State law notification requirement under paragraph (1)(A)(v) shall not be construed to imply any liability on the part of a State related to that requirement.] [(3)] (2) Use of minimum state law requirements.--The Commission-- (A) shall use the minimum State law requirements under paragraph (1) solely for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a State for a grant under section 1405 of this Act; and (B) may not enforce any requirement under paragraph (1) except for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a State for a grant under section 1405 of this Act. [(4)] (3) Requirements to reflect national performance standards and commission guidelines.--In establishing minimum State law requirements under [paragraph (1)] paragraph (1)(B), the Commission shall-- (A) consider current or revised national performance standards on pool and spa barrier protection and entrapment prevention; and (B) ensure that any such requirements are consistent with the guidelines contained in the Commission's publication 362, entitled ``Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools'', the Commission's publication entitled ``Guidelines for Entrapment Hazards: Making Pools and Spas Safer'', and any other pool safety guidelines established by the Commission. * * * * * * * Changes in the Application of Existing Law Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted describing the effect of provisions proposed in the accompanying bill which may be considered, under certain circumstances, to change the application of existing law, either directly or indirectly. The bill provides that appropriations shall remain available for more than one year for a number of programs for which the basic authorizing legislation does not explicitly authorize such extended availability. In addition, the bill carries language, in some instances, permitting activities not authorized by law, or exempting agencies from certain provisions of law, but which has been carried in appropriations acts for many years. The bill includes several limitations on official entertainment, reception and representation expenses. Similar provisions have appeared in many previous appropriations Acts. The bill includes a number of limitations on the purchase of automobiles or office furnishings that also have appeared in many previous appropriations Acts. Language is included in several instances permitting certain funds to be credited to the appropriations recommended. Language is also included in several instances permitting funding for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and for the hire of passenger motor vehicles. Title I--Department of the Treasury Language is included for Departmental Offices, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for operation and maintenance of the Treasury Building Annex; hire of passenger motor vehicles; maintenance, repairs, and improvements of, and purchase of commercial insurance policies for real properties leased or owned overseas; the Office of Public Affairs and the Office of Legislative Affairs; official reception and representation expenses; unforeseen emergencies of a confidential nature; contributions to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for the Department's participation in programs related to global tax administration; information technology modernization requirements; Treasury- wide financial audits; cybersecurity; critical infrastructure protection and compliance policy programs; and the period of availability. Language is included for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, ``Salaries and Expenses'' that provides funds combating threats to national security and secure space. Language is also included that limits the availability of certain amounts and transfers funds. Language is included for the Office of Inspector General, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, including official reception and representation expenses, the hire of vehicles, and specifies the period of availability for certain funds and provides funds for unforeseen emergencies of a confidential nature. Language is included for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, including consulting services, official reception and representation expenses, the purchase and hire of motor vehicles, unforeseen emergencies of a confidential nature and specifies the period of availability for certain funds. Language is included for the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for the necessary expenses of the SIGTARP in carrying out the provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343). Language is included for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for the hire of motor vehicles; travel and training of non-federal and foreign government personnel attending meetings involving domestic or foreign financial law enforcement, intelligence, and regulation; official reception and representation expenses; and assistance to Federal law enforcement agencies with or without reimbursement. Language is also included that limits the availability of certain amounts. Language is included under the heading ``Treasury Forfeiture Fund'' rescinding certain funds. Language is included for the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides a certain amount for official reception and representation expenses, limits the availability for systems modernization funds, and limits the availability for funds related to the consolidation of the Financial Management Service and the Bureau of the Public Debt. Language is also included specifying an amount to be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Language is included for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for the hire of passenger motor vehicles and laboratory assistance to State and local agencies with or without reimbursement. Language is also included that specifies the amounts for official reception and representation expenses and cooperative research and development. Language is included for the U.S. Mint, ``United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund'', which identifies the source of funding for the operations and activities of the U.S. Mint and specifies the level of funding for circulating coinage and protective service capital investments. Language is included for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Program Account that provides specific amounts for: Native American initiatives, administrative expenses, and the cost of direct loans. Language is included clarifying the cost of direct loans and the cost of modifying direct loans, and specifying the limitation on gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans. Language is included under Internal Revenue Service, ``Taxpayer Services'', that provides funds for pre-filing assistance and education, filing and account services, and taxpayer advocacy services, implementation of the tax credit in title II of division A of the Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-210), and dedicating funding for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program, low-income taxpayer clinic grants, and Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grants. Language is included for Internal Revenue Service, ``Enforcement'', that provides funds to determine and collect owed taxes, provide legal and litigation support, conduct criminal investigations, enforce criminal statutes, purchase and hire of vehicles; funding for the Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement program; and funding for training. Language is included limiting certain funds until certain inspector general recommendations are implemented. Language is included for the Internal Revenue Service, ``Operations Support'', that provides funds for operating and supporting taxpayer services and tax law enforcement programs; rent; facilities services; printing; postage; physical security; headquarters and other IRS-wide administration activities; research and statistics of income; telecommunications; information technology development, enhancement, operations, maintenance, and security; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and official reception and representation expenses. Language is included specifying the period of availability for certain funds and requiring reports on information technology. Language is included for Internal Revenue Service, ``Business Systems Modernization'', that provides for the business systems modernization program, including capital asset acquisition of information technology, including management and related contractual costs and IRS labor costs of said acquisitions, contractual costs associated with operations, places certain restrictions on the use of the funds and requires quarterly reports. In addition, the bill provides the following administrative provisions: Section 101. Language is included that allows for the transfer of five percent (three percent in the case of Enforcement) of any appropriation made available to the IRS to any other IRS appropriation, upon the advance approval of the Committees on Appropriations. Section 102. Language is included that requires the IRS to maintain a training program in taxpayers' rights, dealing courteously with taxpayers, cross-cultural relations, and the impartial application of tax law; and requires a report on IRS training. Section 103. Language is included that requires the IRS to institute and enforce policies and procedures that will safeguard the confidentiality