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Calendar No. 169
106th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 106-87
======================================================================
TREASURY AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATION BILL, 2000
_______
June 24, 1999.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Campbell, from the Committee on Appropriations,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1282]
The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 1282)
making appropriations for the Treasury Department, the United
States Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President,
and certain Independent Agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2000, and for other purposes, reports favorably
thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.
Amount of bill as reported to the Senate................ $27,737,971,000
Amount of estimate...................................... 27,997,054,000
The bill as reported to the Senate:
Below the appropriations provided in 1999........... 177,633,000
Below the estimates for 2000........................ 259,083,000
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
General statement and summary of bill............................ 3
Title I--Department of the Treasury.............................. 6
Title II--United States Postal Service........................... 40
Title III--Executive Office of the President and Funds
Appropriated to the President.................................. 42
Title IV--Independent Agencies:
Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled................................................... 55
Federal Election Commission.................................. 55
Federal Labor Relations Authority............................ 56
General Services Administration.............................. 56
Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National
Environmental Policy Foundation............................ 65
Merit Systems Protection Board............................... 66
National Archives and Records Administration................. 66
National Historical Publications and Records Commission...... 68
Office of Government Ethics.................................. 69
Office of Personnel Management............................... 69
Office of Special Counsel.................................... 72
U.S. Tax Court............................................... 73
Statement concerning general provisions.......................... 75
Title V--General provisions, this act............................ 76
Title VI--General provisions, departments, agencies, and
corporations................................................... 77
Compliance with paragraph 7, rule XVI, of the Standing Rules of
the Senate..................................................... 80
Compliance with paragraph 7(c), rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
of the Senate.................................................. 81
Compliance with paragraph 12, rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of
the Senate..................................................... 82
Tables........................................................... 87
General Statement and Summary of the Bill
The accompanying bill contains recommendations for new
budget (obligational) authority for the Treasury Department,
the United States Postal Service, the Executive Office of the
President, and certain independent agencies for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2000.
The Committee considered budget estimates for fiscal year
2000 in the aggregate amount of $27,997,054,000. Compared to
that amount, the accompanying bill recommends new budget
authority totaling $27,737,971,000 which is $839,404,000 more
than the amount requested by the administration.
The Committee recommendations are consistent with the
fiscal year 2000 section 302(b) budget authority and outlay
allocations for the Treasury and General Government
Subcommittee. However, in order to stay within the allocations,
the Committee was faced with a requirement to reduce both
budget authority and outlays without harming essential
programs. As a result, the Committee was forced to deny all
requests for additional funding to cover the remaining months
of the calendar year 1999 statutory annual pay adjustment. The
only exception to this across-the-board reduction is those
employees whose salaries are administratively determined and
who do not receive the government-wide adjustments.
reprogramming requirements
The Committee is concerned about the number of
reprogramming requests submitted by agencies for congressional
review. Agencies are again reminded that only those requests
which meet the reprogramming criteria listed below will be
considered, that reprogramming should be reserved for critical
circumstances, and that reprogramming proposals will not be
considered, except in extraordinary circumstances, if received
45 or fewer days prior to the end of the fiscal year.
The reprogramming guidelines to be used to determine
whether or not a reprogramming shall be submitted to the
Committee for prior approval are as follows:
1. Except under extraordinary and emergency
situations, the Committees on Appropriations will not
consider requests for a reprogramming or a transfer of
funds, or use of unobligated balances, which are
submitted after the close of the third quarter of the
fiscal year, June 30;
2. Clearly stated and detailed documentation
presenting justification for the reprogramming,
transfer, or use of unobligated balances shall
accompany each request;
3. For agencies, departments, or offices receiving
appropriations in excess of $20,000,000, a
reprogramming shall be submitted if the amount to be
shifted to or from any object class, budget activity,
program line item, or program activity involved is in
excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is greater,
of the object class, budget activity, program line
item, or program activity;
4. For agencies, departments, or offices receiving
appropriations less than $20,000,000, a reprogramming
shall be submitted if the amount to be shifted to or
from any object class, budget activity, program line
item, or program activity involved is in excess of
$50,000, or 10 percent, whichever is greater, of the
object class, budget activity, program line item, or
program activity;
5. For any action where the cumulative effect of
below threshold reprogramming actions, or past
reprogramming and/or transfer actions added to the
request, would exceed the dollar threshold mentioned
above, a reprogramming shall be submitted;
6. For any action which would result in a major
change to the program or item which is different than
that presented to and approved by either of the
Committees, or the Congress, a reprogramming shall be
submitted;
7. For any action where funds earmarked by either
of the Committees for a specific activity are proposed
to be used for a different activity, a reprogramming
shall be submitted; and,
8. For any action where funds earmarked by either
of the Committees for a specific activity are in excess
of the project or activity requirement, and are
proposed to be used for a different activity, a
reprogramming shall be submitted.
Additionally, each request shall include a declaration
that, as of the date of the request, none of the funds included
in the request have been obligated, and none will be obligated,
until the Committees on Appropriations have approved the
request.
vehicle usage and replacement
The Committee is pleased with the increased oversight and
management by the Department of the vehicle acquisition program
in addition to the results gained from consolidated vehicle
asset management. The Committee expects that all vehicle
acquisitions will continue to be handled in accordance with
standards established in Departmental directives and policies.
The Department is requested to report to the Congress quarterly
on the management of its oversight operations.
climate change research
On October 22, 1997, the President introduced a three-stage
proposal on climate change in anticipation of an international
agreement to be negotiated 2 months later in Kyoto, Japan. The
President's budget for fiscal year 1999 included a
$6,300,000,000 package of tax incentives and research and
development programs over the 5 years of stage I of the
President's proposal. With regard to programs pursued under the
President's proposal, the Committee expects the administration
to comply with the letter and spirit of the Government
Performance and Results Act.
The Committee directs the administration to designate which
office has authority to coordinate and direct interagency
activity with regard to the President's proposal, which can
report accountably to Congress.
None of the funds provided in this bill are to be used to
implement actions called for solely under the Kyoto protocol,
prior to its ratification.
The Byrd-Hagel resolution passed in 1997 (S. Res. 98)
remains the clearest statement of the will of the Senate with
regard to the Kyoto protocol, and the Committee is committed to
ensuring that the administration not implement the Kyoto
protocol without congressional consent. The Committee
recognizes, however, that there are also longstanding energy
research programs which have goals and objectives that, if met,
could have positive effects on energy use and the environment.
The Committee does not intend to preclude these programs from
proceeding, provided they have been funded and approved by
Congress.
To the extent future funding requests may be submitted
which would increase funding for climate change activities
prior to ratification of the Kyoto protocol (whether under the
auspices of the climate change technology initiative or any
other initiative), the administration must do a better job of
explaining the components of the programs, their anticipated
goals and objectives, the justification for any funding
increases, a discussion of how success will be measured, and a
clear definition of how these programs are justified by goals
and objectives independent of implementation of the Kyoto
protocol.
The Committee directs the administration to provide the
Committee with a detailed plan for implementing key elements of
the President's proposal, which would include performance goals
for the reduction of greenhouse gases that have objective,
quantifiable, and measurable target levels. The plan should
provide evidence on the effectiveness of these programs in
meeting the performance goals. The Committee expects these
items to be included as part of the fiscal year 2001 budget
submission for all affected agencies.
Last year, the Committee directed the Administration to
include these items in the fiscal year 2000 budget submission.
The Committee is concerned that several agencies are tardy in
doing so. The Committee takes cognizance of a joint hearing on
agency accountability, conducted on May 20, 1999, by
subcommittees of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources and the House Committee on Government Reform. In
fact, three agencies did not submit reports until April 9 or
later, and one submitted its report one day before this
hearing. According to the General Accounting Office, both the
timing and the content of these submissions made it more
difficult for Congress to assess Administration proposals.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Departmental Offices
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $123,151,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 134,630,000
Committee recommendation................................ 133,168,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $133,168,000
for salaries and expenses for departmental offices of the
Treasury Department. The amount provided by the Committee is
$10,017,000 above the fiscal year 1999 level.
Departmental Offices' function in the Treasury Department
is to provide basic support to the Secretary of the Treasury,
who is the chief operating executive of the Department. The
Secretary of the Treasury maintains the primary role in
formulating and managing the domestic and international tax and
financial policies of the Federal Government. The Secretary's
responsibilities funded by the Salaries and Expenses
appropriation include: recommending and implementing United
States domestic and international economic and tax policy;
fiscal policy; governing the fiscal operations of the
Government; maintaining foreign assets control; managing the
public debt; overseeing major law enforcement functions carried
out by the Treasury Department; managing development financial
policy; representing the United States on international
monetary, trade and investment issues; overseeing Treasury
Department overseas operations; and directing the
administrative operations of the Treasury Department.
In support of the Secretary, the Salaries and Expenses
appropriation provides resources for policy formulation and
implementation in the areas of domestic and international
financial, investment, tax, economic, trade and financial
operations and general fiscal policy. This appropriation also
provides resources for administrative support to the Secretary
and policy components, and coordination of Departmental
administrative policies in financial and personnel management,
procurement operations, and automated information systems and
telecommunications.
The international affairs programs involve the formulation
and execution of Treasury policy in a wide range of important
economic areas. This activity includes those offices
responsible for providing staff analysis and support for the
Secretary and other senior officials involved in formulating
and implementing international economic and financial policies.
The issues involved within this activity include: international
monetary affairs; international development financing policy;
U.S. policy toward, and participation in, the work of the
various international financial organizations; international
economic analysis; international trade and investment policy;
financial aspects of commodities and natural resources policy.
Treasury's Regulatory Enforcement Mission
The Department has undertaken a challenging mission in
reorganizing the regulatory enforcement activities to make
senior officials more accessible to the public and to members
of the industries regulated under authority delegated by the
Secretary of the Treasury. The Committee commends the effort to
decentralize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
As this initiative is fully implemented, the Under Secretary
for Enforcement should make certain that the Bureau is fully
committed to its traditional role of ensuring the fundamental
integrity of the industries and products subject to ATF
authority.
Although the Committee believes that ATF has appropriately
performed its regulatory duties, there have been recent reports
of Treasury/ATF expanding its mission outside its regulatory
jurisdiction. The Committee would like to reiterate that ATF
should address and propose regulations only on enforcement
issues within their jurisdiction. Treasury and ATF should not
duplicate activities of other Federal agencies such as the
Federal Trade Commission and State agencies which have the
proper authority, funding, and staffing necessary to address
those issues that are clearly within their jurisdiction.
Office of Enforcement Review
The Congress established the Office of the Undersecretary
of Enforcement in the Department of the Treasury in Public Law
103-123, Section 105, to allow the Department an office solely
dedicated to assisting Treasury's law enforcement bureaus in
management and policy oversight issues specific to the needs of
law enforcement. The Committee is interested in the use of
funding in the Office of Enforcement with respect to the
management of law enforcement bureaus and the development and
oversight of policy. Therefore, the Committee directs the
General Accounting Office to conduct a management review of the
Office of Enforcement to determine effectiveness of the Office
and its operations.
office of foreign assets control
OFAC is responsible for enforcing economic sanctions as
well as oversight and investigations of the illegal operations
conducted by foreign agents and businesses. The Committee
expects that this funding level will allow for 64 permanent
full-time staffing positions. The Committee recommendation
includes $6,199,000 in direct funding for the Office of Foreign
Assets Control (OFAC). The Committee has chosen not to specify
a floor funding requirement for OFAC in response to indications
that Treasury will continue to ensure that adequate resources
are allocated for this critical function. The Committee is
encouraged by the level of funding detail offered by Treasury
in its budget justifications for its Enforcement programs, and
regards this as an assurance that OFAC's direct costs will be
properly covered as shown, and that administrative overhead
resources are fairly allocated. The Committee requests that
similar explanatory tables be provided in future
justifications.
Northern Lights Initiative
The Committee continues to support the northern lights
initiative on the United States-Canadian border. This
initiative is an interagency, multi-jurisdictional program to
improve law enforcement effectiveness and to address the
growing drug problem along the Northeast border. This
initiative is intended to improve communication, coordination,
and effectiveness of law enforcement throughout the region.
Department-wide Systems and Capital Investments Program
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $28,690,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 53,561,000
Committee recommendation................................ 35,561,000
The Committee has provided a total of $35,561,000. This
appropriation succeeds the Automation Enhancements
appropriation established by the Treasury, Postal Service and
General Government Appropriations Act, 1997, and funds Treasury
bureaus, at the Secretary's discretion, to modernize business
processes and increase efficiency through technology
investments, as well as other activities that involve more than
one Treasury bureau or Treasury's interface with other
governmental agencies.
Customs Automation
The Committee is very encouraged by the movement of the
Customs Service, with the help of the Treasury Department,
toward a PRIME contractor and modularization of its automation
efforts. The Committee believes that this is a much needed step
and strongly supports the continued leadership and expertise by
the Treasury Department in the development of this new
approach.
Office of the Inspector General
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $30,678,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 32,017,000
Committee recommendation................................ 30,483,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $30,483,000
for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Inspector
General.
The Office of the Inspector General conducts and supervises
audits, evaluations, and investigations designed to: (1)
promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness and prevent
fraud, waste and abuse in Departmental programs and operations;
and (2) keep the Secretary and the Congress fully and currently
informed of problems and operations. The audit functions
provide program audit, contract audit 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 audit 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. These audits contribute significantly to improved
financial management by helping Treasury managers identify
improvements needed in their accounting and internal control
systems. The evaluations function reviews program performance
and issues critical to the mission of the Department, including
assessing the Department's implementation of the Government
Performance and Results Act (GPRA). The investigative function
provides for the detection and investigation of improper and
illegal activities involving programs, personnel, and
operations. This appropriation also provides for the oversight
of internal investigations made by the Office of Internal
Affairs and Inspection in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms, the Customs Service, and the Secret Service.
The Inspectors General Auditor Training Institute provides
the necessary facilities, equipment, and support services for
conducting auditor training for the Federal Government
Inspector General community. The Office of the Inspector
General is the parent organization for this entity, although
program and financing data is reported under the Treasury
Franchise fund (effective in 1999).
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Appropriations, 1999....................................................
Budget estimate, 2000................................... $112,207,000
Committee recommendation................................ 111,340,000
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
(TIGTA) conducts audits, investigations, and evaluations to
assess the operations and programs of the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) and Related Entities, the IRS Oversight Board and
the Office of Chief Counsel to (1) 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; (2) recommend actions to resolve fraud and other
serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies in these programs
and operations, and keep the Secretary and the Congress fully
and currently informed of these issues and the progress made in
resolving them. TIGTA reviews existing and proposed legislation
and regulations relating to the programs and operations of the
IRS and Related Entities and makes recommendations concerning
the impact of such legislation and regulations on the economy
and efficiency in the administration of programs and operations
of the IRS and Related Entities. The audit function provides
program audit, contract audit and financial statement audit
services. Program audits review and audit all facets of IRS and
Related Entities. Contract audits provide professional advice
to IRS contracting officials on accounting and financial
matters relative to negotiation, award, administration,
repricing, and settlement of contracts. The evaluations
function reviews program performance and issues critical to the
mission of the IRS. The investigative function provides for the
detection and investigation of improper and illegal activities
involving IRS programs and operations and protects the IRS and
Related Entities against external attempts to corrupt or
threaten their employees.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration was
newly established in January 1999; once the organization is in
place, annual performance plans and measures will be developed
to meet the GPRA requirements. Functions and resources from the
Treasury Inspector General ($1,062,000) and the Internal
Revenue Service ($107,356,000) were transferred to TIGTA as
directed by Congress in the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of
1998.
Treasury Building and Annex Repair and Restoration
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $27,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 23,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 15,000,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $15,000,000
for the repair and restoration of the Treasury Building and
Annex. This amount is $8,000,000 less than the budget request.
These funds will permit the Department to continue the program
of renovation and modernization of the historic Main Treasury
Building in Washington, D.C. The Committee maintains strong
support for the renovation project but due to funding
constraints could not provide full funding.
The Committee recognizes the physical complexity, the
amount of planning required, and the likelihood of scheduling
uncertainties in such a massive undertaking. Because of the
Departmental Offices' central role in both domestic and foreign
policy, the Committee is aware of how sensitive internal
coordination needs can potentially be affected by such a major
disruption. The Committee therefore directs that a quarterly
report on T-BARR's progress be provided which should include
the following: actual obligations to date, by quarter; planned
obligations for the current fiscal year, by quarter; major
project milestones in progress and their planned completion
date, and major milestones completed; offices scheduled for
relocation over the next two quarters, whether temporary or
permanent, probable target location, and the number of staff
involved in each office relocation; and Departmental Offices
staffing (positions and FTE) applied to this effort.
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $24,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 28,418,000
Committee recommendation................................ 27,681,000
The Committee has recommended $27,681,000 which is $737,000
less than the budget request. The Committee funded the
Administration's proposed initiatives for International money
laundering, Secure outreach network, Bank Secrecy Act
regulations efforts, law enforcement support, regulatory civil
enforcement and suspicious activity report.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has
responsibility for implementing Treasury's anti-money
laundering regulations through administration of the Bank
Secrecy Act (BSA), 31 U.S.C. section 5311, et. seq., and serves
as a United States Government source for the systematic
collection and analysis of information to assist in the
investigation of money laundering and other financial crimes.
FinCEN was created to serve as a central source for the
systematic identification, collation, and analysis of
intelligence in support of law enforcement operations. FinCEN
establishes policy and oversees BSA compliance by financial
institutions and provides BSA training to law enforcement, bank
regulators and bankers.
FinCEN is a catalyst for the development of Financial
Intelligence Units (FIUs) in other countries, and the transfer
of information on money laundering issues and financial
services worldwide. FinCEN provides a Governmentwide
multisource intelligence and analytical network to support
Federal, State, local, and foreign law enforcement and
regulatory agencies in the detection, investigation, and
prosecution of money laundering, and other financial crimes.
Toward this end, FinCEN is charged with linking together and
analyzing financial, law enforcement, and public data sources
to provide leads on criminal financial activity that might
otherwise go undetected.
In support of this mission, FinCEN is staffed with
permanent FinCEN employees, analysts and computer specialists,
as well as special agents, analysts, and other Federal
employees on non-reimbursable details from Federal Government.
treasury forfeiture fund
The Treasury forfeiture fund was established on October 1,
1993, in Public Law 102-393. It has two accounts, one which is
funded through permanent indefinite authority and the other
which is funded through a direct annual appropriation. The
direct appropriation represents the annual congressional
limitation on the use of the proceeds from seized and forfeited
assets. Forfeited cash and the proceeds of forfeited monetary
instruments are deposited into the fund. Proceeds from the sale
of other seized and forfeited assets are also deposited into
the fund.
The Committee has reviewed the proposed distribution from
the Treasury Forfeiture Fund outlined by the Department of the
Treasury in their budget justification. The Committee agrees to
fund FLEWUG ($3,000,000) and a portion of the Interagency Crime
and Drug Enforcement ($47,534,000) from this fund.
The Committee agrees that funds should be provided to the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for post-incident
investigations ($3,600,000), lab equipment modernization
($3,800,000), and a new ATF headquarters facility should
additional funding be required. The Committee denies ATF's
request for mobile radios/vehicles ($6,300,000) and the
reimbursement in lieu of direct funding ($1,000,000). The
Committee funded the arson explosives repository ($1,608,000)
and the building security ($639,000) under the Violent Crimes
Reduction Trust Fund.
The Committee agrees that funds should be provided to the
U.S. Secret Service for the standard financial system
($1,401,000), the Treasury Communications System ($3,700,000),
LAN replacement ($250,000), anti-terrorism supplemental
recurring costs ($23,000,000), candidate/nominee protection
($35,247,000), countering chemical/biological threat
($3,325,000) and protective technical security equipment
($1,843,000). The Committee denies Secret Service's request for
vehicles ($6,700,000) and the reimbursement in lieu of direct
funding ($1,000,000).
Finally, the Committee believes funds should be provided to
the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for the Rural Law
Enforcement Education Demonstration Project ($300,000).
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Funding
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $132,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 132,127,000
Committee recommendation................................ 194,000,000
violent crime reduction program
The Committee has provided $194,000,000 for Treasury
enforcement activities as follows:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms:
GREAT grants........................................ $13,000,000
GREAT administration................................ 3,000,000
Explosives repository clearinghouse................. 1,608,000
Building security................................... 639,000
Integrated violence reduction strategy.............. 12,600,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.... 30,847,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
United States Secret Service:
Protective program.................................. 5,854,000
Protective research program......................... 2,014,000
Workspace program................................... 5,886,000
Forensic and related support of investigations of
missing and exploited children.................... 3,196,000
Counterfeiting investigations....................... 5,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total, United States Secret Service............... 21,950,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
United States Customs Service:
Pre-hiring polygraph examinations................... 4,300,000
Undeclared outbound currency detection.............. 2,000,000
Non-intrusive mobile personal inspection technology. 9,000,000
Land border automation equipment.................... 4,952,000
Agent and inspector relocations..................... 8,000,000
Laboratory modernization............................ 5,735,000
Counter-narcotics and money laundering
investigations.................................... 4,817,000
Cybersmuggling...................................... 2,400,000
Hardline/GATEWAY equipment.......................... 5,430,000
Training program.................................... 2,500,000
Maintain fiscal year 1998 equipment................. 3,640,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total, United States Customs Service.............. 52,774,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement.............. 28,366,000
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network:
GATEWAY............................................. 600,000
Data mining......................................... 300,000
Continue the magnitude of money laundering study.... 500,000
Enhance electronic filing of SARS and other BSA
databases......................................... 200,000
Technical advances for GATEWAY...................... 263,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network....... 1,863,000
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center: Firearms ranges
at Artesia.......................................... 9,200,000
Office of National Drug Control Policy, Special
Forfeiture Fund: National media campaign............ 49,000,000
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
The Committee has provided $14,847,000 to the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for an explosives repository
clearinghouse ($1,608,000), integrated violence reduction
strategy ($12,600,000), and building security ($639,000).
