Overview
Title
Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
S. 4795 is a special plan from the government that decides where to spend money on important things like helping businesses, making sure laws are followed, and learning more about space and science. It also tries to make sure the money is used wisely and not for bad things, but sometimes the rules are not very clear.
Summary AI
S. 4795 is a bill outlining how money is allocated to the Departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as various science agencies, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. The bill specifies funding for a wide range of activities, including economic development, trade administration, law enforcement programs, NASA's space operations, and scientific research and education. Additionally, it includes provisions to prevent the use of funds for certain activities like supporting torture or unauthorized gun trade, and emphasizes transparency and accountability in financial management.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill, identified as S. 4795 within the 118th Congress, is a comprehensive appropriations measure that aims to allocate funding for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. This bill encompasses a broad array of provisions that address funding allocations, operational guidelines, restrictions, and specific mandates for various federal programs and initiatives.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the primary concerns with the bill is its lack of specificity and clarity in several areas. This includes vague language regarding what constitutes the "public interest" (Section 101) and "unlawful activity" (Section 106), as well as ambiguous funding uses and limitations. Furthermore, the bill's provisions for fund transfers and project reallocations lack detailed procedures for ensuring transparency and accountability, particularly in Sections 103, 205, and under reprogramming restrictions.
Additionally, the bill sets prohibitions on activities that might impede necessary government operations or international collaborations. For example, it restricts public-private competitions for Bureau of Prisons functions (Section 210) and limits international collaboration with China (Section 526). This restrictive approach may prevent beneficial partnerships and processes that could enhance efficiency and international cooperation.
Impact on the Public
Broadly speaking, this bill will have significant implications for the American public as it outlines how taxpayer dollars will be allocated within major government agencies. By setting funding priorities and operational guidelines, it affects various government services and programs that the public relies on, from law enforcement to science research and innovation.
The bill’s vague terminologies and unclear funding guidelines could potentially lead to inefficient use or misallocation of funds, which may ultimately impact public services that depend on these resources. Conversely, the bill’s focus on funding scientific research and improving law enforcement functions could result in advancements in technology and enhanced public safety if managed well.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For government agencies, the bill provides financial backing and procedural guidelines essential for operational continuity and strategic planning. However, the limitations on fund transfers and work-sharing discussions could hinder some agencies' ability to adapt to unforeseen challenges efficiently.
Non-governmental stakeholders, like contractors and private sector partners, might find the restrictions on public-private partnerships and the stringent procurement guidelines to be limiting. This could slow down innovation or the implementation of new technologies where collaborative efforts are essential.
The bill also impacts communities and populations reliant on specific funding. For example, allocating a portion of funds to "persistent poverty counties" (Section 533) aims to assist underprivileged regions, although the lack of detailed allocation criteria may affect how effectively this support is distributed.
Consequently, the bill’s reach extends across various sectors and communities, necessitating a careful balance between oversight and flexibility to achieve its intended benefits. It remains essential that the bill's administrative processes are clearly defined and executed with robust accountability to fulfill its objectives efficiently and equitably.
Financial Assessment
The proposed legislation, S. 4795, details financial appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice along with agencies devoted to scientific research, for the fiscal year concluding on September 30, 2025. This commentary explores the financial provisions stated in the bill and relates them to certain identified issues.
Overview of Financial Provisions
The bill allocates significant funding for various federal departments and agencies. For instance, the Department of Commerce is allocated funds for several programs, including $648,000,000 for International Trade Administration and $206,000,000 for the Bureau of Industry and Security. The Department of Justice has appropriations such as $145,000,000 for Justice Operations, Management, and Accountability and $2,664,000,000 for the Offices of the United States Attorneys.
In terms of scientific advancement, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is earmarked funds across different sectors, such as $7,575,700,000 for scientific research and $7,648,200,000 for exploration activities. Additionally, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is granted $7,528,280,000 for research-related activities.
