Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill

May 17, 2018
Press Release

The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill on a vote of 32-19. The bill funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the decennial census, and other related programs.

The legislation contains $62.5 billion in total discretionary funding, an increase of $2.9 billion above the fiscal year 2018 level. The bill provides increases for federal law enforcement to crack down on illegal immigration, violent crime, gangs and opioid trafficking. The bill targets funding increases for national security – including countering cybercrime, terrorism and espionage.  Funds are included to continue investments in space exploration, and advance groundbreaking science, enhance school safety, and provide adequate resources for the upcoming decennial census.

“This bill provides funding for many critically important programs. It prioritizes national security and law enforcement, including activities that will continue the fight against illegal drugs. It invests in scientific research that will help our nation be successful for generations to come. It will support programs to keep our children and our schools safe. And, it will ensure the proper resources are available to conduct a responsible census so that all communities can be fairly represented,” House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen said.

“This bill invests our hard-earned tax dollars into the safety and security of our nation. It ensures that our federal law enforcement officers have the resources they need to fight drug and human trafficking, secure our borders, increase investigations into terrorism, and prosecute drug dealers. It prioritizes the protection of women against violence and helps prosecutors address sexual assault in our communities,” said CJS Subcommittee Chairman John Culberson. “It supports critical medical and scientific research so that we’re able to tackle the economic and technological challenges of the digital age. Additionally, it continues NASA’s record-level funding, setting the agency on the trajectory to rise above and beyond the glory days of Apollo.”

The following amendments to the bill were adopted by the full committee today:

Rep. Culberson – The manager’s amendment makes technical and noncontroversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Valadao – The amendment prohibits funding for the Commerce Department to implement or administer new rules on certain California dam hydroelectric projects. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Joyce – The amendment prohibits funding to prevent states from implementing their own medical marijuana laws. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. McCollum – The amendment changes Justice Department funding designations for Native Americans. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Ruppersberger – The amendment prohibits funds to be used in contravention of the ZTE suspension order. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Ruppersberger – The amendment targets $2 million to halt illegal cell phone use in prisons. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Harris ­– The amendment urges the Drug Enforcement Administration to expeditiously process medical marijuana research applications. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

For a bill summary, please click here.

For the text of the bill, please click here.

For the bill report, please click here.

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115th Congress