GREAT PROGRAM
The Committee supports funding for the Gang Resistance
Education and Training [GREAT] Program through VCRTF, and
provides $13,000,000 for grants to local law enforcement
organizations, as well as $3,000,000 for ATF administrative
support, training, and related activities associated with this
program.
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
The Committee has provided $600,000 for the Financial Crime
Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to maintain the GATEWAY money
laundering data bases and training for State and local law
enforcement requested as part of the ``Salaries and expenses''
account. The Committee has also included $300,000 to expand
data mining technology, $500,000 to continue the magnitude of
money laundering study, $200,000 to enhance SARS/BSA databases
and $263,000 to implement further technical advances for
GATEWAY.
U.S. Customs Service
The Committee has provided funding for conducting pre-
hiring polygraph examinations ($4,300,000), technology for the
detection of undeclared outbound currency ($2,000,000), non-
intrusive mobile personal inspection technology ($9,000,000),
land border automation equipment ($4,952,000), agent/inspector
relocation ($8,000,000), laboratory modernization ($5,735,000),
cybersmuggling ($2,400,000), Hardline/GATEWAY equipment
($5,430,000), training program ($2,500,000), maintain fiscal
year 1998 equipment ($3,640,000), and resources for
investigative counter-narcotics and money laundering operations
($4,817,000). The Committee has provided $52,774,000 for these
efforts.
Interagency Law Enforcement
The Committee has provided $28,366,000 to interagency crime
and drug enforcement [ICDE]. This, combined with disbursement
of $47,534,000 from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, fully funds
the amount requested by the administration. These funds will
allow ICDE to continue their efforts to reduce drug-related
crime.
U.S. SECRET SERVICE
The Committee has provided $5,854,000 for the protective
program, $2,014,000 for the protective research program,
$5,000,000 for counterfeiting investigations, and $5,886,000
for the workspace program, which were requested as part of the
``Salaries and expenses'' account. Further, the Committee has
included $3,196,000 for the Service's operational costs for the
Exploited Child Unit, associated with its continued efforts
with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... \1\ $71,923,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 86,846,000
Committee recommendation................................ 80,114,000
\1\ This amount does not include the fiscal year 1999 supplemental
funding.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $80,114,000
for salaries and expenses of the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center [FLETC]. This amount is $8,191,000 above the
fiscal year 1999 level. The Committee recommends $1,216,000 for
counter-terrorism training, $1,380,000 for a cost accounting
system, $500,000 for audited financial statements, $2,234,000
for training building support, $1,973,000 for equipment
replacement and $350,000 for scheduling automation.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center provides the
necessary facilities, equipment, and support services for
conducting basic and advanced training for Federal law
enforcement personnel of its participating organizations.
Center personnel conduct the instructional programs for the
basic recruit training and also selected portions of the
advanced training. In addition, the Center furnishes training
on a space-available basis to personnel from several Federal
organizations which are not formal participants under the
memorandum of understanding.
In October 1982, the President directed that a national
center for State and local training be established as a part of
the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The major program
goals are to present advanced and specialized training and to
provide basic technical assistance to State and local law
enforcement agencies.
In recent years, considerable funding has been provided
Federal law enforcement agencies to hire and train additional
personnel. The Committee has included funding to ensure that
FLETC can continue to meet the demands of agencies for training
their personnel.
The Committee has again included a general provision
(Section 615) to permit the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center to acquire the temporary use of additional training
facilities without seeking the advance approval otherwise
required by that section. The Committee directs the Center to
report to the Senate Committee on Appropriations by May 5, 2000
on the use of this authority and projections for its future
use.
Rural Law Enforcement Education Demonstration Project
The Committee is concerned that most attention tends to be
focused on youth crime and gang activity in urban centers.
Rural areas are also experiencing significant increases in
juvenile crime. For example, between 1993 and 1997 there was a
125 percent increase in drug arrests in North Dakota.
Substantial numbers of these arrests involved youths affiliated
with gangs. Fifty percent of the murders in North Dakota since
1993 were committed by gang members. The Committee believes
that rural law enforcement officials and others in rural
communities, who could provide an early warning system for
criminal behavior, are not receiving the kind of education and
training that may be critically important to the safekeeping of
their communities. Therefore, the Committee directs the
Director of FLETC to provide up to $300,000 to a graduate level
criminal justice program in a Northern Plains State which can
provide causal research on the link between youth and criminal
activity in rural locations. The project will also provide the
funding for the development of the appropriate education and
training protocols to address these issues. Funds for this
project shall be provided through the Treasury Forfeiture Fund.
Off-Campus Training
The Committee continues to support the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center's mission to provide basic
technical assistance to State and local law enforcement
agencies. Therefore, the Committee provides funding for the
travel expenses of non-Federal personnel to attend course
development meetings and training. In addition, the Committee
continues to authorize FLETC to obtain temporary use of
additional facilities by lease, contract, or other agreement
for training which cannot be accommodated in existing Center
facilities. In making these decisions, the Committee believes
every consideration should be given to providing training in
the most cost effective manner. As a result, the Committee
directs FLETC to consider alternative facilities particularly
when providing training to State and local law enforcement
officers. The Committee requests that FLETC give special
consideration to the training facilities at the Odegard School
for Aerospace Sciences, at the University of North Dakota and
at law enforcement training facilities in North Dakota.
acquisition, construction, improvements, and related expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $34,760,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 21,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 21,611,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $21,611,000
for acquisition, construction, improvements, and related
expenses of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The
Committee recommends funding be included for the Facilities
Master Plan, minor construction and maintenance, firearms
environmental restoration and reconstruction, environmental
compliance, and installation of fiber optics. The
recommendation includes $1,290,000 for the counter-terrorism
facility at Glynco, Georgia. Because $6,000,000 was provided
for classroom construction in the Treasury Forfeiture Fund in
fiscal year 1999, the Committee did not include the $4,889,000
for the completion of classroom construction as requested. The
Master Plan provides the long range blueprint for expansion of
facilities to meet the training requirements of participating
agencies.
The Committee has provided $9,200,000 for two firearms
ranges at the Artesia facility under the Violent Crime
Reduction Trust Fund which will not be available for obligation
until September 30, 2000.
The ``Acquisition, construction, improvements, and related
expenses'' account covers major maintenance and facility
improvements, construction, renovation, capital improvements,
and related equipment at FLETC facilities in Glynco, GA, and
Artesia, NM.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center was established
in 1970 as the single interagency training organization for
Federal law enforcement agencies. FLETC's concept of
Governmentwide, consolidated law enforcement training is
directed at promoting the highest quality training at the most
reasonable cost to the American taxpayer through multiple
agency support and use. FLETC, through its principal facility
in Glynco, GA, now serves the basic and advanced training needs
of 72 participating Federal agencies.
In June 1989, the Training Center completed its development
of a master plan which will enable FLETC to better serve the
training demands of Federal, State, and local law enforcement
agencies. This master plan calls for the construction of
additional facilities at both Center locations. The Committee
expects the Department to periodically update the master plan
to include new requirements demanded by the user agencies for
effective law enforcement training. The Committee directs FLETC
and the Department of the Treasury to report by May 5, 2000 on
the expected completion date of facilities being constructed to
accommodate the consolidation of all law enforcement training
under FLETC's jurisdiction.
Interagency Law Enforcement
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $51,900,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 26,184,000
Committee recommendation................................................
The Committee has not provided a direct appropriation in
this account for interagency crime and drug enforcement (ICDE).
However, the Committee does recommend that $28,366,000 be
provided through the VCRTF and that $47,534,000 be provided
through the Treasury Forfeiture fund, which represents full
funding of the administration's request.
The Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
(ICDE) Program consists of nine regional task forces which
consolidate the resources and expertise of 11 member Federal
agencies, in cooperation with State and local investigators and
prosecutors, to target and destroy major narcotic trafficking
and money laundering organizations. Treasury participates in
the task force activities through direct investigative and
support activities of task forces, focusing on the disruption
of drug trafficking controlled by various organized crime
enterprises.
Financial Management Service
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $196,490,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 202,670,000
Committee recommendation................................ 200,054,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $200,054,000
for salaries and expenses for the Financial Management Service
(FMS) in fiscal year 2000. This amount is $3,564,000 above the
fiscal year 1999 level. Due to budgetary constraints, the
Committee was unable to fund the central accounting system and
physical/IS security enhancement.
In its financial management leadership role, the Service
must manage effectively the movement of Federal funds as well
as make the optimal use of Federal financial information. By
doing so, FMS fulfills an obligation to the public by improving
the Federal Government's overall financial position and helping
to reduce the Federal deficit.
FMS oversees the Government's overall financial operations
through the financial and accounting services it provides to
its customers--Congress, other Federal agencies, financial
institutions, and the public.
Service responsibilities include: regulation and management
of the Government's collection systems; development and
implementation of innovative cash management and credit
administration practices in the administration of Federal
programs; central payment services for all civilian executive
agencies except the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. marshals, and
certain Government corporations; processing claims on all lost,
stolen, and forged checks including those not issued by the
Treasury; providing central accounting services for the
Government; compiling and publishing financial reports; and
managing trust, revolving, and deposit fund accounts.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $541,574,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 584,859,000
Committee recommendation................................ 569,225,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $569,225,000
for salaries and expenses of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms (ATF). This amount is $27,651,000 above fiscal year
1999. The Committee has provided $11,200,000 to expand the
Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative to 10 additional
cities, $1,000,000 for the canine program, and $3,000,000 for
the CEASEFIRE/IBIS program. In addition, the Committee
recommends $28,480,000 to maintain current levels. The
Committee has provided $12,600,000 for the integrated violence
reduction strategy under the Violent Crime Reduction Trust
Fund.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has three
major strategic goals: (1) effectively contribute to a safer
America by reducing the future number and cost of violent
crimes, (2) maintain a sound revenue management and regulatory
system that continues reducing payer burden, improving service,
collecting revenue due, and preventing illegal diversion, and
(3) protect the public and prevent consumer deception in ATF's
regulated commodities. To achieve these goals, ATF enforces the
Federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol, tobacco,
firearms, explosives, and arson by working directly and in
cooperation with others.
Federal alcohol administration act
The Committee recognizes alcoholic beverages as among the
most socially sensitive commodities marketed in the United
States. In this connection, marketing, labeling, and
advertising of alcoholic beverages must be accomplished in an
environment which fosters fair and healthy competition while
protecting the interests of the American consumer. The
Committee expects that there be no diminution of regulatory and
oversight functions in fiscal year 2000.
armed career criminal apprehension program
The Armed Career Criminal Act, signed into law in 1984 and
expanded by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, provides mandatory
sentences for certain violent repeat offenders who carry
firearms. The Bureau, given its jurisdiction over firearms
laws, has a unique opportunity to effect the apprehension of
violent offenders. The success to date of the Bureau's Repeat
Offender Program has surpassed initial expectations regarding
apprehension, prosecution, and conviction of career criminals.
The Committee notes that over 80 percent of the defendants
apprehended under this program have had direct involvement in
illegal narcotics trafficking.
STAFFING LEVELS IN SMALLER STATES AND RURAL STATES
Over the past several years the number of ATF agents in the
smaller States and rural areas have steadily declined, in favor
of placing agent resources in larger States with large
metropolitan centers. These staffing trends have not always
reflected the needs of these areas. The Committee credits the
Department for recognizing the need for placing special agents
in under-represented rural areas and small and medium-sized
States like Wisconsin. The Committee urges that ATF follow
through on pledges to maintain and increase staffing in under-
represented rural, small, and medium-sized States.
GREAT Program
The Committee provides $13,000,000 in the VCRTF for grants
to local law enforcement organizations for the Gang Resistance
Education and Training [GREAT] Program. The GREAT program
continues to be enthusiastically endorsed by communities in
Colorado and North Dakota. The Committee directs ATF to
consider providing GREAT funding to the qualified law
enforcement and prevention organizations in these areas. In
addition, the Committee believes strong consideration should be
given to an application from Greenville, South Carolina.
Safety and Security Standards
The Committee is concerned about the apparent lack of
safety and security standards for federally licensed firearms
dealers. Guns stolen from licensed gun dealers pose an
increasingly significant public safety threat. It is clear that
the industry and ATF need to work together to address these
problems. Therefore, the Committee directs ATF to make
identifying and addressing security recommendations for Federal
firearms licensees a priority at the next firearms industry
discussion group that convenes.
Assistance to Schools
The Committee is disturbed by the increasing number of pipe
bombs and other explosives found in schools nationwide. The
Committee is concerned about the threat these explosive devices
pose to the health and well being of students in their schools.
The Committee believes that, with proper training, school
officials and support staff could be able to recognize such
explosive devices in and around school grounds and provide this
vital information to appropriate law enforcement officers. The
Committee recognizes the special expertise housed within the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to train appropriate
personnel in the recognition and detection of explosive
devices. Accordingly, the Committee directs ATF to coordinate
with the Departments of Education and Justice to make explosive
detection training available upon request for school districts
nationwide through existing safe schools programs.
ATF Reorganization
The Committee observes that ATF has made fundamental
changes in fulfilling its industry regulatory mission. At the
beginning of fiscal year 1999, ATF decentralized regulatory
functions by merging its five regulatory district offices with
23 unified field offices throughout the United States. Each
field office includes an experienced ATF official designated as
the Director of Industry Operations (DIO). ATF's approach is
certainly consistent with the goal of bringing key government
decision makers and regulators closer to the citizens and
businesses that Federal agencies serve and regulate.
To fill the newly-created DIO positions, specialists with
years of industry regulatory experience have been moved out of
the five district offices and the Programs Division, a very
small component based at ATF headquarters. This basic shift in
strategy has necessitated the movement of personnel involved in
criminal enforcement roles into headquarters and field
regulatory positions. The Committee is concerned that these
changes have diminished the institutional memory within ATF
headquarters.
As ATF makes this transition, an essential aspect is the
continued development and implementation of consistent national
policies governing industries subject to ATF authority. The
Committee urges ATF officials to utilize training funds to
assist personnel in adapting to their new roles and to insure a
solid flow of information between ATF headquarters and the 23
new Directors of Industry Operations. The Committee further
urges senior ATF personnel to carefully reach out to regulated
businesses with solid compliance records and reputations to
increase their working knowledge of the complex industries that
are subject to the Bureau's authority.
Criminal Gang Activity on Indian Reservations
The Committee is alarmed by recent reports by the Justice
Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics report that violent
crime and gang-related activity on Indian lands is twice that
of violent crime committed in the United States as a whole.
The Committee wishes to again acknowledge the efforts of
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to assist in
addressing the problem of criminal gang activity on Indian
lands by increasing the number of Gang Resistance Education and
Training (GREAT) programs and resources available for those
areas. The Committee understands that the Indian country gang
problem continues to grow, justifying further attention and
resources. The Committee is disturbed by reports that the
Bureau of Indian Affairs has not facilitated the efforts of ATF
in this regard and that, in fiscal year 1999, a significant
amount of unobligated funds remain and have not been
distributed to tribes.
Nonetheless, the Committee hopes that the efforts of both
ATF, through the GREAT program, and the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center, through training tribal law enforcement, will
continue. Therefore, not less than 60 days after enactment of
this Act, the Committee directs ATF to submit a report
detailing progress made by any initiatives that have been
undertaken, including cooperative inter-agency efforts, to
address the issue of gang-related activities in Native
communities. Further, ATF is encouraged to make recommendations
for improving such initiatives.
Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative
The Committee commends the efforts of the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms [ATF] to reduce firearms violence
by investigating illegal trafficking to the youth of this
country. The Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative [YCGII]
began as a pilot program in 17 cities in 1996 and is currently
operating in 27 cities. The Committee has provided $11,200,000
to continue the expansion of this worthwhile program into 10
additional locations. This funding will allow for the placement
of six agents in each of these new areas to follow up on
investigative information from crime gun tracing and other
sources. In determining the new locations in which to expand
this program in the future, the Committee requests that ATF
give strong consideration to designating South Carolina and Las
Vegas, Nevada as YCGII locations.
The partnership between ATF and local law enforcement
agencies in these communities is invaluable to the mutual
effort to reduce gun-related crime. The tracing information
provided by ATF not only allows local jurisdictions to target
scarce resources to investigations likely to achieve results
but also gives ATF the raw data to be able to investigate and
prosecute the illegal source of these crime guns. The Committee
continues to believe that there are significant disruptions in
these illegal firearms markets directly due to investigative
leads arising from this regional initiative.
The Committee further commends ATF for the compilation of
the statistical information, as reflected in the second annual
report entitled ``Crime Gun Trace Analysis Reports: The Illegal
Youth Firearms Market in 27 Communities'', which provides local
jurisdictions with valuable analysis for effective strategic
planning efforts.
Importation of Military Trainers
The Committee understands that ATF has initiated a review
of the potential threat of remilitarization of certain military
trainers and other military aircraft imported from the former
Soviet Union. Given that many of these trainers are already in
the United States and would appear to present no greater threat
than former United States military trainers which have been de-
militarized and sold to the public, the Committee would expect
the ATF to complete their review within 90 days of enactment of
this bill and report back to the Committee on their findings.
Tobacco Compliance
The Committee is concerned that a change in Federal law
mandated by the 1997 Balanced Budget Act regarding the domestic
distribution of cigarettes manufactured for export will create
substantial enforcement problems for ATF after January 1, 2000
when the new law becomes effective. What is currently a gray
market problem will most likely become a substantially more
challenging law enforcement dilemma after the effective date.
The Committee notes that a number of States have already passed
laws banning the distribution of export manufactured cigarettes
ahead of the Federal statute. The Committee, therefore, directs
ATF to report back to the Senate Committee on Appropriations
before September 30, 2000, detailing the number of employees
dedicated to handling this transition in the law and its
enforcement, the number of complaints received, the number of
investigations initiated, and the number of cases referred for
prosecution.
LABORATORY FACILITIES AND HEADQUARTERS
Appropriations, 1999....................................................
Budget estimate, 2000................................... $15,000,000
Committee recommendation................................................
The Committee has reviewed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms (ATF) proposal to acquire a site to provide a more
secure location for their headquarters operations. The
Committee is cognizant of potential opportunities that exist
within the District that would provide ATF with a secure site
at the lowest cost to the government. It is the Committee's
desire that ATF, working with the General Services
Administration, pursue these low cost options. However, the
Committee believes it is important to move this project forward
in an expeditious manner. As a result, the Committee recommends
that, should it be deemed necessary, ATF seek any funds
required for this acquisition from the Treasury Forfeiture
Fund.
U.S. Customs Service
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999..................................\1\ $1,642,565,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 1,407,970,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,670,747,000
\1\ This amount does not include the fiscal year 1999 supplemental
funding.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,670,747,000
for salaries and expenses of the U.S. Customs Service.
The United States Customs Service, in partnership with
other Federal agencies, is one of the Nation's principle means
of border enforcement. Its mission is to ensure that all goods
and persons entering and exiting the United States do so in
compliance with all United States laws and regulations. The
mission is multifaceted and mandates the Service to:
--Control, regulate, and facilitate the movement of carriers,
persons, and commodities between the United States and
other nations;
--Protect the American consumer and the environment against
the introduction of hazardous and noxious products; and
protect American industry and the American worker
against unfair competition from foreign manufacturers;
--Assess, collect, and protect the revenue accruing to the
United States from duties, taxes, and fees incident to
international traffic and trade;
--Detect, interdict, and/or investigate:
Smuggling and other illegal practices designed to gain
illicit entry into the United States of prohibited
articles, narcotics, and other contraband;
Fraudulent activities calculated to avoid the payment
of taxes and fees, or to evade the legal
requirements of international traffic and trade;
Illegal transfers of critical technology to foreign
nations for the building of their military systems,
thus posing a threat to our national security; and
Illegal international trafficking in arms, munitions,
and currency.
Fargo, North Dakota
The Committee believes the services provided through the
Fargo, North Dakota Airport are very important to the State of
North Dakota. As a result, the Committee has included language
designating the Hector International Airport as an
International Port of Entry. The Committee expects this Port of
Entry will be adequately staffed and equipment be provided so
that the users of the facility are provided efficient services.
No staff or funds shall be diverted from North Dakota's other
International Ports of Entry to staff this requirement.
Customs Staffing Levels and the fiscal year 2000 Request
The Committee was extremely dismayed by the treatment of
Customs' base needs in the Administration's fiscal year 2000
budget request. The Administration's decision to fund 5,000
existing full time equivalent employees (FTEs) with a proposed
controversial user fee placed the Committee in the position of
accommodating this $312,400,000 budgetary shortfall by reducing
or denying many needed projects and new initiatives, including
augmenting existing staffing levels. The Committee viewed this
choice as a necessary one, given Customs' critical mission.
Law Enforcement Efforts on the Northern Border
The Customs Service has determined that x-ray technology
and other detection technology are effective in detecting
illicit narcotics and other contraband. As a result, the
Committee has once again included funding for research into
technologies which will assist Customs in performing its
inspection and enforcement duties. The Committee recognizes
that smuggling is not unique to the Southwest border but occurs
along the Northern border as well. The Committee would like the
Customs Service to take the level of smuggling that occurs
along the Northern border into consideration when determining
the location of x-ray and other technology effective in
detecting illicit smuggling. And, as Customs expands and
improves these technologies to the Northern border, the
Committee encourages the Customs Service pay close attention to
the border facilities in Pembina and Minot, North Dakota.
Southwest Border Staffing and Cross-Border Trade
The Committee is aware that commercial truck traffic
entering the United States through Mexico has grown by more
than 50 percent in recent years, and that the Customs Service
has not realized subsequent increases in inspectors. For
example, over 80 percent of the fresh produce imported from
Mexico comes through Nogales, Arizona, yet the number of
Customs inspectors in that area has actually decreased. In
addition, the San Luis, Arizona port of entry is not open
during key hours thereby forcing trade to be rerouted hundreds
of miles away. When the port is open, wait times can be over
two and a half hours long. The Committee understands that
Customs is currently reviewing its overall resource allocation
and encourages Customs to consider the Arizona border in this
review. In the interim, the Committee instructs Customs to
maintain current staffing levels in Arizona in fiscal year 2000
and to report to the Committee on Appropriations by February 1,
2000, on what resources are necessary to reduce wait times
along the Southwest border to twenty minutes, in addition to
outlining of the current staffing needs in Arizona.