Financial Allocations and Identified Issues
Lack of Clear Guidance
While substantial sums are specified for various projects, the bill at times lacks clear criteria or definitions, creating potential for misinterpretation. For example, funding allocated to the Economic Development Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may lack enforcement in detail due to undefined terms like "public interest" (Section 101) and "any other purpose" (Section 110). This vagueness might open avenues for funds to be redirected or misused without proper oversight.
Transparency and Accountability in Financial Processes
A significant concern highlighted is the transparency—or lack thereof—regarding the transfer and reprogramming of funds. The bill allows the transfer of funds between appropriations and reprogramming up to 10 to 20 percent for NASA's allocations, but without strict checks, this flexibility might bypass intended oversight (Sections 103, 205, 505). For instance, the reprogramming of funds not exceeding $500,000 is allowed without detailed accountability, raising issues on the effective use of taxpayer money.
Financial Restrictions and Operational Impediments
The bill stipulates financial restrictions that could hamper operations, particularly in its agencies’ latitude to engage in public-private collaborations (Section 210) or implement cost-effective strategies through flexibility of budget. These limitations can potentially paralyze the agencies' efforts to adapt to real-time fiscal challenges, leading to inefficiencies in areas where agile financial management might be necessary.
Issues of Accountability
The appropriations for major federal entities like the NOAA and the NSF call for robust accountability mechanisms. For example, NOAA sees allocations such as $4,679,077,000 for operations, research, and facilities. Yet, the lack of outlined accountability structures can potentially lead to inefficiencies in resource utilization and transparency (Sections 109, 112, 532).
Waivers and Exceptions
Provisions allowing waivers and exceptions—such as forgiving cost-sharing requirements—without strict criteria can lead to favoritism or misuse (Sections 111, 213). Without clear, consistent guidelines, there is a risk of arbitrary decision-making concerning financial allocations.
Summary
The bill details significant financial appropriations across various departments, addressing economic, legal, and scientific endeavors. Nonetheless, issues around transparency, criteria for fund reprogramming, and accountability for financial management pose challenges to the effective stewardship of public funds. Addressing these issues through concrete guidelines and oversight could reinforce the bill’s integrity, ensuring that financial resources are utilized efficiently and ethically.
Issues
The bill does not provide clear guidance or criteria for certain terms and actions, creating room for interpretation and potential misuse. This includes the broad terms 'public interest' (Section 101), 'unlawful activity' (Section 106), 'any other purpose' (Section 110), 'necessary activities' (Section 218), and determinations of what constitutes 'peaceful protest' (Section 220).
The use of funds and allocation processes lack transparency and are open to interpretation, such as the transfer of funds between appropriations (Sections 103, 205), reprogramming (Section 505), and the allocation of national security and intelligence funds without explicit authorization (Section 519).
The bill's prohibitions on certain activities may impede operations or lead to challenges, such as the ban on public-private competitions in the Bureau of Prisons (Section 210), restrictions against dual responsibilities for US Attorneys (Section 211), and limitations on international collaboration with China (Section 526).
Significant financial amounts are designated for specific projects or operations, yet the bill lacks detailed accountability or transparency mechanisms to ensure effective management and oversight, such as in the appropriations for NOAA (Sections 109, 112) and the National Science Foundation (Section 532).
The bill allows waivers and exceptions without providing specific criteria or guidelines, leading to potential favoritism or arbitrary decisions, particularly in the waiver of cost-sharing requirements (Section 111) and fiscal hardship exceptions for grants (Section 213).
Provisions about detainee management and the prohibition on spending related to certain detention facilities (Sections 538, 539) raise ethical and legal concerns regarding human rights and the implications of indefinite detention without trial.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
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The text states that funds are allocated from the U.S. Treasury for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and associated agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and potentially for other related purposes.
101. Read Opens in new tab
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The section allows the Department of Commerce to use funds provided by a specific Act for activities related to that Act. These funds can also be used for certain pre-payments if officials certify that it's in the public interest, even if such payments are not usually allowed.
