H.R. 4660: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
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H.R. 4660: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
113th Congress · introduced 2014-05-15 · Economics and Public Finance · Latest: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3845)
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2014-05-15 · official record
- Who proposed it: Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: 28 recorded votes in our records. Latest: Senate vote 200 (2014): On the Cloture Motion, HR4660 (2014-06-17), Cloture Motion Agreed to. See all
- Where it stands now: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3845) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
Plain summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 - Makes appropriations for FY2015 for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, for science-related programs, and for related agencies. Title I: Department of Commerce - Department of Commerce Appropriations Act, 2015 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Commerce for FY2015 for: the International Trade Administration; the Bureau of Industry and Security; the Economic Development Administration; the Minority Business Development Agency; economic and statistical analysis programs; the Bureau of the Census; the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including expenses for restoration of Pacific salmon populations; and departmental management, including for the Office of Inspector General. (Sec. 104) Adopts by reference, and makes applicable to FY2015, requirements of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012, that prohibit NOAA from entering into a contract for development of a major program (a program with an estimated life-cycle cost of more than $250 million) unless the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere makes specified determinations, including that: (1) the technical, cost, and schedule risks are clearly identified and the program has developed a plan to manage those risks; and (2) the technologies required for the program have been demonstrated in a relevant laboratory or test environment. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to furnish services to facilitate the use or occupancy of the Herbert C. Hoover Building, Washington, D.C., or other buildings for which the Secretary is responsible. (Sec. 106) Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent a grant recipient from deterring child pornography, copyright infringement, or any other unlawful activity over its networks. (Sec. 107) Authorizes the Administrator of NOAA to use the resources of federal, state, local, or tribal agencies and other entities to carry out the responsibilities of any statute administered by NOAA. (Sec. 108) Requires the Department of Commerce to provide a monthly report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on any official travel to China by any Department of Commerce employee. Title II: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2015 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Justice (DOJ) for FY2015 for: general administration, including for information sharing technology, the administration of pardon and clemency petitions and immigration-related activities, and the Office of the Inspector General; the United States Parole Commission; legal activities, including for the antitrust division, the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys, the U.S. Trustee Program, the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, fees and expenses of witnesses, the Community Relations Service, and the Assets Forfeiture Fund; the United States Marshals Service; federal prisoner detention; the National Security Division; interagency law enforcement activities relating to drug trafficking and money laundering; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the Federal Prison System, including for Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated; the Office on Violence Against Women; and Office of Justice Programs, including for criminal justice statistics programs, state and local law enforcement assistance, juvenile justice programs, public safety officers benefits, and community-oriented policing services programs. (Sec. 202) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act to: (1) pay for an abortion, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or in the case of rape; or (2) require any person to perform or facilitate the performance of an abortion. (Sec. 204) Reaffirms the obligation of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to provide escort services necessary for a female inmate to receive an abortion outside a federal facility. Sec. 206) Authorizes the Attorney General to extend through FY2015 the Personnel Management Demonstration Project without limitation on the number of employees or the positions covered. (Sec. 207) Prohibits the use of funds made available under this Act to: (1) transport a maximum or high security prisoner other than to a prison or facility certified by the Bureau of Prisons as appropriately secure; (2) purchase cable television services or rent equipment used primarily for recreational purposes in federal prisons, except for inmate training, religious, or educational purposes; (3) purchase a new or enhanced information technology program having estimated development costs in excess of $100 million without appropriate program management controls and oversight mechanisms in place; (4) begin, continue, finish, process, or approve a public-private competition under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76 for work performed by employees of the Bureau of Prisons or of Federal Prison Industries, Inc.; or (5) facilitate the transfer of an operable firearm to an individual known or suspected to be an agent of a drug cartel, unless U.S. law enforcement personnel continuously monitor or control the firearm at all times. (Sec. 215) Prohibits income retained in the DOJ Working Capital Fund from being made available for obligation during FY2015. Title III: Science - Science Appropriations Act, 2015 - Makes appropriations for FY2015 for: (1) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), including for the Office of the Inspector General; and (3) the National Science Foundation (NSF), including for the Office of the National Science Board and the Office of the Inspector General. Title IV: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY2015 for: (1) the Commission on Civil Rights, (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), (3) the International Trade Commission, (4) the Legal Services Corporation, (5) the Marine Mammal Commission, (6) the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and (7) the State Justice Institute. Title V: General Provisions - (Sec. 501) Sets forth restrictions and prohibitions on the use of funds under this Act, including prohibitions against the use of funds to: promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products or to seek the reduction or removal by any foreign country of restrictions on marketing of such products, except for restrictions which are not applied equally to all tobacco products of the same type; discriminate against or denigrate the religious or moral beliefs of students who participate in DOJ financial assistance programs or their parents or legal guardians; acquire a high-impact or moderate-impact information system by the Departments of Commerce and Justice, NASA, or NSF unless such agencies have conducted risk-related