of taxpayer information and protect taxpayers against identity theft. Section 104. Language is included that makes funds available for improved facilities and increased staffing to provide efficient and effective 1-800 number help line service for taxpayers. Section 105. Language is included that provides the IRS's authority to hire experts and consultants. Section 106. Language is included prohibiting funds made available in the healthcare reform act from being transferred to the IRS for implementing the healthcare reform act. Section 107. Language is included prohibiting funds from being used to implement the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act. Section 108. Language is included requiring videos produced by the IRS to be approved in advance by the Service-Wide Video Editorial Board. Section 109. Language is included prohibiting funds for employee awards until IRS submits a report on employee salaries and awards and an evaluation of its employee awards program. Section 110. Language is included prohibiting funds for conferences until IRS implements recommendations from a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration audit. Section 111. Language is included requiring IRS to submit an organization, mission, and functions manual with its budget request. Section 112. Language is included requiring IRS spending reports. Section 113. Language is included that authorizes the Department to purchase uniforms, insurance for motor vehicles that are overseas, and motor vehicles that are overseas without regard to the general purchase price limitations; to enter into contracts with the State Department for health and medical services for Treasury employees that are overseas; and to hire experts or consultants. Section 114. Language is included that authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between ``Departmental Offices-- Salaries and Expenses'', ``Office of Inspector General'', ``Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program'', ``Financial Crimes Enforcement Network'', ``Bureau of the Fiscal Service'', ``Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau'' and ``Community Development Financial Institutions Fund'' appropriations under certain circumstances. Section 115. Language is included that authorizes transfers, up to two percent, between the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration under certain circumstances. Section 116. Language is included prohibiting the Department of the Treasury from undertaking a redesign of the one dollar Federal Reserve note. Section 117. Language is included providing for transfers from and reimbursements to ``Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Salaries and Expenses'' for the purposes of debt collection. Section 118. Language is included requiring congressional approval for the construction and operation of a museum by the United States Mint. Section 119. Language is included prohibiting funds in this or any other Act from being used to merge the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing without the approval of the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction. Section 120. Language is included deeming that funds for the Department of the Treasury's intelligence-related activities are specifically authorized in fiscal year 2014 until enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2014. Section 121. Language is included permitting the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to use $5,000 from the Industrial Revolving Fund for reception and representation expenses. Section 122. Language is included requiring the Department of the Treasury to submit a capital investment plan. Section 123. Language is included requiring quarterly report from both the Office of Financial Research and Office of Financial Stability Oversight. Section 124. Language is included with respect to the people-to-people category of travel to Cuba. Section 125. Language is included requiring a report on a certain category of travel to Cuba. Section 126. Language is included limiting the fees available for obligation by the Office of Financial Research. Section 127. Language is included requiring the Department of the Treasury to submit a report on its Working Capital Fund. Section 128. Language is included limiting the obligations of the Working Capital Fund. Title II--Executive Office of the President Language under The White House, ``Salaries and Expenses'', provides funds for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and 3 U.S.C. 103, 105 and 107, subsistence expenses, hire of vehicles, travel, and official reception and representation expenses; and the Office of Policy Development. Language under the Executive Residence at the White House, ``Operating Expenses'', provides funds for necessary expenses as authorized by 3 U.S.C. 105, 109, 110, and 112-114. Language under the Executive Residence at the White House, ``Reimbursable Expenses'', specifies the authorized use of funds; specifies that reimbursable expenses are the exclusive authority of the Executive Residence to incur obligations and receive offsetting collections; requires the sponsors of political events to make advance payments; requires the national committee of the political party of the President to maintain $25,000 on deposit; requires the Executive Residence to ensure that amounts owed are billed within 60 days of a reimbursable event and collected within 30 days of the bill notice; authorizes the Executive Residence to charge and assess interest and penalties on late payments; authorizes all reimbursements to be deposited into the Treasury as a miscellaneous receipt; requires a report to the Committee on the reimbursable expenses within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year; requires the Executive Residence to maintain a system for tracking and classifying reimbursable events; and specifies that the Executive Residence is not exempt from the requirements of subchapter I or II of chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code. Language under ``White House Repair and Restoration'' provides funds for the repair, alteration and improvement of the Executive Residence at the White House; and allows funds to remain available until expended. Language under Council of Economic Advisors ``Salaries and Expenses'' is provided for necessary expenses in carrying out the Employment Act of 1946. Language under National Security Council and Homeland Security Council ``Salaries and Expenses'', provides for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109. Language under Office of Administration, ``Salaries and Expenses'', provides funds for continued modernization of the information technology infrastructure within the Executive Office of the President, to remain available until expended, and provides for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and 3 U.S.C. 107, and for the hire of vehicles. Language under Office of Management and Budget, ``Salaries and Expenses'', provides funds for expenses, services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, the hire of vehicles; carrying out provisions of chapter 35 of 44 U.S.C., and to prepare the budget request; specifies funds for official representation expense; prohibits the review of agricultural marketing orders; prohibits the use of funds for the purpose of altering the transcript of testimony except for OMB officials; prohibits the use of funds for evaluating or determining if water resource project or study reports submitted by the Chief of Engineers are in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and requirements; and specifies the amount of time to perform budgetary policy reviews of water resource matters on which the Chief of Engineers has reported before the report is considered approved, and specifies notification requirements; requires consultation with House and Senate standing committees with respect to the number of printed and electronic versions of the fiscal year 2015 budget that should be provided by OMB; and prohibits the obligation of certain funds until the President's budget for fiscal year 2015 is submitted. Language under the Office of National Drug Control Policy, ``Salaries and Expenses'', provides funds for expenses, research, official reception and representation expenses, participation in joint projects, and allows for the acceptance of gifts. Language under Federal Drug Control Programs, ``High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program'', provides for the transfer of funds to State, local and Federal entities. Language is also included regarding the availability of funds, specifying the amount of funds for auditing and associated activities, requiring each designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area to receive not less than the fiscal year 2013 base allocation unless the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy determines otherwise and submits a report to the Committees on Appropriations, and requiring reports regarding initial allocations and discretionary funding. Language under Federal Drug Control Programs, ``Other Federal Drug Control Programs'' provides funds to support matching grants to drug-free communities (with an amount specified to be made available as directed by section 4 of Public Law 107-82, as amended by Public Law 109-469), anti- doping activities, the U.S. membership dues to the World Anti- Doping Agency, drug courts and a competitive grant program. Language