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The Department of Commerce can use the money given to them for salaries and expenses to hire vehicles, get certain services, and provide uniforms or uniform allowances, following specific laws.
103. Read Opens in new tab
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In Section 103, the Department of Commerce is allowed to transfer up to 5% of its budget between different appropriations for the current fiscal year, but no appropriation can be increased by more than 10% through these transfers. Additionally, any such transfer is considered a reprogramming of funds and must follow certain procedures, and the Secretary of Commerce must inform the relevant committees 15 days before acquiring or disposing of any major assets not specifically covered by the law.
104. Read Opens in new tab
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The section adopts certain requirements from past laws for the 2025 fiscal year and specifies the total costs for various satellite programs: Joint Polar Satellite System costs $11.32 billion, Polar Follow On Program costs $6.84 billion, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series Program costs $11.70 billion, and Space Weather Follow On Program costs $692.8 million.
Money References
- The requirements set forth by section 105 of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112–55), as amended by section 105 of title I of division B of Public Law 113–6, are hereby adopted by reference and made applicable with respect to fiscal year 2025: Provided, That the life cycle cost for the Joint Polar Satellite System is $11,322,125,000, the life cycle cost of the Polar Follow On Program is $6,837,900,000, the life cycle cost for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series Program is $11,700,100,000, and the life cycle cost for the Space Weather Follow On Program is $692,800,000. ---
105. Read Opens in new tab
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The Secretary of Commerce is allowed to provide services like utilities, telecommunications, and security for spaces used or occupied in certain government buildings, such as the Herbert C. Hoover Building in Washington, DC. The costs for these services can be reimbursed, and up to $200,000 of the reimbursement can go back to the budget that originally covered these services.
Money References
- Amounts received as reimbursement for services provided under this section or the authority under which the use or occupancy of the space is authorized, up to $200,000, shall be credited to the appropriation or fund which initially bears the costs of such services.
106. Read Opens in new tab
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Grant recipients are allowed to take action to prevent activities like child pornography, copyright infringement, or other illegal actions on their networks, and nothing in this title should be understood to restrict them from doing so.
107. Read Opens in new tab
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The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is allowed to use resources like land, services, and personnel from other government bodies or organizations, with permission and reimbursement, to fulfill its responsibilities as long as there are funds available.
108. Read Opens in new tab
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The National Technical Information Service is not allowed to charge anyone for reports or documents from the Legislative Branch if they have shown how the documents can be downloaded for free online. If someone still wants a printed or digital copy from the Service, they can only be charged for the actual cost of producing and delivering it.
109. Read Opens in new tab
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The section allows the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to enter into agreements with various government entities, use their resources, and receive funds from them. Funds obtained for regulatory activities should be deposited under NOAA's designated account and can be used until September 30, 2026, with all uses subject to specific guidelines in the act.
110. Read Opens in new tab
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The section allows funds from this Act or past appropriation Acts to be used by the Economics and Statistics Administration of the Department of Commerce. These funds can be spent on cooperative agreements with federal, state, local governments, or educational institutions to support statistical, research, and methodology activities.
111. Read Opens in new tab
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The Secretary of Commerce, or their designee, has the authority to reduce the required cost-sharing by up to 50% for certain grants related to the Coastal Zone Management Act, if the grant applicant requests it and if the funds are allocated under the specified categories for NOAA.
112. Read Opens in new tab
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Section 112 states that any leftover funds from expired budgets, which have been moved to the Department of Commerce's Nonrecurring Expenses Fund, can only be used if the Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate are informed at least 15 days before the funds are planned to be used.
113. Read Opens in new tab
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The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration can set special rates for relocation allowances for employees, even if these rates differ from usual government rules.
201. Read Opens in new tab
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The section allows the Attorney General to use up to $50,000 from the funds allocated to the Department of Justice for official reception and representation expenses, in addition to any other funds available for such purposes in this title.