Charleston, South Carolina Port
The Committee is aware that Customs maintains a list of
recipients of technology and equipment as it becomes available.
The Committee encourages Customs to consider the needs of the
Charleston, South Carolina port when it evaluates the
availability of technology and equipment. The Charleston port
is the fourth largest cargo port in the country. An x-ray
machine that is capable of scanning cargo for drugs and other
contraband would assist in law enforcement activities and would
promote the uninterrupted flow of commerce.
Ports of Entry Infrastructure Assessment
The Committee is concerned about the current condition of
the ports of entry along the U.S. land borders. Therefore, the
Committee directs the Customs Service, working in consultation
with the General Services Administration, to assess the current
condition and infrastructure needs of these ports and provide a
report to the Committee within nine months after enactment of
this Act on a plan to address these needs and the resources
required to do so. The Committee expects the Customs Service to
coordinate with the other Federal and State border agencies in
this effort.
Remote Administration Technology
The Committee supports ongoing efforts to enhance services
at low-volume ports of entry through the use of remote
administration technology. The Committee believes the
additional security presence and the after-hours travel
capabilities will benefit those who live near the affected
border crossings. However, to ensure that commercial traffic
through these ports is not negatively affected, these
enhancements must not result in loss of personnel or reduced
staffed hours at these ports.
Customs Integrity Awareness Program (CIAP)
The Committee continues its strong support for the Customs
integrity awareness program. This program, begun last year, is
to improve hiring methodologies to ensure that applicants are
of the highest quality and integrity, and to improve the
recruitment process. The $4,300,000 provided by the Committee
in fiscal year 2000 is for Customs to conduct polygraph
examinations for candidates applying for positions which are
most susceptible to corruption. The Committee encourages the
Commissioner to continue his efforts to improve the integrity
measures of the Customs Service.
Staffing and Service Levels at Customs Ports of Entry
The Committee continues to believe that the services
provided through the Charleston, WV, Customs office are very
important to the State of West Virginia and the Nation as a
whole. For this reason, the Committee expects the Service to
maintain the level of services provided in fiscal year 1996
through fiscal year 2000 at this office.
The Committee continues to believe that the policy of
providing part-time and temporary inspectors at the Honolulu
International Airport is an effective way to handle the large
and increasing volume of passengers arriving and departing this
very busy airport in Hawaii. The Committee has again included
$750,000 for part-time and temporary positions in the Honolulu
Customs District. This action is intended to enhance and not
supplant current staffing levels. Amounts included in this
account are sufficient to maintain staffing levels at this
airport through fiscal year 2000 at the fiscal year 1997 level.
The Committee expects the Customs Service to ensure that
staffing levels are sufficient to staff and operate all New
Mexico border facilities. In addition, the Committee encourages
the Customs Service to work with the General Services
Administration in evaluating and addressing infrastructure and
technology improvements at the Santa Teresa and Columbus border
stations.
Legitimate, as well as illicit, trade and traffic continue
to grow in the State of Florida. Customs should give a high
priority to funding sufficient inspection personnel at ports of
entry in Florida for fiscal year 2000.
The Committee understands that increasing trade between
Canada and the United States may require improvements in
Customs Service facilities to prevent congestion or backups.
The Committee directs the Customs Service to continue to
provide adequate personnel to meet current border crossing
needs along the Northern border.
Over the years Customs personnel in smaller States as well
as rural areas have declined considerably. Problems facing
these areas have not necessarily declined, and the Committee
urges Customs, as it reviews its staffing requirements, to
consider the allocation to smaller States and rural areas with
particular emphasis on Vermont.
Customs Automation
The Committee continues to support Customs automation
efforts with the belief that automation of Customs systems and
processes are imperative. However, the Committee has yet to
receive a solid cost-benefit analysis on the scope and size of
the project nor see any measurable progress to address either
the Committee's or the General Accounting Office's concerns,
although Customs has recently made commitments to GAO to do so.
In addition, the Committee is greatly concerned that Customs
has not sufficiently maintained the Automated Commercial System
(ACS) in the past few years because it felt that the Automated
Commercial Environment would have replaced ACS already.
Therefore, this year the Committee had no choice but to place a
priority on funding not only the base funding of $32,000,000
for ACS but also the additional request of $35,000,000 for the
maintenance of ACS only to be told later that this $67,000,000
was already insufficient. The Committee requests that the
Customs Service provide the Committee with a quarterly report
on the maintenance and costs of the Automated Commercial System
until the new automation program can be put in place. The
Committee is very pleased to see that Customs, with the
assistance of the Treasury Department, is considering the
Internal Revenue Service's path for modernization with the use
of a PRIME contractor and the establishment of modularized
acquisition and spending plans. The Committee encourages the
Treasury Department to continue to assist the Customs Service
in this much needed step.
child pornography
The Committee directs the Customs Service to continue
providing $100,000 of available funds to promote public
awareness for the child pornography tipline, including ongoing
efforts to make children aware of the tipline, in fiscal year
2000. The Committee recommends that the U.S. Customs Service
continue to coordinate this promotional effort with the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the U.S.
Postal Service to ensure that the publicity is diversified and
effective. The Committee fully supports Customs' work in
battling child pornography and is impressed with the successes
Customs has had given the limited resources.
Forced and Indentured Child Labor
The Committee is pleased with the work the Customs Service
has been doing with regard to the enforcement of section 307 of
the Tariff Act of 1930 as it relates to forced and indentured
child labor. As a result, the Committee has included $5,000,000
in the salaries and expenses account to fund the Forced Child
Labor Command Center, to establish regional offices in Asia,
and to continue and increase staffing in foreign countries
where there is a significant potential for goods to be produced
by forced or indentured child labor.
Project ALERT
The Committee instructs the Customs Service to provide no
less than $200,000 to the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children for the training of retired law enforcement
officers to assist in the investigation of unsolved missing
children cases nationwide. The Committee anticipates that these
funds will be in addition to other funds available to the
center for these purposes.
Drug Interdiction Operations
Through the years, Customs has had to react to changing
smuggling modes. Drug interdiction methods have been adjusted
to challenge this ever changing threat. This effort has proven
effective through the years. Yet, vigilance remains the
watchword. Currently, emphasis is being placed on interdiction
efforts in Caribbean waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. Lessons learned from efforts off the Florida
coast have been very successful. The Committee reminds Customs
that the threat can shift very quickly, and that appropriate
attention should be given to ensure that the Florida coast is
adequately covered by air and marine assets.
Canadian /United States Free Trade Agreement Research Program
The Canadian/United States Free Trade Agreement (CUSTA) was
signed in 1988 and implemented in 1989. The objective was to
create a Canadian/U.S. free trade area so trade between the two
countries would be uninhibited by border measures. The
agreement called for conversion of non-tariff border measures
to tariffs, with all tariffs to be phased out over a 15 year
period. The agreement was expanded to NAFTA by including Mexico
in 1994.
The Committee therefore directs Customs to provide $900,000
to a land grant university in North and/or South Dakota, to
conduct a research program to analyze issues relating to
bilateral U.S./Canada trade in agricultural commodities and to
assess the economic impact of bilateral trade on the Northern
Plains. Specific objectives of the research program are (1) to
evaluate inconsistences in agricultural policies, trade
practices, and marketing activities which affect trade flows of
agricultural products and commodities between the U.S. and
Canada; (2) to analyze the impacts of Canadian exports of
agricultural products and commodities on prices and net farm
income in Northern Plains States; (3) to analyze data on
Canadian export prices and quantities of agricultural products
and commodities collected at U.S. customs points along the
Northern border; and (4) to evaluate factors influencing
Canadian exports to the United States, including transportation
and logistics and single desk selling of wheat and barley by
the Canadian Wheat Board. The Committee further directs that a
report on this project be provided to the Committee within one
year of enactment of this Act.
Personal Duty Exemptions
The Committee is concerned with the failure of the
Administration to implement a personal duty parity with Mexico,
as it is practiced and enforced by Mexico. The Committee has
directed the Administration to do this in prior fiscal years.
The Committee, once again, strongly urges the Secretary of the
Treasury or his designee, in consultation with the Secretary of
State and the U.S. Trade Representative, to urge the Mexican
government to remove all obstacles to the use of the $400
monthly personal duty exemption. The Secretary of the Treasury
shall report to Congress 90 days after enactment of this Act on
actions taken in compliance with this directive.
Great Falls, Montana
The Committee continues to have concerns about the adequacy
of staffing levels at the Great Falls, Montana port. The
Committee understands that the Customs Service is currently
undergoing an evaluation of staffing levels across the agency
and how to meet the demands for fluid commercial transactions
and effective drug interdiction. The Committee hopes that this
evaluation, combined with the specific examination of the Great
Falls port, will result in staffing levels which will provide
at least a minimum level of operational effectiveness for the
port.
Harbor Maintenance Fee Collection
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $3,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 3,000,000
The Committee provides $3,000,000 to be transferred from
the harbor maintenance trust fund to the Customs Service
``salaries and expenses'' appropriation.
The harbor maintenance fee was established to provide
resources to the Army Corps of Engineers for the improvement of
American channels and harbors. The fee is assessed on the value
of commercial imports and exports delivered to and from certain
specified ports. The fee is collected by the Customs Service
and deposited into the harbor maintenance trust fund. The
transferred funds will offset the costs incurred by Customs in
collecting these fees.
operation, maintenance and procurement, air and marine interdiction
programs
Appropriations, 1999....................................\1\ $113,688,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 109,413,000
Committee recommendation................................ 108,688,000
\1\ This amount does not include the fiscal year 1999 supplemental
funding.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $108,688,000
for operation and maintenance activities of the Customs air and
marine interdiction programs.
The Customs Air and Marine Interdiction Program combats the
illegal entry of narcotics and other goods into the United
States. This appropriation provides capital procurement and
total operations and maintenance for the Customs air and marine
program. This program also provides support for the
interdiction of narcotics by other Federal, State and local
agencies.
Customs Air and Marine Interdiction Plans
Last year, Congress requested that Customs submit with
their fiscal year 2000 budget request two comprehensive
modernization plans for the air interdiction and marine
enforcement programs. These plans were to include the projected
lifespans and replacement schedules, as well as the current
status, of each aircraft or vessel; associated operations and
maintenance activities for these craft; and any costs for fleet
extension or modernization. The Committee is dismayed that it
has yet to receive these plans and looks forward to Customs
completing these plans as expeditiously as possible.
Customs Operations and Maintenance Counterdrug Resources
The Committee understands there are growing pressures on
the existing resources of the Customs air and marine
interdiction programs. Though the Committee acknowledges these
needs, it must point out that the Customs Service was provided
an additional $162,700,000 as part of the emergency drug
supplemental funding during fiscal year 1999, a 143 percent
increase in the appropriation for fiscal year 1999, for the
purchase of two P3-B AEW and four P3-B Slicks. This funding was
not available for expenditure until Customs submitted a
comprehensive plan to the Office of Management and Budget. To
date, these funds have not yet been fully expended and though
the Committee understands current programmatic pressures, the
Committee believes that the additional funding provided last
year went a long way to address unmet needs. The Committee
views Customs acquisition of additional assets such as P3-Bs,
AS350 Astar helicopters, marine vessels and technologies such
as the Passive Coherent Location System and the Electro-Optics/
Infrared System as force multipliers in combating the drug
trade. The Committee encourages Customs to continue to evaluate
and consider assets such as these in an effort to maximize its
personnel and resources.
Rotocraft Training
The Committee is aware that the Customs Service has
contracted with the University of North Dakota for rotorcraft
training. Because of the University's state-of-the-art
facilities, its experienced flight instructors, and its
internationally recognized expertise in touch-down auto
rotation, the Committee urges the continuation and expansion of
this collaboration.
U.S. Mint
The United States Mint (the Mint) manufactures coins,
refines gold and silver bullion and safeguards the Government's
holdings of monetary metals. The Mint sells numismatic and
investment products. The manufacture of domestic coins is the
major activity of the Mint. Coins are ordered from the Mint by
the Federal Reserve banks in quantities required for the
country's business transactions. Thus, the volume of the
coinage program is determined by the public need for coins.
Public Law 104-52 established the U.S. Mint public
enterprise fund which authorizes the U.S. Mint to use proceeds
from the sale of coins to finance the cost of its operations.
The enactment of this legislation has eliminated the need for
future appropriations to support the mission of the Mint.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the world's largest
securities manufacturing establishment, operates on the basis
of authority conferred upon the Secretary of the Treasury by 31
U.S.C. 321(a)(4) to engrave and print currency and security
documents. Additional authority is derived from past
appropriations made to the Bureau for work to be undertaken.
The operations of the Bureau are currently financed by means of
a revolving fund established in accordance with the provisions
of Public Law 81-656, August 4, 1950 (31 U.S.C. 5142). This
fund is reimbursed by other Government agencies for the direct
and indirect costs of the Bureau, including its administrative
expenses, incidental to performing the work or services
requisitioned.
Public Law 95-81, July 31, 1977, (31 U.S.C. 5142(c)(3))
increased the Bureau's fund and authorized the establishment of
reimbursement prices from customer agencies at a level intended
to provide funding for the acquisition of capital equipment and
future working capital. This should preclude future requests
for appropriations.
The Bureau designs, manufactures, and supplies most of the
major evidences of a financial character issued by the United
States. It is the sole source of U.S. currency, various public
debt instruments, as well as most other evidences of a
financial character issued by the United States, such as
postage stamps. The Bureau executes certain printings for
various territories administered by the United States,
particularly postage and revenue stamps. It conducts extensive
research and development programs for improving the quality of
products, reducing manufacturing costs, and for strengthening
deterrents to the counterfeiting of Government securities. It
manufactures inks and plates used for its products; purchases
materials, supplies, and equipment; provides maintenance
services for its buildings and plant machinery and equipment;
and stores and delivers its products in accordance with
requirements of customer agencies. The Bureau is responsible
for the accountability and destruction of its security waste
products. The Bureau also renders services to other Government
agencies such as security, custodial, and elevator services in
areas of its buildings occupied by another Treasury bureau.
The budget estimates are determined primarily by two
factors; namely, (1) the volume of production of the various
items needed to meet the estimated requirements of customer
agencies, and (2) the unit cost of manufacturing each type of
item produced. The unit cost of production of each item
manufactured is developed through a detailed system of cost
accounting and adjusted to reflect all known factors which will
affect the cost of production during the current budget year.
Such factors include pay rate and material price increases
expected to occur during the current year, as well as estimated
savings resulting from improvements in production procedures.
No direct appropriation is required to cover the activities
of the Bureau.
Bureau of the Public Debt
administering the public debt
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $172,100,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 177,819,000
Committee recommendation................................ 176,983,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $176,983,000
for the Bureau of the Public Debt in fiscal year 2000. The
Committee recommendation is $836,000 less than the budget
estimate.
The Bureau of the Public Debt is responsible for
administering the laws and regulations pertaining to public
debt financing and operations within the framework of policies
established by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Bureau's
primary concerns are with the issuance, servicing, and
retirement of public debt securities, and accounting for the
public debt and its related interest cost. It also has a
general responsibility for the conduct or direction of
transactions in public issues of those Government agencies for
which the Treasury acts as agent.
This appropriation currently provides funds for: the direct
operating costs of the Bureau of the Public Debt including the
Office of U.S. Savings Bonds; the payment of fees at stipulated
rates to financial institutions and others; and the payment of
postage and registry fees to the U.S. Postal Service for
delivering securities.
The Office of U.S. Savings Bonds is charged with reducing
Federal spending by promoting the sale and retention of U.S.
savings bonds. In addition to helping the U.S. Government
finance its debts in the least expensive and least inflationary
way possible, savings bonds provide Americans with an
effective, systematic way to save through the payroll savings
plan. The program is also intended to create a partnership of
direct participation of American business, labor, banking,
media, and community groups, as well as to provide the
opportunity for all citizens to voluntarily participate in the
financing of their Government.
Internal Revenue Service
summary
The Committee has recommended a total of $8,191,135,000 for
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in fiscal year 2000. This
amount is $57,639,000 below the budget estimate and
$184,030,000 below the fiscal year 1999 enacted level.
Customer Service and Organizational Modernization
The Committee commends the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
for ongoing efforts to improve customer service to taxpayers at
all levels of income. After consultation with Congress, the
General Accounting Office, and taxpayers, the Commissioner has
developed eight customer service standards which will be the
guiding principles for the new IRS. However, improved and
consistent customer service requires extensive training.
Therefore, the Committee has included the full amount requested
by the Administration, $17,048,000, for these customer service
training efforts throughout the Service.
The Committee has included $40,000,000 for implementation
of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. This will
provide sufficient resources for innocent spouse relief
efforts, due process in collection actions, Spanish language
taxpayer assistance, electronic filing enhancements, additional
low income taxpayer clinics grants, and the telecommunications
and equipment necessary for these programs.
Finally, the Committee continues to believe that the
Commissioner's organizational modernization concept is the
right approach for a modern IRS. As currently envisioned, this
new organizational structure would be built to serve groups of
taxpayers with similar needs--small business and self-employed
taxpayers, large corporate taxpayers, individual taxpayers, and
tax exempt taxpayers. This should enable the IRS to provide
more accurate and timely taxpayer assistance, and will require
a restructuring of the existing workforce including necessary
employee relocation. Therefore, the Committee has included a
total of $140,000,000, as requested by the Administration, for
this effort.
Electronic Tax Administration Programs
The Committee is pleased with efforts at IRS to emphasize
and encourage the use of advancing technology for electronic
tax filing. While the goal of 80 percent of taxpayers filing
electronically by 2007 is certainly ambitious, the IRS has made
an excellent start by developing a strategic plan which defines
an approach and identifies initiatives to meet that objective.
Electronic tax filing will benefit taxpayers while at the same
time reduce processing costs for the IRS. The Committee expects
that all such electronic transmissions will be secure and that
the privacy of taxpayer information will be fully protected.
processing, assistance, and management
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $3,086,208,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 3,312,535,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,291,945,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,291,945,000
for processing, taxpayer assistance, and management. This
amount is $205,737,000 above the fiscal year 1999 level. This
includes $103,000,000 transferred from the information systems
account and $21,640,000 from the tax law enforcement account,
as well as $98,324,000 to maintain current levels. The
Committee includes $13,098,000 for customer service training,
$31,900,000 for implementation of the IRS Restructuring and
Reform Act of 1998, and $54,874,000 for organizational
modernization.
The ``Processing, assistance, and management''
appropriation provides for processing tax returns and related
documents; assisting taxpayers in filing of their returns and
in paying taxes that are due; matching information returns with
tax returns; internal audit and internal security; and
management of financial resources, rent, and utilities.
Mission statements of each of the program activities under
this account are as follows:
Submission processing.--Provide for all actions associated
with receipt of completed returns and payments, deposit of
those payments, processing and accounting for revenue
collections and Federal Tax Deposits, and verification of the
accuracy of information provided by the taxpayer through an
automated master file system. Provide for payment of refunds,
offset of refunds against delinquent accounts, issuance of
notices that payments are overdue, identification of possible
nonfilers for investigation, and assistance in the selection of
tax returns for audit.
Telephone and correspondence.--Aid voluntary compliance
with Federal tax laws by informing taxpayers of their
responsibilities and by providing services and information
through various media which assist them in meeting their
obligations. Provide for responding to inquiries concerning tax
laws, IRS bills and notices, and resolving tax account
problems.
Inspection.--Pursuant to Public Law 105-206, the functions
and associated resources of the Inspection activity were
transferred to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration on January 19, 1999.
Document matching.--Process information returns, such as
wage, dividend, and interest statements and matches them with
related individual income tax returns. This enables the Service
to identify income reporting discrepancies, unsubstantiated
deductions, and nonfiling of tax returns and to verify facts
and amounts in question through taxpayer contact prior to
assessing additional tax or refunding excess credits.
Management services.--Set policies and goals, provide
leadership and direction for the Service, and provide
servicewide policy guidance for managing contract
administration and procurement programs, conducting strategic
and organizational planning, and developing and managing the
human, logistical, and financial resources required to fulfill
the Service's mission in performing tax administration. Also
provides all administrative services for IRS national office
and field installations.
Rent and utilities.--Provide rent and utilities for the
entire Service.
IRS Staffing Plans
The Committee continues to support adequate staffing levels
for effective tax administration and supports the staffing
plans for the Internal Revenue Service facilities in the
communities of Martinsburg and Beckley, WV. Therefore, the
Committee urges the IRS, within the constraints of the fiscal
year 2000 funding levels, to make only minimal, if any,
staffing reductions at the Martinsburg National Computer Center
and the programmed level at the Administrative Services Center
in Beckley, WV.
tax counseling for the elderly
The Committee once again believes that the Tax Counseling
Program for the Elderly has proven to be most successful. To
meet the goals of this program, $3,950,000 is included within
the aggregate amount recommended by the Committee for
processing tax returns and assistance in fiscal year 2000. This
amount represents an increase of $250,000. To ensure that the
full effect of the program is accomplished, the IRS is directed
to cover administrative expenses within existing funds.
Taxpayer Services in Alaska and Hawaii
Given the remote distance of Alaska and Hawaii from the
U.S. mainland and the difficulty experienced by Alaska and
Hawaii taxpayers in receiving needed tax assistance by the
national toll-free line, it is imperative that the Taxpayer
Advocate's office in each of these States is fully staffed and
capable of resolving taxpayer problems of the most complex
nature. The Committee directs the Internal Revenue Service to
staff each Taxpayer Advocate's office in each of these States
with a Collection Technical Advisor and an Examination
Technical Advisor in addition to the current complement of
office staff. Staffing shall be increased if, as the result of
the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, subsequent
legislation, or other factors, the number of cases of their
complexity increases.