also allows for transfers and makes funds available until expended. Language under ``Information Technology Oversight and Reform'' provides funds for the furtherance of integrated, efficient, secure, and effective uses of information technology, to remain available until expended; allows funding to be transferred to agencies to carry out projects; and requires quarterly reports on identified savings by fiscal year, agency and appropriation. Language under Special Assistance to the President, ``Salaries and Expenses'', enables the Vice President to provide assistance to the President, services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and 3 U.S.C. 106, subsistence, and the hire of vehicles. Language under Official Residence of the Vice President, ``Operating Expenses'', provides funds for operation and maintenance of the official residence of the Vice President, the hire of vehicles, official entertainment expenses and provides for the transfer of funds as necessary. In addition, the bill provides the following administrative provisions: Section 201. Language is included permitting the transfer of not to exceed ten percent of funds between various accounts within the Executive Office of the President, with advance approval of the Committees on Appropriations. Section 202. Language is included requiring the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report on the costs of implementing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111-203). Section 203. Language is included prohibiting funds to prepare, sign or approve statements abrogating legislation passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed by the President. Section 204. Language is included prohibiting funding to prepare or implement Executive Orders in contravention of existing law. Title III--The Judiciary Language is included under Supreme Court, ``Salaries and Expenses'', providing for certain funds to remain available until expended; the hire of passenger motor vehicles, official reception and representation, and miscellaneous expenses. Language is included under Supreme Court, ``Care of the Building and Grounds'', permitting funds to remain available until expended. Language is included under Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services, ``Salaries and Expenses'', providing funds for the salaries of certain judges, and all other employees not otherwise provided for; necessary expenses; the purchase, rental, repair and cleaning of uniforms for Probation and Pretrial Services Office staff; firearms and ammunition; and specifies certain funds remain available for certain periods for specific purposes. Language is also included providing funding from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund for certain purposes. Language is included under Defender Services, providing for the compensation and reimbursement of expenses for attorneys, investigative, expert and other services, the operation of Federal Defender organizations, travel, training, general administrative expenses and permitting funds to remain available until expended. Language is included under Fees of Jurors and Commissioners, permitting funds to remain available until expended and specifying limitations for the compensation of land commissioners. Language is included under Court Security, providing for protective guard services and procurement, installation and maintenance of security systems and equipment, building ingress-egress control, inspection of mail and packages, directed security patrols, perimeter security and services provided by the Federal Protective Services. Language is included permitting certain funds to remain available until expended, which may be transferred to the United States Marshals Service. Language is included under Administrative Office of the United States Courts, ``Salaries and Expenses'', providing for travel, the hire of passenger motor vehicles, advertising and rent in the District of Columbia. Language is included specifying certain amounts for official reception and representation expenses. Language is included under Federal Judicial Center, ``Salaries and Expenses'', extending the availability of certain funds for education and training, and specifying certain amounts for official reception and representation expenses. Language is included under United States Sentencing Commission, ``Salaries and Expenses'', specifying certain amounts for official reception and representation expenses. In addition, the bill provides the following administrative provisions: Section 301. Language is included permitting funds for salaries and expenses to be available for the employment of experts and consultant services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109. Section 302. Language is included permitting up to five percent of any appropriation made available for fiscal year 2014 to be transferred between Judiciary appropriations provided that no appropriation shall be decreased by more than five percent or increased by more than ten percent by any such transfer except in certain circumstances. In addition, the language provides that any such transfer shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under sections 604 and 608 of the accompanying bill and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth in those sections. Section 303. Language is included allowing not to exceed $11,000 to be used for official reception and representation expenses incurred by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Section 304. Language is included allowing a court security pilot program. Section 305. Language is included requested by the Judicial Conference extending temporary judgeships in the eastern district of Missouri, Kansas, Arizona, the northern district of Alabama, the central district of California, the southern district of Florida, New Mexico and the eastern district of Texas. Section 306. Language is included requiring the Judicial Conference to develop a space management plan to reduce the number of square feet funded by the Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services, Salaries and Expenses appropriation by fiscal year 2016. Title IV--District of Columbia Language is included under ``Federal Payment for Resident Tuition Support'', permitting the amount appropriated to remain available until expended; and specifying conditions for the use, award, and financial accounting of funds. Language is included under ``Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia'', providing that the amount appropriated shall remain available until expended for providing public safety at events, including support of the United States Secret Service, and to respond to terrorist threats or attacks. Language is included under ``Federal Payment to the District of Columbia Courts'': (1) providing all amounts under this heading shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of Management and Budget and obligated and expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for salaries and expenses of other Federal agencies; (2) specifying certain amounts for specific purposes; (3) allowing funds made available for capital improvements to remain available until September 30, 2015, and (4) providing for the reallocation of funds. Language is included under ``Defender Services in the District of Columbia Courts'': (1) providing that the amount appropriated shall remain available until expended; (2) specifying who shall administer these funds; and (3) providing that all amounts under this heading shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of Management and Budget and obligated and expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for salaries and expenses of other Federal agencies. Language is included under ``Federal Payment to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia'': (1) specifying certain amounts for specific purposes and programs; (2) providing that all amounts under this heading shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of Management and Budget and obligated and expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for salaries and expenses of other Federal agencies; and (3) authorizing the Director to accept and use gifts to support offender and defendant programs; to accept and use equipment, supplies, and vocational training services necessary to sustain, educate, and train offenders and defendants, including their dependent children; and specifying for recording the acceptance of such gifts. Language is included under ``Federal Payment to District of Columbia Public Defender Service'': (1) providing that all amounts under this heading shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of Management and Budget and obligated and expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for salaries and expenses of other Federal agencies; (2) and authorizing the acceptance and use of voluntary and uncompensated services to facilitate the work of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service. Language is included under ``Federal Payment to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council'', specifying that the amount appropriated shall remain available until expended to support initiatives related to the coordination of Federal and local criminal justice resources. Language is included under ``Federal Payment for Judicial Commissions'', specifying certain amounts for certain commissions and allowing for appropriations to remain available until September 30, 