Money References
- In addition to amounts otherwise made available in this title for official reception and representation expenses, a total of not to exceed $50,000 from funds appropriated to the Department of Justice in this title shall be available to the Attorney General for official reception and representation expenses.
202. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that no funds from this part of the bill can be used to pay for an abortion, except if the mother's life is in danger or if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. If a court rules this ban unconstitutional, the section will become invalid.
203. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that no money given under this title can be used to force someone to perform or help with an abortion.
204. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that the Director of the Bureau of Prisons still has to provide escort services for female inmates to receive services outside of federal facilities. However, it clarifies that this requirement does not change the impact of another rule intended to respect the personal beliefs of prison employees.
205. Read Opens in new tab
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The section allows up to 5% of the funds allocated to the Department of Justice for the current fiscal year to be transferred between different budget areas, as long as no area receives more than a 10% increase unless specifically stated. These transfers must follow specific procedures and do not apply to certain law enforcement assistance and policing programs.
206. Read Opens in new tab
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The section prohibits the use of federal funds for transporting prisoners classified as maximum or high security by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Marshals Service, unless they are going to a facility deemed secure enough for such prisoners.
207. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that federal prisons cannot use money from this Act to buy cable TV or rent or purchase electronic media mainly for fun. However, they can spend money on these things if they are for teaching, religious activities, or educational programs for inmates.
208. Read Opens in new tab
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Under Section 208, funds cannot be spent on new or upgraded information technology projects costing more than $100 million unless the Deputy Attorney General and a review board confirm the project has proper management and is compatible with the Justice Department's systems.
Money References
- None of the funds made available under this title shall be obligated or expended for any new or enhanced information technology program having total estimated development costs in excess of $100,000,000, unless the Deputy Attorney General and the investment review board certify to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate that the information technology program has appropriate program management controls and contractor oversight mechanisms in place, and that the program is compatible with the enterprise architecture of the Department of Justice. ---
209. Read Opens in new tab
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The section explains that the rules for notifying and handling changes in designated funding amounts, as outlined in section 505 of this Act, also apply to any unspent funds from previous years under this title.
210. Read Opens in new tab
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None of the funds from this Act can be used to start or carry out any process related to public-private competition for jobs done by employees at the Bureau of Prisons or Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated.
211. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that no money can be used to pay the salary, benefits, or expenses of any U.S. Attorney who is given extra duties by the Attorney General if those duties allow the attorney to ignore the residency requirements specified in U.S. law.
212. Read Opens in new tab
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The section allows the Attorney General to use up to 2% of certain funds for training and technical assistance, and to transfer another 2% of funds, with some exceptions, to the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics for research and evaluation, regardless of the original grant or reimbursement purposes.
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This section does not apply to paragraph 1(Q) under the "State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance" heading.
213. Read Opens in new tab
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The Attorney General can waive specific rules for certain programs if a grantee is facing financial difficulties. This applies to programs for adult and juvenile offenders and for protecting inmates, with the waiver available for funds from fiscal years 2022 to 2025.
214. Read Opens in new tab
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Section 214 states that a specific part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which is section 20109(a), will not be applicable to any funds provided by this law or any other law.
215. Read Opens in new tab
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In this section, it is stated that federal funds from this Act cannot be used by a law enforcement officer to give a working firearm to someone they know or suspect is part of a drug cartel, unless U.S. law enforcement keeps the firearm under constant watch or control.
216. Read Opens in new tab
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In fiscal year 2025, the Department of Justice can use up to $12 million from its Working Capital Fund for a new financial management system. Additionally, up to $30 million from transferred balances and $10 million from extra balances can be used, but all these funds must be treated as reallocations under section 505 of this Act.