The Committee recognizes the importance of providing tax
education and commends the Administration's support for these
activities. Currently, the Vermont Office of the Taxpayer
Advocate has only a temporary part time Tax Education
Coordinator to meet the growing needs of individual taxpayers
and of the small business community. The Committee encourages
the IRS to consider placing a full time Tax Education
Coordinator in the Burlington, Vermont Office of the Taxpayer
Advocate to provide year-round tax education assistance as a
part of its restructuring effort.
tax law enforcement
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $3,164,189,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 3,336,838,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,305,090,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,305,090,000
for tax law enforcement activities in fiscal year 2000. This
amount is $140,901,000 above the fiscal year 1999 level. This
includes $105,758,000 to maintain current levels. The Committee
includes $3,950,000 for customer service training, $4,100,000
for implementation of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of
1998, and $63,404,000 for organizational modernization.
The ``Tax law enforcement'' appropriation provides for the
examination of tax returns, both domestic and international,
and the administrative and judicial settlement of taxpayer
appeals of examination findings. It also provides for 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, collecting unpaid
accounts, compiling statistics of income and compliance
research, and securing unfiled tax returns and payments.
Criminal investigations.--Provides for enforcement of
criminal statutes relating to violations of internal revenue
laws. Investigates cases of suspected intent to defraud,
recommends prosecution as warranted, and assists in the
preparation and trial of criminal tax cases. Financial
investigations expose money laundering schemes through a
variety of methods, including currency transaction reports.
Examination.--Encourages voluntary compliance with the
internal revenue laws through the determination of correct tax
liability by the selective examination of tax returns, the
correction of errors, and explanation of these corrections to
taxpayers. The appeals portion of this activity provides
staffing, training, and direct support to allow for an
administrative review process that provides a channel for
impartial case settlement prior to cases being docketed in a
court of law.
Collection.--Collects unpaid accounts and secures
delinquent returns; develops and implements programs to prevent
tax accounts from becoming delinquent; determines and analyzes
reasons for tax accounts that become delinquent; and develops,
implements, and measures programs that analyze the reasons for
types and degrees of nonfiling.
Employee plans and exempt organizations.--Monitors private
pension plans to ensure compliance with the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Organizations apply
for tax-exempt status, which is determined by this activity,
through the application of certain tests. By examining tax
returns of tax-exempt organizations, it monitors and ensures
compliance with current tax laws regarding tax-exempt
organizations.
Statistics of income.--Publishes statistics of income
reports on the operation of income tax laws, as required by the
Internal Revenue Code for the Congress and its committees; for
administrative use by the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue; and for the Federal benchmark
statistical programs on income, wealth, and finance.
Chief Counsel.--Legal counsel to the IRS provides
interpretation of the internal revenue laws, represents the IRS
in litigation, and provides legal support, all in a manner that
enhances the public confidence in the integrity, efficiency,
and fairness of the tax system.
Inter-American Center of Tax Administration
The Committee has included authority for the IRS to spend
up to $150,000 to provide representation and other resources to
host the Inter-American Center of Tax Administration (CIAT)
2000 conference. CIAT is an international organization
established in 1967 to promote the improvement of tax
administration of the countries in the Americas and the
Caribbean. This conference provides an opportunity for
representatives of these counties to exchange ideas,
experiences, technical assistance and training. The conference
will also allow for the distribution of information and of
technical tax research.
Transfer Pricing Enforcement
The Committee believes that it is critical that the IRS
improve its enforcement of section 482 of the Internal Revenue
Code. The Committee is concerned that the time lag between the
enactment of legislation affecting section 482, such as section
6662(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the release of IRS
data needed to review such changes, limits the ability of
Congress to evaluate in a timely manner the effectiveness of
these changes, particularly in the growing area of
international commerce. For this reason, the Committee directs
the IRS to undertake a study in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 of
the effectiveness of section 6662(e).
The Committee anticipates that this study will provide
information on (1) whether taxpayers are preparing
contemporaneous transfer pricing documentation as anticipated
by section 6662(e), (2) the quality of taxpayer documentation,
and (3) the utility of such documentation to the IRS in
enforcing section 482. The Committee anticipates that this
study may involve inspecting documentation for taxable years
not yet under audit. The IRS is directed to ensure that any
such inspection is carried out in a manner designed to limit
taxpayer burden. It is not the intent of this Committee that
any inspection will hinder the IRS's ability to conduct a
subsequent audit. The IRS is directed to file an interim report
by September 30, 2000 and a final report by December 31, 2001.
earned income tax credit
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $143,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 144,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 144,000,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $144,000,000,
which is equal to the budget request.
This appropriation provides for expanded customer service
and public outreach programs, strengthened enforcement
activities, and enhanced research efforts to reduce overclaims
and erroneous filing associated with the earned income tax
credit (EITC).
Expanded customer service includes dedicated, toll-free
telephone assistance, increased community-based tax preparation
sites, and a coordinated marketing and educational effort
(including paid advertising and direct mailings) to assist low-
income taxpayers in determining their eligibility for EITC.
Improved compliance includes increased staff and systemic
improvements in submissions processing, examination, and
criminal investigation programs. In returns processing, new
procedures include expanded use of math error authority and the
identification of EITC-based refund claims involving invalid or
duplicate primary, secondary, and dependent tax identification
numbers [TIN's]. Increased examination coverage, prior to
issuance of refunds, reduces overpayment and encourages
compliance in subsequent filing periods. In addition,
postrefund correspondence audits by service center staff aids
in the recovery of erroneous refunds. Criminal investigation
activities target individuals and practitioners involved in
fraudulent refund schemes and generate referrals of suspicious
returns for followup examination. Examination staff, assigned
to district offices, audit return preparers and may apply
penalties for noncompliance with due diligence requirements.
Enhanced research activities and projects focus on EITC
claimant characteristics and patterns of noncompliance and are
designed to improve education and outreach products, strengthen
IRS abuse detection capabilities, and measure the effects of
servicewide programs on compliance levels for the EITC-eligible
taxpayer population. This appropriation also funds the
development of specialized research data bases and masterfile
updates, reimbursement to the Social Security Administration
[SSA] for enhancements to the SSA numbering systems, and
cooperative efforts with State vital statistics offices.
information systems
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $1,265,456,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 1,455,401,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,450,100,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,450,100,000
for information systems activities in fiscal year 2000. This
amount is $184,644,000 above the fiscal year 1999 level. This
includes $17,422,000 to maintain current levels. The Committee
includes $4,000,000 for implementation of the IRS Restructuring
and Reform Act of 1998, $250,426,000 for Year 2000 conversion,
and $21,722,000 for organizational modernization.
The ``Information systems'' appropriation provides for
servicewide data processing support, including the evaluation,
development, and implementation of computer systems, including
software and hardware requirements.
Operations and Maintenance.--Provides for management,
maintenance, and operation of the information systems that
process tax and information returns, account for tax revenue
collected, send bills for taxes owed, issue refunds, assist in
the selection of tax returns for audit, and provide for
telecommunications services including the toll free access to
tax information. Pursuant to Public Law 105-206, information
systems associated with the Inspection activity were
transferred to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration on January 19, 1999.
Year 2000.--Provides for Y2K conversion of the Service's
information systems which includes funding for mainframe
consolidation and the integrated submission and remittance
processing system.
Investments.--Provides for investments in new systems and
major enhancements over $500,000 to the operating systems for
the Operations and Maintenance activity. Focuses on developing
and enhancing systems that are critical to the modernization
blueprint, including the architecture, engineering, and
infrastructure activities.
Service Center Consolidation
To reduce costs, streamline operations, and improve
services, the IRS proposed centralizing and upgrading the ten
separate service centers through a consolidation of the
processing systems. The consolidation project, started in July
1997, was estimated to have a life cycle cost of $321,000,000.
In the summer of 1998, the Committee was informed that the
project would be delayed 10 months, moving the completion date
to October, 1999. The Committee was also informed that the life
cycle cost would increase by $37,800,000, a 12 percent
increase. In the most recent quarterly report to the Committee
the IRS indicated the consolidation project would not be
completed until January 2001.
The Committee understands that the project requirements
have expanded and that the IRS encountered a series of problems
in making upgrades to the third part communications software
that is needed to make the security and control systems
operational. However, the Committee remains concerned with the
continual delays and increases in the costs associated with the
project. The Committee requests that the project continue to be
monitored by the IRS and the Department of the Treasury's Chief
Information Officer. The Committee also requests the IRS to
continue to update the Committee with quarterly reports on this
consolidation.
Information Technology Investments
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $211,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000...................................................
Committee recommendation................................................
The Committee recommends no appropriation, as proposed by
the Administration.
This account provides for funding of the PRIME Systems
Integration Service Contractor to build the information
technology described in the IRS Modernization Blueprint of May
15, 1997. IRS is partnering with the private sector to make
technology investments in the primary business lines: customer
service and compliance, electronic commerce, submission
processing, corporate systems, and financial reporting.
IRS--administrative provisions
The Committee has recommended approval of the following
administrative provisions for the Internal Revenue Service:
Section 101 continues a provision which authorizes the IRS
to transfer up to 5 percent of any appropriation made available
to the agency in fiscal year 1999, to any other IRS account.
The IRS is directed to follow the Committee's reprogramming
procedures outlined earlier in this report.
Section 102 continues a provision which maintains a
training program in taxpayer's rights and cross-cultural
relations.
Section 103 continues a provision which requires the IRS to
institute and enforce policies and procedures which will
safeguard the confidentiality of taxpayer information.
Section 104 continues a provision which directs that funds
shall be available for improved facilities and increased
manpower to provide sufficient and effective 1-800 telephone
assistance and that the Commissioner shall continue to make
this a priority.
Section 105 continues a provision which provides that no
reorganization of the field office structure of the Internal
Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division will result in
a reduction of criminal investigators in Wisconsin and South
Dakota from the 1996 level.
U.S. Secret Service
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999....................................\1\ $600,302,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 661,312,000
Committee recommendation................................ 638,816,000
\1\ This amount does not include the fiscal year 1999 supplemental
funding.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $638,816,000
for the U.S. Secret Service in fiscal year 2000. This amount is
$38,518,000 above the fiscal year 1999 level, excluding the
emergency supplemental appropriations. This includes
$34,446,000 to maintain current levels. The Committee has
provided funding through the Violent Crimes Reduction Trust
Fund for protective support ($5,854,000), protective research
($2,014,000), counterfeiting investigations ($5,000,000), and
workspace program ($5,886,000).
secret service functions
Investigations, protection, and uniformed activities.--The
Service must provide for the protection of the President of the
United States, members of his immediate family, the President-
elect, the Vice President, or other officer next in the order
of succession to the Office of the President, and the Vice
President-elect, and the members of their immediate families
unless the members decline such protection; protection of the
person of a visiting head and accompanying spouse of a foreign
state or foreign government and, at the direction of the
President, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United
States and official representatives of the United States
performing special missions abroad; the protection of the
person of former Presidents, their spouses and minor children
unless such protection is declined. The Service is also
responsible for the detection and arrest of persons engaged in
counterfeiting, forging, or altering of any of the obligations
or other securities of the United States and foreign
governments; the investigation of thefts and frauds relating to
Treasury electronic fund transfers; fraudulent use of debit and
credit cards; fraud and related activity in connection with
Government identification documents; computer fraud; food
coupon fraud; and the investigation of personnel, tort claims,
and other criminal and noncriminal cases.
The Secret Service Uniformed Division protects the
Executive Residence and grounds in the District of Columbia;
any building in which White House offices are located; the
President and members of his immediate family; the official
residence and grounds of the Vice President in the District of
Columbia; the Vice President and members of his immediate
family; foreign diplomatic missions located in the Washington
metropolitan area; and the Treasury Building, its annex and
grounds, and such other areas as the President may direct on a
case-by-case basis.
Presidential candidate protective activities.--The Secret
Service is authorized to protect major Presidential and Vice
Presidential candidates, as determined by the Secretary of the
Treasury after consultation with an advisory committee. In
addition, the Service is authorized to protect the spouses of
major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates; however,
such protection may not commence more than 120 days prior to
the general Presidential election.
Missing and Exploited Children
The Committee has included $3,196,000 in the violent crime
reduction trust fund for the Service's operation costs of the
exploited child unit, associated with its continued efforts
with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,
including $1,196,000 for activities related to investigations
of exploited children.
acquisition, construction, improvement and related expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $8,068,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 4,923,000
Committee recommendation................................ 4,923,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,923,000 for
the ``Acquisition, construction, improvement and related
expenses'' account in fiscal year 2000.
This appropriation provides funding for the James J. Rowley
Training Center to continue development of the current Master
Plan and to maintain and renovate existing facilities to ensure
efficient and full utilization of the Center.
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
General Provisions
The Committee recommends that certain general provisions be
included in the Senate bill. The provisions do the following:
Section 110 continues a provision which pertains to
reprogramming instructions for unobligated funds.
Section 111 continues a provision which authorizes certain
basic services within the Treasury Department in fiscal year
2000, including purchase of uniforms; maintenance, repairs, and
cleaning; purchase of insurance for official motor vehicles
operated in foreign countries; and contracts with the
Department of State for health and medical services to
employees and their dependents serving in foreign countries.
Section 112 continues a provision which requires that funds
provided to ATF for fiscal year 2000 will be expended in such a
manner so as not to diminish enforcement efforts with respect
to section 105 of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act.
Section 113 continues a provision which authorizes
transfers, up to 2 percent, between law enforcement
appropriations under certain circumstances.
Section 114 continues a provision which authorizes
transfers, up to 2 percent, between Departmental Offices,
Office of Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration, Financial Management Service, and the Bureau of
the Public Debt appropriations under certain circumstances.
Section 115 modifies and continues a provision to require
that the purchase of law enforcement vehicles is consistent
with Departmental vehicle management principles.
Section 116 provides authority to the Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration to offer voluntary separation
incentives in order to provide the necessary flexibility to
establish and reorganize the Office.
Section 117 provides authority to the Financial Management
Service to offer voluntary separation incentives in order to
provide the flexibility to carry out the closure of the Chicago
Financial Center. The Senate authorizing committee and
subcommittee chairmen and ranking members have no objection to
this provision.
Section 118 provides for the execution of property on
judgements against foreign state violators of international
law.
TITLE II--U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Payment to the Postal Service Fund
Appropriations, 1999....................................\1\ $100,195,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 93,436,000
Committee recommendation................................ 93,436,000
\1\ This amount includes the fiscal year 1999 supplemental funding.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $93,436,000 in
fiscal year 2000 for payment to the Postal Service Fund. This
amount is $6,759,000 below fiscal year 1999. The Committee
provides $70,880,000 for providing free mail to the blind and
overseas voters. Of this amount, $6,444,000 has been deducted
to reconcile previous fiscal year estimated mail volume with
actual volume. The resulting $64,436,000 is made available on
October 1, 2000. The Committee also provides $29,000,000 as
partial reimbursement for losses incurred in previous years, as
required by the Revenue Forgone Act of 1993.
Revenue forgone on free and reduced-rate mail enables
postage rates to be set at levels below the unsubsidized rates
for certain categories of mail as authorized by subsections (c)
and (d) of section 2401 of title 39, United States Code. Free
mail for the blind and overseas voters will continue to be
provided at the funding level recommended by the Committee.
The funding provided by the Committee is allocated for the
following purposes: $64,436,000 for free mail for the blind and
overseas voters and $29,000,000 for the reimbursement to the
Postal Service for subsidies provided for the revenue forgone
program.
The Committee includes provisions in the bill that would
assure that mail for overseas voting and mail for the blind
shall continue to be free; that 6-day delivery and rural
delivery of mail shall continue at the 1983 level; and that
none of the funds provided be used to consolidate or close
small rural and other small post offices in fiscal year 2000.
These are services that must be maintained in fiscal year 2000
and beyond. The Committee believes that, despite the lack of
public service appropriations, these critical postal services
are the linchpin of services that the public deserves and
expects.
Pest Introductions
The Committee is concerned that recent introductions of
plant and animal pests and diseases into Hawaii may have
occurred through the U.S. postal system. Such introductions
have severe consequences for U.S. agriculture, biodiversity,
and public health and safety. The U.S. Postal Service is
directed to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to devise and implement a
program to combat pest introductions.
Inspection of Mail to Alaska Villages
The Committee is concerned that mail carried by the U.S.
Postal Service is being used to transport drugs to remote
villages in Alaska in violation of State and Federal law and to
transport alcohol in violation of local ordinances. The
Committed directs the Postal Service to work with the State of
Alaska and the Alaska Federation of Natives to develop an
inspection program to stop this criminal use of the mail. By
March 15, 2000 the Service should report back to the Committee
on the feasibility of an inspection program, any statutory
changes that may be required to implement it, and an analysis
of any Constitutional obstacles that may exist.
Ethanol Vehicles
The Committee is aware that the U.S. Postal Service has
announced that it will purchase and deploy ethanol flexible
fuel vehicles over the next two years. The Committee expects
the U.S. Postal Service to place these vehicles in geographic
areas where ethanol is readily accessible and where there is
local support to implement ethanol fueling infrastructure and
services. The Committee directs the Postal Service to report on
the placement of the vehicles on an annual basis.
Lewis And Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, called the Corps of
Discovery, represents one of the finest moments in American
History. The expedition began in 1803 when President Thomas
Jefferson commissioned the exploration of the newly purchased
Louisiana Territory and ended in 1806 with the Expedition's
triumphant return. When considering why we should commemorate
the Expedition, it is important to recall Thomas Jefferson's
vision for America's future and his dedication to expand not
only our geographic frontiers but the frontiers of knowledge as
well. Various options are available to celebrate this
expedition. The Committee urges the Postal Service to
commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition in an appropriate
way.
TITLE III--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO
THE PRESIDENT
Summary
The President's fiscal year 2000 budget request for 17
accounts funded under this title totals $639,498,000. The
Committee recommendation is $553,128,000. This amount is
$116,984,000 below the fiscal year 1999 appropriations.
These 17 accounts include: Compensation of the President,
Office of Administration, the White House Office, the Executive
Residence at the White House, White House Repair and
Restoration, the Official Residence of the Vice President,
Special Assistance to the President, the Council of Economic
Advisers, the Office of Policy Development, the National
Security Council, the Office of Administration, the Office of
Management and Budget, the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center, High-
Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, Special Forfeiture Fund, and
Unanticipated Needs.
compensation of the president
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $250,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 250,000
Committee recommendation................................ 250,000
The fiscal year 2000 budget request for compensation of the
President is $250,000. This amount includes $200,000 for the
direct salary of the President as authorized by 3 U.S.C. 102,
and a $50,000 expense account for official expenses, with any
unused portions reverting to the Treasury. This expense account
is not considered as taxable to the President.
The Committee recommends the full budget request of
$250,000 for compensation of the President.
The White House Office
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $52,344,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 52,444,000
Committee recommendation................................ 52,444,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $52,444,000
for the White House Office.
These funds provide the President with staff assistance and
provide administrative services for the direct support of the
President. Public Law 95-570 authorizes appropriations for the
White House Office and codifies the activities of the White
House Office.
Executive Residence at the White House
operating expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $8,691,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 9,260,000
Committee recommendation................................ 9,260,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,260,000 for
the Executive Residence at the White House.
These funds provide for the care, maintenance,
refurnishing, improvement, heating, and lighting, including
electrical power and fixtures, of the Executive Residence.
The Executive Residence staff provides for the operation of
the Executive Residence. A staff of 36 domestic employees
accomplish general housekeeping, prepare and serve meals, greet
visitors, and provide services as required in support of
official and ceremonial functions. A staff of 33 tradespersons,
including plumbers, carpenters, painters, on a single shift;
electricians on a double shift; and operating engineers on a
24-hour basis, maintains and makes repairs, minor
modifications, and improvements to the 132 rooms and the
mechanical systems, and provides support for official and
ceremonial functions.
A staff of 12 specialized employees provide services
necessary to the operation of the White House and official and
ceremonial functions. This staff includes four florists, four
curators, and four calligraphers.
An administrative staff consists of the chief usher, four
assistant ushers, one executive grounds superintendent, one
operating accountant, one accounting technician, one computer
network engineer, and one administrative officer. This staff is
charged with management and administrative functions of the
Executive Residence. This requires coordination with the
Executive Office of the President, the National Park Service,
the military, the U.S. Secret Service, the General Services
Administration, and other agencies.
During larger events, the Executive Residence staff is
assisted by contract personnel under personal services contract
agreements (services by agreement) to provide additional help
as required for official and ceremonial functions.
White House Repair and Restoration
Appropriation, 1999.....................................................
Budget estimate, 2000................................... $810,000
Committee recommendation................................ 810,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $810,000 for
White House Repair and Restoration. The Committee
recommendation is equal to the budget estimate.
To provide for the repair, alteration, and improvement of
the Executive Residence at the White House, a separate account
was established in fiscal year 1996 to program and track
expenditures for the capital improvement projects at the
Executive Residence at the White House.
Special Assistance to the President
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $3,512,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 3,617,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,617,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,617,000 for
special assistance to the President. The Committee
recommendation equals the budget estimate.
The ``Special assistance to the President'' account was
established on September 26, 1970, to enable the Vice President
to provide assistance to the President. This assistance takes
the form of directed and special Presidentially assigned
functions.
The objective of the Office of the Vice President is to
efficiently and effectively advise, assist, and support the
President in the areas of domestic policy, national security
affairs, counsel, administration, press, scheduling, advance,
special projects, and assignments. Assistance is also provided
for the wife of the Vice President.
The Vice President also has a staff funded by the Senate to
assist him in the performance of his duties in the legislative
branch.
The level of funding recommended by the Committee will
allow for 22 full-time permanent positions in fiscal year 2000.
Official Residence of the Vice President
operating expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $334,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 345,000
Committee recommendation................................ 345,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $345,000 for
the official residence of the Vice President. This amount
equals the budget estimate.
The ``Official Residence of the Vice President
(residence)'' account was established by Public Law 93-346 on
July 12, 1974. The residence is located on the grounds of the
Naval Observatory in the District of Columbia and serves as a
facility for official and ceremonial functions and as a home
for the Vice President and his family.
The objective of the ``Residence'' account is to provide
for the care of, operation, maintenance, refurnishing,
improvement, and heating and lighting of the residence and to
provide such appropriate equipment, furnishings, dining
facilities, services, and provisions as may be required to
enable the Vice President to perform and discharge the duties,
functions, and obligations associated with his high office.