2015. Language is included under ``Federal Payment for School Improvement'', allowing for appropriations to remain available until expended for payments authorized under the Scholarship for Opportunity and Results Act. Language is included under ``Federal Payment for the District of Columbia National Guard'', providing funds for the National Guard Retention and College Access Program to remain available until expended. Language is included under ``Federal Payment for Testing and Treatment of HIV/AIDS'' for testing and treatment. Language is included under ``District of Columbia Funds'': (1) providing funds as proposed in the Fiscal Year 2014 Proposed Budget and Financial Plan submitted to Congress by the District of Columbia; (2) limits the amount provided in this Act for the District of Columbia to the amount of the proposed budget or the sum of total revenues; (3) providing conditions for increasing the amount provided; and (4) directing the Chief Financial Officer to ensure the District of Columbia meets all requirements, but prohibits the reprogramming of capital projects. Title V--Independent Agencies The bill includes the following administrative provisions under the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB): Section 501. Language is included repealing the prohibition against the Committees on Appropriations reviewing transfers from the Federal Reserve System to the CFPB. Section 502. Language is included changing CFPB's source of funding from transfers from the Federal Reserve System to annual appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2015. Section 503. Language is included requiring CFPB to make transfer requests to the Federal Reserve System and the response from Federal Reserve System available on the Bureau's public website, in addition to requiring CFPB to notify Congress of when it makes such a request and to describe in detail how requested funds compare to the CFPB's budget justification. Section 504. Language is included requiring CFPB to submit quarterly reports on its activities and to testify on its activities when requested. Language is included for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for expenses, the hire of motor vehicles, services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 (with a limitation on rates for individuals), official reception and representation expenses, and allowing $500,000 to remain available until expended for a grant program authorized by section 1405 of Public Law 110-140 (15 U.S.C. 8004). Language is included under the Federal Communications Commission, ``Salaries and Expenses'', permitting funds for uniforms and allowances therefor, official reception and representation expenses, purchase and hire of motor vehicles, and special counsel fees. Language provides for the assessment and collection of offsetting collections, authorizes retention of such collections, and provides that they remain available until expended. Language prohibits the availability for obligation of excess collections. Language limits the use of proceeds from the use of a competitive bidding system. Language provides funding for the Office of Inspector General. Language is included for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, ``Office of Inspector General'', that provides for the funds to be derived from the Deposit Insurance Fund, and the FSLIC Resolution Fund, or any successor to these funds. Language is included for the Federal Election Commission, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that specifies funds for reception and representation expenses. Language is included for the Federal Labor Relations Authority, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, the hire of experts and consultants, hire of motor vehicles, reception and representation expenses and the rental of conference rooms; authorizes travel payments to public members of the Federal Service Impasses Panel; and allows for fees collected to be transferred to and merged with the appropriation. Language is included for the Federal Trade Commission, ``Salaries and Expenses'', permitting funds for uniforms and allowances therefor, services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, official reception and representation expenses, hire of motor vehicles, and contract for collection services. Language provides for the crediting and retention of certain fees. Language also prohibits funds from being used to implement subsection (e)(2)(B) of section 43 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. Language is included for the General Services Administration, ``Federal Buildings Fund'', that allows for revenues and collections to be deposited in the Fund; specifies the conditions under which funds made available can be used; limits the availability of funds for certain periods and purposes, and requires spending plans. Language is included for the General Services Administration, ``Government-wide Policy'', that provides funds for policy and evaluation activities associated with the management of real and personal property assets and certain administrative services; support responsibilities relating to acquisition, telecommunications, information technology management, and related technology activities; and services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109. Language is included that limits the availability of funds for certain purposes. Language is included for General Services Administration, ``Real and Personal Property Management Disposal'', that provides funds for expenses for activities associated with personal and real property disposal, and services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109. Language is included for General Services Administration, ``Office of the Administrator'', that provides funds for expenses for activities associated with agency-wide policy direction and management, other support services, and services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109. Language is included for General Services Administration, ``Civilian Board of Contract Appeals'', for necessary expenses. Language is included for the General Services Administration, ``Office of Inspector General'', that makes certain funds available until expended and provides for awards in recognition of efforts that enhance the office. Language is included for the General Services Administration, ``Information and Engagement for Citizens'', that provides funds for the Office of Citizen Services and other information technology costs. Language is also included for the ``Federal Citizen Services Fund'' that authorizes funds to be deposited in the Fund and limits the availability of funds in the Fund. In addition, the bill includes the following administrative provisions under the General Services Administration (GSA): Section 505. Language is included providing authority for the use of funds for the hire of motor vehicles. Section 506. Language is included providing that funds made available for activities of the Federal Buildings Fund may be transferred between appropriations with advance approval of the Congress to apply to funds provided in prior appropriations Acts. Section 507. Language is included requiring funds proposed for developing courthouse construction requests to meet appropriate standards and the priorities of the Judicial Conference. Section 508. Language is included providing that no funds may be used to increase the amount of occupiable square feet, provide cleaning services, security enhancements, or any other service usually provided, to any agency which does not pay the requested rent. Section 509. Language is included permitting GSA to pay small claims (up to $250,000) made against the Federal Government. Section 510. Language is included requiring the Administrator to ensure that the delineated area of procurement for all lease agreements is identical to the delineated area included in the prospectus unless prior notice is given to the Committees. Section 511. Language is included requiring GSA to have both the authorization and appropriation for construction before taking land from private land owners. Section 512. Language is included requiring GSA to submit a report on its Working Capital Fund. Section 513. Language is included limiting the obligations of the Working Capital Fund. Section 514. Language is included requiring a report on GSA training. Section 515. Language is included requiring GSA submits a report on employee salaries and awards and an evaluation of its employee awards program. Section 516. Language is included requiring GSA to release publicly the Federal Real Property Reports for fiscal years 2011 and 2012. Section 517. Language is included regarding to the Integrated Acquisition Environment and System for Award Management. Section 518. Language is included that requires quarterly reports about the Federal Buildings Fund portfolio, rental rates, space utilization rates, and expenses. Language is included for the Merit Systems Protection Board, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, rental of conference rooms, hire of passenger motor vehicles, direct procurement of survey printing, official reception and representation expenses, and administration expenses to adjudicate retirement appeals, and provides for the transfer of some funds. Language is included for the National Archives and Records Administration, ``Operating Expenses'', that provides funds for uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901 et seq., including