Money References
- SEC. 216. (a) None of the income retained in the Department of Justice Working Capital Fund pursuant to title I of Public Law 102–140 (105 Stat. 784; 28 U.S.C. 527 note) shall be available for obligation during fiscal year 2025, except up to $12,000,000 may be obligated for implementation of a unified Department of Justice financial management system.
- (b) Not to exceed $30,000,000 of the unobligated balances transferred to the capital account of the Department of Justice Working Capital Fund pursuant to title I of Public Law 102–140 (105 Stat. 784; 28 U.S.C. 527 note) shall be available for obligation in fiscal year 2025, and any use, obligation, transfer, or allocation of such funds shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under section 505 of this Act.
- (c) Not to exceed $10,000,000 of the excess unobligated balances available under section 524(c)(8)(E) of title 28, United States Code, shall be available for obligation during fiscal year 2025, and any use, obligation, transfer or allocation of such funds shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under section 505 of this Act.
217. Read Opens in new tab
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The funds allocated for the Office of Justice Programs in this Act can be used to join Performance Partnership Pilots, which are programs that have been approved in previous and current funding laws.
218. Read Opens in new tab
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The Attorney General is required to provide quarterly reports to both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations about several funds, including the Crime Victims Fund and the Asset Forfeiture Fund. These reports must contain at least as much information and detail as those provided in the year 2024.
219. Read Opens in new tab
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In Section 219, the bill states that no government money from this Act can be used for live tissue training, unless the Attorney General decides in writing that the training is essential for medical purposes and cannot be done in any other way.
220. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that the funds from this Act cannot be used by the Department of Justice to investigate or target parents who peacefully protest at school board meetings unless they are suspected of doing something illegal.
221. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that government funds from this Act cannot be used to investigate or charge religious institutions just because of their religious beliefs.
222. Read Opens in new tab
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In this section, it is stated that the funds from this Act cannot be used to apply certain sections of the Justice Manual or related documents to communications regarding resources or laws about appropriations between the staff of specific congressional committees and others.
501. Read Opens in new tab
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The text in Section 501 states that money from this Act cannot be used for publicity or propaganda unless it has been approved by Congress.
502. Read Opens in new tab
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No funds from this Act can be obligated after the current fiscal year unless it is specifically stated in the Act itself.
503. Read Opens in new tab
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Under Section 503, spending federal funds on consulting services through contracts must be publicly recorded and accessible, except in cases where the law or an executive order states otherwise.
504. Read Opens in new tab
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If a part of the Act is found to be invalid for a person or situation, the rest of the Act still remains valid and applicable to others and different situations.
505. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that no funds from the Act, previous related Acts, or fees collected can be used for various actions like starting new programs, cutting existing ones, relocating offices, or making significant changes in funding or personnel without giving notice to Congress 15 days in advance through the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
Money References
- None of the funds provided under this Act, or provided under previous appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2025, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming of funds that: (1) creates or initiates a new program, project, or activity; (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel by any means for any project or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted; (4) relocates an office or employees; (5) reorganizes or renames offices, programs, or activities; (6) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities presently performed by Federal employees; (7) augments existing programs, projects, or activities in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, or reduces by 10 percent funding for any program, project, or activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent; or (8) results from any general savings, including savings from a reduction in personnel, which would result in a change in existing programs, projects, or activities as approved by Congress; unless the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations are notified 15 days in advance of such reprogramming of funds.
506. Read Opens in new tab
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Section 506 says that if someone has been proven to falsely label a product as "Made in America" when it isn't, they can't receive government contracts funded by this Act. It also encourages the purchase of promotional items made in the USA whenever possible.
507. Read Opens in new tab
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The section requires the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Science Foundation, and NASA to submit a quarterly report to Congress on their spending and budget status. If they can't provide certain details due to system limits, they should do their best to report what they can and explain any missing information.
508. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that if departments or agencies have to spend money due to funding cuts in the Act, they must use their existing budgets. It also mentions that funds can be transferred between accounts if necessary, and such use of funds must follow specific procedures, especially for the Department of Commerce regarding loan collateral or grant property management.