Funds to renovate the residence are provided to the
residence through the Department of the Navy budget. The
Committee has had a longstanding interest in the condition of
the residence and expects to be kept fully apprised by the Vice
President's office of any and all renovations and alterations
made to the residence by the Navy.
The funding level provided by the Committee will support
one full-time equivalent position or the same level as funded
since fiscal year 1996.
Council of Economic Advisers
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $3,666,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 3,840,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,840,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,840,000 for
salaries and expenses of the Council of Economic Advisers.
The Council of Economic Advisors 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 the preparation of the
annual Economic Report of the President to Congress.
Office of Policy Development
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $4,032,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 4,032,000
Committee recommendation................................ 4,032,000
The Committee recommends $4,032,000 for the Office of
Policy Development. The Committee recommendation equals the
budget estimate.
The Office of Policy Development supports the National
Economic Council and the Domestic Policy Council, in carrying
out their responsibilities to advise and assist the President
in the formulation, coordination, and implementation of
economic and domestic policy. The Office of Policy Development
also provides support for other domestic policy development and
implementation activities as directed by the President.
National Security Council
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $6,806,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 6,997,000
Committee recommendation................................ 6,997,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,997,000 for
the salaries and expenses of the National Security Council
(NSC).
The primary purpose of the Council is to advise the
President with respect to the integration of domestic, foreign,
and military policies relating to the national security.
Subject to direction by the President, it is the responsibility
of the Council to assess and appraise the objectives,
commitments, and risks of the United States in relation to
actual and potential military power, to consider policies on
matters of common interest to the departments and agencies of
the Government, and to make recommendations and other reports
to the President.
The funding level provided by the Committee will support 60
full-time equivalent positions, or the same since the fiscal
year 1996 level for the normal activities of the NSC.
Office of Administration
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $28,350,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 39,198,000
Committee recommendation................................ 39,198,000
The Committee has provided $39,198,000 to the Office of
Administration for fiscal year 2000.
The Office of Administration's mission is to provide high-
quality, cost-effective administrative services to the
Executive Office of the President. These services, defined by
Executive Order 12028 of 1977, include financial, personnel,
library and records services, information management systems
support, and general office services.
The Office of Administration receives reimbursements for
information management support and general office services.
Office of Management and Budget
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $60,617,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 63,495,000
Committee recommendation................................ 63,495,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $63,495,000.
The Office of Management and Budget [OMB] assists the
President in the discharge of his budgetary, management, and
other executive responsibilities.
National security and international affairs; general
Government and finance; natural resources, energy, and science;
education, income maintenance, and labor; and Health/
Personnel.--Agency programs, budget requests, and management
activities are examined, appropriations are apportioned,
proposed changes in agency functions are studied, and special
analyses aimed at establishing goals and objectives that would
result in long- and short-range improvements in the agencies'
financial, administrative, and operational management are
conducted. Implementation of Governmentwide policies as
developed by the statutory management offices is carried out.
Governmentwide supply and facility acquisition, credit and cash
management, and personnel management policies are evaluated.
Also, leadership and support is provided for program evaluation
and Federal-State-local relations.
Director's office/OMB-wide offices.--Executive direction
and coordination for all Office of Management and Budget
activities is provided. This includes the Director's immediate
office as well as staff support in the areas of administration,
public affairs, legislative reference, legislative affairs,
economic policy, budget review, and general counsel. Budget
instructions and procedures are developed, review of agency
estimates is coordinated, budget data systems are maintained,
agency financial management plans are reviewed, the budget
document is prepared, and scorekeeping is accomplished.
Financial management.--In conjunction with the Chief
Financial Officers Council, prepares the Government-wide
financial management status report and 5-year plan, monitors
execution of the plan; provides policy guidance on preparation
and audit of financial statements, financial systems
requirements, management controls, and cost accounting and
audit requirements for the non-Federal grantee community.
Information and regulatory affairs.--Agency proposals to
implement or revise Federal regulations and information
collection requirements are reviewed and coordinated.
Information resource management and statistical policies and
practices are analyzed and developed.
Procurement policy.--The Office of Federal Procurement
Policy is responsible for promoting economy, efficiency, and
effectiveness in the procurement of property and services by
and for the executive branch.
Personnel Ceilings
The Committee understands that OMB has made a commitment to
provide agencies with guidance on the impact of existing full
time equivalent (FTE) controls. The Committee directs OMB to
report to Congress on the status of this guidance with a
timetable for dissemination to agencies.
Intellectual Property
The Committee is aware of the dramatic impact crimes
involving the infringement of intellectual property rights have
upon the U.S. economy. Such crimes touch almost every sector of
American business, including the entertainment and computer
industries. Studies indicate that more than $18,000,000,000 in
revenue is lost annually to the U.S. economy as a result of
these violations. The Committee believes more can be done to
combat this burgeoning criminal enterprise and that
coordination among local, state and foreign law enforcement
entities is essential. To that end, the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget shall submit a plan to the
Appropriations Committees to establish an inter-agency National
Intellectual Property Coordination Center not later than
February 15, 2000. The President may establish such a center
from within funds in the Executive Office of the President. If
the Administration determines that such a center is not
necessary to combat the growing problem of intellectual
property right infringement, then it shall present those
conclusions to the Committee as part of the aforementioned
report.
Grant Consolidation
The Committee notes that there has been a proliferation of
similar programs benefitting the same general category of
persons, all with slightly different eligibility criteria and
different application forms. For example, a recent GAO report
indicated there are 28 separate programs within the Federal
government operated by 14 different agencies, all designed to
assist homeless persons. Similarly there are dozens of programs
designed to assist families with children an low income
persons, that offer distance learning opportunities, that
assist minority institutions, that provide health care, and
which offer a range of other services to similarly situated
individuals and entities.
This overlap of Federal programs has resulted in the
creation of an entire industry of Federal grant writers to
navigate the complicated sea of Federal grant programs. The
grant writing industry requires States, cities, Indian tribes,
and non-profit groups to spend valuable resources to fill out
volumes of application forms instead of providing services to
those most in need. The Committee believes the recent
consolidation of dozens of job training programs at the Federal
level into a one stop shopping concept should serve as a model
of reform for other Federal programs.
By simplifying and consolidating application forms,
creating unified eligibility criteria, and developing one stop
shopping concepts for similar Federal programs benefitting the
same constituencies, the application process will be simplified
for the applicant and the bureaucracy needed to process this
current mountain of paper could be reduced. In the end, service
would be improved to the American public and taxpayers would
save money. The Committee directs the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget to prepare an inventory of Federal grant
programs including the name of the program, the statutory
authorization, the eligibility criteria both statutory and
regulatory, a copy of the grant application form, and a list of
grantees for fiscal year 1999. The Director shall submit the
inventory no later than six months after the date of enactment
to the Committees on Appropriations and relevant authorizing
committees.
Office of National Drug Control Policy
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $48,042,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 43,133,000
Committee recommendation................................ 21,963,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $21,963,000.
This recommendation is $21,170,000 below the budget estimate.
The Committee has created a new appropriations line item
for the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center, formerly
under the Salaries and Expenses account. When combined, the
appropriations for the two accounts exceed the President's
budget request.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy, established by
the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, and reauthorized by Public Law
105-277, is charged with developing policies, objectives and
priorities for the National Drug Control Program, as defined by
the Act and Executive Order 12880.
Staffing Levels at ONDCP
During last fiscal year, the Committee noted the high
attrition rate at ONDCP and the need for this office to
maintain its staffing at the authorized level in order to
maximize its effectiveness. The Committee is dismayed that
ONDCP has been unable to address and/or identify to the
Committee the root cause of the high attrition rate. In spite
of this, however, ONDCP has requested four new full time
equivalent employees (FTEs) as part of its fiscal year 2000
request. As a result of ONDCP not being able to realize its
current FTE ceiling, and their persistent requests that funds
be reprogrammed from personnel costs to use for other services,
the Committee denies the funding request for additional FTE.
However, the Committee does believe that the two FTE for the
Office of Financial Management and the two FTE for the HIDTA
program are necessary and therefore expects ONDCP to reallocate
the existing staffing authority to fill these much needed
positions. The Committee strongly encourages ONDCP to assert
its role in filling positions across the agency to utilize its
FTE ceiling most effectively. Furthermore, the Committee
directs ONDCP to contract with an independent management firm
to conduct a management review of ONDCP. The review should
include, but not be limited to, a review of the agency's (1)
execution of its statutory responsibilities; (2) organizational
planning, management, budgeting, accounting and financial
reporting systems; and (3) human resource management to include
a review of staff hiring and retention. The Committee requests
the management report be delivered to the Committee within 120
days of enactment of this Act.
Drug Free Communities Act Evaluation
The Committee has provided $30,000,000 for the Drug Free
Communities Act under the Special Forfeiture Fund. Much to the
Committee's dismay, ONDCP has chosen to utilize a portion of
these scarce funds for the evaluation of the program, thus
reducing the amount which is available for the grants to
communities and coalitions. Therefore, the Committee has
included statutory language directing ONDCP to use its
appropriated funds under the salaries and expenses account for
this evaluation, with an anticipated cost of $600,000. Though
the Committee appreciates the Director's attempt to interpret
Congressional intent on where these funds shall derive, the
Committee clarifies that it was never the intent of Congress
that the cost of the evaluation would come at the expense of
the grants themselves. The Committee believes it is important
for ONDCP to carry out an effective evaluation of this program
and therefore expects ONDCP to utilize funds from the salaries
and expenses account to meet this need.
Rural Drug Conferences
The Committee is concerned about the spread of drugs and
drug related crimes to rural areas and whether rural law
enforcement can sufficiently address these new trends.
Therefore, the Committee encourages the Director to consider
convening a national conference on rural drug crime to include
regional conferences in rural areas, such as those in South
Carolina and Vermont, in order to assess the needs of rural law
enforcement and the impact of drug related crimes.
Drug Interdiction Operations and Tribal Areas
The Committee is aware of the counter-narcotics efforts of
Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies along the
Southwest border. The Committee is also aware that many Indian
tribal lands are located on or near the border with Mexico and
believes that these tribes could provide unique assistance in
stemming the flow of drugs across the Southwest border.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Director of ONDCP to
report to the Committee on Appropriations no later than January
15, 2000, on the feasibility of establishing a pilot program to
coordinate Federal, State and local law enforcement efforts
with those of tribal governments to combat the flow of drugs
along the Southwest border. This report should include an
analysis of whether providing counterdrug technology to the
tribes through the technology transfer program would provide
added benefit.
Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center
Appropriations, 1999....................................................
Budget estimate, 2000...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ $31,100,000
The Committee has established a new account for the
appropriation for the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center
separate from the Salaries and Expenses account of ONDCP, and
recommends an appropriation of $31,100,000. This funding
includes $13,000,000 for the continuation of the technology
transfer program by CTAC to State and local law enforcement in
their efforts to combat drugs.
The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Public Law 100-690, was
amended during 1990 to provide for the establishment of a
Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center within the Office of
National Drug Control Policy. This Office is authorized to
serve as the central counternarcotics enforcement research and
development organization of the U.S. Government. The law
provides for the appointment of a chief scientist to head up
this program to make a priority ranking of scientific needs
according to fiscal and technological feasibility as part of
the national counterdrug enforcement research and development
strategy.
The Committee expects multiagency research and development
programs to be coordinated by the Counterdrug Technology
Assessment Center in order to prevent duplication of effort and
to assure that whenever possible, those efforts provide
capabilities that transcend the need of any single Federal
agency. Prior to the obligation of these funds, the Committee
expects to be notified by the chief scientist on how these
funds will be spent; it also expects to receive periodic
reports from the chief scientist on the priority counterdrug
enforcement research and development requirements identified by
the Center and on the status of projects funded by CTAC.
The Committee continues to believe CTAC should work closely
and cooperatively with the individual law enforcement agencies
in the definition of a national research and development
program which addresses agency requirements with respect to
timeliness, operational utility, and consistency with agency
budget plans.
Counterdrug Technology Transfer Program
The Committee fully supports the continuation of this
program and, therefore, has provided $13,000,000 for its
operation in fiscal year 2000. The Committee believes that this
program demonstrates the best that the Federal Government has
to offer to State and local law enforcement in their efforts to
combat drug related crimes. The Committee is encouraged by the
positive reception this program has received by State and local
law enforcement agencies as current requests for technology
outpace resources by over four to one. The Committee expects
that CTAC will continue to conduct outreach to State and local
agencies to further educate them about the program. Finally,
the Committee would encourage CTAC to work with private
industry to make their developed technology available to State
and local law enforcement through this program. The Committee
requests that ONDCP report within 60 days after the date of
enactment of the fiscal year 2000 appropriations bill on the
number of requests received, promotion efforts to State and
local law enforcement, and the effectiveness and interest in
this program by these law enforcement communities.
Unanticipated Needs
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $1,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 1,000,000
Committee recommendation................................................
The Committee has not recommended funding this account.
Funds Appropriated to the President
Federal drug control programs
high-intensity drug trafficking areas
(including transfer of funds)
Appropriations, 1999....................................\1\ $184,977,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 185,777,000
Committee recommendation................................ 188,277,000
\1\ This amount includes the fiscal year 1999 supplemental funding.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $188,277,000.
This amount is equal to the budget request. The Committee
directs that funding shall be provided for the existing HIDTA's
at no less than the fiscal year 1999 level.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program
was established by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to provide
assistance to Federal, State and local law enforcement entities
operating in those areas most adversely affected by drug
trafficking. In allocating the HIDTA funds, the Committee
expects the Director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy to ensure that the activities receiving these limited
additional resources are used strictly for implementing the
strategy for each HIDTA, taking into consideration local
conditions and resource requirements. These funds should not be
used to supplant existing support for ongoing Federal, State,
or local drug control operations normally funded out of the
operating budgets of each agency. The remaining funds may be
transferred to Federal agencies and departments to support
Federal antidrug activities.
The Committee believes that the Director should take steps
to ensure that the HIDTA funds are transferred to the
appropriate drug control agencies expeditiously. To ensure that
the funding allocations meet the priorities outlined in the
strategies, the Committee instructs the Director to submit the
strategies, along with the identification of how the funds will
be spent, to the Committee for review prior to the obligation
of the funds. The Committee also expects to be notified if any
changes are made in the spending plans presented to it during
the course of the fiscal year. The Committee further instructs
the Director to submit the updated 2000 strategies for each of
the HIDTA's to the Committee for review and to obligate the
HIDTA funds within 120 days of enactment of this act. This
provision may be waived if a request is made to the Committee
and has been approved in advance according to the normal
reprogramming procedures. The Committee expects the Director to
take actions necessary to ensure that all HIDTA funds are being
used to support only those activities which are directly linked
to the individual HIDTA strategies recommended by the HIDTA
coordinators and which support the goals and objectives
outlined in each of these strategies.
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
The Committee is aware of the current interest in the
creation of new and expansion of existing HIDTAs. The Committee
understands that the following areas are pursuing the
administrative process for HIDTA designation or expansion:
Maine, Ohio, Hawaii, Oregon, Central California, East Texas,
Central Arizona, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. The Committee is
also aware of other States and communities with an interest in
HIDTA designation or expansion, such as West Texas, South
Texas, Las Vegas, Nevada, South Carolina, Wyoming and Arkansas.
The Committee encourages ONDCP to work with these communities
and States to address their interests and needs for the HIDTA
program. The Committee remains supportive of the HIDTA program
and believes that this cooperative effort between Federal,
State and local law enforcement to combat drugs is effective.
However, due to budget constraints, the Committee provides
funding at the fiscal year 1999 level in fiscal year 2000.
North Carolina HIDTA consideration
The Committee is aware of the recent hearings in the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee that highlighted the extent of the
illegal narcotics traffic through North Carolina. The Committee
understands that disrupting the transport and delivery of
illegal narcotics can yield benefits far beyond the borders of
the State where the drugs are seized. The Committee is aware
that most interstate and national highways that move traffic
from the Gulf and South Atlantic States to the populous Mid-
Atlantic and New England States converge in North Carolina. The
Committee believes that these corridors carry a
disproportionate amount of illegal drugs and that increased
enforcement in North Carolina is a key to curbing illegal drug
trafficking in the Mid-Atlantic and New England States. Though
ranking only 11th in population, North Carolina ranks 6th in
the volume of arrests for illegal drug offenses. The Committee
is aware that North Carolina has submitted a proposal to ONDCP
for designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
(HIDTA) with a focus on intensified interdiction along its
interstate and national highways. ONDCP is encouraged to work
with the State to develop and implement this innovative
approach to drug interdiction.
Special Forfeiture Fund
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $214,500,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 225,300,000
Committee recommendation................................ 127,500,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $127,500,000.
The Committee has provided additional funds for a national
media campaign under the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund
which will not be available for obligation until September 30,
2000.
The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, as amended, and the Office
of National Drug Control Policy's reauthorization, Public Law
105-277, established the Special Forfeiture Fund to be
administered by the Director of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy. The monies deposited into the Fund support
high-priority drug control programs and may be transferred to
drug control agencies or may be directly obligated by the
Director of ONDCP.
National Media Campaign
In fiscal year 1998 ONDCP proposed a 5-year media campaign
at a total cost to the Federal Government of $875,000,000.
Over the past year, the Committee has spent a substantial
amount of time monitoring and examining the media campaign and
its evolution. As a result, the Committee requires ONDCP to
continue to comply with the following: (1) ONDCP will require a
pro-bono match commitment upfront as part of its media buy from
each and every buyer of ad time and space, (2) ONDCP will
dedicate 10 percent of the total amount appropriated
specifically for the media campaign for the development, in
consultation with community groups and experts, and
distribution of grassroots materials aimed at children to be
distributed to communities and schools to support the national
media campaign, (3) ONDCP, or any agent acting on its behalf,
is prohibited from obligating any funds for the creative
development of advertisements, (4) ONDCP will secure 80 percent
of corporate sponsorship and will report quarterly on its
efforts to meet this goal, (5) ONDCP, or any agent acting on
its behalf, is prohibited from paying for the development of
new advertisements related to the media campaign, but these ads
must be provided on a pro-bono basis, and (6) ONDCP is mandated
to use appropriated funds solely to fund the antidrug media
campaign to include only the purchase of media time and space,
talent reuse payments, out-of-pocket advertising production
costs, and the negotiated fee for the contract buying agency.
In addition, ONDCP is to report to the Committee on
Appropriations by January 15, 2000 on the effectiveness of the
national media campaign. ONDCP is also to report to the
Committee on Appropriations within 6 months of enactment of
this Act on State and local prevention and treatment facilities
infrastructure and their capacity to handle the increased
demands of communities as a result of the national media
campaign. ONDCP is to continue to report on the effectiveness
and implementation status of the guidelines set out in the
fiscal year 1998 appropriations bill.
Finally, none of the funds provided for the national media
campaign for fiscal year 2000 may be obligated until ONDCP has
submitted for written approval by the Committees on
Appropriations the evaluation and the results of phase II of
the campaign.
The Committee believes this national media campaign, if
properly executed, has the potential to produce concrete
results. The Committee will closely track this national
campaign and its contribution to achieving a drug-free America,
and directs ONDCP to submit quarterly reports on the obligation
of funds as well as the specific parameters of the pilot
campaign. The Committee anticipates that future funding will be
based upon results.
Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997
The accelerating rate of drug use by young Americans is a
major concern that must be addressed. The Committee, therefore,
provides $30,000,000, which is $8,000,000 above the budget
request, to support matching grants to drug-free communities,
as authorized in the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997. These
funds will be used to support the establishment of local
counterdrug efforts that are characterized by strong conditions
for local initiatives, support, and accountability. In
addition, the requirement for participating communities to
match funding will help ensure the degree of commitment
necessary to succeed. The Committee encourages ONDCP to work
cooperatively with the Advisory Commission, as is required by
statute, to resolve the outstanding issues associated with
repeat grant recipients and the funding levels of those grants.
Drug Court Institute
The Committee provides $1,000,000 for the National Drug
Court Institute. The Committee is aware of the extraordinary
growth in drug courts across the country and the important
training of new drug courts that the Institute provides. Drug
courts provide an effective means to fight drug-related crime
through the cooperative efforts of State and local law
enforcement, the judicial system, and the public health
treatment network.
TITLE IV--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $2,464,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 2,674,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,657,000
The Committee recommends $2,657,000 for the Committee for
Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
(CPPBSD).
The CPPBSD was established by the Wagner-O'Day Act (WOD) of
1938, as amended. Its primary objective is to use the
purchasing power of the Federal government to provide people
who are blind or have other severe disabilities with employment
and training that will develop and improve job skills as well
as prepare them for employment options outside the WOD program.
In 2000, approximately 33,000 people who are blind or have
other severe disabilities are projected to be employed in 630
producing nonprofit agencies. The Committee's duties include
promoting the program; determining which products and services
are suitable for Government procurement from qualified
nonprofit agencies serving people who are blind or have other
severe disabilities; maintaining a procurement list of such
products and services; determining the fair market price for
products and services on the procurement list; and making rules
and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of the Act.
In 2000, the Committee expects to have sales of $900,000,000.
The Committee staff's responsibilities include promoting
and assessing the overall program; supervising the selection
and assignment of new products and services; assisting in
establishing prices; reviewing and adjusting these prices;
verifying the qualifications of nonprofit agencies; and
monitoring their performance.
Federal Election Commission
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $36,500,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 38,516,000
Committee recommendation................................ 38,175,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $38,175,000
for the Federal Election Commission.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is charged with
implementing and enforcing the Federal Election Campaign Act
[FECA] as amended. This includes: promoting public disclosure
of campaign finance activity; providing information to the
public, press, and campaign officials on the FECA and campaign
finance; obtaining voluntary compliance with the disclosure and
limitation provisions of the FECA; and enforcing that
disclosure and compliance through audits, investigations, and/
or litigation. The Commission is also charged with implementing
the Presidential campaign funding programs for both primary and
general election campaigns of qualified Presidential
candidates. This includes certification, audit, and enforcement
of the provisions of the Federal funding legislation concerning
the use of Federal funds.