maintenance, repairs, and cleaning, the hire of passenger motor vehicles, activities of the Public Interest Declassification Board, the review and declassification of documents, and the operations and maintenance of the electronic records archive. Language is included for the National Archives and Records Administration, ``Office of Inspector General'', that provides funds for the hire of motor vehicles. Language is included for the National Archives and Records Administration, ``Repairs and Restoration'', that provides funds for the repair, alteration, improvement, and provision of adequate storage; and provides that funds remain available until expended. Language is included under the National Archives and Records Administration, ``National Historical Publications and Records Commission Grants Program'', that provides funds for allocations and grants for historical publications and records; and provides that funds remain available until expended. Language is included under the National Credit Union Administration, ``Community Development Credit Union Revolving Loan Fund'', that provides funds for technical assistance and limits the availability of funds. Language is included under the Office of Government Ethics, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, rental of conference rooms, hire of passenger motor vehicles, and official reception and representation expenses. Language is included under the Office of Personnel Management, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, medical examinations for veterans, rental of conference rooms, hire of passenger motor vehicles, official reception and representation expenses, advances for reimbursements, payment of per diem and/or subsistence allowances, the Enterprise Human Resources Integration project, the Human Resources Line of Business project, and the transfer of administrative expenses; limits the availability of some funds; directs that provisions shall not affect other authorities; prohibits funds for the Legal Examining Unit; and authorizes the acceptance of donations under certain conditions. Language is included for the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, hire of passenger motor vehicles, rental of conference rooms, and a transfer for administrative expenses. Language is included for the Office of Special Counsel, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, payment of fees and expenses for witnesses, rental of conference rooms, and the hire of passenger motor vehicles. Language is included for the Postal Regulatory Commission, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides for transfer of funds from the Postal Service Fund. Language is included for the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that makes funds available until September 30, 2015. Language is included for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds to develop and test information technology resources and oversight mechanisms to enhance transparency and detect and remediate waste, fraud, and abuse in Federal spending, and to oversee disaster funds. Language is included for the Securities and Exchange Commission, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides for rental of space, reception and representation expenses, a permanent secretariat for the International Organization of Securities Commissions, and consultations and meetings hosted by the Commission. Language is included providing for information technology initiatives and the economics division. Language is included that provides for the crediting of offsetting collections. Language provides for the assessment and collection of offsetting collections, authorizes retention of such collections, and provides that they remain available until expended. Language is included for the Selective Service System, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for attendance of meetings, training, hire of passenger motor vehicles, services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, and official reception and representation expenses; authorizes certain exemptions under certain conditions; and prohibits funds used in connection with the induction of any person into the Armed Forces of the United States. Language is included for the Small Business Administration, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides for hire of motor vehicles and official reception and representation expenses. Language is also included to provide authority to charge fees and credit such fees to the account without further appropriation. Language is also included to fund grants. Language is also included for the Loan Modernization and Accounting System and co-sponsor activities. Language is included for the Small Business Administration, ``Office of Inspector General'', that provides funds to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978. Language is included for the Small Business Administration, ``Office of Advocacy'', that provides funds to carry out the provisions of the Independent Office of Advocacy Act of 2003 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 and allows funds to remain available until expended. Language is included for the Small Business Administration, ``Business Loans Program Account'', limiting commitments for certain guaranteed loan programs and for providing for the cost of direct loans and guaranteed loans. Language is also included authorizing the transfer of funds to ``Salaries and Expenses'' for administrative expenses. Language is included for the Small Business Administration ``Disaster Loan Program Account'', that provides for the transfer of funds to the ``Office of Inspector General'' and to ``Salaries and Expenses'' and allows funds to remain available until expended. Language is included allowing for the transfer of funds between Small Business Administration appropriations. Language is included for the United States Postal Service, ``Payment to the Postal Service Fund'', that provides funds for revenue foregone; limits the availability of funds; stipulates that mail for overseas voting and mail for the blind is free; prohibits funds in this Act from being used to charge a fee to a child support enforcement agency seeking the address of a postal customer; and prohibits funds from being used to consolidate or close small rural and other small post offices. Language is included for the United States Postal Service, ``Office of Inspector General'', that provides for transfer from the Postal Service Fund. Language is included for the United States Tax Court, ``Salaries and Expenses'', that provides funds for contract reporting and services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, and that travel expenses of the judges shall be paid upon the written certificate of the judge. General Provisions--This Act In addition, the bill provides the following provisions under this title: Section 601. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting pay and other expenses for non-Federal parties in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act. Section 602. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting obligations beyond the current fiscal year and prohibits transfers of funds unless expressly so provided herein. Section 603. Language is included that continues the provision limiting procurement contracts for consulting service expenditures to contracts that are matters of public record and available for public inspection. Section 604. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting transfer of funds in this Act without express authority. Section 605. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds to engage in activities that would prohibit the enforcement of section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act. Section 606. Language is included that continues the provision concerning compliance with the Buy American Act. Section 607. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting the use of funds by any person or entity convicted of violating the Buy American Act. Section 608. Language is included that continues the provision specifying reprogramming procedures. The provision requires that agencies or entities funded by the Act notify the Committee and obtain prior approval from the Committee for any reprogramming of funds that: (1) creates a new program; (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel for any program, project, or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted by the Congress; (4) proposes to use funds directed for a specific activity by either the House or Senate Committees on Appropriations for a different purpose; (5) augments existing programs, projects, or activities in excess of $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; (6) reduces existing programs, projects, or activities by $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; or (7) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities. The provision also directs the agencies funded by this Act to submit operating plans for the Committee's review within 60 days of the bill's enactment. Section 609. Language is included that continues the provision providing that fifty percent of unobligated balances may remain available for certain purposes. Section 610. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting funding for the Executive Office of the President to request a Federal Bureau of Investigation background investigation except with the express consent of the individual involved or in extraordinary circumstances involving national security. Section 611. Language is included that continues the provision regarding cost accounting standards for contracts under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. Section 612. Language is included that continues the provision regarding non-foreign area cost of living allowances. Section 613. Language is included that includes language prohibiting the expenditure of funds for abortion. Section 614. Language is included that continues the provision making exceptions to the preceding provision where the life of the mother is in danger or the pregnancy is a result of an act of rape or incest. Section 615. Language is included that continues the provision carried annually since 2004 waiving restrictions on the purchase of non-domestic articles, materials, and supplies in the case of acquisition of information technology by the Federal government. Section 616. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting officers or employees of any regulatory agency or commission funded by this Act from accepting travel payments or reimbursements from a person or entity regulated by such agency or commission. Section 617. Language is included that continues the provision permitting the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodities Future Trading Commission to fund a joint advisory committee to advise on emerging regulatory issues, notwithstanding Section 708 of this Act. Section 618. Language is included that includes language prohibiting the obligation of funds in fiscal year 2014 from the Securities and Exchange Commission Reserve Fund established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Committee believes the Commission should request the level of funding it believes is necessary in any given fiscal year and not have access to reserve funding that is outside of the Congressional review process. Section 619. Language is included that continues the provision requiring certain agencies to provide quarterly reports on unobligated prior year balances after the end of the quarter. Section 620. Language is included that continues the provision that requires certain agencies in this Act to consult with the General Services Administration before seeking new office space or making alterations to existing office space. Section 621. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting funds for the Federal Trade Commission to complete the draft report entitled ``Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children: Preliminary Proposed Nutrition Principles to Guide Industry Self-Regulatory Efforts'' unless the Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children complies with Executive Order 13563, including the requirement in to provide quantified present and future benefits and costs. Section 622. Language is included that modifies the provision prohibiting funding for certain czars including the White House Director of the Office of Health Reform, the Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury assigned to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and Senior Counselor for Manufacturing Policy, and the White House Director of Urban Affairs, or any substantially similar positions. Section 623. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting funds from being used by any agency in this Act for any new hires not verified through the E-Verify Program established under section 403(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note). Section 624. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting funding made available by this Act to be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. Section 625. Language is included that continues the provision prohibiting funding made available by this Act to be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any corporation that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. Section 626. Language is included that includes language providing for several appropriated mandatory accounts. These are accounts where authorizing language requires the payment of funds. The budget request assumes the following estimated cost for the programs addressed in this provision: $450,000 for Compensation of the President including $50,000 for expenses, $126,931,000 for the Judicial Retirement Funds (Judicial Officers' Retirement Fund, Judicial Survivors' Annuities Fund, and the United States Court of Federal Claims Judges' Retirement Fund), $11,404,000,000 for the Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Health Benefits, $53,000,000 for the Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Life Insurance, and $9,178,000,000 for Payment to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. In addition, language is included for certain retirement, healthcare and survivor benefits required by 3 U.S.C. 102 note. Section 627. Language is included that includes language which amends the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to allow for a greater number of States and municipalities to qualify for the program. Section 628. Language is included that includes a provision directing the Comptroller General to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Section 629. Language is included that requires certain regulatory agencies to provide a report on increasing public participation in rulemaking, improving coordination among Federal agencies, and identifying ineffective or excessively burdensome regulations. Section 630. Language is included that prohibits agencies within this Act from spending funds on travel, conferences, or employee awards programs that are not authorized by Federal law, regulation, or Executive Order. No later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, each Inspector General of a department or agency, board or commission, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, or senior ethics official in agencies without inspectors general funded by this Act shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate as to whether the entity concerned has effective procedures in place to ensure compliance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and Executive Orders on travel, conferences, and employee awards programs. Section 631. Language is included that limits funds made available for terrestrial broadband operations. Section 632. Language is included that prohibits funds to be used to eliminate or reduce funding for a program or project unless such change is made pursuant to reprogramming or transfer provisions. Section 633. Language is included that provides new language authorizing the Office of Personnel Management's Inspector General to access funds from the Office of Personnel Management's revolving fund to conduct oversight of revolving fund activities. Section 634. Language is included requiring the Department of the Treasury and the General Services Administration to submit certain information in the budget request. General Provisions--Government-Wide In addition, the bill provides the following provisions under this title: Section 701. Language is included requiring agencies to administer a policy designed to ensure that all of its workplaces are free from the illegal use of controlled substances. Section 702. Language is included establishing price limitations on vehicles to be purchased by the Federal Government with an exemption for the purchase of electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Section 703. Language is included allowing funds made available to agencies for travel to also be used for quarter allowances and cost-of-living allowances. Section 704. Language is included prohibiting the employment of noncitizens. Section 705. Language is included giving agencies the authority to pay General Services Administration bills for space renovation and other services. Section 706. Language is included allowing agencies to finance the costs of recycling and waste prevention programs with proceeds from the sale of materials recovered through such programs. Section 707. Language is included providing that funds made available to corporations and agencies subject to 31 U.S.C. 91 may pay rent and other service costs in the District of Columbia. Section 708. Language is included prohibiting interagency financing of groups absent prior statutory approval. Section 709. Language is included prohibiting the use of funds for enforcing regulations disapproved in accordance with the applicable law of the U.S. Section 710. Language is included limiting the amount of funds that can be used for redecoration of offices under certain circumstances. Section 711. Language is included allowing for interagency funding of national security and emergency telecommunications initiatives. Section 712. Language is included requiring agencies to certify that a Schedule C appointment was not created solely or primarily to detail the employee to the White House. Section 713. Language is included prohibiting the payment of any employee who prohibits, threatens or prevents another employee from communicating with Congress. Section 714. Language is included prohibiting Federal training not directly related to the performance of official duties. Section 715. Language is included prohibiting, other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships, propaganda, publicity and lobbying by executive agency personnel in support or defeat of legislative initiatives. Section 716. Language is included prohibiting any Federal agency from disclosing an employee's