509. Read Opens in new tab
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None of the funding from this Act can be used to support the sale or export of tobacco products, or to push foreign countries to remove their marketing restrictions on tobacco, unless those restrictions are unfairly applied to some but not all tobacco products of the same kind.
510. Read Opens in new tab
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In Section 510 of the bill, it states that any funds in excess of $1.9 billion in a certain fund for crime victims cannot be used until the next year. Additionally, $5 million from the fund is allocated to the Department of Justice for oversight and auditing, and 5% of the fund is designated for grants to help improve services for crime victims in Indian Tribes.
Money References
- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts deposited or available in the Fund established by section 1402 of chapter XIV of title II of Public Law 98–473 (34 U.S.C. 20101) in any fiscal year in excess of $1,900,000,000 shall not be available for obligation until the following fiscal year:
- Provided, That notwithstanding section 1402(d) of such Act, of the amounts available from the Fund for obligation: (1) $5,000,000 shall be transferred to the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General and remain available until expended for oversight and auditing purposes associated with this section; and (2) 5 percent shall be available to the Office for Victims of Crime for grants, consistent with the requirements of the Victims of Crime Act, to Indian Tribes to improve services for victims of crime. ---
511. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that the Department of Justice cannot use its funds to treat students or their parents unfairly because of their religious or moral beliefs when those students are participating in programs that receive financial help from the government.
512. Read Opens in new tab
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All funds provided by this Act cannot be transferred to any U.S. government department or agency unless the transfer is authorized within this Act or any other appropriations law.
513. Read Opens in new tab
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The section mandates that Inspectors General from various federal departments and agencies, like Commerce and Justice, audit grants or contracts involving funds from this Act, report their progress to Congress, and publicly share the audit results online, with certain sensitive information redacted. Additionally, it requires recipients of these funds to certify that no funds will benefit anyone with a financial interest in the recipient, and these rules take effect once a uniform set of ethics rules is determined to apply across all federal bodies.
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Funds from this Act cannot be used by certain federal departments to buy high or moderate-impact information systems unless they thoroughly review and mitigate supply chain risks, especially concerning cyber threats from countries like China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Before such systems can be acquired, the risks must be assessed, a risk mitigation strategy developed, and approval reported to the relevant Congressional committees.
515. Read Opens in new tab
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None of the funds allocated in this Act can be used to support or justify torture by any U.S. government official or contract employee.
516. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that none of the money provided by this Act can be used to include specific parts of free trade agreements with Singapore, Australia, or Morocco in any new trade deals.
517. Read Opens in new tab
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This section states that no funds from this Act can be used for issuing a national security letter if it violates laws that allow the FBI to issue such letters, including laws like the USA PATRIOT Act and the USA FREEDOM Act, among others.
518. Read Opens in new tab
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If a project managed by the Departments of Commerce or Justice, NASA, or the National Science Foundation costs over $75 million and its cost rises by at least 10%, the program manager must inform their respective leader. The leader then has 30 days to notify Congress, explaining why costs increased, what actions are being taken to control costs, and whether the project management is sufficient.
Money References
- If at any time during any quarter, the program manager of a project within the jurisdiction of the Departments of Commerce or Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or the National Science Foundation totaling more than $75,000,000 has reasonable cause to believe that the total program cost has increased by 10 percent or more, the program manager shall immediately inform the respective Secretary, Administrator, or Director.
519. Read Opens in new tab
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Funds allocated by this Act for intelligence-related activities are authorized by Congress for the fiscal year 2025 under the National Security Act until the Intelligence Authorization Act for that year is enacted.
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Funds from this Act cannot be used for contracts or grants over $5,000,000 unless the contractor or grantee certifies they have filed all required federal tax returns in the past three years, have no criminal offenses under tax laws, and don't have unpaid federal taxes unless they are in an approved payment plan or are disputing the tax assessment.