Federal Labor Relations Authority
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $22,586,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 23,828,000
Committee recommendation................................ 23,681,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $23,681,000
for the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) serves as a
neutral party in the settlement of disputes that arise between
unions, employees, and agencies on matters outlined in the
Federal Service Labor Management Relations statute, decides
major policy issues, prescribes regulations, and disseminates
information appropriate to the needs of agencies, labor
organizations, and the public. Establishment of the FLRA gives
full recognition to the role of the Federal Government as an
employer.
In addition, the FLRA is engaged in training and
facilitation in labor-management partnerships and in resolving
disputes. FLRA promotes labor-management cooperation by
providing training and assistance to labor organizations and
agencies on resolving disputes, facilitates the creation of
partnerships, and trains the parties on rights and
responsibilities under the Federal Relations Labor Relations
Management statute.
General Services Administration
Federal buildings fund--limitations on availability of revenue
(Including Transfer of Funds)
construction and acquisition
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $492,190,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 102,194,000
Committee recommendation................................ 40,790,000
This appropriation offsets the difference between the
income to the fund and the expenditures from the fund. The
Committee makes $5,287,885,000 available from the Federal
buildings fund for construction, repairs, and alterations and
other public building services.
The Committee makes $40,790,000 available from the Federal
buildings fund for new construction and inserts a list of
construction projects. The lists of projects is as follows:
New construction
Maryland: Montgomery County, FDA Consolidation.......... $35,000,000
Michigan: Sault Sainte Marie, Border Station............ 8,263,000
Montana:
Roosville, Border Station........................... 753,000
Sweetgrass, Border Station.......................... 11,480,000
Texas: Fort Hancock, Border Station..................... 277,000
Washington: Oroville, Border Station.................... 11,206,000
Nationwide: Non-prospectus.............................. 10,000,000
Courthouse Construction and Utilization Study
The Committee is aware of the Judiciary's continuing need
to have court space available to conduct business and to move
cases to settlement. As a result, we are concerned that a
courthouse construction program is not requested or funded in
fiscal year 2000. Obviously budgetary constraints are certainly
a major factor in not funding the construction program;
however, it is not the sole reason funding has been denied. The
Committee believes it would be precipitous to approve funding
for new courthouse construction prior to the Administrative
Office of the Court's (AOC) completion of its comprehensive
review of the Judiciary's space and facilities program. The
Committee was pleased to receive AOC's letter confirming that
the contract for that independent review has been awarded.
Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned that the date for the
release of the final report will result in the Administration's
reluctance to include a request in their fiscal year 2001
budget. The AOC should be assured that this Committee expects
to have an opportunity to review the final report prior to
making fiscal year 2001 decisions. The Committee believes it is
important to incorporate the results of the independent
analysis into their decision making, particularly since they
have received information which indicates that eleven of the
sixteen courthouses for which the AOC requested fiscal year
2000 funding deviated from the Judicial Conference of the
United States' ``U.S. Courts Design Guide.''
Biloxi, Mississippi
The Committee is aware of the current conditions of the
Biloxi Courthouse at the existing location. The Committee
understands the AOC and GSA are working to identify a new site
for purchase, as the originally-planned site contains an
historic landmark. The Committee appropriated $7,543,000 for
this project in fiscal year 1999 and encourages GSA to work
with the AOC to address any issues arising from the need to
purchase a different site in an effort to keep the project on
schedule.
Erie, Pennsylvania
The Committee is aware that the current courthouse in Erie,
Pennsylvania presents numerous logistical and security concerns
for the Judges and U.S. Attorney. The Administrative Office of
the U.S. Courts has requested the full level of funding
necessary to construct a new courthouse annex and produce a
unified complex. The Committee directs the General Services
Administration to work with the AOC to help address issues
resulting from the delay in funding.
Burlington, Vermont
The Judiciary is currently reviewing a proposal by the
District Court of Vermont to relocate to a new facility. The
Committee requests that GSA review this situation and work with
the Courts to determine how to address logistical, safety and
space concerns at the Burlington Courthouse and Federal
Building.
repairs and alterations
Limitation on availability, 1999........................ $668,031,000
Limitation on availability, 2000........................ 664,869,000
Committee recommendation................................ 624,869,000
The Committee recommends new obligational authority of
$624,869,000 for repairs and alterations in fiscal year 2000.
The Committee denies $32,000,000 for the glass fragment
retention program.
Under this activity, the General Services Administration
(GSA) executes its responsibility for repairs and alterations
(R&A;) of both Government-owned and leased facilities under the
control of GSA. The major goal of this activity is to provide
commercially equivalent space to tenant agencies. Safety,
quality, and operating efficiency of facilities are given
primary consideration in carrying out this responsibility. A
major portion of the fiscal year 2000 program is devoted to
nondiscretionary work necessary to meet this goal and keep the
buildings in an occupiable condition.
R&A; workload requirements originate with scheduled onsite
inspections of buildings by qualified regional engineers and
building managers. The work identified through these
inspections is programmed in order of priority into the repairs
and alterations construction automated tracking system (RACATS)
and incorporated into a 5-year plan for accomplishment, based
upon funding availability, urgency, and the volume of R&A; work
that GSA has the capability to execute annually. Beginning in
fiscal year 1995, design and construction services activities
associated with the repair and alteration projects are funded
in this account.
The R&A; program, for purposes of funds control, is divided
into two types of projects--line item and nonline item. The
following is a definition of each category of projects:
Line item projects.--Line item projects are those larger
projects for which a prospectus is required under the
provisions of the Public Buildings Act of 1959. Generally, line
item projects are similar to construction projects in the scope
of work involved and the multiyear timeframe for project
completion. Line item projects are listed individually in GSA's
appropriations acts and the obligational authority for each
project is limited to the amount shown therein.
Nonline item projects.--Projects included in this category
are generally short term in nature and funds can normally be
obligated within a 1-year period. This category also includes
projects which are recurring in nature, such as cyclic painting
and the minor repair of defective building systems; for
example, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire safety, and
elevator system components.
Davenport, Iowa
The Committee and the General Services Administration are
aware of the need for repairs and alterations of the Davenport,
Iowa courthouse. The General Services Administration has placed
this project on the list of repair and alteration needs after
fiscal year 2000. It is the Committee's understanding that if
budgetary constraints and program priorities permit, GSA plans
to request the design funding in fiscal year 2001 and
construction phase funding in fiscal year 2002.
Renovation of City Hall Plaza, Boston
The Committee supports the concept of a renovation of City
Hall Plaza in Boston. However, since the Committee is not
familiar with the specific aspects of the plan or of the
Federal Government's financial responsibilities associated with
what should be a cooperative effort, the Committee directs GSA
to conduct a study of the renovation and determine what type of
cooperative arrangement should be developed to provide the
necessary renovation of the Plaza.
installment acquisition payments
Limitation on availability, 1999........................ $215,764,000
Limitation on availability, 2000........................ 205,668,000
Committee recommendation................................ 205,668,000
The Committee recommends a limitation of $205,668,000 for
installment acquisition payments. The Committee recommendation
equals the budget estimate.
The Public Buildings Amendments of 1972 enables GSA to
enter into contractual arrangements for the construction of a
backlog of approved but unfunded projects. The purchase
contracts require the Government to make periodic payments on
these facilities over varying periods until title is
transferred to the Government. This activity provides for the
payment of principal, interest, taxes, and other required
obligations related to facilities acquired pursuant to the
Public Buildings Amendments of 1972 (40 U.S.C. 602a).
Rental of Space
Limitation on availability, 1999........................ $2,583,261,000
Limitation on availability, 2000........................ 2,782,186,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,782,186,000
The Committee recommends a limitation of $2,782,186,000 for
rental of space. The Committee recommendation is equal to the
budget estimate.
The General Services Administration is responsible for
leasing general purpose space and land incident thereto for
Federal agencies, except cases where the GSA has delegated its
leasing authority (for example, the Department of Veterans
Affairs, as well as the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce,
and Defense). The GSA's policy is to lease privately owned
buildings and land only when: (1) Federal space needs cannot be
otherwise accommodated satisfactorily in existing Government-
owned or leased space; (2) leasing proves to be more efficient
than the construction or alteration of a Federal building; (3)
construction or alteration is not warranted because
requirements in the community are insufficient or are
indefinite in scope or duration; or (4) completion of a new
Federal building within a reasonable time cannot be assured.
National Tracing Center
The Committee continues to urge the General Services
Administration to work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms to provide the necessary expanded facilities to meet
the chronic space needs at the National Tracing Center in
Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Building Operations
Limitation on availability, 1999........................ $1,554,772,000
Limitation on availability, 2000........................ 1,590,183,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,590,183,000
The Committee recommends a limitation of $1,590,183,000 for
building operations. The Committee recommendation is equal to
the budget estimate.
This activity provides for the operation of all Government-
owned facilities under the jurisdiction of the GSA and building
services in GSA-leased space where the terms of the lease do
not require the lessor to furnish such services. Services
included in building operations are cleaning, protection,
maintenance, payments for utilities and fuel, grounds
maintenance, and elevator operations. Other related supporting
services include various real property management and staff
support activities such as space acquisition and assignment;
the moving of Federal agencies as a result of space alterations
in order to provide better space utilization in existing
buildings; onsite inspection of building services and
operations accomplished by private contractors; and various
highly specialized contract administration support functions.
The space, operations, and services referred to above are
furnished by the GSA to its tenant agencies in return for
payment of rent. Due to considerations unique to their
operation, the GSA also provides varying levels of above-
standard services in agency headquarter facilities, including
those occupied by the Executive Office of the President, such
as the east and west wings of the White House.
policy and operations
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999....................................\1\ $109,594,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 122,158,000
Committee recommendation................................ 120,198,000
\1\ This amount includes the fiscal year 1999 supplemental funding.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $120,198,000
for salaries and expenses for the policy and operations of the
General Services Administration. The Committee denies
$1,710,000 for electronic commerce and provides $5,000,000 for
the Rapid Service Valuation and Preparation (RSVP) Access
Program.
The Committee provides full funding for Governmentwide
policy and evaluation functions associated with asset
management activities; utilization and donation of surplus
personal property; Governmentwide and internal responsibilities
related to automated data development, telecommunications, and
information systems. The Office of Governmentwide Policy shall
work cooperatively with other agencies to provide the
leadership necessary to achieve the most cost-effective
solutions for the delivery of administrative services.
Child Care Centers
The Committee recommends that funds provided to the Office
of Policy and Operations be used to issue and enforce
regulations requiring any entity operating a child care center
in a facility owned or leased by an executive agency to (1)
comply with applicable State and local licensing requirements
related to the provision of child care and (2) comply with
center-based accreditation standards specified by the
Administrator, if such a regulatory program is authorized.
Federal Office Building in Colorado Springs
The Federal building located at 1520 Willamette Avenue in
Colorado Springs, Colorado, is owned by GSA and is currently
leased to the U.S. Air Force Space Command. It is the
Committee's understanding that Space Command is moving ahead
with options to vacate the facility. In the event that Space
Command does not renew its lease and the facility becomes
vacant and is deemed surplus, the Committee urges GSA to
strongly consider the U.S. Olympic Committee's (USOC) need for
additional space and to give priority to the USOC's request to
gain title or acquire the property.
Per Diem Rates
The Committee is concerned that the methodology used by the
General Services Administration to develop the new per diem
rates for the continental United States effective January 1,
1999, has resulted in the unjustified lowering of the rates
throughout the country. The Committee is aware that GSA is
currently reviewing the rates to determine if the modifications
are warranted. The Committee urges GSA to continue its review,
particularly of the Maryland counties, and directs GSA to
implement any changes necessary to assure that the rates more
accurately reflect the cost of travel by Federal workers.
Virtual Archive Storage Terminal
Many agencies, such as the National Archives and Records
Center, the United States Geological Service, and the United
States Department of Agriculture, are looking to capture and
archive domain specific electronic data; however, the volume
exceeds their online capacities. The North Dakota State
University has the capability to develop an online, multi-
domain archive to combine data from many domains and provide
tools to fuse, mine, and extract information important to the
upper Great Plains region. By concentrating on a specific
region rather than a data type or source, the volume problem
can be ameliorated and new multi-disciplinary research can be
enabled. As a result, the Committee has provided the funds
necessary to establish a Virtual Archive Storage Terminal
(VAST) located at the North Dakota State University.
Administrative and Logistical Support
GSA has in the past provided administrative and logistical
support to the Olympics, Pan-American Games, and other
international events. GSA performs these functions under
authorities of the Department of the Army on a reimbursable
basis. The Committee encourages GSA to assist the Salt Lake
Organizing Committee for the Winter and Paralympic Games in
2002 as well as the 2001 World Police and Fire Games in
Indiana.
Agricultural communities in North Dakota and other Plains
States are experiencing adverse economic conditions which are
multiplied by the devastating effects of de-population. It is
believed that these conditions are leading to an increase in
gang activities, drug and alcohol use, and domestic violence. A
study of the causes, the impact, the effect, and the options
for reversing this trend shall be undertaken by the
universities of four states experiencing this problem, Montana,
Iowa, Colorado and North Dakota.
The Committee directs GSA to work with the universities of
these four states to assist in the development of a symposium
to discuss the research and development requirements of a de-
population study. It is further requested that GSA provide the
appropriate administrative assistance required for this
symposium.
State Patrol Electronic Databases
The Committee recommends that within the funding level
provided for this account, up to $500,000 be provided for the
State Patrol Digital Distance Learning project to help the
Nebraska State Patrol create computer-based training programs.
West Heating Plant and Coal and Ash House
The Committee is aware that the National Park Service has
expressed interest in acquiring surplus property along Rock
Creek Parkway currently owned by GSA. The National Park Service
would like to designate the space known as the West Heating
Plant and Coal and Ash House as open space for the residents of
the District of Columbia. The Committee understands that there
are remediation issues associated with the site and therefore,
directs GSA to report to the Committee on Appropriations by
March 31, 2000 on the cost of demolition of the existing
structures, remediation of the property, and the estimated
duration for this effort.
Census Bureau Facilities
The Committee is aware that the General Services
Administration (GSA) is conducting a study of significant
environmental problems at the U.S. Census Bureau facilities in
Suitland, Maryland, and directs GSA to submit to the Committee
a report, no later than 60 days after enactment of this Act,
detailing the extent of all health and safety concerns
associated with the Bureau facilities and a detailed plan for
eliminating the hazards. The Committee is also aware that GSA
is conducting a long-term study of the Census Bureau facilities
and directs the GSA to garner the necessary information and
input from the Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce to
be able to develop a long-term plan for the establishment of an
improved, modern facility for the Census Bureau.
office of inspector general
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $32,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 33,917,000
Committee recommendation................................ 33,858,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $33,858,000
for the Office of Inspector General.
The Office of Inspector General [OIG] implements in its
entirety the provisions of the Inspector General Act.
Consistent with the Inspector General Act, the OIG has been
given total responsibility for the audit and investigative
functions of the agency. Its mission is to detect and
investigate all instances of fraud and abuse and assure that
proper corrective action is taken. The Office is also charged
with the responsibility for reporting on waste, inefficiency,
and mismanagement, and making recommendations for improvement.
Audit services provided by the OIG fall within two broad
categories: audits of GSA contracts and internal audits,
including inspections. Through the preaward and postaward
auditing of GSA contracts, the OIG provides professional advice
on accounting and financial matters related to the negotiation,
award, administration, repricing, and settlement of contracts.
Internal audits deal with all facets of GSA operations.
Inspections services provide detailed technical evaluations
of GSA operations. The investigations program provides for the
detection and investigation of illegal or unethical activities
against GSA by its employees, vendors doing business with the
agency, and by other individuals or groups of individuals.
The Inspector General Act also requires that the inspectors
general move beyond their traditional role of detecting and
preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, to also assume
responsibility for promoting economy and efficiency. The GSA
Office of Inspector General has a unique role within the
Federal structure in that its activities affect all Federal
agencies and several State programs. The broadened mandate
requires increased emphasis on more effective involvement with
other governmental agencies, identification of systemic
problems, participation in the design of new programs, review
of proposed legislation and regulations, and employee awareness
programs.
allowances and office staff for former presidents
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $2,241,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 2,241,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,241,000
The Committee recommends $2,241,000 for allowances and
office staff for former Presidents, which equals the budget
request.
This program is authorized by the Former Presidents Act,
Public Law 85-745 (3 U.S.C. 102 note), of August 25, 1958, as
amended. It provides for an annual pension paid monthly to each
former President and each widow of a former President;
compensation for staff assistants employed by each former
President; and funding for office space, furnishings, and
equipment as appropriate (defined under CG Decision B-114073,
Mar. 8, 1961). The Supplemental Appropriations Act of October
21, 1968, Public Law 90-608, 82 Stat. 1192, allows for travel
and related expenses for each former President and not to
exceed two members of his staff. Title 39 U.S.C. 3214
authorizes a former President and widow to send all mail in the
United States and its territories as franked mail. Under the
Presidential Transition Act, section 3(a)(7), each former
President may use penalty mail.
This appropriation provides for the pensions, office
staffs, and related expenses for former Presidents Gerald R.
Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush and for the
pension and postal franking privileges for the widow of former
President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Below is listed a detailed breakdown of the fiscal year
2000 funding:
ALLOWANCES AND OFFICE STAFF FOR FORMER PRESIDENTS, FISCAL YEAR 2000
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former Presidents
---------------------------------------- Widows Total
Ford Carter Reagan Bush
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel compensation.............................. 96 96 96 96 ........ 384
Personnel benefits.................................. 24 5 24 39 ........ 92
Benefits for former personnel: Pensions............. 152 152 152 152 20 628
Travel.............................................. 50 2 26 57 ........ 135
Rental payment to General Services Administration... 99 93 285 138 ........ 615
Communications, utilities, miscellaneous charges:
Telephone....................................... 17 28 15 18 ........ 78
Postage......................................... 2 22 10 12 2 48
Printing............................................ 3 8 14 8 ........ 33
Other services...................................... 14 79 44 18 ........ 155
Supplies and materials.............................. 9 10 20 9 ........ 48
Equipment........................................... 5 9 3 8 ........ 25
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total obligations............................. 471 504 689 555 22 2,241
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
gsa general provisions
The Committee has recommended the inclusion of the
following general provisions:
Section 401 continues a provision which authorizes GSA to
credit accounts with certain funds received from Government
corporations.
Section 402 continues a provision which authorizes GSA to
use funds for the hire of passenger motor vehicles.
Section 403 continues a provision which authorizes GSA to
transfer funds within the Federal buildings fund for meeting
program requirements.
Section 404 continues a provision which limits funding for
courthouse construction which does not meet certain standards
of a capital improvement plan.
Section 405 continues a provision which provides 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 rate.
Section 406 continues a provision which allows pilot
information technology projects to be repaid from the
information technology fund.
Section 407 continues a provision which authorizes GSA to
pay claims up to $250,000 from construction projects and
acquisition of buildings.
Section 408 provides that funds for projects in Public Law
104-208 shall be available until expended as long as funds have
been obligated in whole or in part.
Section 409 provides that the Administrator of General
Services designate the Federal building located at 220 East
Rosser Avenue in Bismarck, North Dakota as the William L. Guy
Federal Building, Post Office and United States Courthouse.
Section 410 provides for the limitation on the availability
of revenue in the Federal Buildings Fund.
The Committee did not include a new general provision
regarding upgrading the position of Director of the Consumer
Information Center to a Senior Executive Service position. The
Committee is aware that the Office of Personnel Management is
currently reviewing agency requests for SES slots which would
become effective in calendar year 2000. Therefore, the
Committee directs GSA to request that OPM conduct a review of
the CIC Director position to determine whether such an upgrade
is appropriate, and to increase the number of SES positions
assigned to GSA if such an upgrade is recommended.
Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental
Policy Foundation
Appropriations, 1999....................................................
Budget estimate, 2000................................... $3,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,494,000
Public Law 102-259 established the Morris K. Udall
Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy
Trust Fund. General Fund payments to that fund are invested in
Treasury securities. Interest earnings from the investments are
used to carry out the activities of the Morris K. Udall
Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy
Foundation. The Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships,
and grants and funds activities of the Udall Center for Studies
in Public Policy.
Morris K. Udall Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $4,250,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 1,250,000
Committee recommendation................................................
The Committee is sympathetic to the proposal to capitalize
a fund providing for environmental conflict resolution and
training. However, given the competing demands on limited
funds, the Committee cannot recommend funding the initiative at
this time.
Merit Systems Protection Board
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $25,805,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 27,586,000
Committee recommendation................................ 27,422,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $27,422,000
for the Merit Systems Protection Board.
The Merit Systems Protection Board is an independent,
quasi-judicial agency, charged by Congress with protecting the
integrity of Federal merit systems against partisan political
and other prohibited personnel practices, ensuring adequate
protection for employees against abuses by agency management,
and requiring executive branch agencies to make employment
decisions based on individual merit. This mission is carried
out principally by: (1) adjudicating employee appeals of agency
personnel actions, such as removals, suspensions, and
demotions; (2) adjudicating actions brought by the special
counsel involving alleged abuses of the merit systems; (3)
adjudicating actions brought under the Whistleblower Protection
Act; (4) ordering compliance with final orders where necessary;
(5) conducting special studies of the civil service and other
merit systems in the executive branch to determine whether they
are free of prohibited personnel practices; (6) analyzing and
reporting on the significant actions of the Office of Personnel
Management [OPM]; and (7) reviewing regulations issued by OPM
to ensure they do not require or result in the commission of a
prohibited personnel practice.
limitation
(transfer of trust funds)
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $2,430,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 2,430,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,430,000
The Committee has recommended a limitation of $2,430,000 on
the amount to be transferred from the civil service retirement
and disability fund to the Board to cover administrative
expenses to adjudicate retirement appeals cases. This amount
equals the budget request.
National Archives and Records Administration
operating expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $224,614,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 186,452,000
Committee recommendation................................ 179,738,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $179,738,000
for Operating Expenses of the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). Due to budgetary constraints, the
Committee had to decline the following: $5,000,000 to
declassify records, $527,000 to develop an agency-wide system
for collecting performance data, and $527,000 for an electronic
system covering phases of preparing Federal Register documents.