reviews; justify the use of torture by any U.S. official or contract employee; pay administrative expenses or compensate any U.S. officer or employee in connection with requiring licenses for exporting certain firearms components to Canada with a total value not exceeding $500 wholesale in any transaction; include in any new bilateral or multilateral trade agreement the text of certain provisions of the United States-Singapore, Australia, or Morocco Free Trade Agreements; authorize or issue a national security letter in contravention of specified laws authorizing the FBI to issue national security letters; purchase first class or premium airline travel in contravention of federal regulations; pay for the attendance of more than 50 federal agency employees at a conference outside the United States, unless such conference is for the training of law enforcement personnel; permit NASA or the Office of Science and Technology Policy to partner with China or any Chinese-owned company unless specifically authorized by law; pay salaries of personnel to deny, or fail to act on, an application for the importation of any model of shotgun if legal requirements for such importation are met and no application for the importation of such model of shotgun had been denied prior to January 1, 2011; maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography; award contracts, grants, or loan guarantees to any corporation that has been convicted of a felony under federal law within the preceding 24 months or that has unpaid federal tax liability; implement the Arms Trade Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification for such treaty; or require a licensed firearm dealer to report information to DOJ regarding the sale of multiple rifles or shotguns to the same person. (Sec. 506) Renders any person who mislabels a product sold in or shipped to the United States as "Made in America" ineligible to receive any contract or subcontract funded by this Act. Requires funds made available by this Act to be used for the purchase of items that are manufactured, produced, or assembled in the United States or its territories or possessions. (Sec. 521) Requires program managers of projects of the Departments of Commerce or Justice, NASA, or the NSF totaling more than $75 million to notify such agencies if project costs have increased by 10% or more. (Sec. 522) Authorizes funding for intelligence-related activities during FY2015 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2015. (Sec. 523) Prohibits contracting with or awarding grants in excess of $5 million to a contractor or grantee unless such contractor or grantor: (1) certifies compliance with tax return requirements, and (2) has not been convicted of a criminal tax offense. (Sec. 524) Rescinds unobligated balances available for Department of Commerce, Departmental Management, Franchise Fund. Requires the rescission, not later than September 30, 2015, of specified unobligated balances available for certain DOJ programs. (Sec. 527) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act in a manner that is inconsistent with the principal negotiating objective of the United States with respect to trade remedy laws to preserve the ability of the United States to: (1) enforce vigorously its trade laws, (2) avoid agreements that lessen the effectiveness of domestic and international disciplines on unfair trade or safeguards to protect competition, and (3) address and remedy market distortions that lead to dumping and subsidization. (Sec. 528) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act to: (1) transfer or release to or within the United States Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other detainee who is not a U.S. citizen or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and who is or was held on or after June 24, 2009, at the U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by DOD; or (2) construct, acquire, or modify any facility in the United States, its territories, or possessions to detain or imprison such a detainee. (Sec. 530) Directs that funds made available in this Act be used to purchase light bulbs that are "Energy Star" qualified or have the "Federal Energy Management Program" designation. (Sec. 540) Provides that the amount by which the allocation of new budget authority under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 exceeds the amount of proposed new budget authority is $0.
Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
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What does this mean? (plain words)
Official text
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment)
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10] · 0 cosponsors
Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.
Recorded votes
- House roll call 243 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Failed
- House roll call 244 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Agreed to
- House roll call 245 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Agreed to
- House roll call 246 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Agreed to
- House roll call 247 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Failed
- House roll call 248 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Failed
- House roll call 249 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Agreed to
- House roll call 250 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Failed
- House roll call 251 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Failed
- House roll call 252 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Agreed to
- House roll call 253 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-29): Failed
- House roll call 254 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Failed
- House roll call 255 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Failed
- House roll call 256 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Failed
- House roll call 257 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 258 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 259 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 260 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 261 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Failed
- House roll call 262 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Failed
- House roll call 263 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 264 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 265 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 266 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 267 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Agreed to
- House roll call 268 (2014): On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Failed
- House roll call 269 (2014): On Passage, HR4660 (2014-05-30): Passed
- Senate vote 200 (2014): On the Cloture Motion, HR4660 (2014-06-17): Cloture Motion Agreed to
Words on this page, explained (7)
- Appropriation
- Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
- Authorization
- A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
- Obligation
- A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
- Resolution
- A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
- Rulemaking
- The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
- Securities
- Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
- Statute
- A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-113hr4660.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/113/hr>
Record fed-us-cong113-hr4660 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113