Money References
- None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the contractor or grantee has filed all Federal tax returns required during the three years preceding the certification, has not been convicted of a criminal offense under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and has not, more than 90 days prior to certification, been notified of any unpaid Federal tax assessment for which the liability remains unsatisfied, unless the assessment is the subject of an installment agreement or offer in compromise that has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service and is not in default, or the assessment is the subject of a non-frivolous administrative or judicial proceeding. ---
521. Read Opens in new tab
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The section mandates that specific amounts of unused funds from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice are to be permanently removed by September 30, 2025. These rescissions include funds from various programs and are not to come from emergency or disaster relief allocations, with certain exceptions detailed for specific law enforcement programs.
Money References
- SEC. 521. (a) Of the unobligated balances available to the Department of Commerce, the following funds are hereby permanently rescinded, not later than September 30, 2025, from the following accounts in the specified amounts— (1) “Economic Development Administration—Economic Development Assistance Programs”, $20,000,000, only from prior year appropriations; and (2) “Nonrecurring Expenses Fund”, $9,560,000,000, only from amounts appropriated by section 101(e) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118–5).
- (b) Of the unobligated balances from prior year appropriations available to the Department of Justice, the following funds are hereby permanently rescinded, not later than September 30, 2025, from the following accounts in the specified amounts— (1) “Federal Bureau of Investigation—Salaries and Expenses”, $50,000,000; (2) “State and Local Law Enforcement Activities—Office on Violence Against Women—Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs”, $15,000,000; (3) “State and Local Law Enforcement Activities—Office of Justice Programs”, $125,000,000; and (4) “State and Local Law Enforcement Activities—Community Oriented Policing Services”, $20,000,000. (c) Of the unobligated balances available to the Department of Justice, the following funds are hereby permanently rescinded, not later than September 30, 2025, from the following account in the specified amounts: “Working Capital Fund”, $250,000,000. (d)
522. Read Opens in new tab
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Congress has stated that no money from this Act can be used for buying first class or premium airline tickets if it goes against specific regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations.
523. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that no more than 50 employees from a U.S. Federal department or agency can attend a conference outside the United States using funds from this Act, unless the conference is for law enforcement personnel stationed abroad or is a scientific conference that is deemed in the national interest, with prior notification to Congress.
524. Read Opens in new tab
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The section instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that U.S. departments and agencies track unused funds in expired grant accounts. They must report on steps to resolve these balances, the tracking methods used, the potential return of funds to the U.S. Treasury, and provide a summary of such accounts over the past three years.
525. Read Opens in new tab
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Funds from this Act should ideally be used to buy light bulbs that are either "Energy Star" qualified or have the "Federal Energy Management Program" designation.
526. Read Opens in new tab
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Congress has put restrictions on using government funds for NASA, the OSTP, and the NSC to collaborate with China unless permitted by a new law. Exceptions can be made if they ensure no technology or data that could harm national security is shared, and they avoid engaging with Chinese officials linked to human rights abuses, with all activities needing pre-approval and detailed reporting to Congress and the FBI.
527. Read Opens in new tab
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Congress has declared that no money from this Act can be used to set up or maintain a computer network unless it blocks access to pornography, but this restriction doesn't apply to funds used by law enforcement or related agencies for investigations and victim assistance.
528. Read Opens in new tab
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The section requires various government departments and agencies, including Commerce, Justice, NASA, and others, to submit their spending plans to specific House and Senate committees within 45 days after this law is passed.
529. Read Opens in new tab
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Funds from this Act cannot be used to give bonuses or extra payments to contractors whose work is considered below satisfactory or does not meet the contract's basic requirements.
530. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration cannot use any funds from this Act to go against section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, which deals with industrial hemp research.
531. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that the Department of Justice cannot use funds from this Act to stop any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia from implementing their own medical marijuana laws, which include the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
532. Read Opens in new tab
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The section requires the Department of Commerce, NASA, and the National Science Foundation to submit a quarterly report to certain Congressional committees. This report must detail any official trips to China made by their employees, including the reasons for these trips.
533. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that at least 10% of the funds given by this Act for Public Works and Technology Innovation grants must be used to help areas known as "persistent poverty counties," which are places where at least 20% of the population has lived in poverty for the past 30 years or any U.S. Territory or possession.
534. Read Opens in new tab
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Under this section of the bill, U.S. departments can't use funds to require an export license for certain firearm components exported to Canada if their value is under $500, as long as specific conditions are met. However, exporters still need to file necessary declarations and cannot export certain firearms and major components without a license.
Money References
- SEC. 534. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or treaty, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act or any other Act may be expended or obligated by a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States to pay administrative expenses or to compensate an officer or employee of the United States in connection with requiring an export license for the export to Canada of components, parts, accessories or attachments for firearms listed in Category I, section 121.1 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations (International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), part 121, as it existed on April 1, 2005) with a total value not exceeding $500 wholesale in any transaction, provided that the conditions of subsection (b) of this section are met by the exporting party for such articles.
535. Read Opens in new tab
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The section states that the U.S. government cannot use funds to pay for administrative costs or employee salaries if it's to deny applications for permits to import U.S.-made “curios or relics” firearms, parts, or ammunition, as long as these are qualified under the specified laws.
536. Read Opens in new tab
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In Section 536, the law states that no money from this act can be used to pay staff to deny or ignore applications to import a shotgun model if all legal requirements are met, and if the model hasn't been denied before 2011 for not being suitable for sports.
537. Read Opens in new tab
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None of the funds from this Act can be used to carry out the Arms Trade Treaty until the U.S. Senate formally approves it.
538. Read Opens in new tab
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The section prohibits using government funds to transfer or release Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other non-U.S. citizen detainee held at Guantanamo Bay on or after June 24, 2009, to any location within the United States, its territories, or possessions.
539. Read Opens in new tab
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The section prohibits using government funds to build, buy, or change facilities in the U.S. or its territories for holding certain people detained by the Department of Defense, unless it's for modifying facilities at Guantanamo Bay. Those affected by this rule are non-U.S. citizens or non-military personnel held at Guantanamo Bay as of June 24, 2009.
540. Read Opens in new tab
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Funds allocated to the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice from this Act or from leftover funds from previous Acts can be used to make certain payments. However, these payments cannot exceed $5 million for the Department of Commerce and $10 million for the Department of Justice, except for specific emergency cases or legal expenses.
Money References
- Funds made available to the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice in this Act and any remaining unobligated balances of funds made available to the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice in prior year Acts, other than amounts designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or from amounts made available under the heading “Department of Justice—Legal Activities—Fees and Expenses of Witnesses”, shall be available to provide payments pursuant to section 901(i)(2) of title IX of division J of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b(i)(2)): Provided, That payments made pursuant to the matter preceding this proviso may not exceed $5,000,000 for the Department of Commerce and $10,000,000 for the Department of Justice.
541. Read Opens in new tab
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The section outlines how the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the National Science Foundation should allocate and report on funds from the CHIPS for America Act and related funds for fiscal year 2025, with specific conditions on reallocations and requirements for detailed justifications and reports on fund balances to Congress.
542. Read Opens in new tab
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This section of the bill states that any leftover money in a specific government fund identified as 080X0115 will be permanently canceled. Additionally, certain funds that are already committed for space operations and hurricane recovery will be moved to different accounts to be used as needed and after these actions, the original account will be closed, with any remaining money being sent to the Treasury.
543. Read Opens in new tab
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In this section of the bill, it states that any funds marked as an emergency requirement by Congress can only be used or altered if the President approves all the designated amounts and informs Congress of this approval.
544. Read Opens in new tab
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The section amends a previous law by changing the expiration date from December 31, 2024, to September 30, 2025.