The National Archives and Records Administration became an
independent agency on April 1, 1985. This appropriation
provides for basic operations dealing with management of the
Government's archives and records, operation of Presidential
libraries, grants for historical publications, and for the
review for declassification of all security classified
information.
Records center.--The records center activity provides for
the accessioning, storage, reference service, and disposal of
the semiactive and noncurrent records of Federal agencies
through a nationwide system of 14 records centers. Significant
savings result from use of low-cost records storage and the
efficient and timely disposal of nonpermanent records.
Archives and related services.--This activity provides for
selecting, preserving, describing, and making available to the
general public, scholars, and Federal agencies, the permanently
valuable historical records of the Federal Government and the
historical material in Presidential libraries, related
publications and exhibit programs, and the appraisal of all
Federal records. It also provides for the publication of the
Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations, the U.S.
Statutes at Large, Presidential documents, and for a program to
improve the quality of regulations and the public's access to
them. It also provides for the systematic review of all
classified records in the National Archives which are over 30
years old, except intelligence and cryptological materials
dated after 1945, which are to be reviewed when 50 years old.
Program direction.--This activity provides for general
direction and program support for all programs assigned to the
National Archives and Records Administration [NARA]. Direction
is provided by the Archivist, his staff, and the Office of
Management and Administration.
archives facilities repairs and restoration
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $11,325,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 13,518,000
Committee recommendation................................ 21,518,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $21,518,000.
This account provides for the repair, alteration, and
improvement of the Archives facilities and Presidential
libraries nationwide, and for providing adequate storage for
archival holdings nationwide. It will better enable the
National Archives to provide adequate storage for holdings, to
maintain its facilities in proper condition for public
visitors, researchers, and employees in NARA facilities, and to
maintain the structural integrity of the buildings.
Reagan Library
The Committee has provided $8,000,000 within this
appropriation for the repair, alteration, and improvements of
the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi
Valley, California.
RECORDS CENTER REVOLVING FUND
Appropriations, 1999....................................................
Budget estimate, 2000................................... $22,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 22,000,000
The Committee recommends $22,000,000 for the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to establish a
Records Center Revolving Fund. The National Archives Records
Center Revolving Fund will change the NARA records center
operations from being funded on an appropriated basis, to being
funded on a self-sufficient funding basis providing services on
a standard price basis to Federal agency customers, without
further appropriation from Congress. The appropriation to the
Fund is for one time startup costs for equipment and expenses
necessary to provide for storage and related services for all
pre-archival Federal records which are stored at Federal
National and Regional Records Centers. Future funds will be
obtained from Federal agencies paying user fees for storage of
records.
The Committee directs the National Archives and Records
Administration to provide quarterly reports to the Committee on
the operation of the revolving fund. The report should also
include a list of Federal agencies that are delinquent in
paying the requested fees for storage of their records and
related services.
National Historical Publications and Records Commission
grants program
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $10,000,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 6,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 6,250,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,250,000.
This amount is above the budget request and $3,750,000 below
the fiscal year 1999 enacted level. The Committee rescinds
$3,800,000 for the grant to the Center for Jewish History. The
Committee provides an additional $250,000 to the Fort Buford
reconstruction project. These funds will be used to provide for
planning and design of the reconstruction of this Fort which is
an important Lewis and Clark `Corps of Discovery' site.
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission
[NHPRC] reviews and recommends project grants to Federal and
State governments and private nonprofit institutions, chiefly
universities and research libraries. It makes plans, estimates,
and recommendations for the publication of important historical
documents and works with various public and private
institutions in collecting, editing, and publishing papers
significant to the history of the United States. The Commission
is composed of members appointed by, and representing, the
President, Congress, Supreme Court, executive agencies, and
historical and archival societies.
Founding Fathers' Papers
The Committee is pleased with the decision by the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission to restore top
level priority in its strategic plan for projects to publish
the papers of America's Founding Fathers.
Office of Government Ethics
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $8,492,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 9,114,000
Committee recommendation................................ 9,071,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,071,000 for
salaries and expenses of the Office of Government Ethics in
fiscal year 2000.
Public Law 100-598 authorized the establishment of the
Office of Government Ethics as an independent executive branch
agency separate and apart from the Office of Personnel
Management beginning October 1, 1989.
The Office of Government Ethics functions primarily in six
areas, pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and the
Ethics Reform Act of 1989. Those areas are:
--Regulatory authority for conflict of interest and
postemployment statutes, standards of conduct, and
financial disclosure programs throughout the executive
branch;
--Public financial disclosure review and certification for
all advice and consent Presidential appointees, and the
monitoring of ethics agreements which are executed
incident to that review to prevent ethics violations;
--Education and training to promote understanding among
agency ethics officials and employees, as well as the
general public;
--Guidance and interpretation concerning the conflict of
interest statutes, standards of conduct, and financial
disclosure, through advisory opinions, telephone
advice, and consultation with agency ethics officials;
--Enforcement by monitoring and auditing agency ethics
programs, and ordering corrective action where
appropriate; and
--Evaluation of the effectiveness of ethics laws and
regulations, as well as agency implementation.
Office of Personnel Management
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $85,350,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 91,584,000
Committee recommendation................................ 91,584,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $91,584,000
for the salaries and expenses of the Office of Personnel
Management. The Committee recommendation equals the budget
estimate.
The Office of Personnel Management's primary
responsibilities include the Employment Service, Executive
Resources, Investigations Service, Workforce Compensation and
Performance, Workforce Relations, and the Merit Systems
oversight and effectiveness programs. OPM also has
administrative responsibility for the President's Commission on
White House Fellowships, the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory
Committee, and parts of the Voting Rights Program.
The Committee has funded the initiatives requested by the
administration, as outlined in the budget justification, plus
the functions and personnel transferred from the General
Accounting Office, subsequent to enactment of Public Law 104-
53.
Voting Rights Act
The Committee continues to include a provision requested by
the administration to allow Federal employees acting as Voting
Rights Act observers to receive per diem at their permanent
duty station. This provision makes it feasible for these
observers to work in local areas and allow the Government to
discontinue the practice of recruiting observers from distant
locations and assuming the per diem, as well as travel costs.
Senior Executive Service Review
The Committee is aware of the request to upgrade the
position of Director of the Consumer Information Center, an
agency within the General Services Administration, to a Senior
Executive Service position. The Committee understands that OPM
is currently reviewing agency requests for SES slots which
would become effective in calendar year 2000. The Committee has
directed GSA to request that OPM conduct a review of the CIC
Director position to determine whether this upgrade is
appropriate. The Committee also directs OPM to conduct this
review expeditiously so that an increase in the number of SES
positions assigned to GSA can be accomplished if the upgrade is
warranted.
limitation
(transfer of trust funds)
Limitation, 1999........................................ $91,236,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 95,486,000
Committee recommendation................................ 95,486,000
The Committee recommends a limitation of $95,486,000. This
amount equals the budget request.
These funds will be transferred from the appropriate trust
funds of the Office of Personnel Management to cover
administrative expenses for the retirement and insurance
programs.
Office of Inspector General
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $960,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 960,000
Committee recommendation................................ 960,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $960,000 for
salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector General in
fiscal year 2000. This amount equals the budget estimate.
The Office of Inspector General was established as a
statutory entity under the Inspector General Act Amendments of
1988, Public Law 100-504, effective April 16, 1989. The Office
of Inspector General is charged with establishing policies for
conducting and coordinating efforts which promote economy,
efficiency, and integrity in the Office of Personnel
Management's activities which prevent and detect fraud, waste,
and abuse in the agency's programs. Contract audits provide
professional advice to agency contracting officials on
accounting and financial matters regarding the negotiation,
award, administration, repricing, and settlement of contracts.
Internal agency 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. The investigative function provides for
the detection and investigation of improper and illegal
activities involving programs, personnel, and operations.
Administrative sanctions debar from participation in the health
insurance program those health care providers whose conduct may
pose a threat to the financial integrity of the program itself
or to the well-being of insurance program enrollees.
(limitation on transfer from trust funds)
Limitation, 1999........................................ $9,145,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 9,645,000
Committee recommendation................................ 9,645,000
The Committee recommends a limitation on transfers from the
trust funds in support of the Office of Inspector General
activities totaling $9,645,000 for fiscal year 2000, as
requested. This amount equals the budget estimate.
government payment for annuitants, employees health benefits
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $4,654,146,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 5,105,482,000
Committee recommendation................................ 5,105,482,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $5,105,482,000
for Government payments for annuitants, employees health
benefits. The Committee recommendation equals the budget
estimate.
This appropriation funds the Government's share of health
benefit costs for annuitants and survivors who no longer have
an agency to contribute the employer's share. The Office of
Personnel Management requests the appropriation necessary to
pay this contribution to the employees health benefits fund and
the retired employees health benefits fund. These revolving
trust funds are available for: (1) the payment of subscription
charges to approved carriers for the cost of health benefits
protection; (2) contributions for qualified retired employees
and survivors who carry private health insurance under the
Retired Employees Health Benefits Program; and (3) the payment
of expenses incurred by the Office of Personnel Management in
the administration of these programs.
This appropriation also provides financing for the
Government's share of health benefit costs for annuitants and
survivors covered under the Retired Employees Health Benefits
Program. Public Law 96-156 provides for increased Government
contributions toward the subscription charge for health
coverage, tied to increases in the cost of part B (medical) of
Medicare, for those annuitants who retired prior to July 1,
1960.
government payment for annuitants, employee life insurance
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $34,576,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 36,207,000
Committee recommendation................................ 36,207,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $36,207,000
for the Government payment for annuitants, employee life
insurance in fiscal year 2000. This amount equals the budget
request.
Public Law 96-427, the Federal Employees' Group Life
Insurance Act of 1980 requires that all employees under the age
of 65 who separate from the Federal Government for purposes of
retirement on or after January 1, 1990, continue to make
contributions toward their basic life insurance coverage after
retirement until they reach the age of 65. These retirees will
contribute two-thirds of the cost of the basic life insurance
premium, identical to the amount contributed by active Federal
employees for basic life insurance coverage. As with the active
Federal employees, the Government is required to contribute
one-third of the cost of the premium for basic coverage. OPM,
acting as the payroll office on behalf of Federal retirees, has
requested, and the Committee has provided, the funding
necessary to make the required Government contribution
associated with annuitants' postretirement life insurance
coverage.
payment to civil service retirement and disability fund
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $8,703,180,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 9,120,872,000
Committee recommendation................................ 9,120,872,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,120,872,000
for payment to the civil service retirement and disability
fund. The Committee recommendation equals the budget estimate.
The civil service retirement and disability fund was
established in 1920 to administer the financing and payment of
annuities to retired Federal employees and their survivors. The
fund covers the operation of the Civil Service Retirement
System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System.
The payment to the civil service retirement and disability
fund consists of an appropriation and a permanent indefinite
authorization to pay the Government's share of retirement costs
as defined in the Civil Service Retirement Amendments of 1969
(Public Law 91-93), the Federal Employees' Retirement System
Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-335), and the Civil Service
Retirement Spouse Equity Act of 1985 (Public Law 98-615). The
payment is made directly from the general fund of the U.S.
Treasury, and is in addition to appropriated funds that will be
contributed from agency budgets in fiscal year 2000.
Office of Special Counsel
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $8,720,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 9,740,000
Committee recommendation................................ 9,689,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,689,000 for
the Office of Special Counsel.
The Office of the Special Counsel (OCS) is charged with
enforcement of certain provisions of the Civil Service Reform
Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-454 and 5 U.S.C. 1204-1208). The
statute requires OSC to investigate and, if warranted,
prosecute: all allegations of prohibited personnel practices,
including reprisal for protected disclosures of information;
prohibited political activity; arbitrary or capricious
withholding of information under the Freedom of Information
Act; involvement of any employee in any prohibited
discrimination found by any court or appropriate administrative
authority; and any other activity prohibited by civil service
law, rule, or regulation. OSC also provides a safe channel for
disclosure of information evidencing waste, fraud, and abuse
and referral of such information to agencies.
U.S. Tax Court
salaries and expenses
Appropriations, 1999.................................... $32,765,000
Budget estimate, 2000................................... 36,489,000
Committee recommendation................................ 34,179,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $34,179,000
for the U.S. Tax Court. The Committee denies $1,240,000 for new
requirements.
The U.S. Tax Court is an independent judicial body in the
legislative branch under article I of the Constitution of the
United States. The court is composed of a chief judge and 18
judges. Decisions by the court are reviewable by the U.S.
Courts of Appeals and, if certiorari is granted, by the Supreme
Court.
In their judicial duties the judges are assisted by senior
judges, who participate in the adjudication of regular cases,
and by special trial judges, who hear small tax cases and
certain regular cases assigned to them by the chief judge.
The court conducts trial sessions throughout the United
States, including Hawaii and Alaska.
The U.S. Tax Court hears and decides cases involving
Federal income, estate and gift tax deficiencies, and excise
taxes relating to public charities, private foundations,
qualified pension plans, real estate investment trusts, and
windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil. It also renders
declaratory judgments regarding the qualification or continuing
qualification (including revocations of rulings on the
exemptions) of retirement plans.
The Tax Court has jurisdiction to render declaratory
judgments with respect to exempt organization status
determinations pursuant to section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue
Code, and to enter declaratory judgments on the tax treatment
of interest on proposed issues of Government obligations. In
addition, the court has jurisdiction over actions to restrain
disclosure and to obtain additional disclosure with respect to
public inspection of written determinations issued by the
Internal Revenue Service, and actions to compel the disclosure
of the identity of third-party contacts relating to written
determinations made by the Internal Revenue Service.
For fiscal year 2000, the court proposes a trial program of
600 weeks consisting of 264 weeks of trial sessions assigned to
Special Trial Judges, and 100 weeks of lengthy special
sessions. This represents an increase of 260 weeks over fiscal
year 1999.
STATEMENT CONCERNING GENERAL PROVISIONS
Traditionally, the Treasury and General Government
appropriation bill has included general provisions which govern
both the activities of the agencies covered by the bill, and,
in some cases, activities of agencies, programs, and general
government activities that are not covered by the bill. Those
general provisions that are Governmentwide in scope are
contained in title VI of this bill.
The bill contains a number of general provisions that have
been carried in this bill for years and which are routine in
nature and scope. General provisions in the bill are explained
under this section of the report. Those general provisions that
deal with a single agency only are shown immediately following
that particular agency's or department's appropriation accounts
in the bill. Those general provisions that address activities
or directives affecting all of the agencies covered in this
bill are contained in title V of the bill.
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
This Act
Section 501 continues a provision which limits the use of
appropriated funds to the current fiscal year.
Section 502 continues a provision regarding consultant
services.
Section 503 continues a provision which prohibits the use
of funds to engage in activities which would prohibit in the
enforcement of section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act.
Section 504 continues a provision which prohibits the
transfer of control over the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center.
Section 505 continues the provision concerning the
employment rights of Federal employees who return to their
civilian jobs after assignment with the Armed Forces.
Section 506 continues a provision which requires compliance
with the Buy American Act.
Section 507 continues a provision which states the sense of
Congress regarding notice and purchase of American-made
products.
Section 508 continues a provision which prohibits an
individual from eligibility for Government contracts if a court
determines that individual has intentionally fraudulently
affixed a ``Made in America'' label to any product non-American
made.
Section 509 continues a provision which provides up to 50
percent of unobligated balances may remain available for
authorized purposes in compliance with reprogramming
guidelines.
Section 510 continues a provision which prohibits the
Executive Office of the President from using appropriated funds
to request FBI background investigation reports.
Section 511 directs Director of the Office of Management
and Budget to prepare and submit to Congress six months after
the date of enactment an inventory of Federal grant programs.
TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS, DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND CORPORATIONS
The Committee has recommended the inclusion of the
following general provisions:
Section 601 continues a provision authorizing agencies to
pay travel costs of the families of Federal employees on
foreign duty to return to the United States in the event of
death or a life threatening illness of an employee.
Section 602 continues a 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 603 continues a provision regarding price
limitations on vehicles to be purchased by the Federal
Government.
Section 604 continues a provision allowing funds made
available to agencies for travel to also be used for quarters
allowances and cost-of-living allowances.
Section 605 continues a provision prohibiting the
Government, with certain specified exceptions, from employing
non-U.S. citizens whose posts of duty would be in the
continental United States.
Section 606 continues a provision ensuring that agencies
will have authority to pay the General Services Administration
bills for space renovation and other services.
Section 607 continues a 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 608 continues a provision providing that funds may
be used to pay rent and other service costs in the District of
Columbia.
Section 609 continues a provision prohibiting the use of
appropriated funds to pay the salary of any nominee after the
Senate voted not to approve the nomination.
Section 610 continues a provision precluding interagency
financing of groups absent prior statutory approval.
Section 611 continues a provision authorizing the Postal
Service to employ guards.
Section 612 continues a provision prohibiting the use of
appropriated funds for enforcing regulations disapproved in
accordance with the applicable law of the United States.
Section 613 continues a provision limiting the pay
increases of certain prevailing rate employees.
Section 614 continues a provision limiting the amount that
can be used for redecoration of offices under certain
circumstances.
Section 615 continues provision prohibiting the expenditure
of appropriated funds for the acquisition of additional law
enforcement training facilities without the advance approval of
the Committees on Appropriations to allow the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center to obtain temporary use of
additional facilities for training which cannot be accommodated
in existing Center facilities.
Section 616 continues a provision permitting interagency
funding of national security and emergency preparedness
telecommunications initiatives, which benefit multiple Federal
departments, agencies, and entities.
Section 617 continues a 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 618 continues a provision requiring agencies to
administer a policy designed to ensure that all of its
workplaces are free from discrimination and sexual harassment.
Section 619 continues a provision prohibiting the use of
appropriated funds for travel expenses not directly related to
official governmental duties.
Section 620 continues a provision which prohibits the use
of appropriated funds in this or any other act to acquire
information technology which does not comply with part 39.106
(year 2000 compliance) of the Federal acquisition regulations.
Section 621 continues a provision which prohibits the U.S.
Customs Service from allowing the importation of products
produced by forced or indentured child labor.
Section 622 continues a provision which prohibits the use
of funds to prevent Federal employees from communicating with
Congress or to take disciplinary or personnel actions against
employees for such communication.
Section 623 makes permanent a provision to promote
protection of Federal law enforcement officers who intervene in
certain situations.
Section 624 continues a provision requiring the President
to certify that persons responsible for administering the Drug
Free Workplace Program are not themselves the subject of random
drug testing.
Section 625 continues a provision which prohibits training
not directly related to the performance of official duties.
Section 626 continues a provision prohibiting the
expenditure of funds for the implementation of agreements in
certain nondisclosure policies unless certain provisions are
included in the policies.
Section 627 continues a provision which prohibits use of
appropriated funds for publicity or propaganda designed to
support or defeat legislation pending before Congress.
Section 628 continues a provision which requires the Office
of Management and Budget to do an accounting statement and
associated report on the cumulative costs and benefits of
Federal regulatory programs.
Section 629 continues a provision which prohibits use of
appropriated funds by an agency to provide Federal employees
home address to labor organizations.
Section 630 continues a provision which authorizes the
Secretary of the Treasury to establish standards for explosives
detection canines.
Section 631 continues a provision which prohibits the use
of appropriated funds to provide nonpublic information such as
mailing or telephone lists to any person or organization
outside of the Government.
Section 632 continues a provision which prohibits the use
of appropriated funds for publicity or propaganda purposes
within the United States not authorized by Congress.
Section 633 continues a provision directing agencies
employees to use official time in an honest effort to perform
official duties.
Section 634 makes technical modifications and continues a
provision regarding contraceptive coverage under the Federal
Employees Health Benefits Plan.
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI, OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Paragraph 7 of rule XVI requires that Committee reports on
general appropriations bills identify each Committee amendment
to the House bill ``which proposes an item of appropriation
which is not made to carry out the provisions of an existing
law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously
passed by the Senate during that session.''
The Committee recommends the following appropriations which
lack authorization:
Department of the Treasury:
Departmental Offices:
Salaries and expenses, $133,168,000
Department-wide Systems and Capital
Investments Program, $35,561,000
Treasury Building and annex, repair and
restoration, $15,000,000
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, salaries and
expenses, $27,681,000
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center:
Salaries and expenses, $80,114,000
Acquisition, construction, improvements, and
related expenses, $21,611,000
Financial Management Service, salaries and expenses,
$200,054,000
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms:
Salaries and expenses, $569,225,000
U.S. Customs Service:
Salaries and expenses, $1,670,747,000
Operation and maintenance, air and marine
interdiction programs, $108,688,000
Internal Revenue Service:
Processing, assistance, and management,
$3,291,945,000
Tax law enforcement, $3,305,090,000
Information systems, $1,450,100,000
Executive Office of the President:
The White House Office, salaries and
expenses, $52,444,000
Executive Residence at the White House,
operating expenses, $9,260,000
Special Assistance to the President, salaries
and expenses, $3,617,000
Council of Economic Advisers, salaries and
expenses, $3,840,000
National Security Council, salaries and
expenses, $6,997,000
Office of Administration, salaries and
expenses, $39,198,000
Office of Management and Budget, salaries and
expenses, $63,495,000
Office of National Drug Control Policy, salaries and
expenses, $21,963,000
Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center, salaries and
expenses, $31,100,000
Counternarcotics research and development projects,
$2,100,000
High-intensity drug trafficking areas, $188,277,000
State and local drug control activities,
$96,021,000
Federal agency drug control activities,
$92,256,000
Federal Election Commission, salaries and expenses,
$38,175,000
Federal Labor Relations Authority, salaries and expenses,
$23,681,000
General Services Administration, Federal buildings fund,
limitations on availability of revenue:
Repairs and alterations, $624,869,000
Nationwide:
Chlorofluorcarbons program,
$16,000,000
Basic repairs and alterations,
$350,000,000
Policy and operations, salaries and expenses,
$120,198,000
Merit Systems Protection Board, salaries and expenses,
$27,422,000
National Historical Publications and Records Commission,
$6,250,000
Office of Special Counsel, salaries and expenses,
$9,689,000
U.S. Tax Court, salaries and expenses, $34,179,000
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(C), RULE XXVI, OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, the Committee
ordered reported en bloc, S. 1282, an original Treasury and
General Government Appropriations bill, 2000, and S. 1283, an
original District of Columbia Appropriations bill, 2000, and an
original Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill,
2000, each subject to amendment and each subject to its budget
allocations, by a recorded vote of 28-0, a quorum being
present. The vote was as follows:
Yeas Nays
Chairman Stevens
Mr. Cochran
Mr. Specter
Mr. Domenici
Mr. Bond
Mr. Gorton
Mr. McConnell
Mr. Burns
Mr. Shelby
Mr. Gregg
Mr. Bennett
Mr. Campbell
Mr. Craig
Mrs. Hutchison
Mr. Kyl
Mr. Byrd
Mr. Inouye
Mr. Hollings
Mr. Leahy
Mr. Lautenberg
Mr. Harkin
Ms. Mikulski
Mr. Reid
Mr. Kohl
Mrs. Murray
Mr. Dorgan
Mrs. Feinstein
Mr. Durbin
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports
on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute
or part of any statute include ``(a) the text of the statute or
part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a
comparative print of that part of the bill or joint resolution
making the amendment and of the statute or part thereof
proposed to be amended, showing by stricken-through type and
italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical
devices the omissions and insertions which would be made by the
bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form recommended by
the committee.''
