Bill Also Creates New Program to Help Police Agencies Buy Body Cameras
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce Justice Science (CJS) led by Congressman John Culberson (TX-07) yesterday approved its fiscal year (FY) 2016 Appropriations bill which provides annual funding for the Department of Commerce Department of Justice the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) National Science Foundation (NSF) and other related agencies.
In another tough budget year this bill prioritizes funding for law enforcement national security space exploration and scientific research said Chairman Culberson. It also ensures our hard-earned tax dollars are spent where they are needed most and cuts funding from programs where the federal government has no role. We cut 35 programs that are no longer necessary and we froze or reduced funding for more than a dozen bureaus agencies and programs that can operate more efficiently."
The FY 2016 CJS appropriations bill includes numerous oversight provisions to protect hard earned taxpayer dollars including: requiring every agency under our jurisdiction to submit a detailed spending plan; capping life-cycle costs for poorly performing programs; and requiring agencies to provide Inspectors General with timely information.
In addition the bill creates a new $50 million Community Trust Initiative" to restore the bond of trust that has to exist between police officers and local citizens. The funds will improve the safety of local communities and support police training and research including: $15 million for body camera pilots and research; $30 million for justice reform and collaboration efforts; and $5 million for improved statistics collection. Grants for COP Cams" will only be provided to States with laws in place governing the use of the cameras and cannot impose requirements that interfere with state laws. The funds can only be used to purchase hardware and equipment and cannot be used for data storage.
The Community Trust Initiative supports our local law enforcement officials who are best equipped to rebuild the trust between citizens and their local police departments" explained Culberson.
Other Key Highlights of the Bill Include:
Department of Justice (DOJ) The bill funds DOJ at $27.5 billion an increase of $852 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. This funding will strengthen critical investigation law enforcement and prosecution activities to protect the safety and well-being of communities across the country.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) The bill includes $8.6 billion for the FBI an increase of $111 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. Within this funding priority is given to counterterrorism counterintelligence and cybercrime.
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) The DEA is funded at $2.4 billion in the legislation an increase of $45 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. This includes $372 million for regulatory and enforcement efforts to combat prescription drug abuse.
- Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) The legislation contains $1.25 billion for the ATF $49 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. The bill continues all provisions carried in previous years related to Second Amendment rights and makes four of these provisions permanent law. Also included is a provision prohibiting funding for an unauthorized reporting and registration requirement on the sale of multiple rifles to the same person in various border states.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) NASA is funded at $18.5 billion in the bill $519 million above the 2015 enacted level. This funding includes
- $4.8 billion for Exploration $403 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. This provides for the continued development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System flight program and to continue progress in the commercial crew program.
- $5.2 billion for NASA Science programs $7 million below the 2015 enacted level. This includes funding above the Presidents request for planetary science to ensure the continuation of critical research and development programs.
National Science Foundation (NSF) The legislation funds NSF at $7.4 billion an increase of $50 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. This funding is targeted to programs that foster innovation and U.S. economic competitiveness including funding for research on advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity.