home address to any labor organization, absent employee authorization or court order. Section 717. Language is included prohibiting funds to be used to provide non-public information such as mailing, telephone, or electronic mailing lists to any person or organization outside the government without the approval of the Committees on Appropriations. Section 718. Language is included prohibiting the use of funds for propaganda and publicity purposes not authorized by Congress. Section 719. Language is included directing agency employees to use official time in an honest effort to perform official duties. Section 720. Language is included allowing the use of funds to finance an appropriate share of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board. Section 721. Language is included allowing agencies to transfer $17,000,000 to the Government-wide Policy account of the General Services Administration to finance an appropriate share of various government-wide boards and councils. Section 722. Language is included permitting breast feeding in a Federal building or on Federal property if the woman and child are authorized to be there. Section 723. Language is included permitting interagency funding of the National Science and Technology Council and provides for a report on the budget and resources of the National Science and Technology Council. The report should include the entire budget of the National Science and Technology Council. Section 724. Language is included requiring documents involving the distribution of Federal funds to indicate the agency providing the funds and the amount provided. Section 725. Language is included prohibiting the use of funds to monitor personal access or use of Internet sites or to collect, review, or obtain any personally identifiable information relating to access to or use of an Internet site. Section 726. Language is included requiring health plans participating in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program to provide contraceptive coverage and provides exemptions to certain religious plans. Section 727. Language is included supporting strict adherence to anti-doping activities. Section 728. Language is included allowing funds for official travel to be used by departments and agencies, if consistent with OMB Circular A-126, to participate in the fractional aircraft ownership pilot program. Section 729. Language is included prohibiting funds for implementation of Office of Personnel Management regulations limiting detailees to the Legislative Branch, and implementing limitations on the Coast Guard Congressional Fellowship Program. Section 730. Language is included restricting the use of funds for Federal law enforcement training facilities. Section 731. Language is included prohibiting Executive Branch agencies from creating prepackaged news stories that are broadcast or distributed in the United States unless the story includes a clear notification within the text or audio of that news story that the prepackaged news story was prepared or funded by that executive branch agency. This provision confirms the opinion of the Government Accountability Office dated February 17, 2005 (B-304272). Section 732. Language is included prohibiting use of funds in contravention of section 552a of title 5, United States Code (the Privacy Act) and regulations implementing that section. Section 733. Language is included prohibiting funds from being used for any Federal Government contract with any foreign incorporated entity which is treated as an inverted domestic corporation. Section 734. Language is included requiring agencies to pay a fee to the Office of Personnel Management for processing retirement of employees who separate under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or who receive Voluntary Separation Incentive payments. Section 735. Language is included prohibiting funds to require any entity submitting an offer for a Federal contract or participating in an acquisition to disclose political contributions. Section 736. Language is included prohibiting funds for the painting of a portrait of an employee of the Federal government including the President, the Vice President, a Member of Congress, the head of an executive branch agency, or the head of an office of the legislative branch. Section 737. Language is included concerning the non- application of these general provisions to title IV and to title VIII. Section 738. Language is included that would prohibit funding in the bill to pay more than 75 percent of the salary of the Commissioner and any Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue if the Internal Revenue Service agency does not comply with certain Inspector General recommendations by July 1, 2014. General Provisions--District of Columbia In addition, the bill provides the following provisions under this title: Section 801. Language is included that appropriates funds for refunding overpayments of taxes collected and for paying settlements and judgments against the District of Columbia government. Section 802. Language is included prohibiting the use of Federal funds for publicity or propaganda purposes. Section 803. Language is included establishing reprogramming procedures for Federal funds and authorizing local funds reprogrammings and transfers through November 1, 2014. Section 804. Language is included prohibiting the use of Federal funds to provide salaries or other costs associated with the offices of a United States Senator or Representative. Section 805. Language is included restricting the use of official vehicles to official duties. Section 806. Language is included prohibiting the use of Federal funds for any petition drive or civil action which seeks to require Congress to provide for voting representation in Congress for the District of Columbia. Section 807. Language is included prohibiting the use of Federal funds for needle exchange programs. Section 808. Language is included regarding a ``conscience clause'' on legislation that pertains to contraceptive coverage by health insurance plans. Section 809. Language is included prohibiting the use of Federal funds to legalize or reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution on any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative. Section 810. Language is included prohibiting the use of funds for abortion except in the cases of rape or incest or if necessary to save the life of the mother. Section 811. Language is included requiring the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to submit a revised operating budget for all agencies in the D.C. government, no later than 30 calendar days after the enactment of this Act that realigns budgeted data with anticipated actual expenditures. Section 812. Language is included requiring the CFO to submit a revised operating budget for D.C. Public Schools, no later than 30 calendar days after the enactment of this Act that realigns school budgets to actual school enrollment. Section 813. Language is included allowing the transfer of local funds and capital and enterprise funds. Section 814. Language is included prohibiting the obligation of Federal funds beyond the current fiscal year and transfers of funds unless expressly provided herein. Section 815. Language is included to provide that not to exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances from Federal appropriations for salaries and expenses may remain available for certain purposes. Section 816. Language is included limiting references to ``this Act'' as referring to only this title and title IV. Section 817. Includes a sense of Congress that the Congress should not pass any legislation that authorizes spending cuts that would increase poverty in the United States. Title IX--Additional General Provisions Section 901. Language is included prohibiting funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission to require the disclosure of political contributions, contributions to tax exempt organizations, or dues paid to trade associations. Section 902. Language is included prohibiting funds for the collection of certain wire and electronic communication without a warrant. Section 903. Language is included prohibiting funds for the Internal Revenue Service to target groups for regulatory scrutiny based on their political beliefs and prohibiting funds to issue regulations, revenue rulings, or interpretative guidance relating to the primary purpose standard for purposes of determining an organization's tax exempt status under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Section 904. Language is included prohibiting new budget authority from exceeding the budget allocation in fiscal year 2014. Appropriations Not Authorized by Law Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law for the period concerned:
Comparison With the Budget Resolution Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table compares the levels of new budget authority and outlays provided in the bill with the appropriate allocations made under section 302(b) of the Budget Act. BUDGETARY IMPACT PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 308(A), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS AMENDED Comparison of amounts in the bill with Committee allocations to its subcommittees of amounts in the First Concurrent Resolution of 2013: SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT [In millions of dollars] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 302b allocation This bill --------------------------------------------------- Budget Budget Authority Outlays Authority Outlays ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General purpose discretionary............................... 16,966 19,711 16,966 19,707* Mandatory................................................... 21,229 21,223 21,229 21,223 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Includes outlays from prior year budget authority. Five-Year Outlay Projections Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII and section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table contains five-year projections associated with the budget authority provided in the accompanying bill, as provided to the Committee by the Congressional Budget Office. [In millions of dollars] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Outlays ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2014........................................... 34,997 2015........................................... 2,170 2016........................................... -470 2017........................................... -505 2018 and future years.......................... -4,186 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. Financial Assistance to State and Local Governments Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII and section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Congressional Budget Office has provided the following estimates of new budget authority and outlays provided by the accompanying bill for financial assistance to State and local governments. [In millions of dollars] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Budget Authority Outlays ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Financial assistance to State and local 245 258* governments for 2014......................... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. Program Duplication No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. Directed Rule Making The bill does not direct any rule making. Comparative Statement of New Budget (Obligational) Authority The following table provides a detailed summary, for each Department and agency, comparing the amounts recommended in the bill with amounts enacted for fiscal year 2013 and budget estimates presented for fiscal year 2014.
DISSENTING VIEWS We want to start by thanking Chairman Crenshaw and his staff for their work in sharing information and keeping a professional process in place. It is a testament to our personal and professional relationships that we are able to talk these issues through in a respectful manner, despite the disappointing bill before us. The fiscal year (FY) 2014 bill approved by the Committee provides net budget authority of $16.966 billion, a cut of nearly $4.3 billion below the FY 2013 pre-sequester level and more than $7 billion (29%) below the Administration's request. Every Republican member of the Appropriations Committee voted for the Ryan budget, which forces bad choices under a thoroughly inadequate allocation, and against the Lowey alternative allocation. To pretend that the truly abysmal 302(b) allocations came out of thin air is to deny reality. With the House and Senate Appropriations Committees nearly $92 billion apart in 302(a) allocations, it remains a great mystery how this gap will be bridged without at least raising the question of a government shutdown. In the case of this bill, which touches so many programs critical to the basic functioning of government, at these levels, services will be shut down, taxes will go uncollected, and consumers, investors, and taxpayers will lose vital protections. Government cannot function effectively at this laughable allocation. The unsustainable cuts forced by the Subcommittee's allocation will impact all citizens. For example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) interacts with every taxpayer each year. Under this bill, the IRS is slashed by $2.85 billion below the FY13 pre-sequester level, and an astounding $3.85 billion, or 30%, below the level requested by the President. This will force the IRS to eliminate 25,000 positions, which in turn will cause the service level offered to plummet to an unprecedented 20%. Plainly speaking, this ensures that only 1 in 5 phone calls from taxpayers will be answered at the IRS. That is unacceptable. Further, we can be assured that tax cheats will not be pursued as vigorously. In fact, the IRS projects that the cuts in this bill will result in $12 billion in uncollected revenue, thereby increasing the deficit. It does not make economic or budgetary sense to cut the IRS budget so severely because honest taxpayers will have trouble getting their questions answered, tax cheats will go free, revenue will go uncollected, and deficits will grow. Moreover, this bill does not adequately ensure that our financial markets are policed appropriately. By not providing needed resources for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), this bill invites mischief in our markets. A cut of $303 million below the President's request leads to less enforcement and hinders the ongoing implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Dodd-Frank is the law of the land and was enacted to deter truly outrageous behavior in our financial sector. Without proper SEC enforcement, how can we expect to stop malfeasance from happening again, much less move our markets forward to more stability? It is important to note that funding for the SEC is deficit-neutral, as the agency is fee-funded. Therefore, fully funding the agency at the President's request would not cost the taxpayers a dime, but would make significant strides in greater enforcement, in promulgation of Dodd-Frank required rules, and in improvements to the agency's information technology infrastructure. As our nation's landlord, superintendent and developer, the General Services Administration (GSA) must have resources to support the missions of all other federal agencies. This bill dramatically reduces our investment in infrastructure in a time when we need to be putting citizens to work. Further, the bill provides only 85% of the funds needed to pay the federal government's rent to private landlords, all but ensuring that the government will default on leases, close facilities, and breach contracts. This will raise costs in outyears, thereby eradicating the ``savings'' achieved this year. Several smaller programs are eliminated in this bill, including funding for the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Despite ongoing attempts to hamstring the agency, the EAC remains vital to ensuring the integrity and accessibility of our nation's elections. Given the recent history of controversies and mismanagement in several states, it is unwise to defund this agency. In the instances of the IRS, SEC, and GSA, the proposed cuts in this bill will actually increase costs in the future through reduced revenue, diminished enforcement, and higher lease costs. In the case of other agencies within the bill, particularly those with budgets almost entirely composed of fixed costs, the bill will force furloughs, which will reduce vital services to the public. Overall, these cuts are not saving taxpayer dollars; they are ensuring reduced services at higher costs. In addition to the severe cuts in this bill, we are also distressed that it includes several controversial policy riders that have nothing to do with the allocation and everything to do with partisan politics. The bill once again interferes in the District of Columbia's local affairs, restricting the District from spending its own funds in the provision of abortion services for low-income individuals. The bill further invades the rights of citizens by dismissing the overwhelming approval of a referendum providing local funds budget autonomy beginning in fiscal year 2015. The vote on budget autonomy is more than an expression of the opinion of District's residents; it is an exercise of their legal and fundamental rights. This micromanagement of the District is not the proper role of Congress. There are further restrictions in the bill that prevent implementation of the individual mandate required in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a prohibition on the provision of the full range of reproductive services coverage for all health benefits programs provided under the Act. These issues have long been settled, and it is inappropriate to use the Appropriations process to unwind current law. Democrats attempted to address many of these inadequacies through the amendment process in Committee. Unfortunately, our colleagues on the other side rejected all efforts to improve the funding allocation and to remove those riders which preclude compromise in the Appropriations process. We appreciate the efforts the Chairman made to adequately fund the Small Business Administration, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, the Federal Judiciary, and anti-terrorism programs at the Department of Treasury. However, these are very small bright spots in an otherwise dismal bill. The functions carried out by agencies in this bill are vital to taxpayers, consumers, businesses, and the economy as a whole. Shortchanging these functions does nothing to help our economy recover, create jobs, or reduce the deficit; in fact, this bill makes our markets less secure, reduces spending on infrastructure, and increases the deficit. In its current form, we cannot support the bill. Nita M. Lowey. Jose E. Serrano.