In compliance with this rule, the following changes in
existing law proposed to be made by the bill are shown as
follows: existing law to be omitted is enclosed in black
brackets; new matter is printed in italic; and existing law in
which no change is proposed is shown in roman.
TITLE 28--JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
* * * * * * *
PART IV--JURISDICTION AND VENUE
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 87--DISTRICT COURTS; VENUE
* * * * * * *
Sec. 1391. Venue generally
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(f) A civil action against a foreign state as defined in
section 1603(a) of this title may be brought--
(1) in any judicial district in which a substantial
part of the events or omissions giving rise to the
claim occurred, or a substantial part of property that
is the subject of the action is situated;
(2) in any judicial district in which the vessel or
cargo of a foreign state is situated, if the claim is
asserted under section 1605(b) of this title;
(3) in any judicial district in which the agency or
instrumentality is licensed to do business or is doing
business, if the action is brought against an agency or
instrumentality of a foreign state as defined in
section [1603(b)] 1603(b)(1) of this title; or
(4) in the United States District Court for the
District of Columbia if the action is brought against a
foreign state or political subdivision thereof.
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 97--JURISDICTIONAL IMMUNITIES OF FOREIGN STATES
* * * * * * *
Sec. 1603. Definitions
For purposes of this chapter--
(a) * * *
[(b) An ``agency or instrumentality of a foreign state''
means any entity--]
(b) An `agency or instrumentality of a foreign state'
means--
(1) any entity--
[(1)] (A) which is a separate legal person,
corporate or otherwise, and
[(2)] (B) which is an organ of a foreign
state or political subdivision thereof, or a
majority of whose shares or other ownership
interest is owned by a foreign state or
political subdivision thereof, and
[(3)] (C) which is neither a citizen of a
State of the United States as defined in
section 1332 (c) and (d) of this title, nor
created under the laws of any third country[.]
; and
(2) for purposes of sections 1605(a)(7) and 1610
(a)(7) and (f), any entity as defined under
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), and
subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) shall not apply.
* * * * * * *
Sec. 1610. Exceptions to the immunity from attachment or execution
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(f)(1)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
including but not limited to section 208(f) of the Foreign
Missions Act (22 U.S.C. 4308(f)), and except as provided in
subparagraph (B), any property with respect to which financial
transactions are prohibited or regulated pursuant to section
5(b) of the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 5(b)),
section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
Sec. 2370(a)), sections 202 and 203 of the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1702), or any
other proclamation, order, regulation, or license issued
pursuant thereto, shall be subject to execution or attachment
in aid of execution of any judgment relating to a claim for
which a foreign state [(including any agency or instrumentality
or such state)] (including any agency or instrumentality of
such state) claiming such property is not immune under section
1605(a)(7).
(B) * * *
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys due
from or payable by the United States (including any agency,
subdivision or instrumentality thereof) to any state against
which a judgment is pending under section 1605(a)(7) shall be
subject to attachment and execution, in like manner and to the
same extent as if the United States were a private person.
(2)(A) * * *
* * * * * * *
(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), upon determining on an
asset-by-asset basis that a waiver is necessary in the national
security interest, the President may waive this subsection in
connection with (and prior to the enforcement of) any judicial
order directing attachment in aid of execution or execution
against the principal office of a foreign mission to the United
States used for diplomatic or related purposes, or any funds
held by or in the name of such foreign mission determined by
the President to be necessary to satisfy actual operating
expenses of such principal office.
(B) A waiver under this paragraph shall not apply to--
(i) the principal office of a foreign mission if
such office has been used for any nondiplomatic purpose
(including as commercial rental property) by either the
foreign state or by the United States, or to the
proceeds of such nondiplomatic purpose; or
(ii) if any asset of such principal office is sold
or otherwise transferred for value to a third party,
the proceeds of such sale or transfer.
* * * * * * *
Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Approrpiations Act,
1999, Public Law 105-277
DIVISION A--OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS
* * * * * * *
Sec. 101* * *
(h) For programs, projects or activities in the Treasury
and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999, provided as
follows, to be effective as if it had been enacted into law as
the regular appropriations Act:
AN ACT Making appropriations for the Treasury Department, the United
States Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President, and
certain Independent Agencies, for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1999, and for other purposes
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
* * * * * * *
General Provisions--Department of the Treasury
* * * * * * *
Sec. 117. Exception to Immunity From Attachment or
Execution. (a) * * *
* * * * * * *
[(d) Waiver.--The President may waive the requirements of
this section in the interest of national security.]
* * * * * * *
TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Departments, Agencies, and Corporations
* * * * * * *
Sec. 627. (a) Definitions.--In this section--
* * * * * * *
(b) Rule of Construction.--[Notwithstanding] Effective on
the date of the enactment of this Act and thereafter, and
notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of
chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, or any other
provision of law relating to tort liability, a law enforcement
officer shall be construed to be acting within the scope of his
or her office or employment, if the officer takes reasonable
action, including the use of force, to--
BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL
PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS
AMENDED
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority Outlays
---------------------------------------------------
Committee Amount of Committee Amount of
allocation bill allocation bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with Committee allocations
to its subcommittees of amounts in 2000: Subcommittee on
Treasury and General Government:
General purpose discretionary........................... 13,060 13,204 13,817 \1\ 13,708
Violent crime reduction fund............................ 194 194 128 128
Mandatory............................................... 14,385 14,533 14,394 14,395
Projections of outlays associated with the recommendation:
2000.................................................... ........... ........... ........... \2\ 24,685
2001.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 1,916
2002.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 311
2003.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 159
2004 and future year.................................... ........... ........... ........... 75
Financial assistance to State and local governments for 2000 NA ........... NA ...........
in bill....................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
\2\ Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
NA: Not applicable.
Note.--Consistent with the funding recommended in the bill for earned income tax credit compliance and in
accordance with section 314(b)(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, the Committee
anticipates that the Budget Committee will file a revised section 302(a) allocation for the Committee on
Appropriations reflecting an upward adjustment of $144,000,000 in budget authority and $146,000,000 in
outlays.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2000
[In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate Committee recommendation
Committee compared with (+ or -)
Item 1999 appropriation Budget estimate recommendation ---------------------------------------
1999 appropriation Budget estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Departmental Offices................................ 123,151 134,630 133,168 +10,017 -1,462
Salaries and expenses:
Counterdrug (emergency funding)............. 1,500 .................. .................. -1,500 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 1,238 .................. .................. -1,238 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 1,890 .................. .................. -1,890 ..................
Automation enhancement:
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 37,403 .................. .................. -37,403 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 2,762 .................. .................. -2,762 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 12,500 .................. .................. -12,500 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 6,731 .................. .................. -6,731 ..................
Department-wide systems and capital investments 28,690 53,561 35,561 +6,871 -18,000
programs...........................................
Office of Inspector General......................... 30,678 32,017 30,483 -195 -1,534
Inspector General for Tax Administration............ .................. 112,207 111,340 +111,340 -867
Treasury Buildings and Annex Repair and Restoration. 27,000 23,000 15,000 -12,000 -8,000
(Delay in obligation)........................... (-27,000) .................. .................. (+27,000) ..................
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network................ 24,000 28,418 27,681 +3,681 -737
Violent Crime Reduction Programs:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms......... 3,000 3,000 17,847 +14,847 +14,847
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network............ 1,400 1,263 1,863 +463 +600
Interagency crime and drug enforcement.......... 24,000 49,716 28,366 +4,366 -21,350
United States Secret Service.................... 22,628 3,196 21,950 -678 +18,754
ONDCP........................................... 1,000 .................. .................. -1,000 ..................
Gang Resistance Education and Training: Grants.. 13,000 10,000 13,000 .................. +3,000
United States Customs Service................... 65,472 64,952 52,774 -12,698 -12,178
Federal Drug Control Programs: High Intensity 1,500 .................. .................. -1,500 ..................
Drug Trafficking Areas Program.................
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center......... .................. .................. 9,200 +9,200 +9,200
Federal Drug Control Programs: Special .................. .................. 49,000 +49,000 +49,000
forfeiture fund................................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Violent Crime Reduction Programs....... 132,000 132,127 194,000 +62,000 +61,873
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center:
Salaries and Expenses........................... 71,923 86,846 80,114 +8,191 -6,732
Antiterrorism (emergency funding)........... 3,548 .................. .................. -3,548 ..................
Acquisition, Construction, Improvements, and 34,760 21,000 21,611 -13,149 +611
Related Expenses...............................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center 110,231 107,846 101,725 -8,506 -6,121
Interagency Law Enforcement: Interagency crime and 51,900 26,184 .................. -51,900 -26,184
drug enforce- ment................................
Financial Management Service........................ 196,490 202,670 200,054 +3,564 -2,616
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).............. 6,000 .................. .................. -6,000 ..................
Federal Financing Bank (debt liquidation)........... (3,317,960) .................. .................. (-3,317,960) ..................
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms:
Salaries and Expenses........................... 546,074 584,859 569,225 +23,151 -15,634
(Delay in obligation)....................... (-2,206) .................. .................. (+2,206) ..................
Rescission.................................. -4,500 .................. .................. +4,500 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 2,665 .................. .................. -2,665 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 5,000 .................. .................. -5,000 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 3,530 .................. .................. -3,530 ..................
Laboratory facilities and headquarters.......... .................. 15,000 .................. .................. -15,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms 552,769 599,859 569,225 +16,456 -30,634
United States Customs Service:
Salaries and Expenses........................... 1,642,565 1,720,370 1,670,747 +28,182 -49,623
(Delay in obligation)....................... (-9,500) .................. .................. (+9,500) ..................
Counterdrug (emergency funding)............. 106,300 .................. .................. -106,300 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 10,200 .................. .................. -10,200 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 1,701 .................. .................. -1,701 ..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.................................. 1,760,766 1,720,370 1,670,747 -90,019 -49,623
Operation, Maintenance and Procurement, Air and 113,688 109,413 108,688 -5,000 -725
Marine Interdiction Programs...................
Counterdrug (emergency funding)............. 162,700 .................. .................. -162,700 ..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.................................. 276,388 109,413 108,688 -167,700 -725
Customs Services at Small Airports (to be 2,000 2,000 2,000 .................. ..................
derived from fees collected)...................
Offsetting receipts......................... .................. -2,000 -2,000 -2,000 ..................
Harbor Maintenance Fee Collection............... 3,000 .................. 3,000 .................. +3,000
Customs facilities, construction, improvements and 7,000 .................. .................. -7,000 ..................
related expenses (Counterdrug emergency funding)...
===================================================================================================
Total, United States Customs Service.......... 2,049,154 1,829,783 1,782,435 -266,719 -47,348
Bureau of the Public Debt........................... 172,100 177,819 176,983 +4,883 -836
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).............. 1,000 .................. .................. -1,000 ..................
Payment of government losses in shipment............ .................. 1,000 1,000 +1,000 ..................
Internal Revenue Service:
Processing, Assistance, and Management.......... 3,086,208 3,312,535 3,291,945 +205,737 -20,590
(Delay in obligation)....................... (-130,000) .................. .................. (+130,000) ..................
Tax Law Enforcement............................. 3,164,189 3,336,838 3,305,090 +140,901 -31,748
Earned Income Tax Credit Compliance Initiative.. 143,000 144,000 144,000 +1,000 ..................
Information Systems............................. 1,265,456 1,455,401 1,450,100 +184,644 -5,301
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 483,000 .................. .................. -483,000 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 22,312 .................. .................. -22,312 ..................
Information technology investments.............. 211,000 .................. .................. -211,000 ..................
(Delay in obligation)....................... (-211,000) .................. .................. (+211,000) ..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net total, Internal Revenue Service....... 8,375,165 8,248,774 8,191,135 -184,030 -57,639
United States Secret Service:
Salaries and Expenses........................... 600,302 661,312 638,816 +38,514 -22,496
(Delay in obligation)....................... (-5,000) .................. .................. (+5,000) ..................
Antiterrorism (emergency funding)........... 80,808 .................. .................. -80,808 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 3,000 .................. .................. -3,000 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 695 .................. .................. -695 ..................
Acquisition, Construction, Improvement, and 8,068 4,923 4,923 -3,145 ..................
Related Expenses...............................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, United States Secret Service........... 692,873 666,235 643,739 -49,134 -22,496
===================================================================================================
Net total, title I, Department of the Treasury 12,637,225 12,376,130 12,213,529 -423,696 -162,601
Appropriations............................ (11,673,742) (12,376,130) (12,213,529) (+539,787) (-162,601)
Emergency funding......................... (963,483) .................. .................. (-963,483) ..................
===================================================================================================
TITLE II--POSTAL SERVICE
Payments to the Postal Service
Payments to the Postal Service Fund................. 100,195 93,436 29,000 -71,195 -64,436
(Delay in obligation)........................... (-71,195) .................. .................. (+71,195) ..................
Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2001........ .................. .................. 64,436 +64,436 +64,436
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................................... 100,195 93,436 93,436 -6,759 ..................
TITLE III--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND
FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESIDENT
Compensation of the President and the White House
Office:
Compensation of the President................... 250 250 250 .................. ..................
Salaries and Expenses........................... 52,344 52,444 52,444 +100 ..................
Executive Residence at the White House:
Operating Expenses.............................. 8,691 9,260 9,260 +569 ..................
White House Repair and Restoration.............. .................. 810 810 +810 ..................
Special Assistance to the President and the Official
Residence of the Vice President:
Salaries and Expenses........................... 3,512 3,617 3,617 +105 ..................
Operating expenses.............................. 334 345 345 +11 ..................
Council of Economic Advisers........................ 3,666 3,840 3,840 +174 ..................
Office of Policy Development........................ 4,032 4,032 4,032 .................. ..................
National Security Council........................... 6,806 6,997 6,997 +191 ..................
Office of Administration............................ 28,350 39,198 39,198 +10,848 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).............. 12,200 .................. .................. -12,200 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).............. 7,666 .................. .................. -7,666 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).............. 9,925 .................. .................. -9,925 ..................
Office of Management and Budget..................... 60,617 63,495 63,495 +2,878 ..................
Office of National Drug Control Policy.............. 48,042 43,133 21,963 -26,079 -21,170
Counterdrug (emergency funding)................. 1,200 .................. .................. -1,200 ..................
Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center........ .................. .................. 31,100 +31,100 +31,100
Unanticipated Needs................................. 1,000 1,000 .................. -1,000 -1,000
Emergency funding............................... 30,000 .................. .................. -30,000 ..................
Rescission...................................... -10,000 .................. .................. +10,000 ..................
Federal Drug Control Programs: High Intensity Drug 184,977 185,777 188,277 +3,300 +2,500
Trafficking Areas Program..........................
Special forfeiture fund............................. 214,500 225,300 127,500 -87,000 -97,800
Counterdrug (emergency funding)................. 2,000 .................. .................. -2,000 ..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, title III, Executive Office of the 670,112 639,498 553,128 -116,984 -86,370
President and Funds Appropriated to the
President....................................
Appropriations............................ (607,121) (639,498) (553,128) (-53,993) (-86,370)
Emergency funding......................... (62,991) .................. .................. (-62,991) ..................
===================================================================================================
TITLE IV--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or 2,464 2,674 2,657 +193 -17
Severely Dis- abled...............................
Federal Election Commission......................... 36,500 38,516 38,175 +1,675 -341
Counterdrug (emergency funding)................. 243 .................. .................. -243 ..................
Federal Labor Relations Authority................... 22,586 23,828 23,681 +1,095 -147
General Services Administration:
Federal Buildings Fund:
Appropriation............................... 450,018 .................. .................. -450,018 ..................
Limitations on availability of revenue:
Construction and acquisition of (492,190) (102,194) (76,979) (-415,211) (-25,215)
facilities.............................
Rescission (Public Law 104-208)..... .................. .................. (-20,782) (-20,782) (-20,782)
Repairs and alterations................. (668,031) (664,869) (624,869) (-43,162) (-40,000)
(Delay in obligation)............... (-161,500) .................. .................. (+161,500) ..................
Installment acquisition payments........ (215,764) (205,668) (205,668) (-10,096) ..................
Rental of space......................... (2,583,261) (2,782,186) (2,782,186) (+198,925) ..................
(Delay in obligation)............... (-15,000) .................. .................. (+15,000) ..................
Building Operations..................... (1,554,772) (1,590,183) (1,590,183) (+35,411) ..................
(Delay in obligation)............... (-68,000) .................. .................. (+68,000) ..................
Repayment of Debt....................... (91,000) (100,000) (100,000) (+9,000) ..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Federal Buildings Fund......... 450,018 .................. .................. -450,018 ..................
(Limitations)..................... (5,605,018) (5,445,100) (5,359,103) (-245,915) (-85,997)
Policy and Operations........................... 109,594 122,158 120,198 +10,604 -1,960
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 12,701 .................. .................. -12,701 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 4,800 .................. .................. -4,800 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 5,002 .................. .................. -5,002 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 18,796 .................. .................. -18,796 ..................
Office of Inspector General..................... 32,000 33,917 33,858 +1,858 -59
Allowances and Office Staff for Former 2,241 2,241 2,241 .................. ..................
Presidents.....................................
Supplemental general provision (Public Law 160- 1,700 .................. .................. -1,700 ..................
31)............................................
===================================================================================================
Total, General Services Administration........ 636,852 158,316 156,297 -480,555 -2,019
Merit Systems Protection Board:
Salaries and Expenses........................... 25,805 27,586 27,422 +1,617 -164
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 66 .................. .................. -66 ..................
(Limitation on administrative expenses)......... (2,430) (2,430) (2,430) .................. ..................
Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in .................. 3,000 1,494 +1,494 -1,506
National Environmental Policy Foundation...........
Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund........... 4,250 1,250 .................. -4,250 -1,250
National Archives and Records Administration:
Operating expenses.............................. 224,614 186,452 179,738 -44,876 -6,714
(Delay in obligation)....................... (-7,861) .................. .................. (+7,861) ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 6,662 .................. .................. -6,662 ..................
Reduction of debt............................... -4,012 -5,598 -5,598 -1,586 ..................
Repairs and Restoration......................... 11,325 13,518 21,518 +10,193 +8,000
National Historical Publications and Records 10,000 6,000 6,250 -3,750 +250
Commission: Grants program.....................
(Delay in obligation)....................... (-4,000) .................. .................. (+4,000) ..................
Rescission.................................. .................. .................. -3,800 -3,800 -3,800
Records Center Revolving Fund................... .................. 22,000 22,000 +22,000 ..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, National Archives and Records 248,589 222,372 220,108 -28,481 -2,264
Administration...............................
Office of Government Ethics......................... 8,492 9,114 9,071 +579 -43
Office of Personnel Management:
Salaries and Expenses........................... 85,350 91,584 91,584 +6,234 ..................
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).......... 2,428 .................. .................. -2,428 ..................
(Limitation on administrative expenses)..... (91,236) (95,486) (95,486) (+4,250) ..................
Office of Inspector General..................... 960 960 960 .................. ..................
(Limitation on administrative expenses)..... (9,145) (9,645) (9,645) (+500) ..................
Government Payment for Annuitants, Employees 4,654,146 5,105,482 5,105,482 +451,336 ..................
Health Benefits................................
Government Payment for Annuitants, Employee Life 34,576 36,207 36,207 +1,631 ..................
Insurance......................................
Payment to Civil Service Retirement and 8,703,180 9,120,872 9,120,872 +417,692 ..................
Disability Fund................................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Office of Personnel Management......... 13,480,640 14,355,105 14,355,105 +874,465 ..................
Office of Special Counsel........................... 8,720 9,740 9,689 +969 -51
Y2K conversion (emergency funding).............. 100 .................. .................. -100 ..................
United States Tax Court............................. 32,765 36,489 34,179 +1,414 -2,310
===================================================================================================
Total, title IV, Independent Agencies......... 14,508,072 14,887,990 14,877,878 +369,806 -10,112
Appropriations............................ (14,457,274) (14,887,990) (14,877,878) (+420,604) (-10,112)
Rescissions............................... .................. .................. .................. .................. ..................
Emergency funding......................... (50,798) .................. .................. (-50,798) ..................
===================================================================================================
Grand total................................... 27,915,604 27,997,054 27,737,971 -177,633 -259,083
Appropriations........................ (26,852,832) (27,997,054) (27,677,335) (+824,503) (-319,719)
Rescissions........................... (-14,500) .................. (-3,800) (+10,700) (-3,800)
Advance appropriations, fiscal year .................. .................. (64,436) (+64,436) (+64,436)
2001.................................
Emergency funding..................... (1,077,272) .................. .................. (-1,077,272) ..................
(Limitations)............................. (5,707,829) (5,552,661) (5,466,664) (-241,165) (-85,997)
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